Volume One, Chapter 11: But Is It Because of Rolan?

As expected, within less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a palace attendant came with a message. The young attendant’s expression was unreadable; upon entering the courtyard, he glanced briefly at Yan Nanfei before lowering his gaze.

“General Yan, His Majesty had a pleasant conversation with Miss Shen and has invited her to stay in the palace for a few days. Lord Shen has already sent word. General Yan, you may leave now.”

Wasn’t it said that it would take less than fifteen minutes and then they could return? Shen Xingdu quickly looked at Yan Nanfei, only to see Yan Nanfei’s pupils contract and his brows furrow deeply. Damn it, this was not part of Yan Nanfei’s plan!

Before Yan Nanfei could say anything, the attendant motioned toward the courtyard gate in an inviting gesture.

“General Yan, I will escort you out of the palace.”

“No need, Officer Shi. I know the way; I can go by myself.”

Yan Nanfei attempted to decline, but Officer Shi stepped forward, blocking the exit firmly.

“General Yan, please don’t make things difficult for us. His Majesty wishes for me to escort you out.”

Yan Nanfei lifted Shen Xingdu into his arms and followed Officer Shi out. Only when the carriage curtain was drawn down, obscuring the palace gates, did Shen Xingdu anxiously ask:

“General Yan, didn’t you say Fufu would be back soon? Why does the Emperor want me to stay in the palace for a while? I’ve attended court banquets all these years, never even spoken to the Emperor. How could they have had such a pleasant chat? Besides, that wasn’t me, that was Fufu! Fufu doesn’t even know how to speak! Why would they keep Fufu here? What exactly did you feed me earlier?”

Shen Xingdu fired questions rapidly, jumping from Yan Nanfei’s left side to his lap, then scrambling onto his shoulder. When Yan Nanfei didn’t answer, Shen Xingdu shifted anxiously from one shoulder to the other. His large tail swept restlessly around Yan Nanfei’s neck before he finally pressed close to his ear and whispered, “Say something, General Yan?”

Yan Nanfei’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and the next moment, Shen Xingdu was gently lowered from his shoulder and held close in his arms.

“I just gave Fufu a sedative.”

“Huh? General Yan! You gave me a sedative???”

Seeing his calm demeanor earlier, Shen Xingdu had thought he had some foolproof plan. It turned out he intended to drug Fufu to sneak past the guards! But on second thought, with Fufu’s spirit residing in her body and being detained in the palace, the sedative was indeed a clever solution! Shen Xingdu even worried the dosage might not be enough.

“General Yan, how long will the sedative last? What if Fufu wakes up?”

Yan Nanfei’s gaze fixed intently ahead, his brows slightly furrowed, deep in thought.

“I will send someone to reconnoiter the palace tonight. You must remain calm for now.”

Used to being held in Yan Nanfei’s arms, Shen Xingdu shifted to find a comfortable position and slumped down, half-heartedly asking, “So, where are we headed now?”

“Back to the Yan residence.”

Back to the Yan residence? That meant meeting Yan Nanfei’s parents. She was still a furry little fox—could anything be worse than this introduction?

Seeing Shen Xingdu curled up like a ball and silent, Yan Nanfei continued, “I need my father and mother’s approval to marry you properly. For now, you just need to act as Fufu. Don’t be nervous. I will handle everything.”

How could she not be nervous? Shen Xingdu’s reputation in the capital was utterly ruined; even her childhood friend Lu Shao considered her fit only to be a concubine. To her parents, she was worth only fifty taels of gold. That was Lord Yan, the prime minister of Dazhao!

“Your parents won’t agree!” Shen Xingdu buried her head in Yan Nanfei’s chest, voice muffled.

He stroked the back of her head and the two fox ears behind it.

“They may not agree, but that’s not a problem. There are ways to handle refusal. You don’t need to worry. Once we are married, the Emperor will have no reason to keep you locked in the palace.”

Finally, Shen Xingdu lifted her head, her large eyes glistening as she studied Yan Nanfei. So this was what it felt like to be firmly chosen. She envied Fufu—having an owner willing to go to any lengths to bring him back. If this was how he treated Fufu, how would he treat a woman he truly loved?

Her thoughts drifted to Lu Shao by her bedside, holding her hand, promising to make her his official wife. The pang in her heart twisted painfully—this must be disappointment.

The closer they got to the Yan residence, the heavier Shen Xingdu’s mood grew.

“General Yan, maybe we should think of another way? Destroying your marriage to bring Fufu back seems too rash. Couldn’t you try sneaking Fufu out instead?”

Yan Nanfei carried Shen Xingdu out of the carriage. The imposing gate of the Yan residence was crafted from top-quality nanmu wood, majestic and elegant. Above the lintel hung a plaque inscribed by the Emperor himself, gilded and radiant, bearing the words “Prime Minister’s Mansion.” The bold brushstrokes declared the noble status of the estate’s master to all passersby.

Yan Nanfei rarely returned here unless necessary.

“If Fufu were still at the Grand Tutor’s residence, maybe risking your reputation and trying to sneak him out could work. But now that he’s detained in the palace, besides marrying you and bringing you home, do you think there’s any other way?”

Shen Xingdu fell silent. It was her fault. Yan Nanfei had told her to wait two more days. Perhaps he had already made arrangements; it was she who couldn’t wait and sneaked back.

“General Yan, I’m sorry for dragging you down. I shouldn’t have snuck back last night. You saved me twice, yet all I do is cause trouble.”

“Good that you understand. No more sneaking out at night!”

Guiltily, Shen Xingdu looked at Yan Nanfei, noticing the dark circles under his eyes—he must not have slept well either.

“I promise, before we get Fufu back, I won’t sneak away while you sleep anymore. I’ll even tell you stories—until you fall asleep!”

...

“So, you came today to inform me of your marriage?”

After hearing Yan Nanfei’s account, Lord Yan drew this conclusion.

Shen Xingdu, hiding in Yan Nanfei’s embrace, was captivated by the ebony-carved windows of the Prime Minister’s mansion, the lotus petal patterns on the tea cups atop the ebony table, and the auspicious brocade on Lord Yan’s robes. She noticed the similarity between Lord Yan and Yan Nanfei’s facial features and guessed Yan Nanfei’s eyebrows and eyes must have come from his mother. She focused on these trivial details to avoid listening to their conversation, for she knew her reputation was tarnished. No one in the capital would want to marry her, let alone the prestigious Yan family.

“If Lord Yan disapproves...” Yan Nanfei stood up halfway through his sentence.

But Lord Yan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Did I say I disapprove?”

Yan Nanfei sat back down.

“Tomorrow, I will send a matchmaker with the betrothal gifts to the Shen residence.”

Lord Yan raised his hand to stop Yan Nanfei’s words.

“Who you marry is not for me to interfere with. I have only one thing to say. Shen Xingzhang is a man who craves fame and flatters the powerful—not a worthy minister. His wife, Madam Jiang, is mercenary and short-sighted. If you marry Miss Shen, I do not acknowledge the Shen family. I advise you to control your wife well after marriage. With such parents, I wonder if Miss Shen can remain untainted by the mud. I know you stopped listening to me years ago. Marriage is a serious matter; I warn you for your own good and hope you take this advice to heart.”

After finishing, Lord Yan sighed heavily, then looked meaningfully at Yan Nanfei and asked:

“You insist on marrying the Shen daughter, is it because of Ruo Lan?”