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

Apart from the urgent battle report sent back from the southwest that day, Xie Xun was busy for a day or two and then got back to work. The palace was bustling with activity during the New Year, with various banquets and tea parties happening one after another.

Ning Yu didn't like joining in the fun, so after letting Qing He recuperate for two days, she sent her out of the palace.

The female official from the Imperial Medical Academy did not leave the palace. She said that there was a royal physician who also knew how to treat the condition, so she brought her to the Imperial Medical Academy for treatment.

The day Ning Yu was carried out of the Hall of State Affairs by Xie Xun with her hair disheveled, she moved back to the Changxin Palace.

Xie Xun was so fond of the tender and intimate bedchamber that he spent almost all his time with her there, except when dealing with battle reports from the south. He took her with him wherever he went.

"Madam, the embroidery thread has been brought over. It's all neatly arranged and ready to use."

It had snowed these past two days, and the palace was warm with the underfloor heating on. Ning Yu started embroidering the sachets she hadn't finished before, but perhaps because her embroidery skills were too poor, the headmistress knelt at the corner of the bed and taught her stitch by stitch.

Ever since His Majesty brought this lady back to the palace and chained her up, the two have been at odds. The palace servants who served her were trembling with fear every day. But after they came out of the Hall of State Affairs that day, their relationship finally eased up. It seems that this lady has come to terms with things.

That's true. The most noble man in the world dotes on her, what is there to complain about?

Ning Yu had no idea what the nannies were thinking. She carefully followed the pattern in the picture book and finished embroidering the sachet she had promised to give to Xie Xun.

"If you are tired from embroidering, Madam, please take a rest."

A palace maid picked up the fussy kitten from the side and stepped on its master's leg in a flattering manner.

A soft, fluffy touch came over her. Ning Yu glanced at the fox cat lying obediently beside her legs and said calmly, "Not tired."

Being confined to this bedchamber all day, being served by a large group of people, how could one possibly get tired?

"Madam's needlework is becoming more and more skillful; the embroidery is truly beautiful."

Ning Yu could tell it was flattery. She knew herself that her embroidery was worthless, but it was just a formality to make herself feel comfortable.

She glanced at the dozing cat, its snow-white tail swaying gently. What a carefree cat! She couldn't help but feel a little envious.

When Xie Xun came in, he saw her gentle profile and her slender, fair fingers holding a round embroidery frame.

He thought to himself that it was a good deal to keep her in the palace by promising her some trivial favors that were not even worth mentioning.

"Madam, His Majesty has arrived."

The beaded curtain was lifted, and the old woman took the man's cloak from him. The servants kneeling on the ground saw His Majesty enter the inner hall and immediately left respectfully.

His Majesty and his wife do not like to be disturbed when they are together, and the palace servants are very perceptive about this.

Ning Yu watched him approach, lowered her eyes to suppress her thoughts. Ever since she bowed her head in the council hall that day, their relationship had fallen into a brief and eerie silence.

She tactfully accepted many of his kindnesses, and he was willing to humble himself and pamper her, granting her requests for things she wanted to do.

"Do you like it?"

Xie Xun walked to the soft couch, took the poorly embroidered python from her, glanced at it a few times, put it down, and handed her a brocade box.

Ning Yu took it, opened it, and saw that inside was a delicate little knife with a gilded dragon-patterned handguard inlaid with glass.

A flash of joy crossed her eyes as she drew her sword from its sheath. The blade was as white as the frosty moon, its chilling aura penetrating to the bone; it must have seen blood before. As thin as a cicada's wing, it could cut through iron like mud.

"You can carry it with you as a self-defense tool."

After Ning Yu was attacked after falling off a cliff at the racecourse, Xie Xun had someone specially make a weapon for her to use. This knife is suitable for close combat, and it also has a mechanism that makes it easy to carry.

Ning Yu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she said softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xie Xun didn't like hearing her so distant, so he lifted her up by the waist and pinched her slender waist.

Ning Yu winced in pain, hissing. "You dog emperor, you pinched me on purpose, didn't you?"

"How come you're not getting fat?"

Ning Yu frowned, glancing at her flat stomach. She had gained weight in the past few days, not only eating more but also sleeping more.

A barely perceptible sadness flashed in her eyes. Because of her pregnancy, she was becoming increasingly sleepy. The palace servants followed her around all day, so she dared not go to the Imperial Hospital anymore and could not obtain any medicine.

Moreover, now that her relationship with Xie Xun has improved, he will definitely inquire about her affairs, and the palace servants will tell him everything without missing a word, and if they find anything unusual, that's it.

He must leave the palace as soon as possible; he should receive the letter soon.

Ning Yu thought of that person, and a hint of shame flashed in her eyes.

But now, she has no choice but to ask him for help; no one can help her out of Xie Xun's clutches.

"What are you thinking about?" Ning Yu's cheek was suddenly pinched, and she looked directly at him in pain.

There was a cold dissatisfaction in Xie Xun's eyes. Who was he thinking about when he was with him?

Ning Yu didn't want to argue with him again, so she said in a relatively good mood, "I was just thinking that the New Year is almost over, and His Majesty will be busy again, so he probably won't have time to spend with me."

She effortlessly said the things he wanted to hear. Xie Xun used to not care whether she was sincere or not, but now for some reason, he felt very uncomfortable. She was clearly just going through the motions. Who was she thinking about just now?

Ning Yu could tell he was dissatisfied, and inwardly complained, "He's so hard to please."

"Have the Donghu envoys left?"

"You just left. Get down and put on your clothes. I'll take you for a walk."

Ning Yu didn't want to go out with him, so she rubbed her forehead and said, "I'm not feeling well, I want to stay in the house."

"Do you not want to go out, or do you not want to go out with me?"

The air fell silent for a moment. She stiffened as she got off the bed, took a cloak from the rack and put it on. Her beautiful eyes, moist with tears, looked at him. "Let's go."

Xie Xun grabbed her waist and led her outside.

Ning Yu quickly took his cloak. "It's snowing, Your Majesty, please wear something warmer."

"I am not cold."

Seeing his tense jaw, she paused for a moment, then tiptoed to drape the coat over his shoulders and tie the straps. "You should wear it; it's cold."

Xie Xun lowered his eyelids to look at her, "I thought my Empress only had eyes for other people."

Yes, the Ministry of Rites has already determined the auspicious day for the Empress's investiture ceremony. It will be in April after the New Year, just after spring. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau selected the auspicious day, and the clothing measurements have already been taken.

Ning Yu pretended not to notice the sarcasm in his words, "Didn't Your Majesty say you were going out? Where to?"

After the New Year, another snow fell in the capital. The fluffy snowflakes fell into the mountains and forests. The road up from the racecourse was steep, and Ning Yu was panting heavily. She couldn't help but lean on his arm for support.

She's really been spoiled rotten; she's almost as delicate and weak as those concubines in the palace before.

Xie Xun saw that her cheeks were flushed and she was panting with her mouth open. "With your stamina, you should come out and train for a few hours every day from now on."

She didn't refute it; her body really needed more training, as her stamina was significantly reduced when she encountered an assassin.

Before Ning Yu could react, her waist was suddenly gripped tightly, and she was swept up in his arms and carried up the mountain.

northwest.

Hundreds of tents were pitched on Ximing Mountain. The biting wind from the mountain lashed at people's faces. At the top of the Holy Maiden Temple, a man in military uniform took a letter from under the long eagle claw and opened it.