“Your Highness may rest assured — Xiaoshi has already been recognized by Mu Shiqing.” Yuxi pressed her lips together. “Your Highness, according to intelligence passed by Xiaoshi, the Chancellor’s second young miss, Yan Yunning, has disrupted our plans, and moreover, Mu Shiqing is very protective of her.”

Your Highness had learned that the Chief of Qingyu Stronghold bore grievances against the first young miss of the Chancellor’s residence, and that the Third Highness was hovering constantly around the first young miss.

If the Third Highness were to marry the Chancellor’s legitimate daughter, the position of Crown Prince would inevitably tip further in the Third Highness’s favor.

The Chief of Qingyu Stronghold was also searching for his sister, and had even asked His Majesty the Qi Emperor to keep an eye out — so Your Highness arranged for Xiaoshi to go and recognize Mu Shiqing, altering her appearance slightly to match.

The distinguishing mark was not difficult to replicate. When Mu Shiqing had spoken to His Majesty, he had primarily said that his sister had a mole on the palm of her right hand.

Your Highness had planned for Xiaoshi to be harmed by the first young miss. The Chief, who already harbored grievances against her, would certainly not let it rest. And if the Third Highness were to beg His Majesty the Qi Emperor to protect the first young miss, he would be seen as having no sense of right and wrong — shielding someone who had “harmed” another. His Majesty the Qi Emperor would surely be disappointed in him, giving Your Highness grounds to impeach the Third Highness.

If he did not protect the first young miss, then the first young miss — having “harmed someone” — would face some measure of punishment regardless. And if that damaged her reputation, would the reputation-conscious Third Highness still be willing to marry her?

Had His Majesty not shown such brazen favoritism, Your Highness would never have needed to resort to these measures. Chancellor Yan had explicitly gone to His Majesty to obtain an imperial edict — yet His Majesty’s unspoken intent was that the Yan family’s legitimate daughter was not to be married off to any of the other princes. But for the Third Highness, that edict would simply be voided — such naked partiality, and yet the Third Highness remained oblivious!

“Yan Yunning?” The man let out a soft scoff. “What does she have to do with anything? Isn’t that just Xiaoshi making excuses for her own incompetence?”

“Your Highness.” Yuxi said fearfully, “Mu Shiqing is very protective of Yan Yunning. Xiaoshi has no way to incite him against her…”

“Shut up. Doesn’t Mu Shiqing fear his wife? Have Xiaoshi find a way to bring his wife to Yuanjing Manor to keep Yan Yunning in check.”

Being protective of Yan Yunning — that was nothing more than feelings for her.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

The man rubbed his temples. “Has Duan Yunxuan revealed the location of the gold vault?”

“Your… Your Highness, whenever Duan Yunxuan sees the words ‘gold vault’ now, his head aches so badly he nearly goes mad. He simply cannot…”

“Useless.” The man delivered a kick to Yuxi’s shoulder. “A whole year, and still nothing?”

“This servant knows her error.” Knocked to the ground, fallen into the brambles trailing down through the grove, thorns piercing her knees, Yuxi trembled with pain, her lashes quivering as she said, “This servant will obtain the location of the gold vault as soon as possible.”

“If this Prince still hears nothing of the gold vault’s location in seven days, you and Duan Yunxuan can go join his parents.”

“This servant understands.” Yuxi pressed her forehead to the ground, her trembling fingers clenching around the dry branches beneath her.

“Get out of my sight.” The man pinched the bridge of his nose hard.

Even with the exact location, getting into Xuanzhao remained a problem. Given his identity, any move he made within Xuanzhao would be watched — and ordinary people had such difficulty entering Xuanzhao in the first place, let alone attempting to carry a gold vault’s worth of treasure out.

How exactly was he to go about this?

With a gold vault and silver to match, his bid for the position of Crown Prince would stand on far more solid ground.

Perhaps he would have to send more people to find a way into Xuanzhao and smuggle the contents out piece by piece?

That approach risked raising suspicion and could easily be traced back to him.

He had to think of a suitable method.

……

The following morning, Yuxi prepared breakfast and called Xuan Zhaonan and Ye Jian to eat.

“Ranran, do you know how one might go about establishing permanent residence in Xuanzhao?” Yuxi’s eyes flickered with a dim light.

It was the best solution she could think of to keep Axuan safe. She couldn’t bring herself to ask him directly — she could only write it on the round table from time to time and try to slip it into conversation that way.

