The East Palace had kept its doors tightly shut for a day and a night.
Yesterday, Yan Nantian brought back an injured woman from the Whale Fall Sea.
The Crown Prince, who was typically as gentle as jade and most dignified, had lost his composure for the first time. He hurriedly called for doctors, sealed off the palace, and strictly forbade anyone from approaching—including his childhood sweetheart and fiancée, Yun Zhao.
This was Yan Nantian's first public display of losing composure.
For a strange woman.
Upon hearing the news, Yun Zhao had been keeping vigil outside the East Palace, neither making a fuss nor showing any distress, her expression calm.
She was thinking about the past.
When they were young, while others doubted Yan Nantian, she alone judged by appearances, instantly falling for the most handsome prince among all.
She had boldly declared, "I want to marry this brother!"
Back then, she couldn't even tell the princes' names apart. Though Yan Nantian had been arranged to sit in the most inconspicuous corner, she had singled him out.
The royal consorts' faces had turned ashen at the time.
The Cloud family was the foremost noble house in the Central Continent, with their current patriarch renowned as the God of War.
Whoever allied with the Cloud family would gain the greatest support.
The royal consorts and princes had fought openly and secretly for long, their feuds extending beyond ten generations of families.
Yet fate had other plans. In the end, the beloved daughter of the Cloud family patriarch was captivated by the mere son of a palace maid's beauty.
From then on, little Yun Zhao had her own fiancé.
She was willful and protective, unable to bear seeing him suffer even the slightest grievance. Learning of his difficult situation in the palace, she would visit the East Palace daily to watch over him, going wherever he went, eating and living together.
When he attended the Imperial Academy, she would bring a small embroidered stool and sit beside him, pretending to listen attentively to the teacher's lectures. When bored, she would cause mischief, angering the teacher who would chase her around with a ruler.
When he went to the mountains for cultivation, she insisted on following, surviving on grass and dew for half a month, getting so hungry that she would jump around with green eyes, swearing never to return to such a ghostly place... Yet the next time he went to the mountains, she eagerly followed again.
They grew up together, childhood sweethearts without a trace of wariness between them.
She watched him transform from a quiet youth into a brilliantly talented young man.
No one could overshadow his radiance anymore.
He achieved remarkable feats and, with the Cloud family's support, was inevitably named Crown Prince.
He had always been steady since childhood, remaining humble and gentle after his appointment, maintaining endless patience for Yun Zhao.
She could freely act spoiled with him.
His East Palace was hers to demolish if she wished.
He had said that after returning from the Whale Fall Sea, he would ask the Emperor to formally set their wedding date with her family.
But now...
The familiar palace had closed its doors, becoming so strange.
Yun Zhao stared at the heavily guarded palace, unable to imagine after a whole day what Yan Nantian must have looked like, losing his composure while carrying an injured woman.
Wasn't he always the one who maintained perfect composure?
Yesterday, she could have witnessed that scene herself. But while passing through the Ancient Day Court, she encountered someone and was delayed briefly.
By the time she reached the East Palace, the doors had already been sealed.
She hadn't seen Yan Nantian carrying someone else.
*
At dusk, the seal was lifted, and the East Palace slowly opened its doors.
Across the broad white jade steps, Yun Zhao's eyes met Yan Nantian's.
He wore a dark robe, his face pale, expression weary, with bloodshot eyes.
The wind swept down from the courtyard, and Yun Zhao caught the faint scent of blood, along with a subtle jasmine fragrance.
She was certain there were no jasmine flowers in the East Palace.
"Why are you standing there like a statue?" A slightly hoarse voice drifted down from above.
Yun Zhao felt her heart skip a beat in her chest, painfully striking against her ribs.
She awakened from her wooden state.
Looking at his familiar features, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
It wasn't him who was unfamiliar, but her.
She didn't know what to say or how to approach him.
"Come see what I brought you," Yan Nantian said with a slight smile, tilting his head at her.
His manner was so natural.
In that moment, Yun Zhao suddenly had an illusion—perhaps she had just experienced a very realistic dream, where her Brother Yan had kept her waiting outside the palace for an entire day.
Perhaps there was no injured woman at all, only his gift for her.
Yun Zhao climbed the steps.
He extended his hand to her.
She placed her hand in his palm, discovering that the sword calluses on his hand had grown thicker.
In places she couldn't see, he had been quietly growing.
Yun Zhao looked up at him, belatedly realizing that her fiancé was no longer slight of build; he now had broad shoulders and long legs, standing a head taller than her.
His features remained gentle, and when he looked at her, his gaze held both helplessness and languor.
His lips were unusually pale, and the scent of blood lingered about him.
"So you were the one who was injured," Yun Zhao said dizzily, wishfully thinking, "Let me see where you're hurt."
She felt as if she were sleepwalking.
Sleepwalking in a dream that would shatter at the slightest touch.
In the dream, everything was floating, false.
Yan Nantian usually carried a faint sandalwood scent, like that of a temple. Sometimes she would mischievously stuff dried tangerine peels into his incense burner, making him smell like a monk who had eaten oranges.
But now she couldn't smell the familiar sandalwood.
Yun Zhao felt a tightness in her chest, having to force herself to breathe, as if she were holding her breath underwater.
Suddenly, something pierced the surface.
From the corner of her eye, Yun Zhao caught sight of a graceful figure.
A weak voice came from the western corridor: "Brother Yan..."
