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

After Xie Yan's funeral was over, the servants of the Xie family were cleaning the mansion. Ning Yu walked with her head down and her eyes downcast from an inconspicuous corner, following the sparsely populated Hibiscus Canal to the Ebony Bridge.

After crossing the ebony bridge, you'll reach the archway of the East Garden. The maidservant serving outside bows upon seeing her and says, "This servant will go and announce your arrival."

Behind the waterside pavilion is a natural bathing pool, where Xie Xun would bathe and soak after returning from Yue Mountain.

He had just emerged from behind the artificial hill when he heard Qingfeng's voice, "Master, the Crown Princess requests an audience."

When Ning Yu entered, she saw the white-robed young man sitting in the pavilion with a half-finished chess game in front of him. He was facing away from her, and his white robes gave him an air of natural nobility.

If I didn't know what a ruthless and vicious person he was, I would really think he was a kind person.

The environment here is very quiet and elegant. Few maids pass by. There are artificial hills and flowing water, and as far as the eye can see, there is lush vegetation.

Ning Yu lifted her foot and walked towards the pavilion.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted closer. Xie Xun didn't even lift his eyes, his voice gentle yet containing a hint of a smile, "What is it, sister-in-law?"

Judging from his tone, Ning Yu felt that he seemed to know the purpose of her visit, and felt slightly uneasy.

She changed her mind and gently approached him. "I do have a favor to ask of the Commander. He has seen my situation in the manor since he returned these past few days. My father is of low rank, my husband died in battle, and I have no one to rely on in the manor---"

The cloying fragrance of the woman wafted into his nostrils, and Xie Xun's eyes, which had been fixed on Canqi, finally turned towards her.

She wore a light, light pink dress, with willow-leaf eyebrows and fox-like eyes. Her cheeks were as beautiful as peach blossoms in the cold spring. She used to be covered up, so no one knew that her figure was so beautifully outlined with her curves.

He looked at her meaningfully, his tone of voice neither praising nor criticizing her, "She's certainly bold and fearless."

Before Ning Yu could speak, he ripped the sachet off her waist.

As soon as it was opened, a rich aroma wafted out, and Xie Xun instantly felt a surge of lust rising in her chest. The closer she got, the more intense that lust became.

"Drug me?"

"I wouldn't dare." Ning Yu looked at his crotch. "This is just a spice to arouse desire. It seems the Governor isn't as averse to women as rumored."

He suddenly laughed, grabbed her head, and she stumbled and fell at his feet.

Cool fingers pinched her chin and lifted it up. Even though they didn't use much force, she felt a sharp pain.

"I'm getting old, I really need a woman. Sister-in-law, are you going to offer yourself as my bedmate?"

Ning Yu laughed fearlessly, "Would the Commander-in-Chief be willing to make a deal with me?"

"My sister-in-law pretended to be weak and acted on purpose. She pushed me down the slope to be alone and used incense to lure me in. She really went to great lengths."

"Having never seduced a man before, that's what makes me look clumsy and gives the Governor a reason to laugh at me."

Xie Xun looked at her lips, which weren't covered in lipstick, and asked, feigning curiosity, "After doing all this, what do you want?"

"Princess Chang wants to kill me to be buried with my husband. I beg the Governor to protect me."

After saying that, Ning Yu straightened up slightly and pressed herself closer, bringing the two of them within arm's reach instantly.

Xie Xun pinched her chin, his rough fingertips gently caressing her lips. Her lips were clean and pink, like peach blossoms in March.

He slowly leaned down and tentatively touched her lips.

A warm breath suddenly entered her body, and Ning Yu couldn't help but shiver. She felt the hairs on her body stand on end, but there was no reason to back down. She could only close her eyes and stay still.

The man kissed her a few times, then seemed to lose interest. He released her, a half-smile on his face, "Like a dead fish, is this your sincerity, sister-in-law?"