But each time Axuan saw the words “gold vault” he was consumed by head-splitting pain, and she was powerless. She didn’t want anything to happen to him either.

Settling permanently in Xuanzhao — as Xuanzhao residents, that Highness would have no way to harm him there, and would not dare.

Harming a subject of Xuanzhao would not be forgiven by His Majesty the King of Xuanzhao, and would give Xuanzhao just cause to attack Qi Lan.

That Highness lacked the audacity to provoke Xuanzhao. As for herself — once she sent Axuan to Xuanzhao, she would confess her crimes to that Highness.

She was one of that Highness’s people. Her identity was too sensitive — Xuanzhao would never allow her to settle there permanently.

“Xique, you want to go and live in Xuanzhao?” Duan Yunxuan, his eyes red-rimmed, grabbed her hand.

That would also work — send her to Xuanzhao, and he could seek his revenge without anything holding him back.

Seeing through his thoughts, Yuxi sniffled. “Axuan, let’s live well in Xuanzhao. Let’s never go back to Qi Lan, alright?”

He was no match for that Highness. And without any evidence, he could not hurt that Highness in the slightest, while losing his own life in the process — it wasn’t worth it.

He couldn’t even get close enough to see that Highness.

“Please, Axuan. Let’s live well. Please.” Yuxi pleaded softly with him.

Xuan Zhaonan pressed her lips together and tapped Ye Jian’s chopsticks with her fingertip, muttering quietly, “Why have they suddenly become so sorrowful?”

Ye Jian shook his head.

He couldn’t make sense of it either.

Duan Yunxuan was silent for a long moment, then gave a small nod.

With his current abilities, he truly had no means whatsoever.

He had no way to go against the Qi Lan royal family.

He would bide his time. Sooner or later, an opportunity would come.

“Alright.” The smile returned to Yuxi’s face.

“Ranran, is there a way?” Yuxi composed herself and looked at Xuan Zhaonan with a smile. “Axuan wants to establish permanent residence in Xuanzhao.”

A person of Ranran’s bearing was clearly of noble status — seeking her help might actually lead somewhere.

Duan Yunxuan took her hand and corrected her gently, “Miss Ranran, Master Jian — Xique and I would like to establish permanent residence in Xuanzhao. You both live there — is there any way you might help?”

“Permanent residence in Xuanzhao?” Xuan Zhaonan bit her lip. “I…”

How could a person from Qi Lan establish permanent residence in Xuanzhao?

Crown Prince Brother would never allow it — he feared those who harbored ulterior motives. She had no way to help them.

“Master Duan, people from Qi Lan cannot establish permanent residence in Xuanzhao.” Ye Jian told them plainly.

It was a rule set by the Crown Prince. Unless the Crown Prince gave his word.

The Crown Prince had established this rule in the first place out of concern that — like his own experience going to Qi Lan — outsiders from Qi Lan might slip through undetected. By now, the Crown Prince likely had a fairly thorough understanding of Qi Lan’s affairs.

So strangers entering Xuanzhao were subject to especially stringent scrutiny.

Yuxi’s heart suddenly seized with panic. There was no way then…

“Elder Sister Yu, if you have difficulties, would you be willing to tell me about them?” Xuan Zhaonan’s voice softened. “I’ll try to think of something to help.”

She would go and beg Crown Prince Brother, and see whether any allowance could be made.

“Axuan, go check on the kitchen — has the stove fire gone out?”

With Duan Yunxuan out of the way, Yuxi spoke with a bitter smile at the corners of her mouth. “Ranran, if he stays in Qi Lan, Axuan will be in danger. Please think of something — see if you can help him.”

Xuan Zhaonan’s expression turned grave. “Is Elder Brother Duan in trouble because of something he did?”

Coming to hide in Xuanzhao?

“No, Ranran — he hasn’t done anything.” Yuxi’s tears spilled from the corner of her eye. “He is completely innocent. If Ranran is not at ease, you may inquire into the matter.”

As long as she asked around, she would learn of what had happened to Axuan’s parents.

Xuan Zhaonan nodded. Making inquiries was certainly necessary — she would not dare trouble Crown Prince Brother before she had understood the full situation.

“Does Ranran have confidence she can manage it?” Yuxi looked at her hopefully.

“I will do my best.”

She dared not make any guarantees. She had no certainty that Crown Prince Brother would agree — and if Crown Prince Brother refused, Father Emperor would certainly refuse as well.