“Don’t worry. It wasn’t targeted at you.” The languid smile on Ao Chenyi’s face didn’t last long as his thin lips curved into a cold sneer. Both his nephews had given him trouble, refusing to let him marry Yan’er in peace. Fortunately, a single stumbling block in the form of Ya Moqin was enough to deepen the conflict between the two.

Of course, he wouldn’t let Yan’er know about this. He felt a fire rising up in him just at the thought that those two daring to secretly covet her. It seemed that he should let Yan’er attend more banquets to make them give up on her. He wasn’t the kind who would have qualms about showing off his belongings to others.

Those would dare to try and steal his belongings should at least think about whether they had the life to enjoy it!

After hearing his reply, Ning Xueyan thought that the perpetrator must be in the Emperor’s camp and didn’t question him any further. Instead, she asked, “Is that older female servant one of yours?”

“No, I wouldn’t have such a stupid servant working under me. Ha, and Xianyun thought she found a treasure. If it weren’t for me, how could she have found the source and the two women so easily?” Ao Chenyi raised an eyebrow with a cold but alluring smile.

Xianyun must truly think of herself as an important person, wanting to subdue the people in his manor on her first day here.

After hearing Ao Chenyi’s words and thinking about the cause and consequences of the matter, Ning Xueyan’s eyes slowly widened as realization dawned on her. She couldn’t help but laugh and ask, “Your Highness, it was your trap just as I expected. I knew such a coincidence wouldn’t be possible. How could the Princess just stumble upon the woman and find out everything so easily?”

Seeing her laugh so much that tears were beginning to flow down her face, Ao Chenyi raised his eyebrow ever so slightly. The mirth in his eyes blossomed like flowers in the spring. As expected of the woman whom she liked. She wasn’t just courageous but clever as well. She could immediately pinpoint the key to the matter. Xianyun, on the other hand, was self-righteous and self-important; she even dared to use someone from his manor.

He remembered the first time he saw her. Her decisiveness and ruthlessness weren’t something that a weak woman like her was capable of. He had been shocked then, thinking that he was mistaken. It turned out that this wild kitten had just been hiding her claws all along, only lashing out when her enemies weren’t paying attention and killing them with one blow.

His eyes turned gentle as he recalled the past. He reached out to grab her hand. “Wasn’t that gratifying?”

“Of course!” Ning Xueyan’s reply was immediate. Although Commandery Princess Xianyun made herself out to be a gentle and generous person, the Princess had never held any kind intentions towards her. It would have been strange if Ning Xueyan actually liked her. Seeing the Princess lose, especially because of a mere servant, naturally made her happy. Her watery eyes were filled with joy as she nodded vigorously.

“You’d better watch out for her then. Who knows if she’ll make a counterattack?” Ao Chenyi pinched her nose and warned her.

“Relax. I’m not really a pushover. I wouldn’t let someone bully me just because they want to.” Ning Xueyan rolled her eyes and slapped his hand away. Either way, the Princess would keep a low-profile for a while after today’s incident. This gave her the chance to get rid of some trouble during this time.

“Okay, I’ll wait and see!” Ao Chenyi said with a wicked smile and a raised eyebrow.

“Rest assured, Your Highness,” Ning Xueyan said in agreement.

Upon seeing the vibrant smile on her pale face, Ao Chenyi patted her head with satisfaction and asked, “Do you still need any more helping hands in your courtyard?”

“I don’t need any more people in my courtyard, but can I trust the people that you’ve sent me?” Ning Xueyan asked after thinking about it, the smile on her face gone. There were a lot of people working in her courtyard, but more manpower didn’t necessarily mean more help. She could use the people that she brought with her, and there was Xinmei too. She didn’t think that she needed any more subordinates.

“Don’t worry and just use those people as you wish. If you need it, you can tell your maids to ask them about the manor’s affairs. Besides, after yesterday’s incident, those women would stop making trouble for the time being and wouldn’t do anything too outrageous. But if there’s a need, you can also use them,” Ao Chenyi said, a trace of hostility flashing in his eyes.

This was his reminder to Ning Xueyan; he believed that she would be able to understand his meaning.

“I will, Your Highness, but it’s best if you don’t intervene with the matters of the inner courtyard.” Ning Xueyan raised her eyebrow with a meaningful smile.

“Of course, I’m too busy to pay attention to such trivial things. But since the Princess that I’ve married is useless, someone has to manage my inner courtyard for me.” Ao Chenyi narrowed his eyes slightly, his beautiful eyes looking enchanting.

He had never interfered with the matters in the inner courtyard, allowing Mother Ruan and Steward Ling to handle everything. Besides, those concubines didn’t have a proper title and he himself was a lawless person. If they offended him, he would just kill them without caring if they came from the Emperor or the Empress. That was why even if there were a lot of women in his inner courtyard, they didn’t dare to make trouble.

Things were different after the Empress sent him Commandery Princess Xianyun. On the surface, the Princess’ position was higher than Mother Ruan and the others. It seemed that there was no shortage of people who wanted to make a mess of his inner courtyard.

