Chapter Twenty-Two: This Matter Began Because of Me

The light in Shen Nanyuan’s eyes flickered briefly before she nodded, “I understand.”

Not going out? How could that be possible?

She was determined to keep following the heroine!

They would be leaving tomorrow, so Meng Chuyue was bound to show up tonight.

The place where Xiao Yan and the other servants stayed was not far from the east wing. In the past few days, since he started training with Shen Sinian, Xiao Yan could distinctly feel his body changing, different from before.

Shen Sinian was indeed teaching him earnestly, never looking down on him because of his status. He even praised Xiao Yan’s extraordinary talent, saying he learned faster than anyone else he’d ever taught. Sometimes, he would joke around with him in a casual manner.

“Before I started teaching you, my sister kept reminding me not to be too strict, saying your injuries hadn’t healed yet. That girl practically wore her mistrust of me right on her face.”

It seemed that when someone was connected to her, everything became different.

Even the legitimate son of the Shen family treated him with warmth and kindness.

It was as if… everyone around her truly liked her.

She was kind to everyone, and he wasn’t particularly special.

The night wind was chilly, rustling the tall trees on either side, their leaves whispering loudly. Few people were out at this hour; he hadn’t seen a single soul on his walk, and the place felt rather desolate.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks.

He frowned slightly, his expression sharpening.

In the time he’d spent training with Shen Sinian, he’d become sensitive to the slightest movement in his surroundings. There were people not far away—more than one, and their approach was aggressive.

Xiao Yan hadn’t intended to get involved, but the east wing was nearby. He’d only trained for a short time and couldn’t handle so many opponents alone. Now was not the time to rush in recklessly.

He surveyed his surroundings, his expression calming. Fortunately, Shen Sinian’s lodging was close.

—

Shen Nanyuan sat by the window, looking out as she estimated the time. It should be about right, so she stood up, ready to leave, when Qingrui walked in.

“Miss, are you going out again?”

She sounded displeased. “You went out on your own last night, avoiding me. No matter what, tonight I’ll follow you.”

Unable to persuade her otherwise, Shen Nanyuan simply nodded, “I just can’t sleep, so I’m going out for a stroll.”

“Xiao Yan reminded you not to go out when he left just now, and you agreed,” Qingrui grumbled. “Now you’re breaking your word.”

Shen Nanyuan laughed awkwardly, “I won’t go far, just a short walk nearby. I’ll be back soon to rest.”

Qingrui insisted on accompanying her, and Shen Nanyuan had no choice but to let her come along. Together, they stepped out of the east wing.

For some reason, the temperature had suddenly dropped tonight, and Shen Nanyuan shivered from the cold. Qingrui went back to fetch a cloak, draping it over her shoulders. They followed a small path, but suddenly, a monk hurried toward them, blocking their way.

“Benefactors, please don’t proceed any further. Go back quickly,” he urged.

Shen Nanyuan was surprised, and a vague sense of foreboding rose in her heart. “What’s happened? Is something wrong up ahead?”

“There’s been a fight… I don’t know the details,” the monk replied.

Shen Nanyuan’s face lit up with joy. Without regard for manners, she slipped past the monk and rushed forward, moving so quickly that Qingrui was momentarily stunned. Qingrui called after her anxiously, but the figure ahead showed no sign of slowing or turning back.

Qingrui: “…”

Monk: “…”

By the time Shen Nanyuan arrived, Shen Sinian and his guards had already subdued six assassins.

He stood tall, sword in hand, his bearing formidable, his expression icy as the stars, with sharp, commanding eyes—a completely different person from his usual self.

This was Shen Sinian, the young and brilliant captain.

Behind layers of guards, Shen Nanyuan spotted a girl about her own age. Dark hair cascaded down her back, her watery eyes brimming with emotion, and she wore a pale green dress. Her skin was smooth as jade, and she was strikingly beautiful. Now, shaken by the incident, her dark eyes darted about in panic before finally settling on Shen Sinian’s cold figure.

This must be the heroine, Meng Chuyue.

Where was Xiao Yan?

Before she could look for him, Shen Sinian noticed her, frowned, and strode over to her side, murmuring reproachfully.

“What are you doing here? It’s dangerous and not yet resolved. Go back, get a good night’s sleep, and everything will be fine tomorrow.”

“I was worried about you, big brother.”

Shen Nanyuan anxiously tugged at his sleeve, “Where’s Xiao Yan? Why can’t I see him?”

The male lead shouldn't be absent.

“He was injured. When the assassins tried to escape, he was stabbed in the right arm. He’s gone to his room to have the wound dressed.”

Thank goodness.

It was just as the story described, and Shen Nanyuan felt a slight relief. She turned to Qingrui, who had followed her closely, “I brought medicine for emergencies. It’s perfect for him now. Qingrui, you know where it is—go fetch it quickly.”

She then turned to Shen Sinian, “Brother, you handle things here. I’ll go check on him.”

Shen Sinian nodded, but still cautioned her, “Don’t wander off. Come back soon. The east wing is guarded by layers of sentries—it’s the safest place. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, yes,” Shen Nanyuan replied as she hurried off. After a few steps, she turned and asked, “Brother, which way is Xiao Yan’s room?”

Shen Sinian: “…”

Weren’t you just moving with such confidence?

The incident had happened so suddenly that no one expected it; no one had brought any medicine. Xiao Yan’s wound had only been bandaged simply with cloth to stop the bleeding, so Shen Nanyuan’s medicine became especially important.

She took all the bottles and jars from Qingrui’s hands and waited in the courtyard for a moment. As expected, the delicate heroine came into view.

Meng Chuyue bit her lip, her voice soft. “Is the wounded person here?”

“Yes, he is,” Shen Nanyuan replied, suppressing a smile. “He’s inside.”

“Ah…” Meng Chuyue’s face was full of guilt. “He was hurt because of me.”

“Why do you say that?” Shen Nanyuan asked.

Meng Chuyue hesitated, then sighed, “I recognized one of the assassins. He looked familiar… In short, I know someone sent them to kill me. All of this happened because of me. May I go in to see him?”

Of course, of course.

You’re the heroine—no need for courtesy!

Shen Nanyuan cleared her throat, “Please, come in.”

Inside, there was a faint scent of blood. Xiao Yan sat on a chair, his lips pale, and someone was wrapping his wound. Hearing voices, he turned and saw Shen Nanyuan, frowning in surprise, “Miss?”