Yan Yunning had no patience for Pei Shutong’s performance of wounded feelings. She turned and left Bixiang Garden.

Xuan Yanyu rose unhurriedly and followed her out.

The moment they stepped out of Bixiang Garden, Yan Yunning spotted Ye Jian — his left eye a deep purple-green bruise, wearing the expression of a man who had suffered an unspeakable injustice.

“What happened to you? Who hit you?” Yan Yunning struggled to contain her laughter.

She hadn’t wanted to laugh, but the bruise at the corner of Ye Jian’s eye stood out so conspicuously against the rest of his face.

And the way he looked so thoroughly aggrieved on top of it.

“Second Miss Yan……” Ye Jian was just about to grumble about Ye Chen when he caught sight of his own Highness walking out behind her and quickly shut his mouth.

His Highness had said he was not permitted to speak with Second Miss Yan.

“Who hit you?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice came out lazy and unhurried.

Ye Jian’s expression crumpled with aggrievement. “Your Highness, it was Ye Chen.”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. “You let Ye Chen hit you?”

Ye Jian: “……”

He hadn’t been on guard, and Ye Chen had thrown a punch at him without warning.

“Ningning.” Yan Zhiyi walked over with a smile.

“Brother.”

Yan Zhiyi bent down to meet her eyes, his voice low and pleasant. “Didn’t you say the other day you wanted to eat roasted goose? I have time today — I’ll take you and Yaoyao out to eat.”

That day something had come up midway and he had sent them back to the estate first. These past few days he had carved out time specifically to spend with his younger sisters.

“Brother, A’Jie has a friend to accompany today. Another day, perhaps.” Yan Yunning smiled gently.

Yan Zhiyi ruffled her hair. “If Yaoyao isn’t coming, this brother will take you alone. I have nothing pressing today in any case.”

“Alright then.” Yan Yunning smiled, eyes curving.

Yan Zhiyi’s mouth curved into a handsome arc. “Anything else you’d like? This brother will accompany you to get it all today.”

“Anything else? Let me think.” Yan Yunning walked ahead of him, tilting her head in thought.

Ye Jian shook his head. In this Chancellor’s estate, apart from Chu Wantang, everyone seemed to be fond of Second Miss Yan. Why did Chu Wantang dislike her so much?

He raised his eyes and glanced at Xuan Yanyu. The latter’s dark pupils narrowed in a way that looked distinctly dangerous.

Ye Jian swallowed. “Your High… ness, that… that is Second Miss Yan’s brother. Her blood brother.”

The man tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over him.

Ye Jian’s heart seized. He pulled his neck in like a turtle.

……

The market district of the capital was lively and bustling — hawkers’ calls, the clamor of the crowd. Passing a busy bun shop, Yan Zhiyi guided Yan Yunning to a pastry stall.

The shop assistant was yawning, his head nodding drowsily.

Yan Yunning looked around. The surrounding stalls were all crowded with customers, yet this one had not a single patron standing before it.

The pastries here were most likely not very good.

“Brother.” Yan Yunning tugged gently at Yan Zhiyi’s sleeve and offered a sincere suggestion. “Brother, let’s try a different place.”

“What’s the matter?” Yan Zhiyi’s eyes held a fond and indulgent light.

Yan Yunning darted a glance at the shop assistant and lowered her voice. “I think their pastries won’t taste good.”

“This is this brother’s shop.” Yan Zhiyi said in an even tone.

Yan Yunning: “……”

Sometimes all you can do is find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.

“Ahem.” Yan Yunning gave two dry laughs. “Brother — I know, I know. It just hasn’t opened for business yet — once it opens, the customers will come.”

“It has been open for two years.” The man’s voice carried a hint of quiet amusement.

Yan Yunning’s smile went rigid. Open for two years — and no customers? Wasn’t it headed for bankruptcy??

The shop assistant gave a jolt, saw Yan Zhiyi, and snapped upright in an instant. “Ow — the p-proprietor.”

Yan Zhiyi gave a nod. “Bring a few boxes of pastries.”

The assistant responded and bustled into the shop at once.

“Attending Official Yan.” Qi Qingchen walked over with his arm draped around Jiang Jin’s shoulders.

“Greetings to the Third Prince and to the Side Consort.” Yan Zhiyi smiled and bowed in greeting.

