Yan Yunning lifted the thin blanket and pointed toward the wooden door. “Get out!”

She was utterly fed up. And now he wanted her to tell him where he went wrong?

He ran off to keep someone else company and still thought he was in the right??

“How did your forehead get injured?” The moment he noticed the wound on her forehead, the man’s irritation instantly deflated, his voice softening.

Yan Yunning’s eyes were devoid of emotion. She had been talking with Elder Brother Mu and the others for over an hour, and right now she had absolutely no desire to quarrel with him. She just wanted to sleep for a bit.

“Who hurt you?”

His tone was ice-cold. Before Yan Yunning could even open her mouth, Xuan Yanyu’s gaze dropped to her bandaged hand, and a chill crept into the depths of his eyes.

“It was Xiao Shi,” the man stated with certainty.

Other than her, Yan Yunning had not offended anyone else.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together slightly. That head of his!

Worked rather well, didn’t it!!

Reading her expression, Xuan Yanyu understood. He turned and walked straight toward the door.

Yan Yunning’s eyelid twitched. “Where are you going?”

To find Xiao Shi?

The man casually picked up the teacup from the round table. In an instant, tea water trickled through tiny hairline cracks and dripped onto the floor. Xuan Yanyu loosened his fingertips, and the shattered cup was tossed into the waste bin.

“This Palace will get even on your behalf.”

Yan Yunning’s temple throbbed. “No need. Crown Prince, from now on, don’t meddle in my affairs.”

Xuan Yanyu’s throat moved. His expression darkened as he looked at her. “Yan Yunning, say that again.”

Yan Yunning’s uninjured hand tightened around the thin blanket. She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

Fafa: [Master, why are you provoking him over nothing!!]

Yan Yunning: [……]

“From now on, don’t meddle in my affairs.” Yan Yunning forced herself to say it.

The corners of the man’s mouth curved into a cool, cold smile. He turned and walked toward the chaise lounge.

Fafa: [Mas… Master, run while you still can!]

[Shut up!!]

Fafa: [?]

She was only trying to be helpful, and she wouldn’t even listen!!!

“Not letting This Palace interfere, is that right.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was very clear. He bent down and tilted his head, biting lightly on Yan Yunning’s ear. “From now on, This Palace is not allowed to involve himself in any of your affairs?”

Yan Yunning swallowed hard. Really now, who in the world argued like him — like someone on the verge of losing their mind?!

“That’s… whatever you want to say, let’s talk after I’ve slept.” Yan Yunning said, utterly without a shred of backbone.

Xuan Yanyu straightened up with a stiff expression. He would come back and settle the score with her later.

Yan Yunning took a deep breath and said dryly, “You… don’t go looking for Xiao Shi.”

“Didn’t you kick This Palace out? Since when is it your business where This Palace goes?” Xuan Yanyu said in an indifferent tone.

“I don’t care where you go, but if you go looking for Xiao Shi.” Yan Yunning fixed her gaze on the man’s deep, dark eyes and said calmly, “Xuan Yanyu, I will never speak another word to you again.”

The man looked down with a mocking laugh. “You dare threaten This Palace?”

Yan Yunning averted her eyes, lay back down on the chaise lounge, and pulled the thin blanket over herself.

Xuan Yanyu stared at the girl curled up on the chaise. He held himself back, again and again, then finally turned and walked to the door, deliberately slamming the wooden door shut with a loud bang.

Yan Yunning was startled into a violent flinch. She bellowed, “Are you out of your mind!!!”

……

Back in his guest room, Xuan Yanyu was visibly in a foul mood.

“Your Highness, who provoked you?” Ye Chen asked cautiously.

Ye’an shot him a glance. Still asking? Who else could have provoked His Highness other than Second Miss Yan?

When anyone else provoked His Highness, he dealt with it on the spot — so why would he still be angry??

Xuan Yanyu threw himself irritably against the cushioned lounger. “Bring Xiao Shi to This Palace.”

Before Ye Chen or Ye’an could respond, the man added, “Never mind. Have someone keep an eye on her for now.”

