Yun Zhao returned to the Four Directions Pavilion and helped Yan Nantian sit back in his main seat.
She busied herself with exaggerated gestures, dusting off the nonexistent dirt from the cushion, smoothing out the already flawless sleeves of his robe, and then proceeded to pat his back with a heavy hand—each thud making Eunuch Shunde’s eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
Yan Nantian: “…”
He knew her all too well. This wasn’t genuine care but rather the guilt of someone who’d been caught cheating on her homework as a child.
She even went so far as to approach Wen Nuannuan without holding any grudges, startling the latter.
Yun Zhao extended her palm: “Give it to me.”
Wen Nuannuan timidly replied, “W-what?”
“The candied jujubes!” Yun Zhao said matter-of-factly, “Didn’t you say they help with seasickness?”
Wen Nuannuan’s expression was indescribably complicated.
Yan Nantian: “…A-Zhao, it’s not necessary.”
Yun Zhao didn’t even turn her head: “Don’t worry, I’m not going to get jealous over something so trivial!”
Yan Nantian: “That’s not…”
Yun Zhao didn’t care what he was about to say. She snatched three candied jujubes from Wen Nuannuan’s hand and happily returned to Yan Nantian’s side, lifting her hand to his mouth: “Eat!”
Yan Nantian pursed his lips, silently resisting.
“What’s wrong?” Yun Zhao asked, puzzled. “I already said I’m not angry, and I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Why was he being so ungrateful?
Yan Nantian’s expression was pained, his long lashes slightly lowered as he turned his face away.
His complexion was pale, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he waved his hand weakly, his voice hoarse: “Take it away.”
“Huh?”
Yun Zhao glanced down and finally realized something was off.
The jujubes were clumped together, sticky and damp, exuding a strong scent of sweat—Wen Nuannuan must have been so nervous and excited that she’d gripped them tightly, her palms sweating profusely.
For Yan Nantian, who suffered from seasickness, this was unbearable.
Yun Zhao: “…”
She’d been careless.
She quickly hopped over to the corner of the Four Directions Pavilion and shoved the sweaty jujubes back into Wen Nuannuan’s hands, commanding, “You eat them!”
Wen Nuannuan: “…”
She weakly raised her eyes, seeking help.
But Eunuch Shunde was staring at his nose, his mind seemingly elsewhere.
Yan Nantian rested his chin on his hand, his eyes half-closed—even if he were fully awake, he wouldn’t have spoken up for her.
Wen Nuannuan resigned herself to her fate, picked up a jujube, and slowly chewed and swallowed it.
Yun Zhao watched her finish, then happily bounced back, proudly announcing to Yan Nantian, “See? She ate it so happily!”
Her intention was to comfort him.
“…” Yan Nantian would have been fine if he hadn’t thought about it, but the mental image only made him turn greener, “…Ugh!”
Great job comforting him. Next time, maybe don’t.
*
That night, they encountered turbulence. The Sky Voyager swayed violently from side to side, the hull and rudder creaking under the force of the fierce winds.
The sailors struggled to secure the flailing sails to minimize damage.
Yun Zhao had been sitting obediently with Yan Nantian for hours and was now itching to move.
Seeing the chaos, she leapt up: “I’ll help!”
No one could stop her.
Wen Nuannuan stared at her retreating figure, murmuring softly, “How nice… Only someone who’s had everything go their way could be so carefree… Unlike me, cursed with misfortune.”
She lowered her head slightly, revealing a slender, pale neck.
“Ah,” Eunuch Shunde comforted her, “Miss Wen, you mustn’t dwell on such thoughts. His Highness will surely get to the bottom of this case and bring you justice!”
“Yes, of course I believe that.”
She glanced up softly, noticing Yan Nantian’s narrowed eyes, his chin resting on his hand as he gazed outside, lost in thought.
A moment later, Yan Nantian’s eyes lit up.
His complexion was terrible—pale, cold, and sickly—but the sudden intensity in his eyes was striking.
Following his gaze, they saw Yun Zhao burst into the Four Directions Pavilion.
