“Why are you hiding under here? Scared?” Xuan Yanyu crouched down and met her gaze levelly.

“Why would I be scared!” Yan Yunning averted her eyes, stubbornly insisting.

“Not scared? Then what are you doing hiding under a table?” The man gave a quiet laugh.

Yan Yunning: “…”

“Come out.” Xuan Yanyu turned his palm upward, gesturing for her to place her hand in his.

Yan Yunning’s lashes fluttered. A strange feeling welled up in her heart.

She had not expected that the first person to come and check on her after she’d been locked in the ancestral hall would be Xuan Yanyu.

For a brief moment, she felt the urge to cry.

“Xuan Yanyu, I have a question for you.” Yan Yunning looked up at him, fingers clutching tightly at the prayer cushion beneath her.

“Go ahead and ask.”

“The antidote given to my A’Jie for the Spreading Bamboo ailment — that was from you, wasn’t it?” Yan Yunning’s palms were slightly damp.

The ancestral hall fell completely still, so quiet that only the sound of each other’s breathing could be heard.

Yan Yunning did not know what she was hoping for.

“Yes.” After a long pause, the man’s cool, clear voice broke the silence.

The young woman’s heart slowly sank.

“So when I asked you at the very beginning whether you had an antidote to save Sister Bai, and you said you did not — you were lying to me?”

In truth, it was understandable. His belongings were his own — it was only natural that he would not want to give them to someone else.

“I did not lie to you. At that time, I truly had none. I only had it sent over because of you.” Xuan Yanyu explained. “It simply turned out not to be needed in the end. There was only one antidote, and I gave it to A’Yao.”

Yan Yunning’s eyes stung. So A’Ci had been the one left behind.

“Yan Yunning, if it had been you — what would you have chosen?” The man’s gaze deepened slightly.

Yan Yunning’s eyes grew wet. She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“The two men in black who hurt A’Ci — I have already dealt with them. As for Luo Xuan, he died because of Qi Qingchen as well. A’Ci’s vengeance has been served.” Xuan Yanyu said, his voice heavy.

Yan Yunning slowly lowered her gaze.

“Yan Yunning, what is done is done. You must learn to let it go.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice softened.

“Mm.” The young woman’s nose trembled, and tears began to fall, one by one.

Xuan Yanyu let out a quiet sigh. He cupped her face in both hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs, one by one, coaxing her in a low voice. “No more crying. If you keep crying…”

“What will you do about it?” Yan Yunning’s reddened eyes glared up at him.

Xuan Yanyu was momentarily at a loss for words. He stared at her small, tear-streaked face, and then, as though moved by some inexplicable impulse, he began to gently knead her soft, rosy cheeks.

Yan Yunning swatted his hands away with force. She covered her face and shrank back. “Xuan Yanyu!”

A smile pulled at the corner of Xuan Yanyu’s mouth. “Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Come out — I’ll walk you back to your room.”

Yan Yunning scooted toward the edge, extended her fair, slender arm, and pointed at the red mark on its inner side. “Xuan Yanyu, is there any way you could remove it?”

If she removed it, she could then go find Qi Qingchen — wouldn’t that be the perfect solution?

The man’s throat moved subtly. His voice came low and unhurried. “What are you implying?”

“What do you mean, implying?” Yan Yunning stared blankly, then the meaning struck her and her cheeks flooded scarlet in an instant. She said indignantly, “I mean, do you know any physician who could cover it up?!”

He had brought an imperial physician with him, hadn’t he?

What was he thinking?! Him!!!

Xuan Yanyu gave an audible, flustered cough. The tips of his ears visibly turned red. He said in a slightly rough voice, “Why do you want it covered?”

“I don’t want to marry Lou Ao.” Yan Yunning could not help sniffling. “Xuan Yanyu, I don’t want to marry him. I don’t want to be beaten either.”

The man’s expression cooled. He enunciated each word deliberately: “I will not let you marry him. Nor will I let you be beaten.”

Yan Yunning’s eyes brightened. “Does that mean we don’t need to cover it up?”

