“No — it clashes with my robes, it doesn’t suit.” Jiang Xian swung the mandarin duck jade pendant in his hand with a languid smile. “I want this one.”

Xuanzhao Ran was just about to turn and walk away when she looked up and saw Aci approaching their stall with a woman beside him — a woman dressed in fine silken robes, her brow and eyes carrying a gentle, composed beauty.

Her mind changed at once. She beamed. “Buy it — I’ll buy it for you.”

Jiang Xian was caught off guard and said with great caution, “Really? A’Ran, take another look at what I’m holding.”

“We’re buying it.” Xuanzhao Ran lifted her chin, tilted her head. “Jing’er — give the vendor the silver.”

Jing’er dipped slightly. “Yes, Miss.”

Xuanzhao Ran plucked one of the pendants from Jiang Xian’s fingertip, squinted at it with a smile, and turned it over in her hand. “What if — I take this one? How does that sound?”

“All right… sure.” Watching Jing’er hand over the silver, then watching Xuanzhao Ran dangle the pendant between her fingers and play with it, Jiang Xian’s throat moved.

Mandarin duck jade pendants — their meaning was two who pair together, inseparable ever after. There was no way the Fifth Princess didn’t know that. She knew, and she still agreed to it. What could that mean…

Yan Yunning hadn’t noticed what was happening on Xuanzhao Ran’s side. She had chosen a waist sash woven from silk threads and studded on both sides with small gemstones. After paying for it, she held it up and immediately felt it was a bit too plain.

Her Crown Prince wore jade belts — the material was always jade or gold, the inlaid gemstones each of considerable worth, the carved motifs painstakingly designed.

This one, while not without its merits, fell far short of a jade belt in comparison.

“Little Lemon.” Aci, walking up to them, called out her name.

“Mm?” Yan Yunning looked up. Seeing Aci, a flash of surprise crossed her face. “Aci, how did you end up in Xuanzhao?!”

Sensing that the middle of a busy street was not the place for that conversation, Aci curved his lips into a light smile. “Little Lemon, let’s talk about that another time.”

Yan Yunning was about to agree when Xuanzhao Ran looped an arm through hers and spoke up with a cheerful smile. “Sister-in-law, I’m hungry — shall we go to a restaurant for a meal?”

“Sure.” Yan Yunning nodded with a smile, then turned to Aci. “Aci, come along with us.”

Aci glanced at Yuzhi. She had turned her head to one side, and the rims of her eyes were red as she dabbed at her tears.

Yan Yunning raised her brows. 【Fa, who is this dignified-looking woman beside him?】

Fafa snapped back irritably: 【I don’t know — don’t ask me!!】

Yan Yunning: 【?】

What had gotten into it?!

“No, sister-in-law — I’d rather not have outsiders around.” Xuanzhao Ran spoke in a soft, coaxing tone. “Just you and A’Xian to keep me company — outsiders make me uncomfortable. Can we do it this way, please?”

Aci’s eyes darkened. Their gazes met — Xuanzhao Ran looked at him for barely a moment before glancing away.

Aci turned his gaze sideways toward the person Xuanzhao Ran called “A’Xian.” The other man had drifted close to Xuanzhao Ran’s side, and the two of them were leaning together, debating which restaurant to go to.

Their heads had drawn near. Whatever was said, Xuanzhao Ran raised her handkerchief to her lips and laughed softly, while the one called A’Xian looked at her with an expression of complete tenderness.

He even reached out and brushed a fallen leaf from the end of Xuanzhao Ran’s hair. The pair — a striking man and a beautiful woman — standing side by side, looked for all the world like a perfectly matched couple.

Taking advantage of the moment Xuanzhao Ran and Jiang Xian were absorbed in conversation, Yan Yunning stepped closer to Aci and Yuzhi. She gave Yuzhi a warm smile and looked up at Aci. “Where are you staying?”

“The Grand Marshal’s residence.” Aci answered, his mind elsewhere.

“Crown Princess.” Yuzhi bowed in a deferential curtsey.

Yan Yunning was taken aback. She reached out to help Yuzhi up, smiling. “You know who I am?”

Yuzhi looked at her gently, her eyes faintly damp at the corners. “I do. A few days ago, the Crown Prince came to the Grand Marshal’s residence. This subject’s wife even said to His Highness that she wished for him to bring you to the Grand Marshal’s residence, or to come to the Crown Prince’s residence herself to see you.”

