Before he could utter a single word, Shen Qianyu also jumped down after him.

Seeing his master jump into the river, Ji Rong didn’t dare delay and followed suit.

The Crown Prince falling into water was no small matter. In an instant, continuous splashing sounds echoed from both sides of the riverbank. When Yan Qing heard that her father and the Crown Prince had fallen into the water simultaneously, she was so frightened her limbs went weak as she stumbled running toward the river.

Fortunately, by the time she arrived, Shen Qianyu had already rescued Yan Changpu from the river.

Qin Rao nestled in the bare-chested man’s embrace, one hand hooked around his neck while the other pressed against the wound on her face as she smiled watching the commotion.

Her gaze occasionally swept over Yan Qing’s panicked and shocked expression, feeling increasingly delighted in her heart.

Originally she had thought the barbarian slave valued Yan Qing greatly, but now it appeared she wasn’t even worth as much as an old man. Qin Rao giggled charmingly, her voice extremely grating.

“Father, Father, are you alright?”

Helping up Yan Changpu, whose breath was faint as gossamer, Yan Qing’s tears fell endlessly.

Yan Changpu’s face was deathly pale, unable to speak a word. But Shen Qianyu stood up completely soaked, his expression indifferent as he said, “Uncle Yan, this prince considers the life-saving debt repaid.”

The moment his words fell, Yan Qing raised her head full of shock.

But Yan Changpu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Shen Qianyu with a trace of imperceptible gratitude.

This debt of gratitude had actually been a burden for him, and now he had finally unloaded this weight.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince…”

Yan Qing stood up dazedly, but Shen Qianyu walked toward his tent without looking back.

Qin Rao looked at Yan Qing’s foolish expression and laughed wildly.

“Father…”

Ji Rong came forward to help Yan Changpu up, not even sparing Yan Qing a glance.

“His Highness has arranged horses and carriages for you, sir. We’ll send you off today.”

Yan Qing followed behind the two, asking in confusion: “Leave? Leave to go where? His Highness the Crown Prince once said he would save us father and daughter…”

Ji Rong smiled: “Leave the camp. As for where to go, our Highness doesn’t care.”

“I need to see His Highness…”

Yan Qing turned and walked toward Shen Qianyu’s tent. When she reached the entrance, she was blocked by Wan Xiao.

“The horses and carriage to send Imperial Physician Yan are already prepared. If Miss Yan doesn’t leave, you won’t be able to catch up to your own father shortly.”

“I need to see His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Wan Xiao laughed coldly: “How can the Crown Prince be someone you can see whenever you wish? Miss Yan should recognize her own status as soon as possible.”

“His Highness has words—if Miss Yan doesn’t leave today, you may return to the Nanqing camp tonight. The Princess values Miss Yan greatly and must still be waiting for you.”

“The Crown Prince… truly won’t acknowledge even half a trace of past affection? Won’t leave even a thread of survival?”

Wan Xiao crossed his hands in his sleeves, his tone mocking: “If this supervisor had to say it, His Highness and Miss Yan probably have no past affection to speak of. That bit of past affection with Imperial Physician Yan has also been fully repaid today.”

“As for Miss Yan’s so-called thread of survival…”

Wan Xiao shrugged: “No one cares whether you live or die.”

Yan Qing’s eyes filled with despair, looking at Wan Xiao with brimming tears. Just as she wanted to argue further, Wan Xiao said: “Nanqing has sent someone to receive Miss Yan. Please return.”

Finally knowing that Shen Qianyu held not half a trace of feelings for her, Yan Qing bit her teeth, completely giving up hope, and hurriedly chased after the carriage sending Yan Changpu away.

Having dispatched the person, Wan Xiao entered the tent to report back to Shen Qianyu.

“You’ve come at the perfect time. Help this prince.”

Inside the tent, water vapor filled the air. Shen Qianyu walked out of the bathing tub bare-chested.

He casually picked up a red-hot branding iron in his hand and passed it to Wan Xiao.

“Here.”

Wan Xiao looked at that glaring character for “slave” and frowned deeply.

“Your Highness wishes to… destroy this brand?”

Shen Qianyu said: “I cannot do it in the palace.”

