Pei Qingyan straightened his ink-dark hair and his robe, the warmth in his peach-blossom eyes plain to see. “Little sister……”

Before the words were out, Yan Zhiyi grabbed him by the collar and hauled him toward the door.

Pei Qingyan’s face flushed red from the grip of his collar. “Yan… Yan Zhiyi!”

Yan Zhiyi flung Pei Qingyan out beyond the manor gates and ordered the servant boys to shut the gates without a moment’s hesitation.

……

At the inn.

Ye Chen placed the bloodied scraps of brocade robe in Imperial Physician Wen’s hands and haphazardly wiped away his tears. “His Highness gave this to me just before he lost consciousness. He was afraid that if he passed out he might not have time to say it, so he wrote the formula in blood on his robe.”

The poison had been one that Mucong had developed himself — it would only take effect once the victim fell into deep unconsciousness. No wonder Imperial Physician Wen hadn’t detected it at first.

No wonder Second Young Miss Yan had been fine.

“His Highness went to the prefectural yamen on his own? That place is crawling with guards and imperial soldiers — how did he break in alone?” Imperial Physician Wen took the bloodied scraps of brocade with trembling hands.

Ye Chen looked at the unconscious man on the bed and shook his head. “His Highness didn’t say.”

By the time he had received His Highness’s summons, His Highness was already wounded. He had pressed the formula into his hands, given him several instructions, and then lost consciousness.

“If His Highness went to the prefectural yamen, the Qilan Emperor must be searching everywhere for him now. Will His Highness be……”

Ye Chen’s voice was low and hoarse. “He won’t be. His Highness would certainly have covered his tracks — the Qilan Emperor won’t be able to trace it back to him.”

Imperial Physician Wen was overcome with dread. “Couldn’t he have waited for word from Xuanzhao’s Imperial Physician Court?”

Couldn’t he have waited a few more days? It wasn’t as if a solution couldn’t have been produced! Did he really have to run off to Mucong for the formula??

It was fortunate the injury wasn’t too severe. Otherwise, what then?

Did he not know how irreplaceable he was? Truly reckless.

“His Highness must have been confident he could get out of the prefectural yamen unharmed before he went.” Ye Chen swallowed the lump in his throat. “To tell His Highness to wait for word from Xuanzhao’s Imperial Physician Court — how could His Highness possibly wait?”

“Confident?” Imperial Physician Wen lowered his voice to a hiss. “Did His Highness not know the prefectural yamen has guards posted everywhere? If he was confident he’d return safely, why is he lying unconscious on that bed right now?”

“If Prince Xuan learns of this — you, this old man, Second Young Miss Yan — none of you would survive.”

Ye Chen’s voice came out rough and hoarse. “Imperial Physician Wen, I’ll watch over His Highness here. Please follow the formula and prepare the antidote for Second Young Miss Yan — take it to her and have her take it.”

After a pause of several seconds, Ye Chen added, “His Highness instructed that before his injuries have healed, if Second Young Miss Yan comes asking for him, you are to say you know nothing.”

“This old man understands.”

Before His Highness was wounded, Second Young Miss Yan had come to ask once. Since then, she hadn’t come to ask again.

After several more days of recuperating, Xuan Yanyu finally regained some strength.

“Has the medicine been given to Yan Yunning?” The man leaned against the headboard, his expression languid.

“Yes — Imperial Physician Wen watched Second Young Miss Yan take it.” Ye Chen handed him a cup of water.

“This subordinate reports to Your Highness.” Ye’an slipped inside.

“Mm.” Xuan Yanyu took a sip of water. “What has she been doing today?”

“Young Master Yan took Second Young Miss Yan and the eldest young miss to Yuanjing Manor today.” Ye’an took the teacup back from Xuan Yanyu.

Ye Chen pursed his lips. These past few days, Second Young Miss Yan had been spending every day with Pei Qingyan. It was as though she’d completely forgotten about His Highness.

Just yesterday, he’d spotted Second Young Miss Yan and Pei Qingyan out on the street together, strolling and dining.

Pei Qingyan had been very attentive toward Second Young Miss Yan. First buying her snacks, then buying her hairpins.

……

Yuanjing Manor.

