Chapter 21: Restless Heat – Taking Off the Outer Robe to Feel a Bit Cooler

The grand front hall held only two people standing side by side. The end of spring was near, and even the air carried a touch of restlessness.

But Yan Jinghuan stood there for a long time, a cold and chilling aura emanating from him, causing Shen Xingwan to unconsciously take a small step back.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay.”

Shen Xingwan understood. Everyone had things they didn’t want to talk about—places in their heart they wouldn’t let others touch.

She was no exception.

Since he didn’t want to tell her, she wouldn’t press him any further.

She gave him a comforting smile and was about to update him on Wei Zihui’s current condition.

“The Fourteenth Prince has been recovering very well lately. His bones have already—”

“My royal brother keeps probing whether I have ambitions to compete with him.”

“Huh?” Shen Xingwan looked at Yan Jinghuan in surprise, stunned by his sudden interruption, unable to react for a moment.

Yan Jinghuan lowered his eyes. His dark lashes cast a small shadow on his cheeks, and in his eyes, ink-black emotions surged—complicated and difficult to unravel.

He let out a self-deprecating laugh and muttered as if to himself, “It’s laughable, isn’t it? That older brother of mine, who was once the favored son of the Empress, hates me to the bone.”

“……”

Shen Xingwan didn’t know what he had gone through, nor did she know how to comfort him.

She had never seen him show such a desolate expression.

In her past life, Yan Jinghuan had always seemed ruthless and domineering in her memory, never once showing a hint of vulnerability.

But the man before her now resembled the boy she had met at the beginning.

Back then, when Yan Jinghuan first came to the State of Wei, he had just been a slender youth.

Every time Shen Xingwan entered the palace to study with Princess Guang’an, she would hear the princess teasing how the powerful Yan Kingdom could send such a young boy to act as regent. “Won’t my father easily have him wrapped around his finger?”

But despite his delicate appearance, the boy had a mind as sharp and ruthless as a seasoned strategist. In just a few years, he subdued the Wei court and became the true power behind the throne.

People whispered that he was nearly demonically intelligent, cruel and cold-blooded, wearing a stunningly beautiful face but possessing the heart of a remorseless ghost.

But Shen Xingwan had once, unintentionally, caught a glimpse of something else—he wasn’t entirely as heartless as the rumors claimed. In fact, he was even…

Suddenly, the sound of soft footsteps approached from afar, breaking Shen Xingwan’s thoughts. She turned her head to see the steward of the Regent’s Residence hurrying over with a small wooden box in his hands.

He nodded slightly to Shen Xingwan, then respectfully presented the box to Yan Jinghuan. “Your Highness, a secret letter from Xing Zhou has arrived.”

Shen Xingwan looked at Yan Jinghuan. He had already returned to his usual expression—cold and composed, as though that moment of sorrow had never existed. Perhaps it had all been her illusion.

Yan Jinghuan took the wooden box, extracted the letter inside, and quickly scanned its contents.

The steward, knowing his place, silently withdrew. Shen Xingwan hesitated, wondering if she should also take the hint and excuse herself.

Before she could think of what to say, Yan Jinghuan had already handed the letter to her.

Shen Xingwan blinked in confusion, unsure of his intent.

Yan Jinghuan didn’t seem inclined to hide anything from her. “Weren’t we going to help Zihui together? There’s a lead about his fall into the well.”

Without hesitation, Shen Xingwan took the letter and opened it. It stated clearly that it had been confirmed—the incident involving the Fourteenth Prince falling into the well was orchestrated by the Imperial Noble Consort. On that day, all palace staff who knew the truth had been executed.

“So it was her? How dare she?”

Shen Xingwan frowned. “Is the information reliable?”

Yan Jinghuan nodded and took the letter back to burn it. “Xing Zhou is my most trusted man. If he uncovered it, there’s no mistake.”

Since waking up at the Shen residence, Wei Zihui only remembered being smothered and losing consciousness. He had no other clues.

After Tang Liner’s poisoning attempt failed and she was punished, she secretly contacted Wei Zilin. The next day, he sent over an excessively elaborate wedding gown. Shen Xingwan had thought that he was the mastermind behind it all.

She told Yan Jinghuan everything in detail. After hearing it, he merely said calmly, “Whether or not he participated in the well incident, he already harbors the intent to kill Zihui.”

He looked at Shen Xingwan. “Since Zihui’s whereabouts are no longer a secret, it’s no longer safe for him to stay at your place. I’ll send someone to pick him up later.”

Shen Xingwan wanted to argue that she could protect the Fourteenth Prince. But thinking about how he was nearly poisoned in her residence—if not for his alertness, a disaster would have already occurred—she bit her lip and nodded without further protest.

She lowered her head slightly, feeling a little disheartened, suddenly realizing she might have overestimated her own capabilities before.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed her arm. Yan Jinghuan pulled gently, drawing her into his embrace.

Shen Xingwan’s cheek pressed against his chest, and the heat from his body made her flush. She instinctively raised her hands to push against his chest.

