“You want this Prince to cripple his own left hand?” Xuan Yanyu tilted his head, leisurely drawing the dagger from his waist and tossing it at Qi Qingchen’s feet. He smiled with unbridled arrogance. “Why don’t you do it for this Prince instead.”

Qi Qingchen stumbled back a step in alarm, the dagger barely missing the toe of his boot.

He drew a sharp breath and snapped furiously, “Xuan Yanyu, if you don’t do as this Prince says, don’t even think about taking Yan Shiyao away.”

Xuan Yanyu gave a light laugh. He lifted his chin slightly, his handsome face settling into an expression of amusement. “Go ahead then — didn’t this Prince just hand you the dagger?”

“You——”

Qi Qingchen ground his back teeth together, glaring at this insufferably arrogant, languid man. He clearly hadn’t expected Xuan Yanyu to actually throw the dagger at him.

If he were to wound Xuan Yanyu himself, that was entirely different from Xuan Yanyu wounding himself.

If he injured Xuan Yanyu, there would be no way to answer to Xuanzhao or Prince Xuan!!

“I’ll go with you.” Yan Shiyao stepped forward, her gaze cold as she looked toward Xuan Yanyu.

Since Xuan Yanyu had come, it was clear he would take her away regardless — just as it had played out in the vision fragments. He had more than enough means to do so.

But why… why did he have to bring her back to Xuanzhao?

“Yan Shiyao!” Qi Qingchen grabbed her by the arm. He bent down and picked up the dagger Xuan Yanyu had thrown to the ground.

Ye Chen’s eyelid twitched. Surely Qi Qingchen wasn’t actually going to strike His Highness?

Ye’an quietly shifted to position himself in front of Xuan Yanyu. The latter, finding him blocking the way, shoved him aside without the slightest hesitation.

His mood had been very foul lately — very foul indeed. If Qi Qingchen wanted to make a move against him, so much the better.

The faintest smile curved the man’s lips, and something murderous stirred in the depths of his eyes.

Ye’an’s pupils contracted. This was a disaster. After what had happened to their Highness’s Crown Prince here in Qilan, could they still make it back in one piece?

“Crown Prince of Qilan, think carefully about the consequences of injuring our Highness.” Ye’an dared not restrain Xuan Yanyu — he could only warn Qi Qingchen.

“Wasn’t it your own Highness who permitted it?” Qi Qingchen turned the dagger over in his hand.

Xuan Yanyu casually drew the dagger from Ye’an’s belt, his lips curving in a faint smile, a cold edge spreading across his striking face.

“Your Highness, if you get hurt, it won’t be easy to explain to the Crown Princess.” Ye’an reminded him in a low voice.

“It’s only Qi Qingchen. He can’t hurt this Prince.” The man spoke without the least restraint, making no effort to lower his voice.

His entire expression openly declared that he had come looking for trouble with Qi Qingchen.

“Xuan Yanyu, you——”

“Chen’er.” A commanding voice cut abruptly through Qi Qingchen’s unfinished words.

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Catching sight of the Qi Emperor and the guards and imperial soldiers behind him, Qi Qingchen froze for half a second before bowing in salute. “This son greets Imperial Father.”

“This commoner / This subordinate greets His Majesty the Qi Emperor.”

Yan Shiyao, Wu’an, and the rest of the guards knelt in obeisance.

“Your Majesty the Qi Emperor.”

“Your Majesty the Qi Emperor.”

Ye’an and Ye Chen offered smiling greetings.

The Qi Emperor nodded with a smile, his gaze falling on Xuan Yanyu. The man stood tall and elegant, a pair of deep, impassive eyes set in finely sculpted features.

He stepped forward two paces. At close range, a distinct chill was immediately perceptible — and the exhaustion on the man’s face became clearly visible.

Prince Xuan’s only imperial son. And he had delivered himself right to the door.

A smile played across the Qi Emperor’s lips as he clasped his hands behind his back.

“Dear nephew, now that you’ve come to Qilan, why didn’t you stop by the palace first?” The Qi Emperor’s tone was warm and familiar.

Xuan Yanyu smiled. “There simply hasn’t been time yet. If Your Majesty hadn’t come to find me, this nephew should have been at the palace gates by now. Please don’t take offense, Your Majesty.”

The Qi Emperor gave Xuan Yanyu a meaningful look and said warmly, “My boy, why would We take offense? We’ve had a banquet prepared in the palace. Come along with Chen’er — accompany Us for a proper round of drinks.”

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. If they went to the Qi Emperor’s palace, would they ever come back out??

