"Father!"
Yan Changfeng spurred her horse straight to Yan Chuanxing's side, scrutinizing him up and down repeatedly. She then patted her father all over without regard for propriety, confirming there were no external or internal injuries before finally releasing the breath she had been holding in fear. Then, leaning across her horse, she embraced Yan Chuanxing. "I've missed you so much, Father!"
Yan Chuanxing felt his heart warm at his second daughter's concern, yet couldn't resist a teasing remark: "All this mushy affection—your dashing and heroic image as Second Miss is completely gone now."
Yan Changfeng's sharp tongue proved she was her father's daughter: "It's fine, Father. Everyone knows I take after you—thick-skinned."
This provoked Yan Chuanxing to give her back a light slap. The brothers behind them immediately erupted into hearty laughter.
"Where's Third Sister?" After finishing her affectionate display with her father, Yan Changfeng looked for Yan Changqing among the group.
"She's bringing up the rear," Yan Chuanxing said, gesturing with his chin toward a young figure at the back of the procession. "She's also keeping an eye on our honored guests back there. This trip truly relied on the Prince of Shu and the second son of the Pei family. I never expected those mountain bandits to be so numerous. Without their help, we might not have escaped so easily."
"In that case, we really should thank them properly. I'll go pay my respects shortly," Yan Changfeng said. Suspecting her father still didn't know about Yaoniang's betrayal, she gave him a hint first. "Father, I took it upon myself to have Yaoniang confined to the Punishment Hall."
Yan Chuanxing's expression faltered slightly. One of his purposes in leading the mountain bandit suppression had been to uncover who was behind such a vicious plot. It was later confirmed that Zhang Mingshun had bribed the bandits and destroyed two of his secret outposts. But one thing remained unclear: Zhang Mingshun's arrangements would have required time—how had he learned of Yan Chuanxing's movements in advance?
He had initially suspected a traitor among the shop staff. Now it seemed it was Yaoniang.
Yaoniang was Changqing's mother. He had regarded her as family. Until now, the household had been harmonious, and he had never imagined betrayal could come from her. This hurt him even more than a traitor among the staff.
But given his age and experience, his face showed only a trace of barely perceptible despondency. "I understand."
He patted his daughter's shoulder, praising her with heartfelt appreciation. "This time, it was all thanks to my Changfeng's cleverness and decisiveness. Otherwise, this old bones of mine might have met their end."
"It wasn't me this time—it was all thanks to Eldest Sister," Yan Changfeng said, not wanting to elaborate at the moment. "I'll explain in detail when we return. Let me go check on Third Sister first."
Yan Chuanxing nodded. "Don't tell her yet."
Yan Changfeng understood her father was considering Third Sister's feelings and dignity, and nodded in return. "I understand, Father."
She turned her horse and rode against the direction of the procession, inquiring after the accompanying brothers along the way. Whenever she encountered someone injured, she offered extra words of concern, earning a chorus of "Thank you for your concern, Second Miss" along the path.
When she reached Third Sister, Yan Changfeng embraced her younger sister just as she had their father. "You've worked hard. Are you injured?"
Yan Changqing didn't share her second sister's or father's thick skin. Being shown concern in public made her somewhat bashful, and she replied softly, "I'm quite alright, Second Sister."
Yan Changfeng noticed her right hand was bandaged and took it to examine. "You're hurt?"
Yan Changqing flushed. "Just a minor injury, it's nothing serious. Um, Second Sister, the honored guests are right behind us."
With Yan Changfeng's level of thick skin, she clearly wasn't bothered by the presence of honored guests. But out of consideration for Third Sister's sensitive and cautious nature, she didn't press further about the injury.
She rode her horse up to the noble's carriage and, separated by a row of guards and attendants, saluted, "Yan Changfeng of the Yan Family, greets His Highness the Prince of Shu. Changfeng expresses gratitude on behalf of Father and Mother for Your Highness's life-saving grace!"
