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

The courtyard was surrounded by soldiers. Ning Yu did not see Xie Xun, and when she went to the kitchen, she could not find Qing He and Shen Huijun either.

She didn't say anything, turned around and went back to her room. A little while later, a doctor came to change her dressing, but Ning Yu refused and took the gauze and porcelain bottle herself to change the dressing.

The food on the table had gone cold. She sat on the stool in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror, a grotesque smile forming on her face.

How will he treat them now that they've fallen out like this?

Given Xie Xun's temperament, he naturally tied her up and took her back. He didn't have time to waste with her here. He had just finished dealing with the folded paper that had been delivered overnight when Qingfeng came to report that Ning Yu hadn't eaten anything yet.

Bang! Smash!

The fine white porcelain cup shattered on the ground. Xie Xun's anger, which he had been holding back all night, finally erupted. What a thankless wretch! Why was he wasting his breath talking to her?

His Majesty's face was terrifyingly grim, and the adults standing beside him trembled with fear, not daring to utter a sound, as they took the folded documents that were handed down and passed them on layer by layer.

"Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself." An official hurriedly offered a silk handkerchief.

After His Majesty stayed here yesterday, the entire courtyard has changed dramatically. The porcelain cups used are all imperial items, it would be such a pity to break them like this.

Xie Xun took the handkerchief and wiped his hands. "Go and prepare the boat immediately, and get ready to return to the capital."

"Are we still returning to the capital at the original time?" With this lady throwing such a tantrum, how can she possibly return to the capital?

With the southern campaign imminent, he had no time to waste in this wretched place with her fussing. If she didn't want to go back, he would just tie her up and take her back.

Upon seeing the man glance at him sideways, the official immediately said respectfully, "Your subject will go and make preparations."

With a creak, the door was opened from the outside. Ning Yu was still sitting on the stool. She caught a glimpse of the person who came in out of the corner of her eye and remained silent.

Xie Xun glanced at the untouched food and asked, "Are you trying to starve yourself?"

"Now that Your Majesty has left with your group, I'm naturally in the mood for a meal."

The bottomless pool was terrifying to behold, and Ning Yu felt a chill run down her spine, but she did not back down an inch.

Xie Xun took the still-warm porridge and walked up to her, grabbing the back of her neck with one hand and asking condescendingly, "Want some?"

"Where is Qinghe?"

"Eat it and I'll tell you."

It was obvious that if she didn't want to eat, she would be forced to. Ning Yu took the food, ate a few mouthfuls hastily, and said, "Okay, tell me."

"He's locked up in this dilapidated house of yours."

Ning Yu breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that she was still alive, and her beautiful face regained some color.

From the moment Xie Xun found her, she had been aloof and distant, even going against him and daring to turn against him. Suddenly seeing her softened eyes and recalling her charming and pitiful appearance in the East Garden, he couldn't help but want to lower his head and kiss her.

He softened his expression and loosened his grip on her.

The gentle caress on the back of her neck sent shivers down her spine, and the air around her gradually became ambiguous and alluring. Ning Yu noticed this and her body stiffened.

Xie Xun was no stranger to her subtle changes. He didn't hide anything, but instead scooped her up, pressed her against the dressing table, and leaned down to kiss her.

Ning Yu turned her face away and reached out to push him, but he was tall and imposing, and she couldn't move him at all.

The man's hot breath washed over her face. He kissed her fiercely, prying open her teeth and entwining his lips and tongue as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

The kiss was filled with the scent of their intertwined breaths, mixed with her broken curses.

Xie Xun pretended not to hear, rubbing her soft body and smelling her familiar scent, wishing he could vent all the torment of not being able to sleep during this period on her.

He wanted to do that last night. What does it matter if he loves her or not? She still has to lie under him, spread her legs, and get pregnant with his child.

With a tearing sound, the clothes were ripped apart, revealing the smooth, creamy skin underneath. Ning Yu was so angry at being bullied like this that she wanted to slap him across the face.

But the bastard was already on guard. He grabbed both of her wrists with one hand and held them above her head, sucking and biting her lips and tongue.

Her chest was pressed tightly against his chest. She struggled fiercely, but he pressed her waist down, and she could feel it even through the thin fabric.

The salty tears tasted on his lips, and Xie Xun's eyes hardened with anger. Out of sight, out of mind, he turned her over.

Ning Yu's chest heaved from his rough movements. "I've started my period."

Xie Xun paused, then reached out to touch it.

"Have you no shame? Let go."

"You're lying to me?" He leaned down and whispered in her ear, biting her earlobe.

Ning Yu looked at the two figures entwined in the bronze mirror, her eyes filled with tears of anger. She didn't want to be entangled with him in this ambiguous way, but he just wouldn't let her go.

"His Majesty is truly indiscriminate in his hunger, even enjoying gnawing on injured patients."

A sarcastic voice pierced her ears, and Xie Xun tightened his grip on her waist. "Ning Yu, there's no need to provoke me. As long as I'm alive, you'll only ever be by my side. Forget about anything else."

"I haven't settled the score with you for running away yet. If you obey me and come back to the capital, you can live a more peaceful life, and the Ning family can rise rapidly in the court."

Ning Yu realized that he was threatening her, and that he was using the Ning family to threaten her.

"Be smart and don't do anything stupid that will anger me."

The last words were deep and imposing, clearly carrying a suffocating pressure. Ning Yu felt exhausted, as if her hands and feet had lost all strength.

Does he mean that she should be grateful to him for sparing her life after she fled the capital?

Wasn't he also relentlessly pursuing her? The martial arts world offered a bounty for Qinghe's head, and the officialdom offered a reward for her whereabouts, forcing her to have nowhere to go in the world.

Whenever they met, he would either beat or kill her or target the people around her. She had had enough of such threats and would never go back to the capital with him, spending her days using her beauty to please him and living off his favor.

Xie Xun saw that she didn't speak, and he was too lazy to waste words. Not wanting to see her annoying look of going against him, he bent down and kissed her neck.

Time passed slowly, and Ning Yu didn't know how long he had been tormenting her. When she returned to the bed, she heard the sound of a gentle breeze outside, saying that everything was ready and it was time to board the ship.

She opened her eyes and saw the man getting dressed. His back, covered in old, red scratches from where she had grabbed him, was covered in marks. She looked away and pulled the covers up.

"Put your clothes on, it's time to go."

Ning Yu remained silent and motionless, lying on the bed with a cold expression.

Xie Xun stood by the bed. The pleasure he had gained from the sexual intercourse had made his face look a little better, but looking at her oblivious appearance, his eyes were dark and gloomy.

"The entire Ning family was imprisoned for conspiring with the Seventh Prince to rebel, but Ning's good daughter is living a carefree life outside."

Ning Yu was startled and looked up at him.

Xie Xun's brow relaxed when he saw that she was finally looking at him properly. "This is just a word from me, Ning Yu. You know what to do."

With just a gentle press of the superior's power, she was bound hand and foot, and then had to find ways to make herself more comfortable.

She used to do this to make her life relatively peaceful, but it all depended on his whim. If he were a good person, it would be fine, but he just turned out to be a scoundrel.

Ning Yu scoffed and looked at him silently.

Xie Xun glanced at her and said, "There are plenty of people who become ruthless lackeys for power, and you're no exception."

"Listen to me, and I will marry you, give you the highest status, let you be worshipped by all people, and enjoy the offerings of the world. I will conquer the Red River Continent and make you the most honored woman in the entire Red River Continent. You have no reason to refuse."