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

"How could you do this? You're shameless!"

The shouting angered the maids in the East Garden, and the maid serving Ning Yu stood up directly, saying, "If Fifth Miss has nothing else to say, she should go back first. The Governor will be back soon."

Mentioning her second brother, Xie Ling shuddered. But her eldest brother had always been very loving towards them since childhood, unlike her cold-hearted second brother. She really felt indignant for her eldest brother. Ugh, this woman is so shameless.

Ning Yu felt like laughing when she saw the way the woman's eyes were glaring at her, sometimes looking upset and sometimes fierce.

"You may all leave now. I want to speak with Miss Wu alone."

After everyone had left, Xie Ling looked at her and shouted, "Princess Huayang, you won't have a good time after marrying into this family!"

Ning Yu raised an eyebrow. "Then let her marry into the family first."

"You—" Xie Ling gritted her teeth in anger, "No wonder Mother has been getting angry so often lately, it must be because of you two."

"In less than half a month, my second brother will be marrying Princess Huayang. The betrothal was already done yesterday, and I just overheard Mother talking to my second brother about the wedding. It will be held at the ancestral home---"

Ning Yu interrupted her, "Fifth Miss, I'm not interested in these things."

"Not interested?!" Xie Ling snorted coldly. "You seduced Second Brother and caused the marriage to be delayed again and again. How can you not be interested? I'll tell Princess Huayang later."

"If you tell Princess Huayang that your second brother stole your eldest brother's woman, just imagine how the Xie family will lose face in the capital, and how the Grand Princess will want to tear your mouth apart."

She didn't want to cause any trouble before leaving, or have Princess Huayang do something behind her back, which would only bring more trouble.

Xie Ling was most afraid of this stepmother. When she heard her mention the Grand Princess, she realized that her family had kept quiet about the matter and understood what was going on. She angrily wrung out her handkerchief.

Remembering how strange her eldest brother had been lately, having not been seen for several days, and looking at the woman in front of her, who seemed to be hiding in her second brother's room, completely oblivious to everything, she thought to herself, "What a fox!"

A heartless woman.

"Hey, what are you thinking? Princess Huayang is no pushover. After she marries into the Xie family, she will definitely try every means to kill you. You're giving up your eldest brother and the position of the Crown Prince's consort to become your second brother's concubine?"

Seeing Xie Ling suddenly sit down on the opposite couch, Ning Yu lowered her eyes slightly, not intending to pay her any attention.

But then she heard a strange noise. Her eyes lit up, and she looked up with a smile and said, "That's right, it would be a blessing to marry a man like your second brother as a concubine."

That's true. She's never seen a man better looking than her second brother. Although he's cold-tempered, his physique and appearance are impeccable. That's why her close girlfriends would rather be concubines than marry her second brother.

Two days ago, the young lady from the Xiao family, a woman from a prominent family, even dragged her sisters from her household to go ice skating, openly and secretly inquiring about her second brother's bedroom affairs, and also belittled Princess Huayang.

His mind was racing, and seeing the woman in front of him looking infatuated, he didn't want to look anymore and said sarcastically, "No taste. Second brother is always so cold and aloof. How can he compare to eldest brother's gentleness?"

"Your second brother may seem cold on the outside, but he's very warm-hearted inside," Ning Yu said, her voice brimming with affection. "He treats me very well."

"So what if I'm nice to you? Isn't my older brother good to you?"

"I love you, Second Brother, I can't live without him."

Xie Xun never expected to hear Ning Yu say that she loved him at the door. An indescribable emotion surged in his chest. He lowered his eyes, controlled his beating heart, and stepped inside.

Xie Ling was about to scold her for being shameless, but when she saw her second brother enter, she immediately shrank back and stood up from the couch, saying, "Second brother."

Oh no, what did she say? How much of it did her second brother hear?

Xie Xun glanced at her indifferently. "As a daughter of the Xie family, you spend your days gossiping like a bunch of long-tongued women. Don't you want your tongue anymore?"

This was the first time her second brother had ever scolded her. Although he was usually very cold towards them, he had never scolded them like this before. Xie Ling felt wronged and scared at the same time and dared not refute him.

Unlike her other brothers, she didn't dare to act spoiled with her second brother.

Ning Yu glanced at the two of them, a smug smile playing on her lips, but her face remained gentle and considerate. "Fifth Miss was just joking, Commander, please don't be angry."

Xie Ling glanced at her silent second brother, then quickly lifted her skirt and ran away, with the maids and servants following suit.

As soon as the person left, Ning Yu adjusted her embroidered waist sash and asked with concern, "Why did the Commander return so early today?"

Xie Xun had been busy in the palace for two days and hadn't seen her. Now, seeing her lying obediently in her room, he glanced at the embroidery she was making and walked over. "Is this for me?"

Ning Yu was lifted up and placed on his lap. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him, saying softly, "I didn't have much to do at the manor, so I thought I'd embroider a waistband for the governor."

Treating him like a master and trying to please him is one thing; she really doesn't dare to think about how she'll get out of the East Garden with so many guards.

Looking at her obedient appearance, Xie Xun leaned down to kiss her.

"Has something happened to you these past two days? Why haven't you come home?"

He paused, suppressing the urge in his heart, and patiently explained, "The palace has been in a lot of chaos lately, and things have been quite busy."

Remembering something, he touched her face and instructed, "The capital has been quite unsettled these past few days, so don't go out unless you have something to do."

Ning Yu looked at him with worry and longing in her eyes, "Then you can have all the guards from the East Garden follow you. You don't need to send so many people to guard me."

Xie Xun looked down at her, his gaze seeming to pierce her heart, carrying a sense of oppressive scrutiny.

Ning Yu was taken aback, but continued, "I don't understand matters of the court either, I just hope nothing bad happens to you."

It would be best if something bad happened quickly, so that he wouldn't abuse his power to oppress people all the time.

"You fell into the water the other day when I wasn't looking at you. Sending more people to patrol is to protect you."

They were clearly spying on her and didn't believe her story from that day at all.

Ning Yu grunted and didn't dare to say anything more. This kind of suspicious man would not lower his guard because of a few words from her.

"Didn't you say you were going to buy clothes? Why haven't I seen you wearing any?" He unbuckled her belt and reached inside to touch her.

Ning Yu grunted and quickly pressed his hand down. "I didn't see anything suitable."

Xie Xun glanced at the undergarment she was wearing, then whispered a laugh in her ear.

Hearing the bastards uttered by him, Ning Yu couldn't bear it any longer and covered his lips with one hand.

He didn't care, he pressed her down on the couch with one hand, untied his waist sash and slapped it onto her mouth. She opened her eyes wide and quickly withdrew her hand. What a barbarian!

"Good boy, I still have to go to the palace in a while, open up."

When he comes back in his spare time, it's not just to take a look; he wants to sleep in.

uh~

Ning Yu's cheeks flushed instantly. Damn it, fine, there are only a few days left, I'll just have to put up with him for two more days.