As she spoke, the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing two men of distinguished bearing seated on either side.
The man on the left was more flamboyant, dressed in a deep purple robe with gold-thread embroidery and a fitted waist, his eyes carrying a hint of frivolity, embodying the typical decadence of a young nobleman.
The man on the right was exceptionally handsome—judging by Yan Changfeng's extensive experience with men and her critical eye that found none comparable to her father's looks, this man could indeed be called handsome.
Unfortunately, he carried a trace of sickness, appearing somewhat frail and lacking the spirited vigor of her father.
He wore a moon-white crane-feather cloak, sitting upright and elegantly, exuding an air of extraordinary nobility. However, given the current season, it seemed overly extravagant—such a thick cloak, and he wasn't afraid of getting heat rash.
Yan Changfeng couldn't immediately tell which one was the Prince of Shu. If judged by "nobility," the one on the right seemed more like royalty.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she formed this conclusion, the man on the left chuckled, "Young lady, you've thanked the wrong person. This time, it was Pei Er who was alert and discovered the bandits' movements early, allowing us to follow the clues and lend your father a hand. It was also he who suggested escorting you all the way, worried that there might still be danger on the road."
Yan Changfeng was taken aback—it was actually someone from the Pei Family who had saved Father!
Because of Eldest Sister, she currently held no goodwill toward the Pei Family. Hearing that the Second Young Master of the Pei Family was also present, she had assumed he was merely an extra in the entourage and hadn't paid him any mind. Little did she know he was the true benefactor.
Though reluctant, gratitude was still necessary. She cupped her hands toward Second Young Master Pei and thanked him, "Thank you, Second Young Master Pei."
"It was nothing, Miss Yan… cough cough… Miss Yan, there's no need to be so polite."
Second Young Master Pei spoke slowly and deliberately, his breath weak, occasionally interrupted by coughs. A simple expression of gratitude somehow carried the weight of someone on the brink of departing this world.
Both Sheng Mingyu across from him and Yan Changfeng outside couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for him.
Sheng Mingyu wondered inwardly: How did someone who was speaking so steadily just moments ago suddenly become like this?
Yan Changfeng felt increasingly uneasy, thinking: This Second Young Master Pei is so ill, it's rather pitiful. It wouldn't be right to hold the Pei Family's grudges against him.
The group paused only briefly before setting off again, arriving at the Yan residence about half an hour later.
Yan Changfeng led the way at the front of the procession, arriving home first. As soon as she dismounted, she heard a young servant who came to take the horse whisper, "Second Miss, the eldest son and third young lady of the Zhang Family have arrived. They just got here."
Yan Changfeng's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze instantly turning sharp.
How dare they show their faces after attempting murder—utterly shameless!
She tossed the reins to the servant and strode through the gate, heading straight for the flower hall with determined steps.
Lady Yao was putting on a show of harmony, drinking tea with the Zhang siblings. Though she didn't handle affairs, she was no fool. Knowing it wasn't yet time to break ties, she maintained a facade of friendship, her face nearly stiff from forced smiles.
Seeing her second daughter return, she finally found an excuse to stand up. She dropped the false smile and went to greet her daughter. "Xueyi, is your father alright?"
"Mother, Father is fine. Everyone is well." After reassuring her mother, Yan Changfeng finally looked up at the two seated in the guest seats. "Well, what brings you two here? Did you catch the scent of our crabs?"
"Sister Xueyi, are you having crab at your home today?" Third Miss Zhang Ruyan asked with an air of innocence as she stood up. "I love crab the most—may I stay and join you for a meal?"
Yan Changfeng shot her a glance with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, only then noticing that Zhang Ruyan was dressed meticulously today, seemingly having donned all the finest clothes and jewelry she had stored away.
Suddenly, it dawned on her: the real purpose of the Zhang siblings' visit at this time was likely for the two distinguished guests who would arrive later.