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

"Buried?!"

Inside the Eastern Palace, Wei Qingrou, who had just received the news, was struck dumb and could not believe it.

"Yes, the Xie family didn't hold a grand funeral; they just had a hasty burial. Very few people know about it. I only overheard it from a guard near the Crown Prince."

"Stop talking!"

Suddenly, an angry voice came from outside the hall. Upon hearing this voice, the young palace maid was so frightened that she immediately knelt on the ground, her face pale, and kowtowed repeatedly to the ground.

Wei Qingrou snapped out of her daze and saw the Crown Prince approaching. A look of sadness flashed across her beautiful face. "How could the Crown Princess die at such a young age?"

She was pregnant, and Xie Jingchen didn't want her to worry at all, but seeing that she knew, he had no choice but to say, "On the way to Qingzhou, we encountered bandits and accidentally fell off a cliff."

Wei Qingrou felt a sharp pain in her stomach and thought of the woman she had met at the hunting grounds. Such a beautiful and kind woman, how could she have such a tragic fate?

"Alright, stop thinking about these things. Have you taken your medicine?" Xie Jingchen sat on the edge of the couch, put his arm around her, and held her gently in his arms.

The palace servants inside had already quietly left. Wei Qingrou leaned against him, closed her eyes briefly, and said, "I've had my drink."

With the Emperor seriously ill and the Elders in power, the situation in the Eastern Palace was very bad. Wei Qingrou knew he was very busy and didn't want to bother him in the past.

But now, upon hearing the news of Ning Yu's death, she felt the impermanence of life and couldn't help but lean against him, bursting into tears.

Her clothes were soaked with sweat, and Xie Jingchen hugged her tighter, saying gently, "How about I let your sisters come to the palace to keep you company?"

"I am not lonely, but I feel that such a good woman as the Crown Princess should not have passed away like this."

She had received a great debt of gratitude from Ning Yu. If Ning Yu hadn't saved her on the cliff, she would probably have died along with her unborn child long ago. But she didn't even have the chance to repay his kindness before she was gone.

Xie Jingchen knew she was naturally melancholic and sensitive, and he was even angrier at the palace maid who told her Ning Yu was dead. A clear murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

---

In the secluded courtyard.

Ning Yu was exhausted after returning from Huguo Temple. This was not Dongyuan, and there was no natural bathing pool. She was held in the bath tub and bullied for most of the night, and she caught a cold the next day.

But Xie Xun, that bastard, seemed to be doing it on purpose. He didn't come over much during the day, but at night he would torture her in different ways, forcing her to call him "husband." If she didn't call him "husband" to his satisfaction, he wouldn't let her go.

Ning Yu knew that he was still angry because of what happened that day, and she didn't know what the situation was like outside. She didn't want to offend him, so in the afternoon she asked the nanny to bring some herbal tea from the kitchen and said she was going to the study to have a meal with him.

"It's good that you think that way, Madam. Men are easy to coax."

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Ning Yu's eyes, but she did not refute it. She glanced at the snacks and tea in the food box and went to her study.

Since returning from Mozhou, Xie Xun has not been back to the Xie family home. He stays here every day and has moved his office to the other courtyard.

The study was not far from the small courtyard where the two lived. As soon as they entered the door, they heard furious voices inside, along with the abrupt cessation of the voices of several generals.

She glanced at Qingfeng, who was guarding the door, and asked with her eyes: Can I come in?

"Master is busy."

Ning Yu waited for a while, which lasted for more than half an hour. One official after another came out from inside. She stood under the corridor, watching the departing officials, and pondered slightly.

Is the Xie family really this blatant, with a courtier forming cliques and having many high-ranking officials coming and going from their household? Or is Xie Xun just incredibly audacious?

"Let her in."

Xie Xun noticed the slightest noise outside. He had already heard Ning Yu's voice and wondered if she was doing it on purpose or if she was genuinely busy, as she had kept people waiting outside for a long time.

It was hot, and after more than half an hour, the snacks brought from the small kitchen had become a little soft. Ning Yu placed the tea on the round table and carried the cool tea to her desk.

"Have some tea, Commander."

Ning Yu has been very obedient these past two days. Xie Xun knows that she is afraid that he will cause trouble for Xie Yun. He feels annoyed but also loves her for her easygoing nature, so he doesn't do anything to upset her.

Seeing that she had actually come to his study to see him, his expression softened, and he politely took a sip of tea.

There were many official documents on the table. Ning Yu noticed that he wasn't paying attention, so she stared at the documents and looked at them carefully for a few moments.

They were all folders about the war between Nanguan and Shangliang. She glanced at them and inadvertently noticed a secret letter placed below the folders. It was sealed with candle wax, but the seal used on it was clearly an item of the Shangliang royal family.

Xie Xun, that bastard, actually had secret correspondence with the people of Shangliang. Now that the emperor is seriously ill and the border wars are ongoing, there are many complaints about the crown prince's rule, and several princes are being suppressed by the elders.

Xie Xun frequently met privately with court officials, and battle reports from the border wars were also sent to him. What was he up to?!

"What are you looking at?"

A faint, emotionless voice came through the phone, and Ning Yu immediately lowered her eyes. "You've been busy all day, do you want to get something to eat?"

As she spoke, she brought over all the snacks, and while tidying up his desk, she quickly glanced at the contents of the secret letter.

One glance was enough to terrify her. She felt she must be seeing things, otherwise how could she have seen evidence of his rebellion?

His cold gaze swept slightly upwards as he looked at her. Ning Yu's hand trembled, and she quickly gathered all the files into a corner. "They might be cold. Why don't we have the kitchen staff bring over some more food?"

"Have you eaten?"

"not yet."

Xie Xun grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap, stuffing the sweet treats into her mouth.

Ning Yu choked on her food and quickly pushed his hand away, "I can't eat anymore, I can't eat anymore."

A cup of herbal tea was handed to her, which she took and drank down in one gulp.

"Is it tasty?"

Ning Yu knew he didn't like such sweet food, so she immediately said, "I'll have someone prepare something else."

The hand restraining her waist refused to loosen its grip. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and glanced at him sideways.

Her eyes were truly beautiful; every feature of her was captivating. Xie Xun caressed her slender waist and said, "Kiss me."

Ning Yu felt a shiver run through her heart, and she climbed onto his shoulders and kissed his lips.

He didn't take the initiative, just looked at her, their breaths mingling. Ning Yu imitated how he usually kissed her, pried open his lips, and probed in for a kiss.

He removed the hairpin from her head, and her long black hair cascaded down her waist. Before she could even sense anything amiss, he reached through her hair and pressed his hand heavily against her lips, pulling her into his arms and kissing her fiercely.

When Xie Hemian came in, he saw his good second brother pressing someone down on the table and kissing them.

He didn't see clearly who the woman on the table was, but he knew it was Ning Yu. His face immediately went numb, and he turned his head away.

"A study, a place of utmost importance, how absurd!"