“Xie, Elder Brother……” Yan Yunning paused for a moment and changed the subject. “Did Mu, Elder Brother agree to let you go down the mountain?”

“I told Elder Brother.” Xie Yan laughed and patted Yan Yunning on the shoulder.

This place was full of A’Chu’s shadow — he could not stand to stay another day……

“Xie, Elder Brother……Nan Chu, she……”

“Ningning, little sister, it’s getting dark. I should be on my way.” Xie Yan laughed drily, cutting her off, straining to keep his emotions in check.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together and watched as Xie Yan made what was practically a panicked escape.

Xie Yan, now outside, took one last look at the room, scrubbed the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve without ceremony, and without hesitation turned and left.

The following morning, under Xuan Yanyu’s veiled threats, Yan Yunning went reluctantly to say her goodbyes to Mu Shiqing.

“Mu, Elder Brother, I genuinely have to leave.” Yan Yunning’s face broke into a sweet smile, her hands clasped demurely in front of her, eyes blinking again and again.

If she didn’t leave, Xuan Yanyu would flatten her — he knew she had a timid nature and used it to intimidate her.

Mu Shiqing flicked her on the forehead, pretending to be cross. “Isn’t Qingyu Stronghold good enough for you?”

“It’s wonderful.” Yan Yunning nodded.

“If it’s wonderful, then stay.” Mu Shiqing’s tone softened.

“Mu, Elder Brother, I really can’t stay.” Yan Yunning puckered her lips.

She wanted to stay too, but Xuan Yanyu wouldn’t allow it — and when she said she wanted to return to the Chancellor’s manor, he wouldn’t allow that either. He wasn’t even her brother-in-law yet, and he was already more controlling than A’Jie.

Even A’Jie didn’t manage her like this.

Yan Yunning touched her lips, and at the memory of what Xuan Yanyu had done that day, a wave of irritation swept over her. It was simply outrageous — was this really something a Crown Prince of a nation could do?

Mu Shiqing laughed and glared at her. “Fine, fine — get going, off with you right away.”

Yan Yunning tilted her head and made a heart shape with both hands. “Thank you, Mu, Elder Brother.”

Mu Shiqing couldn’t help reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Be careful on the road — you mustn’t get hurt.”

Yan Yunning nodded emphatically.

Having bid farewell to Qingyu Stronghold, they had not yet met up with Qi Qingchen when Xuan Yanyu began putting on an act again.

“Hss……” Xuan Yanyu covered his arm, letting out a muffled groan.

“Yanyu, Elder Brother, what’s the matter?” Yan Shiyao stopped in her tracks, turning back to look at him with concern. “Is your arm hurting again?”

Some distance away, Yan Yunning’s eyelid gave a twitch.

She had a strong feeling it was aimed at her.

“Mm. It was nearly healed, but yesterday the Second Young Miss Yan insisted on having me carry her up the mountain — I must have aggravated it.” Xuan Yanyu said it with cutting sweetness.

Yan Yunning put down her pastry and ran over to kick the man, furious. “You’re lying.”

A faint smile touched the corners of Xuan Yanyu’s eyes. “Second Young Miss Yan — tell me, didn’t I carry you up the mountain yesterday?”

“You — I never asked you to carry me……” Yan Yunning was nearly livid.

Wasn’t he the one who had insisted on carrying her?

“Then can it be that I carried you of my own free will?” Xuan Yanyu looked at her puffed-up cheeks, the corner of his mouth lifting.

“I……”

Yan Yunning’s vision went dark.

Insufferable wretch!

“Ningning, you can’t bully Yanyu, Elder Brother like that.” Yan Shiyao frowned.

“A’Jie!” Yan Yunning stomped her foot.

“Ningning, you are not so young anymore — why must you be so willful.” Yan Shiyao sighed. “Ningning, just now you came over and kicked Yanyu, Elder Brother. If word gets out, people will laugh at you.”

Yan Yunning breathed out sharply. She still wanted to kick him again.

“It’s all right. Since the Second Young Miss Yan is responsible for aggravating my injury, here’s a thought — she may as well keep caring for me a few more days.” The man said it with an air of lofty entitlement.

From the moment they set off down the mountain, she had been deliberately avoiding him. He had no intention of letting her have her way.