Yun Zhao and Yan Nantian turned their heads in unison.
She saw that woman.
Dressed in white robes, with a jasmine flower in her hair, she had an extremely pure appearance, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes. She bit her lip, which wasn't pale at all but turned rose-red.
It was the woman he had brought back from the Whale Fall Sea.
The woman appeared perfectly fine, yet Yan Nantian looked gravely ill.
Yun Zhao suddenly understood, asking Yan Nantian with a smile: "You transferred your vital energy to heal her?"
Though posed as a question, it was a statement.
She pretended to be unperturbed, completely indifferent.
She didn't care. At worst, she could break off the engagement. He should be the one worried.
Yan Nantian's amber pupils reflected her face.
In his eyes, she saw her own stiff smile and ugly expression.
Before he could answer, two palace maids hurriedly emerged from the western hall, containing their panic as they bowed and apologized: "We have failed in our duty to watch over Miss Wen. Please punish us, Your Highness!"
Yan Nantian lightly waved his sleeve: "It's cold outside. Escort Miss Wen back."
After a pause, he instructed those hidden in the shadows, "Do not let anyone intrude."
While saying this, he didn't look at Yun Zhao.
The woman called "Miss Wen" bit her lip again, and under the palace servants' escort, she walked back into the western hall, looking back several times.
The palace doors closed, with warm mist lingering inside.
Yun Zhao silently pondered those words.
Do. Not. Let. Anyone. Intrude.
In this East Palace, besides her, who else would dare to intrude everywhere?
Yun Zhao felt as if a thousand elephants were stampeding in her chest.
She asked him, enunciating each word: "Are you afraid I'll hurt her?"
Yan Nantian lowered his eyelashes, gazing steadily at her: "No."
Yun Zhao laughed bitterly: "No?"
How dare he say no?
Yan Nantian sighed: "I'm afraid you'll kill her."
Yun Zhao sneered: "Am I that kind of person?"
Yan Nantian: "You are."
She stared at him.
This person's features and demeanor were truly familiar enough to be carved into her bones.
He added with a smile, his tone lazy: "You would kill me too, but you can't defeat me. I think after you go back and think about it, you'll probably choose to poison me, putting it in my incense burner."
Yun Zhao: "..."
She felt confused for a moment.
Throughout this day and night, her eye sockets had remained dry, without the slightest hint of tears.
But now she suddenly felt a surge of grievance.
The person before her was clearly her dearest Brother Yan.
He was exactly the same as before.
Yan Nantian looked at her, his gaze gentle, showing no guilt.
Finally, Yun Zhao managed to say: "You... explain yourself."
Though she was spoiled and willful, she wasn't completely unreasonable.
"Later," he deflected skillfully, attempting to change the subject, "Come, see what I brought you."
Yun Zhao stood still.
She threatened him: "If you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I'll blow up your East Palace!"
She had been holding back for so long.
Yan Nantian sighed: "Ah Zhao..."
Yun Zhao sneered: "Go on, tell me, why did you transfer your vital energy to her? Why is she staying in the East Palace? Why are you guarding against me like I'm a thief?"
The more she spoke, the angrier she became, all her blood rushing to her head.
What restraint? Impossible, she simply couldn't hold back anymore.
Yun Zhao's heart was pounding violently, her chest heaving as she shouted in anger, "I'm going to tear down this wretched palace right now! How dare you keep a secret lover! I'm breaking off our engagement!"
After holding it in for so long, her true nature finally emerged.
"It's not what you think," Yan Nantian grabbed her shoulders. "Zhao'er."
Yun Zhao tried to kick him, but he didn't dodge.
He explained to her with difficulty, "The situation is complicated. She has a connection to you. If anything happens to her, you'll regret it and be heartbroken."
Yun Zhao calmed down slightly. "What do you mean?"
He said very seriously, "Zhao'er, you know my feelings. I'm protecting her because of you."
Yun Zhao recalled what the self-proclaimed "villain" from the Ancient Day Court had told her, and a chill ran down her spine.
Her teeth chattering slightly, she probed, "Is she my father's illegitimate daughter?"
She stared at him.
'Say no. Please say no. Hurry up and say no.' That's what she was thinking.
Yan Nantian's expression changed subtly.
They knew each other too well - with just one look, one expression, Yun Zhao understood.
It was actually true!
It felt like a thunderbolt from the blue.
Her parents had always been deeply in love. They were supposed to be soulmates. They were meant to grow old together.
And now an illegitimate daughter appears?
If she had a choice, Yun Zhao would rather have Yan Nantian betray her than have her father betray her mother.
Yan Nantian pressed his fingers to his brow: "I didn't know how to tell you either."
With her ears ringing, Yun Zhao said childishly, "I don't care, make her leave!"
He smiled helplessly and patted her head: "Silly girl, don't act on impulse. Let's wait until the Grand General returns to sort this out."
The Grand General was Yun Zhao's father.
Yun Zhao threatened him seriously: "If you don't make her leave, I'll break off our engagement!"
He replied calmly: "Zhao'er, don't be willful. Miss Wen is your blood relative. She's a fragile young woman, and she's injured. You'll be heartbroken if anything happens to her."
"Won't make her leave? Fine, engagement's off!"
Yun Zhao swatted his hand away and ran off.
He didn't chase after her.
After a long while, a soft sigh echoed through the East Palace: "She didn't even look at the gifts. She's really that angry."