Seized by two guards, one on each side, Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow and said, “Ye Chen — have you forgotten that more than once, we were both thrown out of the side chamber by Xuan Yanyu and ended up staring at each other awkwardly?”
“You even told me that Xuan Yanyu was beaten by Prince Xuan when he was young…”
A series of muffled thuds. The maidservants inside the hall dropped to their knees, trembling.
Who had brought this person into the Crown Prince’s residence — how could she dare address His Majesty by his personal name.
Yan Yunning was startled. Why was everyone shaking and kneeling for no reason?
Ye Chen looked Yan Yunning over and narrowed his eyes. “Who told you that?”
This woman whose appearance so closely resembled Her Majesty the Xuan Empress clearly knew quite a great deal.
Yan Yunning: “…”
If Ye’an were standing here instead, he absolutely would not have asked that question.
“Why have you gone silent?” Ye Chen gave a cold laugh. “Addressing His Majesty by his personal name — by the laws of Xuanzhao, that is two hundred strokes of the rod. Drag her away.”
“Wait.” Yan Yunning moved her arms, trying to shake off the guards.
“Wait for what? You imitated Her Majesty the Xuan Empress without thinking of the consequences, and still you haven’t learned your lesson — do you truly not know what became of those before you who tried to impersonate Her Majesty? Or do you think that merely because you resemble Her Majesty, you can stay by His Majesty’s side??”
His Majesty no longer concerned himself with court affairs and spent the greater part of his time in Chaxizhen. It was a hardship for the Grand Emperor — having to attend morning court, handle memorials, and look after His Highness all at once.
And yet this woman still hoped to remain at His Majesty’s side. His Highness did not even see His Majesty three times in a single month.
“Ye Chen.” Yan Yunning bit down slightly on her teeth. “I truly regret that I once asked Xuan Yanyu to transfer you to Xiaoxiao’s side. I should have put Ye’an there instead. If it were Ye’an standing here today, I would not be dragged off and given two hundred strokes of the rod!”
Ye Chen’s lips pressed together slightly. Something felt off.
Had not Her Majesty the Xuan Empress disappeared right after giving birth to His Highness? Something was not… how could this be?
“Release her first.” Without having sorted it out, Ye Chen told the guards to let go of her. He intended to personally investigate.
Yan Yunning smoothed out the wrinkles in her sleeve, picked up the wooden basin, took hold of Xuan Yunchen’s small boots, and — not forgetting Xiaoyue’s instructions — went to wash the little one’s feet.
“Guard Ye, she arrived here for the first time today — how did she know which inner chamber His Highness occupies??” Xiaoyue asked with suspicion.
Ye Chen stepped out of the main hall and, watching Yan Yunning accurately push open the door to the inner bedchamber, raised an eyebrow slightly. “The name tablet is right there on the plaque — if she can read, can she not find it??”
Xiaoyue: “…”
The Crown Prince’s residence was not small. Even someone who could read would need to wander around for a while.
Inside the inner bedchamber, Yan Yunning looked at the little one seated properly at the imperial desk, her heart melting entirely.
Two other young children were also in the chamber. As Yan Yunning set down the wooden basin, the sound drew their attention and the two of them turned to look at her simultaneously.
“Aunt Crown Princess… no, Aunt Xuan Empress?” Xu Mochen said in surprise. “Are you Aunt Xuan Empress?”
“She is not.” The little one did not even lift his head, his small hands turning through a scroll.
Yan Yunning’s gaze fell on Xuan Yunchen. The little one held a vermilion brush, writing something on the scroll. The corners of his eyes were still slightly red — his fair, delicate little face, his features like jade carvings; the childlike quality of his appearance did nothing to conceal his air of nobility.
Yan Yunning shook her head slightly. Little Xuan Yanyu — he was far too alike. Especially in the way he had flatly said those three words, “She is not.” Even his bearing seemed to match.
Was it not a little unfair to her? Could he not take after her even a little?
“Oh.” Xu Mochen withdrew his gaze from Yan Yunning and went back to discussing with Qi Xingqian where they should go play later.
Yan Yunning: “…”
“Brother, can we go eat at the restaurant later?” Qi Xingqian smiled brightly, ran to Xuan Yunchen’s side, and swayed his little arm.
The vermilion brush slid across the scroll, leaving a streak of ink. The little one’s eyes went red with alarm, and he raised his small, soft voice. “Qi Xingqian — do not disturb this hall.”
“Brother.” Qi Xingqian pouted, then burst into great, wailing sobs.
“Ye Chen.”
At the sound of Xuan Yunchen’s voice, Ye Chen pushed open the chamber door, gathered up the sobbing Qi Xingqian, and carried him out of the inner bedchamber.
“All of you, get out.” The little one slumped listlessly in the imperial seat, staring blankly at the ink mark on the scroll.
