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

Main courtyard.

Xie Yan had just returned from the palace and made a detour to the Dali Temple. Ning San's case could be big or small. In officialdom, bribery was rampant, and as long as no trouble was caused, the emperor would turn a blind eye.

However, it seems that Ning San offended someone, and the case was suppressed.

He recalled the troubled look on the Minister of Justice's face, and a hint of coldness flashed in his otherwise emotionless eyes.

A table laden with delicious food was laid out in the dining room. Ning Yu waited until Xie Yan came out before getting up and walking over to him. "Husband."

Xie Yan chuckled and said, "Sit."

"I heard from Granny that you like to eat this, eat more." He took a soup spoon and ladled a bowl of crab roe for her. "It's hot now, is there anything we're missing in the house?"

Ning Yu accepted it, "I don't lack anything."

Xie Yan looked her up and down a few times, his gaze settling on her face, which was decorated with some kind of ornament. "When I came back from the South Gate, I met a merchant from the Western Regions and got a pair of red jade earrings from him. They are brightly colored and match you perfectly."

"I'll have Aunt Qin send it to you later."

Ning Yu paused, met his slightly smiling eyes, and nodded with a smile, "Thank you, husband."

"We are husband and wife, Ayu, don't be so formal."

She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and gave a soft "hmm".

"Do you know if your third brother has offended anyone recently?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Yu knew that he had already looked into the matter, and she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking of Xie Xun's words that day, she didn't dare to tell Xie Yan the truth. After considering it carefully, she said, "People in officialdom are all foxes. My third brother is not smart enough. Perhaps he offended someone."

Xie Yan chuckled upon hearing this, "Ayu's words have dragged everyone down with him, including me."

"My husband is a gentleman of the highest order, far superior to ordinary officials."

She flattered him without batting an eye, and Xie Yan chuckled, saying, "Military generals are rough and uncouth, unlike A Yu who is so clever."

Speaking of Xie Yan, this young general has spent many years fighting on the battlefield. However, as a noble young master raised in a large family, his speech and actions are different from the rudeness of ordinary military generals.

In their several interactions, Ning Yu did not sense any murderous aura from him. She wondered if it was because he was at home, but he seemed to have a better temper than most people.

Ning Yu felt less guarded around him, and her heart was relatively relaxed. "My third brother's matter---"

"Don't worry, you don't need to go to the Dali Temple today. I will take care of this matter."

The Dali Temple usually imprisons wicked and evil people. People have just committed murder, and the ground is covered with blood that cannot be wiped away. She should not step into that place.

---

Because Xie Yan had returned, the old lady was in high spirits and set up a table at Shouchun Garden to watch a play. In the afternoon, the second madam arranged for the members of the opera troupe to come to the garden to wait for them.

Ning Yu spent the entire day in the study playing chess with Xie Yan. The two were so engrossed in the game that they only snapped out of their reverie when they heard the voices of the guards outside. Ning Yu then rubbed her neck.

Seeing that she was tired, Xie Yan got off the bed and walked to her side, his warm hands kneading the back of her neck.

Ning Yu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, "No need, I'm fine."

"You've been with me for most of the day, you must be exhausted. Let's rest for a while before we go."

"Let's not keep Grandma waiting any longer."

Xie Yancai stayed with her in the house from the second day after he returned, which inevitably led to some gossip among the other members of the Xie family.

The opera troupe that was invited came from the opera troupes in Jiangnan and was specially hired to entertain the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital.

When Ning Yu and Xie Yan arrived, the play had already started. The old lady sat in a chair with a smile, surrounded by the masters and ladies of each household.

"Grandmother, Mother."

"We've been waiting for you two! Please have a seat." The old lady's face crinkled with a smile as soon as she saw the two of them. "Look how well-matched you are standing together."

When Xie Xun arrived, he saw the two of them sitting down together. The woman was wearing a red phoenix dress, her black hair was tied up high, she wore an exquisite hairpin, red jade earrings, and her beautiful fox eyes were bright and lively.

His eyes darkened as he looked at the two of them, and a hint of malice crept into his usually calm expression.

"It seems that my elder brother played a lot of the role in Ning San's release."

A slightly amused voice came from behind. Xie Xun's eyes were dark as he slowly walked over.

The resounding singing on the stage, depicting generals slaying enemies, mingled with the lively and noisy sounds from the garden.

Xie Xun walked around the covered walkway and saw his two grandsons coming over. The old lady greeted them with a smile and invited them to sit down.

It had only been a short while since darkness fell, and by the light of the lanterns under the eaves of the garden, one could see the bite marks on Xie Xun's lips. The old lady was taken aback. "What happened? Did you hurt your lip?"

This sentence instantly drew everyone's attention. Ning Yu naturally saw it too, and her heart tightened. She wondered why he was out here so brazenly, with a chapped lip, instead of resting in the East Garden.

"I got bitten by a cat." Xie Xun sat down opposite, his eyes glancing at Ning Yu almost imperceptibly.

Ning Yu didn't dare to meet his gaze and picked up a cup of tea to hide her expression.

"Is the Governor perhaps bitten by a cat? Is he keeping a mistress in a gilded cage?" the Third Madam teased with a laugh.

They were all experienced; anyone could tell what kind of cat had made those bite marks. And listening to what the second master said, it was clearly just to appease them.

"Now that the young master has returned, the governor's marriage should be put on the agenda so that the girl can be given a proper status."

Everyone knows that Xie Xun is not interested in women. At his age, he doesn't even have a concubine in his house. But it seems that he has suddenly become enlightened. Just a couple of days ago, I heard the Duke mention that he was with a woman in the waterside pavilion in broad daylight.

She's now openly showing up with bite marks; someone who could bite a man's lip must be quite wild.

The First Princess's smile faltered slightly at the Third Madam's teasing. "Where did this girl come from?"

The East Garden is secluded, and her son doesn't like them going there. Could it be that there's some beautiful maid who dares to climb into his bed? If she catches her, she'll definitely take her to a slave trader to sell. Seducing her master is simply outrageous.

Xie Xun looked at the woman opposite him, touched his lips, and said, "I picked her up at the temple."

Ning Yu was startled and looked at him, her hands folded on her lap turning slightly white.

Everyone was confused by his words, and the Grand Princess frowned even more, saying, "We have no right to interfere in your private affairs. Don't cause any absurdities before Huayang marries into the family."

A man who dares to flirt with women and indulge in debauchery in broad daylight is probably not a well-behaved woman; making her a concubine is an honor for her.

However, this can also be considered a good thing. She had sent so many beauties to her son before, but he didn't want them. Now he's finally seen the light, and she can hold her grandson soon.

"Girls from respectable families will be given a concubine when the princess marries into the family. Other girls will be kept on estates outside the family."

Hearing the old lady's words, Xie Xun hummed in response but did not speak.

The old lady looked at him, then glanced at Xie Yan and his wife on her left, a hint of something else flashing in her cloudy eyes, before changing the subject.

The opera troupe performed well, but Ning Yu had no interest in listening and didn't even dare to lift her head to look at the opposite side.

Xie Yan noticed her pale face and reached out to touch her forehead. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing," Ning Yu quickly forced a smile. "My back is probably still a little tired."

"Let's go back first."

"No." Ning Yu quickly grabbed his hand as he tried to get up. "The old lady keeps talking about you, my husband. You've just returned, so you should spend more time with your grandmother."