Ning Yin spoke each word deliberately: “Young Miss, now, immediately, go back with me!”

Yu Lingxi looked into his deep, cold eyes and shook her head. “No, Wei Qi.”

Ning Yin stared at her for a long time.

“Young Miss has neither troops nor power. How will you alone stand against the Crown Prince?”

“I’ve already asked the Prince of Nanyang to help. If all goes well, we can request the Emperor and Empress to intervene.”

“And if it doesn’t go well?” Ning Yin asked in a deep voice.

Yu Lingxi pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

She was merely a minister’s daughter, without the ability to command heroes across the land. At most, she could spill blood five steps, blood splatter seven feet.

If something were to happen to her in the Eastern Palace, even if the Inspector discovered the stolen disaster relief grain tomorrow, the world would believe the Crown Prince had framed the Yu family to cover up his crime of forcing the General’s daughter to her death. The Emperor would surely investigate thoroughly, and the Crown Prince’s conspiracy would collapse on its own…

Of course, this was merely a last resort.

Ning Yin seemed to see through her determination and suddenly sneered.

His ink-black eyes were cold, but his voice was soft and gentle: “Young Miss is quite calculating and brave. When you were affected by the aphrodisiac incense, you would rather stab yourself with a hairpin than let me touch you, yet tonight you willingly sacrifice yourself to feed the tiger for someone else…”

Yu Lingxi shouted: “Elder Sister is not ‘someone else,’ she is my family.”

“Family?” This word felt foreign to Ning Yin.

In his memory, there were only enemies, people to be used, dead people, and those about to die… no family.

Without a ripple in his eyes, Ning Yin coldly sneered, “Anyone picked at random could frighten you into disarray.”

“That’s not called a ‘weakness,’ Wei Qi. Father, brothers, Elder Sister, Mother… they have protected and loved me with everything they had for more than ten years. Connected as one, when one is harmed, all are harmed.”

Yu Lingxi’s face was splashed with cold rain, but her gaze was calm. “It’s better to die with passion than to live coldheartedly. This time, I should be the one protecting them.”

Ning Yin’s expression was unreadable. He didn’t move.

The sudden rain pelted the carriage canopy, a rushing sound like an urgent death warrant.

There was no time to waste.

The coachman still lay by the roadside, his fate unknown. Yu Lingxi reached out to grab the reins hanging from the front of the carriage.

But before her fingertips could touch them, Ning Yin casually raised his boot and stepped on the reins.

Yu Lingxi pulled hard, but the reins didn’t budge under his boot. She grew annoyed: “Wei Qi! Let go!”

The next moment, a tall figure loomed over her, and Yu Lingxi was pushed into the carriage.

“You!”

Realizing what Ning Yin was about to do, she instinctively raised her hand, but her wrist was caught; she raised her leg, but it was pinned down as well.

In the narrow carriage, their gazes met, their breaths intertwined, each reflected in the other’s eyes.

“Wei Qi, let me go!” Yu Lingxi looked at the young man pressing down on her, shocked and furious.

“I cannot.”

Using just one hand, Ning Yin easily pinned Yu Lingxi’s struggling wrists above her head. His voice carried a chillingly detached tone: “Young Miss’s life is far too precious. Wei Qi cannot bear to let Young Miss do something foolish.”

But it was too late.

Yu Lingxi’s eyes reddened with urgency, her gaze moist, yet she bit her lip, still unwilling to yield.

Her elder sister had a fiery temperament and might do something rash in the heat of the moment. She feared her sister wouldn’t hold out until Ning Ziluo arrived.

Rainwater dripped from Ning Yin’s hair tips, falling onto Yu Lingxi’s temples and the corners of her eyes, like tears sliding down her fair, delicate face.

Ning Yin looked at the moisture at the corner of her eye. His eyelashes quivered, and his grip unconsciously loosened slightly.

He pressed his finger against Yu Lingxi’s lips as she was about to call out, softly saying “Shh.”

For a moment, it felt like they had returned to their previous life, the pressure overwhelming.

Yu Lingxi froze, only to hear Ning Yin give a short laugh by her ear as if he had made a decision: “As long as Young Miss behaves and listens, I will return an unharmed Yu Xinyi to you.”

The rain poured down heavily, and the horse pawed the ground nervously.

Lightning split the sky, illuminating the street in stark white.

Eastern Palace.

A eunuch entered with a bow, announcing from behind the screen: “Your Highness, General Yu’s daughter is requesting an audience at the Yongchun Gate.”

Hearing this, Ning Tan’s eyes revealed the satisfaction of a successful scheme.

No matter how dignified a woman was, she would still have to come to the palace to beg him in the end.

“Take her to Yichun Palace and treat her well.”

Ning Tan pushed away the beautiful maid in his arms, sneering, “Go now, I won’t need your services tonight.”

