In the side chamber, Imperial Physician Wen’s face was grave. He pressed A’Chen’s pulse repeatedly, not quite certain of what he found.

“What is it? Is it serious?” Yan Yunning held onto the doorframe, her feet hesitating on the threshold.

“Second Miss Yan, there is no need to worry — it is nothing serious.” Imperial Physician Wen put on a reassuring smile.

Yan Yunning’s heart, which had been suspended in anxiety, finally came to rest.

“First Miss Yan, Second Miss Yan, please continue — this old servant will go and prepare the medicine.” Imperial Physician Wen gave a slight nod of his head.

“Of course. Thank you for your trouble.” Yan Yunning then walked inside with Yan Shiyao.

Imperial Physician Wen walked out of the side chamber at a slightly brisker pace than usual. Xuan Yanyu soundlessly pulled the door shut and followed him until they had moved a little way off.

“Your Highness.” Imperial Physician Wen slowed his steps, something on the tip of his tongue.

“Speak.” Xuan Yanyu gazed at the brilliantly blooming flower petals beside him and plucked one, rolling it between his fingertips.

“A’Chen has somehow come into contact with Xuan Fiber Grass.” Imperial Physician Wen said gravely.

Xuan Fiber Grass was entirely black and could not be consumed. The plant grew only within the territory of Xuanzhao — the soil of Qilan was unsuitable for it to spread. Furthermore, His Majesty the King of Xuan had ordered all Xuan Fiber Grass in Xuanzhao to be carefully counted and harvested, then delivered to the Imperial Medical Bureau to be combined with other medicinal herbs and prepared as remedies.

Essentially, every last specimen of Xuan Fiber Grass in Xuanzhao was in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

How had A’Chen come into contact with it?

He had not said so directly in front of Second Miss Yan just now — he was afraid it might cause a misunderstanding between her and His Highness.

“Xuan Fiber Grass?” Xuan Yanyu’s brow creased. “There are only two possibilities — either he came across it at the Imperial Medical Bureau when Ye Chen brought him there, or he asked Little Ran for it. There are no other explanations.”

If A’Chen had secretly taken the Xuan Fiber Grass from the Imperial Medical Bureau during the time Ye Chen brought him there, then his motives were impure — and in that case, he could not be kept.

Imperial Physician Wen said, “Your Highness… if he took it of his own volition, do you still wish me to prescribe treatment?”

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze grew faintly shadowed. “Prescribe it. Give him some tonics. There is no need to give him the antidote.”

“Your Highness, but if something happens to A’Chen, Second Miss Yan would…” Ye Chen followed close behind, his brow deeply furrowed.

The man veiled the cold intent in his eyes. “He took it himself, didn’t he? Even if this Palace saves him, he’ll only find some other way to stir up more trouble.”

First Lu Jin’an, then — without managing to make Yan Yunning turn against him — now A’Chen. Who was behind all of this?

“Your Highness.” The sound of rapid footsteps came from behind. Xuan Yanyu turned and looked toward Ye’an, his expression composed. “Have you found out the truth? Where is Lu Jin’an now?”

“Reporting to Your Highness — Lu Jin’an has gone to Xuanzhao!”

The hand that had been rolling the flower petal came to a stop. “How did she end up in Xuanzhao? How did she get through the city gates?”

“Your Highness, Lu Jin’an is herself originally from Xuanzhao. It is unclear for what reason she came to the nation of Qilan and collapsed in Chaxi Town, where she was taken in by Second Miss Yan’s maternal grandmother.” Ye’an recounted everything he had uncovered, one detail at a time.

“And now? What is she doing since returning to Xuanzhao?”

“According to the city patrol guards, she caught the eye of the Grand Commandant’s concubine and has entered the Grand Commandant’s estate as a maidservant.” Ye’an said.

Ye Chen’s brow furrowed. “The Grand Commandant? Isn’t the Grand Commandant’s wife the eldest sister of First Miss Yan?”

It had been quite well-known in Xuanzhao at the time — she was both beautiful and accomplished.

She later married the Grand Commandant. After the General’s estate fell, her name gradually disappeared from Xuanzhao entirely.

All that was known was that the Grand Commandant was deeply devoted to her — that even after many years without a child he had never cast her aside, and had even helped her search for her younger brother.

Ye’an gave a nod. “Yes. The Grand Commandant’s wife is the eldest daughter of the General’s estate.”

“Enough — what does discussing other people accomplish? Get to the point.” Xuan Yanyu, vexed, tossed the flower petal he had been rolling, now thoroughly mangled, at Ye’an.

