"Oh?" His question made Yun Rao pause, instinctively lifting her head to meet the clear, deep black eyes that were now quietly fixed upon her. A mental image of the passionate moments earlier flashed through her mind—especially the way he had urgently and roughly nibbled at her lips and neck—the deep, disoriented darkness in his gaze. A gentle warmth rose in her cheeks, spreading and blushing her entire face. An Zi yuan's eyes naturally deepened, becoming more profound, as if by instinct. With hands as smooth and refined as jade, he reached out toward her captivating beauty. As his fingertips neared her cheek, they suddenly stiffened. He cleared his throat awkwardly, then withdrew his hand, shifting his gaze to another place, quietly steadying himself to calm the unexpected surge of desire rising within him. Yun Rao glanced at him, puzzled, momentarily forgetting her own earlier discomfort, and asked with curiosity, "Master An, what's wrong?" Yan took a deep breath, turned his head slightly, and glanced at her. On his usually refined and composed face, a faint touch of self-mockery emerged. "Yun Rao, don't easily show this face to others—especially not with that kind of gaze directed at men." He gently brushed the damp hair that had fallen over her chest. With a calm, composed tone, he resumed his usual quiet detachment. "Few men can hold on." "Is your lord also such a superficial person?" Yun Rao touched her face. Yan paused slightly, then nodded openly. "Yes." Yun Rao lowered her eyes. "If your lord were to encounter another face even more beautiful than this one, would he still not be able to hold on, and would he act as he did just now?" "No." Yan replied without hesitation, at the same time tying her sash neatly. "Why not?" Yun Rao looked at him with curiosity, her hands still clutching the fabric at her chest. An Zi yuan glanced at her, but as soon as he spoke, the subject had already shifted. "Yun Rao, have you ever fallen from a cliff?" Yun Rao slightly furrowed her brow, then shook her head. "I don't think so. I never practiced martial arts when I was young. How could I have survived a true fall from such a height?" An Zi yuan smiled. "That makes sense. Moreover, Su Wan was also injured at the time." "Why did you suddenly ask this?" Yun Rao asked, carefully observing his expression. She had noticed on more than one occasion that he stared at her in a dazed way, as if seeing another soul within her eyes. "Nothing really," An Zi yuan shook his head. "I just thought of an old friend." "Was she... one of your beloved companions?" Yun Rao asked, her tone cautious. "No," An Zi yuan smiled, lowering his gaze. "Just a little girl. I didn't have time to save her back then." "Are you feeling regret?" Yun Rao furrowed her brow, asking, uncertain whether she had sensed a hint of regret in his words. An Zi yuan shook his head, offering no reply. Perhaps he didn't feel guilty—though even if time were to repeat itself, he would still have saved An Zi mo first. After all, with a bond of over a decade as siblings, how could he prioritize someone he had known for only a month? Yet for ten years now, he could never forget those eyes. Especially when his hand brushed against hers as she reached out toward Zi mo—her sudden astonishment, the faint self-consciousness and modest embarrassment, and the quiet "thank you" she uttered as she fell—those moments had haunted him like a nightmare ever since. On the second day, Yun Rao rose and found herself unable to enjoy her breakfast, having been restless all night. She had returned late and had not slept well, her face burning with embarrassment whenever she recalled the scene between them in the bathtub. While she could still act naturally even in the dark, now under daylight, simply seeing him made her feel uneasy. When her attendant came to remind her to eat, she excused herself with a complaint of physical discomfort. Yun Rao listened intently and instantly stiffened, hurriedly saying, "No, no, I'm just not feeling very hungry." "I'll examine you—perhaps the toxin in your body has returned..." "No, thank you. I'm fine now. I... I'll go have dinner." With a composed demeanor, she pushed open the door, glanced down at An Ziyuan, and said her words without meeting his eyes. She hurriedly spoke, quickened her pace, and moved past him, heading swiftly toward the dining hall. An Ziyuan followed slowly behind her, "Yun Rao, it seems you're particularly afraid of seeing me." Of course. Who among a normally composed young lady wouldn't be afraid of seeing him? Especially after what he'd done to her last night... Her cheeks warmed again, and she involuntarily recalled the image of those hands—like jade—gliding over her body. She reached up to cover her face, quickened her steps, and said nothing in reply to An Ziyuan. As soon as she arrived at the dining hall, she saw Su Yan and Su Dan already there, both quietly eating. As soon as he saw her, Su Yan's eyes lit up. The composed, handsome face momentarily flushed with nervousness, and his speech stumbled slightly, "Cloud... Cloud lady, you've arrived. Have you had your meal?" Just as he finished speaking, Su Ran gave him a white look, "Brother, will you please show a bit more composure? When you see a beautiful woman, you can't even speak!" Su Yan blushed deeply and glanced at Su Ran, "I'll have my own meal." Su Ran frowned, gave a rather unimpressed expression, and didn't even extend a greeting to Yun Rao, simply continuing to eat. Yun Rao watched the two siblings, unsure of their relationship with An Ziyuan. As Su Yan greeted her, she merely smiled politely in return, "Good morning, Mr. Su!" Su Yan was once again momentarily disoriented by her warm smile, "Good morning... good morning." An Ziyuan glanced at Su Yan without saying much, simply inviting Yun Rao to sit down and