This was his oversight — he needed to show more initiative in front of His Highness.

A cold, piercing gaze settled on him. Meeting Xuan Yanyu’s chilling eyes, Ye Jian swallowed hard.

Had he said something wrong?

Hadn’t it always been Ye Chen who carried the First Miss Yan?

Was His Highness displeased with him because he had failed to report in time that the Second Miss Yan had gone missing — or because he had lost track of her in the first place?

Yan Yunning chewed on her finger. “Is that alright?”

She was not about to walk the rest of the way up.

Xuan Yanyu stared at Ye Jian with cold indifference.

Ye Jian touched his nose. “Second Miss Yan, I was only joking.”

Even as dense as he was, he had figured it out by now.

Yan Yunning lowered her eyes and nudged a small pebble at her feet with her toe.

There had been a perfectly good sedan chair right there, and instead of riding it, she had been made to walk up the mountain. She hadn’t wanted to ride it — but she had been stopped from doing so anyway!

“Ningning, let’s rest a little before we continue, shall we?” Yan Shiyao’s throat was somewhat parched.

“Alright.” Yan Yunning nodded.

“Come on, get up.” Xuan Yanyu crouched down halfway.

Yan Yunning blinked.

“Still not coming over?” The man touched his lips with his tongue and urged her on.

Yan Yunning laughed and ran over to him, draping herself across his broad back. Xuan Yanyu stood up, and Yan Yunning hooked both hands around his neck.

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow lightly. This was the first time he had ever carried anyone.

The young woman was not heavy, and her body carried a faint, pleasant fragrance — very nice.

“Xuan Yanyu, am I heavy?” Yan Yunning tilted her head to look at him.

“Not heavy.” The man gave a faint smile.

“Xuan Yanyu, tell me when you’re tired, alright?” Yan Yunning rested against his shoulder, eyes curved in a content smile.

“Mm.”

Ye Chen inhaled sharply. This — this — First Miss Yan was still right there!!!

Yan Shiyao parted her lips slightly. This was improper by any standard of propriety.

They walked for approximately another cup-of-tea’s worth of time.

Yan Yunning tapped Xuan Yanyu’s cheek with her fingertip. “Xuan Yanyu, are you tired? If you are, put me down.”

For a man, his skin was remarkably smooth — up close, it was completely flawless.

“Not tired.”

Yan Shiyao cleared her throat. “Brother Yu, Ningning, shall we rest a while before continuing?”

The mountain road was rough and uneven, and her legs were beginning to give out beneath her.

“No need.” Xuan Yanyu carried Yan Yunning forward at a steady, unhurried pace.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together and glanced back at Yan Shiyao. Her sister’s hands hovered weakly over her thighs, her delicate face etched with exhaustion.

A sheltered young lady raised in the inner chambers — how could she possibly be accustomed to roads as treacherous as this?

“Xuan Yanyu, my elder sister can’t walk anymore,” Yan Yunning murmured quietly.

The man kept walking without pause and replied lazily, “What do you want to do about it?”

Yan Yunning began to fiddle with the golden crown that held Xuan Yanyu’s ink-black hair, and asked curiously, “Xuan Yanyu, is this made of pure gold?”

“…It’s fake.” Xuan Yanyu sighed, exasperated.

Yan Yunning clicked her tongue. That couldn’t be right, could it? He was a Crown Prince, after all — surely he wouldn’t wear something fake?

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao quickened her pace in a small trot to catch up, pressed her lips together over her dry, parched mouth, and said, “Alright, come down and walk yourself. You know you’re tired — Brother Yu is carrying you, and he must be exhausted too.”

Ningning was still young and didn’t know any better, but she was not yet betrothed, and being this intimate with Brother Yu was somewhat inappropriate. As the elder sister, she still needed to guide her.

“He’s not tired — I already asked him.” Yan Yunning nestled comfortably against Xuan Yanyu’s shoulder, eyes half-lidded in contentment.

Yan Shiyao’s voice took on a different edge. “Ningning, be good and walk yourself.”

Xuan Yanyu stopped and turned to look at her, frowning as he asked, “A’Yao, who was it that told her she couldn’t ride the sedan chair?”

Yan Shiyao was momentarily speechless — for a good while, she could not utter a single word.

