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

Her breath came out in a disordered manner from her throat, and Ning Yu's cheeks were flushed with an unnatural redness.

Xie Xun was like a different person in bed. His dark eyes were fixed on her with an aggressive, conquering gaze. His rough fingertips wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Have you suffered because of me? You're crying like this?"

It was a voice devoid of emotion, even sounding somewhat tender, yet Ning Yu felt a chill run down her spine. Her long, fan-like eyelashes trembled slightly, and she remained silent.

"Say it out."

She remained silent and did not look at him. Xie Xun's eyes darkened, and he leaned down to trap her on the couch, unleashing a torrent of kisses, the tender, lingering kisses filled with a sense of revenge and venting.

Ning Yu cried out in pain, and he seemed satisfied. He loosened his grip on her neck and his kisses became gentler.

It was almost dawn, and no one noticed the carriage on the distant hillside; the atmosphere in the valley was somber.

The governor of Jizhou City glanced at the prince, who was sitting stiffly beside the corpse, and stepped forward to say gently, "Please accept my condolences, Your Highness. The sudden loss of the princess consort is a misfortune for our Mozhou."

"But a person should still be laid to rest in peace. They can't just be left to rot in the wilderness like this. The Crown Princess won't be able to rest in peace in the afterlife either---"

Xie Yan couldn't hear what the others were saying. His eyes were fixed on the gruesome corpse, and his mind kept replaying the events that had happened since he returned to the capital.

It's only been a few days, it's only been a few days! He only heard about her situation in the manor when he was at the border, and occasionally saw her portrait in the study. He hasn't known her for very long.

"Please, sir, give me a ride. I will repay you handsomely once we reach the capital."

His mind involuntarily recalled the scene in the heavy snow: the woman, dressed in a light blue fox fur cloak, raised her pretty face and tightly gripped his hem.

Amidst the twists and turns of fate, they meet again only to be unexpectedly separated once more.

Xie Yan couldn't quite describe his feelings. Life and death were all too common on the battlefield. He was used to seeing dead people, but he never imagined that she would die, so young, right under his nose.

It's his fault, it's all his fault. He failed to protect her.

If he hadn't gone out drinking that night and had stayed by her side, she wouldn't have died. It's all his fault; he's the one who ruined her life.

"I have already ordered people to prepare the coffin, and the guards to escort it back to the capital are waiting."

The incessant chatter, accompanied by a numb pain, swept over him in an instant. Xie Yan suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood from his ashen mouth and staggered twice.

"Your Highness." A-Zhou hurriedly stepped forward to help him up. The governor of Ji Province paused, then changed the subject, "I heard that Your Highness was seriously injured in the battle at Nanguan. It is not advisable for you to stay in such a cold place for long. You should go back first."

Xie Yan raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Prepare her for burial."

The soldiers at the foot of the mountain had already covered the bodies with white cloths. The commotion inside the carriage had stopped sometime ago. The area under the couch was a mess, with clothes scattered everywhere.

Ning Yu lay on the soft cushion with her eyes closed, covered with a fluffy blanket. With her good hearing, she could vaguely hear the sounds of the guards collecting corpses at the bottom of the valley, accompanied by the clanging of hooves and the chaotic footsteps.

She closed her eyes tightly, her chaotic thoughts slowly clearing up. She wanted to let things slide, but he just wouldn't let her go.

He ruined her perfectly good life; she wished she could eat his flesh and drink his blood.

No, she had to find a chance to get out. She had to find Xie Yan. She wasn't dead. She hadn't died at all.

Are you hungry?

Xie Xun had already dressed. Seeing her lying there motionless as if dead, the satisfied pleasure after venting on the bed slowly faded, and her face returned to its usual indifference.

"If you have a mouth but can't speak, you might as well cut it off."

Ning Yu was thoroughly fed up with his threats, but she didn't show it on her face. She opened her eyes and pulled the blanket around herself closer. "I---"

Her throat felt like it was being torn apart whenever she spoke. With difficulty, she raised her arm to pick up the teacup on the small table and took a small sip to moisten her throat.

Throughout the process, he lazily watched her movements, offering no help whatsoever.

After drinking a cup of tea, Ning Yu felt much better in her throat. "I'm not hungry, get me some clothes to wear."

"Can't you wear your clothes?"

She glanced at him, noticing his seemingly lewd laugh, and lowered her eyes, saying, "Does the Commander not know if it's still wearable?"

Xie Xun casually picked up the damp dress from the ground, fiddled with it for a few moments, and remarked, "Big brother's taste isn't much better."

She ignored his words, turned her back to him, and her exposed skin was covered with his marks.

The noise from the valley floor gradually faded away, leaving only crimson bloodstains. Not long after, the carriage on the hillside slowly drove out of the dense forest and headed towards the official road.

---

"On their way to Qingzhou, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were ambushed by rebel forces, and the Crown Princess fell off a cliff and died."

When the news reached the Xie residence, it was right after dinner. The ladies of Rong'an Hall were all there, and their expressions changed instantly upon hearing the news from the front hall.

"Where is the Crown Prince?" The Grand Princess stood up anxiously. She could no longer bear the pain of losing her son.

The servant knelt on the ground. "The young master is unharmed. It was the young master's wife who tragically perished. Her coffin has already been brought back and is still on its way."

These words immediately eased the tense atmosphere in the room.

"How could this happen on a perfectly good outing?" The old lady's tone was heavy, recalling the girl's usual obedient and docile manner. "How could they encounter rebels on the road? Weren't there any guards with them?"

"They said she disguised herself as a refugee and entered the manor. Those bandits were all vicious. When the princess fled, she ran up the mountain in a panic and fell off a cliff."

"That girl is usually very cunning, how come she still managed to slip up at this crucial moment?" the second madam said regretfully.

The Third Madam and Ning Yu had a long-standing feud. Although she didn't express particular joy upon hearing the news, she was still pleased. She waved her handkerchief and laughed, "She's committed too many sins; even Heaven doesn't like her."

The Grand Princess's expression immediately changed. After all, Ning Yu was her daughter, and she couldn't tolerate this vile woman gossiping here.

Are you saying my son has committed a terrible sin?

The Grand Princess suddenly spoke, and the Third Madam's face fell. She quickly laughed it off.

The prince was fine; only the princess consort, whom they had always wanted to depose, had died. The atmosphere in the room was relatively peaceful, and everyone ate their meals in peace.

The old lady sighed. "Where are we now?"

"The Third Master said he's already at the estate outside the city and will bring it back first thing tomorrow morning."

The manor is about to hold a grand wedding for Xie Xun, and the Grand Princess does not want to have such an unlucky funeral. After thinking for a while, she spoke to the old lady.

"Erlang is getting married soon. Otherwise, we should inform Ayan tonight and have that Ning family girl take care of things at the estate and find a beautiful place to bury him."