The Imperial Preceptor, not yet fully awake, was hauled to the main hall by Ye Chen and Ye’an. After dropping him off, the two of them stepped outside and pulled the hall doors shut behind them.

The Imperial Preceptor had just opened his mouth to grumble when he caught sight of Xuan Yanyu seated in the place of honor, his eyes brimming with ruthless fury. The Imperial Preceptor gave a startled flinch. No matter where he was, whenever he laid eyes on this man, he still felt a creeping dread.

Especially because of the matter concerning Miss Yan’s child — he dared not even imagine what fate awaited him once the truth came to light. Miss Yan would never let him off, and this one here — needless to say — even thinking about it made his scalp tingle.

He had to run. Now.

“Speak. Why did you originally want this Palace to marry Yan Shiyao?” The man’s tone was deeply unpleasant.

“No, no.” The Imperial Preceptor smiled ingratiatingly. “Your Highness the Crown Prince has misunderstood. What I said was the General’s Manor’s youngest daughter. It was His Majesty who misunderstood — I still don’t know how His Majesty managed to get it so wrong. As for that Yan Shiyao — if you were to marry her, ten years from now she would collude with Qilan’s Crown Prince from within, and together they would seize our Xuanzhao.”

“Only by marrying the General’s Manor’s youngest daughter can this be averted. Otherwise, it can never be resolved.”

Before Xuan Yanyu could respond, the Imperial Preceptor added, “Your Highness, did you come because of the Crown Princess?”

A dark shadow passed through Xuan Yanyu’s eyes. “You have a way?”

“I do…” The Imperial Preceptor started to speak, then hesitated.

“Say it.” Xuan Yanyu’s tone was impatient.

The Imperial Preceptor drew a deep breath. “Your Highness, you can surely guess that the Crown Princess came for your sake. Once your tribulation is resolved, the Crown Princess will naturally leave you. But what if it is not resolved?”

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze stilled for a moment. “What must this Palace do?”

“Your Highness, to set things right — you must marry Yan Shiyao and wait for her to join forces with Qilan’s Crown Prince. That is the only way.” The Imperial Preceptor discreetly watched Xuan Yanyu’s reaction.

He was making this all up.

No method would work. He was only saying this to make Miss Yan give up and go home — so that once she returned, she would live a good life.

Besides, the Crown Prince would not remember Miss Yan. Would that not be fine?

One who would not remember. One who would let go.

Yan Shiyao was already with child. If she were to marry the Crown Prince, Miss Yan would certainly misunderstand. After going home, would she not come to despise the Crown Prince completely?

That was also why he had run off to Qilan in the first place.

Yan Shiyao had needed to save her mother, and the situation happened to serve his purposes as well. A mutual benefit.

That the Crown Prince would come to him had also been within his plan.

“Is there truly only this one solution?” The man said, his face expressionless.

“Yes. Depose the Crown Princess and take Yan Shiyao as Xuanzhao’s Crown Princess. Yan Shiyao must be made Crown Princess — that is the only way. And furthermore, the Crown Princess must not learn the truth.” The Imperial Preceptor said this with an utterly straight face, spinning complete nonsense.

He paused half a second, then probed cautiously, “Your Highness — but if things go this way and the Crown Princess finds out, she will surely come to hate you. Are you still willing?”

Xuan Yanyu’s breathing grew heavy and slow. Even if it meant being selfish — he would keep her by his side a few more years.

After a long pause of half a quarter-hour, the man said slowly, “Willing.”

The Imperial Preceptor’s pupils gave a faint tremble. He suddenly recalled a saying: “When you love someone, you will always find ways to hold onto them. For the sake of keeping your beloved, you seek methods at every turn — but in the opposite case, every turn yields only excuses and pretexts.”

“If this Palace does not marry Yan Shiyao, how much longer can Ningning remain by this Palace’s side?”

The Imperial Preceptor, who had been spinning lies a moment ago, now told the truth. “A little over a month at most.”

Xuan Yanyu’s heartbeat slowed half a beat. He asked in a hoarse voice, “If this Palace does not marry Yan Shiyao — will we be able to see each other again in the future?”

The Imperial Preceptor let out a sigh. “Your Highness, this subject does not know. Perhaps… or perhaps not.”

Xuan Yanyu closed his eyes. He did not want to gamble on that “perhaps.” Then he had no choice but to be a little selfish and keep her close…

The Imperial Preceptor watched Xuan Yanyu with some unease. He had assumed the Crown Prince would never believe such blatant nonsense — he had even prepared a great many persuasive words in reserve. He had not expected that he… he would simply believe it.

