During the meal, Yan Yunning was busy either pouring tea for Xuan Yanyu or serving him dishes.

After finishing lunch, Yan Yunning waited eagerly for Qi Qingchen to send the silver — but instead of silver, a group of assassins arrived.

Yan Yunning’s eyelids twitched frantically.

Was it really that obvious?

Was he afraid people wouldn’t know these were assassins hired by Qi Qingchen?

Or was Qi Qingchen thinking — since everyone would be killed by his hired assassins anyway, there was no need to worry about being found out?

“Want some?” Xuan Yanyu pinched off a piece of pastry and handed it to Yan Yunning.

Yan Yunning swallowed, glancing at the composed man, then turned to look at Ye Chen and Ye’an, who were surrounded by assassins up ahead.

Though the assassins were numerous, she could tell that Ye Chen and Ye’an were fighting with ease — as if they were merely toying with them.

Yan Yunning accepted the pastry from the man’s hand and calmed herself down.

Xuan Yanyu crossed his long legs, half-reclining on the chaise lounge, watching for a moment before suddenly leaning forward to cover Yan Yunning’s eyes with his hand.

A second later, Yan Yunning heard the man’s low, deep voice sound above her head: “Leave one alive. Bring him to see Qi Qingchen.”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

The words had barely fallen when Yan Yunning heard the muffled thuds of bodies hitting the ground one after another. The pastry in her mouth went down without even being chewed.

After Ye Chen and Ye’an dealt with the assassins, Xuan Yanyu escorted Yan Yunning back to the guest room, and the group went together to Qi Qingchen’s quarters.

Inside the room, Wu’an was kneading Qi Qingchen’s shoulders while a maidservant poured tea beside him.

With a loud bang, the wooden door was kicked open by Ye’an, and Xuan Yanyu sauntered in at his leisure.

Qi Qingchen caught sight of the assassin behind Ye Chen and panicked for a moment.

The man found a wooden chair and sat down, regarding Qi Qingchen with languid disdain. “Third Prince, would you not care to offer an explanation?”

Qi Qingchen gave a dry laugh. “Young Master Xuan, what should this prince explain?”

Xuan Yanyu didn’t answer. He picked up the teacup on the table and toyed with it for a moment, then abruptly hurled the cup along with its scalding contents straight at Qi Qingchen.

Qi Qingchen staggered, fury surging up within him.

“Your Highness.” Wu’an’s heart lurched. “Are you all right?”

Qi Qingchen glared at Xuan Yanyu with bitter hatred. “Such disrespect toward this prince…”

Xuan Yanyu gave a cold laugh. “Third Highness, add another eight hundred taels — otherwise, I guarantee that by tomorrow, word will reach the ears of every other prince that you hired assassins to attack an innocent person.”

“Word spreading throughout the capital is also fine. Third Highness, the choice is yours.”

Qi Qingchen’s face twisted with fury.

“Unwilling to choose?” Xuan Yanyu shrugged, the smile at his lips turning malicious. “Then this one understands the Third Highness’s meaning. Tomorrow will surely bring you satisfaction.”

“Wu’an!” Qi Qingchen said through gritted teeth. “Go fetch the silver for him.”

A moment later, Ye Chen received the silver Wu’an handed over, counted it carefully, then gave Xuan Yanyu a nod.

The man curved his lips upward, drew the longsword from Ye’an’s waist, and without hesitation, drove it into the assassin.

“Third Highness.” Xuan Yanyu withdrew the sword and pointed it at Qi Qingchen, his smile wicked and easy. “If there is a next time, I will not spare you.”

He wiped the blood from the blade on Qi Qingchen’s magnificent brocade robe.

Provocative and insulting in equal measure.

Qi Qingchen clenched his fist. For the first time in his life, he felt so utterly pathetic.

……

The following morning, Yan Yunning saw the extra eight hundred taels and was so overjoyed she leapt onto Xuan Yanyu, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him several times on the cheek.

“Ningning Sister.”

