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

The emotionless voice terrified Ning Yu even more. Her hands, hidden under the covers, trembled as she managed to ask, "Why has the Commander come personally in the middle of the night?"

Did anyone see you when you came in? There are Xie Yan's guards all outside, and the maids and servants are still awake at this hour.

Xie Xun seemed to see right through her thoughts. Leaning against the bedside, he said, "Since my sister-in-law isn't going, I had no choice but to come myself."

After they became physically entangled, he rarely called her "sister-in-law," except when he was angry.

Ning Yu suddenly felt her throat go dry. She secretly straightened her clothes with her hand hidden under the covers. Luckily, she didn't have the habit of sleeping naked.

"The young master was inside the room just now, so I didn't dare to go out."

Xie Xun glanced at her face from head to toe. "Big brother has been gone for almost half an hour."

How did he know? Could it be that he was the one who called the person away?

Ning Yu's mind raced with conflicting thoughts, but now was definitely not the time to turn against him. Xie Xun's temper was unpredictable, and he might cause some trouble that she couldn't handle.

She rolled her eyes and reached out from under the covers to get closer to him.

Xie Xun watched her movements coldly, the moonlight reflecting in and illuminating half of his face, obscuring any change in his emotions.

Soft hands slowly covered his sleeves, climbing up his chest and hooking around his neck.

Their eyes met, and Xie Xun laughed at her, "It's the same trick every time."

Ning Yu didn't know if he was really laughing or not, but she steeled herself and nestled her soft body into his arms.

His chest was warm and much more solid than it looked. She nuzzled against his chest and whispered, "The courtyard is full of the young master's men. I really don't dare to run around. Please don't be angry."

As she spoke, she drew circles on his chest with her hand, "You've been busy all day, it's so late, aren't you tired, Commander?"

"It's getting late, why don't I just take a nap here?"

Ning Yu tensed up, and the air fell silent. Just then, he leaned down slightly, his fingers suddenly lifting her up by the neck.

His hands weren't cold, but they coiled around her like venomous snakes, wrapping around her again and again. Ning Yu looked into his eyes, her hands gripping his clothes so tightly they crumpled into large wrinkles.

The two were so close that onlookers might have thought they were a couple enjoying their time together. But Ning Yu knew that cold sweat was breaking out on her back, and she was cursing him in her heart, wishing he would strangle her.

Xie Xun looked at her. "Are you insulting me?"

"---"

Ning Yu softened her body and moved her lips, "My neck hurts, Commander, please be gentle."

He didn't loosen his grip; instead, he tightened his fingers, while his other hand gently untied the ribbons of her clothes.

Ning Yu groaned and subconsciously tried to stop him with her hand. He slightly lifted his eyelids to look at her, and her palm trembled. She leaned against him and dared not move.

Although it was summer, the room was still a bit cool at night. She had taken off all her clothes and lay naked in his arms, her back covered in goosebumps.

Xie Xun scrutinized her from head to toe, and Ning Yu felt as if he were looking at a mere object. She felt so humiliated that she wanted to scratch his face.

She concealed the hatred in her eyes, biting her lower lip and remaining silent.

After Xie Xun finished reading, he seemed satisfied, and his aura became less intimidating. He loosened his grip on her neck slightly and looked down at her face.

"If you bite again, your lips will get bleeding."

Ning Yu looked up. "Cold."

Xie Xun glanced at the clothes on the ground, threw her onto the couch, and before she could hurriedly cover herself with the blanket, he leaned over and pressed down on her.

Ning Yu was afraid that he would really come to her room without any regard for others, so she quickly put her hand in front of his chest and said, "This is Mo Courtyard."

"What's wrong with the Ink Academy? You and I can both enter, but I can't?"

"---"

Ning Yu took a deep breath. "The young master is still at the Mo Academy. I beg the governor to give me some face."

"Decent?" Xie Xun tightened his grip on her leg. "Why didn't you talk about decentness when you climbed into my bed?"

She initially thought Xie Yan was dead, but now that he's back, she can't and doesn't want to do such a thing.

"Hmm~"

Her mouth was blocked, and she didn't even have a chance to say the words that were stuck in her throat before he shut them all up.

She instinctively tried to push him away, but no matter what she did, she couldn't budge him. Instead, he pinned her down on the bed, trapping her tightly.

Occasionally, disordered breathing could be heard from inside the tent. When Xie Yan returned from the hall, he passed by the small courtyard. He glanced at the room with its doors and windows tightly closed. There were no lights on inside, but he seemed to hear some sounds.

The footsteps came from outside the courtyard, approaching the room step by step. Before they even got close to the door, Xie Xun heard the sound. He glanced at the door and became even more unrestrained.

"Ayu, are you resting?"

The footsteps stopped just outside the door. Ning Yu was startled by the sound and broke out in a cold sweat. She quickly pushed him away.

Xie Xun, that bastard, only got more excited, causing her to take a deep breath and remain silent in response to the sounds outside.

There was no movement inside. Xie Yan stared at the silent room with a slightly darkened gaze, paused for a moment, and then turned and left.

The main courtyard remained exactly as it had been when he was there. No one had lived there, and no one had disturbed the layout of the rooms. He listened to the strategist's report below and took a sip of tea.

"I understand, you may leave."

It was already past midnight when Xie Yan went to the washroom at the back to wash up. When he came out, his eyes caught sight of the "double happiness" character that hadn't been torn down on the outer window, and he thought of the woman's gentle eyes.

Ningyu, Ningyu.

He muttered her name to himself and then summoned the head maid who had been working at the Mo Academy for many years.

"Replying to Your Highness, this old servant has also spoken to the Princess Consort, but the Princess Consort said that she did not want to disturb Your Highness's old things, so she made an excuse to move to the courtyard next door and rarely comes here anymore."

Xie Yan lit an incense stick. "What does she usually do?"

"The Crown Princess prefers quiet and rarely goes out to socialize, but—" the old nanny hesitated, "I heard that the Crown Princess knows the Third Prince."

Xie Yan didn't seem surprised to hear this. Clearly, he had already been told about what had happened in the manor before he returned.

"What does the Crown Princess usually like to eat?"

"The old servant noticed that the small kitchen often prepares spicy food."

Xie Yan hummed in agreement and instructed, "Have someone prepare a table of her favorite dishes for tomorrow and send them over after she wakes up."

"Yes."