Yan Yunning watched as they walked toward her. To be perfectly honest, they looked quite well-matched together.

“A’Jie.” She called out.

“Ningning, what are you doing here?” Yan Shiyao’s face was bright with a smile.

“A’Jie, I have something to ask you.” Before Yan Yunning could finish speaking, Mu Shiqing came striding over with his sword, on the verge of losing all composure, bellowing, “Yan Shiyao, you deserve to die!”

Xuan Yanyu’s brow tensed sharply, and in one swift motion, he pulled Yan Shiyao behind him, shielding her.

Yan Yunning’s heart drummed wildly in her chest. Something must have happened to the Second-in-Command…

“First-in-Command, what are you doing?” Yan Shiyao was gripped with terror and cowered behind Xuan Yanyu, not daring to show her face.

Mu Shiqing’s hand trembled around the sword’s hilt, and his voice came out hoarse and parched. He shouted at Xuan Yanyu, “Stand aside.”

Xuan Yanyu stared at him, not making the slightest move to comply.

“Men!” Mu Shiqing’s voice dropped to a raw, ragged growl. “Seize Yan Shiyao. Anyone who tries to protect her will be dealt with accordingly.”

Yan Shiyao’s eyes were wide with terror, her face drained of all color. She clutched the fabric of Xuan Yanyu’s robe in her fists and refused to let go.

“Wait a moment.” Yan Yunning looked at the dense crowd of people now surrounding Xuan Yanyu and Yan Shiyao, and steeling herself, she spoke up. “Brother Mu, what exactly is going on?”

Mu Shiqing thrust his long sword into the ground. He hung his head, his eyes red-rimmed. After a long, struggling pause, his voice came out unsteady and shaking. “Second Brother — Yan Shiyao and Nanchu — they colluded to — colluded to—”

Mu Shiqing gripped the sword with both hands, bracing himself against his swaying body, and breathed in great, labored gulps.

The darkness in Xuan Yanyu’s eyes deepened.

Yan Shiyao’s pupils dilated. Could something have gone wrong with the medicine that Brother Wenjing had given her?

But Brother Wenjing had said it would only make the Second-in-Command fall unconscious for a few days — enough time for her to take A’Chu safely down the mountain. Could it be that Brother Wenjing had been lying to her?

“Go.” Mu Shiqing looked at Yan Shiyao with cold, flat eyes.

Yan Yunning bit her lip, watching as Xuan Yanyu, Ye Chen, and Ye Jian clashed with Qingyu Stronghold’s brothers. The scene descended into chaos.

Xuan Yanyu both shielded Yan Shiyao and held his own against the stronghold’s men. His movements were precise and methodical — strikes quick and accurate, each carrying decisive force. The brothers of Qingyu Stronghold were simply no match for the three of them.

Mu Shiqing, seeing that his brothers were struggling to cope, suddenly shouted, “Ningning, what’s wrong with you?”

Yan Yunning stared at him in confusion.

Xuan Yanyu’s movements faltered for just an instant as he glanced over at Yan Yunning. In that split second, one of Qingyu Stronghold’s brothers seized his chance with a sharp eye and a steady hand — and drove his sword into Xuan Yanyu’s arm.

Xuan Yanyu frowned. Ye Chen and Ye Jian’s pupils contracted sharply. In perfect unison, the two kicked off the ground, and with blades aimed at the man’s chest, ran him through — blood splashing out in an instant.

They had not intended to cause serious harm. But this underling had gone too far — he had dared to wound their Highness.

The sharp, metallic smell of blood spread through the air. Yan Yunning stared at Xuan Yanyu’s arm, still dripping red, and felt her mind go numb. “Brother Mu, stop fighting.”

The killing intent radiating from Mu Shiqing surged.

“Stand down — he can still be saved.” Xuan Yanyu cast a cold glance at the man lying on the ground, his face contorted in agony.

Mu Shiqing clenched his fist and ground his back teeth. “Everyone, stand down.”

Yan Yunning went forward to support Yan Shiyao, who had fainted to the ground — she had passed out the moment the brother’s sword pierced Xuan Yanyu’s arm.

“A’Jie.” Yan Yunning pressed her fingers to her sister’s philtrum to rouse her.

