This token had been passed down from one Prince Xuan to the next throughout the generations.
If the Emperor and the Empress found out that the Crown Prince had given it to Ningning, it would surely stir up trouble.
Fortunately, the four Imperial Guards at the city gate were all loyal to the Crown Prince — they would not breathe a word. But if Ningning were to produce it inside the palace, that would be disastrous.
“All right.” Yan Yunning asked nothing further and tucked the token into her purse.
Inside Xuanzhao, Imperial Guards patrolled in every direction. The streets were lively yet orderly; the people’s clothing spoke of comfortable prosperity that seemed to wash over one like a breeze.
Even the carriages along the main avenues were pulled by plump, sturdy horses.
Market stalls stretched on endlessly, impossible to take in at a single glance. Vendors called out their wares from time to time. This was the Xuanzhao that Xuan Yanyu would one day rule — and yet, sadly, he would reign for only ten years before the male and female leads…
【Fafa, I don’t want Xuan Yanyu to marry my A’Jie anymore.】
Fafa:【? Master, what are you saying?】
Yan Yunning’s mood sank. 【If he marries A’Jie, she and Qi Qingchen will work from within and without to bring Xuanzhao to ruin — but I don’t want Xuan Yanyu to die.】
Fafa:【Master, the entire book’s author built the story around the second male lead marrying the female lead. If you don’t want Xuan Yanyu to marry Yan Shiyao, you have to find out why he intends to marry her.】
Yan Yunning knitted her pretty brows. Xuan Yanyu had never once mentioned wanting to marry her A’Jie — could she simply blurt out a question from nowhere?
And if he turned around and asked how she knew, what on earth would she say?
“The carriage is here — let’s go, Ningning.” Xuan Zhaonan took Yan Yunning’s hand and helped her up into the carriage.
【Fafa, do Xuan Yanyu and Ranran share the same mother?】 Yan Yunning asked, curious.
Fafa:【They do — both were born of the Empress Xuan. As was the Princess Imperial, the elder sister of Xuan Yanyu and Xuan Zhaonan.】
“Ningning, I’ll go see Mother Empress first. You come back to my chambers with my maidservant Jing’er.” Xuan Zhaonan smiled.
Yan Yunning nodded. “All right.”
Xuan Zhaonan leaned in close, her expression playfully mischievous. “Ningning, why don’t you come along with me to see Mother Empress.”
Sooner or later it would happen anyway — in her opinion, her Crown Prince brother was absolutely going to bring Ningning into the Crown Prince’s residence.
Yan Yunning cleared her throat. “What would I be going for?”
A sly glint passed through Xuan Zhaonan’s eyes, and she spoke with exaggerated seriousness: “You should go and meet her first — see whether Mother Empress’s temperament is suited to be your mother-in-law.”
“Ahem.” Yan Yunning choked so hard her face flushed scarlet.
She had no intention of marrying Xuan Yanyu whatsoever! What mother-in-law?!
Even after stepping out of the carriage, Yan Yunning’s cheeks still held a faint rosy warmth.
Once they entered the palace, every few steps a maidservant or eunuch would bow respectfully to Xuan Zhaonan.
Yan Yunning’s footsteps came to a halt as her gaze fell on a palace hall that rose prominently above the rest — taller by far than anything around it.
Its roof was adorned with golden glazed tiles. Beneath each layer of eave corners hung bright red lanterns, swaying in a row — breathtakingly beautiful.
Xuan Zhaonan followed her gaze and smiled warmly. “That one was built by the Emperor for the Crown Prince — it’s the most lavish palace in the entire imperial complex.”
Yan Yunning blinked in surprise. “A Crown Prince’s residence built inside the palace?”
“Indeed. The Emperor overrode all his ministers’ objections and broke ground the very day after the Crown Prince was born. They say it cost eight million six hundred thousand taels of silver.”
Yan Yunning forgot to breathe. Eight million six hundred thousand taels of silver? Eight million six hundred thousand?!
“However,” Xuan Zhaonan added with a teasing smile, “the Crown Prince rarely stays in the palace — he spends most of his time at his own residence outside. The Emperor is rather put out about it.”
