[The Night Visit]
At the Chang-Le Palace, Princess Si Yirou sat in silence, her tea long cold. When she heard the news of the Five Yao's return—specifically that Li Yan was heavily wounded—the mask of royal composure finally cracked.
Under the cover of night, she donned a simple cloak and hurried to the infirmary. Standing by Li Yan's bed, watching the man who always acted as a shield for others now lying broken and bandaged, she felt a sharp, aching tenderness. She reached out, her fingers barely brushing his hair. "Live," she whispered into the shadows. "If you dare leave me, I will never forgive you."
In his medicinal slumber, Li Yan caught a faint scent of osmanthus—quiet, persistent, and warm. He murmured a name in his sleep, a question lost to the night: "...Princess?"
[The Bold Confession]
The next evening, despite the warnings of her attendants, Si Yirou returned. This time, she didn't hide. She walked straight into Li Yan's room, where he was attempting to cover his scars with a robe.
"Why has the Princess come?" Li Yan asked, his voice stiff.
"Because I wanted to see you," she replied, her words steady and clear.
She took the medicine bowl from the servant and fed him herself, spoonful by spoonful. The bitterness of the herbs was drowned out by the sudden heat in his chest. When the bowl was empty, she looked him in the eye.
"People say a Princess shouldn't bow to a soldier," she said, her voice dropping but losing none of its iron. "But I don't care about rumors or status. I like you, Li Yan. I am in love with you."
[The Stone Crumbles]
Li Yan, the man who could stand unmoved before ten thousand blades, was suddenly defenseless. His ears turned a bright, betraying red. His mind raced—he thought of his duty to Gu Xingyu, his respect for her as a protector. But what the Princess offered was different. It was a flame that pierced through his armor.
"If you're going to reject me, don't speak," Yirou whispered, her hand trembling as she covered his lips. "But if you accept... just nod."
Looking into her tear-filled, hopeful eyes, the rational walls Li Yan had built around his heart collapsed. He took a deep breath and, slowly, firmly... he nodded.
The joy that broke across Yirou's face was unlike any royal etiquette. She laughed through her tears, holding his hand as if she had just won the greatest treasure in the world. For the first time, the "Dull Stone" of the Five Yao understood the power of a smile.
[The Peanut Gallery]
Outside the door, the other four Yao were huddled together, peeking through the crack.
"Unbelievable," Sang Qi grumbled, though his lips twitched upward. "The dull stone actually sprouted a bud."
"He really nodded," Lin Lie whispered, a sense of relief washing over him.
Luo Ye smirked, punching the doorframe lightly. "Great! One less rival for Xingyu's attention!"
Cang Yuan leaned back, laughing silently. "This is interesting... I want to see how much further the Princess can push our Iron Shield."
They shared a silent look. This unexpected union was perhaps the best thing to happen since the battle ended.