Yan Shiyao’s eyes slowly opened. “Ningning…”

Mu Shiqing looked down at Yan Shiyao from above, his gaze dangerous and cold.

Yan Shiyao’s entire body tensed — she was frightened to the very limit of what she could bear. His eyes alone sent her fainting away again.

“…” Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. She had fainted again?

“First-in-Command.” Xiaoyun came running up at full speed, panting hard. “The Second-in-Command is awake — he’s asking for you.”

Mu Shiqing’s expression shifted sharply, and he sprinted toward Chuyue Pavilion.

The rest of the brothers gradually dispersed as well.

“Xuan Yanyu.” Yan Yunning looked up at him. “Does it hurt?”

The young woman gazed up at him, her small face filled with worry.

“It’s fine.” Xuan Yanyu gave her a light, easy smile.

“If it’s fine, then carry my elder sister back to her room.” Yan Yunning smiled sweetly.

The man’s eyes narrowed, and the smile on his face went rigid.

He had thought she was worried about him — he was wounded, and on his arm at that. But not only did she not spare a thought for him, she had the nerve to ask him to carry A’Yao back to her room!

The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. Xuan Yanyu shot Yan Yunning a cool glance, then turned and walked away. Ye Jian fell into step beside him, and the two left together.

Yan Yunning: “?”

What was that look for?

What was wrong now?

Yan Yunning turned to Ye Chen, puzzled. “What’s the matter with him?”

“Our master has never carried a woman before. You just asked him to carry the First Miss Yan, so he’s probably upset.” Ye Chen sighed.

He wasn’t even sure whether His Highness was actually upset.

“?” Yan Yunning gave him an odd look. “Did you say he has never carried a woman?”

Was she not a woman???

Ye Chen held her gaze, pressed his tongue against his back teeth, and said, “You’re an exception. Our master probably doesn’t think of you as a woman.”

Yan Yunning: “…”

Did he think of her as a man? Tsk tsk — could Xuan Yanyu possibly be…

She recalled what Fafa had once said — that the female lead’s first time was still ten years away…

That would explain it. He didn’t love her sister, yet was insistent on marrying her — so was he marrying her sister as cover?

But why would he have chosen her sister, of all people?

Ye Chen crouched down with practiced ease, hoisted Yan Shiyao onto his back by her arm, and set off walking.

Yan Yunning stared, completely caught off guard. Wh — what…

Ye Chen was far too practiced at this. It looked as though it was not the first or second time he had done it.

What was Xuan Yanyu playing at? Surely he hadn’t been having Ye Chen carry her sister every single time she got hurt?

Once Yan Shiyao was settled, Yan Yunning made her way to Xuan Yanyu’s guest room.

She pushed open the door. Ye Jian was kneeling on one knee on the floor, applying medicine to Xuan Yanyu’s wound. “Master, if it hurts, please say so.”

He held a clean cloth in his hand and gently dabbed at the bloodied wound on Xuan Yanyu’s arm, then carefully and evenly dusted medicinal powder over it.

“Master, does it hurt?”

Xuan Yanyu ran the tip of his tongue over his lips. “It’s manageable.”

Yan Yunning swallowed. Oh, oh, oh!

She felt inexplicably thrilled.

“Master, does it hurt?”

“It’s manageable~”

Ooh~

“Yan Yunning, I’m injured, and you’re delighted?” Xuan Yanyu looked at her with a cool, curving smile.

Yan Yunning shook her head. “No, I’m not, I really am not.”

“Come here.” A wicked smile played at the corner of the man’s lips.

Yan Yunning raised her eyes and looked at him, then stammered haltingly, “Wh — what for?”

“Come here.”

Yan Yunning pursed her lips and shuffled toward him at a snail’s pace.

When she was one step away, Xuan Yanyu reached out two slender fingers and pinched her cheeks, a mischievous grin on his face. “Yan Yunning, I got injured because of you — you’re going to take care of me until I’ve fully recovered.”

Yan Yunning refused to be outdone and twisted his cheek back, gritting her teeth in indignation. “What do you mean ‘because of me’? It was clearly because of my elder sister! Go have my elder sister take care of you instead.”

Ye Jian sucked in a sharp breath. He did not dare raise his head to look at Xuan Yanyu’s expression. He had just witnessed His Highness get his cheeks pinched by someone — he hoped he wouldn’t be silenced for it.