“If she walks on her own, she won’t make it up the mountain before dark. Wouldn’t that just be a waste of everyone’s time?” He paused, then added, “Or would you prefer to carry her yourself?”

Yan Shiyao: “…”

Yan Yunning: “…”

Was he looking down on her? There was only one reason she wouldn’t make it up the mountain before dark — and that was if she got lost!!!

Yan Shiyao said nothing more. Xuan Yanyu carried Yan Yunning the entire way up the mountain, and Mu Shiqing, who had arranged the guest rooms, had the waiting maidservants escort Xuan Yanyu, Ye Jian, and Ye Chen to their respective rooms.

Yan Yunning stood in place waiting for Yan Shiyao.

In the guest room.

Xuan Yanyu lounged sideways on the daybed while Ye Chen kneaded his legs — even Ye Chen felt the deep, throbbing soreness in his own limbs, so for His Highness, who had been carrying someone on top of all that walking, it must have been even worse.

Ye Jian brought over a wooden basin and, with practiced ease, removed Xuan Yanyu’s boots that were dusted with dirt, placed his feet gently into the basin, and knelt on one knee on the floor, scrubbing and massaging them as he washed.

“There won’t be a next time.” Xuan Yanyu propped his head up with one hand and glanced at Ye Jian.

“Understood, Your Highness.” Ye Jian let out a quiet breath of relief.

Next time, he would absolutely keep a close watch on the Second Miss Yan. He would never let her go missing again.

“Your Highness, you mentioned returning to Xuanzhao — when will we set out?” Ye Chen asked.

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes narrowed slightly. “There’s no rush.”

“Your Highness, once we return, will you come back here again?” Ye Jian took a clean silk cloth and gently dried Xuan Yanyu’s feet.

“We’ll see.” Xuan Yanyu reached over with one casual motion and picked up the jade pendant at his waist, holding it up and turning it before his eyes.

“Your Highness, will the First Miss Yan also be taken back with us?” Ye Chen moved to the other side and continued kneading his legs.

“Not for now.” Xuan Yanyu spoke in an unhurried tone. “Ye Chen, prepare a spacious, comfortable carriage. Ye Jian, buy more pastries — stock them up when we head back to Xuanzhao.”

Ye Jian’s eyelid twitched. “Pastries? Your Highness, are you planning to bring Second Miss Yan back to Xuanzhao?”

“Mm.”

Ye Jian: “…”

Leaving the First Miss Yan behind and taking the Second Miss Yan instead — Prince Xuan would surely fly into a rage on the spot. His Majesty wouldn’t dare lay a hand on His Highness, but he and Ye Chen would be in serious trouble.

…

“Ningning, what do you think?” Yan Shiyao picked up her teacup and took a long sip.

“A’Jie, we’re not familiar with the terrain here, and going up and down the mountain is such a hassle. How would we get Nanchu out?” Yan Yunning did not agree with her suggestion.

The Second-in-Command Xie Yan was so obsessively devoted to Nanchu that even if they managed to get her down the mountain, he would simply bring her back up again — what was the point of all that back and forth?

If Nanchu went down the mountain to find her beloved, there was no guarantee that Xie Yan wouldn’t be furious about it. And if she angered Xie Yan, Nanchu’s days would only become harder.

“Ningning, we are fellow women — why not lend her a hand?”

“A’Jie, if you truly want to help her, go find out whether the man she loves has already married someone else, and whether he has the means to protect her once she comes down the mountain.” Yan Yunning pressed her fingers to her temple with a slight frown.

Yan Shiyao fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, “I understand.”

Yan Yunning never did find out how Yan Shiyao made her inquiries — in any case, her sister had not come to find her for two whole days.

Chuyue Pavilion.

“A’Chu, this is from Brother Wenjing — he asked me to give it to you. He said if you find a way to have the Second-in-Command take this, you’ll be free.” Yan Shiyao placed three packets of medicinal powder into Nanchu’s palms.

“Brother Jing… is he… is he alright?” Nanchu choked, her voice trembling as she asked.

“He is well. He is also hoping you will return soon.” Yan Shiyao wrapped her hands around hers and patted them gently.

Nanchu could no longer hold back the emotions surging within her. She threw her arms around Yan Shiyao. “A’Yao, thank you, thank you.”