“By then, even the Qi Emperor won’t be able to protect you.”

Just what had happened? What could have driven His Highness to such fury that he wanted to have them dealt with?

Qi Qingchen’s anger was lodged in his chest with nowhere to go. “Have them dealt with.”

If he didn’t, he would suffocate from the humiliation.

“Your Highness.” Wu’an trembled. “If you have them dealt with, you will lose your claim to the position of Crown Prince entirely.”

To order killings before even ascending the throne — and Yuan Jin Manor and the Chancellor’s Residence were hardly common folk. Forget ascending the throne; even His Highness’s own life might not be guaranteed.

The other imperial princes would seize the opportunity to submit memorials to the Qi Emperor, pulling His Highness down from his position.

Just what had happened? Why was His Highness so furious??

“Go to Pingshi Town and look into Nuoxi.” Qi Qingchen’s fists clenched tightly.

He could only hope that his period of unconsciousness had nothing to do with her — otherwise, he would not let her off.

As for the others, he would deal with them after he ascended the throne.

“This subordinate understands.”

A brief silence followed.

Qi Qingchen’s voice turned cold. “Yan Shiyao. Yan Shiyao must be dealt with.”

After his time of foolishness, she was the one he had spent the most time with, and every time he recalled it, he felt nothing but revulsion.

“Your Highness.” Wu’an still wanted to offer a few words of counsel.

Qi Qingchen said impatiently, “Shut your mouth. Go and carry it out immediately. If you dare speak another word of persuasion, you can die in Yan Shiyao’s place.”

Wu’an’s heart lurched. “Your Highness, this subordinate will carry it out immediately.”

With that, Wu’an rose to his feet and walked out on unsteady legs.

“Guard Wu, is His Highness still angry?” Jiang Jin stood hesitating outside the hall doors, not daring to enter.

“Honored Side Consort, you would be better off returning to your sleeping quarters. His Highness… His Highness is still angry.” Wu’an let out a long sigh.

Angry was an understatement — he was on the verge of losing his mind entirely.

He wanted to deal with the Chancellor’s daughters — two of them, no less. If this ever came to light, the imperial family’s reputation would be finished.

The Qi Emperor would never stand by and watch His Highness die — but then what would become of him? Wouldn’t he be sent straight to the execution block?

He would go through the motions in a moment, give the eldest Miss Yan a good scare, and then come back to report to His Highness that she had been rescued and spirited away by someone.

Jiang Jin’s brow furrowed slightly. “His Highness has not been eating properly these past few days. If I return to my quarters, he will skip the evening meal again.”

Wu’an sighed. “The Honored Side Consort speaks wisely. Please, Honored Consort, go and talk some sense into His Highness.”

Jiang Jin smiled softly. “Very well. And I must also ask Guard Wu to continue looking after His Highness.”

His Highness did not always keep her at his side, and there were matters that still required Wu’an to counsel him. These past few days, His Highness had returned in inexplicably foul moods, taking issue with everything he laid eyes on — she feared it would begin to affect his health.

Wu’an gave a slight bow. “Honored Side Consort, it is this subordinate’s duty.”

Jiang Jin nodded and turned to glance at Zhuqing. “Let us go in and check on His Highness.”

Zhuqing carefully balanced the tray she carried as she followed behind Jiang Jin, somewhat anxious. The other day, His Highness had shouted even at the Honored Side Consort.

They entered the main hall.

Qi Qingchen was reclining on a soft couch, a maidservant feeding him red berries.

Jiang Jin curved her lips into a smile. “Xiaojin pays her respects to Your Highness.”

Qi Qingchen beckoned her over with a wave. “Come here.”

Jiang Jin smiled and walked over in small, graceful steps.

Qi Qingchen extended one long arm, placing his large palm against her abdomen. “It’s grown a little.”

“Indeed, Your Highness. In just a few more months, we will be able to meet him.” Jiang Jin smiled gently.

Qi Qingchen took a red berry from the maidservant’s hand, leaned back, and said with a faint smile, “This will be this palace’s first child. This palace looks forward to meeting him very much.”

“Your Highness.” Jiang Jin bent forward and rested against his chest. “So does this consort.”

This was her first child too — the first child between her and His Highness.

