“Yes.” Yan Shiyao answered dully. “Ningning borrows silver from Brother Yanyu rather often.”

A flicker crossed Chu Wantang’s brow. Yan Yunning hadn’t been in her chamber yesterday afternoon — could it have been A’Fu acting of his own accord, or was Yan Yunning putting on a performance? Her gaze landed on Yan Yunning. The girl was dabbing pitifully at her tears with a kerchief.

Her shoulders were heaving in small tremors — it didn’t look like an act.

Right, of course. Even if Yan Yunning had put A’Fu up to it, he wouldn’t have had the nerve. So A’Fu had acted on his own initiative — had been plotting this for who knew how long, and she had unwittingly handed him the perfect opportunity. The hatred inside her burned and festered!

Chu Wantang’s eyes closed for a moment. A’Fu!!

Yan Yunning quietly assessed Chu Wantang’s expression and let out a quiet breath of relief. She believed it!

“Mother, can my room still be stayed in?” Yan Yunning’s tone was full of pitiful vulnerability.

“It can.” Chu Wantang said, struggling to keep her feelings in check.

“Then Ningning is relieved.”

“You’re always going around with Xuan Yanyu — what kind of image does that present? He was brought back by your elder sister and is staying here to protect her safety. You stay away from him.” Chu Wantang shot her a warning look.

Yan Yunning’s eyes still held a sheen of tears. “Mother, it’s not as though I want to — but I still owe him silver, and if I can’t repay it, I have to serve him as a maidservant.”

“How much do you owe him?” Chu Wantang looked at her with evident irritation.

Yan Yunning sniffled. “Eighty taels.”

“Yan Yunning!” Chu Wantang felt a wave of frustration press against her chest.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. Had she said too much??

She had thought that since Chu Wantang was telling her to stay away from Xuan Yanyu, she would surely help her pay off the debt — and she’d been hoping to squeeze a little extra out of her in the process. But judging by Chu Wantang’s reaction, it seemed she’d overshot.

“Mother, I’ve already worked off twenty taels serving him as a maidservant.” Yan Yunning quickly added.

Chu Wantang dug her nails into her palm. “Find a way to pay it back yourself.”

How could she have done something so foolish!

Yan Yunning’s lips pressed into a pout. This was not how she had imagined it going — not at all!

“His Majesty the Emperor has commanded the Third Prince to host a banquet at his estate. The noble daughters of various households have been invited. You will accompany Yaoyao the day after tomorrow.”

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow. Qi Qingchen is hosting a banquet?

If they attended, he really wouldn’t harm them, would he?

A prince couldn’t afford to let a blemish like that tarnish his name.

Yan Shiyao’s eyes brightened. “Mother, Elder Brother Qi is hosting a banquet at his estate?”

She had been wanting to see Elder Brother Qi.

“Mm.” Chu Wantang pulled her in a little tighter.

“Mother, if His Majesty has allowed Elder Brother Qi to host a banquet, does that mean Elder Brother Qi has distinguished himself somehow?” Yan Shiyao smiled softly.

Chu Wantang rested her chin on top of Yan Shiyao’s head and patted her back in comfort.

She sighed inwardly. One of the side consorts had fallen pregnant, and yet the Emperor saw fit to let the Third Prince hold a celebration banquet in his estate — it showed just how highly the Emperor regarded his imperial grandson-to-be. And just how highly he regarded the Third Prince as well. Yaoyao wasn’t even married in yet, and Consort Jin was already with child. If the child born turned out to be the Emperor’s first imperial grandchild, would Yaoyao suffer once she married in?

“Mother, why exactly is His Majesty letting Elder Brother Qi host a banquet?” Yan Shiyao gave Chu Wantang’s arm a gentle shake, her voice soft and coaxing.

Chu Wantang looked at her, let out a long breath, and said, “Yaoyao — the Third Prince’s side consort has… has fallen pregnant. His Majesty has invited everyone to come and celebrate.”

Yan Shiyao’s expression shifted. She murmured, “Elder Brother Qi is going to be a father?”

How could he already be a father?

“Yaoyao……” Chu Wantang said softly.

Yan Shiyao managed a smile that looked worse than crying. “Mother, when we were at Yuanjin Manor, Elder Brother Qi was clearly very fond of me. He followed me around every day, he……”

Tears fell from Yan Shiyao’s eyes one after another.

