The Devious First Daughter

Chapter 159. Changes inside and outside the Palace

Ning Xueyan blinked after hearing several knocks on the window frame. Only then did she realize that Ao Chenyi was standing outside the window with his thin lips curved into a smile. His face looked handsome, almost enchantingly so, under the moonlight. There was a hint of impetuous languidness in his expression.

"How did you get here?" Without even thinking about it, Ning Xueyan stood up and looked out the window. Rather than asking him when he appeared here, she was asking how he came in without alerting anyone.

Ao Chenyi grabbed the sill and hoisted himself through the window, landing gently inside the room. "I told them not to knock since it's so late. I came in myself," he said matter-of-factly.

Why was he acting like a thief when he was just returning to his own home? She was speechless that he had to sneak in through the window.

She walked to the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him. Even though he looked the same, she could see the trace of exhaustion in his eyes. These two days were likely the most important days of his life. There was much that he had to pick up, but everything wasn't settled yet. He must be exhausted.

Ao Chenyi took the cup of tea and took a sip with a grin. He put it down and pulled Ning Xueyan into his arms. With a laugh, he said, "Did anyone come and give you trouble lately?"

"Well... The Empress tried to meet Commandery Princess Xianyun. Commandery Princess Xianyun wanted to return to her family. She said she'll leave us in peace while she becomes a nun and lives on her own." Sitting on his lap, Ning Xueyan reached out to knead his temples.

"She'd be that kind? Bah!" He closed his almond-shaped eyes comfortably as she kneaded his temples, but there was a sneer on his face.

She laughed. Commandery Princess Xianyun was a terrible actor. The two of them had never trusted her.

"She insisted that she'll leave the capital and promised that we'll never see her again so she won't mar our eyes. Of course, she also promised that she won't compete for you anymore. She even said that she'll leave the backyard to me so I can dominate by myself."

"Ha, she tried to make my decision for me, but when has she ever joined my backyard? She's as arrogant as ever." Ao Chenyi snorted unhappily, tightening his hold around Ning Xueyan's slender waist.

"Then, did anyone else try to steal you away?" she asked. Her gleaming eyes were filled with mirth.

"Who'd dare?!" Ao Chenyi sneered.

She didn't know where she found the courage to ask, but she did. Her unwavering gaze fell on his handsome face as she insisted, "What if someone dares?"

His eyes were closed, allowing his long lashes to fall gently on his skin. Looking at his tall nose and thin, red lips, one couldn't help but think that he was worthy of being called a beauty. Of course, he was also a sharp person even when he was closing his eyes. Without a smile on his face, he looked somewhat demonic, preventing others from meeting his eyes.

Naturally, that was for other people. Ning Xueyan had never feared him. She caressed his face calmly, wanting to tease him.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked squarely at her. He smiled and said, "They can't steal me away even if they wanted to. I belong to Yan'er!"

His unwavering gaze made her blush out of nowhere. Without even thinking about it, she covered his eyes and protested shyly, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're mine. No one can steal you from me."

His long lashes felt ticklish as they pressed against her soft palm, but what was truly ticklish was her heart. It felt a little warm and sweet too.

To her surprise, he nodded and said earnestly, "Yeah, so you have to protect me! Don't let others steal me away!"