Yan Yunning: “……”

Qiuci smiled. “Second Miss, it isn’t impossible — if you truly have feelings for the Third Prince, that is. The Third Prince came to ask Father for your hand in marriage. He proposed for you.”

Even if the second miss were to truly wed the Third Prince, the Madam would disapprove — but Father had already declined the Third Prince’s proposal, and the Madam had forbidden anyone from telling the eldest Miss, on pain of family punishment.

“Pfft.” The tea Yan Yunning had not yet swallowed sprayed across the round table, her face flushing red from choking.

This was a disaster. An absolute disaster. How could the male lead propose to her???

Everything was in chaos — the main story line had completely unraveled.

She was supposed to be a throwaway character!!

“Second Miss, there’s no need to be so shaken, is there?” Qiuci took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the tea that had sprayed onto her own clothes.

Yan Yunning: “……”

“Did Father agree to it?” Yan Yunning asked, her voice tight with anxiety.

Qiuci knit her brows. “He did not. Second Miss, you could go and speak with the Chancellor yourself — ask him to go back to the Third Prince and propose again.”

Yan Yunning let out a breath of relief. “Propose? Absolutely not.”

She had gone after Qi Qingchen once before — partly because she hadn’t known he already had a side consort, and partly to protect her own life. But now? She would have to be out of her mind to want to marry Qi Qingchen.

“Second Miss, Father declined the Third Prince, and now he intends for you to wed Young Master Xuan. He has already been looking for a residence in the capital for the two of you.” Qiuci added.

“Cough.” The tea caught in her throat, and Yan Yunning broke into a violent coughing fit.

Did Xuan Xixi know about this?

Something like this would be impossible to keep from him.

“……” Qiuci stepped forward and began patting her on the back.

……

The following morning.

The manservants and maidservants of the Chancellor’s Residence had all gathered in a crowd outside Yaozhi Courtyard. Yan Yunning stood on her toes and peered over the sea of people.

Qiuci spotted her and came running over. “Second Miss, the eldest Miss was injured last night.”

Yan Yunning’s brow furrowed lightly. “How did it happen?”

“I’m not sure. From what I’ve heard, she collapsed at the main gate last night and was carried in by the manservants.” Qiuci let out a yawn.

The eldest Miss had been carried back to the residence last night, and every manservant and maidservant in the household had come to attend to her. Several physicians had already been called, and the eldest Miss had still not regained consciousness.

They’d been told it was from severe shock. The Madam had not given word for them to leave, so they had stood watch outside all night.

Yan Yunning fell quiet for a moment. “Is the injury serious?”

Qiuci forced her eyes open wide and rubbed her face vigorously. “Not serious — it’s her arm that was injured. She just hasn’t come to yet from the shock.”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. “I see. Why is everyone still standing out here?”

“Second Miss, this is simply how things are done here.” Qiuci rubbed her aching eyes.

“You may all disperse — return to your duties.” Nanny Liu gestured to one of the maidservants, conveying Chu Wantang’s instructions.

“Get some rest quickly.” Yan Yunning patted Qiuci on the shoulder.

Qiuci curtsied and left along with the other maidservants and manservants.

Yan Yunning stood where she was for a moment, then turned and made her way to Xuan Yanyu’s guest room.

Inside the room, Ye Jian and Ye Chen stood side by side at a distance. Xuan Yanyu sat staring absently at the dishes on the table.

Ye Chen nudged Ye Jian’s arm. Ye Jian squared his shoulders and did not so much as glance at him.

Ye Chen: “……?”

“Xuan Yanyu, I’m coming in.” Yan Yunning stood at the doorway and called out softly.

Ye Jian grabbed Ye Chen by the arm and began dragging him toward the exit.

Ye Chen was startled. “???”

Ye Jian opened the door, gave Yan Yunning a nod, then grabbed Ye Chen by the collar of his robe and hauled him out.

Ye Chen: “?”

Seriously?? Did he not have legs of his own??

Yan Yunning watched them with a strange look, pushed the scattered thoughts from her mind, and stepped into the guest room.

