[I won’t even live to see the original ending written for me in the book. I’m done for ahead of time.]  

Fafa: [Good. You finally realize it.]

[Enough talking. I’m going to buy Sister Bai’s favorite pastries and visit her.] Yan Yuning squinted with a smile.  

Fafa: [Master…]  

[? Is there something else?]  

Fafa: [No, nothing.] 

Yan Yuning: [……]  

……  

Inn

“Brother Yu, what did you and Ningning do together today?” Yan Shiyao walked over and sat on the wooden chair.  

Xuan Yanyu poured her a cup of tea and replied gently, “What could we possibly be up to?”  

“You left together—didn’t you go to the same place?” Yan Shiyao cradled the teacup in her hands, tilting her head slightly.  

Xuan Yanyu leaned lazily against the chair, his thin lips curling into a faint smile. “Where are we heading tomorrow?”  

Yan Shiyao took a sip of tea and smiled softly. “Brother Qi said we’re going to Taoyuan Manor tomorrow. Brother Yu, do you think there’ll be lots of peach trees there? Just the name alone makes me excited.”  

“Ah Yao… must you follow him?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was slightly hoarse.  

“Brother Yu, if you don’t want to go, you can return to the Prime Minister’s residence.” Yan Shiyao lowered her head.  

Xuanyan Yu’s expression darkened.  

BANG!

The inn’s door was kicked open.  

Xuan Yanyu frowned irritably toward the entrance, where a young girl stood with slightly reddened eyes, looking pitiful and heart-wrenching.  

“Ningning, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?” Yan Shiyao was startled.  

Yan Yuning hugged Yan Shiyao, burying her face in her shoulder without saying a word.  

“Ningning, don’t be afraid. Your older sister is here.” Yan Shiyao patted her back soothingly.  

The more Yan Yuning thought about it, the sadder she became. The second friend she had made in this world… was gone…  

That day, Sister Bai had asked her to get a clear answer from Qi Qingchen, but no matter how she pressed, he wouldn’t say anything. Sister Bai told her to come to the Magistrate’s residence in three days to find Xiaoyu.  

Today, Xiaoyu told her Sister Bai’s original words: “Ah Li misses her mother day and night. It’s too painful for her to stay in the Magistrate’s residence, surrounded by reminders of her. Ask the Third Prince to tell Chen Kai to send Ah Li to her uncle and aunt’s home.”

But now, it wasn’t even necessary anymore. Sister Bai had wanted to send Ah Li away out of fear that Liu Sisi might harm her.  

Now that Liu Sisi was gone, Ah Li refused to leave. She said the Magistrate’s residence still carried her mother’s presence, and she wouldn’t go.  

Xuan Yanyu claimed Sister Bai had been using her, but she didn’t believe that. What she saw was a mother’s helplessness.  

If Sister Bai had been a little more selfish… would things have turned out differently?  

Fafa: [Master, there are no ‘what-ifs.’ If Bai Yue hadn’t followed Liu Sisi’s demands, given how much Chen Kai dotes on Liu Sisi, Ah Li would have been in danger.]

Xuan Yanyu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before he turned and left the inn.  

Guest Room.

“I told you to stay by her side. What happened?” Xuan Yanyu’s long lashes lowered slightly.  

“Your Highness, by the time Yan Yuning arrived at the Magistrate’s residence, Bai Yue had already passed away, and Liu Sisi was nowhere to be found. Chen Kai was so furious he fainted.”  

“After paying her respects to Bai Yue, Yan Yuning ordered me to take some clothes and a jade pendant to find Liu Sisi. Liu Sisi was deeply moved upon seeing the items and asked me to convey her gratitude to Yan Yuning. I believe now that Liu Sisi knows her sister is still alive, she won’t think of…”  

“Get to the point.” Xuan Yanyu’s expression turned cold as he waved his hand dismissively.  

“Your Highness, the point… the point… What exactly is the point?” Yechen scratched his head in confusion.

Weren’t all those points? Liu Sisi had found her sister, and for her sister’s sake, she wouldn’t risk seeking revenge anymore.  

Xuan Yanyu gritted his teeth. “What happened on the way back? Did someone bully her?”

