Chapter 134: It Nearly Sent Me to My Grave

Shen Sinian was caught off guard when a shoe struck him square in the face. He silently gathered up Shen Nanyuan’s two shoes, then reached up to touch his face with a sigh.

Xiao Yan adjusted the pillow behind his back and lay down slightly. The bed was large; Shen Nanyuan carefully kept her distance from Xiao Yan, tucking her entire body under the quilt. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a drum, but in the next second, a large, scorching hand clamped around her waist, pulling her into his side and holding her so tightly that she had no room to struggle.

"What are you doing!"

Xiao Yan’s voice was extremely low, carrying a trace of imperceptible amusement: "If you stay that far away, anyone would be able to tell at a glance."

"..." Shen Nanyuan felt a rush of heat flush her face. She pursed her lips, about to speak, when she suddenly felt the hand on her waist tighten even further, followed by Xiao Yan’s low voice, "Don't move, he is here."

Her heart tightened instantly. With her face pressed firmly against his chest, every sense in her body seemed to heighten, and she was too nervous to even draw a full breath.

Xiao Yan’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes returning to a calm, indifferent, and slightly cold state in an instant. He turned his head at the sound and fixed his gaze on Gu Shengyu, his voice flat: "Imperial Brother, do stay there; there is no need to come any closer, lest the sickness I carry infects you. I merely wonder why you have come to visit so late at night."

Gu Shengyu withdrew the dark, unfathomable look from his eyes, his face masked with a facade of concern. "I was worried about my third brother and could not sleep, so I thought I would come to see you and set my mind at ease."

Xiao Yan’s eyes were deep and dark, and he smiled with a hint of mockery: "For Imperial Brother to worry about me so much truly makes me feel overwhelmed."

Hidden beneath the quilt, Shen Nanyuan breathed cautiously. The scent of Xiao Yan—cool, clean, and pleasant—enveloped her entirely. Her nervousness and heart palpitations were like crashing waves. Her whole body was stiff, but upon hearing Gu Shengyu’s words, she curled her lip.

He really could say anything, couldn't he?

A moment later, she suddenly wondered: why couldn't she have been the one hiding under the bed while Shen Sinian stayed on it?

Gu Shengyu sighed softly, looking at Xiao Yan with eyes full of concern: "Third Brother, do you also believe that I instigated the matter involving Prince Rui?"

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, remaining silent, his gaze indifferent.

"Does Third Brother not trust me either?"

Gu Shengyu appeared extremely dejected. "You have been attached to me since you were young; among all our brothers, we were the closest. After you went missing, I could not rest day or night. Now that you have finally returned, how could I ever do something like this to harm you?"

He continued, "Among all the brothers, I cherish you the most. I would never do anything that would cause you such hurt."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan raised his eyes, finally revealing a faint smile that made him look quite docile. "Imperial Brother is overthinking it. Naturally, I trust you. Please do not take today’s events to heart; Father was merely asking, and there was no other meaning behind it."

"Since my return to the palace, Imperial Brother has taken great care of me. I know all of this in my heart."

"I know you would never do such a thing, so Imperial Brother may rest assured."

Hearing this, the expression on Gu Shengyu’s face relaxed slightly. "That is good. As long as Third Brother understands, that is all that matters. Rest assured, whether it is Father or myself, we will give you a fair account of this matter."

Seeing Xiao Yan lower his eyes in agreement, he signaled to the eunuch behind him. The eunuch stepped forward, placed a steaming bowl of medicine on the table, and bowed his head respectfully. "Third Highness, this is the medicine that His Highness specifically ordered to be brewed for you. Please remember to drink it."

Xiao Yan nodded. "Then many thanks, Imperial Brother."

Shen Nanyuan felt miserable being stifled under the quilt, wondering why this Second Prince was so endless. Xiao Yan’s hand was still clamped tightly around her waist, the scorching heat pressed against her skin, trapping her within his arm’s reach. Her whole body was stiff and uncomfortable.

Gu Shengyu said, "Seeing that Third Brother is well, I can finally get a good night's sleep." He smiled and added, "Rest well, Third Brother, so that your injuries may heal faster."

Xiao Yan replied, "Many thanks for your concern, Imperial Brother."

Shen Nanyuan pricked up her ears, listening intently to the sounds outside, unsure if the Second Prince had truly left. She couldn't help but anxiously reach out and tug on the clothes at Xiao Yan’s chest. The sensation felt like a cat’s paw scratching, spreading through him. Xiao Yan laughed with interest, his Adam's apple bobbing as he finally spoke.

"Come out."

Shen Nanyuan threw off the quilt and gasped for air, her face flushed red. The soft, delicate warmth against his palm vanished, leaving Xiao Yan feeling a slight sense of loss as he withdrew his hand. He sat up, his dark eyes brimming with amusement. He leaned lazily against the pillows, watching her flushed cheeks, the depth in his eyes intensifying.

Shen Sinian crawled out from under the bed with an "Ouch," holding his sister's shoes. He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and wordlessly placed Shen Nanyuan’s shoes on the floor.

"Your shoe sole hit me in the face; you nearly sent me to the afterlife!"

Shen Nanyuan: "..."

She avoided Xiao Yan’s gaze, quickly scrambled off the bed, and quietly put on her shoes, muttering, "I was in a hurry, and besides..."

She paused, suddenly regaining her spirit: "Why didn't you hide on the bed? I think it would have been fine for me to hide under the bed."

"Forget it," Shen Sinian said. "With my build, that wouldn't work. It would look like I was trying to get caught by the Second Prince on purpose! Besides, if we were really discovered, the Third Prince and I would have no way to explain ourselves."

Shen Nanyuan: "..."

Why did that feel so vividly imaginable? She suddenly found it rather funny.

"Don't drink that medicine," Shen Sinian continued. "I will go find a physician and have them brew a new bowl for you. It is better to have as little contact as possible with anything belonging to the Second Prince."

Xiao Yan nodded. "Understood."

"He still wants to play the part of the devoted brother; he doesn't want to tear away the facade of peace with you just yet. After all, you are the legitimate heir; breaking ties with you won't do him any favors," Shen Sinian added, frowning. "I won't say more. Yuanyuan and I are leaving; otherwise, if someone else comes along, we’ll have to hide again."

Xiao Yan looked up and nodded gently. "Go on."

Before she left, Shen Nanyuan glanced at Xiao Yan. Seeing his lazy posture, she inexplicably recalled the scorching heat of his hand clamped around her waist. A wave of shyness washed over her, and she quickly followed Shen Sinian out.