No weapons were allowed in the Eastern Palace. Yu Xinyi removed her short blade and walked with steady, dignified steps. Her red military official robe swept through the rainy night like the most intense flame.

She stopped her steps and said with dignity: “Yichun Palace is a place of entertainment, not suitable for discussing official matters. Please trouble the eunuch to tell His Highness that I will wait in the side hall.”

With that, she turned and pushed open the door to the side hall.

Dazzling lamplight rushed toward her, making her narrow her eyes.

Ning Tan had just risen when he saw the hall door forcefully pushed open, and a spirited woman in military uniform entered, frightening him back onto his seat.

Looking closer, it was Yu Xinyi, the Commander of the Baiqisi.

“Why is it her?” Ning Tan squinted as he sized up Yu Xinyi, somewhat disappointed.

He had thought the visitor would be the soft, delicate beauty Yu Lingxi, but instead, it was the thorny female military commander.

However…

Perhaps it was the effect of the lamplight, but looking closely at Yu Xinyi tonight, she didn’t appear to be the shrew-like figure he had previously imagined. Instead, her features were handsome and beautiful, bright and generous, with a unique wild and untamable charm.

He had grown tired of delicate beauties and had never tasted a fierce woman like this before.

Yu Xinyi endured the Crown Prince’s sticky gaze, suppressing her anger, and saluted: “This subject, Commander of the Baiqisi, Yu Xinyi, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Ning Tan gave a look to the eunuch beside him, then slowly straightened up and said: “You may dispense with formalities. What brings Lady Yu to seek an audience so late at night?”

Pretending not to know!

Yu Xinyi gritted her teeth: “I beg Your Highness, considering the Yu family’s generations of loyalty and illustrious military achievements, to show mercy!”

“If you want my help, Lady Yu must show sincerity.”

The Crown Prince stared at her intently, his heart racing with desire. “After all, it concerns the lives of tens of thousands of disaster victims. I cannot take this risk for nothing, to plead for your Yu family.”

Yu Xinyi raised her head, her expression revealing understanding: “This subject has not yet mentioned what the matter is. How does Your Highness know it’s related to disaster victims?”

Ning Tan choked, hesitating before saying: “The Yu family has recently only received orders for disaster relief. I was merely guessing.”

Palace servants lit incense burners and brought forth fruits and wine.

Yu Xinyi gave a cold smile: “So it truly was Your Highness’s doing.”

Ning Tan cleared his throat and raised a wine cup in invitation: “Whatever you wish to discuss, Lady Yu, let’s talk over a drink.”

Yu Xinyi coldly glanced at him, unmoved.

She spoke clearly: “No one who embezzles or breaks the law could be a Yu family commander. Seven years ago, when my father first took command, military discipline was lax. Soldiers often took villagers’ property and harassed women. It was my father who purged the corrupt elements from the army overnight, creating today’s iron-disciplined, undefeated Yu family army.”

Ning Tan stared at the incense curling from the burner on the table, dismissively waving his hand: “Enough, enough, why bring up these old matters?”

Yu Xinyi retorted sharply: “Without these ‘old matters,’ how could Your Highness sit securely in your position as heir apparent?”

“How dare you!”

“When birds are spent, bows are hidden—the act of a foolish ruler…”

Before she could finish, Yu Xinyi’s form wavered almost imperceptibly.

Her gaze dulled for a moment. She held her forehead and gritted her teeth: “What have you done…”

Ning Tan rejoiced inwardly, knowing the drugged incense had taken effect, and quickly dismissed the attendants.

Knowing Yu Xinyi had trained in martial arts since childhood, he cautiously waited another cup of tea’s time before daring to approach.

Yu Xinyi could barely stand now, holding her forehead and swaying, her face flushed like someone drunk, adding a different kind of allure to her countenance.

Only then did Ning Tan gather the courage to walk over, embracing Yu Xinyi’s slender but firm waist: “Don’t worry, Lady Yu, as long as you submit to me, I will spare your family’s lives… Oww!”

A scream of pain—Ning Tan’s hand was twisted behind his back by Yu Xinyi.

Then with a loud “slap,” a resounding blow landed on Ning Tan’s face, making him stagger.

Ning Tan hadn’t expected that after inhaling such potent incense, Yu Xinyi would still have the strength to slap the Crown Prince. Humiliated and enraged, he said: “Bitch! Since you refuse the easy way, we’ll do it the hard way!”

He viciously pulled at his belt, about to pounce on her, when he heard a commotion outside.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened!” came the panicked voice of a eunuch from outside.

Ning Tan turned his head, panting heavily: “What now?”

“Just now, dozens of arrows coated with glycerin came flying in from outside. The Left Spring Office and Chongren Hall of the Eastern Palace have caught fire, alarming His Majesty and the Yulin Guard!”