Qi Qingchen stroked her hair.

“Your Highness, you absolutely cannot skip your meal today.” Jiang Jin softened her voice. “If you do not eat, then this consort will not eat either — and the child shall simply go hungry.”

Qi Qingchen let out a soft laugh. “Xiaojin, when did you learn to threaten this palace?”

Jiang Jin gave a playful smile. “Your Highness, will you please dine with this consort?”

“Very well.” Qi Qingchen rose and swept her up in his arms.

“Your Highness.” Jiang Jin quickly hooked her arms around his neck.

Zhuqing smiled to herself. His Highness did have her mistress in his heart, after all. Once her mistress gave birth, her standing within the household would rise even further.

……

The sky had grown somewhat late. Ye Chen carried Yan Shiyao on his back and quietly pushed open the door to Xuan Yanyu’s guest room.

The man looked up, and seeing who it was, his brow furrowed deeply. “What happened to her now?”

“Your Highness, today when the eldest Miss Yan was out strolling with Miss Pei, a group of people suddenly appeared. The eldest Miss Yan was stabbed in the arm by a sword — but please don’t worry, Your Highness, it isn’t very serious.” Ye Chen said it all in one breath.

Xuan Yanyu said impatiently, “Get out.”

Ye Chen’s expression faltered slightly. That blind fool of a Second Miss Yan — has she still not managed to appease His Highness?

Hadn’t he specifically told Second Miss Yan to let him know if she couldn’t manage to appease him?

She had agreed to it too.

What he didn’t know was that Yan Yunning had planned to try again in the evening, and so had not told him.

“Your High… ness, we don’t know if there was poison on the blade. Perhaps we should ask…”

Before Ye Chen could finish, Xuan Yanyu let out a low snarl. “Get out.”

Every little thing coming to bother him.

That heartless Yan Yunning — just as she had once pushed Qi Qingchen toward Luoxuan, she had now pushed him toward Yan Shiyao. Just like she had said herself: ‘If I truly liked him, how could I possibly push him toward someone else?’

The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt.

“Out, Your Highness — I’m rolling out immediately.” Ye Chen set Yan Shiyao down on the floor, then lay down himself and began rolling toward the guest room door.

Xuan Yanyu’s fingers clenched, the violent anger radiating from him intensifying. “Ye Chen — roll yourself back to Xuanzhao. Don’t follow this palace anymore.”

Yan Shiyao, lying on the floor, had her brow crinkle from being startled by his shout.

Ye Chen, halfway through his rolling, felt somewhat aggrieved. His Highness had told him to roll, and he had rolled — why was he even angrier now?

Outside the door, Yan Yunning swallowed hard. She had known this — even without her being the one to provoke Xuan Xixi’s anger, Ye Chen would still get an earful.

After hesitating for a moment, Yan Yunning crept away silently. Xuan Xixi was furious right now; she would come find him again tomorrow.

Back in her own room, Yan Yunning sat with a troubled look on her face.

“Miss, what’s the matter?” Qiuci handed the freshly poured cup of tea to Yan Yunning.

“Qiuci, have you ever seen Xuan Xi… Xuan Yanyu angry before?”

Qiuci had been assigned to her by Father when she returned to the Chancellor’s Residence, and had known Xuan Xixi longer than she had.

Qiuci shook her head. “No, not really. Young Master Xuan has been together with the eldest Miss every day since he arrived at the Chancellor’s Residence. This servant barely ever gets to see him.”

Yan Yunning took a small sip of tea. “You never see him even once on an ordinary day??”

“Only on very rare occasions.” Qiuci’s eyes brightened slightly. “Miss, don’t tell me you’ve gone off the Third Prince again and have taken a liking to Young Master Xuan instead?”

It would be wonderful if she no longer had feelings for the Third Prince — it wouldn’t upset the Madam, and the Madam might start to look more favorably on the second miss.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. “Qiuci, if it were you, and you knew that you and him… never mind.”

Qiuci’s mind turned it over. “Second Miss, could you be trying to say that you know there is no future between you and the Third Prince…?”

“Stop. What do you mean, ‘between me and the Third Prince’?” Yan Yunning said, baffled.

“Second Miss, didn’t you tell Qiuci before that you had feelings for the Third Prince?”