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

Ning Yu quickly stopped Xie Yan, who was about to leave, and said with difficulty, "The governor may have other things to attend to. Let's wait for the person in charge. Don't trouble the governor."

Xie Yan laughed and said, "Give us a ride along the way, it's no big deal."

"But---"

"Does my sister-in-law not want to ride with me?" Suddenly, the man turned around, his tone carrying a hint of warning.

Ning Yu shuddered at his sinister aura, and when she caught the signal in his eyes, the words stuck in her throat and she dared not utter them.

Xie Yan didn't notice anything amiss between the two, assuming she was just embarrassed with the man next to her. "Then, as you wish, let's wait a little longer."

Wait?! No one will come to deliver the car to them even if they wait until dark.

Xie Xun sneered inwardly, but said outwardly, "Brother, sister-in-law is only wearing so few clothes. What if she catches a cold?"

Xie Yan subconsciously looked at Ning Yu's clothes, following his words. It was a hot day yesterday, and she was indeed wearing thin clothes.

"It's cool in the mountains, A-Yu, let's go back first."

Ning Yu could sense that Xie Xun's gaze was unfriendly, so she could only nod and hum in agreement, pretending to smile.

The carriage was at the foot of the mountain. The Xie family's carriage was naturally very spacious and grand. After Ning Yu got into the carriage, she consciously and voluntarily sat in the seat furthest away from Xie Xun.

The car was warm, and there were many tea snacks on the small table. Xie Xun leaned forward slightly to pour himself a cup of tea and drank it, his slightly upturned eyes looking at her through the rising steam.

"Are you hungry? Have something to eat first." Xie Yan pushed some fruits and snacks over to her.

Ning Yu paused for a moment, picked up a pastry and ate it. For a moment, the only sound in the carriage was the clinking of porcelain plates.

Ning Yu was in a terrible mood last night and barely ate anything. She also didn't sleep for most of the night. Now, before dawn, she was sitting in the warm and comfortable carriage, her eyelids drooping with sleep.

After eating a few bites of snacks and drinking some tea, she leaned against the car wall and closed her eyes. Just as she was getting sleepy, she heard the scoundrel's nitpicking voice, "Looks like sister-in-law is sleepy. Come here and lie down for a nap."

Xie Xun was sitting on a soft couch, so he got up and made room for him.

The carriage was very spacious, with soft cushions on three sides, enough for a person to lie down on. However, his seat was even larger and more spacious, and it was covered with a thin silk cloth.

Ning Yu opened her eyes, wanting to refuse, but Xie Yan said, "Go to sleep."

The carriage traveled along the quiet official road. Ning Yu leaned against the soft cushions and closed her eyes. The only sound was the conversation between the two brothers. She pretended not to see the man's glare at her and pulled up the small blanket to cover her body.

Xie Xun sat very close to her, and the blanket was covered with the scent of his agarwood. Ning Yu felt enveloped by his presence, and thinking of Xie Yan beside her, she felt so uneasy that she couldn't sleep.

The soft sounds of their conversation kept drifting into her ears, and she thought of what he had said again, her thoughts drifting away.

He wouldn't give her much time; her household registration and identity would probably only last two or three days. She needed to urge Xie Yan to go to Qingcheng to hide for a while and follow him closely.

She had no idea what he would do to fake her death. The thought that Xie Yan and her parents really thought she was dead, that her perfectly good life had been ruined by him, and that she would have to live under someone else's identity, made her feel suffocated with anger.

As dawn broke, the carriage entered the city. The streets were filled with the lively sounds of vendors hawking their wares. When they passed Baiwei Pavilion, Xie Xun called out to Qingfeng, who was driving the carriage outside, "Go buy some breakfast."

"Now?" Xie Yan lifted the curtain to look outside. "Not going home for dinner?"

The carriage rumbled to a stop on a relatively quiet street, and Qingfeng went to buy something.

Xie Xun followed his gaze and looked out onto the street. "I have something to do later."

Xie Yan glanced at the morning market outside. "Tianxiangju isn't far from here. I'm going down to buy something."

When Ning Yu vaguely heard Xie Yan saying he was going to buy something, she hurriedly tried to sit up. Just as she was about to get up, someone suddenly pressed her down. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Xie Yan getting off the carriage.

Before she could even utter a word, she looked up and met the man's dark, deep eyes.

An invisible, powerful pressure emanated from him, as if he wanted to see right through her. Ning Yu's heart trembled, and then he lifted her up.

She instinctively tried to struggle, but he grabbed her head and lifted it up. "You're sitting so far away from me because you're afraid I'll eat you up."

"I—I was afraid the prince would notice something amiss, it wasn't intentional."

His dark eyes were fixed on her. "Right under my nose, you're about to lie in his arms. When I can't see you, are you going to sleep in his bed?"

He was her husband, so what was wrong with sleeping in the same bed? Ning Yu really wanted to tell him firmly that she wanted to sleep with Xie Yan.

But looking into his unreadable eyes, she softened and moved her lips, "I didn't, I only slept with you."

Her tone inexplicably calmed his anger, and Xie Xun looked at her soft lips, wanting to kiss her.

He had always been a carefree person; he pulled her into his arms, placed her on his lap, and kissed her.

"Hmm~"

Ning Yu was startled and turned her head away, saying, "Your Highness—you'll be back soon."

The soft body sitting on his lap kept pushing and struggling, and the evil fire that Xie Xun had been suppressing surged up. He dug his long fingers into her hair, grabbed her head, and kissed her fiercely.

Ning Yu was no match for his strength, and in the end, panting, she nestled in his arms and let him kiss her.

A moment later, Xie Xun heard footsteps outside. A flash of displeasure crossed his dark eyes. He took a deep breath of the woman in his arms, then released her and placed her on the soft couch.

Ning Yu hadn't even realized why he had let her go so easily when her ears suddenly twitched as she heard someone pushing open the car door.

"Qingfeng hasn't returned yet?"

"Sir, I just came over from shopping."

A breeze suddenly came up behind him, and Xie Yan laughed, "You appeared out of nowhere, you startled me."

Qingfeng bowed respectfully and waited for the person to go upstairs. He then handed in the breakfast he had bought and placed it on the small table.

The carriage slowly made its way through the bustling city towards the inner city. Inside, Xie Xun glanced at the man carrying porcelain plates portioning out breakfast and asked, "What did you go to buy, brother?"

"The manager of Tianxiangju has close ties with people in the black market. There are many strange goods there, including some things that young women use."

With that, Xie Yan placed the food in front of Ning Yu's table, "Have something to eat first."

"A girl's things?!" Xie Xun's eyes glanced at Ning Yu, seemingly casually.

"I'll take your sister-in-law back to her residence later."

Ning Yu was taken aback. "And you?"

Xie Yan smiled and said, "It's time for court."

"---" Ning Yu immediately shut her mouth and silently started eating.