So what if she's my sister-in-law? You seduced me first.

That's right, Xie Yan was standing outside the window.

Dressed in night clothes, his usually cold and aloof features softened slightly when he saw her. "I didn't climb in through the window because I was afraid you'd fallen asleep. The person was distracted just now. May I come in?"

Ning Yu would rather he scold her than see him never blaming her. She was too ashamed to refuse, so she moved aside and let him in.

There were no candles lit inside, and with the windows closed, it was difficult to see the other person's expression clearly in the dimly lit room.

Xie Yan had just exhausted himself entering the East Garden, which aggravated his wounds. He was pale and sat down on a stool nearby.

Ning Yu didn't dare light a lamp, fearing Xie Xun might suddenly return, and felt slightly nervous.

Xie Yan sensed her unease and said reassuringly, "He's tied up with many things and can't come back for the time being."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Ning Yu's face, and she asked in a low voice, "How are your injuries?"

"It hurts." He looked at her.

"---"

Ning Yu walked to the cabinet in the dark, squatted down and took out the medicine bottle inside.

As Xie Yan watched her navigate the East Garden with such familiarity, a sudden pain flashed through his heart, more pronounced than the persistent stinging from his wound.

He lowered his eyes, unable to describe the feeling in his heart, wishing he could grab her and pin her down in Dongyuan Lane.

That was his wife, yet he never laid a finger on her.

Hearing her footsteps approaching, reason ultimately prevailed over his anger. He couldn't bring himself to be so despicable; he didn't want her to hate him.

"Your wound has reopened. This medicine helps it heal quickly. Would you like to change the dressing?"

Xie Yan took the medicine and took off his clothes in front of her. Ning Yu turned to leave, but Xie Yan stopped her.

"I can't see clearly, there are no bandages, Ah Yu, can you help me change them?"

Yes, bandages. Ning Yu rubbed her forehead, feeling so annoyed that she had completely forgotten about them.

She then took the bandages and gauze and placed them on the table next to her, saying in a low voice, "I'll go get the light; you can change it yourself."

Xie Yan's downcast face paused. "Does A-Yu not want to see me?"

Ning Yu paused, her body stiffening slightly.

Xie Yan had been fighting on the battlefield for many years, and changing his dressings and bandages was a regular occurrence for him. That little wound was nothing to him; he wouldn't have trouble changing it.

"no."

Xie Yan's eyes darkened, and he remained silent.

Ning Yu dared not light the palace lanterns in the four corners of the room, but instead lit candles and placed them in the lampshades to illuminate the table and chairs.

The faint light illuminated her features. Xie Yan was changing the medicine in his hands, smelling her fragrance, and longed to pull her close.

In order not to scare her, and thinking that there was still plenty of time to cultivate feelings, I, being a gentleman, did not touch her.

He now deeply regrets his past choice. If he had slept with her and become her husband, they wouldn't be so estranged now.

The two were neither too close nor too far apart. Ning Yu didn't look at him, but kept glancing at the windows and doorways outside, afraid that someone might come and see them.

After he finished changing the dressing, she immediately extinguished the candle, replaced the incense in the burner to mask the smell of blood in the room, and put the things back in their original places.

Xie Yan didn't leave, and Ning Yu didn't know what to say to him. The silent atmosphere in the room flowed silently until he finally spoke first.

"Can we go back?"

Ning Yu was taken aback, not expecting him to come over at night to say these things.

Xie Yan barged into the East Garden in the middle of the night without disturbing anyone. He didn't angrily question anyone; he just wanted to see her. Only then did he realize that he really wanted to confirm her feelings.

"What happened before wasn't your fault, it was Xie Xun's fault. I failed to protect you. If you're willing, I can take you away from the Xie family to the border, the Northwest, or wherever you want to go."

Ning Yu stumbled backward; he was actually still willing to take her.

She lowered her eyes, a hint of guilt flashing across her face, but she shook her head firmly.

"I've let you down and dragged you down with me. I don't want you to be condemned by the public and lose face."

She didn't want him; he was her rightful husband.

A cold, violent glint flashed in Xie Yan's heart. He couldn't deny that he and Xie Xun shared the same blood.

"I want to leave the Xie family and leave the capital."

What?!

Xie Yan looked down at her. "What do you want?"

"Now that things have come to this, I have no other choice. Perhaps leaving the capital will allow me to survive."

It turns out he was worried about his own life.

Xie Yan looked at her face and wanted to tell her that even if he didn't save her, Xie Xun wouldn't let her die, given his temper.

But considering Xie Xun's current status in the council of elders, and what he had done behind the scenes, he ultimately didn't say that she was his wife.

In fact, Ning Yu wasn't just worried about her life; she didn't want to continue like this.

Xie Xun will get married, and Xie Yan will get married too. Even if she lives, the Xie family will see her as a thorn in their side, and her new bride will want to kill her. She doesn't want to be targeted all the time and wants to live a carefree life.

She only had one path left to take; he had forced her into a corner where she could no longer stay in the capital.

"I want a travel permit and identification documents."

For some reason, a hint of joy flashed through Xie Yan's heart, suppressing his violent rage. "I'll help you."

Inside the ancestral hall.

"Erlang, your act of disobedience for a woman has truly disappointed your father."

The Xie family head threatened him coldly, "Don't forget, the various factions in the Elders' Council are engaged in complex power struggles. If I were to use the entire Xie family to strip you of your military power, dismantle your influence in the Elders' Council, and drive you to the North, it would result in a lose-lose situation."

Xie Xun had no time for wasting words with them and said coldly, "Then let's give it a try."

"you---"

Wouldn't internal strife within the Xie family benefit other powerful families and cause the Elders' Council to crumble? Naturally, the Xie family didn't want that, and their faces were stiff with anger as they trembled.

When the Duke of Dingguo thought of the memorials that had been sent to him, and saw that his unrepentant son was still stubborn, his eyes were bloodshot with a headache.

If those things are true, he has to help this rebellious son, otherwise, once the truth comes out, the Xie family's century-old reputation will be ruined.

He doesn't have time to deal with these matters in the bedroom now; they're too insignificant compared to that.

"If all my uncles have no objections to this matter, then I will ask my elder brother to speak to my uncle."

Xie Xun stood up, too lazy to look at the Xie clan members with their various thoughts, and strode out of the ancestral hall.

Having resolved the matter, Xie Xun glanced at the sky and addressed the breeze outside, "Withdraw the troops."

Qingfeng immediately went out to take care of it. His master had made thorough preparations; if verbal methods didn't work, then physical methods would do.

Xie Xun hadn't had a good night's sleep for two days in a row. He was so busy that he barely had time to breathe. There was still a pile of official business to handle in his study. He glanced at the sky and realized it was already past midnight. She should be asleep by now.

A heartless person would never wait for him; they'd just wake her up when they got back.

Thinking of this, he immediately strode back towards the East Garden.