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

Yun Nian lowered her head, her lips slightly pouting, looking a little aggrieved.

I was just about to speak.

"Father!"

"Your subject has been ordered to come and provide support; the reinforcements have arrived."

It was Qin Senyao's voice, eager to claim credit.

Yun Nian was startled.

As if by reflex, she quickly pulled her hand back from Qin Jiuchen's palm, her movements flustered.

She instinctively put her scarred hands behind her back, as if she had done something wrong and was afraid of being seen.

Qin Senyao led a small group of people and quickly turned out from the forest path.

He was dressed in a silver-white outfit, looking travel-worn.

However, when his gaze fell on Yun Nian, he was taken aback.

"Yun Nian?"

He dismounted and galloped over. "What are you doing here?"

Yun Nian calmed herself down.

She quickly adjusted her expression, lowered her head slightly, and softened her voice: "Your Highness, I came to Xiangguo Temple in Lingshan to offer incense and pray for blessings, but I got lost in the mountains. Fortunately, I met Your Highness, and Your Highness saved me."

After saying that, she secretly raised her eyes and quickly glanced at Qin Jiuchen, her eyes pleading, signaling him to cooperate with her.

Qin Jiuchen took in Yun Nian's eagerness to pull her hand away and clear her name.

He was expressionless.

He glanced at Yun Nian indifferently, but it sent a chill down Yun Nian's spine.

He then looked away and gazed into the distance, letting out a soft "hmm" through his nose, which was considered an acknowledgment of Yun Nian's statement.

Seeing that his father did not deny it, Qin Senyao looked at Yun Nian and reprimanded her sternly, "Yun Nian, do you know why your father has come to Yeling Mountain this time? Suppressing bandits is no child's play; it is extremely dangerous. Aren't you just causing trouble and hindering your father by being here?"

The more he spoke, the more uneasy he felt, his brows furrowing even more deeply. He waved his hand behind him and ordered, "Someone, escort Miss Yun down the mountain immediately and back to a safe place."

Two guards immediately stepped forward in response.

"I'm not going back!"

Yun Nian got anxious.

Qin Senyao was taken aback by her retort, then his face darkened, and he said angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting? My father and I are here to do serious business—to wipe out the bandits—not to go sightseeing with our women. What kind of decorum is it for a weak woman like you to stay here?"

Yun Nian met his angry gaze, her eyes reddening at the right moment, adding a touch of helplessness. "Qi Luo and I got separated. This mountain forest is so big, and there are bandits around. How can I go back by myself and leave her alone? I have to wait for her, at least to find out where she is."

"She's just a lowly servant girl, what does she matter?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Senyao's tone became even more impatient, "She has hands and feet; she's probably already found her way back. Stop being stubborn and get down the mountain immediately!"

"I'm not going back!"

Yun Nian pursed her lips, straightened her slender back, and that stubbornness came back to her, standing still.

Qin Senyao was angered by her.

He strode forward, reaching out to grab Yun Nian's arm, trying to forcibly pull her away: "Yun Nian, are you not even listening to me anymore?!"

He grabbed the side of Yun Nian's injured left arm.

"hiss."

Yun Nian's wound was gripped tightly, and a sharp pain instantly struck, causing her to gasp in pain.

She instinctively tried to break free, but Qin Senyao was furious and his grip was extremely strong, so she couldn't break free at all and could only endure the pain.

"Have you all had enough of this nonsense?"

A deep, cold voice came from behind.

Qin Jiuchen's expression was calm and composed, his gaze cold and sharp as he slowly swept over the two arguing individuals.

Qin Senyao immediately released his grip on Yun Nian's hand, his anger instantly turning into fear and respect as he clasped his hands and bowed.

"Father, please calm down. It was my fault for losing my temper and failing to discipline her properly. Considering that she is young and doesn't understand, I will immediately order someone to send her back."

"She followed."

Qin Jiuchen interrupted him, "Go with the team to suppress the bandits."

"What?"

Qin Senyao suddenly raised his head, his face full of astonishment, thinking he had misheard. "Father, this... suppressing bandits is dangerous, how could Yun Nian, a weak woman, possibly..."

Yun Nian's heart tightened, fearing that Qin Senyao would see through her scheme, so she quickly took over the conversation and hurriedly explained.

"Your Highness, please listen to me. I really don't mean to cause trouble. I'm just worried about Qiluo. These mountains are dangerous, and I'm afraid that if she runs into bandits, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"The prince has agreed to let me come along. I promise I will behave myself, never run away, and never cause trouble for anyone."

Qin Senyao saw Yun Nian's anxious and earnest eyes, and then secretly glanced at his father's expressionless profile.

A father's decisions are never open to questioning.

Although he found the matter absurd and somewhat strange, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Without much thought, Qin Senyao replied, "Since Father has agreed, you shall come along. Remember, behave yourself and do not act on your own. If anything goes wrong, I cannot protect you!"

"Yes, Your Highness, I understand."

Yun Nian agreed and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Jiuchen casually handed the porcelain medicine bottle in his hand to Yun Nian beside him.

"Take care of it yourself."

After saying that, he turned around, walked to the rocks next to him, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

Despite the stinging pain in her legs and palms, Yun Nian walked over and sat down on a slightly flatter rock.

Qin Senyao also sat down on the stone next to her.

He watched as she carefully uncorked the medicine bottle, trying to apply the medicine to her other, scarred hand with one hand. Her movements were clumsy and pitiful, and the powder was scattered everywhere.

"Tsk, what a hassle."

Qin Senyao couldn't stand it any longer and snatched the medicine bottle from her hand. "You're so clumsy, let me do it."

Yun Nian did not refuse, but simply raised her tear-filled eyes, glanced at him timidly, and offered him her injured hand.

Qin Senyao grasped her wrist.

The tentacles felt that the wrist bones were so slender they seemed to break at the slightest touch, and the skin was delicate, a stark contrast to the hideous bloodstains and blisters on the palm.

A strange feeling stirred within him, and he unconsciously softened his movements.

He carefully sprinkled the powder on the broken and bleeding areas.

"How could you be so careless?"