“Wait — Your Highness, you must have misunderstood. At the Grand Counselor’s residence, what I said was that you could make a request of A’Ci — not of me! It was A’Ci who agreed to you, not me!”

“This Crown Prince didn’t hear that.” Xuan Yanyu lifted his eyelids to look at her. “You never said the name A’Ci to this Crown Prince at the Grand Counselor’s residence.”

“You…… you just sleep on the chaise lounge tonight.” Yan Yunning couldn’t be bothered arguing with him any further, and pulled down the dragon-and-phoenix gauze bed curtain herself.

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes widened. “Yan Yunning? It’s only been a few days and you’re treating this Crown Prince like this?”

“Shut up!”

Xuan Yanyu fell silent, rose, undressed himself, pushed the gauze curtain aside, and acted as though he hadn’t noticed Yan Yunning’s sour expression at all.

“This Crown Prince promises to behave.” The man lay down, burying his face in the crook of her neck with a quiet laugh.

Yan Yunning: “……”

She could believe it once, even twice, or she could stretch it to three and four times — but now in her estimation his word held no credibility whatsoever!

……

Qilan Imperial Palace — the Throne Hall.

The two emperors of Xuanzhao and Qilan sat facing each other.

The Qilan Emperor received Prince Xuan with exceptional warmth and enthusiasm.

“It is this one’s son who was inconsiderate — he didn’t say a word to the Qilan Emperor, and went ahead in private to claim the Yan family girl for himself. This one has already reprimanded him.” Prince Xuan shook his head with a rueful smile.

“Oh? He bypassed you entirely and settled it himself? Don’t tell me the good nephew drafted the imperial decree on his own?” The Qilan Emperor smiled with a blade concealed behind his pleasantries.

Appointing a Crown Princess had made enough noise to reach the ears of Qilan as well — he didn’t believe Prince Xuan had known nothing of it.

And now the common people were all wondering what grand spectacle Qilan would put on when appointing their own Crown Princess — the people were already looking forward to it.

Distributing grain, bestowing rewards upon the people, holding grand festivities in the capital and celebrating for half a month — and that wasn’t even marrying the Crown Princess yet — was all that really necessary?

That sort of commotion — how many taels of silver had been squandered?

And he had brought double the betrothal gifts, then had the nerve to also bring a dowry — the entrance to the Grand Counselor’s residence had been surrounded by crowds of common people watching, the procession of bearers carrying betrothal gifts and the dowry stretching the length of an entire street — it was plainly nothing more than a show of Xuanzhao’s abundant wealth!

“Ah.” Prince Xuan heaved a long sigh. “As you well know, this one has only the one precious child — he has been indulged since he was small. It isn’t the first time he has issued a decree on his own. This one simply can’t manage him. Nothing like the Qilan Emperor’s children, each one so obedient — this one envies you beyond words.”

The Qilan Emperor gave a hollow laugh. “Prince Xuan is surely joking.”

Who didn’t know his methods? Did he think he was unaware of how Prince Xuan had secured his position?

Years ago, when Prince Xuan had forced Qilan to welcome his Xuanzhao citizens at any time, he had not been nearly this agreeable.

He had been unwilling then, and Prince Xuan had said nothing further — he simply dispatched generals to attack Qilan, compelling him to accept Prince Xuan’s demands under duress.

And now he was being this indulgent toward his own son?

Wasn’t a successor-in-waiting supposed to be held to stricter standards?

If he were Prince Xuan, he would absolutely demand excellence from his imperial son — no leniency whatsoever.

He had heard of Prince Xuan’s son — quite remarkable for his age — and had often used him as an example to goad his own sons into exerting themselves.

He didn’t believe Prince Xuan had been so haplessly outmaneuvered by his own son, allowing him to draft the decree himself.

“No joking intended — that is simply how this one’s son is.” Prince Xuan wore the air of a man who had been thoroughly put-upon.

“Have some tea, have some tea.” The Qilan Emperor clearly had no wish to continue on this topic.

Prince Xuan accepted the teacup with a smile. “Since things have come to this point already, the Qilan Emperor would do well to give this one’s son a bit of face — overlook this instance of his acting first and reporting after. This one has already reprimanded him, and such inconsiderateness will not happen again. He will learn to regard you properly in the future.”

The Qilan Emperor clenched his jaw, keeping a smile on his face. “This one is quite curious as to how the good nephew came to know the Yan family girl.”