Yan Shiyao bit her lip, hesitating before she said, “Yanyu, Elder Brother, let me be the one to take care of you.”

She was worried that if Ningning and Yanyu, Elder Brother grew too close, word would spread and damage her future prospects for finding a husband. Her own situation was different — she would be marrying Qi, Elder Brother, and since they were all traveling together, he would not misunderstand.

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow slightly. “No need. Yan Yunning taking care of me is fine. I’ve grown accustomed to her.”

Yan Yunning shot him a glare. He just wanted to boss her around — was that it?

Yan Shiyao was not willing to let it go. “That won’t do, Yanyu, Elder Brother.”

A flicker crossed Xuan Yanyu’s eyes. He said with a mild smile, “A’Yao, why not?”

Yan Shiyao bit her lower lip. She didn’t know how to put it into words.

“There is no ‘why not.’ My A’Jie says it won’t do, and I listen to my A’Jie.” Yan Yunning seized Yan Shiyao’s hand and pulled her into a run ahead.

Xuan Yanyu’s expression slowly darkened.

When she needed him, it was “Xuan Yanyu, Xuan Yanyu” as she pressed up close to his side. When she didn’t need him, she kept as far away as she possibly could.

From the time he was small, when had he ever been treated like this? Everyone around him had always placed him on a pedestal day after day.

Yan Yunning and Yan Shiyao ran all the way back to the inn. Before they even entered the side chamber, they heard a soft, velvety voice calling out, “Qi Qingchen!”

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow.

Yan Shiyao lowered her gaze, her grip on the handkerchief in her hand tightening.

“Qi Qingchen, I don’t want this — go buy me some clear-braised fat goose, pea cake, and poria pastry. All right?” The girl stuck out her tongue, deliberately softening her voice as she spoke.

Qi Qingchen looked somewhat resigned. “I’ll buy it for you at dinner. Make do with this for now.”

A few days prior, he had rescued her from someone harassing her at the inn. Who would have thought she’d end up clinging to him since then.

“I don’t want to make do. Qi Qingchen, please go buy it now — please?” The girl’s voice was soft and coaxing.

Yan Yunning’s brows furrowed slightly. She walked forward a few steps and pushed open the side chamber door.

Qi Qingchen heard the sound and turned to look. Catching sight of Yan Yunning and Yan Shiyao, he gave a start.

“Qi, Elder Brother, who is this?” Yan Yunning was the first to speak.

Zhaoran’s gaze fell on Yan Yunning — fair, delicate complexion, bright and lively eyes, quite beautiful to look upon. She wore a moon-white silk top with intricate embroidery at the shoulders, and below it a layered skirt woven from threads of blue and white, very lovely.

She looked to be about the same age as herself. This was probably the “Ningning” Qi Qingchen had mentioned — the Second Young Miss Yan — which meant the young woman beside her must be the First Young Miss Yan, Yan Shiyao.

“Her name is Zhaoran. She was traveling here alone and would like to join our party.” Qi Qingchen explained.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. Surely this wasn’t yet another one of the male lead’s admirers?

Yan Shiyao’s thoughts swirled into disarray.

“Pleased to meet you, Shiyao, Elder Sister and Ningning.” Zhaoran spoke with a smile, neither fawning nor discourteous. “Shiyao, Elder Sister, I hope you will look after me in the days ahead.”

Yan Shiyao composed herself and smiled in reply. “Of course.”

“Qi Qingchen, I’m hungry — hurry and go buy me what I like. Please?” Zhaoran, like a little cat, lightly pinched the hem of Qi Qingchen’s robe and coaxed him with a pout.

The girl smiled up at Qi Qingchen with a pretty oval face, a petite figure, a slight air of pride hidden in her gaze, dressed in a light and elegant green robe, blinking her eyes as she pleaded.

Yan Yunning quietly cleared her throat. Who could possibly resist that?

If Qi Qingchen didn’t go buy it for her, she herself was even tempted to borrow silver from Xuan Yanyu to get it.

“I’ll get it — just wait a moment.” Qi Qingchen laughed quietly.

Zhaoran released his robe hem and stood to one side obediently. “All right.”

Qi Qingchen looked over at Yan Yunning and Yan Shiyao. “I’m going out to get some food — have a chat amongst yourselves.”