Yan Yunning’s heartbeat gradually steadied. “Who was staring at you and swallowing? I was clearly staring at Ye Chen.”

Xuan Yanyu’s handsome face cooled slightly.

Ye Chen’s heart leapt into his throat. She was blaming him? Why didn’t Second Miss Yan say Ye Jian! Did Second Miss Yan have it in for him??

Watching the man’s expression turn cold, Yan Yunning couldn’t resist saying, “Now I understand why Prince Xuan used to smack your backside — because you truly deserve a smacking.”

One instant later, Yan Yunning glanced at the tightly shut side room door and turned to look at Ye Chen, who was looking thoroughly stifled. “Ye Chen, how many times have we been chased out by Xuan Yanyu now??”

The only difference this time was that Ye Jian was included.

Ye Chen was just about ready to cry with grievance. “Second Miss Yan, it’s because of you every single time.”

He was just an innocent bystander.

He had never once been chased out by His Highness before!

Yan Yunning shook her head. “It’s Xuan Yanyu — he insists on chasing us out.”

Ye Chen lifted his brow slightly. “Second Miss Yan, you were already in His Highness’s arms, yet you still managed to get chased out — tsk, and now you’ve dragged me and Ye Jian into it.”

Yan Yunning gave two awkward light coughs and changed the subject. “Why does your Highness love to get angry so much? Is he like this back in Xuanzhao as well?”

Ye Chen raised his brow. “His Highness in Xuanzhao? When would he ever have time to get angry — there’s an endless mountain of affairs to deal with every day, and most of the time he even has to attend court on behalf of Prince Xuan.”

“Ever since His Highness was old enough to understand things, he has been occupied with learning how to take over as Crown Prince. All of Prince Xuan’s hopes rest on His Highness, and His Highness carries a very heavy burden.”

“Every day he not only has to practice boxing and the fundamentals of martial arts, but also pursue his studies, handle memorials on behalf of His Majesty — not a moment of free time, except when His Highness sneaks off to slack. It’s only this one year in Qilan that he’s had it much easier. His Highness has had a rather difficult time of it.”

Once they returned to Xuanzhao from Qilan, Prince Xuan would most likely have His Highness ascend the throne directly, and he would never again enjoy the freedom and ease he had in Qilan.

Yan Yunning bit her lip. Xianxi had been groomed as Crown Prince from childhood, exposed to the affairs of the Xuanzhao Kingdom from the time he was old enough to understand.

No wonder it had taken Qi Qingchen ten years, and even with her A’Jie and A’Ci working on the inside to coordinate, they had only barely managed to take Xuanzhao.

“But Prince Xuan loves His Highness dearly. Second Miss Yan, once you and His Highness have a little one, you’ll see — Prince Xuan will be cradling that child in his hands every single day.” Ye Jian arched his right brow with a smile. “Last time when we went back to Xuanzhao, Prince Xuan told His Highness he was longing to hold an imperial grandchild.”

“Second Miss Yan, do strive with His Highness to let Prince Xuan hold an imperial grandchild as soon as possible — ideally, have a little one before you return to Xuanzhao, and give Prince Xuan a lovely surprise.”

That way, Prince Xuan would consent to His Highness marrying Second Miss Yan.

Yan Yunning felt rather flustered. A child between her and Xuan Yanyu?

Did Xuan Yanyu know that his attendants had already planned out when the two of them would have children?

“Squeak.” The wooden door swung open.

Yan Yunning looked up and met the man’s gaze as he looked toward her. She smiled sweetly.

Xuan Yanyu’s eyes lifted slightly at the corners.

“Xianxi.” Yan Yunning smiled and walked toward him.

Xuan Yanyu took her hand and produced a pure gold bracelet he had prepared ahead of time, slipping it over her wrist.

Along the bracelet’s edge, a dragon coiled and wound its way around the band, and at the center hung a pendant — three ornamental drops carved in the delicate shape of lotus blossoms.

Looking closely, at the top of the pendant drops, the three characters “Xuan Yanyu” were even inscribed.

Yan Yunning gazed at the bracelet that fit her wrist so perfectly, astonishment gleaming in her eyes. This bracelet was beautiful and grand — just like the jade pendant of Xianxi’s she had gone to Xuanzhao to retrieve last time, magnificent and exquisite, dazzling to the eye.

