Because that was simply how the story went — it was time for A’Chen to recover.

He was the key figure who would later help her A’Jie relay messages outside the palace to Qi Qingchen.

But why would A’Chen help her A’Jie?

One could argue that without A’Chen, someone as scattered-headed as her A’Jie would never have known how to coordinate with Qi Qingchen from the inside. She only knew how to grieve — to grieve that she couldn’t see Qi Qingchen.

She and Fafa had debated whether A’Chen harbored feelings for her A’Jie. But that was impossible, since the two of them had never crossed paths in the earlier part of the book.

If A’Chen had feelings for the original host — and now that Xuan Yanyu had killed her — shouldn’t A’Chen be holding a grudge against her A’Jie?

So why would he still help her?

Fafa had said that on the day of the palace coup, A’Chen had used his life to protect A’Jie and help her escape from Prince Xuan’s palace.

If A’Chen wasn’t in love with A’Jie, and wasn’t in love with the original host, then it had to do with his recovered memories.

Did Xuan Yanyu know or not know A’Chen’s true identity?

The book’s descriptions had been too vague — a great many things had been left without any explanation.

Xuan Yanyu had saved A’Chen, yet A’Chen would in the end cause Xuan Yanyu’s death for the sake of A’Jie.

Yan Yunning’s head was beginning to ache. She had originally only wanted to survive until the day she transmigrated back. But by now, she also wanted Xuan Yanyu to be all right.

Because Xuan Yanyu was the one person in this strange world she had come to — more than her own father, more than A’Jie — who had treated her the best.

“It’s getting late. Go and rest.” Xuan Yanyu watched her standing there in a daze, a little helpless.

She had been standing in front of him for so long without a word, and he had no idea what was going through her head.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together and gave a quiet “Mn.”

She had thought that by following Ranran into the palace, she might get to see A’Chen and ask him directly. If she asked Xuan Yanyu now, he would wonder how she knew A’Chen was fine.

· · ·

Ye Chen had just stepped out of the palace gates after sending the attendant maids away when he came face-to-face with A’Chen hurrying back toward the palace.

“A’Chen?” Ye Chen’s brow furrowed. “How were you able to leave the palace?”

A’Chen replied in an expressionless tone, “The Fifth Princess ordered this subordinate to go outside and purchase a few items.”

Ye Chen glanced him over. “And what you purchased — where is it?”

A’Chen’s expression did not flicker. “I only placed an advance order. The items haven’t been made yet.”

“All right, the palace gates are about to close — get back inside quickly.” Ye Chen clapped him on the shoulder.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has also returned?” In the darkness, A’Chen’s eyes flickered briefly.

“Yes, he’s back.”

A’Chen hooked the corner of his lip. “I’ll go with you and pay my respects to His Highness for saving my life.”

Ye Chen waved a dismissive hand and said plainly, “His Highness has no time to see you. If you truly wish to give thanks, you should thank Second Young Lady Yan — if not for her, His Highness wouldn’t have bothered with you.”

At the time, His Highness had told him to feed A’Chen every antidote the imperial physician Wen currently had on hand — just to see if anything worked. Then he’d had him brought to Xuanzhao and given the antidote to Manzhu Xiang’s poison. Everyone had assumed there was no hope.

Nobody expected A’Chen to wake up — and to become completely normal again.

He had recovered at the imperial infirmary for a few days before the Fifth Princess selected him to serve as her personal attendant.

“Mm.” A’Chen’s voice was slightly hoarse.

Ye Chen leaned over and nudged him on the shoulder. “Second Young Lady Yan is also in Xuanzhao. His Highness wanted you to go and see her. When you were at Ranle Palace, did you get to meet Second Young Lady Yan?”

His Highness had originally planned to bring Second Young Lady Yan back to Xuanzhao and arrange a meeting with A’Chen. It turned out that Second Young Lady Yan and the Fifth Princess had arrived in Xuanzhao first.

A’Chen fixed his gaze on the ground, his face giving nothing away. “I have seen her.”

He had heard her asking the maids of Ranle Palace about him. For the time being he could not meet her — he didn’t know how to face her.

