Second Young Miss Yan could go missing — but not on his watch, not after he had personally made that promise to His Highness.

How was he to answer to His Highness?

“Second Young Miss Yan is missing? How could she be missing?” Ye Chen’s mind refused to catch up.

Second Young Miss was not a child — how could she simply go missing?

“His Highness had no wish to accompany Eldest Young Miss Yan to Qingyu Stronghold and intended to remain behind to keep Second Young Miss Yan company. It was I who swore that Second Young Miss would come to no harm — only then did His Highness depart for Qingyu Stronghold with Eldest Young Miss Yan. And yet here we are, only three days on, and Second Young Miss Yan has vanished.” Ye Jian’s complexion was ashen.

Ye Chen’s expression tensed. “Then — then what do we do? Does the Chancellor know?”

“The Chancellor is not in the estate, and the Chancellor’s wife would hardly concern herself with Second Young Miss Yan.”

Ye Chen gave a slight pout. “Has His Highness been informed?”

“Not — not yet. I did not dare.” Ye Jian leaned against the wall, a chill creeping up his back.

Ye Chen: “…”

His Highness would find out sooner or later — unless they recovered Second Young Miss Yan before that happened.

“Let us not alarm His Highness for now. We search carefully.” Ye Jian’s color remained poor.

“Agreed.” Ye Chen nodded.

For three days in a row, Ye Chen and Ye Jian combed the capital without finding any trace of Yan Yunning. When Qiuci came asking, Ye Jian told her that Second Young Miss Yan had gone to find Eldest Young Miss. Qiuci, under the impression that he was a guard hired by Second Young Miss Yan, believed him without suspicion and raised no further questions.

“Do we still not report this to His Highness?” Ye Chen’s expression was grave.

Dread pooled in Ye Jian’s chest. “You go tell His Highness.”

Ye Chen steeled himself. “His Highness has never actually punished us severely. What are you afraid of?”

He had always been lenient with them in the end.

“…”

Chuyu Pavilion.

“Lingning, try this.” Wen Wanyu smiled and placed more food in Yan Yunning’s bowl.

Mu Shiqing held his bowl and leaned over cheerfully. “Wife — what about mine?”

“Serve yourself.” Wen Wanyu rolled her eyes.

Mu Shiqing cast a lazy sideways glance at Yan Yunning.

Since Lingning had arrived, he had fallen out of favor. The little troublemaker had charmed his wife so thoroughly that she could hardly be bothered to spare him a glance.

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow and called out sweetly, “Wen-jiejie, Elder Brother Mu is glaring at me.”

Mu Shiqing shot to his feet, waving both hands frantically. “Yan Yunning, when did I glare at you? Wife, did you see? I did not — I did not.”

Send her away — he would send her away today.

Wen Wanyu slapped a hand sharply on the table. “Mu Shiqing, if you have no appetite, leave the table.”

Mu Shiqing was brimming with grievance and nowhere to put it.

He regretted it. Had he known, he would never have brought this little troublemaker back to the stronghold.

“Madam, Second Madam is quarreling with Second Chief again — Second Chief asks that you come and see to things.” A maidservant hurried to Wen Wanyu and dipped in a quick curtsy.

“Again? Truly tiresome.” Wen Wanyu supported her belly and rose slowly to her feet.

“Madam, do mind your belly.” Mu Shiqing called after her, uneasy.

“I know.” Wen Wanyu replied in a perfunctory tone. The maidservant took her hand and walked out with her.

Yan Yunning sighed. In the few days since she had arrived, Second Madam had been picking quarrels with Second Chief nearly every day.

Although it had to be said — Second Chief had remarkable patience, indulging Second Madam in everything.

Mu Shiqing drummed his fingers on the table and drawled with a lazy grin, “Lingning — missing home? How about Elder Brother sends you back this afternoon?”

Yan Yunning cradled her head in her hands and gave a faint moan. “Elder Brother Mu, the fragrance sachet you used on me that day — I still do not feel well. I cannot leave yet.”

She had made up her mind. She would stay here from now on. Here, Xuan Yanyu could not find her. As a precaution, she would wait until after his wedding with her sister before she left.

