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

On a dark and windy night, a nimble man in black entered the courtyard unnoticed. His face was covered, but his eyes, which were colder than a normal person's, were crouching on an inconspicuous roof, surveying the defenses of the courtyard.

The buildings of the villa are connected in a line, and in the distance, you can vaguely see brightly lit pavilions and the lively sounds of actors singing.

He looked around for a while and, seeing that there were no patrolling people nearby, slid down the pillar like an eel and landed on the ground.

He spoke very softly, but he still heard that there seemed to be quite a few sentries hiding in the bushes in the distance, so he quickly hid in a shady spot.

This villa is huge. I wonder if there's someone important here, because it's more heavily guarded than a typical family's residence.

Once the lights at the corner had disappeared into the distance, he swiftly leaped up the roof tiles like a gecko and slid away into the distance.

"Madam, you should eat less of this chilled cake, or your stomach will feel uncomfortable at night." The nanny brought Ning Yu a bowl of soup. "This is a freshly made nourishing soup from the kitchen. It's good for your health, so please drink more."

Ning Yu was preoccupied with her thoughts and ate too much in a hurry. When she heard the nanny's voice, she came back to her senses, put down the porcelain plate, and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

"Is the Qinghai King, whom the Governor is entertaining tonight, also from the Northwest?"

"I heard they came from the Northwest, to the capital to pay homage to the emperor."

Shouldn't pilgrims stay at inns when paying homage to saints?! Xie Xun, that bastard, has quite the ambition, but today is a good opportunity. He must be very busy and won't have time for her.

"Why do I hear music playing instruments and singing?"

The old woman wasn't sure if she should say this. Men often invited entertainers to dance at banquets for their own enjoyment. Looking at Ning Yu's innocent face, she said tactfully, "Yes, just for entertainment."

"The governor probably won't be coming tonight. You can all leave now. I'm going to sleep."

It seemed unlikely she would come over. The nanny saw her go to the washroom and wanted to follow her to serve her.

"You don't need to follow me. I don't like being waited on."

She paused, then bent down and went down.

Upon hearing the door close, Ning Yu's expression instantly changed. She took off her clothes and changed into something lighter, tucking her trousers in.

If Xia Zhu wasn't lying, then Xie Yun must know that she wasn't dead yet, and he would send Shuang Ren here to investigate. She needs to find a chance to find Shuang Ren.

Shuangren was Xie Yun's most skilled bodyguard, who protected him from death several times. Since he didn't know martial arts, he could only send Shuangren to investigate.

If successful, she can leave this place with Frostblade.

If that doesn't work, she should find another opportunity and tell him that he must not act rashly or impulsively come here to question Xie Xun about demanding people.

She absolutely could not tell Xie Yan that she was in the Xie family's villa; if the truth were revealed, she would have no way out.

Ning Yu preferred quiet places, and there were hardly any people walking around in the courtyard where she lived. She glanced at the dark moonlight outside the window, then climbed out and jumped out.

She had only taken a few steps when the voice of Sha Ying suddenly came from the rooftop not far away, accompanied by the sound of clashing swords.

She quickly climbed up the tree and looked into the distance, where she saw a figure with incredible agility darting across the eaves.

Behind them, a large number of guards suddenly appeared out of nowhere and bit them like tails. The patrolling guards on the ground were also alerted and chased after them in their armor.

Although Ning Yu couldn't see who the assassin was, she vaguely guessed that Xie Yun had sent someone to investigate. However, before she could find him, he was discovered by the sentry.

She frowned as she looked at the countless shadows, and couldn't help but curse Xie Xun, that scoundrel, in her heart. How afraid of death was he that he had so many experts protecting him?

She dared not look any longer, silently praying that the person had run away quickly, and hurried back to her courtyard after climbing down the tree.

While the master was entertaining distinguished guests, the assassin escaped again. He ran around without taking anything and left. When Qingfeng heard the report, he immediately sent someone to check if Ning Yu was still there.

The messenger reported that he had already gone to bed and that a nanny had gone in to check on him. Hearing this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Regardless of who the assassin was after, the study was heavily guarded, so he didn't go there. The lady was also sleeping, and his master was still busy, so he put the matter aside for the time being and continued to wait at the garden gate.