“You are the Grand Marshal’s wife?”

Xuan Yanyu had never mentioned that to her.

“Yes.” Yuzhi’s throat constricted.

“Madam — please, take good care of Lady Lu for me.” Thinking Yuzhi might not know who she meant, Yan Yunning smiled and added, “That is the maidservant beside the second madam of your household — Lu Jin’an.”

“I will.” Without quite meaning to, Yuzhi reached out and touched her face.

Delicate features, bright and lively eyes, a slender graceful figure, a faint smile at the corner of her lips, all set off by a gown of pale lavender — it made her look all the more vivid and charming, lovely to behold.

Yan Yunning took a small step back, putting a little distance between herself and Yuzhi.

【Fafa, is there some connection between Yan Yunning and the Grand Marshal’s wife in the plot?!】

Yuzhi had just said she had told Xuan Yanyu to bring her to the Grand Marshal’s residence, or to come herself to see her. There must be some connection for her to have said that. And that day, Xuan Yanyu seemed to have asked her whether she would be upset if she turned out not to be her father’s daughter.

Fafa’s electronic voice carried a distinct note of irritation: 【I don’t know!!】

Yan Yunning squinted. 【Who upset you? Are you losing your mind?!】

【…】 Fafa nearly wailed, “We can’t leave anymore!!”

But afraid Yan Yunning might pick up on something, it shut its mouth.

It had sent her to see Yan Shiyao — and that had made her cry. Xuan Yanyu had assumed she was grieving over Yan Shiyao and took it upon himself to have Ye Chen take Yan Shiyao on his back into the Palace of Prince Xuan. At the moment, Yan Shiyao was in the Imperial Physicians’ Hall — out of any immediate danger.

She just needed to recover for a few days. And now it would have to wait again — who knew how long this time before they could leave?!

Yan Yunning took that small step back, and Yuzhi’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air. She smiled and withdrew it. “Crown Princess, I apologize — I overstepped.”

“Not at all.” Yan Yunning waved it off without concern.

“Sister-in-law, we’ve decided on a restaurant — are you coming?” Xuanzhao Ran’s words had barely landed when Ye Chen came driving a carriage through the street and pulled up beside them.

“Crown Princess — the Crown Prince asks that you return to the palace.” Ye Chen lifted the soft curtain on the carriage and gestured for Yan Yunning to board.

“What’s the matter?” Yan Yunning asked.

Ye Chen shook his head. “The Crown Prince didn’t say.”

“Then it’s nothing important.” Yan Yunning handed the waist sash she was holding to Ye Chen. “Give this to Xuan Yanyu. Tell him I’ll be back later.”

Yuzhi’s eyes widened slightly. The Crown Prince truly indulged Ningning this much? Ningning even called the Crown Prince by his given name.

“Crown Princess, the Crown Prince has fallen ill — please return to the palace to see him.” Ye Chen had one moment of cleverness.

He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to bring the Crown Princess back, and the Crown Prince would send him away again.

“He’s ill?” Yan Yunning’s heart lurched. Without waiting for Ye Chen to say another word, she stepped up into the carriage.

Xuanzhao Ran forgot all about going to the restaurant. She said a quick word to Jiang Xian, then climbed into the carriage with Jing’er and urged Ye Chen to make haste for the Palace of Prince Xuan.

Aci stood watching the carriage as it galloped away, for one brief moment his gaze drifting somewhere far off. Jiang Xian passed by him with great care, holding the mandarin duck jade pendant like something precious. Aci’s brow tightened very slightly.

“Madam, let us go.”

Yuzhi curved her lips. “Let’s go.”

The Crown Prince truly did dote on Ningning like that. Ningning even dared call the Crown Prince by his given name. As her elder sister, she could finally let go of the last of her worry.

Palace of Prince Xuan — Crown Prince’s Bedchamber.

The Prince of Xuan watched Xuan Yanyu drink down the medicinal broth, tucked the brocade quilt snugly around him, and sat down on the edge of the sleeping platform to keep him company.

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes were half-lidded, his expression one of bleak resignation as he leaned against the soft bolster. He had known this would happen — he should have found another excuse. Now look — because of “a chill,” his imperial father had declared him not permitted to leave the palace until he had fully recovered.