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

Palace lanterns were lit in the four corners of the hall, their dim light illuminating the beautiful figure. Wei Qingxue had stripped down to only her bodice and undergarments, shyly covering her slender waist with her arms, her painted eyebrows and eyes alluring and captivating.

To be honest, her brow bone was rather light. The eyebrows and eyes drawn based on the woman in the portrait were beautiful yet aggressive. When Wei Qingxue first saw herself in the mirror, she was quite surprised. It was a color and style that she had never seen before.

She didn't know why the makeup artist had dressed her up like this, and could only comfort herself that it was to please His Majesty.

"Kneel over here."

Hearing this gentle and soft tone, Wei Qingxue couldn't help but feel a surge of romantic feelings and moved closer to the dragon bed.

The woman, carefully selected by a noble family, was naturally exceptional. His slender, pale fingers lifted her chin, and she dared not look directly at Tianwei. The overwhelming gaze filled her with inexplicable fear, and she trembled involuntarily.

His waist wasn't as slender as hers, and his legs weren't as long. Xie Xun watched as her chest trembled violently, and he let go of her hand with little interest.

"Can you wield a sword?"

Wei Qingxue was stunned by this inexplicable question, but she quickly recovered and replied respectfully.

"This humble woman is not skilled in swordsmanship, but she is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to appreciate the Green Waist Dance, which is famous throughout the land.

Xie Xun was not satisfied with her answer. His cold and handsome eyes revealed a hint of laziness. She was not as interesting as that woman. That damned woman was always good at countering every move.

The hall was silent. Wei Qingxue was unsure whether she should get up and perform the dance, and a sense of conflict crossed her mind.

She peeked at the man's face, and when their eyes met, she was so frightened that she immediately lowered her eyes.

Xie Xun looked her up and down a few times. Women were just things to amuse and relieve boredom in bed. If he wasn't satisfied, he naturally wouldn't touch her.

"Go out."

Wei Qingxue's face turned deathly pale instantly. She was stripped down like that, and they just let her out?

She wanted to say something more, but seeing the man close his eyes, she couldn't utter the words stuck in her throat.

If she offended the emperor, not only would her family suffer, but her entire household would also be affected, so she dared not speak recklessly.

The soft rustling of clothes being put on quickly faded away, and the hall returned to silence.

Wei Qingxue didn't rush out. She went to the outer room to dress herself in a disheveled manner and let her hair down. She waited for about half an hour before going out.

When the eunuch outside the palace saw her come out in this state, he had the foresight to have her taken to the Jade Courtyard in the inner palace to rest.

If you gain favor and His Majesty remembers, you can expect a reward. But if His Majesty doesn't remember, there are plenty of concubines in the palace who die mysteriously.

The news that Wei Qingxue had been in the Imperial Study for so long quickly spread throughout the palace. The head maid of Changxin Palace also heard the discussions among the people below. She glanced at the lady who had already retired for the night and sighed.

What was this lady thinking? She let those seductive sluts have their way. Men are all the same; they can't resist temptation. It's one thing to act a little temperamental, but how could she hit His Majesty? He's the emperor!

Ning Yu didn't know what the head aunt was thinking, and she lay down exhausted.

She overheard the head maid mentioning it casually during breakfast the next day. She didn't show any expression, and after listening, she didn't express any thoughts, instead spending some time digesting her food in the hall.

There were people guarding her both inside and outside the hall. Ning Yu had tried to untie the chain several times in secret, but she couldn't, and she didn't have any tools to pry it open.

"Madam has only eaten a small half bowl of porridge. The imperial kitchen has just sent over some pastries. Please have a little more."

Ning Yu looked at the pastries and felt nauseous. She shook her head, not having much of an appetite, and said, "You guys eat."

The lady was very generous. The head maid could tell that she had a good nature and genuinely hoped that she would live a good life, so she couldn't help but offer her advice again.