“Xuan… Xuan Yanyu.”

The man had his head lowered and said nothing.

Yan Yunning moved toward him in small, careful steps.

“Xuan Yanyu, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said what I said — about letting you… marry A’Jie.” Yan Yunning gingerly tugged at his sleeve.

Even though she desperately wanted to go home, she should never have listened to Fafa.

She truly did want to go home so badly. Being here always felt to her like she was living inside a dream.

Xuan Yanyu mattered a great deal to her — but nowhere near as much as her family did.

Just as she had said from the very beginning: she would not stay behind for any man.

“……”

Xuan Yanyu said nothing. Yan Yunning felt her spirits sink.

“Xuan Xixi.” The girl lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s fine if you don’t want to talk to me.”

She had lain awake thinking about it all night — perhaps it was best to just let things be.

While he hadn’t fallen too deep, she could wait. Once he returned to Xuanzhao and took the throne, once he had his queen and his favored consorts, he would slowly forget her.

When she eventually went home, she wouldn’t have to worry about him being heartbroken.

And there was A’Ci — she wanted to witness his wedding.

Lu A’Niang had Father; she didn’t need to worry too much.

As for her maternal grandparents, she could keep the truth from them for as long as she could manage.

A’Jie, she didn’t need to worry about either — she might grieve for a few days, but would soon move on.

Xuan Yanyu glanced sideways at the girl beside him, her spirits low, and felt a heaviness settle in his chest.

“Xuan Yanyu.” Yan Yunning found herself an excuse, and smiled. “My A’Jie was injured. I’m going to go check on her.”

“Yan Yunning.” Xuan Yanyu called out to stop her.

“Mm?” Yan Yunning turned to look at him with a smile. He was wearing a set of rare and exquisite robes, tall and elegant, his refined and flawless features framed by a faintly creased brow. Yan Yunning slowly turned her head away, a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes.

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together. The girl’s lovely face was tinged pink around the eyes, her long lashes dampened by the welling tears — she looked pitifully heart-stirring. He supposed he wouldn’t hold it against her this time.

“Don’t push me toward someone else again.” Xuan Yanyu pulled her into his arms, his voice low and muffled.

Yan Yunning’s fingertips clutched the fabric of his fine robe as she bit down on her lip, fighting to hold back her sobs.

What would become of him when she went home?

But if she didn’t go home, what would become of her family?

There were some things she could not afford to think about — the more she did, the harder it became to breathe.

Xuan Yanyu stroked her hair, his voice considerably gentler now. “You’re the one who made me angry, and yet you’re the one crying?”

“Xuan Xixi, you may as well go back to ignoring me.” Yan Yunning lifted her small head from his embrace and glanced up at him.

“……” Xuan Yanyu looked down at the girl in his arms and lightly pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth, his voice low and rough. “Why?”

“Xuan…”

Before she could finish, the man cupped her face in both hands and pressed his lips to hers.

Yan Yunning’s head grew dizzy from his kiss. After a long while, her breath began to run hot. Xuan Yanyu released her at last, steadying her by the waist with one hand, and said in a low voice, “Yan Yunning…”

“Second Miss, Second Miss, something terrible has happened!” From outside the room, Qiuci’s frantic knocking rattled against the door.

Yan Yunning hurriedly stood up, her face flushed, and opened the door. “What is it?”

“The eldest Miss’s wound on her arm is rather deep, and she’s terrified it will scar. She’s just fainted from crying about it. The Madam is asking you to come and look in on the eldest Miss.” Qiuci’s eyelids were twitching madly.

Nothing good could come of calling the second miss over at a time like this.

“The Third Prince has also come.” Qiuci added in a low voice, “But he is here to see Father.”

Xuan Yanyu’s expression shifted subtly. Terrified of scarring?

Ye Chen had mentioned yesterday that the wound was not serious — and while it was not, there was always a chance it could leave a mark.

“Let’s go then — go have a look.” Yan Yunning ran her tongue over her lips. They felt a little sore.