Shen Ruoyi sidled up to Yan Yunning with a mischievous grin. “Ningning, what’s going on between you and Young Master Pei? The way I see it, you two……”

“Sister Ruoyi, there’s absolutely nothing going on between us.” Yan Yunning said quickly.

Her brother had taken a vacation and brought her and A’Jie to stay at Yuanjing Manor for a few days. Pei Qingyan had shamelessly invited himself along.

The mistress of Yuanjing Manor, An’nian, happened to be her and A’Jie’s cousin. As it turned out, the manor’s master, Jiang Zhijing, was the elder brother of Jiang Zhibai — the brother she had claimed. It just so happened that he had also brought Sister Ruoyi to Yuanjing Manor, so they all ended up staying together.

“Nothing?” Shen Ruoyi teased. “What about Young Master Xuan? How come I haven’t seen him following you here?”

She remembered that back at Yuanjin Manor, Young Master Xuan had been by Ningning’s side every single day.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together slightly. She hadn’t seen Xuan Xixi for more than ten days now.

It seemed like the first time since she’d known him that she’d gone this long without seeing him.

“Ningning.” Pei Qingyan came over carrying a fruit basket and settled himself down beside Yan Yunning with a grin. “Ningning, what do you feel like eating today? Brother will take you to get it.”

“Isn’t the General’s Manor busy?” Yan Yunning glanced at him sidelong.

How did he have so much free time every day?

“Not busy.” Pei Qingyan picked up a grape, peeled it, and held it to Yan Yunning’s lips. His smile curved as he said, “Give your brother just a little bit of face in front of Sister Ruoyi, all right?”

“No. Young General Pei, keep your distance from me — I’m afraid my future husband will beat you up.” Yan Yunning shook her fist at him.

“Tch.” Pei Qingyan closed his hand around her small fist and grinned shamelessly. “Yan Zhiyi said you’re not engaged to anyone. Where does this future husband come from? Whoever dares to compete with this general for you — this general’s fist will land on his face.”

Yan Yunning didn’t hesitate in the slightest and sent her fist squarely into his face. Pei Qingyan yelped with pain and released her hand.

“Ningning!” Pei Qingyan pouted dramatically and clapped a hand over his face. “Take responsibility — this general’s face has been ruined by you.”

Yan Yunning gave him a dismissive glance.

“Sister Ruoyi.” The man turned to Shen Ruoyi with an exaggerated look of pitiful suffering. “Do you hit Elder Brother Jiang too?”

Shen Ruoyi gave a nod. “I do.”

Pei Qingyan let out a leisurely sigh. “I just don’t have Elder Brother Jiang’s good fortune. A certain someone hit me and refuses to take responsibility.”

Yan Yunning continued peeling her grapes as though she’d heard nothing.

The man’s voice took on a muffled, sulky quality. “Ningning, pay attention to me.”

Shen Ruoyi gave a light cough. “Well, then — I’ll go see what Ah-Bai is up to.”

With that, she departed swiftly, paying no mind to the child she carried.

Pei Qingyan tilted his head, his gaze fixed on Yan Yunning, unable to look away.

The young woman had stuffed a grape into each cheek, making her soft pink face puff out on both sides — impossibly endearing.

Pei Qingyan couldn’t help himself and reached out to tap her cheek with his finger. “Ningning, pay attention to me. Talk to me.”

Yan Yunning turned her head and met the man’s burning gaze. The corner of her eye twitched a few times.

“Young Master Pei, I have someone I care for. Don’t keep coming near me and……”

Before she could finish, Pei Qingyan burst out laughing. “Ningning, I was just joking with you — you took it seriously? You and Yaoyao are the same. I treat you both like little sisters.”

“That’s a relief then.” Yan Yunning went along with his words.

“Who is it that you care for? Does this general know him?” Pei Qingyan scooted closer to her, resting his arm along the back of her wooden chair, and stealthily twirled a strand of her hair around his fingertip.

Yan Yunning slowly and unhurriedly wiped her hands clean with her handkerchief. “In a few days, I’ll introduce you both.”

“If he’s less good-looking than this general, don’t bother bringing him here for this general to look at.” Pei Qingyan took it upon himself to gather the grape peels Yan Yunning had left on the round table and toss them into the bamboo waste basket.