Watching the man’s handsome face settle back into peaceful sleep, Yan Yunning put the ointment away, lowered the bed curtain, and tiptoed out of the sleeping quarters.

——

Empress Dowager’s Palace.

The Fifth Princess Xuanzhao Ranran and her husband Jiang Xian, as well as Princess Imperial Xuanzhao Yang, were all present.

“I pay my respects to Imperial Mother.” Yan Yunning walked into the hall with a smile and gave a bow.

“We pay our respects to Her Highness the Xuan Empress.”

Xuanzhao Ranran and Jiang Xian spoke together — one voice low, one clear — while the maidservants in the hall also curtsied.

“Ningning, come sit with me.” The Empress Dowager smiled warmly and beckoned Yan Yunning over.

“Of course.” Yan Yunning sat beside the Empress Dowager and turned to Xuanzhao Yang with a smile. “Imperial Sister.”

Xuanzhao Yang gave a complicated nod. Back then, after giving birth to Xiaoxiao, Ningning had left without a single word — which had sent that little wretch Xuan Xixi into an emotional collapse. If she said she held not even a trace of resentment toward Ningning, that would be a lie.

But resentment was useless. Who had told Xuan Xixi to have no spine? If Ningning had not suddenly come back, he might have gone running off to Chaxi Town again by now.

She could not even be bothered to say anything about it.

The Empress Dowager took Yan Yunning’s hand in hers, the corners of her mouth warm and gentle. “Ningning, once Xiaoxiao and Momo finish their morning lessons, and once your Imperial Father has come down from morning court, I’ll have someone invite Yueer over. We’ll all go have the midday meal together.”

“Of course. Whatever Imperial Mother says.” Yan Yunning agreed obediently.

“Imperial Mother, Father is not getting any younger. Shouldn’t His Majesty be handling Xuanzhao’s affairs himself by now? Every day Father is kept idle while he busies himself on His Majesty’s behalf — he’s gotten quite a few more white hairs.” Xuanzhao Yang genuinely felt for the Grand Emperor. The seat of the Xuan King had already passed to Xuan Xixi, yet Father still attended morning court on schedule, still processed memorials.

All of Xuanzhao’s affairs, great and small, were being handled by Father, while that little son of his whom he had pampered and indulged since childhood had all the leisure in the world.

The Empress Dowager said serenely, “Then go and persuade him yourself. If you can get Yueer to listen, your father would not only reward you with shops and residences — he’d be thanking you.”

Xuanzhao Yang pursed her lips. “Imperial Mother flatters me.”

She would not dare go and advise him.

In the past she had still dared to say a few words to him, but ever since Ningning left, his moods had become so unpredictable that she dared not provoke him anymore.

“Your Highness the Empress Dowager, Her Highness the Xuan Empress, the Princess Imperial, the Fifth Princess, the Prince Consort — this servant comes with word from the Grand Emperor that he has urgent matters to attend to and will be unable to join today’s family meal.” Eunuch Feng entered the hall with a heavy expression to deliver the news.

“I understand,” the Empress Dowager said.

“Then this servant will take his leave.” Eunuch Feng turned and strode quickly out of the palace.

“What urgent matter? Why did Eunuch Feng seem in such a rush?” Xuanzhao Yang wondered aloud, hesitating slightly.

“That’s enough — don’t speculate. Let’s go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.” The Empress Dowager rose to her feet. Yan Yunning took her hand, and the two of them left the palace first.

“Imperial Sister, let’s go.” Xuanzhao Ranran smiled and slipped her arm through Xuanzhao Yang’s.

“Be careful — you’re with child, and especially this close to your due date, you must take extra care. Do you understand?” Xuanzhao Yang reminded her.

Xuanzhao Ranran stuck out her tongue playfully. “Ah, with Xian here, Imperial Sister doesn’t need to worry.”

“You,” Xuanzhao Yang said, tapping her on the forehead. “It’s only because Xian has spoiled you since you were small.”

“Imperial Sister, I am willing,” Jiang Xian said with a gentle smile. “That Ranran was willing to marry down to me — that alone is more than enough for me.”

He had heard from his mother that among all the portrait scrolls the Empress Dowager had presented her, Ranran had chosen him. At the time, he had not known how overjoyed he was.

It was as though he had suddenly stumbled upon a treasure. And now that treasure was carrying another little treasure — he could not ask for more.

Xuanzhao Ranran smiled proudly. “Imperial Sister, did you hear that? Xian says he’s willing.”

Xuanzhao Yang shook her head and muttered under her breath, “How can there be two more people like Xuan Xixi?”

Xuanzhao Ranran: “……”

Jiang Xian: “……”

——

The Imperial Study.

