“Yaoyao, I… let Elder Brother Qi rub it for you.” Qi Qingchen fussed anxiously, rubbing Yan Shiyao’s forehead with his hands.

“I am fine, Elder Brother Qi.” Yan Shiyao smiled warmly.

Over these past few days, though her heart ached for Elder Brother Qi, she had also been very happy. Elder Brother Qi no longer pushed her away, no longer urged her to return to the Chancellor’s residence. He had actually become quite reliant on her instead.

Yan Yunning pinched her fingers together, watching as Qi Qingchen pulled funny faces to make Yan Shiyao laugh, a heaviness settling over her mood.

Qi Qingchen was an imperial prince. Once he recovered, he would surely be unwilling to face this period in his life — and A’Jie was a witness to every bit of it.

Afterward, every time he saw A’Jie, it would call this episode to mind. Might he come to resent A’Jie?

It was already the case that Ranran’s appearance had shaken Qi Qingchen’s feelings toward A’Jie. If this matter were added on top of it, she feared…

And of all people, A’Jie had that sort of temperament — unless Qi Qingchen hurt her badly enough times, no amount of advice from anyone else would make any difference.

“Yaoyao, you are so much better than Ningning — she would not even peel the lychees for Elder Brother Qi.” Qi Qingchen ate the lychees Yan Shiyao had peeled for him, closing his eyes in blissful satisfaction and giving a little shake of his head.

Yan Yunning: “…”

He was still holding that against her!

Yan Shiyao reached out and ruffled his hair, a smile playing at her lips.

She truly found Elder Brother Qi adorable.

Qi Qingchen tilted up his chin and gave a little huff at Yan Yunning.

Yan Yunning: “…”

“A’Jie, I want to eat lychees you have peeled too.” Yan Yunning tilted her head with a mischievous smile.

Qi Qingchen pointed at Yan Yunning, bristling with indignation. “You would not ask Elder Brother Xuan to peel them for you.”

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow. When Qi Qingchen recovered, he would surely be mortified — before his injury, he had looked down on Xuan Yanyu, and now in his simple-minded state it was “Elder Brother Xuan” this and “Elder Brother Xuan” that. A’Jie really had taught him well.

Xuan Yanyu took a lychee from the fruit box, and with his slender, well-defined fingers gave it a pinch. The flesh came out perfectly intact.

The man peeled away the thin membrane and held the fruit to Yan Yunning’s lips, saying in a low voice, “Open your mouth.”

Yan Yunning paused for a moment, then took the lychee into her mouth.

“Elder Brother Yu.” Yan Shiyao hesitated before speaking. “Could you perhaps invite Physician Wen to come and have a look at Elder Brother Qi?”

She was raising it while Ningning was present, hoping that Elder Brother Yu would not once again say that she ought to keep her distance from Elder Brother Qi.

Xuan Yanyu appeared not to have heard, and focused on peeling lychees.

Qi Qingchen tilted his head to rest on Yan Shiyao’s shoulder, muttering, “Yaoyao, I want to go out.”

Yan Shiyao bit her lip and coaxed gently, “Elder Brother Qi, I’ll take you out in a little while. All right?”

Qi Qingchen smacked his lips. “All right. Elder Brother Qi will listen to Yaoyao.”

“Elder Brother Yu.” Yan Shiyao turned to look at Xuan Yanyu, a faint tremor in her voice. “Is that possible?”

Ordinary physicians were no use, yet she did not dare bring Elder Brother Qi back to the palace to see the imperial physicians. Her only hope was that Physician Wen might be able to heal him.

Yan Yunning gave Xuan Yanyu’s sleeve a slight tug.

“What is it?” The man fed her another peeled lychee.

Yan Yunning held the lychee in her cheek. “Xuan Yanyu…”

The young woman’s cheek puffed out into an adorable little mound. Xuan Yanyu could not help but reach out a finger and poke her soft pink cheek.

Yan Yunning, who had barely gotten the first word out: “???”

Yan Shiyao’s fingers turned white at the knuckles. If Ningning fell ill…

She could not allow that…

“Elder Brother Yu, find Physician Wen for Elder Brother Qi — won’t you?” Qi Qingchen copied the words with practiced ease.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips tight, suppressing a laugh.

“Elder Brother Yu…”

Yan Shiyao frantically clapped a hand over Qi Qingchen’s mouth, her expression full of awkward dismay.

Qi Qingchen blinked.