“If you find it hard to act, you can send Xinmei to tell me privately. Just remember that I won’t let anyone bully you. Even if you’re in the palace, you have nothing to be worried about. I’ll protect you.” Ao Chenyi reached out and pulled Ning Xueyan into his arms. He traced his slender fingers down her beautiful, silky long hair.

Although she couldn’t see his expression, she could feel his sincerity. A person like him had no need to lie to a woman.

She couldn’t help but smile as she leaned on his chest obediently and closed her eyes assuredly. Her heart was soft and mushy. She never thought that someone would protect her with all his heart and tell her that she had no need to fear in the palace because he would be there to protect her.

“Do you need me to accompany you on your visit back to your maternal home?” His languid voice, carrying a hint of mirth, reached her ears. It lacked the usual sharpness and coldness that would sometimes color his voice. She didn’t know since when he became so easily approachable; of course, she realized that she was the only one who could approach him.

Lanning, Qingyu, and the rest had seen Ao Chenyi several times and knew that he treated her well. Even so, every time they saw him, they would still stop far away from him and dared not to even raise their heads.

This thought turned her heart even softer. She shook her head vigorously in Ao Chenyi’s embrace and couldn’t help but tease him. “You should just accompany the Princess back to the Lord Peace’s Manor. The Lord Protector’s Manor has never been my home, so you don’t have to show them such respect. Besides, they have quite a lot of schemes when it comes to our marriage.”

The so-called twin weddings had shown much respect to not only her but the Lord Protector’s Manor as well. But, she didn’t think that this respect was enough to stop Madam Dowager and Ning Zu’an from exploiting her.

Between the Third Prince and Ao Chenyi, the one that the Lord Protector’s Manor prioritized had always been the former. And she had always been a sacrificial lamb to them. This fact was true in the past and present and would continue to be in the future.

Since her rebirth, Ning Xueyan had little affection for the Lord Protector’s Manor. Whether as Ning Ziying or Ning Xueyan, she never felt like she belonged because the manor did nothing but exploit them both. The so-called blood relations were nothing compared to glory and wealth.

She had watched Madam Dowager spoil one grandchild one day, and another the next. Her actions were obviously driven by profit. Ning Yuling was the granddaughter that she had doted on for more than ten years, but now that Ning Yuling was no longer useful, she immediately kicked her to the curb. Judging by how Ning Yuling was sent off to the Xia Manor in a small sedan without any dowry, it was obvious how cruel Madam Dowager could be.

And then there was Madam Ning as well. How could Madam Dowager watch her own niece get framed and eventually killed without doing anything? Ning Xueyan refused to believe that Madam Dowager, who had been reigning over the inner courtyard for so many years, would truly be in the dark about it.

As for Ning Zu’an, Ning Xueyan didn’t think about him at all. That bastard had rebuilt his clan on the back of his wife’s family. He swore not to marry a second wife to convince Madam Ming. The truth was that he had been in cahoots with his mistress, Madam Ling, a long time ago and they even had children together. Later on, in order to give Madam Ling a proper title, he didn’t hesitate to secretly lend a hand in framing Madam Ming up.

Although Madam Ling was ultimately responsible for all those things, it was impossible that Ning Zu’an didn’t know. Madam Yu’s eldest brother was even his subordinate.

Ning Xueyan didn’t see a place like the Lord Protector’s Manor as her home at all. The only emotions in a place full of calculations and betrayals like that were cold-bloodiness and ruthlessness as well as an endless cycle of exploitation.

Noticing Ning Xueyan’s souring mood, Ao Chenyi reached out and hugged her tighter. The person in his arms was so thin that she barely weighed anything at all. He couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. He understood what she was thinking about without her saying anything. “It’s all right. From now on, this is your home, our home.”

Ao Chenyi had told her this yesterday, and hearing it again today gave her the urge to cry. She bit her lower lip and suppress the tartness in her heart as she nodded firmly.

Ao Chenyi spent the night in the Pear Flower Garden. Naturally, there was a reason for it. How could the ever-arrogant Prince Yi accept the Princess causing such trouble on her first day at the manor? It was only normal for him to spend the night with his consort. In the first place, he had visited an unnamed concubine on his wedding night with the Princess.

No one would have thought that this was excessive coming from him. Even if the Princess gritted her teeth so hard that she almost broke them, she couldn’t do anything about it. She could only hope that Ning Xueyan would faint several more times until she eventually died.

The return trip to their family home took place on the third day after the wedding. Ning Xueyan didn’t wake up early for it. In these two days, aside from the time when Ao Chenyi spent the night at the Pear Flower Garden with her, he had been spending time alone in the Moon-embracing Tower as per his usual routine.

When Lanning was helping Ning Xueyan wash up, she said, “Master, the Princess sent someone over before heading to the Lord Peace’s Manor with the Prince. When she learned that you’re unwell and still sleeping, she told you to rest more.”

Ning Xueyan’s reflection in the dressing table’s mirror raised an eyebrow. The Princess truly didn’t give up any opportunity to show off her generosity and virtuosity. But did she truly want the best for Ning Xueyan when she told her to rest more and visit her family home late?