Chapter 111: Stay Away from Him

In truth, when he came to the Flourishing Beauty Courtyard late at night, Shen Nanyuan already had an inkling of his intentions. It was just that his cold demeanor during the day had truly angered her, so she deliberately acted this way. She lifted her chin slightly. “But whatever Your Highness does, naturally Your Highness has your own reasons. There’s no need to explain to me.”

Xiao Yan’s brows relaxed, his gaze gentle and filled with soft light. “Have you calmed down?”

“When was I ever angry?” Shen Nanyuan replied.

Seeing her stubbornness, Xiao Yan merely lowered his eyes and smiled, saying nothing more. Shen Nanyuan glanced at him and pointed to a chair. “Sit down.”

The palace was tightly guarded. When he snuck in previously, he had not been discovered, so it was no surprise that no one noticed his presence now. Shen Nanyuan glanced at Xiao Yan out of the corner of her eye, noting the noble air and sharp presence he now possessed. She quietly sighed, thinking that indeed, clothes do make the man.

She paused. “Do you want to see Uncle Li? He’s always wanted to meet you.”

“I do,” Xiao Yan replied. “I came tonight just to see Uncle Li.”

Aside from Shen Nanyuan, Uncle Li was the kindest to him in the Flourishing Beauty Courtyard. When he saw her during the day, he had wanted to promise her he would return to see Uncle Li, but his words had been interrupted by the palace spies. Although his main reason for coming tonight was Shen Nanyuan, seeing Uncle Li was not at odds with that. It was just late; Uncle Li must have already retired for the night.

Shen Nanyuan asked, “How are things in the palace? Is everything going well?”

“Yes,” Xiao Yan nodded. “I’ve just entered the palace, so all parties are still observing me. For now, everything is going smoothly.”

Although affairs in the palace were going well, what worried him most were matters outside the palace. Fortunately, General Shen’s words today had indefinitely postponed the marriage arrangement, which eased his mind greatly. Now, he had nothing weighing on him.

Shen Nanyuan nodded slightly, her tone concerned. “You still need to be careful in the palace.”

A hint of emotion gradually arose in Xiao Yan’s gaze, accompanied by a faint smile. “Are you worried about me?”

“...Of course,” Shen Nanyuan said. “Though you are now an honored prince, you spent nearly a year in the Flourishing Beauty Courtyard. Naturally, I worry about you.”

“Then, compared to my royal brother, are you more worried about me?” he asked.

His question made Shen Nanyuan’s heart suddenly skip a beat. She met his gentle, rippling eyes and, after some thought, nodded honestly. “Yes.”

As for the second prince, she wished he would quickly exit the story according to the original plot, so she wouldn’t have to see him every day and feel suffocated. Compared to the second prince, naturally she cared more about Xiao Yan. After all, perhaps in the future, through him, she could break the engagement binding herself and the second prince.

Xiao Yan gazed at her, his lips curving in a quiet smile, as if deeply pleased. Even his eyes seemed to overflow with joy.

Under his gaze, Shen Nanyuan suddenly felt embarrassed. Her eyes wandered about, and after a moment she said, “By the way, you shouldn’t call me Miss anymore. You’re no longer a guard in the Flourishing Beauty Courtyard, but a third prince. When you call me that, it makes me uneasy.”

She hadn’t noticed it before, but since he returned to the palace, donned new attire, and carried himself with a commanding presence, his calling her Miss felt oddly discordant.

Xiao Yan lowered his eyes. “Then how should I address you?”

He thought for a moment, then raised his eyes, his voice low and deep, his gaze shining under the candlelight. “Yuan Yuan?”

Shen Nanyuan froze, her whole body stiffening. Even her breath caught, her fingers clenched unconsciously, flustered. “...Call me whatever you like.”

She looked down to hide her feelings. “With your status now, you can call me anything you please.”

Xiao Yan smiled, feeling that the tension and suppression he’d endured in the palace had eased considerably. It seemed that simply seeing her, talking to her, could lighten the weight on his heart. Tonight, he was in exceptionally good spirits.

He wished he could see her like this every day.

His gaze paused, like a river of stars, uncontrollably settling on Shen Nanyuan. Bathed in warm light, she reminded him of the moment earlier when he had held her waist, pressing her to his chest. Her delicate waist was so soft, it felt as though with a bit of force, he could keep her in his arms forever. A feeling of attachment grew within him.

He wanted to hold her close, wanted her eyes to see only him.

Xiao Yan’s Adam’s apple moved, the darkness in his eyes deepening. He didn’t know when it started, but his possessiveness had grown like a vine, gradually entwining his heart.

Shen Nanyuan could clearly sense the odd intensity in his gaze, as if she were prey he had long coveted, making her nervous. She cleared her throat softly and spoke.

“Go find Uncle Li,” she said, standing up. “Say a few words to him and head back quickly. If you’re discovered, it could turn into something serious.”

Xiao Yan tightened his hand, controlling the emotions raging within him, and gave a low reply. “Alright.”

Uncle Li had already gone to bed, but seeing Xiao Yan, he was so happy he could barely contain himself. Still, mindful of their changed statuses, he kept his head lowered, not daring to look at him. This was as Shen Nanyuan had expected. In this era, people cared deeply about such matters. As long as Uncle Li was happy to see Xiao Yan, that was enough.

It was already very late.

Xiao Yan should return now.

Tonight, the moon was bright, a layer of silver light spilling across the ground, cloaking everything in a gentle glow. He and Shen Nanyuan stood together in the courtyard, as if returned to the days before he entered the palace—days tranquil and beautiful.

He spoke softly, “I’m leaving now. I’ll likely be busy for some time.”

So many matters awaited him in the palace. The emperor’s health was rapidly declining, and the second prince was the heir apparent whom the emperor had favored. Now was his only chance.

Shen Nanyuan nodded. “Go on.”

She couldn’t help but remind him, “Be careful.”

“Alright.”

Xiao Yan turned, silently watching her for a long time. After a moment, his expression grew more serious. There were a few steps between him and Shen Nanyuan. He approached, step by step, forcing her to look up in confusion. Then he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of command. “Stay away from the second prince.”

Compared to his earlier gentleness, this was almost through gritted teeth, cold and hard. Shen Nanyuan blinked, at a loss. “I want to stay away from him, but it’s not as if I insist on seeing him.”

She muttered, her tone carrying a soft pout she herself didn’t notice. “It’s clearly him who insists on seeing me. What can I do?”

Xiao Yan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Whatever happens, just stay away from him.”