What should I do?

Rain poured down in torrents, wild and fierce, beating against Yun Xueyan’s body and causing her pain with every drop. Her hair hung wetly over her shoulders and face; her complexion was so pale it verged on gray. Her numb legs knelt on the ground, her slender figure curled up into a small, trembling shape, about to collapse in the wind and rain.

Duan Nanyu entered, sheltered by the steward’s umbrella. He squinted, noticing the steward’s hesitant expression and grew suspicious.

“Steward, what’s wrong?” Duan Nanyu suddenly halted and asked.

“N-nothing…” The steward stammered, not daring to meet Duan Nanyu’s gaze.

Duan Nanyu turned to face the aged steward. “So now you dare hide things from me? Or have you grown old and need to retire to your hometown?”

His cold voice cut through the rain, yet was strangely loud and clear.

“Your Highness, please calm your anger. It’s—it's Lady Yan. She has knelt outside the study all day,” the steward replied, fearful. He tried to look up at Duan Nanyu’s expression, only to find he was no longer there.

After regaining his composure, the steward hurried after Duan Nanyu. “Your Highness, you’re not using the umbrella—Your Highness!”

Duan Nanyu strode directly to the study’s entrance. All he saw was that white figure, glaringly conspicuous in the darkness. What was she doing? Standing in the rain?

He marched forward in anger, pulled the kneeling woman up and held her in his arms. “What are you doing? If you wish to die, you need not do it here!”

He roared and strode toward Xuan Yue Pavilion.

Resting in Duan Nanyu’s arms, Yun Xueyan actually smiled. “Your Highness, you’ve returned. If dying like this were possible, it would be a relief…”

His body stiffened, a trace of panic in his furious voice. “Shut up! Do you really wish to die so much?”

“No…” She shook her head, gazing into those deep, ink-like eyes. “I only wanted to prove that what happened today was not my doing.”

She held out until the end, finally finding an opportunity to explain herself.

His grip tightened, yet he dared not use too much force—the fragile figure in his arms filled him with fear.

She had knelt here in the rain until now, only to show him her innocence?

Should he call her stubborn, or foolish? She allowed herself to be bullied, yet struggled time and again through pain, with a strength he could see clearly. But what she wanted, he could not give.

“I wish I could believe you, but the truth is before us: you harmed my child.” He sighed softly, and when he glanced down, the woman in his arms had already lost consciousness.

The steward hurried over, holding the umbrella above them.

“Fetch the physician!” Duan Nanyu ordered, quickening his pace as he entered Xuan Yue Pavilion.

He stripped Yun Xueyan’s soaked garments and dressed her in dry underclothes. After tucking the blanket around her, Duan Nanyu sat at her bedside, gazing at her.

She lay peacefully on the bed, beautiful beyond words.

His fingers brushed the lotus blossom on her cheek, feeling the roughness beneath. He had always wanted to know the truth about her face, yet he could not bear to uncover it.

“Your Highness, the physician is here.” The steward ushered the doctor in, then withdrew.

“Blessings, Your Highness.” The physician bowed hurriedly to Duan Nanyu.

“No need. Check her quickly.” Duan Nanyu stepped aside, eyes fixed on the woman lying on the bed, his heart tangled.

After a brief examination, the physician rose and saluted. “Your Highness, Lady Yan is not in grave danger. She was exposed to the sun and then caught in the rain, so she may develop a chill. She should rest well for a few days, and after taking some medicine, she’ll recover.”

Duan Nanyu nodded and turned his gaze to Yun Xueyan. “Go tell the steward to prepare the medicine.”

“Yes.” Even after the physician left, Duan Nanyu’s eyes never left her.