She had only been lying there a short while before Yan Yunning sat back up. “Xuan Yanyu, I’m hungry.”

The man on the couch opened his eyes in resignation.

He regretted it again. Next time, he would absolutely not let her lodge here.

The girl lay on her stomach on the bed and stared over at him with pleading eyes. Xuan Yanyu rubbed his temple and spoke in a low, flat tone. “You have to eat right now?”

“No, I just wanted to mention it.”

“…” Xuan Yanyu let out a breath. “Yan Yunning. Stop talking. From this moment on, not a single word.”

Yan Yunning blinked at him.

She held out a while, then opened her mouth. “Xuan Yanyu, I was thinking—”

The man on the couch turned over and faced the wall.

Yan Yunning touched her nose. She was being tiresome, wasn’t she.

The next day.

Yan Yunning pushed open the door of the room. Ye Chen was leaning against a tree trunk and peered past her. “Where’s the Young Master?”

Yan Yunning felt a little uneasy. After she had woken up that morning, Xuan Yanyu had gone over to sleep on the bed — probably because the couch had been uncomfortable.

“Has he not gotten up yet?” Ye Chen muttered under his breath.

His Highness had never been one to sleep in.

“Yan Shiyao — the Chancellor’s legitimate daughter, following Qingchen around day after day. It’s embarrassing just to watch.” Luo Xuan’s voice carried over — soft and dulcet but laced with mockery.

“That’s actually a pretty fair point.” Ye Chen nodded along.

Yan Yunning shot him a sharp look. “Watch it, or I’ll tell Xuan Yanyu.”

Ye Chen’s heart gave a small tremor. He immediately backed down. “Second Miss Yan — my dearest lady — please, don’t say a word.”

“Ah—” A startled cry rang out.

Yan Yunning recognized it as Yan Shiyao’s voice. Her expression shifted and she ran toward the sound.

Luo Xuan stood over Yan Shiyao, gripping her chin with one hand, her red lips parting. “Yan Shiyao, Qingchen can only — must only — be mine.”

She released Yan Shiyao and smiled — a smile that carried a sliver of cruelty.

Nuonuo stepped forward, offering her a cloth. Luo Xuan took it, wiped her fingers, and then tossed the cloth onto Yan Shiyao’s face.

Yan Shiyao clenched her teeth, her eyes burning red. She willed herself not to let the tears fall.

Back in the Chancellor’s residence, she had always been sheltered by her mother. She had never suffered humiliation like this.

This time, it was also her mother who had urged her to seize the opportunity and spend more time with Third Prince, to cultivate a connection.

She harbored feelings for A’Chen — which was why she hadn’t refused her mother.

“Yan Shiyao, look at yourself. How are you fit to be with Qingchen? Qingchen is destined to inherit the throne.” Luo Xuan smiled, all coy provocation.

“Oh? Did the Qi Emperor tell you that himself? If word got out to the other princes that Qi Qingchen was to take the throne, do you think he’d still be able to live peacefully?” Yan Yunning helped Yan Shiyao up from the ground.

The girl’s beautiful eyes narrowed, and the corners of her rosy lips curved into a derisive smile.

Luo Xuan’s smile turned cold. She licked her red lips lightly. “Yan Yunning, you really are quite sharp.”

She had already noticed — knowing that Luo Xuan was after her, Yan Yunning stayed close to Xuan Yanyu by day and lodged in his room by night.

She hadn’t yet figured out Xuan Yanyu’s true identity, and Xuan Yanyu was smart — he’d only injured her, hadn’t moved against her outright. But she would see her wound repaid.

Still, if Yan Yunning could lodge in Xuan Yanyu’s room, those two were clearly not ordinary acquaintances. For now, she’d best not provoke that lunatic Xuan Yanyu.

Yan Shiyao had feelings for Qingchen — she could not be allowed to stay!

“Ningning, let’s go.” Yan Shiyao kept her eyes fixed on the ground, and the hand hanging at her side curled in on itself.

Yan Yunning frowned. “A’Jie, we can’t just let this go.”

“Second Miss Yan seems to have forgotten — this is my Taoyuan Manor. Are you going to try to discipline me in my own home?” Luo Xuan’s lips curved upward.

