Yan Yunning raised a brow. She had realized that continuing to linger would only get her sent back to Xuanzhao, so she was retreating on her own terms?

“If you are unwell, returning to Xuanzhao is the better course. That way the Prime Minister need not worry.” Xuan Yanyu said evenly.

Pei Shutong’s grievance was overwhelming. She had forgone a life of comfort and fine food and drink, and come all this way to Qilan to find him, her heart set entirely on him alone — and he wanted to drive her away.

“Your Highness, Shutong only arrived in Qilan a few days ago and has not yet had the chance to look around properly. Are you truly going to send Shutong away so soon?” The rims of Pei Shutong’s eyes grew faintly wet.

Yan Yunning leaned closer to Xuan Yanyu and dropped her voice. “Xuan Xīxī, I am curious — how did she know you were at Yuanjin Manor?”

Qilan was such a vast country. How had she found her way directly to Yuanjin Manor?

The man leaned close to her ear, his voice low and soft. “Because this Highness’s daily whereabouts and safety are reported to the Emperor. The Emperor informs the Empress Dowager, and Pei Shutong learned of it most likely through the Crown Princess.”

“So the Xuan Empress told your imperial sister, and your imperial sister let it slip to Pei Shutong??” Yan Yunning blinked.

“Mm.” The man smiled and nodded.

“Xuan Xīxī, you truly are so precious.” Yan Yunning patted his arm, laughter hidden in her voice. “Is it that your every meal and every movement is also reported to your father the Emperor?”

“No.” Xuan Yanyu removed the fair, slender hand from his arm and turned it over in his palm, idly playing with it.

Pei Shutong watched the two of them, sitting so close together, and her pupils grew dark.

“What happened between you and Yan Shiyao?” the man asked in passing.

“She insists on helping Shen Ruochu leave Yuanjin Manor, claiming she is being bullied here — but the Manor Mistress has not made things difficult for Shen Ruochu in the slightest.” Yan Yunning pressed her lips together lightly. “She also wanted me to help her get Shen Ruochu out of Yuanjin Manor, and I refused.”

Shen Ruochu harbored deep resentment toward the Manor Mistress right now. The last thing she would want was to leave!

“So she is angry with you?” Xuan Yanyu’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Mm.”

It was rather obvious. The moment Yan Yunning walked in, Yan Shiyao had taken Qi Qingchen by the hand and left.

The man’s fingertip traced the back of her hand, his voice gentle. “Do not worry about her. In a few days she will come to you of her own accord.”

“?” Yan Yunning met his gaze, puzzled. “How do you know?”

Xuan Yanyu smiled lightly. “In the year I spent at the Prime Minister’s residence, there were many times I could not stand her behavior. She meddled enough on her own, but she also had to drag me into it. When I refused to comply, she would grow angry — yet within a few days she would come and strike up conversation with me on her own.”

He had truly found it insufferable. One time she had tried to help a concubine-born daughter of some Minister of Works, and the legitimate daughter had hired people to give her a beating. When he heard of it afterward, his head had buzzed with alarm — he had been afraid that they would not know when to hold back and beat her to death, which would have left him unable to answer to the Emperor.

“Oh.” Yan Yunning nodded.

Was it excessive kindness? Or a lack of sense?

Or both excessive kindness and a lack of sense?

“Yan Yunning, why were you not brought back sooner?” A trace of regret crossed the man’s face.

Yan Yunning cleared her throat and told the truth. “If I had been brought back before you were, I would not have let my elder sister rescue you.”

Had she transmigrated into this story any earlier, she would have staked everything she had to think of every possible way to stop her elder sister from going to rescue Xuan Yanyu.

“…?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice dropped, low and muffled. “So you would have simply let me bleed out…”

“Not so — I would have found a physician for you.” Yan Yunning narrowed her eyes, smiling.

Taking him home was absolutely out of the question.

“Then I think your timing was exactly right — not too early, not too late.” The man pinched the tip of her fingers.

Any later, and he would have taken Yan Shiyao back to Xuanzhao. Any earlier, and she would not have ‘rescued’ him back to the Prime Minister’s residence — and she would not have let Yan Shiyao rescue him either.

