“After that, A’Shi can’t remember anymore.” A’Shi nuzzled against Yan Yunning’s cheek and asked in a muffled voice, “Ningning Sister, will A’Shi be able to see Brother again?”

Yan Yunning ruffled her hair. “You will.”

If she truly was Big Brother Mu’s younger sister, he and Sister Wen would cherish and dote on her as the most precious thing in their lives.

The two of them chatted a little longer, and then Yan Yunning walked A’Shi back to the guest room, wrote a letter to Mu Shiqing, and entrusted a young manservant to send it on her behalf.

……

Xuan Yanyu’s guest room.

Yan Yunning came in through the door, leading Jiang Yanche by the hand.

“Brother.” Jiang Yanche called out politely.

Ye Chen was momentarily struck by something — the longer he looked, the more the scene reminded him of how, in the future, when His Highness was working through official memorials, Second Miss Yan would bring their child to keep His Highness company while he dealt with affairs of Xuanzhao.

“Second Miss Yan.” Ye’an bowed his head respectfully.

“Mm.” Yan Yunning answered with a smile.

“Come here.” Xuan Yanyu looked up and beckoned them over.

“Brother.” Jiang Yanche took a few quick steps and scrambled up onto Xuan Yanyu’s lap, his voice soft and light. “What are you writing?”

Xuan Yanyu picked him up and set him down on the floor, saying indifferently, “Nothing.”

The little one tilted his head back to look at him, a slight nasal whine in his voice. “Brother.”

“Xuan Yanyu, be nicer to little Yanche.” Yan Yunning pulled out the wooden chair across from him and sat down.

The little one, looking thoroughly pitiful, flung himself into Yan Yunning’s arms. “Auntie, Brother doesn’t like me.”

Yan Yunning was briefly at a loss — could a child this small really tell whether someone liked him or not?

“Big Brother Pei likes me so much. Auntie, let’s go — take me to find Big Brother Pei.” The little one was utterly aggrieved.

Yan Yunning: “……”

“Let’s go, Auntie.” Jiang Yanche grabbed Yan Yunning’s hand and pulled at her with all his might, dragging her toward the door, muttering as he went, “Never coming back again.”

The next second, Xuan Yanyu stepped forward and took the little one into his arms on his own initiative, giving him a pat on the bottom. “What do you need Pei-brother for?”

The little one turned his face away and protested loudly, “I’m going to find Big Brother Pei — you don’t need to hold me.”

“Ye Chen.” Xuan Yanyu instructed, “Take him to find Pei Qingyan.”

He had no patience for coaxing him.

“I don’t want Ye Chen.” Jiang Yanche raised his voice to a shout. “Auntie, let’s go quickly — he’s going to have Ye Chen carry me!”

Papa had said not to let strangers hold him, or who knew where he’d end up being dumped.

“……” Yan Yunning said helplessly, “Stop shouting. I’ll just say a few words to Brother, and then I’ll take you to find your… Yaoyao Auntie.”

“Oh.” The little one quieted down.

Xuan Yanyu passed him to Ye Chen and motioned for them to wait outside.

After Ye Chen carried Jiang Yanche out, Xuan Yanyu pulled Yan Yunning into his arms, lowering his gaze to look at her. “Just now, when you said you’d take him to find Yan Shiyao, you paused. Were you thinking of taking him to find Pei Qingyan?”

“Whose fault is that?” Yan Yunning pursed her lips. “Xuan Xixi, do you not like children?”

The man curved his lips upward. “I don’t like other people’s children.”

He lowered his head and nibbled her ear, his smile carrying an intimate warmth. “I like our children.”

Yan Yunning’s legs went weak. Xuan Yanyu steadied her by the waist and laughed softly. “What did you want to tell me?”

Yan Yunning’s ear tips were burning, and her voice came out a little soft. “I wanted to say — that… that Xiao Shi might be Big Brother Mu’s younger sister.”

The young woman’s voice was gentle and airy, the tips of her ears faintly flushed. Xuan Yanyu couldn’t hold back and lowered his head to press a kiss to her lips.

Ye’an, standing to one side, hastily bowed his head.

