With that, Little Tuanzi strode out of the Imperial Study.

Xuan Yuncheng: “……”

The Prince Xuan’s Sleeping Chambers.

Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning had only just returned from Taiyi Hall when Xuan Yuncheng, who had come from the Imperial Study, walked into the sleeping quarters.

“Uncle, Auntie, close your eyes and play hide-and-seek with Nuonuo, won’t you?” The little girl held Yan Yunning’s hand in one of hers and Xuan Yanyu’s in the other, smiling sweetly as she wheedled.

“You want to play hide-and-seek?” Xuan Yanyu smiled and ruffled the little girl’s hair.

“Mm-hm.” The little girl nodded, eyes blinking.

“Imperial Mother!” Xuan Yuncheng called out, then came padding over to Yan Yunning’s side in a small trot, squeezed the little girl aside, and snuggled into her arms.

The little girl stumbled from being pushed. Xuan Yanyu steadied her just before she could fall, then looked with a furrowed brow at Little Tuanzi, who was staring at Nuonuo with a provocative look. “Xuan Yuncheng, apologize to your older sister.”

“I’m sorry.” Seeing Nuonuo’s eyes turn red around the rims, Xuan Yuncheng squeezed his small fist with chagrin.

“I don’t blame you at all.” Because she had been born premature, the little girl’s small, soft voice was always gentle — it sounded particularly lovely.

“You, honestly.” Yan Yunning gritted her teeth and gave Little Tuanzi’s ear a little pinch.

“Imperial Mother~” Little Tuanzi looked up at her, feigning a pitiful expression.

Yan Yunning squeezed his little cheek. “Weren’t you supposed to go back to your sleeping chambers? How did you end up here at Imperial Mother’s again?”

Little Tuanzi didn’t answer. He stood up, walked over to the bed, slipped off his small boots, lifted the brocade quilt, and lay down on the soft pillow.

Xuan Yanyu’s brow furrowed sharply. “Xuan Yuncheng, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Imperial Father, can’t you tell? Tonight, this son wants to rest right between you and Imperial Mother.” Little Tuanzi rolled over, tumbling twice across Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning’s bed.

He was not going to allow Imperial Father and Imperial Mother to only be fond of Nuonuo Older Sister while ignoring him and his brother. So he would stay glued to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother’s side, not a single step away.

Xuan Yanyu’s eyelid twitched persistently. “Go back to your own sleeping chambers.”

“Imperial Mother~” Little Tuanzi looked over at Yan Yunning, lips beginning to tremble.

“All right, all right. If you want to stay, then stay.” Yan Yunning couldn’t bear to watch him burst into tears.

“Imperial Mother is still the one who treats this son well.” Little Tuanzi lay on his stomach on the bed, kicking his little feet up cheerfully.

Yan Yunning picked up the little girl, then leaned down and murmured into Xuan Yanyu’s ear to soothe him. “Ruirui is only five. Just let him stay one night. Don’t provoke him. I’ll take Nuonuo for her bath — you go and take Ruirui for his, all right?”

“What’s all right about it?” Xuan Yanyu was a hundred parts dissatisfied.

“Good, then you’ve agreed. I’ll take Nuonuo for her bath.” Yan Yunning smiled warmly, gathered the little girl in her arms, and walked out of the sleeping quarters.

Xuan Yanyu: “……”

“Imperial Father, let’s go too.” Little Tuanzi stretched out his small arms, signaling for Xuan Yanyu to carry him.

“Xuan Yuncheng, go back to your own chambers.” Xuan Yanyu walked close and flicked the boy’s little nose. “When your older brother was your age, he was nothing like you — he never clung to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother this way.”

“Imperial Father is talking about Brother, not this son.” Little Tuanzi scrambled up onto Xuan Yanyu, his small arms wrapping around his neck, and let out a giggling laugh. “Let’s go, Imperial Father.”

Xuan Yanyu, at a loss for words: “……”

“Imperial Father, Imperial Father, Imperial Father~” Little Tuanzi pinched Xuan Yanyu’s straight, high-bridged nose and pouted. “Why won’t you pay this son any attention?”

“Imperial Father, you must hate this son! Right?!” Little Tuanzi extended his small hand and wiped away nonexistent tears.

“Imperial Father, you definitely hate this son!!”

“Imperial Father, why do you hate this son?” Little Tuanzi cupped Xuan Yanyu’s face in his two small hands, locking eyes with him — tears on the very verge of falling — looking unbearably pitiable.

