How could Qin Yining just stand there and let her strike? She immediately grasped the whip A’na Ri swung at her. Though her hand burned with pain as if she’d caught the barbs on the whip, she still gripped it tightly without changing expression.

Qin Yining’s strength was considerable. A’na Ri angrily tugged several times but couldn’t snatch the whip back. Instead, their struggle over the whip brought them even closer together.

“Let go!” A’na Ri said through gritted teeth.

Qin Yining’s beautiful eyes looked directly at A’na Ri as she said in a low voice: “Khan, as a woman, paying for love and feeling jealous are human nature—understandable. But the Khan is no ordinary woman. You are the ruler of the Tatars. Having ascended to this position, everything about you must prioritize this country. You can’t spend all day indulging in romantic sentiments.

“I can tell you that your Prince Consort is very problematic. He has no interest in me, yet he deliberately acts this way to mislead you. The Prince Consort’s reputation among the Tatar people is also higher than yours as Khan. Do I need to continue breaking this down piece by piece to tell you what your Prince Consort intends to do?”

A’na Ri’s pupils contracted sharply as she said in a trembling voice: “You’re talking nonsense!”

“Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, the Khan knows in her heart. The reason the Khan is struck by my words is precisely because you have this feeling yourself!”

Qin Yining spoke the truth. But she certainly hadn’t forgotten that A’na Ri stood in opposition to Great Zhou and wasn’t telling her this out of benevolence.

In fact, Qin Yining did pity A’na Ri. This woman’s mind was too simple—she was no match for Si Qin at all. During her time in Tatar territory, she had seen through Si Qin’s purposes. Connecting this with their past, she truly felt it was tragic and pitiful. But A’na Ri was blinded by love, focusing only on jealousy while ignoring Si Qin’s underhanded moves.

Now that she had warned A’na Ri, if A’na Ri could guard against Si Qin, then Pang Xiao’s enemies would be somewhat weaker in the future. This would do them no harm while helping this woman—nothing bad about that for her.

If A’na Ri remained stubborn and continued to trust Si Qin heavily, then there was nothing more to say.

A’na Ri’s lips trembled as she glared fiercely at Qin Yining, her eyes splitting with rage: “Don’t think you can drive a wedge between me and the Prince Consort! Do you think this way you can have him and replace my position? Dream on! Tatar is mine, and so is the Prince Consort! What are you anyway!”

As soon as she finished speaking, A’na Ri dropped the whip and grabbed Qin Yining’s neck with both hands.

Caught off guard by the strangling, Qin Yining couldn’t worry about the whip anymore and hurriedly tried to pry off A’na Ri’s hands.

The barbs on the whip had cut her tender palms earlier. Now when her right hand grasped A’na Ri’s hand, it left a large patch of warm, slippery blood.

A’na Ri was startled by the sudden sensation and hesitated for a moment.

Seizing this opportunity, Qin Yining quickly kicked A’na Ri away!

A’na Ri was struck in the abdomen. The pain made her gasp sharply as she staggered back several steps and fell to the ground.

Qin Yining coughed continuously, the blood from her hand staining her collar and sleeves, with spots of blood even on her robe front and skirt hem.

A’na Ri’s fury blazed. With a loud cry, she charged forward again, still trying to strangle Qin Yining’s neck.

Qin Yining hurriedly reached out to block her.

Just then, the ajar palace door was pushed open and Si Qin strode in quickly. Seeing A’na Ri actually grappling with Qin Yining, with both women having blood on their hands and bodies, Si Qin was truly startled.

“Khan! Calm down!” Si Qin stepped forward quickly and lifted A’na Ri from behind.

A’na Ri stretched out her arms frantically, trying to claw at Qin Yining’s face: “Wretch! Wretch!”

Qin Yining closed her eyes, then looked at the hypocritical Si Qin with a mocking smile.

This scheming man still had the face to continue playing the devoted, unrequited lover. That such a person could be mentioned in the same breath as Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu was simply an insult to Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu!

“Please have Prince Consort Si Qin take good care of the Khan,” Qin Yining said, pointing her bloodied finger at her own temple with a cold laugh. “There seems to be a problem here. You should find your best physician to examine her.”

“You! Even at this point you dare provoke this Khan! Si Qin, help me kill her!” A’na Ri flew into a rage, screaming and pushing at Si Qin.

That shrill voice hurt people’s eardrums, and A’na Ri’s manic expression was truly bone-chilling.

A’na Ri’s temper—flying into rage at the slightest provocation, turning hostile at a single irritating remark—was this really suitable for a Khan?

Acting this way, wouldn’t she be led around by the nose her entire life?

Qin Yining watched everything before her with eyes that saw through it all. She even suspected that a normal person wouldn’t be so volatile—perhaps Si Qin had used some despicable means to make A’na Ri become like this.

Si Qin held A’na Ri in his arms, checking her hands and seeing she was unharmed before breathing a sigh of relief.

He didn’t notice Qin Yining’s gaze but said quietly to A’na Ri: “Khan, you must mind your status. If people around see this, word will spread from one to ten to a hundred—what will happen to the Khan’s reputation?”

A’na Ri was already angry, and hearing this made her even more furious: “If you want this Khan to feel better, kill her immediately!”

“Khan, didn’t I tell you last time? This woman cannot be killed yet.”

“You’re protecting her?”

“Khan, I’m not protecting her. Please calm down.”

Unable to control her temper, A’na Ri shrieked: “You really have taken a fancy to her! All those things you said to me last time were lies!”

“Khan!”

…

Qin Yining couldn’t understand what they were saying, but the content of their argument was nothing more than the same old things—she could guess.

Finally, A’na Ri ran out in anger, taking all the guards at the door with her.

Only then did Si Qin look at Qin Yining. Seeing blood dripping from her hand, he turned and instructed the watching nanny: “Go call a physician.”

The nanny had originally been sent by A’na Ri, but having just witnessed the interaction between the Prince Consort and Khan, she now obeyed Si Qin completely and immediately went to call a physician.

Si Qin said nothing, just stood aside with arms crossed waiting. Only after the physician had cleaned, stopped the bleeding, applied medicine, and bandaged Qin Yining’s hand did he turn and leave.

From beginning to end, he didn’t say a word to Qin Yining or even make eye contact. Qin Yining could tell that Si Qin simply didn’t care whether she lived or died.

But on A’na Ri’s side, she would certainly hear immediately about Si Qin calling a physician for Qin Yining.

The door was locked again.

Qin Yining sat by the fire, wrapped in a blanket, lost in thought.

If this continued, her life would be in danger. Si Qin was deliberately provoking A’na Ri, pushing her toward a dead end!

Sure enough, just as expected.

In the middle of the night, just as Qin Yining had fallen asleep, the palace door was suddenly pushed open.

A group of guards grabbed Qin Yining, first stuffing her mouth with rags, then tying her up like a bundle. They easily carried her out.

A’na Ri stood before the palace door and sneered: “Take this seductress away for this Khan!”