“How did the fire suddenly start? What are you all good for!”

“The fire is suspicious, this slave doesn’t know either.”

The eunuch suppressed his duck-like voice: “His Majesty is almost at the Wude Gate now. Your Highness should quickly prepare to receive him.”

The Eastern Palace was separated from the Emperor’s palace by just one wall. From Wude Gate to here was just half a cup of tea’s time.

Ning Tan panicked. Forgetting his sordid thoughts, he hurriedly pushed Yu Xinyi toward the inner chamber, just wanting to hide this woman quickly.

If his father saw him laying hands on a meritorious official’s daughter, he would surely be beaten and punished again.

“Foolish ruler! Don’t touch me!” Yu Xinyi still had the strength to resist, using both fists and feet, with every move potentially lethal!

Ning Tan’s stomach and groin were kicked several times, his face twisting in pain as he clutched himself and shouted: “Someone! Drag this mad woman away and lock her up!”

Four or five eunuchs rushed forward, barely managing to carry Yu Xinyi to the inner chamber. Just then, they saw torches blazing outside the hall.

Then the hall doors were pushed open, and the Yulin Guard escorted the white-haired Emperor into the hall, followed by the young Prince of Nanyang with his red lips and white teeth.

Ning Ziluo’s gaze was somewhat anxious as he swept the hall with his eyes.

The Emperor looked disappointedly at his disheveled son and rebuked: “The Eastern Palace is on fire, yet you are nowhere to be seen. What exactly have you been doing?”

Ning Tan hastily tied his belt, bowing his head: “Fa-Father, your son…”

Before he could finish, they heard cries of “Aiyoh, aiyoh” from the inner chamber, accompanied by the sound of fists and feet landing on flesh.

After a series of crashing porcelain, Yu Xinyi emerged, her face flushed, steps unsteady.

“Commander Yu!” Ning Ziluo immediately stepped forward, removing his outer robe to wrap around Yu Xinyi.

Fortunately, although her body lacked strength, her clothes were intact with no other abnormalities.

The Emperor looked at Yu Xinyi with anger in her phoenix eyes, then at the cowering Crown Prince kneeling before him. Everything was self-evident.

“Worthless creature!”

The Emperor, enraged, delivered a kick to his chest, shouting, “What have you done!”

The Crown Prince, kicked in the chest by the Emperor’s full fury, fell backward like a turtle on its back, scrambling to kneel properly again, unable to argue.

…

The rain gradually subsided, but the carriage remained stopped by the roadside.

In the direction of the Eastern Palace, firelight was faintly visible.

Ning Yin sat with his legs bent, his eyes reflecting an unsteady light as if admiring a pleasing masterpiece. He asked softly: “Have you calmed down?”

Yu Lingxi looked toward the fire, and after a while, nodded.

Ning Yin was like an iceberg, showing only a small tip above the surface, hiding unknown power beneath.

She wasn’t surprised that someone so cunning, ruthless, and skilled at hiding in plain sight would climb to a position of immense power.

“In the future, you can’t be fierce with me.”

Yu Lingxi lowered her eyes, breaking the silence, rubbing her wrist that had been gripped painfully.

After a pause, she quietly added: “Though I don’t know what methods you used, still, thank you.”

“No need to thank me, thank your little Prince instead.”

Ning Yin’s hair dripped water, his tone equally chilly. “What methods could I have? I merely deceived Young Miss to set her mind at ease.”

Yu Lingxi raised her eyes and looked at him for a long time, finally discerning from his handsome face what seemed like a “holding a grudge” emotion.

“Wei Qi?”

“Wei Qi.”

After calling twice, Ning Yin lazily lifted his eyelids to glance at her.

Yu Lingxi opened her mouth, but before she could speak, she heard the sound of a carriage from ahead.

She lifted the curtain to look and saw a lantern with the Nanyang Prince’s insignia hanging from the carriage. Her eyes brightened and she jumped down to the road: “Elder Sister!”

The Prince’s coachman pulled the reins to stop, and then the curtain was lifted, revealing Ning Ziluo’s young, refined face.

“Miss Yu, don’t worry, Commander Yu is fine.”

Ning Ziluo gave a slight bow, revealing Yu Xinyi leaning against the carriage wall, asleep beside him.

Yu Xinyi appeared unharmed, still draped in Ning Ziluo’s gold-embroidered outer robe.

Yu Lingxi’s heart, suspended in midair, finally returned to earth. She sighed in relief and hurriedly bowed solemnly to Ning Ziluo: “Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to our rescue.”

Ning Yin leaned against the carriage, his cold eyes narrowing slightly.

Tsk, she went to thank her little Prince?

His hand itched, wanting to kill someone.

In the carriage, Ning Ziluo inexplicably shuddered.

Looking around, he wondered: Why did he suddenly feel a chill down his spine?