Yan Nantian's approach was subtle and unassuming, soothing Yun Zhao without her even realizing it.
He changed his clothes, and now only the faint scent of sandalwood, his usual fragrance, lingered on him.
He gently ruffled her hair, his posture close yet not improper, just as he always was.
Yun Zhao's prickly defenses slowly softened. She rested her chin on her knees and sneakily glanced around.
She admitted to herself that she had wronged him.
But three small stones still lodged in her heart.
He had held another woman. His body carried the annoying scent of jasmine. He had used the teacup in the western hall.
Even though she had seen with her own eyes that there was no hint of intimacy between him and Wen Nuannuan, she still felt deeply unsettled.
Yun Zhao said defiantly: "Since it involves my mother, why didn't you just kill that illegitimate daughter instead of bringing her back to anger me!"
Yan Nantian sighed and rubbed his forehead: "Zhao... Do we still have laws in the Great Ji Dynasty?"
"Stop pretending!" Yun Zhao shot back without restraint. "The dirty politics in your palace! How many people die unjustly every day!"
Yan Nantian: "..."
The downside of being childhood friends was knowing each other too well.
He pressed his fingers to his temples, stood up, and added several scoops of calming incense to the burner. Taking a deep breath, he returned to the bed.
The heavy fragrance slowly spread.
Yun Zhao smelled a solemn and dignified aroma.
Yan Nantian sat beside her.
The bedding is slightly sunken.
"Ah Zhao," he gazed into her eyes, speaking sincerely and earnestly, "Both you and Lady Xiangyang have been protected too well. Innocent and straightforward, fearless, and quick to act when displeased—but, Ah Zhao, killing is not as simple as that."
Yun Zhao protested: "What's the difference!"
Yan Nantian lowered his eyes and smiled faintly: "The differences are too numerous to count. You see, no matter how we feud among ourselves, on the surface, who isn't courteous and brotherly? When it comes to real action, either we use others as knives or stand on the moral high ground... In short, we must never allow ourselves to become villains, understand?"
Yun Zhao sneered: "Indeed, indeed. Our Crown Prince is always so noble and upright."
He reached out and unceremoniously pushed her head, causing her to tilt.
He chided: "I'm just afraid that if I rise too slowly, I won't be able to protect you, this troublemaker."
Yun Zhao nearly jumped up: "I! What! Trouble... what..."
Her voice started high, then gradually lowered, until the last word was almost inaudible.
She still knew she was in the wrong.
"No bringing up the past!" she threatened fiercely.
Yan Nantian readily agreed: "Mm, no bringing up the past."
Though he said he wouldn't mention it, his peach blossom eyes clearly recounted all the mischief she had caused over the years.
He smiled: "Our Ah Zhao, though she appears fierce, has the kindest heart."
Yun Zhao: "Flattering me now? Too late!"
Yan Nantian: "Even in the heat of anger during the day, all you wanted was to send her away."
Yun Zhao sneered, "Do you think I don't want to kill her? Do you dare to return my snake to me!"
At this, he chuckled softly, laughing for so long that she was about to get angry.
He said: "Lady Xiangyang's actions back then weren't clean enough, which led to this consequence. Are you sure you want to be so reckless?"
Yun Zhao narrowed her eyes.
His tone suggested he was on her side.
She pouted: "Then why don't you help me resolve it!"
Yan Nantian's expression was one of helplessness: "Ah Zhao, do you think I want to protect that illegitimate child?"
Yun Zhao raised her chin, signaling him to continue.
He said seriously: "Wen Changkong is a nationally renowned hero who hunted whales. He died a tragic and unclear death, and his wife's whereabouts remain unknown, with her life and death uncertain. His family now only has a lone daughter, Wen Nuannuan. Think, Ah Zhao, how many eyes are watching her? How many people are sympathizing with her in their hearts?"
Yun Zhao: "Oh."
Yan Nantian's gaze turned cold: "Wen Nuannuan publicly sought my help, and many saw her present the token of the Great General Wang. I've done my best to suppress the news, but the paper cannot contain the fire, and this matter will eventually come to light."
He sighed: "If something happens to Wen Nuannuan under my care, Ah Zhao, I can't guarantee the culprit will escape unscathed."
Yun Zhao felt a chill seep deep into her bones.
She felt cold.
It seemed he could sense it, as he reached out and embraced her, his chin lightly resting on her hair. He said in a deep voice: "If you don't want Lady Xiangyang's past actions to be implicated, the best course is to appease this illegitimate child, publicly claiming she is a long-lost pearl. Once she enters Yun Manor, she will be at your mercy."
He spoke each word into her ear: "Ah Zhao, we must never allow ourselves to become villains. Do you understand?"
She turned to look at him.
His eyes were slightly red, as if he was straining to reveal his heart to her.
"I understand, Brother Yan," she said.
Just as he dealt with his brothers, pretending to be friendly while hiding daggers behind his smile—she had seen it.
He smiled at her: "So, Ah Zhao, you agree with me? No more mischief? No more doubts?"
Yun Zhao nodded hastily: "Mm-hmm!"
*
Yun Zhao carried her worries and slept until late morning.
Dressed, she stepped off the bed, and a smiling maid immediately approached.
"His Highness instructed that as soon as Miss Yun awakens, I must report his whereabouts."
Yun Zhao: "..."
He really does learn from his mistakes.
