Yan Shiyao lowered her gaze, concealing the dejection in the depths of her eyes. “Is that so?”

[Fafa, I… did I do something wrong?] Yan Yunning’s brow was furrowed deeply.

Fafa: [Mistress, you did nothing wrong! If anyone’s to blame, blame Xuan Yanyu! Why are you blaming yourself?! If he didn’t have feelings for the female lead, none of this would have happened! It’s all his fault!]

Yan Yunning’s eyes flickered for a moment.

“Ningning, Yuyu brother — I don’t have much of an appetite this evening. You two go ahead and eat without me.” Yan Shiyao forced a smile.

“A’Jie, please eat a little something at least.” Yan Yunning called out.

Yan Shiyao gave no answer, and fled the room in near-panic.

“Where do you think you’re going? You can’t leave.” Seeing Xuan Yanyu also moving to leave, Yan Yunning’s fingertips caught at the edge of his sleeve.

It was fortunate the author of this book hadn’t gone in for the kind of rigid, fusty old-fashioned setup that would make this impossible.

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes narrowed, and two cold words fell from his lips: “Let go.”

“I won’t. Didn’t you hear what my A’Jie said? She told us to go eat.” The young woman tilted her head back, her eyes curving into crescents, refusing to release his sleeve and refusing to let him leave.

She looked every bit the willful, capricious young miss.

The man’s gaze dropped to the pale, slender fingertips clutching his sleeve, and his voice came out cool and clear. “You no longer have any use for your hand?”

Yan Yunning tamped down the fear rising in her chest, looked at him with wide, guileless eyes, her voice tinged with a smile and a touch of playfulness. “Of course I do.”

“If you do, then let go — otherwise I’ll…”

Without a second thought, Yan Yunning reached up and clapped her hand over the man’s mouth.

Xuan Yanyu went rigid. His expression darkened. No one had ever dared to be so insolent toward him.

Yan Yunning’s scalp prickled. Her heart gave a violent squeeze. A long moment passed before she spoke. “You… the things you say, I don’t like hearing them.”

The words were barely out before Yan Yunning bit her lip. What was she even saying?

She snuck a glance up at Xuan Yanyu — and sure enough, his expression had turned even more forbidding.

Fafa: [Mistress, what are you trying to do?]

[Isn’t it because I can’t let my A’Jie keep skipping meals? So I’ve decided to switch targets.] Yan Yunning pressed her lips together.

Fafa: [Switch targets? Switch to Xuan Yanyu???]

[Isn’t it obvious?]

Fafa: [Then give it all you’ve got, Mistress!]

Xuan Yanyu leaned in slightly, his gaze fixed on her eyes, his voice low and unhurried. “Second Miss Yan, aren’t you worried your A’Chen will see this and get the wrong idea?”

Before Yan Yunning could get a word in to refute him, he added another line, his tone colored with something that bordered on amusement. “Didn’t you say to keep away from you, that you didn’t want to lay eyes on me? Has Second Miss Yan already forgotten?”

Yan Yunning rolled her eyes at him inwardly. What use was a memory like that?!

The man’s fingers caught the edge of his sleeve and slowly drew it free.

He shot her a cool, indifferent look, then turned and walked in long strides toward the door. On the very threshold he paused, and without turning around: “Second Miss Yan, I’m not Qi Qingchen. I have no interest in indulging your games. In the future, bother me less.”

Yan Yunning shook her fist at his retreating back, a flash of exasperation crossing her eyes. [In the future, bother me less — as if I actually want to bother him!!!]

Fafa: [Mistress, this is so hard. The male lead loves the female lead, and the second male lead has zero feelings.]

Yan Yunning breathed out. [Fafa, just you watch. Sooner or later, I’ll have him wrapped around my finger.]

Fafa: [??? Mistress, you still want to go and provoke him?]

[What other choice do I have? I can’t just watch my sister stop eating every single day, can I?]

Fafa: […]

Over the next two days, Yan Yunning spent nearly every daytime hour at the county magistrate’s residence.

Yan Shiyao shut herself in her room and did not set foot outside for the full two days.

“A’Jie, it’s me — I’m coming in!” Yan Yunning pushed the door open with a bright smile.

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao lifted her head and answered, the whole of her listless and without spirit.

“A’Jie, look what I brought back — osmanthus cakes! Try one, they’re absolutely delicious.” Yan Yunning walked to Yan Shiyao’s side, crouched down, unwrapped the oiled paper, picked up a cake, and held it out to her.