The Grand Emperor pinched the bridge of his nose, seated upon the gilded imperial throne, while several Secretaries of the various ministries chattered over one another, debating their course of action.

“Grand Emperor, the Prince of Second Rank has gone too far. He actually used the pretext of hiring guards and servants to secretly… secretly train soldiers.” The Secretary of Justice shook his sleeve in indignation.

“Grand Emperor, and not only that — the Prince of Second Rank also had men planted beside you, beside His Majesty, and beside His Highness the Crown Prince.” The shadow guard relayed all the intelligence that had been gathered.

“What?” The Grand Emperor’s expression shifted instantly to cold fury. “Even beside Xiaoxiao?”

He could care less about whether someone had been planted at his own side — but beside Xiaoxiao, absolutely not.

The Prince of Second Rank posed little real threat to Xuanzhao, and the soldiers he had trained could likewise be quelled with a detachment of the imperial guard. But if Xiaoxiao were taken hostage, the threat to Xuanzhao would be enormous.

“Yes — the greatest number were placed beside His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Quickly… quickly bring Xiaoxiao to this Emperor’s side.” The Grand Emperor reached out with a start and gripped the edge of the imperial desk.

“Grand Emperor, please do not be alarmed.” The Secretary of Finance furrowed his brow with suspicion. “There is something peculiar here — how did the Prince of Second Rank manage to plant men at your side, His Majesty’s side, and His Highness the Crown Prince’s side? Those who surround you are all highly skilled martial artists. Where did the Prince find men of such caliber?”

“Think of it this way, Your Majesty — all those in Xuanzhao with superior martial prowess were privately recruited by His Majesty into his Crown Prince’s residence before he even ascended to the throne. In the space of a mere five years, how could the Prince of Second Rank have trained a force to match them — and not merely a dozen men, but an entire host?”

This was something all the assembled secretaries were aware of.

Within the Crown Prince’s — now His Majesty’s — residence, there had always been several groups of highly skilled men operating in the shadows, and every year new recruits were taken on privately. With Qilan’s submission to Xuanzhao, His Majesty would certainly be recruiting from among their ranks as well.

There was simply no way the Prince of Second Rank could have outpaced His Majesty.

The Grand Emperor’s eyes flickered with understanding, and he stated with certainty, “The guards, the servants hired into the Prince of Second Rank’s residence — they are all Yueer’s men.”

From five years ago, Yueer had already been guarding against the Prince of Second Rank?

Though he took no part in governing state affairs, it did not mean he was unaware of all Xuanzhao’s developments — in fact, he may have considered things even more thoroughly than his own father had.

He had known at the time that the Prince had been bringing on new servants. But Xiaoxiao had been so small then, and his attention had been entirely on Xiaoxiao, so he had not thought further on it.

Yueer had anticipated that the Prince might not simply be recruiting household staff — and so had sent his own men into the Prince’s residence.

“Grand Emperor, it is almost certainly the case. You may go and ask His Majesty yourself. Think carefully — why were the greatest number placed beside His Highness the Crown Prince? In truth, they are there to protect him. The Prince of Second Rank has been played for a fool by His Majesty.” The Secretary of Finance raised an eyebrow.

“Ha! Ha ha ha! Worthy indeed of the son this Emperor raised!” The Grand Emperor’s face broke at once into a broad, delighted smile.

The Secretary of Justice’s mouth twitched. “Grand Emperor, why not keep up the act a little longer?”

The Grand Emperor shot him a look. “What act?”

“Simply maintaining that air of knowing nothing — as you were doing just a moment ago.”

“Does this Emperor need to put on an act?” The Grand Emperor idly picked up a memorial and flipped through it.

“No… there is no need.” The Secretary of Justice faltered.

“Grand Emperor.” Eunuch Feng pushed open the door to the Imperial Study, a strained smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “His Majesty says that unless the matter is important, please do not disturb him.”

“You went to Yueer and told him that the Prince of Second Rank had secretly trained a large force and placed men at his side, this Emperor’s side, and Xiaoxiao’s side — and he said it was not important?”

“Yes.” Eunuch Feng’s brow knitted tight. “This servant explained it exactly as such to His Majesty. His Majesty told this servant not to disturb him. This servant was just about to say a few more words to persuade him, but His Majesty told this servant to get out. This servant thought perhaps His Majesty had not yet fully roused from sleep, and so spoke that way — this servant intended to go and inform His Majesty again in a moment.”

The Grand Emperor lifted his teacup and took a leisurely sip. “That will not be necessary.”

“Not necessary?” Eunuch Feng was mildly startled.

“All of you, step back. As for today’s matter — consider it unknown. Let us play along with the Prince of Second Rank for a while.” The Grand Emperor said, in fine spirits.

“Understood, Grand Emperor.”