Chapter 124 Open Targe (2/2)

With quick movements, he smeared the milky, translucent ointment inside the jade bottle onto the injured back of Ning Xueyan's hand. She felt a refreshing coolness instantly soothing the hint of scorching pain earlier.

”If someone discovers your injured hand, you'll ruin the entire plan,” Ao Chenyi said with a quiet scoff. He let go of her hand and calmly wet his hands with his handkerchief. Ning Xueyan understood from his wicked, savage smile that he wasn't joking. If she truly ruined his plan, her outcome was inevitable death.

To Ao Chenyi, people were divided into just two categories: useful and useless. If he considered her useless, she would suffer the same fate as those beauties. She wouldn't dream of asking him to treat rubbish any differently.

”What do you want me to do?” Her cold eyes regained their calm. Ning Xueyan returned to her seat, ignoring the flirtatious atmosphere when Ao Chenyi pulled her into his embrace. They were the only ones here, so there was no need for him to put on ointment for her.

”Who would find out that you're injured?” Ao Chenyi leaned on the chair with a smile playing on his thin lips. He could acutely feel her attention on him.

”Those in the palace,” Ning Xueyan answered after some thought. Even though the attack happened some distance away from the others, where they were cunning enough to gather in a secluded area, this didn't mean that the eunuch and the other beauties weren't paying attention to their actions.

Her wounds wouldn't escape the notice of those who pay attention.

”What will happen next?” Ao Chenyi asked softly. His eyes were unreadable as he looked through his eyelashes at Ning Xueyan's reserved face.

”No woman in your inner courtyard has ever received such favor from you, to the point that you'd kill two beauties from the Emperor for her. If they can manipulate such a woman who can control your mood, they'll surely be able to affect you.”

Ning Xueyan gave an earnest analysis after some thought.

Ao Chenyi might look rampant and impetuous, but he was in truth a shrewd person. Coupled with the fact that he had the capital's guards under his control, he met little opposition in the court. No minister dared to openly contradict him. Not even the Emperor could do anything about him. He could only try and sabotage Ao Chenyi through his harem. However, all the beauties that entered his manor would end up leaving as corpses.

So what if they sent so many?

The Emperor couldn't reprimand Ao Chenyi just because of the beheading of a few beauties.

When the Emperor who had reached the end of his rope heard that Ao Chenyi had fallen for a woman, he would surely focus on her. So, Ning Xueyan had become an open target for everyone. Whether they would try to kill his beloved concubine to disturb his peace or try to control her to cause problems for Ao Chenyi would be up to their intention.

Thus, considering the situation, Ning Xueyan had placed herself in great danger by playing the role of the beloved concubine.

”Aren't you afraid I'd abandon you so the others think it's a ruse and make their move?” Ao Chenyi raised an eyebrow and put on a wicked smirk as if he was discussing the weather, not Ning Xueyan's survival.

”You wouldn't.” Ning Xueyan looked at him with her pair of jet-black eyes, meeting his languid eyes.

”Oh, do enlighten me. Do you think it's because I can't bear to let you die?” Ao Chenyi looked at her, smiling as he waited for an explanation.

”If you're dealing with any of those ministers, all you have to do is send your imperial guards. I heard the imperial guards are equipped with the mastery of eighteen different martial arts. You need not thrust me into the open. If you're dealing with others, it's even more useless to do that. I'm just your favorite concubine, not your royal consort. They won't have a need to deal with me and incur your attention. Considering your character, you don't look like someone who'd risk your ambition for a concubine.”

Ning Xueyan was fluent as she explained herself with an unwavering gaze at him.

Ao Chenyi turned his head subtly to fix his cold gaze, filled with wicked killing intent, on her. Suddenly, he reached out to touch her face. Light was flickering in his unfathomable pupils as he gradually narrowed his eyes. ”Yan'er, are you looking to be the only first wife's daughter of the Lord Protector's Manor?”

”No. I want to bring the Lord Protector's Manor to ruins,” she said sharply. Something changed in her eyes. She looked away, avoiding his slender fingers.

There was no need for such a ruthless place to exist.

”Sure. I await the day you bring the Lord Protector's Manor to ruins,” Ao Chenyi said softly. For the first time, a joyful smile appeared on his handsome face.

”Then what should we do now? How do we deal with the palace if my beloved concubine disappears from time to time?” Ao Chenyi retrieved his hand, looking unperturbed by Ning Xueyan's resistance.

”Prince, if you don't mind, I can give something a try,” Ning Xueyan said in a saccharine voice. She abruptly reached out to grab Ao Chenyi's large hand.

Ao Chenyi smiled wickedly. Before he could reply, she pulled his hand to her mouth and took a large bite out of it. Blood gradually spilled out from the wound on the back of his slender, fair hand...