Yu Nanqing pursed her lips, her cheeks as red as Su Wanyan's, as if she had applied rouge.
He wanted to... but... he couldn't control himself.
Thinking this, he gently covered his eyes and turned his face away.
Su Wanyan also silently turned her body to the side, her back to Yu Nanqing.
As her emotions calmed down and a hazy sleepiness returned, Su Wanyan murmured, "Yu Nanqing."
"Hmm?" Yu Nanqing's soft, deep voice came steadily from the other side of the bed.
Su Wanyan's eyes were slightly closed: "I'll sleep a little longer..."
Yu Nanqing moved slightly and slowly turned around.
Because Su Wanyan was facing away from him, he couldn't see her sleeping face clearly. He gently reached out and lifted a strand of her long hair, letting it twirl around his fingertips. He didn't dare to make any big movements, afraid of disturbing the beauty's peaceful dream.
When Su Wanyan woke up again, Yu Nanqing was no longer in the room.
She lay on the bed, yawning listlessly, when Qiuye came in with hot water for washing up: "Your Highness, you're awake?"
Su Wanyan threw off the covers and got up: "Where is Yu Nanqing?"
"His Highness has gone to his study."
Su Wanyan was not in the mood and was in the study again.
"Ah, yes, I saw Brother Wei Xiang return today. Steward Wang and Brother Tian were also called to the study and haven't come out yet. It seems like something important has happened," Qiu Ye reported, handing over a sip of sandalwood tea.
Su Wanyan was stunned: "Wei Xiang is back?"
Since Wei Xiang started his business, he has often been out of sight for a whole year. He only met him briefly during the battle with Donghai, and now it has been a long time since then. He is like a dragon whose head is seen but whose tail is not.
Upon hearing this, Su Wanyan recalled that she had previously instructed Wei Xiang to open pharmacies throughout the country, and the follow-up to this matter was then directly handed over to Yu Nanqing.
Did Wei Xiang come back this time because Yu Nanqing wanted to use those hidden locations disguised as pharmacies?
Su Wanyan gently rested her chin on her hand. Yesterday, Yu Nanqing went to the military camp. Was he already making plans?
"Your Majesty, breakfast is here." Huang Ye entered carrying a tray, interrupting Su Wanyan's thoughts.
The peach blossom cake sprinkled with sugar crystals had a light pink color. A bowl of milk soup was placed in front of Su Wanyan. Looking at the light lemon yellow layer on the surface, Su Wanyan smiled and picked up the soup spoon.
Upon seeing this, Qiu Ye immediately teased, "Look at Your Highness, without me even having to say it, Your Highness already knows that it was the Prince who made the milk soup and peach blossom cake for you."
Su Wanyan glanced at Qiu Ye: "You talk too much."
She took a bite of milk pudding, her eyes darted around, and suddenly called out, "Falling Snow."
The next second, Luo Xue came in from outside, her face beaming with a simple and innocent smile as she curtsied: "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"Keep an eye on who Yu Nanqing has been calling to his study lately, and tell me when you get back."
"Yes." Luo Xue had just agreed when she asked curiously, "But Your Highness, if you want to know what the Prince is doing, why don't you just ask him directly? The Prince certainly won't hide anything from you."
"Some things are hard to explain," Su Wanyan said with a smile. "Just go ahead and do it."
Some things, some plans, cannot be explained in a single word; things can never happen exactly as they planned.
This is also why Su Wanyan understands why Yu Nanqing can only give her a general idea; many details are unpredictable, and the situation set up today may change tomorrow.
Besides, there's no point in listening to Yu Nanqing's words in a rigid, formulaic way.
She tried to deduce Yu Nanqing's next move by observing the people he met, but it was like a riddle, which was far less interesting.
Compared to Yu Nanqing's busy schedule, Su Wanyan seemed to have plenty of free time.
He spends most of his time in the pharmacy. When he gets tired, he takes a few days off, goes to the city for a stroll, or goes to Miaoshengtang to see patients.
I occasionally tend to the herbs in the yard, and I also play with the chickens around the coop.
This reminded Su Wanyan that she hadn't yet explored the secret passage in the Prince's library. Yu Nanqing was busy at the moment, so she should wait patiently.
That day, Su Wanyan didn't want to do anything. She had Qiuye and Huangye set out some snacks and flower tea in the pavilion in the courtyard, and she was reading a comic book that she had bought from the city.
The comic books don't have many words; they mostly consist of four or six-panel illustrations, or one illustration per page. Although there aren't many words, you can tell what they are doing just by looking at the pictures.
As the pages continue, they become a story in themselves.
Su Wanyan thought it looked pretty good and would be perfect for relaxing in her free time.
Just as Su Wanyan was engrossed in watching, a pair of arms appeared from behind her, gently supporting her on the stone table, just enough to confine her small body within a small space.
Yu Nanqing smiled, his gaze passing over her head and landing on the comic book she was holding: "Yan'er seems quite content."
His tall figure completely enveloped Su Wanyan at this moment.
Su Wanyan looked up and saw a handsome face right in front of her as she entered through the curtain.
She smiled and held up the comic book in her hand: "Want to read it together?"
Yu Nanqing lowered his eyes slightly, his thin lips brushing against her hair, his voice warm and deep: "I'm going to the prefectural capital, so I came to see you before I left."
The floral fragrance emanating from her hair made Yu Nanqing deepen the kiss.
Su Wanyan picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth: "Then you can try one before you go."
As the pastry entered his mouth, Yu Nanqing felt a sweet sensation that warmed his heart. He took Su Wanyan's small hand and gently kissed the back of it: "It won't be long. I'll come back to have lunch with you at noon."
Su Wanyan waved her hand: "Go ahead, go ahead."
After Yu Nanqing's figure slowly disappeared into the front yard, Su Wanyan turned her attention back to the comic book.
However, not long after Yu Nanqing left, Luo Xue appeared in the courtyard and said, "This servant greets Your Highness."
Her smile was still that innocent and harmless one.
Su Wanyan looked up and saw her hand over a list: "These are the people Your Highness met yesterday."
These past few days, Luo Xue has been recording the people Yu Nanqing has met. Some of them only exchanged a few words, but Luo Xue has still noted them down.
If it is an official, Luo Xue will write down the person's identity, rank, age, etc. If it is a guard in the mansion, she will also write down their age, affiliation, and responsibilities, providing very detailed information.
Su Wanyan unfolded the list, which contained only a few names, countable on one hand. One name caught her eye, standing out starkly: "Bai Jiaojiao?"
Bai Jiaojiao, seventeen years old, is the daughter of the Bai family in Fucheng. She comes from a merchant family and has many brothers, uncles, and siblings. She has a very good relationship with Lu Chao of the Lu family.
"How did she end up on the list?"
"Yesterday, when His Highness was inspecting the city, Miss Bai blocked his way. Because she was far away, I was unable to hear what Miss Bai and His Highness said."
She paused, then added, "If we get too close, the prince will definitely notice, so..."
"..." Su Wanyan was silent for a long time before putting down the list and saying to Luo Xue, "You can be discovered. You can follow me openly."
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