Yan Yunning touched the tip of her nose. “I can see that.”

“Then… what do we do?” Xuan Zhaoarn pressed her lips together.

Yan Yunning looked at her, eyes curving into crescent moons. “Coax him, of course.”

· · ·

After parting from Xuan Zhaoarn, Yan Yunning searched all over but could not find Xuan Yanyu anywhere.

Yan Shiyao and Qi Qingchen had also left the Garden Estate. Mu Shiqing had Xiao Shi with him. Yan Yunning stood alone in the pavilion for a while, then ran off to the main hall to keep little Jiang Yanche entertained.

Meanwhile, at the inn, the maid Xiao Ying was kneeling on the ground, trembling. “Crown Prince, it was the commandery princess who insisted on coming to see you.”

“This hall told you to stay at Mianmian’s side. What was that for? Couldn’t you have tried to talk her out of it?” Xuan Yanyu lowered his voice.

“Crown Prince, you have not come to visit the commandery princess in a very long time. Your servant tried to dissuade her, but could not. The commandery princess says she will see you once and then return to Xuanzhao.” Xiao Ying kept her eyes lowered, her voice unsteady. “The whole way here, the commandery princess was fine — but the moment she arrived in Qilan, she fainted. The physician says the commandery princess was simply too exhausted, and her body could not keep up.”

The commandery princess had been in poor health since childhood. A physician was always on hand at her side. When she fainted in that instant, Xiao Ying had been terrified — she was only glad it had turned out to be nothing more than exhaustion.

Ye Chen stole a glance at the young woman lying on the bed — her features pretty and delicate, lips slightly pale, both hands resting on her abdomen, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

Frail as she was, she had dared to travel all the way to Qilan — wasn’t she afraid something might happen on the road?

“What is there for this hall to see?” Xuan Yanyu raised his eyes to look at Ye Chen. “Once Mianmian wakes, send them back to Xuanzhao.”

Ye Chen: “Understood, Your Highness.”

Seeing Xuan Yanyu about to leave, Xiao Ying steeled herself and spoke up. “Crown Prince, if you won’t see the commandery princess, she will not return to Xuanzhao.”

Having come all this way, how could she leave without even seeing the Crown Prince once?

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together. “Ye Chen, stay here. When Mianmian wakes, come and let this hall know.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Ye Chen answered.

He had not yet crossed the threshold when a weak voice came from behind him. “Crown Prince-gege.”

Xuan Yanyu turned and walked back to the bedside in a few steps. “Why did you come to Qilan? Don’t you know the state of your own health?”

Ling Mianmian pressed her palms together and tapped her little head in a playful bow of contrition. “Crown Prince-gege, I know I was wrong. But who told you to come back to Xuanzhao so many times without once coming to see me?”

Xuan Yanyu let out a faint laugh through his nose. What was there to see?

What was so special about her??

“Crown Prince-gege, I haven’t eaten yet — keep me company.” Ling Mianmian smiled faintly. “Keep me company for a meal, and I’ll go back to Xuanzhao. But if you won’t keep me company, then I won’t go.”

Since she was set on not leaving, and he had to consider the state of her health, he had no way to force her out.

Xuan Yanyu hesitated for a moment, then asked offhandedly, “Anything will do?”

Ling Mianmian’s mouth curled upward. “The best restaurant — Crown Prince-gege, take me to the very best restaurant.”

“There isn’t one.” Xuan Yanyu picked up the pastry from the round table and held it out to her. “Eat this. Consider it a meal we’ve shared — eat up, and then go straight back to Xuanzhao.”

“What do you mean there isn’t one?” Ling Mianmian pushed away the pastry the man was offering, frowned, and looked at Ye Chen. “Is there really no best restaurant here?”

“There isn’t.” Ye Chen, upholding the principle that if Xuan Yanyu said there wasn’t one then there wasn’t one, replied accordingly.

“Then I’m not leaving.” The girl threw herself back on the bed with willful, petulant finality and pulled the brocade quilt over herself.

“As you like.” Xuan Yanyu tossed the pastry he was holding to Ye Chen.

Watching Xuan Yanyu actually walk away, the smile slipped from Ling Mianmian’s face with helpless resignation. He was really not going to keep her company!

