Shiqing had spent many years searching for her younger sister, and only after great difficulty had she finally found her.

“Sister Wen, the woman the Second-in-Command captured is my elder sister. The one who took Brother Mu away must be someone from my sister’s side.”

It was either Xuan Yanyu or Qi Qingchen.

Wen Wanyu hurriedly said, “I’ve already had someone escort Yan Shiyao down the mountain. That Second-in-Command really is something — Ningning, don’t be angry. When Shiqing comes back, let him deal with him.”

Yan Yunning patted Wen Wanyu’s hand and smiled. “Sister Wen, I’m not angry.”

“Madam, something’s wrong — that man refuses to release anyone.” A subordinate came rushing over in a panic to report.

Wen Wanyu felt her stomach ache even more. “Gather the brothers and rescue the First-in-Command.”

She hadn’t wanted to resort to violence, but did they really think they could threaten Qingyu Stronghold as they pleased?

“Yes, I’ll go make arrangements at once.” The subordinate acknowledged the order.

“Wait.” Yan Yunning looked toward Wen Wanyu. “Sister Wen, let me go take a look.”

Wen Wanyu frowned. “Ningning…”

“It’s settled — I’ll go have a look.”

Before Wen Wanyu could finish speaking, Yan Yunning had already run off.

A moment later, Yan Yunning glanced back at the dense crowd of people following behind her and felt a slight headache coming on.

“Miss, there is no need to worry. We will protect you well.” A man patted his chest in assurance.

Yan Yunning bared her teeth in a grin.

The mountain path was rugged, littered everywhere with stones of all sizes and dried leaves. It had taken about the time it takes to burn one incense stick to go from the summit to the base, and by the time they arrived, Yan Yunning’s legs were already sore from walking.

At the foot of the mountain, Mu Shiqing was bound to a stout tree, with Ye Chen and Ye Jian flanking him on either side, their blades pressed against his neck.

Mu Shiqing didn’t even dare breathe too deeply. Since becoming the First-in-Command of Qingyu Stronghold, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Had he known it would come to this, he simply would not have come down the mountain today. If his brothers were to find out about this, where would he put his face?

Where would he put it!

“Brother Yu, release the First-in-Command and I am willing to stay and serve as a maidservant.” Yan Shiyao pleaded.

She was determined to rescue Miss Nanchu — the poor thing had suffered enough.

Xuan Yanyu concealed the contempt in the depths of his eyes.

Mu Shiqing looked at Yan Shiyao as though she were a fool. Someone who was eager to become a maidservant? How strange — truly strange.

Yan Shiyao blinked at Xuan Yanyu, hoping he would understand her meaning.

But Xuan Yanyu did not even glance at her.

Ye Jian hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. If word of this got out — that their Xuanzhao’s Crown Princess had once served as a maidservant — what would people think?

The moment Yan Yunning caught sight of Xuan Yanyu, she raised her hand and waved toward him. “Xuan—”

She had barely uttered the first word when Xuan Yanyu strode forward in a few steps and pulled her into his arms.

Yan Shiyao’s pupils trembled slightly.

Yan Yunning’s mind went blank. What was he doing? What was going on all of a sudden?

“Are you hurt?” The man leaned close to her ear and asked in a low voice.

His thin lips grazed her earlobe without thought, and Yan Yunning’s breathing became unsteady. Collecting herself, she shook her head. “No… I’m not.”

Xuan Yanyu rested his chin on the top of her head, holding her even tighter, and asked in a muffled voice, “Did he… bully you?”

“No.” Yan Yunning wound a strand of his hair around her fingertip.

“Let go of my sister.” A furious shout suddenly rang out — truly brazen, daring to embrace his sister right before his eyes.

Xuan Yanyu’s throat moved, and he asked in a hoarse voice, “What sister?”

Yan Yunning murmured quietly, “He’s mistaken. He thinks I’m his sister. Hurry and have Ye Jian and the others release him.”

“Tch.” Xuan Yanyu furrowed his brow.

Yan Yunning hastily pushed him away. Noticing the strand of hair she had pulled loose caught between her fingertips, she laughed awkwardly. “Sorry about that.”