“Elder Brother Qi.” Yan Yunning caught sight of Qi Qingchen’s figure. She let go of Yan Shiyao and ran over to him. “Luo Xuan bullied my A’Jie.”

A flash of panic crossed Luo Xuan’s eyes.

“Ningning, don’t talk nonsense.” Qi Qingchen’s voice was exasperated.

Yan Yunning opened her mouth.

“Qingchen, it’s A’Xuan who’s been too disagreeable — even Second Miss Yan dislikes A’Xuan now.” A single tear slipped from the corner of Luo Xuan’s eye, and in an instant, her eyes brimmed full.

Yan Yunning: “…??”

“A’Xuan, Ningning was just joking. She’s young — don’t take it to heart.” Qi Qingchen reached out and gently wiped the tear from her face.

Yan Shiyao’s chest felt hopelessly blocked up.

Yan Yunning could bear it no longer. She burst out, “Qi Qingchen, you are completely unworthy of my A’Jie! You—”

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao bit her lip and grabbed Yan Yunning’s arm, pulling her back a few steps.

No matter what, Elder Brother Qi was a prince. It would not do to be disrespectful to one’s superior — especially not when Elder Brother Qi had his reasons for acting as he did.

Yan Yunning’s heart was seething. [Fafa! Fafa! What does the book say about this scene?!]

Fafa: [Qi Qingchen is using Luo Xuan.]

[?] The fury drained from the girl’s eyes.

Fafa: [There’s a pill in Taoyuan Manor’s hidden chamber that can cure any poison. Only the Chieftain knows how to open the chamber. Qi Qingchen wants that pill, so naturally he has to keep Luo Xuan happy.]

[What does he need the pill for? Who was poisoned?]

Fafa: [Consort Li, Qi Qingchen’s mother. Your A’Jie knows about it, and Xuan Yanyu probably does too.]

[???] Yan Yunning pressed her lips together.

She was the only one who didn’t know??

Fafa: [Mistress, think carefully about how anxious your A’Jie looked when Xuan Yanyu went after Luo Xuan!]

[…Does Xuan Yanyu not have an antidote?]

Fafa: [I’m not sure. The book doesn’t specify what poison Consort Li was given, so there’s no telling whether Xuan Yanyu has an antidote or not.]

Yan Yunning: […]

The Qi Emperor was heartless — Consort Li had been poisoned, and still all he cared about was Qi Qingchen’s standing in the people’s eyes!

“Qingchen, Second Miss Yan has no filter — someone ought to teach her a lesson.” Luo Xuan spoke softly, her tone gentle.

So her wound could be repaid after all.

Yan Shiyao’s brow tightened.

“Never mind. No need to bother with her.” The look in Qi Qingchen’s eyes deepened slightly.

“Qingchen, it’s A’Xuan who’s being meddlesome — cough, cough…” Her voice dropped to a weak thread, broken by a few faint coughs.

Qi Qingchen steadied her. “Are you all right?”

Luo Xuan crumpled against him, frail and trembling, and tears came flooding out. “Qingchen, Second Miss Yan and First Miss Yan both said such cutting things… they ganged up on me.”

She was getting that wound repaid today, one way or another.

Yan Shiyao’s eyes were shadowed with unease. She gripped her handkerchief tight. “Elder Brother Qi, it wasn’t the way Miss Luo described.”

“First Miss Yan — are you saying A’Xuan is lying?” Luo Xuan’s head rested against Qi Qingchen’s chest, her voice soft. She looked over at Yan Shiyao with a smile full of unabashed provocation.

“I…” Yan Shiyao drew a slow, deep breath.

“Qingchen, look — First Miss Yan has nothing to say.” Luo Xuan’s tears streamed down.

Yan Yunning held herself back — once, twice — then couldn’t hold back any longer. She raised her hand and slapped Luo Xuan across the face with a sharp crack.

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao’s voice shook as she reached out too late to stop it.

The slap came out of nowhere. Luo Xuan clutched her face, her eyes turning murderous as they fixed on Yan Yunning — and Yan Yunning met her glare without flinching.