“Don’t move. Just let me hold you for a while.” Like a weary bird returning to its nest, Yan Jinghuan embraced her, burying his head in the crook of her neck. His eyes closed as he breathed gently, as though he were utterly exhausted.

Shen Xingwan’s arms slowly dropped. She stiffened her neck and let him hold her quietly.

She could sense that he wasn’t in a good place emotionally. He must have many burdens hidden deep inside.

“You’ve done very well already. No need to blame yourself.”

His voice was low, as if he were speaking to her—or perhaps, to himself.

Something inside Shen Xingwan softened. For some reason, an image surfaced in her mind—the first time she had seen him.

Under a torrential downpour, a thin boy in white clutched a letter and curled up in the deepest part of the imperial garden’s bushes, weeping silently.

When the bushes were parted, it startled the crying boy—and also the little palace companion who was holding an oil-paper umbrella, retrieving a ball for Princess Guang’an.

Shen Xingwan would never forget the look in his eyes when he raised his head—so aggrieved, so helpless.

When Princess Guang’an’s voice called her back, the little companion quickly picked up the ball. But before she ran off, she tossed her umbrella to him, parted the branches, and fled without a word.

Shen Xingwan sighed. She truly felt that the man in front of her was not as unshakable as iron.

He was human too. He had moments of vulnerability and sorrow.

And she had just happened to glimpse a bit of it.

After all, Yan Jinghuan was her future husband and ally. It was her duty to support him.

She lifted her hand and gently patted his back, hoping to offer a bit of comfort.

The man holding her visibly stiffened. His body grew even warmer.

Shen Xingwan felt overwhelmed by the heat and tried to shift away slightly. Yan Jinghuan released her and stood upright. When he looked at her again, the icy shards in his gaze seemed to melt into gentle, smiling eyes.

Shen Xingwan’s face turned crimson. She dropped her head and muttered about going home. Yan Jinghuan didn’t stop her, allowing her to flee in embarrassment.

Even when she was back in her carriage, Shen Xingwan still felt unbearably hot. She longed to take off her outer robe just to cool down.

“Water—bring me some water,” she called to Feiyun.

Feiyun poured the water while anxiously studying her expression. She suggested, “Miss, could you have eaten something you’re allergic to? Your neck and face are all red. Should we get a physician to check?”

“……”

Shen Xingwan sipped her tea guiltily and discreetly loosened her collar to cool off. She wasn’t allergic. If anything, she was allergic to that rogue Yan Jinghuan.

She was puzzled. It wasn’t like she had never been close to a man before. Back when Wei Zilin held her hand to write poems and paint, she’d never experienced such a fast heartbeat or full-body heat.

She had thought that between a man and a woman, things were simple—mutual respect, peaceful companionship. That was the best kind of marriage.

With mixed emotions, Shen Xingwan returned to the Shen residence. From a distance, she saw a lively commotion at the gates. Several tall, majestic horses were being led away to the stables.

Her heart lifted. As she got out of the carriage, her eyes immediately found that sleek, coal-black stallion.

“Benxiao!”

She smiled and called out. The striking horse among the group instantly stomped its hooves, raised its head, and neighed, turning to look back at her repeatedly.

“He still remembers you. That’s rare.”

“Brother!” Shen Xingwan’s eyes lit up. She lifted her skirt and ran toward Shen Yunchao.

She threw her arms around his neck and refused to let go. He chuckled helplessly. “You’re about to be a married lady—how can you still act so improperly?”

“Brother…”

Her voice was muffled, almost sobbing. Shen Yunchao sensed something was wrong and pulled her back, only to find her cheeks streaked with tears. He immediately panicked. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying like this? Who upset you? I’ll go break his leg!”

Tears streamed down Shen Xingwan’s face. She was both sad and overjoyed.

Seeing her brother alive and standing in front of her, she couldn’t help but remember the empty look in his eyes and the lifeless gray face he had on the day of their family’s massacre in her past life.

“What is it? Tell me—I’ll get revenge for you!”

Shen Xingwan shook her head and forced a smile. “No one bullied me. I’m just… you’re darker now, and thinner too. It makes my heart ache.”

“Sigh…”

Shen Yunchao sighed and gently wiped her tears with his sleeve. “Training at the border under the sun and wind will do that. Is that really worth crying over?”

“Mm, I won’t cry.” Shen Xingwan looked up at her brother and held his hand. “I’ll smile. We both will—until the very end.”

“What’s with you? So strange.” Shen Yunchao poked her forehead. “Come on in. I brought back a bunch of interesting things—let me show you.”

“Alright.” Shen Xingwan nodded and walked with him into the residence.

“Yunchao gege!”

Suddenly, a sweet voice rang out. The siblings turned around together and saw a grand, luxurious carriage pulling up swiftly in front of the Shen residence.

The door opened—and to their astonishment, Princess Guang’an herself had arrived.

Shen Xingwan widened her eyes as she watched the royal procession rushing up from behind. The princess had clearly left her retinue behind to hurry here first.

Just how urgent was she?

Princess Guang’an approached them with regal grace and glared playfully at Shen Yunchao. “Yunchao gege, you returned to the capital early—why didn’t you tell me?”