Yu Qingwu turned her head away, not answering.

Beneath her delicate and stunning face, her peach blossom eyes were slightly red, tears welling up. She bit her lip tightly, as if afraid to let out even a whimper of weakness.

This was his Second Senior Sister, clearly a frail woman, yet with a temper tougher than any man.

If only she knew how to yield, she wouldn't have ended up so battered and bruised.

Still, looking at those reddened eyes, Xie Jin Yan couldn't help but soften. He gently picked her up and said softly, "Last night, I was a bit too rough. It won't happen again."

"Bastard! You think there'll be a next time?"

Yu Qingwu's eyes were filled with tears, but she looked at him with the venom of a viper.

Humiliation, hatred, grievance, and anger surged within her. Suddenly, she raised her hand…

*Slap!* A crisp sound, followed by a ringing in his ears. Xie Jin Yan tasted blood at the corner of his mouth.

The gentleness in his eyes darkened with the rising bloodlust. The handsome face marked with a red handprint gradually turned gloomy…

He chuckled coldly, then suddenly cupped the back of her head with his large hand, pulling her into his arms for a fierce, demanding kiss…

Finally, when Yu Qingwu was about to suffocate, Xie Jin Yan slowly released her. His phoenix eyes swept over her bloodied lips, and he warned coldly, "Yu Qingwu, this is the last time. If you dare strike me again, I won't hesitate to chop off your head!"

"As for you, if I want you, there won't just be a next time, but the time after that, countless times! Even if Shifu were here, I'd still take you as my concubine!"

He pinched her chin hard, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

It was a murderous intent he had never shown in the sect, one that belonged to the crown prince of a nation.

Yu Qingwu bit her lip, her expressive eyes filled with anger and fear as she stared at Xie Jin Yan, unable to speak.

After a long silence, she asked him reluctantly, "Xie Jin Yan, what do you want me to do for you to let me go?"

Xie Jin Yan seemed to have anticipated her reaction. He smiled, sat back down on the edge of the bed, and gently caressed her disheveled hair. His voice returned to its gentle tone as he patted her shoulder and said, "If I remember correctly, Old Madam Shen's birthday is on the fifteenth of next month. Senior Sister shouldn't be in such a hurry to leave. Wait until your grandmother's birthday banquet next month before returning."

In other words, he wanted her to stay in the Crown Prince's residence for a month?

Xie Jin Yan was deliberately trying to ruin her marriage!

Yu Qingwu's heart sank, her chest heaving with anger. She glared at Xie Jin Yan for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "You just want to humiliate me to vent your anger for A Yue. Why must you keep me in the residence? If you desire me, you can send someone to the Duke's residence to give the order, and I will naturally…"

"No!" Xie Jin Yan interrupted her coldly before she could finish speaking. Then, he ordered towards the door, "Mama Xun, summon the imperial physician."

Without giving Yu Qingwu any room for negotiation, Xie Jin Yan stepped out of the room.

About half an hour later, Mama Xun led Imperial Physician Chen into the room.

As soon as he entered, Imperial Physician Chen asked Yu Qingwu where she felt unwell. Yu Qingwu was too embarrassed to mention the bruises on her body, so she only showed him her injured foot.

Imperial Physician Chen prescribed some medicine, instructing her to apply it three times a day and to avoid walking around too much for the next few days.

Yu Qingwu clutched the ointment, but had no intention of applying it. She only wanted Xie Jin Yan to let her return to the Duke's residence as soon as possible.

However, for the better part of the day, Yu Qingwu did not see Xie Jin Yan again.

It wasn't until night that Xie Jin Yan re-entered Qingning Courtyard.

Unlike during the day, he had changed into a moon-white casual outfit, making him appear less stern and more gentle.

But Xie Jin Yan's appearance now filled Yu Qingwu with fear. She huddled in the corner of the bed, her beautiful eyes watching him warily, and forced herself to ask, "What are you doing here so late at night, instead of sleeping?"

"What do you think, Senior Sister? Besides sleeping, what else could I be doing here?" Xie Jin Yan replied coldly. His sharp gaze swept over Yu Qingwu's tear-streaked face, and a faint smile played on his lips.

Seeing Yu Qingwu retreat further, the smile on his lips deepened. He quietly took out a bottle of medicated wine from his embrace and said to her, "Take off your clothes."