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

It was already past midnight, and the city gates were tightly shut. The general guarding the city spotted a figure galloping towards them from afar.

"Open the city gates."

The sound of horses' hooves, mixed with a familiar, sharp thud, came from afar. The garrison commander saw a face and hurriedly ran down from the city wall.

"Why is Your Highness leaving the city in the middle of the night? Is there some urgent military situation?"

While speaking, Xie Yan directed his soldiers to open the city gates, then said dismissively, "I need to go to the military camp outside the city."

The garrison commander responded repeatedly. When the city gate opened a crack, the man let out a sharp shout, and the horse instantly reared up and galloped out of the city.

Once outside the city gates, one sees a snow-white ribbon of green mountains stretching into the distance, and by the moonlight, one can vaguely see the shadowy outlines of the mountains in the distance.

Xie Yan had also visited Xie Xun's villa outside the city of Beijing the year he returned from the north. It was relatively close to the military camp outside the city, and he rode quickly to the villa.

The guards were shocked to see people coming in the middle of the night, and they quickly went down the steps to fetch the horse.

"Why did you suddenly come here?" When the steward heard the report and rushed over, the man had already entered the front hall and was striding into the corridor, followed by several soldiers carrying torches.

He hurriedly gathered his clothes, which he hadn't put on properly, and said, "I don't know where the Commander is staying tonight. He's not in the manor. Who is the young master looking for?"

"He's not in now?"

"Yes, the governor did not come to the villa tonight."

Xie Yan paused, "Where did he stay?"

The steward flattered, "These servants don't know either. The governor only comes here when he has nothing else to do. How would the servants in the villa know where the master is?"

"If you have something to discuss with the Commander-in-Chief, you might as well go to the military camp. The Commander-in-Chief has been going there quite often lately."

Xie Yan looked at the scenery in the villa, then glanced at the fawning servant in front of him, "I heard he keeps a woman here, take me to see her."

"This—" the steward clicked his tongue slightly, "This isn't quite appropriate."

Xie Yan knew it was inappropriate, of course; he was crazy to go and see the woman in his brother's room.

Xie Xun had been celibate for so many years, so why did he suddenly have a woman? He desperately wanted to know if those coincidences were just him overthinking things.

If A Yu is not dead, where is he? Who has the ability to mobilize the troops of Ji Province and use Xi Misha's disguise technique to fake a corpse?

When he was looking for her personal maid, she vanished into thin air. Who could be so well-informed as to know all his movements in the Mo family?

"Sir, let's wait for the Governor to return. It's not appropriate for Madam to see strangers."

In the main courtyard.

He had just fallen asleep after being called for water twice. When the night watchwomen saw Lord Qingfeng approaching, they quickly said, "The Governor and his wife have already gone to bed. Is there anything you need, sir?"

Qingfeng glanced at the unlit room, walked to the door and said, "Master, the young master has arrived."

Ning Yu, her face flushed from the exertion, had already fallen asleep under the quilt, exhausted. In her hazy state, she heard the sound of a gentle breeze outside, and her drowsy mind jolted awake, causing her to open her bright, beautiful eyes.

Suddenly she felt a warm hand caress her waist. She turned around and bumped into the man's chest.

"Weren't you sleepy? Why are you awake?" A hoarse voice entered her ears, and the arms tightly wrapped around her waist unconsciously tightened their grip.

The veins on her skin became exceptionally clear as she exerted force, and she could feel the hardness of her bulging muscles.

Ning Yu felt breathless from his tight embrace and reached out to push him away.

Xie Xun was not satisfied with her dodging, so he pulled her back with a strong pull, and the two of them were instantly pressed together without any gap.

The confining embrace was a possessive control, and his willful and aloof nature destined him to be the controller in this relationship, while she was the more desirable object.

Ning Yu was annoyed by his controlling attitude even in bed, so she turned her face away and pushed him away, "Didn't you hear? Qingfeng is calling you from outside."

"Big brother's here," he replied casually, nuzzling his chin against the top of her head.

A mix of emotions welled up in Ning Yu's heart. She tilted her head back and leaned over his shoulder, wanting to look outside the tent.

Her head was suddenly pressed down and lifted. She glanced to the side and met his dark, sharp eyes. "If you're not sleepy, let's continue."

Her body is still covered in bruises from his pinching. She refused to put on top, but he held her waist and forced her to do it several times. That bastard is strong; her delicate skin turned blue in no time.

She twisted her waist and said wearily, "Sleepy, don't come anymore."

Xie Xun captured her and held her in his arms before closing his eyes and going to sleep.

Ning Yu didn't dare to provoke him, and couldn't fall asleep no matter what she did, so she snuggled up in his arms.

Xie Xun sat up, lifted her waist with one hand, and forced her to sit on his lap with her legs apart. Ning Yu was startled and quickly pushed him away, saying, "You have to go to court tomorrow."

"Isn't it because you're rubbing against me that you want it?"

"---" She glared at him playfully, "The young master is here, aren't you going to go out and see him?"

"Do you want me to go, or do you want to go?"

Those eyes were truly penetrating, scrutinizing her as if they could see right through her heart.

Ning Yu clenched her fists, buried her head in his chest, and calmed her breathing. "I'm afraid he'll find out and you'll have to deal with it yourself."

Inside the room, incense burned in a censer surrounded by vines, and the figures of two people intertwined on the couch.

Ning Yu listlessly dealt with the man in front of her. Xie Xun's handsome face remained expressionless. Seeing her feigning death, he released his grip and slowly lifted her face.

"If you want to see your elder brother, I can take you there right now."

His words struck her like a bolt of lightning, making Ning Yu's palms go numb, and she lowered her eyelids.

"I'm worried that things will be exposed. If the young master finds out, you'll be branded as someone who insulted your sister-in-law. How will you stay in the Xie family then? The Xie clan will also hold a grudge against you."

Xie Xun touched her face. "So, you did this for me?"

Ning Yu nodded, not daring to say anything more. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rubbed against him obediently. "My lower back hurts so much. It's all because you pinched me. Could you ask the doctor to bring me some ointment tomorrow?"

Even after spending a long time in the darkness, the red marks on her skin could still be faintly seen. Xie Xun knew he had lost control, so he reached out and rubbed her waist. "There's medicine in the study. Go get it and apply it a couple of times."

Ning Yu sighed. Dealing with him was more tiring than dealing with the entire Xie family. She mumbled a few words to change the subject, then sat in his lap, leaned against him, and closed her eyes to sleep.