“The point?” Ye’an thought for a moment. “Your Highness, the point is that Lu Jin’an is unharmed. She has gone to Xuanzhao and is currently serving as a maidservant in the Grand Commandant’s estate under his concubine. Your Highness, shall we have the Grand Commandant send Lu Jin’an to you here in Qilan?”

“No need. Prepare a carriage — in a few days this Palace will escort Yan Yunning back to Xuanzhao. Notify the garrison guards at the city gates not to allow Lu Jin’an to leave the city again.”

Was it truly that much of a coincidence?

That the moment she arrived in Xuanzhao she caught the eye of the Grand Commandant’s concubine and was taken in as a maidservant?

Or had it all been arranged in advance?

If she was a native of Xuanzhao, why had she married Yan Ruijing?

And why had she now cooperated with A’Chen to fake her death?

And why had A’Chen taken Xuan Fiber Grass on his own?

“Yes, Your Highness.” Ye Chen grinned. “Your Highness, should we also prepare some pastries?”

Xuan Yanyu swept him with a mild glance. “What do you think?”

Ye Chen scratched his head. If he knew the answer, he wouldn’t have asked.

“Your Highness, this subordinate will make sure the finest pastries in the capital are all prepared.” Ye’an said with a cheerful smile.

Ye Chen: “…”

His Highness’s favoritism toward him is completely justified.

He was thoroughly convinced.

“Go and prepare the antidote for A’Chen.” Xuan Yanyu turned and spoke to Imperial Physician Wen.

If A’Chen wasn’t well, Yan Yunning wouldn’t be at ease accompanying him back to Xuanzhao.

Imperial Physician Wen: “Understood, Your Highness.”

After taking the antidote, A’Chen spent another two days pretending to be unwell. Under Yan Yunning’s “attentive care,” he found it utterly impossible to keep up the act.

“Done pretending?” Yan Yunning sat with her legs crossed, leaning back against Xuan Yanyu’s chest, and spared a glance at A’Chen, who sat slumped on the bed looking dejected.

She had spent so many hours coaxing Xuan Yanyu not to be angry, not to hold a grudge — and here A’Chen was, still keeping up the charade. If he kept this up, she would have to go and pacify Xuan Xixi all over again.

A’Chen said stubbornly, “Little Lemon, it was Xuan… the Crown Prince who made me faint. Didn’t Imperial Physician Wen say so himself? It was Xuan Fiber Grass — that kind of plant doesn’t even exist in Qilan!”

He had said this wouldn’t work. It wouldn’t work at all!

Too many loose ends. Little Lemon wasn’t foolish, and Xuan Yanyu even less so.

They simply wouldn’t listen to him.

If Xuan Yanyu could be outwitted by something this simple, then Xuanzhao would be well on its way to falling into Qilan’s hands.

When he thought about it carefully, he actually found the business with Lu A’Po quite plausible as well — so why hadn’t Little Lemon blamed Xuan Yanyu?

“Oh.” Yan Yunning gave a nod.

A’Chen pursed his lips. “Oh? Little Lemon, I’m at least something like an older brother to you — I was practically harmed by the Crown Prince, and all you have to say is ‘oh’?”

He gave the brocade quilt an irritated thump and flopped back on the bed in despair.

“Mm.” Yan Yunning made another sound of acknowledgment.

A’Chen turned onto his side and watched with a frown as Xuan Yanyu peeled a mango and held it out, Yan Yunning eating it in small bites right from his hand without even getting her fingers sticky.

“Could you go eat somewhere else?”

He had supposedly come to visit him these past few days, and yet every day she acted as though he didn’t exist.

Did she enjoy watching this so much?

He didn’t enjoy watching it in the slightest.

“…”

No one paid him any mind. A’Chen yanked the brocade quilt over his head, turned over, and faced the wall.

“I’m leaving for Xuanzhao tomorrow.”

“What are you going to Xuanzhao for?” A’Chen threw back the quilt and sat bolt upright.

Why was she suddenly going to Xuanzhao?

Had they found out Lu A’Niang went to Xuanzhao?

Or was Little Lemon going to marry Xuan Yanyu?

Yan Yunning narrowed her eyes at him with a smile, patted Xuan Yanyu’s arm, and said, “Let’s go, Xuan Xixi.”

Xuan Yanyu tossed aside the fruit rind, took the square cloth Ye’an handed him, carefully wiped his hands, and followed behind Yan Yunning out of the side chamber.

“Little Lemon? Yan Yunning!” A’Chen scrambled in a panic, shoved his feet into his boots without any care, and gave chase.

Yan Yunning heard his calls and ran, pulling Xuan Yanyu along with her.

Two pale blue figures disappeared around the corner. A’Chen slapped his palm against his forehead in exasperation.