Shangguan Fang'er's face paled in shock, and she slumped onto the stool, fine beads of sweat dotting her forehead...
She had thought that venturing out for treasure would be smoother, but before she could even catch a glimpse of the treasure, she was targeted by Yan Kingdom's elite assassins.
Murong Qing appeared calmer, but her heart was still unsettled.
Seeing the princess so panicked and on the verge of fainting, Murong Qing softly advised, "These people wouldn't dare kill us right now, so Sister, you needn't worry..."
Shangguan Fang'er scoffed inwardly. Even if they weren't killed, being constantly followed was an unpleasant feeling.
Yun Sanman frowned and looked at Shangguan Fang'er, "Fang'er, at this point, are you still not going to tell me the truth?"
While he knew she was a princess of a fallen kingdom, he wondered how many more secrets Shangguan Fang'er held from him, or if Fang'er simply didn't consider him family. Otherwise, would she have just left?
Yun Simon closed the window and curved his lips slightly, "Third Brother, if she's unwilling to speak, let's not force her. You came here this time precisely to hear her true thoughts, didn't you? After we hear them, we can leave. Why waste everyone's time..."
Hearing this, Murong Qing glanced at Yun Sanman, then turned to look at Yun Simon, sighing softly, "Forget it, forget it. You two talk slowly. I'll wait outside!~"
"I'll go out for some fresh air too..." Yun Simon jumped down from the windowsill and followed Murong Qing out.
Only Yun Sanman and Shangguan Fang'er were left in the guest room. Although they had been alone before, since Doctor Guan cured Fang'er's illness, Sanman had never truly had a serious talk with her.
"Fang'er!~"
After a long pause, Yun Sanman finally spoke slowly, his face filled with melancholy and bitterness, "Since you came to my home, has my family ever mistreated you?"
"No... no!" Shangguan Fang'er shook her head.
"Then has someone said something they shouldn't have, making you angry?" Yun Sanman asked again.
Shangguan Fang'er fiddled with the silk handkerchief in her hand, "N-no!"
Hearing this, Yun Sanman sat heavily on the chair, musing for a moment before chuckling self-deprecatingly, "It seems you've never fancied this country bumpkin like me from the beginning. All the things that happened before were like a dream, right? You wake up and just forget them, as if they never happened?"
Shangguan Fang'er: "..."
I just wanted some peace while searching for treasure. I never said I wouldn't return to Dashui Village forever.
What is this passive-aggressive tone all about!~
"That's right!" Yun Sanman stood up, his back to Shangguan Fang'er. "You are a dignified princess of a kingdom. Even if your kingdom has fallen, your status cannot change. How could a noble princess condescend to marry a country bumpkin with no learning? I was just being overly sentimental..."
As he spoke, Yun Sanman turned around, looking at Shangguan Fang'er with deep affection. "Fang'er, let's part ways here. If you have the chance to visit Dashui Village in the future, I will certainly fulfill my duties as a host!~"
Shangguan Fang'er's lips twitched violently. "Yun Laosan, you are truly sentimental. You're not like a man at all..."
Yun Sanman: "..."
What does that mean?
At this point, was he still supposed to smile and wish her happiness and a good future?
He couldn't say such things.
"Yun Laosan, I'll tell you the truth. This time, when Qing'er and I left Dashui Village, we were out searching for treasure!~"
Seeing Yun Sanman's dejected look as if no true affection existed in the world, Shangguan Fang'er decided to tell him the truth. "Only Qing'er and I know about this, so it must be carried out in secret. The more people who know, the greater the risk..."
"But didn't those assassins still find us?" Yun Sanman retorted.
Shangguan Fang'er: "..."
It was just that the Yan Kingdom's elite assassins were too numerous, and they were discovered by accident.
"Sanman!~" Shangguan Fang'er walked up to Yun Sanman and took his hand. "I am not someone who repays kindness with enmity. Although I'm no longer crazy or foolish, my past memories are still here. I know that everyone in the family treats me like their own daughter. I will never forget this kindness..."
"Then doesn't the relationship between you and me hold any value?" Yun Sanman pulled his hand away.
Shangguan Fang'er paused for a moment and gave a dry laugh. "Sanman, for you, you might have known me for a very, very long time, perhaps even considering me your wife. But you need to put yourself in my shoes. I just recovered from a serious illness and regained my senses. When I faced you again, it was like looking at a stranger..."
As she spoke, Shangguan Fang'er walked to the window and looked at the snow outside. "If we still want to continue this, you need to give me some time to get to know you again, to understand you. I can't just accept you based on a few fragmented memories. Can you understand?"
Yun Sanman: "..."
So, after all this circling around, you still don't accept me?
However, thinking from Fang'er's perspective, he was indeed a bit selfish.
Putting aside other things, he was a divorced man, and he had Jingde with him. Although he had saved some money privately, that money was reserved for Jingde's future education and for buying a house when he got married...
Given his own circumstances, why was he demanding so much from Fang'er?
"I, I understand you!~" Yun Sanman murmured, then stepped forward and cupped Shangguan Fang'er's shoulders. "Don't look for the treasure for now. Come back to Dashui Village with me first. When spring arrives, I'll accompany you to find the treasure, okay? Father, Mother, and everyone at home miss you..."
Shangguan Fang'er smiled faintly upon hearing this. "No. Since we've come this far, there's no reason to turn back. Besides, those Yan Kingdom assassins are more persistent than flies. If I return to Dashui Village now, wouldn't I be endangering everyone at home?"
If her treasure hunt caused the deaths of everyone in the Yun family, she would live with guilt and remorse for the rest of her life...
"Then what does Fang'er mean?" Yun Sanman asked with surprise.
Shangguan Fang'er raised her head, a confident smile gracing her lips. "You accompany me to find the treasure. We'll leave tonight!~"
Yun Sanman: "..."
You intend to drag someone down with you!
If he suddenly kicked the bucket, Jingde would become a child without a father.
But upon careful consideration, wasn't this a good opportunity to foster their relationship?
If he backed out now, it wouldn't be manly at all...
Just as Yun Sanman was about to agree, the guest room door was abruptly pushed open.