The man crouched down and produced a jade pendant, fastening it at her waist. The jade was pure white, flawlessly clean without a single impurity, and the dragon scales carved into it were painstakingly fine and detailed.

Yan Yunning touched the jade pendant with her fingertip — the surface was smooth and lustrous, cool and refreshing — and at a single glance one could tell this pendant was beyond any ordinary measure of value.

Looking at the craftsmanship of this bracelet and jade pendant, they were clearly pieces worn by the imperial family.

Before Yan Yunning could say a word, the man turned without a word and went back into the side room.

Yan Yunning stared at the closed door a good while longer, then turned her head to look at Ye Chen and Ye Jian. “What does he mean by this?”

Ye Chen shook his head.

Ye Jian fixed his gaze on the jade pendant hanging at Yan Yunning’s waist, his expression somewhat complicated. That jade pendant had been given to His Highness by the Queen of Xuanzhao, with instructions to pass it to First Miss Yan. His Highness had spent an entire year in Qilan without taking it out once, so he had assumed His Highness had forgotten about it.

The bracelet was hidden beneath Yan Yunning’s sleeve, and Ye Jian lowered his eyes. That bracelet was most likely also a symbol of status — as was the jade pendant. His Highness had made up his mind about Second Miss Yan.

Yan Yunning hesitated for a moment, then on impulse walked toward the side room.

“Xianxi.” The young woman pushed open the door, smiling in a particularly lovely way. “I was wrong — I was wrong. I promise I’ll never bring up your embarrassing moments again.”

Xuan Yanyu turned his head to look at her. The young woman blinked, her expression sweet and compliant.

Yan Yunning moved to sit down beside him and picked up the wooden chopsticks, proactively serving him food.

She had only managed to eat one mouthful of greens before being chased away earlier.

The man ate what she offered him at an unhurried pace, then said with a hint of arrogance, “Very well — and if there’s a next time, this Prince will give you a proper lesson.”

Yan Yunning turned her head away from the man’s gaze and made a face at him.

“Give you a proper lesson!”

“Hmph~”

Xuan Yanyu tilted his head, his smile carrying an unreadable meaning. “This Prince will demonstrate for you exactly how his father disciplined him.”

Yan Yunning’s pupils gave a faint tremor. “???”

The man said leisurely, “This Prince will play the role of his father, and you will play the role of this Prince.”

“……” Yan Yunning’s temples throbbed.

Xuan Yanyu rested his arm on the wooden chair, the corners of his mouth curved in a smile. “This Prince is rather looking forward to it.”

Yan Yunning: “……???”

The man leaned down and moved close to her, saying with lazy ease, “Yan Yunning, aren’t you looking forward to it too?”

Yan Yunning suppressed the urge to punch him. Was she looking forward to being smacked??

Was she out of her mind!!

Xuan Yanyu patted her on the head, his jet-black eyes brimming with amusement.

Yan Yunning quietly rolled her eyes.

“Xianxi.” Yan Yunning edged a bit closer to him. “Why did you suddenly give me a bracelet and jade pendant?”

The man pinched a floral cake with his fingertips and fed it to her. “The day you stormed out of my room in a huff, I’d already made up my mind to give them to you.”

Yan Yunning took a bite of the floral cake and corrected him. “It was because you told me to stay away from you — that’s why I left.”

“Ha. Would you actually take something like that seriously?” Xuan Yanyu took the remaining piece of the peach blossom cake and placed it into his own mouth.

Yan Yunning’s lips curved slightly. “Then if you chase me away again in the future, can I smack you? And you can’t fight back.”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. “I won’t fight back.”

Yan Yunning lifted her eyelids and flashed the man a mischievous grin. “Xianxi, be good and I won’t smack you.”

The man let out a faint, amused laugh. He tilted his head and leaned close to her. A blazing kiss landed on the young woman’s lips — his large hand settled at her waist and drew her in lightly, closing the distance between them.

Yan Yunning’s mind went blank for a moment. When her senses returned, she placed both hands on his neck, tilted her head up on her own accord, and kissed him back. Xuan Yanyu paused — and then the kiss grew more and more heated.