As far as he was aware, the Yan family girl had only recently been brought home — how could she have come to know Xuanzhao’s Crown Prince?

“Does the Qilan Emperor not know? This one’s son spent a considerable length of time in Qilan — it was presumably during that time that they became acquainted. This one had assumed all along that you were aware.” Prince Xuan looked mildly surprised.

The Qilan Emperor managed a strained smile. “This one knows, of course — this one was simply too preoccupied and momentarily forgot.”

If he were to say he didn’t know, wouldn’t that make him look like a perfectly useless Qilan Emperor?

Unable to even track an enemy nation’s Crown Prince entering Qilan!

Prince Xuan raised an eyebrow and took a calm, measured sip of tea.

“Your Imperial Majesty of Qilan, from the moment our Crown Prince returned to Xuanzhao, he praised you day after day to His Majesty Prince Xuan — praised how well you govern Qilan, how wonderful everything is. Our Crown Prince truly admires you.” Ye’an stepped forward with a smile and topped up the Qilan Emperor’s tea.

“Indeed — our Crown Prince also said that the reason he was bold enough to act as he did was precisely because of his time in Qilan, where he could sense the Qilan Emperor’s magnanimity, and was certain Your Majesty would not hold it against him. He also felt that the Qilan Emperor would not allow this matter to create any rift between Qilan and Xuanzhao.” Ye Chen picked up smoothly where Ye’an had left off.

“That is precisely why this one came to Qilan personally, to speak with you on behalf of this one’s son.” Prince Xuan gave a helpless smile. “When this one heard how much his son praised you, it stung a little, truth be told.”

The Qilan Emperor suppressed the rage simmering in his chest. Without a single word of notice, he had taken Qilan’s Grand Counselor’s daughter away to Xuanzhao — hadn’t so much as informed Qilan.

Then he had simply issued a decree and announced it throughout Xuanzhao. Such blatant disregard.

And now they were making honeyed, flattering remarks — utterly shameless.

If he had shown even a shred of respect, he would not have acted first and reported after — because after all, the Yan family girl was a person of Qilan, and the daughter of the Grand Counselor at that. Any proper course of action required his consent!

“Since the Qilan Emperor has no intention of holding it against this one’s son, this one need not impose much longer.” Prince Xuan set down his teacup and smoothed his imperial robes with a cheerful air.

“One moment — this one’s unworthy son has long wished to spend more time exchanging knowledge with the good nephew. He has simply never had the opportunity. Since Prince Xuan has come to Qilan, why not do this one a courtesy as well — let that unworthy son of this one follow the good nephew and learn from him?” The Qilan Emperor’s tone was laced with implication.

He had already given Prince Xuan face by letting the matter go. If Prince Xuan refused him now, that would be unreasonable.

Prince Xuan’s eyes flickered faintly. “This one can’t speak for this one’s son — he grows weary of company, and there’s little to be learned from following him around.”

“No matter — whatever he can learn is enough.” The Qilan Emperor said with an offhand air.

What mattered was seizing this opportunity to enter Xuanzhao openly and in broad daylight, to observe how Xuanzhao was governed. Getting into Xuanzhao normally was exceedingly difficult — this was a perfect opening.

Prince Xuan looked at him with a meaningful gaze. “Very well. But this one will say something that may not be pleasant to hear — if the good nephew should happen to sustain some injury, the Qilan Emperor mustn’t lay blame.”

“Of course not — a little injury during an ordinary exchange is of no consequence.”

The Qilan Emperor deliberately emphasized the word “little” with a smile.

“Noted — injuries are of no consequence.” Prince Xuan paused for a beat. “Which of the good nephews does the Qilan Emperor wish to accompany this one back to Xuanzhao?”

“The eldest and the third—”

“One is sufficient. This one’s son has a great many matters to attend to.” Prince Xuan cut him off directly.

No need to flaunt how many sons he had!

Having that many brought back would only be an irritation!

The Qilan Emperor’s expression froze — it had been quite some time since anyone had been so bold as to cut him off mid-sentence.

“Even with one good nephew along, this one’s son most likely won’t spend any time with him at all.” Prince Xuan spoke plainly.

The Qilan Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly. He kept his face jovial. “No matter — this one knows the good nephew is busy. Whatever can be learned is enough.”