Xuan Yanyu steadied his breathing, a coldness rising in his eyes.

“Ningning, Elder… Elder Brother Yu, I am taking Elder Brother Qi outside for now.” Yan Shiyao pulled Qi Qingchen along and rushed out of the main hall.

Yan Shiyao let out a breath of relief once they were out.

“Yaoyao.” Qi Qingchen tilted his head with a dopey grin.

“Elder Brother Qi, please do not imitate other people’s words from now on.” Yan Shiyao said helplessly.

Qi Qingchen’s mouth drooped, and he gave a sulky little nod.

Yan Shiyao looked into the man’s guileless, aggrieved eyes, and stifled the ache that rose in her.

Elder Brother Qi was already like this, and she was still scolding him…

She really should not have done that.

“First Miss Yan, Young Master Qi.” A maid pushed Shen Ruochu over toward them.

“Miss Shen.” Yan Shiyao smiled and nodded.

Shen Ruochu’s eye corners were slightly reddened. “First Miss Yan, I am here to apologize on Yiyi’s behalf.”

Yan Shiyao was taken aback. “Miss Shen… what do you mean by that?”

Shen Ruochu opened her mouth, then stopped herself, seeming to want to say something but holding back.

“Miss Shen.” Yan Shiyao crouched down, her eyelids trembling. “Was it the manor mistress who caused Elder Brother Qi to become simple-minded?”

Shen Ruochu was silent for a long while, then nodded.

Yan Shiyao’s nose burned with the sting of impending tears. “Why? Elder Brother Qi has done nothing to offend her.”

“First Miss Yan, no — Yiyi did not do it on purpose. She…” Shen Ruochu spoke in fits and starts.

“Miss Shen, I am going to find the manor mistress and get a clear explanation.” Yan Shiyao was trembling with anger.

“First Miss Yan, the reason I am telling you is precisely because I hope you can forgive Yiyi.” Shen Ruochu took hold of her hand with a bitter smile. “If you go to Yiyi right now, and Yiyi finds out that I was the one who told you, my days here in Yuanjin Manor will become even more difficult.”

“Miss Shen, does the manor mistress treat you poorly?” Yan Shiyao’s nose twitched slightly.

Shen Ruochu managed a smile. “She treats me well.”

The words had barely fallen when tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.

“Miss Shen, are you not the manor mistress’s elder sister? Why would she…”

Yan Shiyao’s brow knitted together. She could not make sense of it — they were sisters, so why would they make things difficult for each other?

Shen Ruochu wiped her tears away. “First Miss Yan, let us not speak of this. Set your mind at ease. I will find a way to treat Young Master Qi. I only ask that you do not hold this against Yiyi.”

Yan Shiyao looked at her with a complicated expression. “You may rest assured. As long as Elder Brother Qi can be healed, I will not hold it against the manor mistress.”

The manor mistress had treated her poorly, and yet she was here asking for forgiveness on the manor mistress’s behalf. As long as Elder Brother Qi could be treated, she would not take issue with the manor mistress.

Shen Ruochu tightened her fist, a feeling of helplessness washing over her.

The extra medicine Qi Qingchen had taken — surely she was not the one who had given it to him?

“First Miss Yan, I cannot guarantee I will be able to heal Young Master Qi. I can only try.” Shen Ruochu added.

Yan Shiyao’s voice quivered. “Miss Shen, please, you must heal Elder Brother Qi. Elder Brother Qi… he is the Third Imperial Prince. If he does not recover, it will not only be the manor mistress who is implicated — I fear the entire Yuanjin Manor will not escape the consequences.”

Shen Ruochu’s hands clenched tight. The Third Imperial Prince?

It seemed Qi Qingchen truly had to get better.

“Miss Shen.” Yan Shiyao noticed that Shen Ruochu had bowed her head and fallen silent, and frowned slightly.

“First Miss Yan, rest assured. I will go back and look through the medical texts. The Third Imperial Prince will recover.” Shen Ruochu pressed down the irritation in her heart.

What a genuine nuisance!

Well, the sooner he was healed, the sooner she could be rid of them all.

“Good.” A smile broke out across Yan Shiyao’s face.

……

After parting from Shen Ruochu, Yan Shiyao took Qi Qingchen’s hand and went to Yan Yunning’s side chamber.

She still wanted to find Physician Wen. After all, she had personally witnessed the skill of his medicine, whereas Shen Ruochu still needed to look through her medical texts — clearly she had little confidence in herself.