Over the next several days, Yan Yunning took Qiuci with her and wandered through the capital at her leisure.

With Xuan Yanyu and Yan Shiyao both away, every time Yan Yunning sat down to eat, she felt a hollow, empty sensation in her chest.

“Miss, might we become acquainted? I am Mu Shiqing.”

Yan Yunning turned to look at him.

The man wore robes of wine-red silk. His frame was tall and imposing, his features sharp and handsome, his ink-black hair bound up in a gold crown set with a red gem. The outer corners of his eyes tilted upward, his voice carried an easy warmth, and his entire bearing radiated a bold, uninhibited energy.

Mu Shiqing cleared his throat. “Miss, I feel as though we have known each other for a very long time.”

The girl blinked her clear, bright eyes, her pale face marked with puzzlement.

“Miss, do you not find my face familiar as well?” Mu Shiqing curved his lips in a grin.

“?” Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow.

She did not. Could this be someone the original owner of her body had known?

“Miss, I believe we ought to be family.” Mu Shiqing smiled with a warmth that bordered on tender.

“??” Yan Yunning took a quiet step backward.

Had she just stumbled across a lunatic?

“Do not go, Miss.” Mu Shiqing grabbed her by the arm, sounding put out. “I am not going to hurt you.”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. “Young Master Mu, I already have a family. I cannot become part of yours — please let me go.”

She had not brought Qiuci out today. Of all the days to run into someone like this.

“Then let me join yours.” Mu Shiqing grinned with an easy, roguish air.

Yan Yunning: “???”

“Miss, how should I address you?” Mu Shiqing tilted his head.

“Like this — let go of me first, and I will tell you.” Yan Yunning struggled but could not wrench her arm free from his grip.

The corner of Mu Shiqing’s mouth curved into a shallow arc. “Don’t try to trick me.”

“How could I possibly trick you.” Yan Yunning gave a false smile.

Mu Shiqing raised an eyebrow and loosened his hold on her arm just slightly.

Yan Yunning’s eyes flashed. She seized the moment, yanked her arm free, and broke into a run.

Mu Shiqing blinked, then registered what had happened. In two or three easy strides he had caught up with her. Yan Yunning’s delicate brows pinched together; she curled her fingers into a fist and was just drawing breath to call for help when Mu Shiqing covered her mouth with his hand.

Yan Yunning gritted her teeth. [Fafa, who is he?]

Fafa: [Mu Shiqing — the chief of Qingyu Stronghold.]

[A mountain bandit???] Yan Yunning’s vision swam.

Fafa: [More or less.]

Yan Yunning: […]

“Do not call out, and I will let you go.” Mu Shiqing tilted his head, smiling mildly.

Yan Yunning nodded.

“You will not trick me this time?” The amusement in the man’s eyes deepened.

Yan Yunning shook her head.

“Then come with me back to the stronghold.” Mu Shiqing narrowed his eyes.

Yan Yunning shook her head — then nodded.

“Tsk.” Mu Shiqing chuckled and drew out a fragrance sachet from within his robes.

Yan Yunning’s eyes went wide. Mu Shiqing released the hand covering her mouth and nose and held the sachet directly under her nostrils.

Trapped in his grip, she had no means of escape. Yan Yunning held her breath — but before long, her consciousness began to drift. She could barely stay on her feet.

Mu Shiqing tossed the sachet aside with a look of disdain, muttering under his breath, “Dreadful smell.”

He caught Yan Yunning as she collapsed and murmured, “Still trying to run?”

With that, he gathered her into his arms and departed.

Qingyu Stronghold.

Yan Yunning slowly opened her eyes. She turned her head and found it heavy with a dull, pressing weight. [Fafa, where am I?]

Fafa: [Qingyu Stronghold — the residence of the chief, Mu Shiqing. It is called “Chuyu Pavilion.”]