If Wan’er knew he was injured, she would surely ache for him terribly. He didn’t wish to see Wan’er distressed because of him.

In the past, he kept all matters of Nanqing stored in his heart, unable to let them go.

Whether the suffering or the meager kindness Uncle Yan had once given him—all had lingered within for many years without resolution. But after today’s events, he discovered that those past matters truly weren’t as important as he had thought.

Those hatreds, that unwillingness—they had become insignificant with the passage of time, of no consequence.

He no longer cared about this slave brand now, but Wan’er would surely care.

Thinking of this, Shen Qianyu smiled faintly.

His Wan’er was most proper about rules, yet she would take initiative to place kisses on this brand.

She must have ached for him that day…

A sharp pain came from his shoulder. Shen Qianyu suddenly gripped the chair’s edge tightly and glared at Wan Xiao.

“Why did you suddenly act without warning?”

Not giving anyone even half a moment’s preparation!

Wan Xiao removed the red-hot branding iron with one hand while sprinkling medicinal powder on the wound with the other, saying innocently: “Your Highness had such a smile on your face, how would you know pain?”

Casually grabbing the soft cloth prepared nearby, Wan Xiao efficiently bandaged the wound: “Done.”

“…”

Shen Qianyu wore a wooden expression on his face, pausing briefly before putting on his inner garment and outer robe.

The pain in his shoulder caused discomfort throughout his body. At this moment, he only wanted to return to Song Wan’s side. If Wan’er were beside him, she would surely coax him gently. With someone speaking to him in soft, tender tones to accompany him, how could he hurt this much?

The more he thought, the more urgent he felt. After arranging his clothes properly, Shen Qianyu ordered the camp to be broken.

After he had Qin Rao firmly in his grasp, she became obedient. She merely followed along on the desperate rush toward the capital.

The journey that should have taken until the end of the month was forcibly shortened by over ten full days.

Qin Rao could still maintain her seductive bearing earlier, but now even her eyelids wouldn’t open.

“Princess, the Crown Prince of Dongning requests an audience.”

“What is he here for?”

Huai Jun said: “This subordinate doesn’t know.”

Qin Rao wearily waved her hand, having them let him through.

As soon as Shen Qianyu entered the tent, he spoke directly: “This prince needs to enter the palace. Today is your final deadline.”

Qin Rao looked at him coldly, just about to dangle his appetite for a few lines. But unexpectedly, Shen Qianyu turned and walked away.

His heart yearned for home like an arrow—he had absolutely no mind to waste on those pointless matters with Qin Rao. His only thought right now was to return to the palace, return to properly hold Wan’er, and also let Wan’er be intimate with him.

Qin Rao had thought Shen Qianyu was merely posturing. Who knew that with one moment of inattention, he was about to walk out of the camp tent.

“Wait a moment.”

She bit her teeth and chased after him. Shen Qianyu’s face showed complete impatience, his anxious expression extremely obvious.

Qin Rao frowned: “Why are you so eager to return to the Dongning Imperial Palace?”

Shen Qianyu didn’t answer and turned to leave again. Qin Rao was so angry she couldn’t even muster her temper. She could only hurriedly take out Qin Zhan’s written agreement ceding cities to him.

“Yidu?”

Shen Qianyu scoffed: “An isolated fortress, desolate and barren land stretching thousands of miles—don’t want it.”

Casually tossing Qin Zhan’s written agreement aside, Shen Qianyu wore an expressionless face and was about to leave when Qin Rao fiercely grabbed him again.

“Wait.”

Her face full of hesitation, she pulled out another written agreement from her bosom. Before Qin Rao could hand it to Shen Qianyu, he snatched it away.

“Feng Commandery?”

Shen Qianyu smiled lightly: “A fine place.”

Qin Rao blocked him, her face grave: “If you accept Imperial Brother’s Feng Commandery, you must fully assist Imperial Brother.”

“Naturally so.”

“How could there be any reason in the world to freely receive another’s possessions? This prince will naturally fully assist Qin Zhan.”

Qin Rao bit her teeth: “You must make a vow.”

“I, Shen Qianyu, vow that if I violate this promise, I shall have no fate with the throne in this lifetime. How about that?”

“Not enough. I want you to marry me as a consort until Imperial Brother has stabilized the court.”