Yan Yunning was throwing a tantrum at him right now. If he ignored her and went to find Xiao Shi, she would be even angrier with him. Better to wait until her anger passed before going to settle the score with Xiao Shi.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Ye’an acknowledged.

“Yan Yunning is inexplicably angry with This Palace. Why? Did either of you see where This Palace went wrong?” Xuan Yanyu crossed his long legs, furrowed his brow, and stared at the ceiling beams, murmuring, “Blaming This Palace for not staying by her side? For letting Xiao Shi hurt her?”

Ye’an offered, “Your Highness, perhaps Second Miss Yan is simply throwing a childish tantrum. She knows your status — you cannot possibly be by her side every moment.”

Ye Chen scratched his head. But His Highness was currently in Qilan, with nothing particular to attend to, so why couldn’t he be by Second Miss Yan’s side every moment??

“Then what now?” The man tapped his fingers against his abdomen in a rhythmic beat.

“Your Highness.” Ye’an spoke up boldly. “You have simply spoiled Second Miss Yan too much — that is why she dares to get angry with you. You could try keeping your distance from her for a few days. She will surely come back and apologize.”

After all, given His Highness’s standing, there was no woman who would not want to vie for the position of Crown Princess — future Empress of Xuan.

What’s more, His Highness was strikingly handsome. As long as the girl was in her right mind, a few days of being left alone would give her a sense of insecurity, and she would certainly come and apologize.

Xuan Yanyu half-closed his eyes, raised his hand slightly, and Ye’an, catching the gesture, poured a cup of water and placed it in the man’s palm.

“Think about how This Palace can coax her back into a good mood. Anything else is useless drivel, and This Palace has no interest in hearing it.”

Ye Chen glanced at Ye’an with amusement. Seems His Highness has just dismissed everything he said as drivel!!

“Your Highness, this subordinate thinks you might as well pretend that Xiao Shi managed to injure you,” Ye Chen said cleverly. “That way, Second Miss Yan’s heart would feel more at ease, and she would no longer be angry with you.”

The man on the chaise lounge slowly opened his eyes. He languidly swirled the teacup in his hand, let out a soft, unhurried laugh, and said, “Get out.”

Ye Chen: “……”

His Highness was just playing favorites. Ye’an said something useless and wasn’t told to get out, but he had genuinely thought it through — so why was he the one being told to leave??

“Brother, are you in there?” Outside, Xuan Zhaohan knocked softly on the wooden door.

Ye’an saw Xuan Yanyu nod, and turned to open the door. Ye Chen obediently stepped out as well.

“Crown Prince Brother.” Xuan Zhaohan helped Ling Mianjian over the threshold and into the room.

Xuan Yanyu raised his eyes to look at Ling Mianjian, his tone tinged with impatience. “You haven’t been resting your injuries properly — why are you out running around again?”

Hearing and sensing Xuan Yanyu’s irritation, Ling Mianjian forced her lips into a faint smile. “Crown Prince Brother, keep me company for a meal.”

“Ling Mianjian, leave.” Xuan Yanyu, already in a thoroughly bad mood, felt it worsen even further.

What meal? What mood did he have to eat a meal??

He was absolutely fed up!!

“Crown Prince Brother, you won’t keep me company?” Ling Mianjian’s eyes glistened with tears.

“Ye’an!” The man’s voice dropped into a low growl. “See her out.”

Ling Mianjian’s composure cracked. Her breathing tightened. She bent slightly at the waist, clutching her chest, and struggled to catch her breath.

“My Lady, this way, please.” Ye’an’s manner was respectful.

Ling Mianjian bit her lip and steadied herself after a moment. Xuan Zhaohan handed Ling Mianjian’s hand to Xiao Ying, who then slowly walked her out of the guest room.

……

The evening wind was rather strong. In the dining hall, the door curtains twisted and tangled together in the breeze. Xuan Zhaohan sat wedged between Yan Yunning and Xuan Yanyu.

She kept her head down, manners entirely forgotten, shoveling rice into her mouth, praying only that she could finish her bowl and make her escape as quickly as possible.