014 Self-Inflicted Sentiment

Gasping weakly for breath, Yun Xueyan felt a wave of helplessness in her heart. If she kept walking at this pace, she might not even manage to deliver the clothes before nightfall. She forced herself upright, making a feeble attempt to stand and walk properly. Yet the moment her toes touched the ground, a jolt of pain shot through her heart as well, and she stumbled, unable to keep her balance, falling toward the floor.

She had expected to hit the cold, hard ground, but instead, she found herself enveloped by a warm, broad chest. A faint scent of dragon musk filled her senses, and her body stiffened instantly in his embrace. She knew that fragrance all too well—it had accompanied her every day recently.

Incredulously, she looked up and met Duan Nanyu’s eyes, cold as ice and sharp enough to pierce bone. His chilling gaze sent a shiver through her, yet she couldn’t look away. Surely, she must have been mistaken just now, for in that fleeting instant, she thought she saw a trace of loneliness and desolation in his eyes—a look she was all too familiar with.

But how could that possibly be?

Her voice trembled as she bowed her head deeply. “Your Highness, this servant is useless and has troubled you yet again.”

Duan Nanyu frowned impatiently but did not let go of her. “If you know you’re useless, then stop pretending you’re not! I won’t always be so charitable.”

“Please, Your Highness, put me down. I can walk on my own,” she pleaded, her frail voice quivering. The color that had just returned to her cheeks drained away instantly. No sooner had she finished speaking than Duan Nanyu’s fingers pressed firmly against her ankle. The pain made Yun Xueyan gasp, but she dared not make a sound.

Clenching her teeth, her lips pressed tightly together, she forced down the moan rising in her throat. Only half of her pale face was visible, proof enough of the agony she felt.

Duan Nanyu glanced at her, ignoring the luxurious garments strewn across the floor, and strode away with her in his arms.

Inside the Xuan Yue Pavilion, he set her down on the bed, then looked around. Apart from the two of them, there was no one else present. How had she never noticed this before?

“I’ll send for the physician in a moment—don’t wander around,” he commanded with a cold, almost caring tone. For once, Yun Xueyan felt moved. Was this man before her actually worrying about her?

But the thought lasted only a moment before she dismissed it as wishful thinking.

“Don’t let me catch you wandering again! You have your place and must abide by the rules. There’s no need for you to pay respects to me or Yiner anymore—I don’t want to see your face first thing in the morning,” he said, his harsh words half-shrouded by the bed’s gauzy drapes, making his expression impossible to read.

Yet every word was clear to her and etched into her heart.

She touched her cheek unconsciously, feeling the roughness left by the hideous scar.

She didn’t know how she managed a smile with such stiff lips, but the half of her face revealed seemed to glow with a delicate radiance, as if a pure lotus had just bloomed.

“This servant will heed your admonition and will not bring you disgrace by wandering about.”

Duan Nanyu nodded in satisfaction—very well! She had managed to interpret his meaning just as he’d wanted. The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily; with a furious flick of his sleeve, he turned and strode out without looking back.

Did she mistake his concern for something else?

Once he was gone, Yun Xueyan collapsed onto the bed, gasping for air. She refused to show weakness before him, and so she had endured as long as she could. Now, at last, she let the strength she had built up crumble away. The pain in her swollen ankle brought tears to her eyes, slipping out silently at the corners.