Xuan Zhao Ran swallowed nervously and grabbed hold of Yan Yunning’s sleeve.

Ye’an handed over a teacup. The man took it and swirled the tea gently without a word.

Xuan Zhao Ran lowered her head. Had she known, she would have stayed outside like Ye Jian.

“Crown Prince… Crown Prince Brother.”

“Who gave you permission to come to Qilan?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was low and even.

“Crown Prince… Crown Prince Brother, I… I’ll leave tomorrow.” Xuan Zhao Ran tugged hard on Yan Yunning’s sleeve.

The man fixed his gaze on her and smiled — his handsome face held a certain coldness. “Xuan Zhao Ran, do you want to be tied up and carried back again?”

She shook her head vigorously. “I don’t.”

Xuan Yanyu’s reminder made Yan Yunning suddenly think of something — Qi Qingchen was also at Yuanjing Manor.

These past few days she had noticed Qi Qingchen visiting her elder sister’s chamber frequently. Now that Ranran had arrived, would it happen again…

“Leave tomorrow. If you come to Qilan without permission again, this Palace will inform the guards at the city gates…”

“I won’t, Crown Prince Brother.” Xuan Zhao Ran smiled ingratiatingly. “Please — please don’t tell them.”

If he told them, she would never be able to leave Xuanzhao again. The next time she sneaked out, she would absolutely make sure not to go anywhere near Crown Prince Brother.

“Very well.”

“Crown Prince Brother, Lingning has something to say to you.” Xuan Zhao Ran smiled and gave Yan Yunning a little push forward.

“?” Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t agreed to anything.

“What do you want to say?” The man curled one of his long-fingered hands slightly, gesturing for her to come closer.

Yan Yunning walked up to him, naturally took the teacup from his hand, and sipped a small mouthful. “A couple — Yu Xi and Duan Yunxuan — came along with Ranran. They would like to settle in Xuanzhao. Ranran wanted to ask you if that would be possible.”

Xuan Zhao Ran rubbed her eyes. Had Lingning and Crown Prince Brother already become this… this intimate?

Crown Prince Brother’s teacup — Lingning had drunk from it??

Crown Prince Brother had already drunk from it just now!!!

Xuan Yanyu paused for half a second, then turned a cool look on Xuan Zhao Ran. “Did you tell them who you are?”

“No, no.” Xuan Zhao Ran waved her hands to explain. “Crown Prince Brother, they could see I was dressed like someone from Xuanzhao and asked whether I could help them.”

“You agreed? Xuan Zhao Ran, use your head — could an ordinary person have helped them? Do you even know who they are?” Xuan Yanyu’s expression darkened. “And you’re not afraid they might be connected to the Qilan imperial family, figure out who you are, and drag you into the palace as an offering to Emperor Qi?”

Emperor Qi had long been keen on a marriage alliance with Xuanzhao. Whether it was a Xuanzhao princess or a noble daughter, something could be engineered to happen, and afterward they could feign ignorance that she had anything to do with Xuanzhao.

Even if he and Imperial Father brought her back to Xuanzhao, what would become of her after that?

Imperial Father couldn’t possibly go to war with Qilan over something like that.

If Xuanzhao were to attack Qilan for this very reason, Emperor Qi would only broadcast far and wide that the Xuan King had gone to war because his daughter had become involved with him — and what kind of life would she have after that?

“Crown Prince Brother, I…” Xuan Zhao Ran was so frightened she trembled.

“As for that… at most they’d guess Ranran is a noble daughter from Xuanzhao. They wouldn’t guess she’s a princess.” Yan Yunning gently rubbed his back to soothe him.

After all, how could anyone imagine that a princess and crown prince, like the two of them, would forgo a comfortable life and make a low-key trip to Qilan to “rough it.”

Xuan Yanyu gave a cold snort. “Return to Xuanzhao tomorrow. This Palace has no intention of following Imperial Father to the Qilan imperial palace to fish you out.”

Xuan Zhao Ran gripped her handkerchief, her eyes reddening as she gave a small nod.

“There will be no next time.”

“Mm.” The girl’s voice was thick with a sob she couldn’t quite hold back.

She wanted to cry but didn’t dare — her lips pressed together miserably, pitifully.

Xuan Yanyu frowned. “Who came with you? You came alone?”

“Ye… Ye Jian.” Xuan Zhao Ran stole a glance upward.

“Xuan Zhao Ran, go back to Xuanzhao with him right now.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was impatient.