Coming all this way to Qilan for nothing then!!

“Commandery princess, shall we return to Xuanzhao?” Xiao Ying, who had been kneeling on the floor, rose to her feet.

Ling Mianmian’s eyelids drooped. “No. The Crown Prince hasn’t kept me company for a meal yet.”

Xiao Ying: “…”

For some reason she could never fathom, every time the commandery princess met with the Crown Prince, she was determined that he keep her company for a meal.

“Let’s go — I’ll see what the Crown Prince is so busy with.” Ling Mianmian slipped on her embroidered shoes and tidied her hair and clothes.

Xiao Ying packed her regular medicines and followed her out of the inn.

· · ·

The Garden Estate.

Xuan Yanyu found Yan Yunning in the main hall, chose a seat, and sat down without making a sound first.

“Where did you go?” Yan Yunning saw him and walked over, leading little Jiang Yanche by the hand.

The man sipped his tea, wearing the look of someone who didn’t care to respond.

Yan Yunning: “…”

Still angry at her for what she’d said?

“Xuan Xixi — all right, all right, aren’t I saying it’s all right?” Yan Yunning laughed and gave a little lift of her chin toward him.

Xuan Yanyu reached over and lightly pinched her cheek, one eyebrow arching slightly. “Yan Yunning, just you wait — this hall will settle accounts with you later.”

The man’s voice had gone slightly husky. Yan Yunning stared into his eyes and drew out a long, slow “oh~”.

Xuan Yanyu: “…”

She was really asking for it!!

“Where did you go just now? I looked for you for a long time.” Yan Yunning, with Jiang Yanche in her arms, squeezed herself onto the same wooden chair as him.

The fingers Xuan Yanyu had wrapped around his teacup shifted almost imperceptibly. “Went to see someone.”

“You went to see that person? An important person?” Yan Yunning smiled.

If it weren’t important, why would Xuan Xixi go out of his way to see him?

“In a manner of speaking.” Xuan Yanyu hooked his hand around her waist, and the corner of his mouth curved. “But not as important as you.”

Yan Yunning smiled. Important — but not as important as her. That meant this person held quite a place in Xuan Yanyu’s heart.

She was a little curious now whether it was a man or a woman.

“Hungry? Should we go eat?” Xuan Yanyu reached over and smoothed back a strand of hair that had fallen across her face.

“Sure.”

She had been bored earlier and had made some pastries — they weren’t pretty, but they were still edible.

So as not to waste them, she and little Yanche had eaten quite a few.

Xuan Yanyu took the drowsy Jiang Yanche from her arms and passed him to Ye’an. “Take him back to his room.”

Ye’an nodded and carried the little fellow out of the main hall.

Xuan Yanyu wrapped his arm around Yan Yunning’s waist and stood up. “Let’s go eat.”

“I suppose I’ll keep you company for a while, Xuan Xixi.” Yan Yunning, before he could say a word, tilted up onto her toes and kissed the corner of his mouth.

“Yan Yunning.” The man drew a sharp breath.

These past few days she had been baiting him so quietly and persistently.

If this kept up, he wouldn’t be able to hold himself back before the wedding night!

· · ·

The dining hall.

Yan Yunning and Xuan Yanyu had barely sat down — less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea — when a woman’s terrified scream came from outside.

Xuan Yanyu heard the familiar voice and his brow furrowed slightly.

“Commandery princess, wake up — wake up.” Xiao Ying was so frightened she was shaking all over.

The commandery princess had fainted again. Would the Crown Prince punish her?

Ye Chen, who had brought Ling Mianmian and Xiao Ying into the Garden Estate, felt his eyelid twitch wildly. This… this… what was he supposed to do now?

“Sister — is Ling-jie all right?” Little Jiang Yanche tugged at the maid’s sleeve with one small hand.

Ling-jie had fainted after eating the pastry he had given her.

“Don’t be afraid, young master — she’s all right.” The maid soothed him.

Young Master Xuan’s attendant, Ye’an, had just carried the young master back to his room, and the young master had woken up. Determined to eat his pastry before sleeping, the young master had kept him company for a stroll to aid digestion — and that was when they had run into Ling Mianmian, who had come looking for Young Master Xuan. The young master had then given Ling Mianmian a piece.