have her meal. Upon seeing An Ziyuan's eyes brighten, Su Ran immediately warmed up, calling him with extra affection, "Brother Ziyuan." "An Zi yuan nodded slightly." "Su Ran, if you're planning to stay in the capital for a few more days, why not go straight back to the Prince's residence? It's more spacious there, and the attendants are more attentive. My parents are still at home." "You wouldn't enjoy it if you stayed there," Su Ran pouted. Su Yan spoke up. "Su Ran, if you're going to stay here, enjoy yourself—just don't wander off too much. Whenever you go somewhere, make sure to bring your four attendants with you. Otherwise, if anything happens, no one will be able to rescue you." "Oh, I'll remember that," Su Ran replied, still somewhat discontent, and looked earnestly at An Zi yuan. "Zi yuan brother, I've heard the Emperor is planning to marry into the family of Xi Yue. She's truly the most beautiful woman in Yunze. Could you possibly take me to the palace to see the wedding festivities?" "Very well, I don't want to end up like Lady Mingyue, sent off to some distant place to marry someone." "Wanwan, the Emperor has said he will marry me to the Prince of Dà'ān, but I only wish to marry General Mu. What if I can't escape this arrangement?" "Never fear. If necessary, I'll simply marry the Prince on your behalf." "Settled." "Settled!" ... "By this princess's word, whoever dares harm the Lady shall witness my pulse taken—should they dare to lay a hand on her!" "Wanwan, hurry—with me here, they won't dare to harm you." ... Two childlike voices rose from deep within her mind, gradually stirring her thoughts. Her hand, holding the chopsticks, unconsciously tightened, making a soft, delicate sound—crisp—chopsticks snapped. Yun Rao suddenly reached for her chest, one hand resting on her head, bowing slightly in pain. "Yun Rao!" An Zi yuan's expression slightly changed, and he instinctively rose to his feet. Yun Rao, pressing her head and her chest with both hands, her veins stood out prominently, her fingertips nearly piercing the flesh. Her flawless face alternated between red and pale, cold sweat beading heavily on her forehead, her body bent almost into an arch. "Yun Rao!" An Ziyuan reached out to steady her, but she suddenly pushed him away with force. "Y-yes... I'm sorry... I must step away..." With great difficulty, she managed to utter these words, then abruptly raised her hands to her chest, steadied herself on the table, and stood up, hurrying toward the door. As soon as she reached the doorway, she launched into a swift light-footed stride and disappeared quickly. An Ziyuan hurried after her, Su Yan and Wuxiang also rose and followed swiftly. Yet Yun Rao seemed to be fleeing, though her feet wavered, her light-footed movements now faster than ever before. She darted swiftly toward the mountain's other side. As she passed by a cold pond, she suddenly stepped back—without regard to the fact that it was now the height of winter, or that a thin layer of ice covered the surface—and plunged directly into the An Zi yuan hurried over and saw her completely submerged in icy water, one hand tightly pressed to her chest, the other desperately pushing through her hair while four others were gripping her hair, looking utterly disheveled. As An Zi yuan's heart tightened, he instinctively stepped forward, but Yun Rao suddenly shouted, "Don't come!" her voice strained and full of pain. An Zi yuan didn't stop walking, yet Yun Rao couldn't help but hunch inward, nearly unable to contain the searing pain radiating from within, crying out in anguish—yet still forcing down her tears, only looking at him with a mixture of embarrassment and distress, "Go away... please go away... I beg you..." By the end of her words, her voice was choked with emotion, two clear tears slipping down her cheeks, both awkward and painful. An Zi yuan, in turn, paused, his gaze filled with complexity, fixed on her. The cold water stung her bones, yet it paled in comparison to the pain within. As a wave of agony surged through her, Yun Rao couldn't help but bend double, her voice a sharp, piercing cry that tore from deep within her chest. An Zi yuan instinctively took a few steps forward, only to be pushed back by her desperate pleas, "Go away! Go away! Please, don't come near!" Her face was damp—she didn't know whether it was tears or sweat. A red figure rushed forward, shielding him with outstretched arms. "Xiao Man, ask him to step back, quickly!" Yun Rao's voice came in a hurried rush, choked with emotion and embarrassment. Qu Xiao Man looked at An Zi yuan calmly, "Lord An, please go down the mountain first. Our lady will be fine." An Zi yuan glanced over Qu Xiaoman’s shoulder and looked toward Yun Rao in the ice pool. By now, Yun Rao was in so much pain that she had bent almost completely into an arch; her long hair streamed down, concealing her face, which was twisted with discomfort and embarrassment, drifting into the water and dispersing. He could only see the hand nearly driven into her chest, veins standing out prominently. “An公子!” Qu Xiaoman gently reminded, her voice slightly urgent. An Zi yuan pressed his lips together, withdrew his gaze, and turned to descend the mountain. Just a few steps later, Wufang and Su Yan had also caught up, and a sharp, piercing cry of agony erupted from the pool. Su Yan hurried to look toward the water, but was stopped by An Zi yuan’s hand. “Down the mountain!” “But Miss Yun…” Wufang, concerned, also wanted to peer into the pool, yet An Zi yuan caught his shoulder and turned him around. “Down the mountain!” An Zi yuan’s voice now carried a hint of urgency, even irritation. Impermanence and Su Yan exchanged a strange glance, restrained themselves from turning back, and silently followed An Ziyuan down the mountain, waiting at the foot of the mountain.