“And then?” Yan Yunning’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
Xuan Zhaonan giggled. “Then — in under an hour — the Emperor would talk himself back into a good mood, and once his temper had cooled, he would have his procession set out for the Crown Prince’s residence to share a meal with him.”
Yan Yunning smiled faintly. It seemed rather backwards — shouldn’t it be Xuan Yanyu coming to the palace to dine with the Prince Xuan?
“Ningning, let’s freshen up first, then go see Mother Empress.”
The smile froze on Yan Yunning’s face. “Can I… not go?”
“No.” Xuan Zhaonan’s smile reached the corners of her eyes.
Yan Yunning: “……”
……
After parting ways with Xuan Zhaonan, Jing’er led Yan Yunning to the side hall of Ranle Palace.
“Miss Yan, this servant will help you undress.” Jing’er spoke in a gentle, soft voice.
In the bathing pool, several maidservants had scattered rose petals across the water; incense drifted from a nearby burner in faint, winding wisps.
“I’ll manage on my own — there’s no need to fuss over me.” Truthfully, she felt a little awkward.
Jing’er dipped her head slightly. “If you require anything at all, Miss Yan, simply call out — this servant will wait just outside the door.”
“All right.” Yan Yunning nodded.
Once she had washed and dressed, Yan Yunning changed into a robe of fine embroidered silk. Jing’er led the way, guiding her toward the Empress’s chambers. Xuan Zhaonan was already waiting at the palace entrance.
“Ningning, come — let’s go in together.” Xuan Zhaonan took her hand with a playful wink. “Mother Empress is easy to get along with. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
Yan Yunning managed a small smile.
For some reason she could not name, she felt terribly nervous — it was just the Empress! What was there to be nervous about?! Yan Yunning drew a slow, deep breath. The moment she thought about the woman being Xuan Yanyu’s mother, her nerves tightened again…
Stepping into the chambers, Yan Yunning sank into a proper, measured curtsy. “Yan Yunning pays her respects to the Empress Xuan.”
The Empress Xuan sat upright in a rosewood chair, robed in the imperial phoenix gown. A golden phoenix-head hairpin was set in her hair. A faint smile rested at the corners of her lips — dignified, composed, with the natural grace of one born to preside over the world.
“Rise.”
The Empress studied Yan Yunning carefully. The young woman was dressed in the style of Xuanzhao — a pale pink robe, with embroidery of the same color along the cuffs and at the waist.
Her features were delicate and lovely, her eyes bright and clear, her face so flawless there was not a single flaw to find. Truly pretty and endearing.
Looking at her, the Empress felt a vague sense of familiarity.
Xuan Zhaonan guided Yan Yunning to sit in one of the sandalwood chairs.
“Ningning,” the Empress asked, eyes warm with a smile, “are you spoken for?”
Yan Yunning shook her head. “No.”
The Empress’s smile grew more tender. The attendant at her side helped her rise slowly from the rosewood chair.
Knowing what was coming, Xuan Zhaonan pouted. “Mother Empress—”
Every time they came across a pretty young lady, she would try to arrange a match with Cousin Yunze — but Ningning belonged to her Crown Prince brother.
“Where is the phoenix token?” the Empress smiled, tapping her lightly on the nose.
Xuan Zhaonan tilted her head and placed the phoenix token in the Empress’s hand.
The Empress was amused by her antics and gave her hand a gentle pat. “Have you seen Yu—”
“Mother Empress!” Xuan Zhaonan called out sharply.
Ningning still didn’t know the Crown Prince’s identity!
The Empress gave her a helpless look. “Such a racket — what manner is this?”
Xuan Zhaonan stuck out her tongue and coaxed prettily, “Mother Empress, Zhaonan knows she was wrong — it won’t happen again~”
“Little Ran, Yu—”
“Mother Empress, I’m hungry.” Xuan Zhaonan wrapped her arms around the Empress’s and smiled, her eyes curving into little moons.
“You child — what’s gotten into you today?”