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

The moon hung low in the sky, the lamplight flickered in the night, and the lively fireworks of the market burst into colorful blooms in the sky. However, the warm laughter and cheerful voices could not penetrate into this cold little courtyard, where the silence was eerily quiet.

Ning Yu looked at the man sitting in the chair like a bewildered child. Why?

Why is it that even though she's escaped so far away, he still manages to find her? Why won't he let her go?

The two looked at each other, neither of them speaking first.

His black and gold brocade robe was embroidered with golden dragon patterns, and his elegant face was even more majestic and solemn as an emperor. Although he was sitting, his eyes still looked down at them with the same condescending gaze.

She felt as if something was squeezing her heart, and she stood there frozen, unable to move.

A biting wind howled past, and Shen Huijun, bewildered, saw the soldiers suddenly appear at the door. He glanced at the imposing and aloof man sitting there, unable to guess his identity, only feeling a terrifying sense of impending doom.

He swallowed hard, then boldly stepped forward. "Excuse me, sir, have you come to the wrong place?"

No one paid any attention; the only sound was the howling wind. Seeing this, he continued, "Whoever you are, please get out of here."

Xie Xun's gaze finally settled on Ning Yu, slowly and deliberately. "Ask her who I am?"

Although the man's tone was gentle, why was he so frightening? Shen Huijun felt that the man's eyes were full of disdain, as if he didn't take him seriously at all, but there was also a kind of inexplicable hostility.

This person knows Miss Liu; could he be one of those bullies who have followed her home?

Thinking about it this way, he instantly felt a surge of anger.

Before he could speak again, Ning Yu turned to look at him and said, "You should go back first."

ah---

Shen Huijun noticed that her expression was off and didn't want to leave. Besides, there were soldiers with swords and knives outside, so what would be the point of leaving two young women behind?

"Miss Liu, who is he?"

Who is he?! Ning Yu glanced at the brocade robe the man was wearing under his cloak. Should she call him the Governor, or His Majesty?

"You should ask her, what am I to her?"

The man's tone was arrogant. Shen Huijun looked into his cold, dark pupils, which seemed like those of a fierce beast biting its prey, making it hard for him to breathe.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, so quiet that it was as if the distant sounds of fireworks and firecrackers couldn't be heard. Ning Yu looked at his frosty face and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Xie Xun casually surveyed his surroundings, speaking slowly, "Toying with my feelings, going to great lengths to leave me, and running off to this godforsaken place, Ning Yu, is this the life you wanted?"

Ning Yu?! Shen Huijun was taken aback. Wasn't it Liu Qinghuan? Who was Ning Yu?

"Is this the man you chose?"

His eyes were full of irony and a chilling coldness; she knew that beneath that extreme calm lay an unimaginable threat and terror.

Ning Yu took a deep breath, glanced at the heavily guarded gate, and said, "Let them out first, and I'll explain to you."

"Come here."

Ning Yu walked slowly and stiffly toward him, a barely perceptible look of fear and disgust flashing in her eyes, and stood in front of him.

Xie Xun grabbed her waist with one hand and pulled her into his arms, pinching her chin and lifting her up. The human skin mask in his hand just barely brushed past the corner of her mouth.

The rough and domineering action made Shen Huijun want to rush forward to save her, but before he could take a few steps, Qingfeng stomped him to the ground.

When he tried to get up in a disheveled state, he was suddenly kicked back to the ground, his face covered in blood and weeds as he hit the stones.

Hearing the commotion, Ning Yu turned around and saw Qing He being led away with her mouth covered. Shen Huijun was lying on the ground in a disheveled state, unable to stand up. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her voice sounded like it was being squeezed out from between her teeth.

"What are you going to do?"

He tightened his grip on her chin, turning her around slightly. He looked down at her face, his voice devoid of any warmth.

"He's so worried about you. What's your relationship with him?"

"Don't touch her. She's already married. You can't just do whatever you want and forcibly take someone else's wife!"

Why do these rich young men always bully others like this, even targeting married widows?

Stepping on Shen Huijun's gentle breeze, she immediately grabbed something and stuffed it into his mouth, warning him in a low voice, "If you want to live, don't talk nonsense."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xun glanced sideways at the person pinned to the ground and asked, "Whose wife are you saying she is?"

Upon seeing this, Qingfeng immediately took the object out of Shen Huijun's mouth, but before the latter could speak, Ning Yu immediately chimed in.

"I'm just staying here temporarily. I told Young Master Shen that I had been married before, and he was referring to my late husband."

My late husband?!

"Who was your late husband? Which late husband?"

Ning Yu kept her composure and remained silent.

Xie Xun touched her face and leaned down, "I'm not dead yet."

"You—when did you get here?"

Shouldn't he be in the palace? Why did he come to Xianyang City? Why did he force her like this? He's causing everyone who gets close to her to suffer a terrible fate.

"I heard you got married, how could I not come?"

"no."

"Yes, she's already married. We've both been married in Qingshui County. You can't just abduct someone else's wife."

An angry roar echoed in the courtyard, and Xie Xun glanced sideways at it.

Ning Yu saw his murderous intent. Yes, he was a cold-hearted person by nature, and his calm and indifferent demeanor was just a disguise.

Seeing him stand up, she said, "He mistook you for a villain and was just talking nonsense to protect me."

"So protective of him? Seeing how much fun you two are having, if I hadn't shown up here today, would you be lying in bed with that scumbag?"

It was always like this, humiliating her from a superior position. Her heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, and Ning Yu now wished she could perish with everything.

Point at him and yell at him, telling him that she had slept with someone else.

But she knew that if she dared to say that they had slept together, he would really kill her. How could an emperor who held such great power tolerate such an outrageous humiliation?

No, she couldn't drag others down with her. Someone like Xie Xun would definitely make her and Shen Huijun wish they were dead. That was an unquestionable answer.

"I have nothing to do with him."

"I see." His tone was calm and elegant, but his slow steps down the stairs carried a terrifying sense of impending storm.

Shen Huijun struggled as he was pinned to the ground, his heart pounding as he watched the man walk towards him step by step.

But he did not back down in the slightest. These rich young men were all the same kind of people. He could not protect his sister, and he could not protect Miss Liu today either.

His intense focus on high school grew stronger; he clenched his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.