Yan Yunning surveyed her surroundings. The room was built of stone, its floor laid with plush, soft rugs. Five or six tasseled lanterns hung from the ceiling, their long fringe swaying gently in the breeze. Atop the wooden table stood a doucai-glazed vase holding a few sprigs of peony.

The entire room breathed a quiet opulence.

“Miss, you are awake.” A maidservant pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside.

“Where is Mu Shiqing?”

“Do not worry, Miss. The chief will come to see you shortly.” Xiao Yun offered a soft smile.

Yan Yunning threw back the brocade quilt, walked to the entrance, and raised her hand to open the wooden door — only to find two broad-shouldered, bearded figures standing guard outside.

Yan Yunning swallowed, and closed the door again.

They were making sure she did not run.

“What did your chief bring me here for?” Yan Yunning clicked her tongue.

Xiao Yun’s face went blank. “This servant does not know.”

Yan Yunning slumped into the wooden chair. If only she had left with her sister and the others — now look at the situation she was in.

“Creak.” The wooden door swung open.

Mu Shiqing strolled in, fan in hand, and spoke with an easy smile. “Awake? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Yan Yunning snapped her head up, wariness filling her eyes.

“Chief.”

Mu Shiqing waved his hand.

Xiao Yun dipped in a curtsy and withdrew from the chamber.

“Chief, have you looked into my identity? Are you not afraid my father will raze your stronghold to the ground?” Yan Yunning curved her lips.

Mu Shiqing settled into a wooden chair with an air of languid ease. “Ha — Qingyu Stronghold serves the court. If the Chancellor moves against my stronghold, he will have a difficult time explaining himself to the Emperor of Qilan.”

His stronghold sent a great deal of silver to the imperial treasury each year. The Emperor would not lightly move against Qingyu Stronghold over something like this. All that white silver — the Emperor was not foolish enough to cut off his own revenue. At most, he would demand that the person be returned.

Yan Yunning tugged the corner of her mouth.

She had run into a tough one.

“Lingning, what do you say — why not stay here at Qingyu Stronghold and be my…” Mu Shiqing paused.

Yan Yunning’s breath caught. Surely he did not mean to keep her as a wife?

“…my little sister.” Mu Shiqing tapped her on the forehead with his fan, watching her with amused curiosity. “What were you thinking?”

Yan Yunning let out a breath of relief. As long as it was not as a wife.

“Bang.” The wooden door was kicked wide open.

“Mu Shiqing, how dare you bring another woman home while I am with child.” The woman’s willow-leaf brows were drawn tight with fury.

Yan Yunning looked up. The woman before her wore white silk robes, her features composed and lovely, her belly gently rounded. A pair of large, round eyes blazed with anger.

Were she not speaking, judging by her face alone, she was quite a beauty.

“A’Yu, you will frighten our child.” Mu Shiqing stepped forward and drew Wen Wanyu into his arms.

Wen Wanyu reached up and seized him by the ear. “Mu Shiqing, your nerve has grown, has it not?”

“My wife, my wife — please give me a little dignity in front of my little sister.” Mu Shiqing grimaced in pain, baring his teeth.

He did not want his little sister to think less of him.

Wen Wanyu released him and turned to look Yan Yunning over. She had heard that Shiqing had a younger sister. Through the years, many of his memories had grown indistinct to him — but the one he kept was that he had a sister.

By the time dusk settled, Ye Jian had still not seen Yan Yunning return to the estate.

He had assumed that guarding against the Chancellor’s wife would be sufficient — and so he had not followed Second Young Miss Yan when she left the estate.

He had retraced every path she might have taken through the area, but found not a single trace of her.

A flicker of alarm crossed Ye Jian’s eyes. Could she already have met with harm?

What was he to do? He had lost track of Second Young Miss Yan.

“Ye Jian, why did you call me back in such a hurry? Surely His Highness has not come to some harm?” Ye Chen arrived at the Chancellor’s estate in haste.

“It is not His Highness. I lost Second Young Miss Yan.”

Ye Jian’s scalp went numb on one side.