Yan Yunning blinked. Attending Official? A close attendant to Emperor Qi — no wonder her brother was rarely at the Chancellor’s estate.

Remarkable. So young, and already an Attending Official.

Qi Qingchen curved his lips upward. “Attending Official Yan, since we’ve run into each other today, why not dine together?”

With Yan Zhiyi at the Emperor’s side — and the power to comment on imperial edicts — he was someone worth drawing to his side. With both him and the Chancellor, his path to the throne would be considerably smoother.

“Third Highness, today I am only accompanying my younger sister.” Yan Zhiyi smiled in a way that didn’t reach his eyes.

Qi Qingchen laughed openly. “This prince hasn’t seen Ningning in quite some time either. Today I insist on being the host — you really cannot refuse again.”

“That’s right, Ningning, I’ve been looking for someone close to talk with.” Jiang Jin smiled warmly.

Yan Zhiyi pressed his brows together. It seemed the roasted goose outing would have to wait another day.

A private room in a wine pavilion.

Jiang Jin sat close beside Yan Yunning. Yan Zhiyi and Qi Qingchen sat across from them.

“Attending Official Yan, here.” Qi Qingchen poured a cup of wine and offered it to Yan Zhiyi.

“Your Highness, I’ll help myself.” Yan Zhiyi picked up the wine vessel and poured his own cup.

Qi Qingchen showed no irritation and smiled on. “Where is Yaoyao? Why didn’t Yaoyao come along?”

A chill settled over Jiang Jin’s heart. Before she had married into the prince’s household as a side consort, she had already heard about the history between the prince and First Miss Yan.

That time when it was said that the Chancellor’s legitimate daughter was marrying a young Marquis, the prince had rushed to the Chancellor’s estate in a hurry. And now again he was the first to ask after First Miss Yan.

“Yaoyao is keeping a friend company today, so I didn’t call for her.” Yan Zhiyi smiled briefly.

“Your Highness.” Jiang Jin rose and picked up her chopsticks to serve food into Qi Qingchen’s bowl.

She did not want to go on listening to the prince inquire after First Miss Yan.

Qi Qingchen clasped her hand and drew her down to sit beside him. “Xiao Jin, you needn’t attend to me — take care of yourself and the child you are carrying.”

Yan Yunning lowered her gaze. She truly could not make sense of Qi Qingchen. If one said he loved Jiang Jin, then his earlier behavior had shown he loved her A’Jie. If one said he didn’t love Jiang Jin, then here he was taking Jiang Jin out for a stroll, showing her tenderness and care.

Could it be he had developed feelings for Jiang Jin over time spent together?

The meal stretched from midday all the way to sundown. Qi Qingchen was helped out of the wine pavilion by Wu’an. Jiang Jin followed close behind. Yan Zhiyi had also drunk a fair amount — he was now slumped in a muddled haze over the round table.

“Brother, will you return to the Chancellor’s estate tonight or to the villa?” Yan Yunning crouched down and looked at him at eye level.

Yan Zhiyi wrinkled his brow in discomfort.

“Brother?”

Yan Zhiyi murmured in a slurred voice, “Wherever Ningning sends this brother… this brother will go……”

“……” Yan Yunning pressed her lips together gently. “Brother, do you have any money on you?”

They’d need to hire a carriage at the very least — otherwise he’d be sleeping here.

Yan Zhiyi’s eyes were clouded with the haze of drink. “I do.”

“Then could you possibly produce some of it, so we can hire a carriage home?”

Yan Zhiyi was quiet a moment. “I can’t. Go ask Yaoyao for it.”

Yan Yunning: “……?”

He was a miser! Just like his mother!!

“I’m leaving. You figure out your own way home.” Yan Yunning stood up and made to walk off.

Yan Zhiyi caught her arm, his drink-glazed eyes going soft and watery. “How am I… how am I supposed to get back?”

“Brother, I’m going to ask Yaoyao for the money. Wait for me to come and get you.” Yan Yunning said through gritted teeth.

Yan Zhiyi let her go and urged, “Then hurry up and go……”

Yan Yunning bit her lip. He was perfectly generous when he was sober!!

“Ningning, why aren’t you going yet?” Yan Zhiyi tilted his head and asked.

Yan Yunning’s mouth twitched.