A moment later, Xuan Yanyu released her. His thumb traced slowly over her lips, his voice hushed and low. “Big Brother Mu? Mu Shiqing? Xiao Shi is Mu Shiqing’s younger sister?”

“Mm?” Yan Yunning’s head was still swimming; she hadn’t quite registered it yet.

The young woman’s cheeks had bloomed a pale pink. Xuan Yanyu smiled and pressed his forehead to hers, repeating the question.

“Right… right.”

“How did you figure it out?” The man reached up to straighten the hairpin that had tilted slightly in her hair.

“She described the clothes her brother liked to wear, and the gold crown he used to pin up his hair. I thought of Big Brother Mu.” Yan Yunning blinked. “Xuan Xixi, look carefully — Xiao Shi and Big Brother Mu do look a little alike.”

Xuan Yanyu toyed with the gold bracelet on her wrist, his eyes lifting languidly at the corners. “Why did she suddenly bring up her brother to you?”

“…It wasn’t sudden. Her mind is like a child’s — doesn’t she just say whatever comes to her?”

Xuan Yanyu: “……”

“Xuan Xixi, when Xiao Shi first said she wanted her brother, I thought she meant you.” The young woman smiled with an impish charm, inviting a scolding. “It couldn’t have been Big Brother Pei — Xiao Shi always calls Pei Qingyan Big Brother Pei.”

The man stared at her in silence.

Yan Yunning quietly edged back a step.

A short while later, Ye Chen watched as Ye’an shut the door to the guest room, then glanced at Yan Yunning now standing outside the door. He teased, “Well, well — Second Miss Yan, were you chased out by His Highness again?”

“Nonsense.” Yan Yunning refused to admit it. “How come Ye’an wasn’t chased out with me? That proves I wasn’t chased out — because every time before, you were always chased out together with me!”

Ye Chen: “……”

That’s true! Ye’an being the exception can’t be used to disprove it!

Yan Yunning took Jiang Yanche’s little hand and raised an eyebrow with a light smile. “Let’s go, little Yanche — we’re going to find Big Brother Pei.”

“Yay! Auntie, I like Big Brother Pei.” The little one clapped his hands.

In an instant, the door to the guest room flew open. The man pulled his lips into a slight curve. “Yan Yunning — you dare?”

“I dare!” Yan Yunning tilted her face up and humphed at him. “Big Brother Pei won’t chase me away.”

With that, Yan Yunning scooped up the little one and ran.

Ye Chen shook his head. Didn’t she just say she hadn’t been chased out?

And wait — why hadn’t Ye’an been chased out along with Second Miss Yan?

Realizing exactly where Ye’an stood in His Highness’s esteem, Ye Chen felt a swell of indignation.

Xuan Yanyu watched Yan Yunning’s retreating figure, the corner of his lips curving slightly upward. Run if you like.

Where could she possibly run to?

……

Evening.

Yan Yunning had just returned from dinner and finished washing up when she watched the man walk into the room and slide the bolt into the door latch. She swallowed. “You… you…”

“What’s the matter? Didn’t dare go find your Big Brother Pei?” Xuan Yanyu walked slowly toward her, a low laugh in his voice. “Or is it that seeing it’s this prince who came, and not your Big Brother Pei, you’re feeling a little disappointed?”

“I was wrong.” Yan Yunning threw herself into his arms, wrapped both hands around his waist, and coaxed in a sweet, wheedling tone, “I was only teasing you — please don’t hold it against me.”

“Big Brother Xuan, Crown Prince, you’re the best.” The young woman hooked a finger around his sash and snuck a glance up at him.

Looking at her like that, the anger in Xuan Yanyu’s chest dissipated by quite a bit.

Yan Yunning stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his throat, then tilted her head close to his ear and pleaded softly, “Crown Prince, I was wrong. Crown Prince, please forgive me.”

“You…” The man’s throat visibly moved as he swallowed, his anger dissolving without a trace.

Yan Yunning quietly lifted her eyes and met Xuan Yanyu’s helpless gaze, pressing her lips together in a small smile. “Not angry anymore?”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Yan Yunning, this prince came tonight intending to punish you.”