The villainous female supporting character becomes a heartthrob, and the powerful man successfully r

As night fell, only a few dim lights were lit in Jing'an Palace, where Xia Ying was located.

The hall was silent, with only the flickering shadows cast by the candlelight keeping company with the fireflies on the couch.

She sat on the tatami mat, with two lamps placed on a small table in front of her. At that moment, she was idly trimming the candle wicks.

"Chunhe, bring me my storybook."

"What would the princess like to see?"

Hearing a familiar voice, Xia Ying looked up in surprise and saw someone who shouldn't have been in her palace.

He was dressed as a eunuch, but his strong and tall physique made him stand out from the crowd.

"Ah Xun, it's you? Wait, how did you get in?"

Ao Congxun put down what he was holding and stood in front of her. The candlelight was dim, making it impossible to see the emotions on his face.

"Steward Liu told me that you were punished and injured. I was worried about you, so I followed an official into the palace."

He downplayed the process of getting in, making no mention of the difficulties he faced. At this moment, his entire focus was on Xia Ying's injuries.

"You're being ridiculous. Do you think you can just walk into the palace like that? If Father's men find out, it could be fatal."

Xia Ying frowned, looking anxious. She placed her hand on the man's arm in front of her.

"As soon as it's light, I'll have Chunhe find someone to send you out."

"It's so nice that Yingying is worried about me."

Since hearing Xia Ying's words, Ao Congxun had fallen for her gentleness, and hearing that she cared for him despite her injuries warmed his heart even more.

"Ao Congxun, you..."

Xia Ying was in turmoil and called his name directly. Little did she know, Ao Congxun bent down to meet her gaze, his pleasant voice even more alluring in the darkness.

"Present! No matter what Yingying says, I won't leave. Now I am a member of Yingying Palace, and I accept the punishment."

The candlelight flickered, reflecting in Ao Congxun's eyes with a burning, sincere intensity.

Xia Ying only glanced at him before being scalded and looking away.

He started rambling incoherently.

"You...I...anyway, it's impossible, it's dangerous..."

"I'm not afraid of danger. I can't stand by and watch you get hurt or be bullied. Besides, I'm good at hiding; I'll hide very well so they can't find me."

Passionate, sincere, and persistent. This reminded Xia Ying of a gray wolfhound she had as a child.

Comparing him to a puppy, Xia Ying couldn't help but laugh. Her smile was as bright as the stars, full of vitality, which made Ao Congxun unable to resist being captivated by it.

In his chest, where the heart of a warrior resides, he has now found someone to protect for a lifetime, and his heart beats like a thunderous drum.

"Ah Xun, you are really good. I will agree for now, but if anything happens, you must follow my instructions."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Ao Congxun sat down next to Xia Ying, took out the medicine he had prepared, and gently applied it to her face as she blushed.

The bruises on her knees had turned a purplish-black, a truly frightening sight. Ao Congxun felt increasingly distressed by the sight, and his resentment towards the Emperor and the virtuous Consort who had bullied her intensified. He had already decided how to avenge Xia Ying and vent his anger properly.

"It's getting late, Yingying, go to sleep first. We can talk about it tomorrow."

"But Ah Xun, where do you sleep?"

Ao Congxun patted the chaise lounge he was sitting on and said, "I'll sleep here and stay by your side. You can sleep peacefully."

"No, you go sleep outside." Xia Ying turned to the side, leaving her delicate and pretty profile to Ao Congxun.

"But it's so cold outside, and Yingying isn't here. Doesn't Yingying feel sorry for me?"

Ao Congxun revealed his clingy nature; with his exotic charm and alluring smile, Xia Ying could no longer utter a word of refusal.

When it comes to pursuing a wife, the closer you stick to her, the better!

He got up, picked up Xia Ying, and before she could react, she was already on the bed and covered with a blanket.

"Yingying, go to sleep. I'll stay here with you. Remember to dream of me."

Xia Ying pulled the blanket up, leaving only her eyes exposed to cover her hot and flushed cheeks.

"Shut up and go to sleep."

"Yes, sir!"

Ao Congxun lay down on the couch with his blanket, listening to Xia Ying's breathing not far away, his heart pounding wildly.

God knows how terrified he was of Xia Ying's injuries, worried that she would be isolated and helpless, and that Xie Chi'an was useless and would be bullied again.

So without the slightest hesitation, he presented his idea to Manager Liu.

When Steward Liu's advice failed, he found someone left behind by the late Empress and brought Ao Congxun into the palace.

He was planning to bring the person back the next morning.

Unexpectedly, they received news that Consort Xian was ill.

"Uncle Liu, Consort Xian and the little princess encountered a ghost yesterday, and today they have a high fever that won't go down and keep talking nonsense. Hahaha, it's really karma."

When Steward Liu received this news, he was also somewhat alarmed. He couldn't help but think of that grassland man with an imperial aura; this had happened so soon after the man entered the palace.

Could it be related to the other party?

Steward Liu's lips curled into a smile, his gaze deep and gratified: "Master, it seems the princess has met a good man. As for those who are an eyesore, they're no match for you. Sooner or later, they'll regret it."

Xia Ying kept the palace doors tightly shut, claiming to be copying Buddhist scriptures. In reality, she had Ao Congxun pinned to a table and interrogated him.

"Ah Xun, you did this, didn't you?"

Ao Congxun asked, "What is it?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Consort Xian and Xia Jiaojiao are so frightened that they have high fevers and say they saw my mother's ghost. Father Emperor claimed to be praying for them and went to Long'an Palace. Actually, he was scared and didn't dare to go near them."

Ao Congxun exclaimed in delight, "Those who bullied Yingying have all received their retribution. It's the Eternal Heaven, no, it's Guanyin Bodhisattva and the Heavenly Emperor who have protected you."

His eyes lit up when he said this, as if he had just found out.

Xia Ying paced back and forth in front of him, then suddenly moved closer and stared into his eyes.

Caught off guard, Ao Congxun's eyes brimmed with a mixture of amusement and affection, almost overflowing with joy. Xia Ying, with just one glance, froze on the spot, speechless.

When she came to her senses, he was already very close, almost kissing her thin lips. She snapped out of her daze and quickly moved away.

"Fine, you can deny it then... But be careful, the palace is no joke."

As Xia Ying was about to leave after speaking, her wrist was gently grasped by the man.

"Yingying, are you happy?"

Xia Ying didn't come back to her senses. Her eyes were lowered, and her tone was filled with deep worry: "I'm not happy. The thought of you being discovered, injured, and in danger of death... how can I be happy?"

"Yingying, I promise you, I will be absolutely fine. My duty is to protect you and make you happy. Your happiness is my happiness."

Xia Ying couldn't help but turn around. She stood in front of Ao Congxun and looked down slightly, meeting his deep eyes.

"Ah Xun, are you a puppy?"

Ao Congxun wagged his invisible tail and said happily, "Of course, Yingying, I'm your little dog. I'll always be your little dog, and you can't abandon me." Abandoning me means I'll chase you to the ends of the earth. Yingying, I'll catch you and tie you to my side, so you'll know the consequences of abandoning a puppy.

Xia Ying placed her hand on the handsome profile in front of her, the warmth passing through her fingertips and reaching her heart.

After a long silence, she heard her own voice reply firmly, "Okay."