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

The fact that the Empress Dowager had gone to Changxin Palace could not be kept from Xie Xun. When Xie Xun heard Qingfeng say that the person had already left, he casually asked about her condition.

"Madam is alright and is resting inside the palace."

Seeing that His Majesty was still staring at him, Qingfeng suddenly realized something and stammered, "The lady has been staying quietly in the palace and hasn't said anything else."

Xie Xun glanced at the memorial in his hand, his brows furrowing even more deeply in gloom. He remained silent, and just as Qingfeng was about to leave, he heard a sound.

"Summon Minister Xiao and Duke Zheng to the palace."

Several bad news reports have come from the southern expedition. The situation at court has been very unstable these past few days. The incompetent officials of those powerful families have caused the southern expedition to retreat step by step, and His Majesty's plan to take Yanmen Pass of Shangliang has been thwarted.

Qingfeng knew that if they couldn't take Yanmen Pass, the war would drag on for many years, and military expenses and supplies would be a huge burden.

The lights in the imperial study burned well into the night. The head eunuch, carrying tea, bowed and respectfully asked, "Your Majesty must be tired after a long day. Would you like to summon Master Wei to serve you?"

Xie Xun took the tea and took a sip. "What, Master Wei?"

"Your Majesty has forgotten that it was the Wei family who sent their daughter to the palace. After she came out of the palace that day, we let her stay in the Jade Courtyard."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man's chilling aura startled the old man, who immediately knelt on the ground, covered in dust.

That day, it was the master of the Xie family who asked him to let the Wei family's daughter in to serve His Majesty. Later, the woman lived up to his expectations and gained favor. He then accepted the Wei family's bribes, thinking he would mention it to His Majesty. Who would have thought His Majesty would have such an attitude?

"Take him away."

Once inside the palace, the only master was the emperor. The old eunuch was confused, and immediately a head eunuch came in and took the person away.

"Your Majesty, what should be done with the Wei family's daughter?"

Xie Xun was about to say that he would deal with it when he suddenly remembered that reckless woman. After a moment of silence, he said, "Let her stay."

With the New Year approaching, the palace was brightly lit with colorful lanterns, and joyous sounds could be heard inside and outside Changxin Hall. Ning Yu, who was confined inside the hall, listened to the head maid's ramblings with little interest, offering only a few perfunctory replies.

She lost her temper while being locked up, and her body inevitably became thinner.

Xie Xun hasn't returned since the argument that day, and the palace servants have gradually become lazy.

"Madam, I heard that the woman favored by His Majesty lives in the Jade Courtyard, where she is served by many people and is very pampered."

Ning Yu didn't want to hear any of this, so she frowned slightly and gave a casual reply without saying anything more.

Seeing her like this, the head maid sighed helplessly and said, "There is only one woman in the harem now, and His Majesty still favors you. Why don't you take advantage of this to get pregnant now, so that even if you fall out of favor in the future, you will have a guarantee."

"alright."

An unexpected voice interrupted the head maid's attempt to persuade her, so she shut her mouth, poured more tea, and left.

It rained at night, the dense rain falling on the ground, and the muffled thunderclaps inside the palace illuminated the magnificent golden hall.

Ning Yu was kept awake by the thunder and rain. She sat there for an unknown amount of time when she suddenly heard the sound of the palace door opening outside. She looked up and saw that the door was open.

When Xie Xun came in, he saw her leaning against the bed, thin and frail. Her beautiful fox-like eyes seemed to be glistening with tears in the moonlight. His temper and anger, which had been building up for days, were inexplicably suppressed. He took off his cloak and went over to her.

When Ning Yu saw it was him, she lifted the covers and lay down to sleep.

Xie Xun sat on the edge of the bed and turned her around. "You hit me, and you still have a temper?"

Ning Yu didn't want to speak, but when he forcefully pulled her to look at him, her lifeless eyes suddenly came alive, and her eyes shimmered with a hint of discontent.

"Why did Your Majesty come over in the middle of the night?"

It's already past 4 AM, they should have been asleep long ago.

But the man ignored her words, touched her waist, and casually said, "Have you not been eating these past few days? You're so thin it's painful."

She didn't let him hug her.

Ning Yu didn't want to talk to him. When he touched her waist, she suddenly remembered what the head aunt had said and felt nauseous.

Xie Xun caught the fleeting look of disgust in his eyes, his face darkening as he reached inside and touched her.

The deliberate provocation did not ignite Ning Yu's anger; she remained aloof and indifferent, as if he were invisible.

After sleeping in a cold bed for several days, Xie Xun couldn't help but want to press closer to her as soon as he got close. Seeing that she didn't say anything, he leaned down.

Inside the dimly lit tent, the two were very close, his tall figure almost completely enveloping her.

"Has the medicine been applied?"

Ning Yu knew what he was talking about. His irrational outburst had tormented her. When she saw him lift the blanket to look, she immediately stopped his hand.

"It's all better now." He paused. "Please, Your Majesty, refrain from further beastly acts."

Xie Xun ignored her scolding him, reached out and pulled her closer to his chest, then lowered his head to kiss her lips.

Ning Yu immediately turned her head away, her expression clearly showing disdain. Xie Xun pinched her cheeks and looked at her, his tone cold and sharp, "Be sensible, don't ask for trouble."

The thought of him sleeping with someone else and then sleeping with her again made Ning Yu feel like she had swallowed a fly.

"If Your Majesty is not satisfied with other women, you can take in six palaces and have sex with ten women a night without anyone interfering. My body has nothing, so it is not worth Your Majesty's beastly treatment."

Xie Xun had almost forgotten about that day, but upon hearing her bring it up again, he gave a slight smirk, "Who told you?"

Ning Yu did not answer.

Without asking any questions, he glanced at her curvaceous figure, which couldn't be concealed even by her undergarments, and slowly unbuckled her belt.

"No matter how many women I sleep with, if I want to sleep with you, you'd better lie here obediently for me."

Ning Yu was so angry that she couldn't hold back anymore. When she saw him get on the bed, she sat up abruptly. He suddenly hugged her and put her on his lap. Her slender white legs wrapped around his strong waist, and the two of them were instantly pressed tightly together.

"Xie Xun!"

A sound of embarrassment and anger rang out in the dimly lit tent. Xie Xun forcefully pressed the back of her head down, his fingers digging into her hair, and kissed her fiercely and harshly.

Their breaths mingled intimately, the two of them very close. Years of ingrained habits prevented him from being gentle, and his domineering aura overwhelmed her, while soft, suppressed breaths escaped from inside the tent.