076 Cry It Out

As dawn broke, Zihun stood at the door and knocked softly.
“Your Highness, everything has been handled,” he paused before continuing, “Will you be going today? The others are already waiting outside the manor.”

Rising and approaching the door, Duan Nanyu had not slept all night, yet his face betrayed no sign of fatigue. He stood there for a while before turning back to the bedside. “Postpone the journey for a day.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Zihun said nothing more. Once the prince made a decision, it was never changed—except, perhaps, for the person in that room.

Gazing at Yun Xueyan, still asleep, Duan Nanyu’s brows knit deeper with worry, his thoughts tangled. Leaning against the bedside, he closed his eyes to rest, pondering how to handle the matter. If things were truly as Feng Xilou had said, what should he do with Yun Xiyin?

“Don’t… don’t touch me!” A weak, terrified voice pierced Duan Nanyu’s ears. Yun Xueyan lay on the bed, her hands struggling desperately. It was as if someone stood before her whom she must push away. Shaking her head with closed eyes, she moved in such a way that threw Duan Nanyu into a whirlpool of panic.

Had she suffered harm last night? The pain in his heart only grew heavier.

“Yan’er…” He called her softly, afraid to frighten her, gently holding her frantic, trembling hand.

Feeling his grasp, a sense of safety washed over Yun Xueyan, and she slowly opened her eyes. The cold, handsome face before her, and the fleeting warmth in his gaze, stunned her for a moment.

Immediately she began to struggle wildly.

“Let go of me! Don’t touch me, don’t!” Clutching the quilt, she curled herself into the corner, shivering.

Her guarded, piercing eyes hurt Duan Nanyu deeply. He had watched over her all night, only to be met with such resistance.

Clenching his fists, he forced himself to remain calm, not to further wound her. She could not withstand his anger now.

“Yan’er, it’s all right. Those people are gone. Everything is fine now.” He comforted her softly, his heart once again softened by her helpless fragility.

Slowly he approached Yun Xueyan, wanting to hold her in his arms, but as soon as he drew near, she struggled fiercely, refusing to let him come close.

“You too! You called me a wretch, a slave, a hideous thing. You hurt me, again and again,” gripping the edge of the quilt, fear surged within Yun Xueyan, “I don’t want to see you, I don’t!”

Her sharp voice nearly burst from her throat, venting all the bitterness and terror she had repressed, yet it struck Duan Nanyu’s heart like thunder.

A pain as if torn apart!

His face grew cold and grim, but he dared not vent his anger, helplessly watching Yun Xueyan, like a startled little creature, build a wall to protect herself.

She allowed no one near.

He tried several times to reach out, wanting to hold her, but was always pushed away. His fury could only be swallowed.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Duan Nanyu suddenly leapt onto the bed and gathered Yun Xueyan into his arms. “Yan’er, it’s all right. If you’re frightened, just cry. Don’t hold it in. Let it out, cry it out!”

He let her dig her nails into his flesh, bite and tear at him in her madness, but he did not let go.

Gradually, he felt a coldness at his neck, then heard sobs by his ear, rising into heart-wrenching cries.

“Duan Nanyu, I thought I would never come back!” She called him by name! She no longer cared for his status; all she knew was that she no longer had to remain in that dark place.

She was free…

“It’s all right now, it’s all over,” he soothed her gently, but in his eyes, turned away from Yun Xueyan, a ruthless gleam flickered. His lips were tightly pressed, barely restraining his fury.