“Your Majesty, this nephew has come on the orders of his father, to retrieve the Crown Princess’s betrothal gifts and dowry. Furthermore, since the Crown Princess is to be wed to this nephew, someone from her family ought to be present at the ceremony — the eldest Miss Yan must also return to Xuanzhao with this nephew.”

“What do you mean, retrieve the dowry and betrothal gifts?” The Qi Emperor regarded him as one might an unreasonable child throwing a tantrum. “Dear nephew, although Prime Minister Yan has committed offenses, the betrothal gifts and dowry delivered to the Prime Minister’s residence were left in the estate’s storerooms by Our order. In Qilan, there is no precedent of taking such things back.”

“The Crown Princess is about to be wed to this nephew. According to Xuanzhao’s customs, the dowry and betrothal gifts must be handed over to the Crown Princess.” The man explained without any urgency.

They had been sent for Ningning — naturally they should be placed in Ningning’s hands. Leaving them in Qilan, who knew whose pockets they might end up lining. This was, in fact, his primary purpose in coming to Qilan. Had he not come himself, there was little chance of taking those gifts away.

The Qi Emperor narrowed his eyes with a smile. “Oh? Since when has Xuanzhao had such a custom?”

“Must Xuanzhao’s customs require Your Majesty’s knowledge and approval?” Xuan Yanyu’s tone carried undisguised impatience.

The Qi Emperor’s lips curved coolly. He had been far too gracious — this man had come all the way to Qilan and still dared to behave like this.

“The men father sent to receive this nephew are stationed outside the city. This nephew has already been delayed a considerable time because of the Crown Prince. If this nephew doesn’t head back soon, they may well march into the capital to find him. This nephew hopes Your Majesty won’t hold it against him.” Xuan Yanyu smiled again, the corners of his mouth lifting.

His tone was unhurried, yet the force he projected was unmistakable. The Qi Emperor gave a cold laugh. “Since dear nephew is here in Qilan, why not stay for a few days?”

“This Prince has already wasted so many words on you——”

“Your Highness!” Ye’an seized Xuan Yanyu’s sleeve and offered the Qi Emperor an apologetic smile. “Prince Xuan is hosting a palace banquet tomorrow evening, and we must travel day and night to return to Xuanzhao. We truly cannot remain in Qilan. Next time, we will certainly impose upon Your Majesty.”

Xuan Yanyu let a smile touch his lips. Exchanging more words with the Qi Emperor would only ensure they couldn’t leave today. Why waste his breath?

The fingers clasped behind his back tapped twice.

As Xuan Yanyu had anticipated, the Qi Emperor smiled and said, “It is no matter. We shall personally write to Prince Xuan.”

Xuan Yanyu swept a glance his way, lazily narrowing his eyes, and said without the slightest reserve, “This Prince has heard that certain rulers have been rather unruly of late — repeatedly provoking Qilan, only to be sent soldiers to deal with them by Your Majesty. Is that so?”

“When this Prince entered the city just now, he also heard the common people discussing Your Majesty at some length. At a time like this, Your Majesty still wishes to detain this Prince — are you not afraid that father will make trouble for you?”

“Dear nephew,” the Qi Emperor said, “with you in Our hands, what would Prince Xuan dare to do?”

He dropped all pretense. The national preceptor of Xuanzhao was not to be fully trusted — that preceptor had run back to Xuanzhao without telling him what exactly was to be done. Now that Xuanzhao’s Crown Prince had delivered himself to the door, there was no letting him walk out of Qilan.

Qilan at present was chaos both within and without — chaotic enough to fill him with unease. The arrival of Xuanzhao’s Crown Prince was, for him, a fortunate development.

“Ha.” Xuan Yanyu stretched languidly, his lips curved in a smile. “Does Your Majesty not know? This Prince’s Crown Princess is with child. If you detain this Prince, father won’t agree to any of your terms. And Your Majesty — your eldest princess is still in Xuanzhao.”

The Qi Emperor raised an eyebrow. “If We were Prince Xuan, We would not abandon a son already cultivated and trained, placing Our hopes instead on an unborn child of unknown sex. As for Our princess — she would surely be willing to sacrifice herself for Qilan’s sake.”

“So this Prince cannot leave Qilan today?”

“Dear nephew, you are merely lingering in Qilan for a few days.”

“Until you and father have negotiated terms, then this Prince may leave?” Xuan Yanyu said directly.

The Qi Emperor turned his jade thumb ring slowly with his fingertip and said nothing — yet his meaning could not have been clearer.