She and Xuan Yanyu were close. In the days ahead, he was bound to stand in opposition to Xuan Yanyu…

How would she choose when that moment came…

“All right, hurry back and report to the Fifth Princess. I need to get back to the Crown Prince’s estate too.”

A’Chen gave a nod and turned to enter the palace gates.

· · ·

Ranle Palace.

Xuan Zhaoran stood with both hands on her hips, glaring daggers at A’Chen. “Where have you been these past few days? Do you even remember that you are this Princess’s attendant?”

“I remember.” A’Chen replied flatly.

Xuan Zhaoran clenched her small fists tight. “Are you relying on the fact that my elder brother the Crown Prince brought you back, thinking that this Princess wouldn’t dare punish you?”

“If the Princess is displeased with A’Chen, she may drive A’Chen out of Ranle Palace.” A’Chen said, the ghost of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

The authority in Xuan Zhaoran’s stance crumbled slightly. She muttered under her breath, “Can’t you just…”

Can’t you be just a little more accommodating toward her?

“Princess, can’t what?” A’Chen tilted his head.

Xuan Zhaoran stared at his handsome face and swallowed, saying what her heart was thinking: “Can’t — can’t defy this Princess’s wishes! You… from now on you must follow behind this Princess every single day.”

If it weren’t for the fact that he had a pleasant-looking face, she would have… she would have…punished him long ago.

“Then where did the Princess go these past few days? Why did you not have A’Chen follow along?”

“This Princess is the mistress here — is it your place to ask where she goes?” Xuan Zhaoran’s voice went uncertain.

For some reason, she was afraid of letting him know she had gone to flirt with Qi Qingchen.

A’Chen gave a sardonic laugh. “Quite right — this subordinate spoke out of turn.”

Xuan Zhaoran moved toward him and tugged at his sleeve, her voice sweet and petulant. “No, that’s not what this Princess meant — she wasn’t calling you impertinent.”

A’Chen lowered his gaze to look at her, his expression softening involuntarily. “Mm. If the Princess has nothing further, A’Chen will take his leave.”

“No.” Xuan Zhaoran grabbed his sleeve and refused to let go. She stood on tiptoe and stared up at him. “A’Chen, did you secretly take my palace token and slip out?”

A’Chen went momentarily still, his throat tightening. He kept his defenses up. “I did not.”

“You didn’t?” Xuan Zhaoran traced her fingertip along his face and pinched his chin, tilting it toward her.

Without her token, why had it gone missing?

He had taken it while she wasn’t in the palace and wouldn’t even admit it.

Besides him, who else in Ranle Palace would dare touch her things?

“Princess, don’t you think…”

The man’s voice had gone quite hoarse.

Xuan Zhaoran placed her fingertip against his lips, her eyes curving at the corners. “Be quiet.”

Jing’er: “Princess, if the Empress Dowager were to find out you…this breaks protocol.”

“If you don’t tell the Empress Dowager, who’s going to go and tell her?” Xuan Zhaoran parted her index finger and thumb and drew out her palace token from A’Chen’s robe.

“A’Chen!”

A’Chen pressed his lips together, at something of a loss for words.

“Who did you go to see?” Xuan Zhaoran fumed at him, eyes blazing.

“Princess, this subordinate wishes to resign from the post of personal attendant.”

Xuan Zhaoran’s hand, still holding the palace token, froze in midair, and she was left uncertain what to do.

“Your Highness the Princess, I earnestly hope you will agree.” A’Chen went down on one knee, his eyes completely sincere.

“A’Chen!” Xuan Zhaoran trembled with fury. “Must you speak to me like this?”

Since she had brought him over from the imperial infirmary, when had he ever addressed her as “you” in the formal manner?

And he had never once knelt before her.

“Princess, if you will not agree, this subordinate will go to the Crown Prince.”

Xuan Zhaoran flung the palace token against him, the rims of her eyes reddening. “Can’t I just return it to you? Can’t I just stop asking who you went to see?”

She didn’t want him to leave — not one bit.

A’Chen picked up the token from the floor, rose to his feet, and said with an unruffled composure, “Your Highness the Princess — great Ranle Palace does not lack for one attendant.”