“What’s going on? Why is Sister Bai afraid of Liu Sisi?” Yan Yuning asked, puzzled.  

“Miss Yan, the madam isn’t afraid of her,” Xiaoyu replied hesitantly, as if holding back something difficult to say.  

“Not afraid of her? Then why did I see Sister Bai acting so wary of her?” Yan Yuning frowned slightly, her delicate brows knitting together.  

Xiaoyu pressed her lips together and fell silent.  

“Do you think Sister Bai’s illness might be related to Liu Sisi? There’s no reason someone as young as her would…” Yan Yuning muttered under her breath.  

“Miss Yan, please go back,” Xiaoyu suddenly spoke up, her voice firmer.  

Yan Yuning narrowed her beautiful eyes. [Fafa, Sister Bai’s illness is connected to Liu Sisi, isn’t it?]

Fafa: [Master, this matter is very complicated. It’s not something we can interfere with.]

[Fafa, judging by Xiaoyu’s reaction, she must know something—maybe even Sister Bai knows. But why?] Yan Yuning bit her lip lightly.  

Fafa: [Because Bai Yue is willing to accept it.]

[?? Sister Bai clearly can’t let go of her daughter, otherwise she wouldn’t have sought me out. What does the book say about this?] Yan Yuning lowered her head, twisting the handkerchief in her hands.  

Fafa: [Master, even if you knew, what could you do? You can’t change her fate. This is a dead end—there’s no solution.]

[Tell me.]

…

Inn.

“Ah yao, you seem to be in a good mood today?” Xuan Yanyu’s lips curled slightly.  

Yan Shiyao’s petite face was radiant with joy.  

“Yaoyao, I hope you’ll always be as happy as you are today,” Qi Qingchen said, his eyes filled with tenderness.  

Yan Shiyao’s heart raced wildly. She lowered her head to hide her blush.  

Qi Qingchen picked up his teacup and took a sip, his gaze sweeping the room. “Where’s Ningning? I don’t see her.”  

“She said she was going to visit Sister Bai. Brother Qi, do you know who Sister Bai is?” Yan Shiyao asked curiously.  

“Bai Yue, the legal wife of County Magistrate Chen Kai,” Xuan Yanyu answered, his hand resting on the armrest of the wooden chair. His long, well-defined fingers tapped idly against it.  

“Brother Yu, how do you know that?” Yan Shiyao tilted her head to look at him.  

Xuan Yanyu’s fingers paused.  

“Sister!” Yan Yuning burst into the room in a flurry, nearly knocking over a nearby chair in her haste.  

She rushed to Yan Shiyao’s side and nudged Xuan Yanyu aside.  

Xuan Yanyu lowered his gaze to stare at Yan Yuning’s hand, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. No one had ever dared to disrespect him like this—let alone twice.  

The young girl raised her exquisitely beautiful face and gave him an innocent, sweet smile.  

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes lingered on her face, and the tension in his aura softened slightly.  

[Geez, that scared me!] Yan Yuning let out a silent sigh of relief.  

Fafa: [Master, why weren’t you afraid when you pushed him just now?]

Yan Yuning: […Fafa, my sister saved him, so he treats her well. Otherwise, do this—figure out a way to get him injured so I can save him too.]

Fafa was speechless: [Master, you really overestimate me. But you could hire some assassins to help.]

[If I hire assassins, I might as well just have them kill him outright.]

Fafa: [Master, let me remind you—the Xuanzhao royal family only has him as their precious heir. If he dies, you’re fine. But if you kill him, do you think the Emperor of Qilan would hand you over to King Xuan to maintain peace between the two nations?]

[Fafa! Then why did you encourage me to drug him last time?!] Yan Yuning was so angry she unconsciously tightened her grip on Xuan Yanyu’s hand.  

Fafa felt a little guilty. [To be honest, Master, I didn’t think that far ahead last time.]

[You—]

“Let go,” Xuan Yanyu said coldly, his eyes glinting with irritation.

Yan Shiyao blinked, staring at their clasped hands.  

“Sorry,” Yan Yuning said, snapping back to reality with an awkward smile, quickly withdrawing her hand as if burned.  

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes, a faint, inscrutable smile playing on his lips as he drawled, “Third time.”  

This was the third time she had offended him.  

Yan Yuning, unwilling to back down, instinctively retorted, “You’re lying! I only held it this once, and it wasn’t on purpose!”  

Xuan Yanyu scoffed and deliberately wiped the hand she had touched right in front of her.  

Yan Yuning glared at him, refusing to be outdone as she grabbed her handkerchief and scrubbed her hand vigorously.  

“Ahem—Ningning, why have you been running to the magistrate’s residence so often these past few days?” Qi Qingchen interjected smoothly, diverting her attention.  

At the mention of the magistrate’s residence, Yan Yuning’s expression turned complicated.  

“Being used by someone and not even realizing it—no wonder you go every day,” Xuan Yanyu remarked, a hint of mockery in his voice.  

Yan Yuning’s head jerked up. “You—how do you know?”  

“You’re stu—” Before Xuan Yanyu could finish the word, Yan Yuning grabbed his arm and yanked him outside.  

Yan Shiyao pressed her lips together. “Brother Qi, what are they talking about?”  

Qi Qingchen’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Not sure.”  

“Fourth time. Let go,” Xuan Yanyu said coldly, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes.  

Yan Yuning rolled her eyes. “What nonsense are you spouting?”  

[Fafa, the book didn’t say Xuan Yanyu has brain damage, did it?]

Fafa: [No, his brain is fine—definitely more functional than yours.]

Yan Yuning gasped. [Fafa!!!]  

Fafa: […] 

“Since you already know, can’t you help save Sister Bai? She’s innocent,” Yan Yuning pleaded, her clear eyes shimmering with hope as she gazed up at him.  

Xuan Yanyu looked down at her. “Is Liu Sisi not innocent?”  

His tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion.  

Yan Yuning’s lashes trembled. “But Sister Bai’s parents already paid the price, and she’s suffered under Liu Sisi for years.”  

“That was her choice, wasn’t it? Yan Yuning, some things aren’t that simple.” Xuan Yanyu slowly twisted the jade ring on his thumb.  

Fafa: [Master, it’s no use. Bai Yue’s fate is already written in the book—you can’t change it.] 

[I don’t believe that.] Yan Yuning tilted her head up to look at the man before her. He was tall, exuding an innate nobility, and seemed incredibly capable.  

“Xuan Yanyu, Sister Bai was poisoned with Manzhuxiang. Do you have the antidote?”  

Xuan Yanyu looked down at her with disdain. “Who gave you permission to call me by my name?”  

“Then… what should I call you?” Yan Yuning rubbed her nose.  

Xuan Yanyu choked, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, momentarily speechless.  

“We’ll figure that out later. First, tell me—do you have the antidote?” Yan Yuning stared at him unblinkingly, her bright eyes unwavering.  

“No,” Xuan Yanyu replied lazily.  

“You’re not lying to me?” Yan Yuning took a step forward, scrutinizing his expression.  

Xuan Yanyu let out a derisive snort, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. “Why would I bother lying to you?”  

With that, he turned his head away, refusing to look at her.  

Yan Yuning: “???”  

[He’s guilty, isn’t he? Otherwise, why wouldn’t he look at me?!]

Fafa: [Well, he’s not wrong. He really doesn’t have it—but the Xuanzhao Imperial Hospital does.]

Yan Yuning’s eyes lit up.