“I helped them secure the sails!” she announced proudly.
Yan Nantian smiled: “A-Zhao, you’re amazing.”
She sat down beside him, pouting pitifully: “But I got hurt.”
His voice immediately turned cold: “Where?”
He grabbed the candleholder from the table.
Then brought over the night pearl.
And finally set up a reflective mirror.
The small space was now brightly lit, and he finally found the hair-thin wound on her finger.
Yan Nantian: “…”
Before he could even apply ointment or bandage it, the wound had already healed.
Yun Zhao glanced at his expression, feeling indignant, and loudly declared, “Don’t look at how small the wound is—it hurt a lot! Can’t you smell the blood?”
Yan Nantian’s gaze sharpened.
He could indeed smell it.
He brought her hand closer to the candle for a better look.
Yun Zhao’s hands were exquisite, like snow-white jade. Even her mischievous antics hadn’t left any calluses.
Her sleeve revealed half of her fair wrist.
His gaze unconsciously traveled upward, then suddenly stopped.
Yan Nantian: “…”
He sighed: “Doesn’t it hurt?”
Yun Zhao rolled her eyes: “…It hurts! Of course it hurts!”
She pretended to cradle her injured finger, wailing dramatically.
Yan Nantian’s gaze shifted slightly, pointing to her arm with a look of mild exasperation.
Yun Zhao followed his finger: “…Huh? So it’s on my arm?”
How had she missed that?
Eunuch Shunde was struggling to hold back his laughter: “Pfft, cough. Pfft. Seems like the finger doesn’t hurt after all.”
Yun Zhao: “It hurts too! Everything hurts!”
Yan Nantian didn’t bother arguing with her anymore.
He pressed his lips together, opened the medical kit, and took out a small golden scissors, gauze, and wound ointment.
Rolling up his sleeves, he carefully cut open the fabric around the wound on her arm, revealing a thin but deep three-inch gash.
He cleaned, applied the ointment, and bandaged it.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he worked. While bandaging, he casually bit down on the clean gauze he’d used to wipe the blood.
Eunuch Shunde: “Ah…” but didn’t manage to stop him.
The crown prince’s thin lips were now stained with a deep red, and it was unclear how much blood he’d swallowed.
Unaware, he focused intently, finishing the bandage with a military-style knot.
He let go: “Done.”
The strip of cloth was still in his mouth.
Yun Zhao: “…”
He raised an eyebrow: “What?”
Speaking with something in his mouth didn’t seem to bother him.
Yun Zhao pointed guiltily at his lips.
Yan Nantian paused, then reached up to remove the cloth, twirling it between his fingers before tossing it into the waste bin.
Yun Zhao’s expression was complicated: “Aren’t you disgusted?”
Yan Nantian was confused: “By what?”
Yun Zhao: “…The seasickness.”
He couldn’t even stand the smell of sweat earlier—seeing someone eat a jujube made him vomit—yet he could tolerate the scent of blood?
Yan Nantian’s face turned cold: “I said it’s fine.”
Yun Zhao nodded exaggeratedly: “Oh—”
Keep pretending!
He gave her a light glance, shaking his head slightly, and chuckled.
*
The Sky Voyager traveled thousands of miles a day.
Three days later, heavy with moisture, the flying ship descended toward Linbo Prefecture.
Local officials of all ranks were waiting at the Maritime Protectorate’s gates to receive the royal party.
As the Sky Voyager landed, the group followed Yan Nantian off the ship. His face was pale, but he maintained the dignified air of a crown prince, gesturing for the officials to rise and exchanging pleasantries with them.
Yun Zhao had no patience for formalities.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, she began pacing back and forth, trying to regain her sense of balance—it took a while for anyone to adjust after disembarking from a flying ship, but Yan Nantian, of course, was the exception.
Despite his seasickness, he acted as if nothing was wrong.
“Sister Wen!”
A slightly hoarse voice called out from the other side of the street.
Yun Zhao turned her head and saw a tall young man in a green robe hurrying over from under a phoenix tree.