"Madam, why don't you go and apologize to His Majesty? It's not good for you to be locked up like this forever. His Majesty dotes on you so much, if you say a few nice words, you won't have to be locked up like this anymore."

Would he let her go if she gave in? It's just that he's not tired of playing with her and has a desire to conquer her, that's his nature. Is this how he treats her if he truly loves her?

Ning Yu felt a burning hatred whenever she thought of the horror he had shown her on the bed that day, as if he wanted to tear her apart to the bone.

He deliberately humiliated her. To be honest, if she hadn't practiced martial arts, she wouldn't have been able to withstand his ferocity in bed.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Suddenly, the sound of palace servants bowing came from outside. Ning Yu was startled and frowned.

The Grand Princess stepped into the main hall, and all the palace servants knelt on the ground, prostrating themselves in respect.

After His Majesty ascended the throne, he honored the Grand Princess as Empress Dowager. Although she succeeded to the throne by virtue of being a member of the imperial clan, she immediately launched a series of southern and northern expeditions that overthrew the previous dynasty. The Duke went to the Grand Palace to live out his days in peace, and several historians were killed.

The Grand Princess had initially held onto a sliver of hope, comforting herself that the Xie family was talking nonsense and that her son couldn't possibly do something so foolish. But upon seeing Ning Yu with her own eyes, she nearly lost her balance.

The woman who had been sent away was brought back by the emperor, who wanted to make her empress. This was a great disgrace to the Xie family.

Her magnificent headdress jingled softly, and her dignified and elegant features nearly cracked when she saw the gold chain locked around Ning Yu's ankle.

The room was completely silent. Ning Yu neither bowed nor spoke, but simply stared at the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess knew perfectly well that it was her son who had forced the girl to stay, preferring to lock her up here rather than let her remain.

But she couldn't blame her son, so she could only vent her anger on Ning Yu. If this woman hadn't seduced her son, Xun'er wouldn't have been so foolish.

"What a wicked child."

Ning Yu didn't know who she was cursing, and unconsciously moved a little further away from her.

"Get out, everyone."

The palace servants bowed and withdrew. The head maid glanced worriedly in Ning Yu's direction, but seeing that Ning Yu still had a calm expression, she lowered her head and left.

"Aunt, should I go and inform His Majesty?"

Upon hearing the maid's words, the head maid turned around and stood guard at the door, saying, "No need."

Whatever Your Majesty wants to know, someone will always respectfully present it to you; it just depends on whether Your Majesty is willing to come.

"Shameless wretch."

The angry, reproachful tone reached Ning Yu's ears, but she lowered her eyes and remained indifferently silent.

The Grand Princess sat down in a chair, pointed at her nose, and scolded, "You idiot, you think you can be found after running away?"

"All land under heaven belongs to the king. If the Empress Dowager can properly manage your son, I will not return to this palace."

This was the first time Ning Yu had spoken to her like this. The Grand Princess squinted at her cold and aloof features, and her suppressed anger surged up.

"Don't take his favor for granted; he's the emperor."

Ning Yu remained silent.

The Grand Princess looked at Ning Yu's unadorned face with a gloomy gaze. As long as Ning Yu lived, the Emperor would not let her go. Only her death could cover up these shameful deeds.

"Do you know that Ayan is still looking for you?"

Xie Yan?! Ning Yu recalled the lie she had told Xie Yan before she left, and a faint sense of guilt flashed through her heart.

"I don't know. Princess Ning Yu is already dead. Empress Dowager, there's no need to test me."

She was a smart woman, but unfortunately, she was a femme fatale. If it weren't for the fact that she caused her two sons to draw their swords against each other, I would have liked her quite a bit.

The Grand Princess came today mainly to confirm whether the woman the Emperor had abducted was Ning Yu. She had no intention of doing anything to her in the Emperor's palace. She glanced at her a few times, noticing the chains on her fair ankles and her unpleasant expression.