The maid clearly struggled to suppress her laughter: "The Emperor has summoned His Highness to the Forbidden City for an audience. He should return by midday. His Highness asked if Miss Yun is still angry?"
Yun Zhao was puzzled: "What if I am, and what if I'm not?"
The maid said seriously: "His Highness instructed that if Miss Yun is still angry, he will send over the Third Bastard for you to deal with."
Yun Zhao took a while to realize that the "Third Bastard" referred to Yan Nantian's third brother, the former Third Prince.
Yun Zhao: "..."
Yesterday, she had deliberately taunted him—"Since you're so loving, why not bring your third brother out of the cold palace to live with you!"
Today, he turned the tables on her.
Yun Zhao waved her hand dismissively: "I'm not angry anymore! I don't want to see Old Third's face!"
"Understood," the maid said with a suppressed laugh as she quickly retreated.
Yun Zhao: "Are you laughing at me? Are you secretly laughing at me?"
The maid fled quickly.
Yun Zhao was furious. She was so fierce, yet why didn't the people in the Eastern Palace fear her?
Being too familiar with someone really had its drawbacks.
*
Yun Zhao thought today would be calm and uneventful.
She lounged by the window, lazily basking in the sun, enjoying the exclusive small fragrant cakes of the Eastern Palace.
A small tear had formed in the window paper.
She suddenly remembered that last night at the second watch, she had been startled awake by a sudden gust of cold wind.
If she hadn't woken up, she wouldn't have gone to the western hall to make a scene with Yan Nantian.
Yun Zhao blamed the window: "It's all your fault for making me wrong him and be laughed at!"
As she enjoyed the peaceful moment and muttered to herself, chaotic footsteps suddenly approached from outside the hall.
"Brother Yan, Brother Yan..."
A voice Yun Zhao found annoying entered her ears.
Hearing the maids rush forward to block the intruder, Yun Zhao lazily stood up, brushed off the crumbs from her hands, and called out: "Let her in."
Hypocrisy? Who couldn't do that?
Moments later, Wen Nuannuan's pitiful figure rushed into the sleeping chamber.
Yun Zhao recalled Yan Nantian's words last night and put on a fake smile, glancing at the other woman with feigned indifference.
"Where is Brother Yan? Where is he?" Wen Nuannuan's eyes reddened as soon as she saw Yun Zhao. "It's you, you didn't let Brother Yan come to see me, did you?"
Yun Zhao: "?"
This sudden, massive black pot left her dumbfounded.
"Please, I beg you," Wen Nuannuan clutched her chest, her voice sorrowful. "Brother Yan promised me, he promised he would help me save my mother. Can you please not stop him? I beg you!"
Yun Zhao was astonished: "Don't you think Yan Nantian can hear what's being said here?"
Didn't this woman know that the Eastern Palace was full of the master's spies?
Wen Nuannuan's eyes flickered slightly as she bit her lip: "My mother's life hangs by a thread. To save her, even if it means offending a noble lady like you, I will do whatever it takes! Moreover... moreover..."
She hesitated, twisting the hem of her clothes until her fingertips turned white.
After some awkwardness, she mustered her courage and fixed her gaze on Yun Zhao: "Moreover, Brother Yan has already... already seen my body..."
Yun Zhao didn't believe it for a second: "Hah, you can leave now!"
"I... I..." Wen Nuannuan sobbed, "I can never marry anyone else in this lifetime. My only wish is to save my mother... that's my only wish... I will never compete with you for Brother Yan..."
Yun Zhao's fingertips dug into her palm.
Such a clumsy trick, such a clumsy attempt at sowing discord.
Last night, she had clearly seen that Yan Nantian had no interest in this person at all!
How dare she... how dare she come before me and say such things!
Yun Zhao knew it was a scheme, but her mind was buzzing, her heart racing with anger, almost about to explode.
Calm this person down? Wouldn't that be courting an early death?
Suddenly, the sound of palace attendants greeting someone came from outside the hall.
"Your Highness." "Your Highness."
Yan Nantian was back!
Yun Zhao took a deep breath, ready to unleash a torrent of anger at him, when a crisp sound and a scream rang out beside her.
"Ah!"
Wen Nuannuan suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself across the face, swift and decisive, without any mercy.
"Miss Yun! I know you hate me, but I only want to save my mother!"
She looked disheveled, covering her rapidly swelling face, her hair disheveled, spitting blood, and letting out a mournful cry.
Yan Nantian stepped in.
His gaze swept over the scene, and he frowned slightly.
The situation in the hall resembled Yun Zhao lashing out in anger and hurting someone.
Yun Zhao naturally understood this.
Her gaze turned cold, and her heart settled.
Before Yan Nantian could speak, Yun Zhao darted forward, grabbed a handful of Wen Nuannuan's disheveled hair, and yanked her forcefully to the side, pressing her face down into the crystal basin in the center of the bedroom.
Splash!
"A-Zhao!" Yan Nantian called out to her in a deep voice.
Yun Zhao sneered, "She dared to frame me! I can't stand even the slightest bit of injustice! I'm going to teach her a lesson today! This won't drown her, Yan Nantian, are you sure you want to stop me?"
With a forceful push, she held the struggling and frail Wen Nuannuan firmly under the water.
Yan Nantian sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Zhao..."
Yun Zhao stared fixedly at him.
For a moment, her heart seemed to stop beating.
'Brother Yan, what should I do... even after you've been so open and sincere with me, I still... act impulsively and disrupt everything.'