This time Ning Xueyan accompanied Ao Chenyi to the emperor's study, where there were many people. Not only the emperor but also the empress, Honored Consort Ya, and Honored Consort Shu were there.Ning Xueyan went in after Ao Chenyi. The latter didn't kowtow to the emperor, and she didn't do it, either, because her hand had been in Ao Chenyi's hand. Fortunately, the emperor didn't seem to have the mood to care about it. On his right side, the empress, Honored Consort Ya, and Honored Consort Shu sat according to their status.Ao Chenyi sat down at his left side, and Ning Xueyan took the seat at the right side of Ao Chenyi. She sat there quietly with her eyelids slightly lowered, looking like a tamed newly married wife."Emperor, Prince Yi is already here. Please let Prince Yi help us with the trial. This case can't be delayed like this. A normal person died, and we should give an explanation to the others in the palace."Now, the em

Ning Xueyan looked at him coldly, her brows knitted into a frown, and said unhappily, "Your Highness, I should be leaving.""Yan'er, if he treats you so poorly, you can come to me. I'll protect you!" Ao Mingyu seemed determined to express all of his feelings. He even ignored Ning Xueyan's displeasure and reached out to grab her hand with the look of a man who couldn't control his emotions anymore. Excitement flitted across his pupils."I can treat you better than he can. I would never let you spend your wedding night alone nor would I let those lowly concubines bully you. I wouldn't let you return to your home all by yourself. I'll dote on you, I'll make you the happiest woman in the world!"Ao Mingyu looked at Ning Xueyan with desire burning in his eyes. The more he spoke, the more touched he was. He didn't think that he, a prince, would have such deep feelings for a woman. He didn't care that she was a married woman. He could even promise her

"Older sister, this courtyard still looks the same as before. Can I stay here for a little longer?" Hua Qiuying looked at the courtyard in front of her with tears welling in her sadness-filled eyes, looking as if she was reminiscing.This was the courtyard that caught Hua Yueying's eye at the very beginning. Even among the courtyards in Prince Yi's Manor, it was quite exquisitely built, especially with its refurbishment later on. However, it was abandoned when the marriage fell through. When Commandery Princess Xianyun entered the manor, she once sent someone to inspect the courtyard. She didn't end up choosing this place after hearing that it was Hua Yueying's pick, thinking that it would be unlucky.It meant that the courtyard was left empty with barely any visitors save for the occasional servants who would drop by to clean. Everything was left exactly in its place, though the arrangement was completed by the servants at Prince Yi's Manor as Second Young

The first thing the imperial physician saw after entering the room was Prince Yi lying unconscious in bed in his innerwear.A beautiful young woman was sitting beside the bed and wiping her tears with a handkerchief. When she saw him coming in, she let go of Prince Yi's hand and stepped back to sit on a cedar chair. A maid stood behind her respectfully with her head lowered, looking like she didn't even dare to raise her head.Yu Jian stepped forward and said, "Princess, this is Physician Xu. His Majesty sent him to examine our prince's injury.""Yes, please do so. He… He's still unconscious…" Ning Xueyan looked up, her eyes still red. It was obvious that she had cried and her voice was hoarse, too.The physician carefully observed Princess Yi. She was an exquisite beauty, if a little thin. She seemed to have suffered some congenital deficiencies. She lowered her head again after speaking, making it hard for him to see her expressi

Inside a gorgeous pavilion, lithe women decked in a colorful dress were dancing gracefully while two men watched from a platform. One of them was Wen Xueran, with his alluring smile and devastatingly handsome face. He looked even more beautiful than the dancers below.His black hair was draped over his shoulder, lending him an androgynous allure. His wide robe made him look like an ancient scholar, with a trace of languidness in its flightiness. Beside him was the elegant Hua Yunheng in a light-colored robe.The dancers were twirling around gracefully, their sleeves fluttering with every action, their dainty waists twisting from time to time, as they displayed their elegant figures. Instrumental music from both sides that accompanied the performance made them look all that more delicate and beautiful. Upon closer look, the musicians were all beauties themselves. But dressed in men's attire, they looked more dashing instead.However, these women