Yechen froze, a hint of grievance flashing across his face as he explained, “Your Highness, don’t you trust my skills?”

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes. So she was this upset over someone she’d only known for a few days?

“Your Highness, since Yan Yuning is Eldest Miss Yan’s sister, you’re concerned about her. But Your Highness, we’ve already been lingering in Qilan for a year. Shouldn’t you focus more on Eldest Miss Yan and take her back to Xuanzhao sooner?” Yechen cautiously raised his eyes as he spoke.  

“Since when do you dare meddle in my affairs?” Xuan Yanyu sneered, his tone laced with danger.  

“Your Highness, how would I dare? You can’t wrong me like this. Besides, it’s not like you’d listen to me anyway.” Yechen dropped to one knee, his expression respectful.  

Even the words of the Xuan King and Queen sometimes went unheeded by His Highness. He was just a lowly guard—how could he possibly dare to interfere? This was truly overestimating him.  

Xuan Yanyu reclined lazily on the divan, his lips curling with a meaningful smirk. “Your courage has grown. Daring to speak with such sarcasm now?”

Yechen’s heart trembled. “Your Highness, this subordinate was wrong. I spoke out of turn.” 

“If you ramble like this again, there’s no need to stay by my side. I’ll replace you with Yejian.” Xuan Yanyu swept him a cold glance.  

“Your Highness, there won’t be a next time.” Yechen vowed.  

Whatever. His Highness always says things like this—just agree and move on.

“This time, I mean it.” The man’s lips curled into a wicked smile.  

Yechen: “……”

“Xuan Yanyu, are you in there? I’m coming in.” Yan Yuning’s voice sounded from outside the door.  

The man lounging lazily on the divan sat up at the sound, casually straightening his robes.  

“Your Highness… where should I hide?” Yechen stood frozen, panicking.  

“Hide what? It’s not like she hasn’t seen you before. Open the door.” Xuan Yanyu’s lips twitched, his handsome face etched with exasperation.  

Yechen smacked his forehead. “Right, I forgot she’s met me.”  

Muttering to himself, he walked to the door and pulled it open.  

“What business do you have with our young master? I’ll relay it for you.” Yechen blocked the doorway.  

A vein throbbed in Xuan Yanyu’s forehead. How did I end up with such an idiot subordinate?

Yan Yuning tried to push past him, but the man stood firm, unmovable. Frustrated, she handed over the food box in her hands.  

“Here, give this to Xuan Yanyu.”

Well, so much for making a personal impression.

“Yan Yuning! How dare you address—” Before Yechen could finish, Xuan Yanyu grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and yanked him aside.  

Stumbling, Yechen barely managed to steady himself against a round table, his mouth agape in shock.  

“What do you want?” Xuan Yanyu’s gaze bore into her.  

Her eyes were still slightly red at the corners. The man raised a brow. Such a hassle. Why is she always crying?

He detested weepy women—they were nothing but headaches.  

Back in the palace, whether it was this concubine or that noble lady, they’d start welling up before even finishing two sentences in front of the Emperor. Disgusting.  

Eventually, his father had decreed that no one was allowed to weep in the palace.  

That was why he’d made her comfort Ah Yao that day. Anyone who cried grated on his nerves.  

“Here. A thank-you gift.” Yan Yuning smiled, holding out the food box. “For accompanying me to find Liu Sisi’s sister today, and for helping track her down.”  

Though Sister Bai couldn’t be brought back, at least Ah Li wouldn’t suffer under Liu Sisi’s cruelty. Fafa had said that in the book, after Sister Bai’s death, Liu Sisi left the Magistrate’s residence.  

But when she returned, Ah Li’s suffering began. She couldn’t change Sister Bai’s fate, but she had changed Ah Li’s. Liu Sisi had promised her—for Zhu Zhu’s sake—not to harm Ah Li.  

If not for Xuan Yanyu’s help, she wouldn’t have found Zhu Zhu. And without Zhu Zhu, Liu Sisi’s resentment wouldn’t have dissipated.  

She didn’t know why Xuan Yanyu had helped her, but regardless, she owed him thanks.