“Crown Prince Brother, could you…” Meeting the man’s cold gaze, Xuan Zhao Ran’s thoughts scattered into turmoil. “Let me stay two more days.”

She had only just arrived and hadn’t seen A’Ci yet.

Xuan Yanyu watched her with an icy stare and said nothing.

“What if you let her stay and play at Yuanjing Manor for two days before she goes back? With her right under your eye, nothing can go wrong.” Yan Yunning murmured under her breath.

The man reached over and took the teacup back from her hands, raising it to his lips in an unhurried sip.

Ye’an, reading the mood with practiced ease, picked up the teapot and added a little more tea to the cup.

“Can I stay, Crown Prince Brother?” Xuan Zhao Ran followed up accordingly.

Xuan Yanyu barely raised his eyelids and glanced at Ye’an. The latter, understanding the cue, opened the porcelain bottle on the round table and tipped a single pill into Xuan Yanyu’s palm. “Your Highness, it is time for Second Miss Yan to take her medicine.”

As far as he was aware, this was the finest restorative pill produced by the Imperial Medical Court — extraordinarily beneficial to the body.

From what he knew, the pill contained ganoderma mushroom, ginseng, and fleece-flower root, along with other ingredients he couldn’t identify — all fine things.

Even within the Xuan Royal Palace, these pills were reserved solely for the Crown Prince, the Xuan King, and the Xuan Empress. Yet here was His Highness, bringing his supply to Qilan and giving them without a second thought to Second Miss Yan.

And Second Miss Yan still turned her nose up at them!!!

Xuan Yanyu anticipated her reaction and seized her by the arm.

“Be a good girl and take it, and I’ll let little Ranran stay at Yuanjing Manor for two days.” The man coaxed her gently. “Take it on schedule every day, and I’ll let Ranran stay an extra day for each one.”

Both Xuan Zhao Ran and Ye Chen looked at Yan Yunning with brightening eyes.

Xuan Zhao Ran was hoping she would obediently take her medicine.

Ye Chen was hoping she’d take an extra pill — then Ye Jian might be allowed to stay as well.

With Ye’an at His Highness’s side, he had already fallen out of favor; His Highness left everything to Ye’an now.

Yan Yunning furrowed her brow. She truly, genuinely hated taking medicine — she always had, ever since childhood.

“Not taking it?” Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. “Little Ranran, there’s nothing to be done — you’re going back to Xuanzhao right now.”

“Lingning.” Xuan Zhao Ran pressed her palms together, looking at Yan Yunning with a pleading gaze.

Yan Yunning stared at the dark little pill in the man’s hand and pressed her lips tight. He was saying he’d send Ranran back — it was deliberate, wasn’t it? He must have planned this from the start. A person who could be Crown Prince truly did have more schemes than most!

The man watched as the girl squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed the pill down. A faint smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Crown Prince Brother, can I stay now?” Xuan Zhao Ran blinked.

“Mm.”

“Can I go outside Yuanjing Manor?” Xuan Zhao Ran pressed further.

Xuan Yanyu raised his eyelids and glanced at her. “Where do you want to go?”

“Just have a look around.” Xuan Zhao Ran said timidly. “With Ye Jian by my side, nothing will happen.”

“No.” Xuan Yanyu lifted his hand and picked up a writing brush, twirling it lazily between his fingertips.

Yan Yunning’s gaze landed on Xuan Yanyu and stilled. The man held the brush between his fingers, eyes lowered, spinning it in slow circles — unhurried, indolent. His sleeve had slid back half an inch to reveal the prominent knuckles of his wrist.

He wore a pale blue outer robe, the gold crown in his hair matching the same shade. His nose was high, his lips fine, his features strikingly handsome — carrying with them a kind of noble refinement that stirred something in the chest.

Yan Yunning hadn’t caught whatever Xuan Zhao Ran had just said. She saw Xuan Yanyu’s lips move.

A rich, melodious voice threaded itself into her ears. “Tomorrow you leave with Ye Jian for Xuanzhao.”

Yan Yunning didn’t hesitate. She raised her hand and gave him a sharp pat on the back. The brush slipped from between the man’s fingers and fell to the floor.

Ye’an reached out and grabbed the leg he had been about to swing at Yan Yunning.

Xuan Zhao Ran’s eyes went wide. Even Mother Empress didn’t dare raise a hand against Crown Prince Brother, and even Imperial Father couldn’t bring himself to — yet she had been… hit by Lingning?