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

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

The night was pitch black. The man, dressed in black, stopped by the lake. His back was to him, so his face was not visible, but the aura around him seemed to overwhelm him. A-Zhou hesitated for a long time before daring to ask a question.

Xie Yan lowered his head, the scene he had just witnessed in the waterside pavilion flashing through his mind, the burning fire in his chest impossible to suppress.

If he were to barge in like that, it would only make her feel helpless and embarrassed, attract the Xie family to watch and argue, and would be of no use. It would only lead to endless fighting and struggle, and would also make her wary of him, categorizing him with Xie Xun.

She was truly unwilling to accept it. He was her husband, so why should she have to back down and let the person who interfered do everything a husband should do?

His anger was about to overwhelm his reason. Perhaps due to his excessive rage, Xie Yan's chest wound reopened. He held his chest with one hand, took a step, and turned to walk back.

A-Zhou was taken aback. "Your Highness, are you going in?"

The East Garden is full of the Governor's personal guards; shouldn't he hurry up and bring his troops over?

Xie Yan seemed to know what he was thinking and said coldly, "Don't alert anyone."

"Your Highness—" A-Zhou hurriedly stepped forward to support him, "The Commander's martial arts are unfathomable. You are injured now, and if you fight him, you have no chance of winning."

"Moreover, everyone in the clan is here tonight. If they hear the commotion and come over, the Crown Princess will be devastated."

Yes, she'll be in a very awkward position if he barges in.

His steps faltered, his pale face tensed, his jaw clenched, and his sharp eyes gazed toward the secluded waterside pavilion.

He knew perfectly well that she wanted to leave, but if he waited two days, no one would know where she was except him. Only he would know where she was then.

But just thinking about what the two of them were doing now made him so angry that he almost lost his mind. The cold wind along the way couldn't suppress his anger and resentment.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty---"

The two people inside the house soon heard the commotion outside. Ning Yu was startled. Had Xie Yan not left yet?

She quickly pulled her clothes tighter and kicked him, "Aren't you going to go out and stop them? Are you going to let them barge in?"

The room was dark, so Xie Xun's features were not very clear, but when Ning Yu got closer, she could clearly feel that he seemed to have chuckled.

She frowned and struggled to get down, but he suddenly pulled her back around the waist and whispered in her ear.

"Let me in and see how you please me beneath me."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she stared at him wide-eyed.

A loud bang came from outside as the door was kicked open. Ning Yu shuddered, a resolute glint flashing in her reddened eyes. She reached out and took off all the thin clothes she was wearing, glaring at him resentfully.

"Then let the young master have a good look."

Xie Xun's eyes turned cold, stopping her from taking off her clothes. Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, he coldly pulled her back and threw her, clothes and all, into the bed curtains.

With a thud, Ning Yu was thrown onto the bed covered with brocade quilts. Her hair was disheveled, like a pile of raven feathers, and she let out a soft cry as she propped herself up, dressed, and sat up.

The curtains were drawn, blocking the view outside. She heard Xie Xun straighten his clothes, open the door, and go out. The room was well soundproofed, so the sounds outside were not very clear.

The servants in the outer room had all been driven out. Xie Xun looked at his elder brother, who was leaning against the door frame with blood trickling down his chest, and tightly closed the door to the inner room.

Their eyes met, and before Xie Yan could even say anything, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The slow footsteps approached one by one, and the moment the two got close, he reached out to grab Xie Xun's clothes.

Xie Xun dodged to the side, his voice as calm as a beast's, "Brother, sister-in-law has already died at the bottom of the cliff and been buried in the Xie family ancestral cemetery. Stop going crazy."

Xie Yan was so angry at his blatant lies that veins bulged on his forehead. He didn't want to alarm anyone, and he especially didn't want Ning Yu inside to hear his words.

Without uttering a single wasted word, he went straight to the point: "The time is almost here, isn't it? Who do you think will fight for you in the Northwest in this battle? Without me, can Yanzhou still be fought?"

Xie Xun seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. He leaned down and said, "Brother, I remember when you first came back you told me that you couldn't bear to see the people suffering and that you couldn't bring yourself to slaughter the people of Yanzhou. How come you've changed your mind now?"

"Make up your mind, choose her or Northwest."

This reminded him that if he didn't keep his older brother in check, he would be going against him, but he couldn't really kill him.

Xie Xun raised an eyebrow, looking at his elder brother who used to be so composed no matter what, but now he was so irrational for a woman. Love is something that should never be touched.

He recalled the things he had done, and his eyes instinctively turned towards the inner room.

This thing is a bit scary, but she—she's different.

She's a coward, easily angered, and wouldn't dare to disobey him or do anything to upset him.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he recalled her boldness, and his eyes darkened.

It doesn't matter; his affection for her isn't something she can control.

"Brother, you've only known each other for a short time, what feelings have you developed? Stop making a scene---"

His collar was suddenly grabbed, but Xie Xun didn't bother to dodge. He took the opportunity to strike the back of the man's neck with his palm and shouted, "Someone come here!"

Qingfeng quickly entered, "Master."

"Send them back, and while you're at it, let your father know."

"Yes."

A-Zhou, who had been captured outside, rushed over to take the unconscious prince, glanced at the governor who had entered the room, and then, holding his breath, led his men back inside.

The commotion in the courtyard subsided, and Ning Yu sat in the curtained tent, not daring to relax for a moment, for fear of attracting the attention of the Xie family.

Fortunately, she didn't hear any fighting or arguing. After a while, the noise outside subsided, and she heard the door open. Her hands tightened.

The floating curtains were lifted from the outside, revealing Ning Yu with disheveled clothes and reddened eyes. She looked up.

Xie Xun lowered his eyelids and met her gaze. Their eyes met, and the moonlight shone on her breathtakingly beautiful eyes, causing his heart to inexplicably burn.

"The Crown Prince has left?"

He burst into the bedchamber, his fingers tracing her face, and he softly murmured an "Mmm."

"What did you two talk about?" Actually, she wasn't very concerned about what the two of them were saying; she just wanted to know if Xie Yan was alright.

Xie Xun leaned closer to her, "Your brother has no feelings for you, he's just unwilling to let go. Once you promised him benefits, he'll naturally let go."

He spoke as if he had feelings, but Ning Yu only believed half of what he said.

Thinking of Xie Yan's impulsiveness just now, she lowered her eyes and decided not to tell Xie Yan where she was going.

Stay far away from the capital, and far away from the men of the Xie family.

His heavy breathing spread across her neck, and he gripped her slender fingers tightly, guiding them down to her lower body. Ning Yu felt a burning sensation in her palm and snapped back to reality.

They were almost touching. She frowned and gently pushed him away, "Didn't we just do that?"

Not enough, they weren't fed enough.

His tall, imposing figure pressed down on her, trapping her tightly in his arms, quickly silencing any sounds she made.