What did she have that she could use in exchange?

Jun Xiqing smirked and a cold, cunning light shone through her eyes. "President Lu, even if I had nothing, you'd still fancy me, right?"

Lu Yeming went forward and propped one knee on the bed. The soft bed sagged downward, and he reached out one hand to grab her face. Looking down at her with an imperious air, he said in a low, malevolent voice, "I do rather fancy your body. Just one nod from you and I will go and find your precious jade pendant."

"Ha. President Lu truly has what it takes to be a shrewd businessman."

"Of course. You must repay me if I help you out."

"This transaction indeed sounds very fair. I will give you my body in exchange. But…"

Jun Xiqing looked at Lu Yeming. "If I want to sell myself, why should I sell to you? If I put myself on sale, the number of buyers would be even higher than the number of women who wished to marry you. With all that competition, do you really think you will still be the top buyer out in the market? So President Lu, tell me why should I choose you over the other buyers? What qualities do you have over them?"

Lu Yeming's deep eyes narrowed. He never expected to hear such words coming out of her little mouth.

She was not exaggerating at all.

At Ah Jiao's Room, how many noble gentlemen had wanted to buy her?

Even Mu Yanfeng was one of her admirers.

He liked her. Many other men also liked her very much.

Lu Yeming increased the pressure of his fingers, leaving a red mark on her tender flesh. "Don't try to become my enemy. The Jun Xiqing I know is not one for foolish bravery. She knows her place and knows when to step back. Do you think that after coming to my palace and entering my bedroom, I will let you out to do as you please and seduce other men?"

"Does President Lu mean that you will be placing me under house arrest?"

"You can say so. Qingqing, take this opportunity when I am still willing to give you a value. Just take what is being given to you. A man of my status is a rare prize. If you continue being stubborn and refuse my offer, I have 101 ways to make you kneel down and beg me to sleep with you."

Her heart lurched as Jun Xiqing clenched her fists until all of her fingers turned white. The bedsheets wrinkled under her.

She frowned before looking up with traces of amusement in her bright eyes. "Alright, I agree."

Lu Yeming reached out to smush her red lips through her veil. She was his.

Forever his.

All the while, Jun Xiqing remained motionless. His actions were not tender and even held traces of forceful vehemence. Perhaps he was venting the frustrations in his heart. Even so, she remained still and unyielding.

After letting him play with her lips with his fingers for a while, Jun Xiqing spoke up. "Can you get down to business now that you have finished playing?"

Lu Yeming glanced up at her little face.

The soft, moistness under his fingers had made his eyes turn red with lust and he scoffed. "What are you talking about? Get down to business? Qingqing, you must be confused."

Jun Xiqing smacked his hand away. "President Lu, you are the one who is confused. You are now under my employ to carry out my business. Will I let you touch me if you don't settle things properly?"

"…"

Lu Yeming's eyes darkened. She had now relegated him to just a foot soldier under her orders. She was truly someone who constantly surpassed his expectations.

After giving her a meaningful look, Lu Yeming got up and left.

…

Inside the study.

Fan Men entered and reported in a low voice. "Your Highness, I have already investigated the situation and found that the surveillance cameras in the bar were tampered with."

Sitting in his black leather chair, Lu Yeming smirked. It seemed someone had taken action rather quickly.

"Your Highness, I can have someone restore the original footage, but it may take several days."

"No need," Lu Yeming replied in a mild tone.

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

"Wait."

Only a single word left his lips.

Fan Men's eyes brightened as he instantly understood. Someone would be seeking them out very soon. "Your Highness, why do you think that person wanted to steal Miss Jun's jade pendant?"

Lu Yeming remained expressionless. He didn't even move his brows but just replied simply, "That jade pendant is linked to Jun Xiqing's birth history. But what exactly is her background?"

Miss Jun's background…

Fan Men never considered this question. Oh yes, Miss Jun was not the Jun Family's real daughter. If that was the case, then what was her true background?

…

Mu Yanyan looked at the jade pendant in her hand. This jade pendant belonged to Jun Xiqing. Yesterday, Jun Xiqing had dropped this jade pendant in the corridor of the bar and she picked it up.

From a young age, Mu Yanyan had a good eye for valuable things. One look and she could tell this jade pendant was worth an entire city.

What was the story behind this jade pendant?

Someone knocked on the door. "Miss, someone is here to see you."

Who was it?

Mu Yanyan went over to look. It was Dongfang Wanqing.

Dongfang Wanqing turned and looked at Mu Yanyan. "Miss Mu, did you pick up Jun Xiqing's jade pendant? Jun Xiqing is the true Holy Lady that the Holy Lady Clan has been looking for all this time. This jade pendant is proof of her identity."

What?

Mu Yanyan was utterly shocked. This Jun Xiqing was a Holy Lady of the Holy Lady Clan?

"Auntie Wanqing, why are you telling me this?"

Dongfang Wanqing smiled. "Miss Mu should know that Country A's laws are that every ruler must take a Holy Lady as his wife. So the moment Jun Xiqing's identity as a Holy Lady is exposed, Lu Yeming has to marry her. Actually, Jun Xiqing is Lu Yeming's destined Empress."

Mu Yanyan's face turned pale. She had already forgotten when she had started to like Lu Yeming. Accompanying her father one day, she had a glimpse of him from afar when he was still the mighty West Duke. Since then, she had never been able to forget him.

She had been waiting all this while.

Year after year she waited, until Dongfang Ruoli was finally cast aside and he was single once again. She thought her chance had come.

Never had she expected that Jun Xiqing would suddenly cut in and wreck her chances. She was going to steal Lu Yeming away from her.

She felt very aggrieved.

"Miss Mu, I know you like President Lu. I have a plan to make your wishes come true."

But Mu Yanyan was no fool. She looked at Dongfang Wanqing. "Auntie Wanqing, are you going to make me pretend to be a Holy Lady? Playing such an old trick with Lu Yeming, I will be found out within seconds.

"I am a daughter of the Mu Family. A simple DNA test would prove it easily. Moreover, Jun Xiqing probably already told Lu Yeming about her lost jade pendant. Lu Yeming is such an intelligent man that he will likely see through any tricks I play. He is a very scary and formidable person."

Dongfang Wanqing looked at Mu Yanyan with satisfaction. Indeed, Mu Yanyan was much more powerful than that pathetic Dongfang Ruoli.

"Miss Mu, this is where you are wrong. I just want you to go to the palace now and give the jade pendant over to Lu Yeming, then tell him about Jun Xiqing's birth history."