Yan Yunning heard the voice, suppressed the excitement in her heart, and turned to look at the girl standing in the doorway.

The girl was dressed in white, her features delicate, her figure tall — though a little too slender. She wasn’t particularly sharp-minded, somewhat better than the original A’Ci had been.

“Ningning Sister.” The girl walked forward a few steps and asked, puzzled, “Why — why are you holding Brother? No wait, is Brother holding you?”

Yan Yunning awkwardly pulled herself away from Xuan Yanyu.

“Who is she?” Xuan Yanyu frowned slightly.

“Brother, my name is Xiao Shi. I’m twenty this year. A few days ago, the manor mistress, An’nian Sister, found me collapsed on the ground — and thought I was rather cute — so she brought me back to Yuanjing Manor.” Xiao Shi beamed up at Xuan Yanyu with a simple smile. “Brother, you can just call me Xiao Shi.”

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze shifted to Yan Yunning’s small face, and he asked suddenly, “Do you find her familiar?”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. “Yes.”

When An’nian Cousin had brought her back, she had felt she looked familiar the very first time they met.

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes and looked Xiao Shi over again. Xiao Shi gnawed on her finger and stared at him with a cheerful smile.

“Ningning Sister, Brother — are you going to eat breakfast?” Xiao Shi edged closer to Yan Yunning and said quietly, “Ningning Sister, Big Brother Pei is waiting for you.”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together and didn’t dare answer.

“Ningning Sister, Big Brother Pei has been waiting for you for a long time.” Seeing Yan Yunning didn’t respond, Xiao Shi worried she hadn’t heard and repeated it loudly.

Yan Yunning’s throat tightened. She heard the man beside her crack his knuckles as he clenched his fist.

“Ningning Sister, are you done with Big Brother Pei?” Xiao Shi looked at her with guileless eyes.

“I never had him to begin with.” Yan Yunning cleared her throat, gently pried open the man’s clenched fist, and said sincerely, “Truly.”

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes darkened slightly. “Ye Chen said you dined with him.”

Yan Yunning thought carefully and said, “That was only once. It was around noon, we were a little tired from walking around, and we happened to stop at a restaurant…”

The man bit down on his back teeth. “You were walking around with him too?”

“That was a few days before we came to Yuanjing Manor. I was out shopping for gifts when I ran into Pei Qingyan, and he just… followed along.” Yan Yunning’s eyes curved into a pretty arc. Her fingertip tapped his chest. “Who told you to leave? And now you’re interrogating me?”

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together. “Did you accept the hairpin he bought?”

Yan Yunning shook her head without hesitation. “No.”

“Don’t go looking for trouble with him, and don’t lay a hand on him. He won’t be staying more than a few days before he leaves with Brother.”

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes and gave a slight nod.

……

The dining hall.

Everyone was present except Qi Qingchen. Pei Qingyan was exceptionally attentive, piling food into Yan Yunning’s bowl. “Ningning, eat more. If that’s not enough, I’ll keep serving you.”

Yan Yunning stared at the bowl heaped high with food, closed her eyes briefly, and wondered what on earth she would have to say for Pei Qingyan to keep his distance.

Did getting hit not hurt?

“Ningning.” Pei Qingyan smiled, the palm-print still visible on his face. “Go on, eat.”

Yan Shiyao set down her chopsticks, raised an eyebrow, and watched them with a faint smile.

She could also see Xuan Yanyu’s face darkening with fury — genuinely amusing.

“Ningning, are you feeling unwell?” Jiang Zhibai asked with a smile. “Or is there nothing here you’d like? I’ll have the maidservants prepare a few other dishes for you.”

“No, no need.” Yan Yunning picked up her chopsticks and reached past the bowl in front of her to take some food.

Pei Qingyan, still smiling warmly, slid the little bowl closer to her, eyes bright as he watched her.

Yan Yunning’s hand froze mid-reach.

Would someone please come and help her!

“Pei Qingyan, can you not see how uncomfortable Ningning is?” Yan Zhiyi said directly. “Once you’re done eating, get back to your general’s estate.”