“A token of thanks?” The man looked down at the food box in her hands, a faint hint of disdain rising in his eyes.

This was the first time anyone had ever thanked him with something so meager.

Yan Yunning frowned. “You don’t want it?”

Xuan Yanyu’s lips curved in a small, unhurried movement. “Indeed I don’t.”

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. “Food and the like — our Young Master never accepts such things.”

“Afraid I’ve poisoned it?” Yan Yunning blurted.

Xuan Yanyu tilted his head lazily toward her. “Would you dare?”

The end of his sentence lifted slightly, carrying a teasing edge.

Yan Yunning felt a pang of guilt. She would dare — she just didn’t dare face the consequences!

The man leaned down toward her and asked in a low voice, “You’d actually dare?”

At such close range, warm breath fanned across her cheek, carrying a faint and elusive fragrance. Yan Yunning unconsciously held her breath.

She looked up and met his pitch-dark eyes, and smiled softly. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow slightly. Such a small amount of nerve — she wouldn’t do it even if he hadn’t asked.

Yan Yunning walked to the table, opened the food box, and brought out the Snow Sunset Congee and grilled clams. She turned, pulled Xuan Yanyu over to sit down, and pressed a wooden spoon into his hand. “Try it.”

She had secretly taken this from her elder sister.

Ye Chen’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t dare say anything.

The man scooped a spoonful of Snow Sunset Congee with an elegant motion, his throat moving gently as he swallowed.

Yan Yunning rested her chin on her hand and watched him. 【Fafa, how deeply must he love my elder sister? He could be living in the lap of luxury, yet he insists on running all over the place with her.】

【He’s so handsome, and he’s a Crown Prince — what woman couldn’t he have? Why does it have to be my elder sister? My elder sister doesn’t even love him. He must have a problem!】

Fafa: 【My Lady, the book never said how deeply he loves your elder sister. It only tells us that for reasons unknown, he is fixated on marrying her.】

“Miss Yan the Second, why are you staring at me like that?” Xuan Yanyu’s eyes held amusement, and the wooden spoon in his hand slowly traced circles in the bowl.

Yan Yunning let out a quiet sigh. Because you’ve got something wrong with your head!

That was what she thought — but her face broke into a radiant smile. “Is it good? My elder sister made this herself for Elder Brother Qi. It smelled so wonderful that I thought you’d like it too. I had no idea my elder sister could actually cook.”

The man barely lifted his eyelid and dropped the wooden spoon.

Ye Chen’s expression shifted slightly. The hand at his side closed into a fist. “You — you made our Young Master eat what Qi Qingchen left behind? You have some nerve.”

“What do you mean ‘left behind’? Elder Brother Qi hasn’t even eaten it yet. If we’re talking about leftovers, it’s Elder Brother Qi who’d be eating his leftovers.” Yan Yunning shot back.

“That’s still unacceptable. He isn’t even worthy of eating what our Young Master leaves behind.” Ye Chen bit down hard.

“You have a rather large grievance against Elder Brother Qi?” Yan Yunning observed him out of the corner of her eye.

Ye Chen’s expression darkened. Could his grievance be any smaller? All because their future Crown Princess was so entangled with that man.

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes flashed cold. Enunciating each word, he said, “Everyone out.”

A moment later, Yan Yunning stood outside the door holding the food box, staring blankly at Ye Chen.

“If not for you, why would our Young Master have kicked me out too?” Ye Chen’s face was full of indignation as he pointed the blame at her.

“What does that have to do with me?” Yan Yunning refused to accept it.

“If not for you, would our Young Master have gotten angry?” Ye Chen complained.

“I can’t be bothered to explain myself to you.” Yan Yunning’s fair little face flushed red with anger. She rose onto her tiptoes, thrust a middle finger in his direction, and let out a sharp “Hmph.”

“Ha.” Ye Chen was so aggravated he almost laughed.

……

Taoyuan Manor.

Yan Yunning held a piece of fruit and took a bite. 【Hey, Fafa — Xuan Yanyu hasn’t paid any attention to me all morning.】

Fafa: 【My Lady, why did you tell him it was Yan Shiyao who made that for Qi Qingchen? You could have just stayed quiet.】

【I thought that if he knew my elder sister deeply loved Elder Brother Qi, it might give him some self-awareness and make him give up on his own. I didn’t expect it to backfire so badly.】

Fafa: 【……He doesn’t care how much Yan Shiyao loves Qi Qingchen. He only cares whether Yan Shiyao will end up marrying him in the end!】

Yan Yunning: 【……】

“Qingchen brother, I’ve been looking forward to your visit ever since your letter arrived.” The young woman smiled to reveal two small dimples on her cheeks. She wore a light green robe that made her look fresh and lovely.

