Ye Chen resigned himself to his fate, drawing out his long sword to carefully wipe away the bloodstains, then disposed of the man’s corpse.

With practiced ease, he hoisted Yan Shiyao onto his back, walked over to Xuan Yanyu’s side, and handed him the sword. His voice still shaken with lingering fear, he said, “Your Highness, fortunately we arrived in time.”

Otherwise, the Crown Princess… Ye Chen shook his head, not daring to think further.

Xuan Yanyu took the sword and lifted an eyelid. “Investigate.”

“Understood.” Ye Chen’s expression turned grave.

They needed to get to the bottom of this — who dared set their sights on their Crown Princess!

“Send her back and have Ye Jian find a physician.” The man turned his head and glanced at Yan Shiyao.

“Your Highness, where are you going?”

“To eat.”

Ye Chen stared at Xuan Yanyu’s retreating figure, his mind unable to catch up. To eat? Shouldn’t His Highness be staying by Miss Yan’s side?! Shouldn’t he be comforting Miss Yan and telling her not to be afraid?! Was this really the right time to eat?!

Xuan Yanyu arrived at the dining hall. His eyes narrowed slightly — only Luo Xuan and Qi Qingchen were seated at the wooden chairs. He walked over and sat down.

“Master Xuan, how is it that only you came? Where is Miss Yan?” Luo Xuan asked with a smile.

“Yaoyao said she wanted to take a stroll and told us not to wait for her at dinner.” Qi Qingchen chimed in.

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow.

“Then let us eat.” Luo Xuan instructed the maidservant waiting nearby to begin serving the dishes.

“Where is Yan Yunning?” Xuan Yanyu toyed with the wooden chopsticks in his hand and asked offhandedly.

Luo Xuan bit her lip. “The second Miss Yan vomited blood and fainted today. She is very weak.”

She paused, then lifted her gaze toward Qi Qingchen. “Qingchen and I were just discussing it — we thought it best to let her rest in her room for a few days and eat something light.”

Xuan Yanyu furrowed his brow, set down his chopsticks, rose to his feet, and left.

Stepping out of the dining hall, Xuan Yanyu stopped. What did Yan Yunning have to do with him? Why should he concern himself with her?

After a long silence, the deep crease between the man’s brows gradually eased. A’Yao could barely take care of herself right now — it was only right that he go check on her behalf.

“Your Highness, why are you here? Were you not going to eat?” Ye Chen suddenly caught sight of Xuan Yanyu and stumbled to a halt.

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze swept to the tray in his hands, then took in his attire — the clothing of a Taoyuan Village villager. The corner of his mouth twitched. “What are you doing?”

Just mentioning it made Ye Chen feel aggrieved. “Your Highness, I had just finished escorting Miss Yan back when I happened to run into Yan Yunning acting all furtive and sneaky. I was about to ask her what she was up to, but when she saw me, she ordered me to go to the dining hall and fetch food for her.”

Xuan Yanyu curved his lips. “And you agreed?”

“I… of course I didn’t agree, but she said if I refused, she would call people over and accuse me of being a thief. To avoid causing a scene, I had no choice but to agree.”

Xuan Yanyu laughed softly. “Why didn’t you just slip away midway?”

Ye Chen straightened his back. “Your Highness, am I, Ye Chen, the kind of person who goes back on his word?”

Xuan Yanyu extended his hand and said coolly, “Give it to me.”

“Your Highness, I can handle it.”

Xuan Yanyu’s lips curved into a playful smile. “Ye Chen.”

A chill ran down Ye Chen’s back. He handed over the tray. “Here, Your Highness. You go.”

The words had barely left his mouth before he turned and bolted.

In the side room.

Yan Yunning lay sprawled across the bed. I wonder if Ye Chen is reliable. He wouldn’t just run off midway, would he?

Fafa: Master, your body is weak right now and you shouldn’t eat anything else. The food Luo Xuan sent you is good for your health.

Whose fault is that? Yan Yunning rolled over, glanced at the plain, bland meal sitting on the round table across the room, and let out a sigh.

Fafa: ……

If I weren’t so dizzy from walking just two steps, I would have gone to the dining hall myself long ago.

Fafa: ……

Fafa, I just realized something — how did Ye Chen end up coming out of my sister’s room? Yan Yunning bolted upright, her head spinning, then collapsed back down helplessly.