Xu Mochen scratched his head. “Xiaoxiao, tell Prince Xuan’s uncle honestly — he won’t blame you for it.”
He had heard from his mother consort that Prince Xuan’s uncle only saw Xiaoxiao twice a month, and those visits were solely to check his coursework. If Xiaoxiao had not completed it, Prince Xuan’s uncle would cut it to once a month. Xiaoxiao desperately wanted to see Prince Xuan’s uncle, so naturally he worked hard to finish whatever was assigned. But now… he tiptoed forward for a look. On the scroll, Xiaoxiao’s densely written characters were almost entirely covered by that single streak of ink.
“Get out.” The little one’s voice took on the brink of tears.
“All right, all right, I’ll head back to the residence.” Xu Mochen glanced at Yan Yunning standing in place, tugged at her sleeve, and tilted his head to indicate she should leave with him.
Yan Yunning understood and walked Xu Mochen out of the inner bedchamber, closing the chamber door behind her.
Outside, Xu Mochen’s brow furrowed slightly. He had only warned her because she resembled Aunt Xuan Empress. If she stayed in the inner bedchamber, wasn’t she worried Xiaoxiao would throw her out too?
Inside the inner bedchamber, Yan Yunning lifted the little one — whose eyes had reddened again — into her arms and coaxed him softly. “It is all right. Anyone can still tell that our Xiaoxiao worked very hard to complete his coursework.”
Xuan Yunchen raised his eyes to look at her, resuming his composed, cool expression. “Just now, this hall said for everyone to get out — did you not hear?”
“I heard.” Yan Yunning dabbed at his tears with a handkerchief.
Clearly not having expected such an answer, the little one was briefly at a loss for words.
“Then why have you not withdrawn?” After a long pause, Xuan Yunchen said in a muffled voice.
Yan Yunning smiled and picked up the scroll. “Afraid your Father Emperor will fault you?”
“No.” The little one took the scroll back from Yan Yunning’s hands and spread it neatly on the imperial desk. He then lifted his head to look at Yan Yunning — as though only just realizing something. “Who gave you permission to hold this hall?”
Yan Yunning ruffled his little head, the fondness in her eyes unconcealed. “Xiaoxiao, it is simply because I like you that I want to hold you.”
The little one’s ears turned slightly red. “You have dressed yourself up to resemble my mother empress. You do not like my Father Emperor — you like me? Do not think I will give you the position of Xuan Empress.”
“…I have not dressed up to resemble your mother empress. I am your mother empress.”
The little one pursed his lips. “Very well — withdraw. This hall will not hold you to account for your disrespect.”
“…” Yan Yunning lifted Xuan Yunchen and settled him into the rosewood chair, then said unhurriedly, “Your Father Emperor is not as easy to deal with as you are — he doesn’t simply say he won’t hold it against someone and then let it go.”
With him, if she offended him, she would need to coax him for quite a while before he came around.
Her baby was still the better one.
“You speak of this hall’s Father Emperor right in front of this hall — are you not afraid this hall will have you executed?” The little one looked down at Yan Yunning, who was gently washing his small feet, then slipping on clean little boots with tender care.
Was she really his mother empress?
Aside from the imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother, no one had ever held him. Just now, when she had held him — he had actually wanted her to hold him a little longer.
It was because she looked so much like the portrait of his mother empress in Father Emperor’s bedchamber. So very much alike.
“How frightening.” Yan Yunning smiled, picked up a cloth and wiped the little one’s feet dry, helped him into a fresh pair of small boots, and then asked, “Xiaoxiao, it is noon — are you hungry? What would you like to eat?”
“…Not hungry. Not eating.” The little one’s gaze drifted back to the scroll.
Yan Yunning washed her hands, then carried Xuan Yunchen toward the Dining Hall.
“Did this hall say he was not eating — did you not hear??” The little one struggled, trying to get down.
Yan Yunning gave his bottom a pat. “Hush.”
“You…” The little one flushed red with embarrassment. “This hall is going to tell the imperial grandfather and have the imperial grandfather punish you.”
“Oh.” Yan Yunning paid it no mind whatsoever.
“You!! Ye Chen, this hall commands you to…”
“Your Highness, this subordinate has just remembered that he has yet to report to the Grand Emperor regarding Your Highness being ‘ill.’ This subordinate will go now.” Ye Chen said it all in one breath, then ran off at a swift pace.
He was not entirely certain whether this maidservant truly was Her Majesty the Xuan Empress, and he did not dare disturb His Majesty rashly — if she were not, His Majesty would certainly be furious.
In any case, half a month from now, His Majesty would summon His Highness the Crown Prince to the Imperial Study to review his coursework. At that time, he could simply have this maidservant accompany His Highness on the visit.
——