Ning Yu's body stiffened slightly, and after a moment, seeing that he was about to pull away, she immediately raised her arm and hooked it around his neck, her alluring eyes staring straight at him, and licked his lips.

He didn't move, just watched her movements with his eyes lowered.

Ning Yu wasn't very good at it, but with a determined heart, she tilted her chin up and pried open his lips to kiss him.

The sweet fragrance of her daughter filled the air instantly, and her body was as soft as when she rolled into his arms last night. Xie Xun thought that he really needed a woman.

He took the initiative, holding her head and kissing her fiercely, silencing her soft gasps.

Ning Yu was a little overwhelmed and subconsciously reached out to push him away, but she realized that his hand had slipped inside her thin clothes.

She steeled herself, snuggled into his arms, and tried her best to respond to him.

Qingfeng hadn't expected to encounter such a shocking scene when he brought people in. He quickly covered the eyes of the adults behind him and led them out of the courtyard.

When Lord Qi came in, he didn't dare to look around, but Qingfeng's action caught him off guard and he caught a glimpse of the scene on the other side.

He couldn't see clearly who the woman in the governor's arms was. The woman had her back to him, so he couldn't see her face, but he could see her exquisite curves. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and her slender waist had a unique charm.

"Come in."

The voice was clearly directed at them, and the two immediately stopped in their tracks, but both kept their heads down and didn't dare to look.

Xie Xun released the woman from his arms, noticing the sweat glistening on her temples and her eyes gradually becoming rosy and alluring. He said in a hoarse voice, "There's a natural hot spring in the back. Go wash up first."

Ning Yu dared not let others see her face, so she pulled her coat over her shoulders and gave a soft "hmm".

Her legs felt a little weak when she stood up, but the man made no attempt to help her up, remaining indifferent as if he weren't the same man who had just been so wild.

After walking around the artificial hill, Xie Xun picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and said gently, "Come here."

Qi Huizhi lowered his head and presented the dossier, saying, "These are all the dossiers from the Battle of Nanguan that I have retrieved."

"What does Lord Qi think of the Crown Prince's proposal today?"

The Crown Prince wanted to replace the commander of the troops at the border, who was a general who had been fighting on the border for many years and had fought alongside the governor in the northwest.

Although the governor has not been on the battlefield in recent years, he has consolidated military power in the court and climbed to the position of commander-in-chief of the three armies with the help of the elders' council. This has already threatened the crown prince.

You should know that the commander-in-chief of the three armies back then was the crown prince, appointed by the emperor himself, but now—the emperor has grown old.

"This humble official and the Minister of War will jointly submit a memorial, which will be presented to the emperor first thing tomorrow morning."

Xie Xun seemed satisfied with his answer, flipping through the files and saying, "The envoy from Shangliang will arrive in the capital in a few days. Instruct the Ministry of Rites to make arrangements for his reception."

"Your humble servant understands."

Ning Yu walked through the artificial hills and ponds and arrived at the natural hot spring pool. She had never seen it before when she came to the East Garden. It was connected to the water pavilion and must be underground running water. It was still steaming and surrounded by water mist.

Perhaps because Xie Xun often bathed here, there was a high platform next to the hot spring, with a stove burning underneath and a heated kang bed covered with white bear fur on top.

Anyone with eyes can tell what it is for.

Ning Yu felt a little disgusted. She had been married into the Xie family for so long and had never heard of Xie Xun having any maidservants. How could he do such things at the hot spring? Shameless dog.

Forget it, if he were a good person, she would be dead by now. A man like him may seem like a decent person on the surface, but who knows how ruthless he is in bed. It's not impossible that he might be keeping several women.

With that in mind, she went over and ate something.

There was also a pot of warmed wine on the tray, which had probably cooled down because the person hadn't had time to drink it.

She poured herself a drink to warm herself up.

Feeling less hungry, she sat by the pool to test the water temperature, then took off her coat and went into the water.