Yan Shiyao stared blankly out the window and murmured, “Ningning… I want to go back to the Chancellor’s residence.”

“Why?” Yan Yunning’s hands stilled.

In the book, she was supposed to stay by Qi Qingchen’s side throughout — wasn’t she?

“Ningning, will you come back with me?” Yan Shiyao turned, her gaze settling on Yan Yunning’s face.

She had originally come for A’Chen — but Ningning adored him, her whole heart and eyes full of him. How could she bear to make Ningning sad?

Yan Yunning took a bite of osmanthus cake and asked, her words slightly muffled, “A’Jie, why do you want to go back?”

Yan Shiyao’s eyes rimmed faintly red, threaded through with a trace of sorrow. “The longer you’re away, the more you miss home.”

Yan Yunning blinked. “But we’ve only been out a few days?”

Fafa: [Mistress, does she really need to spell it out for you? It’s obviously because you’re trying to steal her male lead. She has feelings for him, and she’s worried about hurting you, so she’s thinking of running away.]

Yan Yunning swallowed the last bite of her cake and brushed the crumbs from her hands. “A’Jie, those few days ago when I told you I liked Qi Qingchen — I was joking with you.”

Yan Shiyao’s mind went blank for a full moment before it caught up to her.

“A’Jie, I don’t like Qi Qingchen. So please don’t go back to the Chancellor’s residence, all right?” Yan Yunning’s expression was earnest.

Yan Shiyao’s eyes stirred. “Ningning, do you mean it?”

“Of course I mean it.” Yan Yunning’s lips curved. “A’Jie, eat your cake. I’m going to go find Lady Bai.”

Yan Shiyao’s gaze fell to the cake in her hands, and a soft laugh escaped the corner of her lips.

She lifted the cake and took a small bite. The sweet flavor bloomed across her tongue. “How sweet.”

……

At the county magistrate’s residence.

Bai Yue lay weakly against the pillows on her bed, visibly thin.

“Lady Bai, I brought you medicinal broth. And I also brought the pastries you love most.” Yan Yunning settled herself at the bedside, her voice deliberately gentle.

Fafa: [Mistress, she doesn’t have many days left.]

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. [Fafa, is there any way to save her?]

Fafa: [Mistress, I can’t save others. But there is an imperial physician in the royal palace of Xuanzhao Kingdom who is unrivaled in skill. Perhaps he could find a way.]

[Xuanzhao Kingdom?]

Fafa: [Mistress, never mind that Xuan Yanyu is still unwilling to reveal his identity — even if he did, he wouldn’t help you.]

Yan Yunning lowered her gaze. [What if my A’Jie were the one to ask him?]

Fafa: [That… he might agree to.]

“Ningning, thank you.” Bai Yue pressed her hand against the side of the bed, her face contorted with pain.

“Lady Bai, don’t worry — A’Li will grow up just fine.” Yan Yunning managed a smile.

Bai Yue’s fingers clutched the bedding as tears slid down her face.

“Lady Bai, you’re going to be all right. I’ll go and find a physician for you.” Yan Yunning reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“There’s no need, Ningning.” Bai Yue’s voice was faint, carrying a note of quiet resignation.

Yan Yunning’s lashes lowered. She noticed the bloodstained handkerchief still in Bai Yue’s hand.

“Lady Bai, there is.”

“Miss Yan, perhaps it would be best not to involve yourself in matters that don’t concern you.” Liu Sisi pushed the door open, waving the handkerchief in her hand in front of her face.

“Ningning, go on back for now.” Bai Yue forced a weak smile.

Liu Sisi’s crimson lips pressed together lightly. “Miss Yan, if you have no further business here, please do not visit the county magistrate’s residence again.”

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow, her bearing perfectly composed. “Concubine Madam, since when do you have a say over the county magistrate’s residence?”

Liu Sisi’s lovely eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of her mouth curving into a cold smile. “Miss Yan, I’ll warn you one last time: stay out of matters that don’t concern you. Even having His Highness the Third Prince behind you won’t change that.”

Yan Yunning had just opened her mouth to respond when Bai Yue suddenly spoke up: “Xiao Yu, see Ningning out.”

“Miss Yan, allow me to see you out.” Xiao Yu stepped forward, gave a small bow, and ushered her half-gently out of the room.

Yan Yunning opened her mouth — and Xiao Yu gave her a small shake of the head.