Ning Wang's youngest daughter?

Liang Ruowei?

Yu Qingwu's body stiffened, the hand holding the book tightening slightly.

After a long while, she slowly regained her senses, suppressing her emotions and asking calmly, "Liang Ruowei? Wasn't she married long ago? How did she become a concubine again? Whose concubine did she become?"

"Shen Zongyuan."

Xie Jin Yan succinctly uttered those three words.

???

Liang Ruowei became Shen Zongyuan's concubine?

How could that be possible?

In that instant, Yu Qingwu felt both a sense of vindication and a sense of utter absurdity.

She shifted her body, half-turned in Xie Jin Yan's embrace, and looked at him in disbelief. "Xie Jin Yan, are you... are you serious? Liang Ruowei really became Shen Zongyuan's concubine? Why? Why haven't we heard any news about this before?"

Yu Qingwu's voice was raised in excitement...

Hearing this, Xie Jin Yan didn't answer, only smiled at her, and asked, "Shijie (senior martial sister), would you like to attend Shen Zongyuan's concubine-taking ceremony? I heard that Ning Wang will also be there. If you go as my Liangdi (consort of the second rank), what do you think Ning Wang's reaction will be?"

Liangdi?

What did he mean by that? Was he... planning to take her as a concubine?

Yu Qingwu was stunned. The excitement on her face instantly faded. She pried open his hand holding her slender waist and sneered, "Your Highness has gone to such lengths just to make me your concubine?"

"I plan to bring A Yue to the capital in a few days." As soon as Yu Qingwu finished speaking, Xie Jin Yan suddenly replied in a deep voice, his narrow phoenix eyes revealing an unprecedented seriousness as he looked at her earnestly. "A Yue is innocent and helpless. If she comes to the mansion, she will probably be bullied by Shen Rou. If you can share the burden for her, I will help you deal with Ning Wang."

The deep, gentle voice entered her ears, and Yu Qingwu's body suddenly stiffened, frozen in place.

So, Xie Jin Yan had been setting up this scheme from the very beginning.

He deliberately forced himself on her, and then ostentatiously welcomed her into the Crown Prince's residence, all so that she could become a target for everyone and a shield for his beloved little Shimei (junior martial sister) A Yue?

For some reason, Yu Qingwu suddenly felt a little sad.

She clenched her teeth, her fingernails unconsciously digging into her palm.

After a long while, she looked up at Xie Jin Yan and nodded lightly. "Okay, as long as you can help me deal with Ning Wang, I will definitely protect A Yue."

Seeing her agree so quickly, Xie Jin Yan was not surprised at all. It seemed he had expected it. He ruffled Yu Qingwu's dark hair and said with satisfaction, "Okay, that's settled then. You should rest well."

With that, he got up and left.

He left cleanly and decisively, without the indulgence and lingering affection of the past few days...

Yu Qingwu stood there, expressionless, watching the man's receding figure. A hint of self-deprecation appeared in her eyes, and she suddenly laughed with tears in her eyes.

That night, Yu Qingwu didn't sleep well.

She had a dream, a dream about her mother, her father, her brother...

They were all blaming her, blaming her for being shameless and becoming someone's concubine, blaming her for being cheap and frivolous and letting people play with her, blaming her for being played to death without being able to take revenge...

When she woke up, her face was covered in tears.

She covered her face and cried in bed for a long time before calling for Xun Momo (Old Nurse Xun) to come in and serve her.

Xun Momo stepped in with a basin of water. Seeing Yu Qingwu's red and swollen eyes, she was immediately puzzled and a little worried. She hurried forward and asked, "Yu Guniang (Miss Yu), what's wrong? Why are your eyes so swollen?"

"I probably drank too much water last night." Yu Qingwu found a plausible excuse, wiped the tears that had not yet dried from the corners of her eyes, and then looked at Xun Momo, changing the subject and asking, "By the way, Xun Momo, are those people in the guest rooms in the mansion today?"

Xun Momo was a little confused by her sudden question, but she still shook her head in reply, "No, they've all gone out."

Yu Qingwu nodded and took the handkerchief that Xun Momo handed her. "Okay, I understand. I want to go to the Crown Prince's stables later. Please keep an eye out for me, Xun Momo. If they come back, tell me in advance."

After saying that, Yu Qingwu walked to the dressing table, did a simple grooming, chose a set of light blue everyday clothes that were easiest to move around in, stepped out of Qingning Courtyard, and went straight to the stables.

The horses in the Crown Prince's residence were all of the highest quality.

In addition to two Akhal-Teke horses, there were also three white horses and four ordinary bay horses, but they were all stronger than ordinary horses and were used for Xie Jin Yan's carriage.

If they were trained well, killing people would not be a problem.

Shen Zongyuan and Liang Ruowei's marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, and Liang Ruowei was the daughter of Ning Wang. Although she was a concubine, the preparations should be very grand.

At least a month...

That was enough!

"Good horses..." Yu Qingwu smiled, tentatively reaching out to gently stroke the head of a bay horse.

She was good at taming beasts and knew best where to touch the wild animals to make them feel comfortable. Before long, she became familiar with the dozen or so horses in the stables and learned all about their habits.

Seeing that the time was almost up, she returned to Qingning Courtyard for lunch.

However, when she reached the entrance of Qingning Courtyard, she was stunned.

Looking at the uninvited guest outside the courtyard gate, Yu Qingwu's whole body stiffened, and she subconsciously wanted to leave.

Su Qing grabbed her, her pretty face stained with anger. She looked at Qingning Courtyard, then at her, and asked with disbelief, pain, and struggling, laughing in a self-deprecating way, "Second Shijie (Senior Martial Sister), the concubine that Seventh Shidi (Junior Martial Brother) is keeping in Qingning Courtyard is you, isn't it?"

"Why did you become his concubine? Just because he's the Crown Prince?" Su Qing's face was full of disappointment. She looked at her with a bitter smile, feeling aggrieved for Xiao Fengyun. "Just because Senior Brother is not the Crown Prince, you don't want him anymore? Do you know that Senior Brother actually knew about you and Seventh Shidi..."

"Know about Shijie and me?" Before Su Qing could finish speaking, a man's cold voice suddenly came from behind her.

Su Qing shuddered and turned around to find that Xie Jin Yan had walked behind her at some point.

Hearing Xie Jin Yan's voice, Yu Qingwu's back also turned cold.

Forcing herself to remain calm, she gave Xie Jin Yan a look and turned to walk in the opposite direction.

"Where is my beloved consort going?" However, this time, she was greeted by Xie Jin Yan's flirtatious teasing and his arms, which were like shackles.

Before she could take a step, he suddenly walked over and embraced her from behind, just like the first time he forced himself on her.

Seeing this scene, Su Qing was stunned. She simply couldn't believe that Xie Jin Yan could do such a lewd and shameless thing in broad daylight!

Yu Qingwu's face turned even redder, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She cried, "Xie Jin Yan, let me go!"

Hearing this, the man not only did not let go but hugged her even tighter. He suddenly kissed her face hard, a triumphant smile appearing in his deep black eyes as he looked towards a tree in the distance, saying smugly, "Senior Brother Xiao, why hide? If you want to see my beautiful concubine, just come out and look."