“Fifth Princess, it isn’t that you are unlovable. Perhaps Aci simply does not wish to marry yet.” Ye Jian offered in comfort.

“Is that so?” Xuanzhao Ran lowered her gaze to look at the young man cradled against her.

She brushed her fingers along his long lashes, then tapped lightly at the cheek where his smile always looked so lovely. With his eyes closed, Aci lay quietly against her shoulder, docile in a way that seemed almost out of character.

The first time she had seen him in the Imperial Physician’s Hall, he had lain there just as still. And now here he was again, just as still.

If he was unwilling, then so be it. Once she returned to Xuanzhao, she would follow Imperial Father’s and Imperial Mother’s wishes and marry. She would not wait for him anymore.

“Ye Jian, go find a physician to look at him. We are returning to Xuanzhao.” Xuanzhao Ran’s smile was bright as the sun.

After today, they would not see each other again. Once she was married, she could not come to see him anymore.

Ye Jian: “Fifth Princess, are you not taking Aci back to the Xuan Royal Palace?”

“No, I am not. Once the physician has seen him, we will return to Xuanzhao.” Xuanzhao Ran smiled sweetly.

The young man in her arms furrowed his brow.

Xuanzhao Ran pressed her fingers gently to his brow, her own brows curving softly. “I am not taking you back. Rest easy. I will no longer ask you to be this Princess’s Prince Consort, Aci. Farewell.”

The young man’s brow creased deeper.

Xuanzhao Ran wiped away tears that came despite herself. The smile vanished from her face entirely. “Ye Jian, hurry — go, go find a physician quickly. I want to go back to Xuanzhao. I never want to come to Qilan again.”

The girl’s voice broke into quiet sobs, the rims of her eyes going red.

“All right, all right, Fifth Princess. Wait here.” Ye Jian hurried out of the room.

The wooden door swung shut. Silence settled over the room. Xuanzhao Ran looked down at Aci, wanting to smile but finding she couldn’t.

She unhooked the pendant from his waist and held it in her palm.

“Aci, it isn’t that I want this pendant for myself. It’s that if my Crown Prince brother found out about it, you might anger him. And if you anger him again and again, even with Ningning there, he may not always hold back for her sake.”

She murmured it quietly to herself, then carefully laid Aci’s head down on the chaise. She took the thin blanket from the bed and draped it over him. Without waiting for Ye Jian to return, she left the room.

The capital city — the Prime Minister’s estate.

Chu Wantang had been convalescing for several days and was much improved, now able to get up from bed and walk about.

“Your Highness the Third Prince, thank you for taking the trouble to come visit my wife.” Yan Ruijing said with a warm smile, offering tea.

“It is no trouble at all.” Qi Qingchen accepted the teacup.

He had come today precisely because Yan Shiyao was not at the estate. He had heard from Wu’an that she had gone to his own residence to wait for him.

Chu Wantang pressed her lips together and smiled.

To have the Third Prince come in person to visit her — what a great honor that was.

“Prime Minister, this Official has also heard that what happened to Yaoyao’s mother was the fault of your secondary wife. Why have you still not dismissed her from the household?” The man unhurriedly blew on his tea.

He was acting on behalf of her mother. Yan Shiyao could hardly continue making things difficult for him over this.

“Your Highness the Third Prince, this matter — this Official is already investigating it.”

Qi Qingchen raised an eyebrow, his smile cool. “What is there still to investigate? If your secondary wife was truly innocent, why did you lock her in the ancestral hall? Since this Official is here today, won’t you give this Official an explanation? Lord Honorary Father-in-law.”

Yan Ruijing ground his teeth inwardly. Locking Jin’an in the ancestral hall had been His Majesty the Qi Emperor’s idea — and now it had become evidence in the Third Prince’s hands against him?

“Your Highness the Third Prince, this Official’s wife suffered some grievance, but it is nothing serious. It is only that Yaoyao has been shedding tears along with her these past few days…” Chu Wantang said no more, making her point and leaving it at that.

Projecting every appearance of having suffered greatly.

Yan Ruijing’s expression darkened instantly.

When had Yaoyao shed any tears these past few days?

Every day she went about with a thunderous expression, and who knew what had set her off.