She did not know if Xuan Yanyu was still at this stronghold — or what he was doing at this very moment, for that matter.

Mu Shiqing looked at her with a smirk that did not quite reach his eyes. “You pilfered some incense and antidote from your Wen-jiejie. How can you still be feeling unwell?”

He had never truly meant to send her away, either.

“Hold on — she gave those to me willingly. I did not pilfery anything.” Yan Yunning blinked her eyes and beamed.

Mu Shiqing let out a helpless sigh. “If not for the fact that you are my little sister, I would have thrown you out long ago.”

“How can you be so certain I am your sister?” Yan Yunning could not make sense of it.

“The moment I laid eyes on you.” Mu Shiqing curved his lips.

The first time he had seen her was in a town near Taoyuan Estate. She had a man of remarkable bearing walking alongside her.

He had felt a sense of closeness toward her at once. He had sent someone to make inquiries — only to learn that she was the daughter of the Chancellor’s household. How could the daughter of the Chancellor’s household possibly be his sister?

He looked further into it — and found that she had not grown up in the Chancellor’s estate. If she were truly the Chancellor’s daughter, why would he have sent her away to be raised elsewhere? Even if he could bear to, the Chancellor’s wife certainly would not.

He remembered that his sister had a mole on the palm of her right hand. She had one too. He refused to believe such a coincidence could truly be a coincidence.

Yan Yunning: “…”

His instinct?!

Mu Shiqing placed some dishes into Yan Yunning’s bowl, teasing her on purpose. “Finish eating, and Elder Brother will send you on your way.”

“All right then.” Yan Yunning lifted the corner of her mouth.

He had gone to such lengths to bring her here — he was hardly going to send her away.

Sure enough, Mu Shiqing grew frantic. “Elder Brother is only joking with you.”

Yan Yunning put on a look of disappointment. “Elder Brother, I took you at your word. I will leave at noon today.”

Mu Shiqing scratched his head. “Lingning, Elder Brother was joking — I promise not to tease you again. All right?”

Yan Yunning’s eyes curved with a smile. “Very well.”

“Eat more. In a little while I will take you and A’Yu out to the market.” Mu Shiqing stretched his arms above his head lazily and smiled as he watched her.

Yan Yunning nodded.

Wen Wanyu made her way quickly toward “Chuyue Pavilion.”

Chuyue Pavilion.

Xie Yan was down on one knee, the rims of his eyes tinged with red. “Chūchu, even if you are angry with me, please do not skip meals — all right?”

Nan Chu’s voice trembled. “Xie Yan — I am begging you. Please let me go down the mountain.”

Her beloved was waiting for her below.

Xie Yan held her hand and shook his head. “Anything but that. Everything else, I will agree to.”

Nan Chu let out a cold laugh. “I hear the chief brought a young woman up the mountain recently?”

How pitiful. Just as pitiful as herself.

“Yes — Elder Brother only brought her up a few days ago.”

“I want her as my maidservant.” Nan Chu’s throat was dry. She sobbed until her shoulders shook.

“Chūchu — that will not do.” Xie Yan coaxed her. “Ask for someone else — all right?”

“Did you not just say that everything but going down the mountain, you would agree to? How truly hypocritical.” Nan Chu’s eyes were red and raw as she forced back her tears.

“Chūchu, let me bring you someone even better — someone who will please you. All right?” Xie Yan chose his words with great care.

“By bringing someone up the mountain again, against their will?” Nan Chu smiled with scornful mockery.

Xie Yan’s voice lodged in his throat, and he dared not reply.

“Xie Yan!” Wen Wanyu arrived to find Xie Yan kneeling on the floor. She spoke with exasperation. “Get up — what sort of image is it for the Second Chief of Qingyu Stronghold to be kneeling on the ground?”

Xie Yan stood up, embarrassed, and after a pause called out, “Sister-in-law.”

Wen Wanyu’s brow creased. She looked at Nan Chu. “What are you kicking up a fuss about now? Taking advantage of the Second Chief being devoted and foolish enough to dote on you — and you repay him by tormenting him like this?”