Yan Yunning blinked.

Sensing her gaze, Luo Xuan glanced over at her with a smile. “This must be Miss Yan the Second. Just as Qingchen brother described in his letter — a beauty that puts flowers to shame. You’re truly lovely.”

Yan Yunning smiled back warmly.

Xuan Yanyu gave a quiet laugh. “I’m actually quite curious — how did Young Master Qi describe me?”

Luo Xuan smiled. “Young Master Xuan, why not ask Qingchen brother himself?”

【Oh ho — this young lady is formidable.】 Yan Yunning munched on her fruit and watched with relish.

Fafa: 【Of course she is. She’s the Clan Chief of Taoyuan Manor.】

Xuan Yanyu clicked his tongue and replied with an easy air, “Never mind.”

Luo Xuan raised an eyebrow, a smile lifting the corner of her lips. “Everyone, your side chambers are already prepared. After you’ve dined, feel free to retire and rest. Qingchen brother, I’m borrowing you for a bit.”

Yan Shiyao lowered her head and gripped her wooden chopsticks tightly, her heart churning with a terrible unease.

Yan Yunning picked up the teacup from the table and took a small sip. 【If she doesn’t want Elder Brother Qi to go, why doesn’t she just say so?】

Fafa: 【That’s just her nature. And for all that, had she even an ounce more sense, you would never have been done away with by Xuan Yanyu. One single sentence from her was all it would have taken to spare your life, yet she insisted on opposing him.】

Yan Yunning: 【Drop it! Stop constantly reminding me that I was done away with by him!】

Fafa: 【……】

“I’ve finished eating. Ningning, you and Yanyu brother take your time.” With those words, Yan Shiyao rose and left.

Yan Yunning picked up a meat flatbread and took a bite. 【She’s not going to eat again? There’s so much wonderful food here — isn’t this more important than a man?】

Fafa: 【In her eyes, Qi Qingchen matters far more than a table full of delicacies.】

Yan Yunning scooted a little closer to Xuan Yanyu, grasping for something to say. “Where is Ye Chen? I don’t see him. Where has he gone?”

“You’re very concerned about him?” The man’s slender fingers pinched a meat flatbread, tore off a piece, placed it in his mouth, and chewed with unhurried calm.

Yan Yunning’s cheeks were puffed full as she mumbled indistinctly, “Not concerned.”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow and, with an unobtrusive motion, nudged the dishes in front of him a little closer toward her.

“I… Xuan Yanyu… water…” Yan Yunning clutched her chest, her face flushing a deep red.

Xuan Yanyu’s expression darkened instantly. His voice dropped low and taut. “Someone dared to put poison in the food.”

He reached out one long arm, pulled Yan Yunning up from the wooden chair, raised a hand to press on her pressure point, and Yan Yunning felt a wave of intense nausea. Unable to hold back, she bent forward and began retching.

【Fafa, ugh — there is nothing I hate more than vomiting. Ugh — Xuan Yanyu, ugh — we are sworn enemies from this day forward!】

Fafa: 【Serves you right for eating so fast and choking. He thought you were poisoned.】

Yan Yunning steadied herself after a moment. Xuan Yanyu picked up the water jug and handed it to her. She rinsed her mouth, then wiped her lips with a handkerchief.

She shoved the water jug back into Xuan Yanyu’s hands, her fingertips trembling with indignation. “You… you… who puts poison in food for no reason?”

“You choked?” Xuan Yanyu gave a light laugh.

“Were you doing that on purpose?” Yan Yunning’s pretty brows knitted together.

Xuan Yanyu lifted his lashes to look at her, his voice cooling by a few degrees. “Seems I was being nosy.”

Yan Yunning stared at his retreating back and clenched her fingertips. 【He’s still angry. Who would ever think they’d been poisoned out of nowhere in a meal?】

Fafa: 【My Lady, it’s because he’s been poisoned frequently before. Think about it — he is Xuanzhao’s sole imperial prince. How many people want his life? That is precisely why the Imperial Physician Academy of Xuanzhao is second to none when it comes to treating poison.】

Yan Yunning moved her lips slightly. 【Because of him?】

Fafa: 【Yes. Prince Xuan once decreed that in all things, Xuan Yanyu must be given absolute priority. In the inner palace, no matter who fell ill — as long as Xuan Yanyu had need of them — every physician had to wait their turn. No exceptions, including Prince Xuan himself.】

Fafa: 【So truly, he wasn’t doing it on purpose.】

【So what now? I misjudged him.】 Yan Yunning rubbed her cheek.