She walked over to Mu Shiqing’s side, moved Ye Chen’s blade away from his neck, and seeing this, Ye Jian very willingly lowered the blade in his own hand.

“Untie the rope.” Yan Yunning patted Ye Chen on the shoulder.

Ye Chen and Ye Jian moved around to the back of the tree and began undoing the rope. Once it was free, Ye Chen looked down at the rope in his hands and suddenly realized — their Highness had not yet given the order to release him.

Mu Shiqing straightened the creases in his robe, gritted his teeth, and pointed at Xuan Yanyu. “Let me tell you—”

Ye Jian grabbed him by the arm, shoved him back against the tree with force, and snapped, “Do not show disrespect to our master.”

Mu Shiqing: “…”

What had he even said?

He hadn’t said anything yet!

“First-in-Command.”

“Release our First-in-Command.”

The subordinates who had followed Yan Yunning down the mountain clamored out all at once.

Yan Yunning rubbed her forehead. “Ye Jian, let him go.”

Ye Jian let out a cold snort and, reluctantly, released Mu Shiqing.

Mu Shiqing ground his teeth in fury. “Ningning, come back with me.”

What a humiliating day this had been.

Xuan Yanyu pulled Yan Yunning to his side, gave a scornful little laugh, and said, “She won’t be going with you.”

“If she won’t come back with me, she can’t stay by your side either.” Mu Shiqing glared at him, the anger in his eyes burning fiercer.

He was thoroughly dissatisfied with him. The idea of him becoming his “brother-in-law” — absolutely not, he would not allow it.

Setting everything else aside, Ningning had been living on the mountain for several days already, and only now had he managed to track her down. If this man were a dangerous person, Ningning might have already met with harm by now.

Yan Shiyao gently interjected, “Why don’t we all go up the mountain together?”

Another person meant another measure of hope for Miss Nanchu. With Brother Yu here, he would surely be able to help Nanchu escape.

Mu Shiqing glanced sidelong at Yan Yunning, who blinked at him.

“Fine, fine, let’s go — what a nuisance.” Mu Shiqing ordered a sedan chair to be brought over, then tilted his chin toward Yan Yunning. “Get in.”

Yan Shiyao shook her head with a gentle smile. “We can walk ourselves. Having people carry us — they’d be so tired.”

Mu Shiqing rolled his eyes. “No one’s asking you to sit in it.” Then he called out to Yan Yunning again. “Come here, Ningning.”

Yan Yunning was about to go over when Yan Shiyao caught her by the arm. “Ningning doesn’t need it.”

Mu Shiqing couldn’t be bothered to argue further. He left one sedan chair behind, and under the lifting of attendants, proceeded up the mountain ahead.

“A’Jie, I do need it.” Yan Yunning suppressed the urge to say something sarcastic.

Yan Shiyao’s expression grew stubborn, and she urged quietly, “Ningning, not a single person in that stronghold is decent or good. We shouldn’t use their things.”

If even one of them had been a good person, Miss Nanchu would never have spent three whole years up on that mountain.

The sedan chair bearers who had been left behind heard Yan Shiyao’s words and their expressions immediately changed. “Since we are all bad people in Miss’s eyes, then you may walk up the mountain yourselves.”

“That’s not what I — please don’t go.” Yan Yunning watched helplessly as they set down the sedan poles with a heavy thud and walked away.

“Come, Ningning — we’ll go up ourselves.” Yan Shiyao took her by the hand.

Yan Yunning smiled wryly. It had taken one full incense stick’s time to come down, and going back up would take another — she was genuinely exhausted.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yan Yunning stood with her hands on her hips, breathing slightly hard. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Yan Shiyao biting her lip, sweat streaming down her face.

By contrast, Xuan Yanyu, Ye Chen, and Ye Jian were completely steady in their breathing, as though nothing bothered them at all.

“Xuan Yanyu, I’m not walking anymore.” Yan Yunning’s pace slowed to a crawl.

“Tired?” The man’s throat moved slightly, and his gaze flickered.

Ye Jian volunteered eagerly, “Second Miss Yan, I’ll carry you up.”