Get up.

The dowry bride, shunned for her looks, was carried back to the Xuan Yue Pavilion by Zi Hun. As soon as Zi Yu saw them, she rushed out in alarm, her gaze fixed anxiously on the unconscious Yun Xueyan. “Master Zi Hun, what happened to Madam?”

“She just fell into the lake,” Zi Hun replied coolly, his face devoid of expression. “She should be fine.”

“Then please help me carry Madam inside.” Zi Yu quickly bowed, making way for Zi Hun to bring Yun Xueyan into the chamber. She followed closely behind.

Once Zi Hun had left, Zi Yu stripped the drenched garments from Yun Xueyan, gently dried her body, and covered her with a quilt.

“Second Brother…” Yun Xueyan murmured softly, then slipped back into unconsciousness.

Zi Yu watched her with aching concern. What had happened? How had she ended up in the lake? If only Zi Yu had accompanied her earlier.

After a while, seeing Yun Xueyan seemingly asleep, Zi Yu stepped out, intending to brew some ginger soup in the kitchen, so that when Yun Xueyan awoke, she’d have something warm to comfort her.

Lying on the bed, Yun Xueyan, still feverish and groggy, tugged at her quilt. She felt cold…

Her pale lips moved faintly, then fell silent.

Suddenly, boots embroidered with gold strode in, stopping at the bedside. With a sweep, the quilt was yanked away, exposing her fair body!

“Get up!” The command was thunderous. Duan Nanyu stood, his face icy, staring at the still-sleeping woman on the bed. Her delicate form lay exposed, curled tightly from the cold.

His furious expression did not soften in the face of her pitiful vulnerability; instead, it grew more savage. “I said get up!” He seized Yun Xueyan’s wrist, dragging her upright with brute force.

Pain forced Yun Xueyan to open her eyes slowly, only to meet a face twisted in rage, icy eyes that chilled her to the bone…

She felt nothing but cold. Glancing down, she realized with horror that she was utterly unclothed.

Desperately, her free hand tried to reach for the quilt, but his grip on her wrist denied her any chance. She was forced to let herself be exposed before Duan Nanyu.

“Your Grace…” Her voice, hoarse and dry, startled even herself.

He snorted, beginning to scrutinize her from head to toe. “Is there any part of your body I haven’t seen? Why bother pretending in front of me?”

His sharp words pierced her chest, stifling her heart with pain. She wasn’t pretending; it was merely an instinctive reaction.

She shook her head gently, wanting to ask why Duan Nanyu had come.

But his voice rang in her ear, harsh and commanding. “Get up and serve Yin’er. She’s unconscious, and you’re lying here sleeping!”

The anger in his tone was unmistakable.

Yun Xueyin, unconscious? How could that be?

Seeing her unresponsive, Duan Nanyu grew even more furious. “Get up! Now!” He flung her aside and turned away.

Her body crashed heavily against the wall, tears threatening to spill from the pain, yet she still dressed herself in the clothes Zi Yu had left by the bed.

She tried to compose her expression, to seem indifferent.

“Your Grace, I am ready…”

“Then follow me. I haven’t time to waste on you!” With that, Duan Nanyu strode out without a backward glance, and Yun Xueyan followed after him.