Yan Yunning gave his hand a tap. “Xuan Yanyu…”

Pei Shutong could no longer bear to listen, nor bear to watch. Her eyes had reddened, and from the corner of her vision she caught a glimpse of Xuan Yanyu flicking a finger against Yan Yunning’s nose and saying something — whatever it was made Yan Yunning puff up with indignation and pinch his cheek in retaliation.

Pei Shutong bit her lip and hurried out.

Outside the dining hall, Qi Qingchen was pitifully tugging at Yan Shiyao’s arm. “Yaoyao, I’m hungry. Elder Brother Qi is hungry.”

Yan Shiyao’s eyelashes fluttered. “Elder Brother Qi…”

How could she have the face to go back in? Yet if Elder Brother Qi went back in alone, she could not set her heart at ease.

“First Miss Yan.” Pei Shutong’s eyes still held a faint redness at the corners. “First Miss Yan, just now I overheard what you said about Miss Shen and the Manor Mistress. Shutong truly feels so sorry for Miss Shen.”

Yan Shiyao started slightly. “Miss Pei, yes — Miss Shen’s situation is so difficult. Why is it that Ningning simply will not…”

The young woman bowed her head, concealing the distress in her eyes.

“First Miss Yan, Shutong will help you.” Pei Shutong took her hands in hers, tears glimmering in her eyes. “First Miss Yan, tomorrow morning, let us go and see Miss Shen.”

“All right.” Yan Shiyao nodded.

Having someone to help gave her the courage she had lacked. The last time, with the matter involving Nan Chu — it was precisely because there had been no one to help her that it had ended the way it did…

This time, with someone by her side to offer counsel, it would certainly go smoothly.

The two chatted for a little while longer before parting and returning to their respective chambers.

……

The following morning, before dawn had fully broken.

Yan Shiyao and Pei Shutong came to the pill workshop.

“Miss Shen, I did not expect the Manor Mistress to forbid you from leaving the pill workshop.” Pei Shutong sighed.

“And you are?” Shen Ruochu pinched the tips of her fingers.

Why was it that these past few days, Yuanjin Manor kept drawing in outsiders one after another?

“Miss Shen, Miss Pei is a dear friend of mine. Set your mind at ease — we will find a way to get you out of Yuanjin Manor, so that you will never again have to suffer…”

“First Miss Yan, I do not wish to leave. Even if Yiyi treats me poorly — look at my legs. If I leave Yuanjin Manor, how am I to survive?” Shen Ruochu’s gaze drifted, lost in thought.

“Miss Shen, please do not worry about that. I have silver. Surviving is not something you need to concern yourself with.” Pei Shutong said with a smile.

Shen Ruochu: “…”

Dealing with one Yan Shiyao had been manageable enough. Why had another Pei Shutong now appeared?

“Yan Shiyao!” The pill workshop door was flung open, and Yan Yunning strode in and seized Yan Shiyao by the arm, dragging her outside.

She had seen Pei Shutong’s maidservant keeping watch over Qi Qingchen that morning, and had known at once where Pei Shutong must have gone.

Otherwise she would not have left Qi Qingchen unattended.

“Ningning, what are you doing?” Yan Shiyao rubbed her arm.

“Did I not tell you — do not go meddling in other people’s family affairs?” Yan Yunning held her temper down.

Yan Shiyao said weakly, “Ningning, I simply feel Miss Shen is rather pitiable.”

Struck across the face, and on top of that forced to make medicinal pills.

Yan Yunning fell silent. Shen Ruochu was pitiable, truly — but that had nothing to do with the Manor Mistress. Her resentment toward the Manor Mistress was misplaced.

It should not lead to what would happen to that family of three…

“Ningning…”

“Be quiet. Whatever the case, you are not to get involved. If you do, I will have Ye Jian send Qi Qingchen back to the palace.” Yan Yunning said as a threat.

“See, now you are becoming just like the Manor Mistress.” Yan Shiyao’s nose began to sting. “Are you going to strike me across the face next, and force me to make medicinal pills?”

What was to become of her?

“…” Yan Yunning looked at her steadily. “Do you know how to make medicinal pills?”

Yan Shiyao choked. “I… I do not.”