He was heading straight for Wen Nuannuan.
Wen Nuannuan trembled, biting her lip, and instinctively hid behind Eunuch Shunde.
“It really is you,” the green-robed man said as he approached. “You’re back. How are your injuries?”
Wen Nuannuan looked uneasy.
A plump woman nearby exclaimed loudly, “Oh my, Miss Wen! Ever since you left, Yu Fengyun has been waiting here day and night for you! Have you forgotten your neighbor just because you’ve found yourself a noble patron?”
Wen Nuannuan glanced up timidly, her eyes darting toward Yan Nantian in the distance.
Yun Zhao leaned over and helpfully stated the obvious: “Don’t worry, Yan Nantian isn’t even looking at you.”
Wen Nuannuan’s ears turned red instantly, whether from anger or embarrassment.
She bit her lip and turned to face the approaching green-robed man: “Brother… Brother Yu.”
Yun Zhao took a closer look and was momentarily stunned.
This man was actually quite remarkable.
He was handsome, with finely chiseled features, and his build was taller and more robust than the average man. In short, he was a striking figure.
Yun Zhao understood now—he was the devoted male supporting character, the kind who would make the male lead jealous.
The devoted male lead lowered his gaze to Wen Nuannuan, his expression familiar and intimate, tinged with a hint of guilt. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you properly."
"It's... it's fine," Wen Nuannuan stammered, "I'm okay. You should go back now. I... I can't talk to you anymore."
His smile gradually stiffened. "...Wen Nuannuan?"
Wen Nuannuan stamped her foot. "I have something urgent to do. Just go. Go!"
He stared into her eyes, but she avoided his gaze, clearly uneasy.
Seeing that the two of them were at an impasse, Yun Zhao decisively walked over to a plump, disdainful-looking auntie and nudged her with her shoulder.
"Auntie!" She raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the pair, her eyes lively and expressive. "Hmm?"
The auntie casually pulled out a handful of melon seeds from her apron.
"That Miss Wen grew up with Yu Fengyun. When she needed him, she was always by his side, calling him 'Brother Yu' this and 'Brother Yu' that, acting all sweet and close!" The auntie rolled her eyes. "But in the end, she’s just greedy, always wanting more than she has!"
Yun Zhao’s face showed disdain.
So Wen Nuannuan had her own childhood sweetheart.
"See," the auntie said, mimicking Yun Zhao’s raised eyebrow as she pointed toward the noble figure in the distance, lowering her voice, "the other day, she saw that distinguished gentleman and threw herself into his arms, crying and clinging to him. No one could pull her away!"
"Ha!"
"But," the auntie’s voice dropped even lower, hesitating, "it seems like she’s some kind of illegitimate daughter of a big shot. Oh, I don’t know the details. The higher-ups don’t want us talking about it."
Yun Zhao sneered. "Hmph."
"Though, from what I’ve seen, that gentleman doesn’t seem too interested in her?" The auntie’s eyes sparkled with gossipy delight.
"Of course not!" Yun Zhao said proudly. "Auntie, you’ve got a good eye! That’s my childhood sweetheart!"
The auntie slapped her thigh. "Oh my—"
Yan Nantian’s exasperated voice called out from a distance. "Yun Zhao."
Yun Zhao made a face. "I’m going!"
The auntie beamed with affection. "Go on, go on. Next time, Auntie will treat you to some oysters! Such a lovable girl."
She turned and rummaged through her apron. "Huh, where’s my oyster knife…"
Muttering, she walked away.
Yun Zhao returned to Yan Nantian’s side, where he was selecting local investigators to accompany them on the case.
She glanced around, noting their shifty, unimpressive appearances.
Meanwhile, Wen Nuannuan was resolutely trying to send Yu Fengyun away, his jaw clenched with concern and worry.
Feeling mischievous, Yun Zhao pointed in their direction.
"Brother Yan! That guy over there seems good. Pick him!"
Isn’t that how the stories go? The perfect male lead competes for the heroine, helping the male lead realize his true feelings.
Come on, Brother Yan, let me see what’s in your heart.