As the guard left, he seemed to remember something and instructed, "Send more people to patrol outside the madam's courtyard."

"Yes."

The lively sounds inside continued. Qingfeng, with his high level of internal strength, could vaguely hear the Qinghai King's rough laughter and voice carried on the wind. He glanced at the sky; it was so late, his master probably wouldn't go back to sleep.

"I have already sent people to take care of that mine, and I guarantee that it will be properly arranged for the Governor."

The King of Qinghai was a general who guarded the Beiming Pass back then. He was exceptionally granted the title of King of Qinghai by the sage, and was stationed in Qinghai. He had a close relationship with Xie Xun.

Xie Xun swirled the wine in his glass, his expression unreadable. "The officials in the Northwest think they're far from the emperor, and they're getting bolder and bolder."

"The officials in Xiaoning, Qinghai, have all received great favors from the Xie family. They are all students who have studied under the Xie family. Naturally, they follow the Commander's lead. This matter concerning the armory was due to my oversight. Tomorrow, when the Emperor summons me, I know what to say."

The King of Qinghai, holding a beautiful woman in his arms, noticed the unpleasant expression on the face of the man on the high seat and immediately made a promise.

The General of Fuyuan opposite him repeatedly agreed, "Before I came, the Marquis of Zhenyuan instructed me that the Governor of Xiongzhou had died, and he wanted to ask the Commander-in-Chief if there was a suitable new official?"

General Fuyuan is a shrewd man. Upon hearing this, the King of Qinghai immediately perked up and stopped listening to music and indulging in the company of beauties.

It should be understood that Xiongzhou was the last line of defense for the Northwest Army to invade Zhongdu. The governor of a city was naturally the most important. When the generals of the Northwest advised the emperor, they first asked the Xie family for their opinion, which clearly indicated that they wanted to pledge allegiance to Xie Xun.

The Qilian Pass of the Shangliang people is only a hundred miles away from Xiongzhou. As far as the eye can see, it is all plains, and the army can drive straight in.

The King of Qinghai thought of the King of Huaiyou who had been sent out of the pass, leaned back in his chair and laughed, "General Fuyuan has been in the Northwest for many years, so he naturally knows it better. I remember a civil official named Xiao who was just transferred there this year, he is quite good."

General Fuyuan knew who he was talking about; he had also learned from the Xie family and seemed to have a good relationship with the governor.

He immediately understood what the man meant and smiled, "Your Highness seems to know a great deal about the officials of Xiong Prefecture. I will speak to His Majesty about this matter."

Xie Xun ignored their barbed arguments and brought up military affairs in the Northwest. The General of Fuyuan immediately had all the compiled booklets handed over, and everything was clear at a glance.

The beautiful woman kneeling beside Xie Xun, pouring wine, had been neglected for a long time. The other adults had all taken advantage of her to some extent, but the governor in front of him hadn't even glanced at her.

Looking at the man's unapproachable, handsome face, she couldn't help but move closer as she poured him the sweet wine.

"Governor, I've filled the wine cup to the brim! Oh, it's overflowing! I deserve to die!"

Before she could finish speaking, the man glanced at her sideways, but before she could even feel happy, she felt a chill.

The governor looked like a lofty mountain, but upon closer inspection, his eyes were slightly upturned, giving him a bewitching gaze that made her feel breathless.

She was so startled that her hand trembled and she almost knocked over the wine pot, but she was unwilling to miss this chance to soar to the sky, so she puffed out her chest and slenderned her waist as she shuffled over.

"My hands trembled, please forgive me, Commander---"

Xie Xun had seen many women trying to seduce him, and his officials had sent him even more beautiful women, but none of them caught his eye, and he found the one in front of him repulsive.

"What are you putting on?"

Meiji was taken aback, and quickly replied, "I took a bath with flower petals, so it might smell like water lilies."

Water lily?! It doesn't smell as good as moon and fragrance.

Xie Xun looked at her two mounds of flesh leaning towards him, but couldn't muster any interest. "Take her away."

Meiji turned pale instantly. Before she could say anything, the guards with swords standing on both sides came up and quickly pulled her away.

She cried out in alarm, "Governor, spare me! Governor, spare me!"