“Yaoyao.” Chu Wantang pressed her cheek against Yan Shiyao’s, her heart aching fiercely.

Yan Shiyao held back hard against her tears. “Mother, I feel so wretched. So terribly wretched.”

Elder Brother Qi had a child with another woman.

He and someone else……

Yan Yunning’s brow furrowed slightly. Wasn’t this supposed to happen only when Qi Qingchen was about to formally establish her elder sister as his principal consort — that was when Jiang Jin would be diagnosed pregnant by the imperial physician?

Why was she already pregnant now?

And why hold some celebration banquet on top of it?

Chu Wantang comforted Yan Shiyao for a good while, and she was still hiccupping with sobs.

Chu Wantang looked up at Yan Yunning and said flatly, “When you go to the Third Prince’s estate the day after tomorrow, keep an eye on your elder sister. Don’t let her come to any harm.”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. Could she not make up some excuse to avoid going?

If her elder sister went, she’d barely be able to eat — and who knew what trouble might unfold.

After all, wherever the female lead elder sister went, how could things not go sideways?

“Yan Yunning?” Chu Wantang’s voice sharpened. “Did you not hear me?”

Yan Yunning rolled her eyes inwardly and said softly, “Mother, I’ve never attended this kind of banquet. I know nothing about anything. Elder Sister knows far more than I do — surely she should be the one looking after me.”

Chu Wantang swallowed back her irritation. She had a point — the girl had never seen any real society. She’d only cause trouble and drag her Yaoyao down with her.

Yan Yunning shifted her feet slightly; she had been standing for a while and was getting tired. She wanted to go back.

“Mother, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Ningning and won’t let anyone bully her.” Yan Shiyao’s beautiful eyes held a trace of tears, her voice soft and low.

Chu Wantang’s heart twisted with a mix of exasperation and tenderness. This child was too sincere for her own good.

Yan Yunning looked at Yan Shiyao with complicated feelings. She truly didn’t know how to feel about her.

“Alright, you may go.” Chu Wantang gave Yan Yunning a sidelong glance, the contempt in her gaze completely unconcealed.

Yan Yunning gave a perfunctory bow, turned, and left Tangyuan Pavilion. She jogged to the dining hall, packed up some food, and headed over to A’Ci’s chamber.

“A’Ci, are you all packed?” Yan Yunning pushed the wooden door open with her elbow.

A’Ci took the food from her hands, smiling as he said, “All packed. Little Lemon, you stay here in the Chancellor’s estate and wait for me. I’ll come back for you.”

Yan Yunning grinned, her eyes curving into crescents. “A’Ci, shouldn’t you be the one staying put at our maternal grandparents’ home, waiting for me?”

A’Ci’s long fingers reached out and pinched her small face. “Little Lemon, from now on, don’t smile at Xuan Yanyu like that. And don’t go spending the night in his chamber again. Did you hear me?”

The girl had a beautiful face, and when she smiled, it was beauty beyond measure.

Yan Yunning pulled his hand away. Her lovely eyes narrowed. “A’Ci, why can’t I smile at him?”

Spending the night was one thing, but she couldn’t even smile?

“Because you’re not thinking, that’s why. Aren’t you afraid Xuan Yanyu will take a liking to you and bring you back to his Xuan Wang Palace? Once he ascends as Xuan King, you’d have to vie for his favor against all those other women.” A’Ci gave her a pointed nudge in the right direction.

Yan Yunning twirled a strand of hair around her fingertip. “Vie for favor?”

She’d go vie for Xuan Xixi?

More like Xuan Xixi coming to vie for her.

“Little Lemon, you don’t understand — the women in the imperial harem have such pitiable lives. So please, whatever you do, don’t……”

“A’Ci, just go already. Stay any longer and it’ll be dark before you get anywhere.” Yan Yunning picked up his bundle and shoved it into his hands. “Leave now and you’ll still make it to Chxi Town before nightfall.”

A’Ci looked down at her and said seriously, “Little Lemon, I’ve decided I’m not leaving after all.”

If he left and she ended up with Xuan Yanyu before he’d even found the Young Master, it would all be for nothing.

Yan Yunning froze for a second, then grabbed his arm and whined. “A’Ci, can’t you just listen to me? You used to always listen to me.”