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

"Kneel over here."

Xie Xun casually lifted his eyelids and then waved at him.

Having served in the court for so many years, Lin Huai knew a little about Xie Xun. Thinking of his wife and children at home, a terrifying thought suddenly arose in his heart.

Even if he hands over the defense map, the Crown Prince won't let him off the hook. But if he kills Xie Xun, he will have made a great contribution to the Crown Prince.

This is the first time I've been so close to this powerful minister.

A cool hand gripped his neck, coiling around him like a venomous snake. He pleaded for mercy, his body constantly leaning forward.

"Tell me, what does the Crown Prince want you to do in the Northwest?"

The slow, deliberate voice made Lin Huai's palms tremble slightly. He spoke with difficulty, "War has broken out on the border, and privately manufactured troops have sprung up in the Northwest---"

Before he could utter the last word, he unexpectedly pulled a dagger from his boot and, with a desperate determination, plunged it into Xie Xun's chest when the two were closest to each other.

Everyone around was startled, especially the guards in charge, who couldn't find any weapons on the person and immediately went to rescue him.

Only Wei Rongxuan, who was closest, didn't move an inch. Just as he expected, before the tip of the knife could even touch Xie Xun's chest, the latter grabbed his wrist with his other hand.

Lin Huai winced in pain, his face contorted with rage, but he couldn't move the blade any further.

Xie Xun remained calm and, with a slight effort, turned the man's hand around so that the tip of the knife was aimed at his own chest.

He tried to shake it off, but an unstoppable force forcefully pushed the knife tip into his chest, bit by bit, and he was completely unable to resist throughout the process.

"I don't like to threaten people with my wife and children, but if you don't know what's good for you, my lord, sending your beautiful daughter to the Northwest military camp would be a good option."

The calm, unwavering voice startled Lin Huai, whose veins were bulging and who was fighting desperately. His face turned ashen. The sounds of flesh being pierced and blood gushing out pierced the ears of everyone present. Some of the more timid ones lowered their heads, unable to watch.

Ning Yu stood outside the courtyard and couldn't hear the sounds inside very clearly, but by the moonlight, she could vaguely see the man's slightly leaning body.

The rather handsome face was expressionless, and he seemed to be saying something that startled the kneeling man on the ground, causing him to widen his eyes in surprise.

She looked at the person on the ground and felt that he was somewhat familiar. Before she married into the Xie family, she had attended a flower viewing banquet and seen this person. He seemed to be a marquis. Xie Xun actually dared to openly kill an official of the imperial court.

Her fear of Xie Xun deepened. He was usually quite agreeable in bed, and he always acted respectable at the Xie family home. She had never seen him with his head up; it was terrifying.

She couldn't quite make out what the officials there were reporting, but she vaguely heard words like "Northwest," "Yuzhou," and "pass." Not wanting to look any longer, she turned to leave.

With a click, it seemed as if something was stepped on. Those with profound internal strength inside immediately heard the noise and looked over.

As Xie Xun's gaze swept past the crowd, he spotted a departing figure. A guard came in to report, "It was Madam who just arrived."

lady?!

Every official present knew that Xie Xun was going to marry Princess Huayang. Where did this "wife" come from? It turned out he was keeping a mistress in a golden house.

No wonder the governor has been working in this villa these days, forcing them to come to the outskirts of the capital in the middle of the night to handle business. Sometimes they even have to stay at an inn because they get back late. So that's why.

While everyone was gossiping and complaining in their hearts, no one dared to say a word on their faces, and they continued to report on what had just happened.

After leaving the study, Ning Yu didn't bother the maids and took the tea to the kitchen herself.

She walked slowly on the way, her eyes scanning the surroundings. The place with the fewest sentries was the main kitchen, which had a side door at the back, making it the easiest place to sneak out.

Thinking of Xie Yan, who already knew she was alive, her desire to escape this villa grew even stronger.

Xie Yan came here yesterday, does he suspect she's here? If so, he'll definitely take action. She has to leave before he finds her.

The servants in the kitchen have all left, and there are a few people on duty at the side gate.

After Ning Yu put the tea in the kitchen, she opened the window and looked at the side gate opposite the waterfall. After Xie Xun moved in here, he installed many hidden sentries in the villa. They appeared and disappeared unpredictably, and no movement could escape their eyes.

She stood at the window and listened carefully for a while, but she couldn't hear the sound of wind or breathing; only the sound of water coming from the other side of the waterfall.

She observed for a while but didn't hear any movement from the sentries. Even sentries had to change shifts and needed to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. She looked at the guards who didn't seem to have much martial arts skill and tightened her grip on the sleeping incense in her purse.

Just as she was climbing out of the window, intending to walk from the waterfall towards the side gate, a tall figure walked in through the kitchen doorway and saw her lift her leg.

"Where are you going?"

Ning Yu was stunned when she heard that familiar voice. The person walked so quietly that she hadn't heard a sound at all. When did they arrive?

She immediately put her leg down, turned around, and saw the man who should have been in the study.

He must have just killed someone; he hadn't changed his clothes yet, and the chilling aura he exuded was mixed with a faint smell of blood.

She frowned almost imperceptibly and asked, "Why is the Governor here?"

Xie Xun noticed the subtle change in her eyes. He walked over slowly and said, "I came over as soon as I finished my work and Qingfeng said you were in the kitchen."

Qingfeng, who was mentioned, immediately left the kitchen and moved a distance away from here.

Actually, he doesn't want to be on duty when his master and mistress are together; usually, there's nothing of importance to do.

But that kid Sha Ying, perhaps afraid that the madam would hold a grudge against him, whispered in the master's ear and refused to come to his shift even once.

"What were you about to do?"

The man walked to her side, looked at the scenery outside the window, and fixed his gaze on the corner gate that was not heavily guarded.

Ning Yu took his arm and said softly, "I had just put down the tea and snacks when I heard the guards at the corner gate gossiping, so I came over to listen."

"What gossip? I'll call them over and tell you."

Ning Yu snuggled closer to him affectionately, "It's just gossip about this family and that family. I was bored at home, so I couldn't help but overhear a few words."

She immediately changed the subject, "It's getting dark, let's go back."

Xie Xun seemed to twitch his lips slightly, "What's the point of going back? The scenery here is so beautiful."

Ning Yu wanted to argue that the scenery here was not good, but before she could speak, he suddenly picked her up.

With her legs dangling in the air and her back pressed against the wall, her delicate body trembled, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs tightly clamping around his waist.

"What are you doing? Put me down."

Xie Xun looked at her pink lips, their eyes met, and her eyes were bright and lively like peach blossoms. He used force to press her against the wall, pressing his lips against hers, wantonly dominating and kissing her.

He kissed her fiercely, forcing open her teeth and entwining his tongue with hers. She was so breathless from his kisses that her chest trembled violently as he squeezed her.

Ning Yu's face flushed red. In the dim light, she could clearly see the desire in his eyes. She kicked at his clothes and whimpered with difficulty, "Go back to...go back to the room..."

Xie Xun bit her, using one hand to firmly trap her against the wall and in his arms, while using the other to tear her clothes.

A sudden chill ran beneath her, and Ning Yu's breath hitched; she was momentarily stunned.

This bastard wouldn't be planning to come here, would he?