With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

Qin Senyao sat next to her, taking in her "unable to eat" expression.

He was already harboring a grudge.

He was both annoyed that Yun Nian was late and embarrassed him, and even more frightened by his father's merciless reprimand.

Seeing that Yun Nian wasn't even eating properly, he felt that she was being petty and deliberately embarrassing him, and he felt that she was immature and not presentable.

In an attempt to regain some ground, he took the initiative to reach for a piece of eight-treasure duck meat with his chopsticks, placed it in Yun Nian's bowl, and said in a low voice with a forceful "consideration," "How can you eat so little? You're so thin, eat more meat to nourish your body."

The duck meat had a distinctive fishy smell, which, along with the steam, went straight to Yun Nian's nose.

Yun Nian felt a sudden nausea in her stomach, and couldn't help but furrow her brows, her face turning even paler.

She stared at the duck meat in the bowl, but didn't touch it.

When Qin Senyao saw that she didn't appreciate his efforts and even put on that disgusted expression, he felt utterly humiliated.

He leaned closer, threatening through gritted teeth, "Yun Nian, don't be ungrateful. Just because your father helped you out doesn't mean you're right to be late. Eat your food properly and don't embarrass me here!"

Yun Nian's fingertips trembled slightly. She raised her eyes and met Qin Senyao's gaze, which contained both warning and dissatisfaction.

A layer of moisture quickly gathered in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let it fall.

After a long while, she finally picked up her chopsticks again.

The chopsticks trembled slightly between her slender fingers. She took a deep breath, barely managed to pick up a piece of duck meat, brought it to her mouth, and took a very slow, small bite.

The strong, gamey smell of duck hit my throat.

Yun Nian felt a violent spasm in her stomach and was about to vomit on the spot.

She clenched her teeth and forced herself to swallow the duck meat. Her face was already deathly pale, and she was sweating profusely.

When Qin Senyao saw that she had "obeyed," his expression softened, and he even felt that his "discipline" had been effective.

So he piled several more pieces of duck meat and other greasy dishes into Yun Nian's bowl.

Looking at the bowl full of greasy food, Yun Nian felt dizzy.

She couldn't hold on any longer, put down her chopsticks, and weakly said to Qin Senyao, "Your Highness, I'm really not feeling well, and I'm a little dizzy... May I take my leave now?"

Qin Senyao was secretly pleased with himself for "taming" his fiancée when he heard this, and his face immediately darkened.

"Nonsense! The banquet has only just begun! Grandmother and all the uncles and elders are still here, and you're already leaving? What kind of behavior is this! Even if you're not feeling well, you have to bear it! Hang in there!"

Yun Nian pursed her lips, remained silent for a moment, and then, as if giving in, said in a low voice, "Then... I'll go to the restroom and come back shortly."

Qin Senyao reluctantly nodded and waved his hand impatiently.

Yun Nian stood up.

The moment she stood up, her vision went black for a second, and she quickly grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself.

This subtle movement did not escape the eyes of some people.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over the direction of the head of the table, before quickly lowering her head to conceal the fleeting glint in her eyes.

Leaving the warm pavilion and walking into the corridor leading to the urinal, the cool night breeze brushed against Yun Nian's face, clearing her muddled mind a little, but the discomfort in her body became even stronger.

She walked slowly, and the wound on her back throbbed with each movement.

As she was about to turn back, a tall and imposing figure appeared silently at the other end of the corridor, blocking her way.

The glow of the lanterns under the eaves stretched the traveler's shadow long, highlighting his handsome yet aloof features.

Yun Nian quickly lowered her eyelids, concealing all her emotions, and respectfully curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Prince Ningxiang."

Qin Jiuchen strode towards her, neither hurried nor slow.

As he approached, Yun Nian subconsciously took a step back, trying to create some distance, but unexpectedly her legs went weak, and she stumbled and fell backward uncontrollably.

In the blink of an eye, an arm reached out and firmly embraced her waist, bringing her back to her original position.

However, this sudden contact and pulling inevitably aggravated the whip marks on her back and the burns on her arms.

Yun Nian gasped in pain, "Hiss..."

Qin Jiuchen frowned slightly.

He didn't immediately let go; instead, he took the opportunity to grab her arm, which she instinctively tried to cover, and with his other hand, he lifted up her wide, water-red sleeve.

In the dim light of the lanterns, a section of fair forearm covered with hideous scars was exposed.

The area where the hot tea was splashed is still red and swollen, covered with blisters of all sizes.

Some of the blisters had burst, oozing a pale yellow liquid, which looked alarming and clearly had not been properly treated.

Qin Jiuchen's gaze lingered on the wound for two breaths, then his eyes suddenly darkened, like a night sky gathering a storm.

He looked up. "Why not apply the medicine?"

Yun Nian pulled her arm back, quickly pulled down her sleeve, and covered herself tightly.

She bit her pale lower lip, her voice weak, "I'm sorry to trouble Your Highness. I'll take care of myself and not trouble Your Highness."

Seeing her forced composure, Qin Jiuchen suddenly chuckled softly.

Laughter spread in the night wind, carrying an indescribable chill.

He was already extremely handsome, and this smile made him even more captivating.

But the smile didn't reach his eyes; a chilling aura of danger was coming towards him.

He stepped forward and leaned closer.

The distance between the two instantly shortened.

Yun Nian smelled the cool, refreshing scent of pine and cypress emanating from him, mixed with a faint aroma of alcohol.

He leaned down slightly, close to her ear, his deep, pleasant voice clear and distinct.

"You're blaming me."

It's not a question, it's a statement.

Yun Nian looked up in astonishment, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. "Your Highness, what do you mean? How could Nian'er dare to blame Your Highness?"

Qin Jiuchen's lips curved into an even deeper, cold smile.

He looked into her eyes, which she was trying to keep clear and innocent, and began to speak slowly and deliberately.

"Did Miss Yun specifically order your maid to say those things to my guards? I dislike riddles. Miss Yun went to great lengths, going through all this trouble to deliver the message to me."

"Miss Yun, what do you need? Please speak frankly."

His gaze was sharp as a hawk's, fixed firmly on her.

The corridor was quiet, and the night breeze was cool.

The glow of the lanterns cast their shadows together, creating a sudden, subtle, and tense atmosphere.

Yun Nian's heart began to pound violently in her chest.