If Ningning’s identity were discovered by the Emperor, there was every chance he would make it public.

And if that happened, their being together would mean the entire court would stand against them??

“Understood, Your Highness.” Ye’an lifted the teapot and refilled Xuan Yanyu’s cup.

The man rubbed his chin, then asked out of curiosity, “How did the Emperor come to identify Yan Shiyao?”

How on earth could his father be so certain that Yan Shiyao was his Crown Princess??

Ye’an said, “His Majesty identified her through a jade pendant. The eldest young lady of the Yan family had a jade pendant identical to yours, and His Majesty’s people also asked the eldest young lady about it — she confirmed the pendant had been with her since childhood.”

Xuan Yanyu’s eye twitched. “That casual? Was he not afraid the jade pendant in Yan Shiyao’s possession might have been stolen?”

“Your Highness, the eldest young lady of the Yan family is hardly someone who would stoop to stealing a jade pendant. Moreover, His Majesty had also established that Chancellor Yan once recovered from his injuries at the General’s estate — the jade pendant matched, so there was naturally no reason to investigate further.”

It was said that when His Majesty first identified Yan Shiyao, Chief Eunuch Feng had counseled His Majesty to look more carefully, but His Majesty had seemed terribly anxious that Yan Shiyao might not be His Highness’s Crown Princess.

It was as though he had found hope after a long search, and would sooner accept an error than allow that hope to be shattered.

His Majesty had then consulted the National Preceptor, who confirmed that she was indeed a young lady of the Yan family, and only then had His Majesty set his mind at ease.

“So the jade pendant was given to Yan Shiyao by Lu Jin’an?” Xuan Yanyu said evenly.

Ye’an replied with some uncertainty, “Quite possibly.”

A moment of silence fell. The man’s well-proportioned hand propped up one side of his face, and a quiet sigh drifted from his throat. “Where is this palace sleeping tonight?”

Ye’an: “……”

His Highness changed topics rather swiftly!!

They were just discussing the jade pendant a moment ago, weren’t they?

How did it suddenly become a question of where to sleep??

The Crown Prince’s estate was vast — surely His Highness could sleep anywhere he liked!!

“Your Highness, are you not sharing the bedchamber with the Crown Princess?” Ye’an asked, genuinely puzzled.

“……” Xuan Yanyu said nothing.

Ye’an pressed his lips together. “Your Highness, are you and the Crown Princess in a quarrel?”

“Not exactly — by now Ningning should have gone to sleep, and the bedchamber door ought to be closed.” Xuan Yanyu set down his teacup and said mildly, “How is this palace to get into the bedchamber?”

“Your Highness, perhaps you could… you could climb in through the window?” Ye’an ventured tentatively.

Xuan Yanyu’s lips curved. “This palace was already considering sleeping in the side chamber, yet you had to go and suggest climbing through the window. Tomorrow, when Ningning asks about it, go explain it to her yourself.”

Ye’an’s head spun. Before he could untangle the meaning of Xuan Yanyu’s words, the man had already strode out of the Zhaozheng Hall in long steps.

“Wasn’t it His Highness himself who asked how to get into the bedchamber?” Ye’an murmured to himself. “And yet he was already planning to sleep in the side chamber? When did His Highness ever say he intended to sleep in the side chamber?”

How was he supposed to explain anything to the Crown Princess??

Explain what, exactly?

That he had forced His Highness to climb through the window?

Would the Crown Princess even believe it??

The Crown Prince climbing through a window to reach the Crown Princess — if word of that got out, it would be the talk of the town.

On the other side, Yan Yunning furrowed her brow as she watched the man climb in through the window.

So then — how had she forgotten to close the window??

“It was Ye’an who kept urging this palace to climb in through the window. If you’re displeased, the only one you can be displeased with is him.” Xuan Yanyu said as he began to undress.

The man slowly shrugged off his brocade robe, smoothed his inner garments, and revealed a set of half-concealed, half-visible abdominal muscles. He walked toward the bed at an unhurried pace.

Yan Yunning moistened her lips. Who was he putting on this bewitching display for? She turned over, closed her eyes.

Seeing that Yan Yunning wasn’t angry, Xuan Yanyu lifted the brocade quilt and lay down on the bed.

“Come to the palace with this palace tomorrow — all right?”

Yan Yunning turned to face him, her face nestled against his chest. “Is there something important?”