Fafa: Yan Shiyao nearly had an accident. He was the one who brought her back.

Yan Yunning crossed her legs, her little feet swaying back and forth. What does the book say about this part?

“Knock knock.” A series of raps sounded at the door.

Yan Yunning’s eyes lit up. “Come in.”

When she saw it was Xuan Yanyu, Yan Yunning wrinkled her nose. She had thought it was Ye Chen bringing her food.

“Disappointed to see me?” The man curved his lips into a smile.

“No.” The young woman’s eyelashes curved into little crescent moons.

“Hmm? No?”

He had clearly seen a flicker of disappointment cross her face the moment she saw him.

The young woman lying on the bed held up four fingers, her eyes bright and clear. “Sworn oath — absolutely not.”

Xuan Yanyu was momentarily taken aback, then couldn’t help but let out a low laugh.

Yan Yunning swallowed. The man’s finely sculpted face, touched with a smile, was terribly striking — enough to give one the illusion of a racing heart.

He was dressed entirely in black robes, a sash of the same color cinched at the waist, with little ornamentation. His ink-dark hair was held in place by a gold coronet. His build was tall, and the nobility born into him could not be concealed.

“Cough.” A muffled cough — a thread of blood spilled from the corner of Yan Yunning’s lips.

Fafa, what’s happening?!

Fafa: Master, it’s fine! Coughing it up is a good thing.

You’re not lying to me? How am I… how am I feeling dizzy again… A loud ringing filled Yan Yunning’s head, and her body toppled backward beyond her control.

Fafa: ……Master, I really didn’t lie to you. Who knew you were this fragile.

A powerful unease surged through Xuan Yanyu. He slammed the tray he had been holding behind his back onto the round table with a loud clatter, then caught Yan Yunning as she fainted.

His fingers rested on her slender wrist. His brow furrowed. “How can she be this weak.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the man bent down, gathered her up in his arms, and strode out of the side room.

In a corner of the courtyard, Luo Xuan glanced up absently and caught sight of Xuan Yanyu carrying Yan Yunning, his expression urgent as he headed out. The corner of her eye lifted slightly.

“Nuo Nuo, now is the perfect moment. Bring Yan Shiyao into the hidden chamber.”

Qingchen was hers and hers alone. No one could take him from her — no one!

A morbid smile curved Luo Xuan’s lips.

“Chieftain, why should we fear him?” Nuo Nuo frowned slightly.

Luo Xuan’s fingers, painted with crimson polish, brushed across her cheek. “Xuan Yanyu is clearly not a simple man. There is nothing wrong with avoiding him.”

“Understood. Nuo Nuo will go and take care of it at once.”

Xuan Yanyu carried Yan Yunning directly to the inn. On this trip to the Qilan Kingdom, he had brought an imperial physician along, precisely for fear of unforeseen accidents.

“Your Highness, what is this…?” Imperial Physician Wen rubbed his eyes, barely able to believe what he was seeing.

The pastry in Ye Jian’s hand slipped from his grip and hit the ground with a smack. He stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded.

He and Ye Chen had followed His Highness since childhood, and never once had they seen His Highness carry a woman in his arms. Even the Crown Princess, chosen personally by Prince Xuan — whenever something happened to her, His Highness always had Ye Chen carry her on his back. At most, His Highness himself might lend her a steadying hand.

He used to worry that at this rate, their Crown Prince’s manor would never have a little master. Now he was even more worried — why was His Highness carrying the Crown Princess’s younger sister?

And from the look of things, he was even having Imperial Physician Wen examine her.

Imperial Physician Wen was the head of the Imperial Medical Institute, who typically only treated Prince Xuan, the Princess Consort, and the Crown Prince. Even the consorts and princesses in the rear palace could not command his presence when they fell ill.

In the year and more that His Highness had spent at Miss Yan’s side, it wasn’t as though Miss Yan had never gotten sick — yet never once had His Highness brought her to Imperial Physician Wen.

Could it be that His Highness truly intended to take the second Miss Yan as a side consort?

That wouldn’t be entirely unacceptable either…

“Imperial Physician Wen, have a look at her.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice broke through Ye Jian’s wandering thoughts. Ye Jian quietly crouched down, picked up the fallen pastry, and stood off to one side.