When Shiyu had asked her, she said nothing.

And this very morning, whatever Shiyu had said had apparently struck a nerve, because she had abandoned her breakfast halfway through and stormed out of the estate.

“Prime Minister, whether the miscarriage of the primary wife was intentional or not, by regulation, the offense carries sixty strokes and expulsion from the household. Does this need to be pointed out to you?” Qi Qingchen slammed the teacup down.

Yan Ruijing laughed placatingly, his courage barely holding as he said, “Your Highness the Third Prince, this is after all a family matter of this Official’s household…”

“Oh? Is the Prime Minister saying that this Official is not considered family?” Qi Qingchen’s face turned cold.

Yan Ruijing frowned. Even if he were Yaoyao’s future husband, by convention, he had no right to interfere in his household’s internal affairs.

Was this not an outright case of meddling?

“Is the Prime Minister saying you have no regard for His Imperial Father’s decree?”

“This Official would not dare.” Yan Ruijing bowed low with clasped hands. “Your Highness the Third Prince, this matter has its complexities. Once this Official has looked into it thoroughly, a proper answer will certainly be given to this Official’s wife and to Yaoyao. Neither will be made to suffer any grievance.”

Qi Qingchen frowned. What was there still to look into?

What excuse was he looking for? Yan Yunning had already been adopted into the name of that secondary wife of his — if Yan Ruijing were left to investigate, he would find a way to clear her of any connection to the matter entirely.

“There is no need for further investigation. Today, an answer must be given to Yaoyao’s mother.” Qi Qingchen’s tone was scornful.

“Prime Minister, how many days has it been? If you truly intended to look into it, would you still have found nothing after so many days? In this Official’s view, you are plainly covering for your secondary wife.”

“Your Highness the Third Prince, this Official is truly innocent!”

Qi Qingchen did not even bother to raise his eyes to look at him. “Spare us the excuses. Handle it according to regulation.”

“Your Highness, are you not making things impossibly difficult for this Official?” Yan Ruijing said in distress.

“Your Highness the Third Prince, let it be. In any case, this Official’s wife has recovered. My husband, he… let it be.” Chu Wantang choked out the words.

It would have been better if she had said nothing — her speaking only fanned the flame. Qi Qingchen’s tone turned all the darker. “Prime Minister, if you continue to shield your secondary wife, this Official will administer the punishment on your behalf.”

“Your Highness the Third Prince.” Yan Ruijing fell to his knees, his voice trembling. “Sixty strokes — how could anyone survive that?”

The corner of Qi Qingchen’s mouth curved into a cold smile. “Did she think of that when she carried out the harm?”

“Your Highness, this matter…”

“Enough. This Official has no wish to hear any more excuses from you. Wu’an, help the Prime Minister to his feet and keep watch over him — make sure he does not try to minimize the punishment or evade his duty. This Official still has pressing matters to attend to. Come find this Official once it is handled.”

If he did not leave now, Yan Shiyao would be back before long.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

“This Official’s wife and I bid Your Highness the Third Prince a respectful farewell.”

Qi Qingchen walked out of the hall. Yan Ruijing slumped to the floor. What was to be done?

Why was the Third Prince so insufferably meddlesome?

“My Lord, please get up quickly.” Chu Wantang put on a show of coming forward to help Yan Ruijing to his feet. “My Lord, I am perfectly fine. There is no need to punish little Jin for my sake.”

Yan Ruijing pushed her hand aside and got himself up.

“My Lord.” Chu Wantang’s body swayed slightly.

“Prime Minister, Madam — His Highness has already given his instructions. It would be best to carry them out promptly. It is not fitting for this subordinate to be away from His Highness’s side for too long.” Wu’an said pleasantly.

Yan Ruijing’s expression turned cold and hard. “Go back and report to the Third Prince that this Official is requesting an audience with His Majesty. The Third Prince has no right by custom to interfere in a subject’s household affairs.”

Chu Wantang looked at Yan Ruijing in stunned disbelief.

Wu’an’s smile faded. “Prime Minister, are you prepared to stand against His Highness for the sake of a concubine? The eldest young miss of the Yan family is set to be wed to His Highness by year’s end. Why make an enemy of His Highness over a concubine?”