The man drew her slender waist close. “Mm. The Empress asked you to join her in selecting a consort for little Ranran.”

“Me?” Yan Yunning was somewhat surprised.

Xuan Yanyu smiled. “Mm. You are Ranran’s sister-in-law — you may offer the Empress some suggestions.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I wouldn’t have any good suggestions to offer.” Yan Yunning grumbled softly.

“Then simply don’t offer any.” The man lifted her head and guided her to rest it on his arm, then drew the brocade quilt upward with his free hand.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you always this accommodating with me?” The girl’s voice trailed off with a soft, lilting turn.

The man pressed his lips together in a quiet smile. “How would this palace dare to be otherwise?”

Yan Yunning pouted. “The way Your Highness puts it, I sound like some kind of shrewish wife.”

Xuan Yanyu pinched the tip of her nose. “Nonsense — this palace would never dare say such a thing.”

Yan Yunning tilted her head back to look at the laughter dancing in the man’s eyes, then, with a complete disregard for the mood, said, “Wasn’t it just this palace’s turn? ‘Yan Yunning, beg this palace~'”

The girl deliberately mimicked Xuan Yanyu’s vocal timbre, making it come out rather comical.

Xuan Yanyu: “……”

Yan Yunning tapped the man’s chest once. “‘Is this how you beg this palace?? Yan Yunning!!'”

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together and said nothing.

“‘Yan Yunning? Beg this palace, won’t you!!'” Yan Yunning sprawled flat on the bed, dissolving into laughter.

The man quietly turned over. He was not going to stoop to bickering with her.

Yan Yunning pushed herself up, tilted her head, and looked at him. “Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

She poked his back with a fingertip, then called again, “Your Highness the Crown Prince!!”

“Not tired yet?” the man’s voice came out languid and unhurried. “If you’re not tired, then…”

“I’m tired.” Yan Yunning settled down obediently, closed her eyes.

Xuan Yanyu’s brow arched slightly. He turned over and gathered her into his arms.

The moonlight beyond the window was dim. Without knowing when it happened, the sky outside had gradually brightened. Along the long street, small vendors had set up their stalls again, calling out their wares in loud voices — and the quiet of the long street was alive once more.

Grand Commandant’s Estate.

Su Roujia dabbed delicately at the tip of her nose with a handkerchief. “Elder Sister, don’t you know a distinguished guest has come to the estate? All these days and still you haven’t come out to receive her?”

Yu Zhi coughed several times.

Su Roujia stepped back two paces with a look of disdain. “This morning for breakfast, make yourself presentable and go have a meal with Yaoyao.”

Otherwise — if the Crown Princess were to ask, and Yaoyao told the Crown Princess that the Grand Commandant’s wife paid her no regard, and had not even come out to greet her since her arrival at the Grand Commandant’s estate —

If not for Acheng’s concern for his reputation, Yu Zhi would have been repudiated by him long ago. And it was because of that that she herself still hadn’t risen above being a concubine!!

Just thinking about it was infuriating. Su Roujia shot Yu Zhi a glare and swept out of the side chamber.

“My lady.” The handmaiden Xiao Wu steadied Yu Zhi over to the bronze mirror, where she sat down, and picked up a wooden comb to help her dress her hair.

Yu Zhi looked at the haggard face reflected back at her from the mirror and curved her lips slightly upward.

Once, she had no hope and had not cared when Xiao Cheng and Su Roujia trampled on her. Things were different now — she could not become a burden to Ningning and Shiqing.

Most especially, she could not become a burden to Ningning. If she could do nothing to help her, at least she must not add to her troubles.

She changed into a presentable set of clothes and rose to make her way to the dining hall.

The Dining Hall.

Xiao Cheng and Su Roujia were already seated. Yu Zhi walked to Yan Shiyao’s side and sat down.

“Zhizhi, are you feeling a little better?” Xiao Cheng smiled warmly.

In front of others, Xiao Cheng maintained an unfailing tenderness toward Yu Zhi.

“Mm.” Yu Zhi gave a soft smile.

“Now that you’re feeling better, do come out more often.” Xiao Cheng said with an air of earnestness.

Yu Zhi looked up, lifted a brow, and smiled faintly. “I will.”

The woman had taken particular care to apply her rouge that day. Her smile was full of warmth, paired with a water-blue robe and a look of serene elegance — Xiao Cheng found himself staring.

“Acheng?” Su Roujia called out, displeasure laced through her voice.