Chapter 445: You Have a Thing with Him Too?

Yuan Shiyao?

The moment Qin Xiangning saw the name, he swore. "For fuck’s sake, what is that pretentious bastard doing here?"

Qin Xiangning hated a lot of people, but Yuan Shiyao was at the very top of his list.

They were the same age and had attended the same schools all the way up to university. As luck would have it, they always ended up in the same class.

The Emperor had high standards for her children. Unless you were a female, the only way to win her favor was to be exceptionally outstanding.

Qin Xiangning had wanted to stand out, just like his other brothers.

But as long as Yuan Shiyao was around, first place rarely went to anyone else.

A few years ago, when Qin Muye returned home, he’d turned in a blank exam paper. Qin Xiangning, desperate to get ahead, had cornered Yuan Shiyao and threatened him, demanding he pass him the answers during the final exams.

But what happened next? Yuan Shiyao turned right around and sent a recording of the threat directly to the Imperial Family’s Communications Department!

If his father hadn’t intercepted it, the recording would have reached the Emperor herself!

Although Yuan Shiyao ended up being beaten half to death by his own father over the incident, Qin Xiangning still seethed with resentment whenever he thought about it.

He never wanted to cross paths with such a lowly creature again, but to his surprise, he had also come to the Twelve Cities.

’Wasn’t Yuan Shiyao at the courthouse in the First District last year? What’s he doing here all of a sudden? Coming to a party is one thing, but now he’s messaging Jiang Qingli? I’ve never heard of him getting close to any female.’

’Don’t tell me his sickly older brother sent him to find his sister-in-law?’

The more Qin Xiangning thought about it, the more irritated he grew. He took a gulp of his wine to ease his anxiety.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jiang Qingli staring tensely at her terminal. In that instant, Qin Xiangning abandoned any romantic notion of sharing that stupid cross-armed drink with her later.

He grabbed the wine glass, pinched Jiang Qingli’s cheeks, and forced the wine down her throat.

Jiang Qingli twisted her head away, refusing to drink, but Qin Xiangning wouldn’t let go. In the struggle, most of the red wine was forced down, while the rest spilled out and soaked the front of her clothes.

"Why so shy?" Qin Xiangning smirked victoriously. "Weren’t you acting all tough a moment ago?"

Qin Xiangning let go, preparing to savor her pathetic state, but Jiang Qingli suddenly raised her leg and kicked him viciously in the kneecap!

Caught completely off guard, Qin Xiangning slammed into the coffee table behind him!

She had put every ounce of her strength into that kick.

The coffee table tipped over, and everything on it went CRASHING to the floor.

As he fell heavily onto the carpet, Qin Xiangning’s mind went blank for a moment.

When he came to his senses, he was incandescent with rage. He kicked the coffee table aside, scrambled to his feet, and stormed forward, grabbing Jiang Qingli’s arm to drag her toward the bed.

However, he had only taken two steps when there was a sudden knock on the door.

Wary of any interruptions, Qin Xiangning hadn’t activated the room’s soundproofing.

As a result, both people in the room clearly heard a young man’s worried voice from the other side—

"Qingli, are you in there?"

-

Qin Xiangning never expected Yuan Shiyao to find this place.

’Damn it, the bastard moves as silently as a cat!’

Qin Xiangning grabbed a wine glass and smashed it violently against the door.

The glass shattered on impact, and he let out a heaven-shaking roar. "FUCK OFF!"

The waiter standing at the door was startled.

He glanced nervously at the young man and reminded him cautiously, "Sir, there’s a VIP inside..."

Yuan Shiyao swept a glance at him. "I know who it is. I’m looking for someone."

The waiter was terrified. "The person you’re looking for definitely isn’t in there..." He mouthed the words, ’It’s a Prince,’ then pressed his palms together, begging Yuan Shiyao not to knock again.

Qin Xiangning was volatile; he would hit or curse the staff whenever he pleased. Because of his status, no one dared to say a word. Even the manager turned a blind eye, not daring to report him.

Yuan Shiyao frowned, when suddenly a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Shiyao?"