Xuan Yanyu took her hand in his and slowly pulled her sleeve back down, covering the young woman’s fair, slender arm. He said gently, “We don’t.”

“Then what is your plan? The betrothal gifts have already been accepted.” Yan Yunning pressed.

Xuan Yanyu paused, and his voice took on a hint of amusement. “Ask any more, and I won’t bother helping you.”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together tightly and shook her head. She would not ask.

“Come on, let me walk you back to your room.”

Yan Yunning crawled out from under the table. She grabbed hold of Xuan Yanyu’s robe, her voice carrying a faint note of softness. “My feet have gone numb. I can’t walk.”

Xuan Yanyu ran the tip of his tongue lightly over his lip. “What a bother.”

Even as the words left his mouth, he leaned down and lifted her into his arms.

Yan Yunning’s slender frame gave a light tremble. Her hands hurriedly hooked around his neck. She drew in a deep breath and felt her face grow warm.

Xuan Yanyu looked down at the young woman in his arms. Held against him, her cheeks had taken on a rosy flush. He unconsciously swallowed.

Feeling his gaze on her, Yan Yunning grew uncomfortable. She quietly buried her face against his chest, and feeling the strong beat of his heart, her cheeks grew even redder.

The young woman’s soft cheek pressed against his chest, her exhaled breath warm against him. The arm Xuan Yanyu held her with tightened slightly.

“Move along then.” Yan Yunning poked at his chest with her fingertip.

What was he standing there for?

The man’s eyes darkened gradually. His throat moved silently up and down. He bit down on his back teeth, set her back on her feet, and in a low, slightly rough voice, with a trace of restrained feeling beneath it, said, “Walk yourself.”

“…” Yan Yunning stood where she was, staring in bewilderment as Xuan Yanyu bolted out of the ancestral hall.

What was wrong with him now?!

Was he not supposed to be walking her back to her room?!

How had he ended up running off on his own?!

…

The following morning, while the sky was still pale, Yan Yunning was summoned to the Tangyuan Pavilion.

The atmosphere inside was heavy. Chu Wantang sat upright in the seat of honor. When she saw Yan Yunning enter, she spoke with displeasure. “Last night — who helped you pry open the lock on the ancestral hall?”

Who dared to defy her orders?

The nerve of them.

Yan Yunning had not fully woken up yet. She blinked drowsily. “I have no idea.”

“Yan Yunning! Today, Young Marquis will be coming to the manor to deliver your wedding garments. You are to conduct yourself properly in front of him.” Chu Wantang’s tone was cold.

Yan Yunning’s lashes gave a small flutter. She came fully awake. “Wedding garments?”

“Indeed, Second Young Miss. This marriage is one that others could only dream of.” Nanny Liu, standing at Chu Wantang’s side, spoke up.

Yan Yunning scoffed. “Then you marry him in my place.”

“You…” Nanny Liu’s aged face turned crimson.

Yan Yunning lowered her head with a smile. “Look at that — worked up already, aren’t you? Your whole face has gone red.”

“My Lady, please stand up for this old servant! At my age, to still be mocked by Second Young Miss like this.” Nanny Liu wailed, the wrinkles on her face scrunched together.

“My, my — but didn’t you say it yourself? A marriage that others could only dream of, and I handed it right to you. How is it you’re still unsatisfied?” Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow lightly.

“Yan Yunning, apologize to Nanny Liu.” Chu Wantang slammed her hand on the table. The tea cups on top rattled and jumped.

Yan Yunning’s lips curved into a leisurely smile. “Mother, what nonsense are you talking?”

“Yan Yunning!” Chu Wantang trembled with fury.

“I’m right here, Mother.” Yan Yunning smiled.

For a long moment, Chu Wantang could not find the words. She snatched up her tea cup and hurled it. Yan Yunning calmly sidestepped it.

The cup shattered on the floor, and not a single drop of tea landed on her.

“The family rod — someone bring the family rod.” Chu Wantang’s chest heaved violently.

Yan Yunning’s eyelid twitched. With Father away, there was no one to come to her rescue. Just thinking about that rod with its barbed knots made her scalp crawl.