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

"Besides, Huayang wouldn't allow you to spoil a woman like that, would he? I've heard she has a fiery temper and apparently has a grudge against the one inside?"

Xie Xun slightly lifted his eyelids to look at him, "A holiday?!"

"You don't know?" Xie Hemian picked up her tea and took a sip. "I heard it from Liu Lang. He saw the two of them clashing at the hunting grounds before."

He stopped talking as soon as he finished speaking. It was better not to tell his second brother about this. They were all his women, and he wouldn't get any credit for helping either of them. It was better to just ignore it.

"What conflict?"

"Oh, it's just women being jealous, what's the big deal? They just exchanged a few words."

I heard that his future sister-in-law slapped someone, she's really fierce.

Xie Xun leaned back in his chair and glanced towards the inner room; she had never told him this before.

"Don't forget to go home after court tomorrow. Your uncle has been urging me to come find you several times."

Intermittent sounds drifted in from outside. Ning Yu leaned against the door, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. He was going to marry her and turn her life upside down. What had she done to deserve this?

She was too lazy to listen anymore and dragged herself back to the small couch.

The moonlight is truly beautiful tonight; looking out the round window, you can see the moon rising above the eaves.

When Xie Xun came in, he saw her leaning against the soft pillows, leisurely enjoying the moon. He walked over, picked her up, and sat her on his lap. "Are you hungry?"

Ning Yu lowered her eyes and obediently leaned against his chest. "I'm not hungry."

"Your waist is so thin, you need to eat more." His hand caressed the soft flesh of her waist, his voice slightly hoarse. "I've had someone prepare your favorite soup. Go out and eat something, so you don't faint again tonight."

Ning Yu's face went numb. Could she take a day off?

Upon seeing the two people emerge, Qingfeng immediately instructed the maids to put their belongings down and leave.

The master never used to eat in the study, but last time the madam refused to go to the dining room, and after that exception was made, this important study has almost become a bedroom.

"I heard from Sanlang that you have a grudge against Huayang?"

Ning Yu had just sat down and taken a sip of soup, which was so bitter that she wrinkled her face. When she suddenly heard his words, she almost choked.

She quickly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and shook her head, "It was just a little unpleasant conversation, it's not really a grudge."

Xie Xun said calmly, "You're going to stay here for the rest of your life. If you don't get along with her, then forget about getting married."

A lifetime?! How could she possibly stay with him for a lifetime? Ning Yu thought to herself, but said gently, "If it wasn't her, it would have been another princess of the royal family. Princess Huayang is quite good."

She showed no sign of heartache over his marriage. Xie Xun looked at her face and felt inexplicably annoyed. His handsome and aloof face remained expressionless, and the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

Ning Yu, wondering what was wrong with him again, looked up at him with her watery eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

Xie Xun pulled her over, and Ning Yu was caught off guard and bumped into his arms. She rubbed her nose in pain and looked up at him.

"It hurts."

"What do you mean it hurts? I've been ramming you all night, why didn't you say it hurt?"

vulgar.

Ning Yu didn't want to talk to him anymore. She straightened up and pushed him, "I haven't eaten yet. Let me go downstairs to eat first."

Seeing her resistance, Xie Xun remembered the little monk's words and fixed his gaze on her lower abdomen.

Ning Yu was restrained and couldn't push him away. Noticing his gaze, she glanced to the side.

Xie Xun placed his hand on her soft belly. "It's been so long, why is there still no sign of labor?"

Since they arrived at the villa, they haven't been using contraception. She's been secretly taking birth control pills. Judging from his appearance, could it be that he wants a child?

Ning Yu dared not tell him about taking contraceptives behind his back, and said softly, "Children are all about fate."

Smoke curled from the gilded incense burner adorned with intertwined branches. Xie Xun's tone was icy. "Stay in your room these days and let the nanny help you recover."

Xie Xun noticed her slight stiffness and looked down into her eyes. "You don't want to bear my child?"

Ning Yu certainly didn't want to. What was so good about having a child with a mistress? She didn't want to get pregnant, and she certainly didn't want to have a child with Xie Xun.

But she couldn't say that. Leaning against his chest, she moved her lips and said something against her will, "Of course I'm willing."

He didn't speak, his rough fingertips caressing her face. Ning Yu felt a shiver run down her spine. Unable to bear his gaze any longer, she pulled his hand to her lower abdomen with her slender hand. "If I get pregnant, the child will definitely look like the Governor."

Xie Xun felt the warmth on the back of his hand and the softness of his lower abdomen beneath his palm. It didn't matter who it resembled, as long as it was her child.

Seeing his expression relax slightly, Ning Yu buried herself in his arms, her feigned composure vanishing in an instant, and she clung to him weakly.

----

Xie Mansion Ink Courtyard.

Xie Yan heard from A Zhou the next morning that the manager of Tianxianglou had arrived and that the rouge and face powder he had asked them to get from Ximisha had been returned. The Ximisha merchant had brought back several boxes full of good stuff.

"This is made of indigo and used for drawing eyebrows. This is a beauty cream made from finely ground South China Sea pearls. And now, Your Highness, take a look at this. This is a fragrant lotion that cost a fortune to acquire."

The incessant chatter reached his ears. Xie Yan stood in the courtyard, sunlight shining on his pale face. He looked at the several large boxes on the ground, lost in thought.

Seeing that the man hadn't responded for a long time, the shopkeeper stopped rambling, put everything back in the box, and turned around to look.

"The Crown Prince?!"

Xie Yan lowered his eyes, his voice slightly tired, and said, "Go to the accounting office to settle the bill."

The shopkeeper immediately put on a smile, said a few flattering words, and then followed the man downstairs.

A-Zhou ordered his men to carry several large boxes into the storeroom, but Xie Yan did not go; he went out instead.

He had been resting and staying at the Mo Academy for the past few days. This morning, his uncle sent a message asking him to go to the council hall.

I ran into Xie Liulang on the way.

"Big brother."

Xie Liulang was born to the third wife and traveled to Jiangdong for many years, so the two of them rarely met. Xie Yan frowned when he saw that the clothes he was wearing smelled of rouge.

"Where did you go?"

Xie Liu stayed at Chunfeng Tower last night, summoned several beautiful maids, and spent the night in debauchery.

Seeing that his elder brother had figured it out, he patted his robe and laughed, "A haven of gentle pleasures."

Xie Yan strode towards the council hall, and he hurriedly followed behind. "Yesterday I went with the third young master of the Prime Minister's mansion. A couple of days ago, Father said he wanted me to join the Ministry of Works, so we went to celebrate---"

"Hey, isn't that Second Brother?" Xie Liu looked at the man coming from the other end of the garden and said with a smile, "Second Brother hasn't been back to the manor for a while. It's strange that you've finally decided to come back today?"