The Crown Prince was so clever — he had even deduced the Crown Princess’s origins. And he just believed this rubbish?

Most likely, he had no choice but to believe it. In his current state, he was simply seizing onto this absurd excuse, forcing himself to accept it…

After Xuan Yanyu left the Imperial Preceptor’s residence, the Imperial Preceptor rushed back to his side room with hurried steps, began packing his things, and muttered to himself, “I have to run immediately — otherwise there will be no getting away.”

“Imperial Preceptor, are you leaving Xuanzhao again?” a maidservant asked respectfully.

The Imperial Preceptor tossed aside what he was holding. “No.”

It was not yet the right time to leave — it would seem too deliberate. He would wait a few days.

Xuanwang Palace — the Imperial Study.

“Xuan Yanyu, what nonsense are you spouting?” Prince Xuan trembled with fury.

What was this about now?

When he had asked him to marry Yan Shiyao before, he had refused. And now he wanted to depose Ningning and take Yan Shiyao instead?

Was this what the Imperial Preceptor’s letter had meant — that he and Ningning would not last?

“Father Emperor, your son has made up his mind.”

“Insolent wretch.” The memorial in Prince Xuan’s hand came crashing down onto Xuan Yanyu. “We absolutely will not permit you to carry on like this.”

Eunuch Feng drew in a sharp breath. How could His Majesty truly bring himself to strike the Crown Prince?

Xuan Yanyu paid it no mind and continued on regardless. “Father Emperor, there is no need to announce this throughout Xuanzhao. Your son will have Ye Chen and Ye’an bring Yan Shiyao here…”

“Xuan Yanyu, what are you saying? You no longer want Ningning?” Prince Xuan’s eyes flashed with disappointment.

How could his heart have changed so quickly?

The man’s hand at his side clenched tight, his entire bearing radiating ruthless fury. What choice did he have? He had no other option but to believe this absurd, laughable justification for keeping Ningning by his side.

If he did not try, the only thing that awaited him was watching Ningning leave. But if he did try — what if it truly could keep her?

Furthermore, since the Imperial Preceptor had been able to calculate Ningning’s origins, he likely would not deceive him. He trusted that the Imperial Preceptor did not have the nerve to lie to him.

Without making any announcement throughout Xuanzhao — within the Crown Prince’s Manor and in Prince Xuan’s Palace — he would issue orders to ensure no one would dare tell Ningning. As long as Yan Shiyao agreed, he would offer her something in return. And if she refused, he had ways to bring her to Xuanzhao all the same.

Seeing Xuan Yanyu remain silent, Prince Xuan said with exasperation, “We do not consent.”

“In ten days, your son will bring Yan Shiyao to Xuanzhao. At that time, Father Emperor need only draft an edict informing the court ministers.” The man rose to his feet, paying no heed to Prince Xuan’s darkening, fury-stricken face, and strode out of the Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself, calm yourself.” Eunuch Feng offered soothing words.

“Unfilial wretch! Unfilial wretch!” Prince Xuan bowed his head, working to settle his own breathing. “Go and find out what has gotten into him this time.”

“Your Majesty, if we look into the Crown Prince’s movements, the Crown Prince will know at once…”

Prince Xuan pinched the bridge of his nose, then said through gritted teeth, “If we cannot look into it, then keep the Imperial Seal secured. We cannot let Yuer run wild.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.” Eunuch Feng nodded in acknowledgement.

His Majesty feared the Crown Prince would draft the edict himself.

The Crown Prince’s Manor.

Yan Yunning was crouched on the ground, playing with Snowball.

“Woof, woof.” Snowball bared its teeth at Xuan Yanyu as he drew near.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Yan Yunning smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

The man crouched down beside her and ruffled her hair. “Shall we go out for a stroll?”

Neither of them brought up the events of the previous evening — as though the conversation from last night had never happened at all.

“Are you not busy today?” Yan Yunning scooped Snowball into her arms and gave Xuan Yanyu’s arm a light pat with its tiny stubby leg.

“Not busy. Today I’ll keep you company.”

Yan Yunning smiled and blinked at him, then said in a coy tone, “Your Highness the Crown Prince — what if I don’t feel like walking?”

The man cast a languid glance at her, a helpless smile tugging at his lips. “Just say it outright — do you want this Palace to carry you on my back, or in my arms?”