“Why keep calling for Imperial Father? If you have something to say, just say it.” Xuan Yanyu hadn’t the faintest idea what to do with him.

Compared to Xiaoxiao, this one was far more mischievous.

Little Tuanzi scrunched his little nose, eyes rolling in thought. “Imperial Father, I want to sit on your shoulders. Will you carry me to the Imperial Garden?”

“It’s late.”

“Then how about this — you carry me one full circle around the Imperial Garden, and this son will obediently go back to his sleeping chambers.” Little Tuanzi was truly masterful at getting to Xuan Yanyu.

“Fine.” Xuan Yanyu hoisted Little Tuanzi up above his head, waited until he had settled, then gripped his small legs with both hands and strolled unhurriedly toward the Imperial Garden.

“Imperial Father, this is so fun!” The night breeze drifted cool against them. Little Tuanzi lifted his small face, spread his arms wide, and cried out in delight.

Ye’an, following behind them, smiled and shook his head softly, murmuring, “An honor even the Crown Prince never received — only the Second Highness could coax His Majesty into playing with him like this.”

“Hold onto Imperial Father’s robe. Be careful not to fall.” Xuan Yanyu tightened his grip on Little Tuanzi’s small legs, afraid the boy might tumble down in a moment of carelessness.

“I know, Imperial Father.” Little Tuanzi hugged Xuan Yanyu’s neck, his voice exceptionally sweet.

“This son greets Imperial Father.” Xuan Yuncheng, who was approaching, clasped his hands in greeting.

“Brother!” Little Tuanzi rested his chin on top of Xuan Yanyu’s head and waved at Xuan Yuncheng with a grin.

Ye’an quietly sidled over to Ye Chen, his voice dropped very low. “Why would the Crown Prince come to the Imperial Garden at this hour?”

Ye Chen tilted his head, equally soft-voiced. “The Crown Prince had just left the Imperial Study and hadn’t yet made it to the Crown Prince’s sleeping chambers when he spotted, from a distance, that the direction of the Imperial Garden was brilliantly lit with candlelight. He walked a little closer, heard the Second Highness’s excited shouting, and came over.”

Ye’an gave a small nod.

“Want to join us and play?” Xuan Yanyu ruffled Xuan Yuncheng’s hair.

Xuan Yuncheng pursed his lips. “I’d rather not…”

“Come on.” Xuan Yanyu crouched halfway down.

Seeing Xuan Yuncheng standing there in a daze, Ye’an stepped forward with a smile and lifted him onto Xuan Yanyu’s back.

“Hold onto Imperial Father’s robe.” Xuan Yanyu kept one hand steadying Little Tuanzi’s small legs and held the other behind his back to support Xuan Yuncheng.

“I know, I know.” Little Tuanzi bobbed his head eagerly.

“Mm.” Perched on Xuan Yanyu’s shoulders, Xuan Yuncheng felt a faint warmth creep to the tips of his ears. He was five years older than Ruirui — Imperial Father really didn’t have to do this. He wouldn’t be jealous of Ruirui. Imperial Father and Imperial Mother had made sure there was nothing for him to be jealous of in the first place. At that thought, Xuan Yuncheng’s mouth curved upward at the corner.

“Here we go~!” Little Tuanzi raised his clenched fists above his head. From his voice alone, one could tell he was beside himself with joy.

At the hour of Hai, Yan Yunning finished her bath and walked into the sleeping chambers. Little Tuanzi, who had long since finished bathing and lay ready in bed, blinked. Yan Yunning smiled and patted his head. “Where is your Imperial Father?”

Little Tuanzi shook his head. While Imperial Father had gone to bathe, he had slipped in ahead of him. He didn’t know whether Imperial Father was still bathing at this point.

Yan Yunning was mildly surprised. “Didn’t your Imperial Father take you for your bath?”

“He didn’t.” Little Tuanzi, hugging his small quilt, shook his head.

Yan Yunning’s brow creased. “Then where did your Imperial Father go?”

“Don’t know. Imperial Mother, this son is sleepy. May this son sleep now?” Little Tuanzi asked with a bright smile.

“You may. Go to sleep.” Yan Yunning tucked his small quilt snugly around him.

“Mm.” Little Tuanzi closed his eyes.

Yan Yunning stood, extinguished the candles, leaving only one burning as she waited for Xuan Yanyu.

“Creak.” The sleeping chamber door was pushed open by a man and then drawn closed again. Xuan Yanyu walked in with a languid stride, came up behind Yan Yunning, wrapped his arms around her, buried his head against her shoulder, and pressed a kiss to the side of her face.