Turning around, Yuan Shiyao saw Yuan Liang walking towards him, swaying as if he had drunk too much.

He walked over, put a hand on Yuan Shiyao’s shoulder, and said cheerfully, "Long time no see, what are you doing here?"

"Uncle Yuan," Yuan Shiyao greeted. "I’m here for a dinner gathering with the dean."

"Oh, you should have said so earlier! Come join us." Yuan Liang grinned. "Your sister-in-law is here too!"

Yuan Shiyao’s lips curved. "I’m actually looking for my sister-in-law."

Yuan Liang waved his hand. "She went to get some air. Come on, have a few drinks with us first, she’ll be back in a bit..."

The subordinate helping Yuan Liang couldn’t help but remark, "Marshal, is there anyone you *don’t* know?"

Yuan Liang slapped the back of his head. "What kind of talk is that? It’s called being well-connected, understand? Shiyao’s grand-uncle and I were in the same class at the military academy. Back then..."

The man’s drunken voice faded into the distance along with their footsteps.

Qin Xiangning snapped back to attention, his eyes fixed on the girl whose mouth and nose he was holding shut.

Seeing the redness at the corners of her eyes, he was suddenly overcome by a wave of irrational anger. "What are you looking at?!"

"Are you screwing him, too?!"

The girl’s eyes narrowed. After a few seconds, she let out a dazed, "Ah?" Her voice sounded distant. "No..."

She seemed disgruntled, her flushed lips pursing as she mumbled a complaint, "My head is so dizzy..."

Seeing this, Qin Xiangning’s heart leaped with joy.

’That dazed look in her eyes... I’ve seen it before, in those other lovers I’ve drugged!’

’The drug is taking effect much faster than I expected. Then again, Jiang Qingli drank two whole vials, so it makes sense her reaction is more severe.’

’Does that mean... she’ll be even more obedient later?’

Qin Xiangning licked his lips, his lust flaring. He decided he would take some pictures later.

’And when I do, I’ll send a copy to that bastard Yuan Shiyao.’

’Let him get a good look at his precious sister-in-law in my bed!’

He broke into a wide, silent grin as he imagined the scene.

He could already picture the furious, defeated faces of Qin Muye and the other males. Qin Xiangning couldn’t resist reaching out to grab at the vision, but he only met empty air, and his body slammed into a solid wood chair.

’Wait, the chair...’

Qin Xiangning snapped back to reality and focused his eyes, only to realize he was slumped over the very chair Jiang Qingli had been tied to.

’The chair was empty. So where was Jiang Qingli?!’

Suddenly a strong force pressed down on him from behind.

Jiang Qingli planted her foot on his back and began to tie him up with the discarded ropes. Her tone was calm. "Your knot-tying skills are terrible. All brute force, and the knots are all loose."

’She broke free?’

’When?’

’Was it while Yuan Shiyao was talking outside?’

’Goddamnit, I knew nothing good would happen when that bastard showed up!’

Rage flooded Qin Xiangning’s mind. He twisted his hand to grab the rope and yanked it violently, trying to catch Jiang Qingli, but she had already anticipated his move and dodged back a step.

Her movements were nimble and light, while Qin Xiangning’s own steps were sluggish, his limbs heavy as lead.

After a few dazed seconds, he suddenly raised his voice, "You dare look down on me?!"

"I’m a Prince!"

"I suggest you surrender quietly! A mere female with only healing abilities is no match for me!"

He gripped the rope, wrapping it around his hand again and again as he advanced on her with a sinister look, his voice a loud warning.

"Lie down and strip right now, and maybe I’ll be a little gentler with you."

He walked closer step by step.

However, the scene he had imagined—the girl screaming and begging for mercy—never came.

Qin Xiangning stumbled a few steps, his eyes fixed on her warily.

Jiang Qingli stood her ground, perfectly still, and simply raised an eyebrow. "I think you’re the one who should be worried."

"Putting on a..."

Before he could finish, a powerful force slammed into his midsection, and Qin Xiangning was sent flying!