One had a face dark with irritation; the other had a face genuinely dark with ink.

Ye Chen and Ye’an struggled hard to hold back their laughter.

Yan Yunning blinked her clear eyes. How had a single twirl left her looking like this? When Xuan Yanyu twirled it, nothing happened to him at all.

The man’s gaze rested on her ink-smudged little face. With a tone of mock admiration, he delivered one verdict: “Truly hideous.”

Yan Yunning laughed, then, with mischievous intent, pressed her cheek against the man’s face — and before he could react, bolted from the room.

Ye Chen pressed his lips tightly together. Xuan Yanyu glanced sideways at him. Meeting the man’s blackened expression — as though he had been punched — he couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

“Get out.”

Was he really that funny?

Ye Chen covered his mouth and, before leaving, cast a glance at Ye’an. The latter stood with his head bowed, staring at the floorboards.

What a scheming one — far more clever than him!

· · ·

Qi Qingchen returned to the capital, and the very next day the Fifth Prince was thrown into the imperial prison. Emperor Qi ordered Qi Qingchen to raid the Fifth Prince’s estate, sparing only the maids and manservants from prosecution.

In no time at all, the maids and manservants of the Fifth Prince’s estate were scattering in every direction — fleeing, running — and all of the capital was buzzing with the news.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shi suppressed the urge to storm the imperial prison.

She could guess, more or less, why Emperor Qi had punished His Highness — most likely because His Highness had set his eyes on Xuanzhao’s treasury, and Emperor Qi was afraid that if Prince Xuan found out and called it to account, Emperor Qi himself would have no easy way to explain it.

She sorted through her current situation for a moment, then rose and went to Yu Xi’s room.

Yu Xi, who had no idea how to confess her identity to Duan Yunxuan, startled at the sight of Xiao Shi.

“Have you heard what’s happened to His Highness?” Xiao Shi sat herself down on a wooden chair without ceremony, her voice muffled. “Why did Emperor Qi suddenly find out? His Highness is also His Majesty’s son — yet just because he didn’t want to offend Prince Xuan, he threw His Highness into the imperial prison. How can His Majesty be so spineless?”

Yu Xi was so frightened she swallowed a mouthful of saliva. “Will you keep your mouth shut? If anyone outside hears that, you’ll be thrown into the imperial prison right alongside His Highness.”

Xiao Shi was quiet for a moment, then said flatly, “Yu Xi, now that the Fifth Prince’s household has fallen, from now on I’ll stay at Qingyu Stronghold — at least there’s somewhere to go.”

“You and Yan Shiyao are now on speaking terms. I hope you won’t reveal my identity.” Xiao Shi looked at her with a smile, her voice carrying a thread of danger. “Otherwise — watch yourself around Duan Yunxuan.”

Yu Xi steadied her breathing. “Would you harm First Miss Yan and Second Miss Yan?”

They had helped A’Xuan — she could not pretend not to know and stay silent about Xiao Shi’s identity.

“I won’t anymore.” Xiao Shi pinched a piece of pastry from the round table and took a bite. “I only want to find a place for myself. Naturally I won’t go stirring up trouble with them — otherwise Mu Shiqing will tire of me.”

These past few days he had already been exasperated enough with her. She needed to show more restraint — otherwise, even if she was his so-called “little sister,” he would stop looking out for her.

“You won’t hurt them — then I won’t reveal your identity.” Yu Xi gave her word.

Xiao Shi smiled. “Good. And you? Do you still want to stay by Duan Yunxuan’s side?”

Yu Xi’s eyes dimmed. “If A’Xuan can accept me, I’ll stay. If he can’t accept me, I’ll leave.”

She had known he couldn’t bear to hear or see the words “treasury” — yet she had written them on the round table again and again, causing A’Xuan pain again and again.

If A’Xuan ever found out it was her who had written those words — found out that she had come to his side only to learn the exact location of the treasury — she didn’t know if he could still accept her.

· · ·

Xiao Shi’s sudden change left Yan Shiyao at a loss.

In the dining hall, Xiao Shi bent in a bow before Yan Shiyao and apologized. “Yaoyao-jie, I’m sorry. Xiao Shi’s head took a shock — these past few days I kept thinking you were out to harm me. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Yan Shiyao couldn’t tell whether she was sincere or scheming again, and said nothing.

“I’m sorry, Yaoyao-jie.” Xiao Shi was not in any rush. Yan Shiyao said nothing, so she simply kept bowing and repeating the words.

Xuan Zhaoarn didn’t understand what she was witnessing. She looked at Yan Shiyao in puzzlement. “What’s come over her?”

Yan Shiyao pressed her lips together. “Xiao Shi, come eat — the food is getting cold.”

She hadn’t said she forgave her. Xiao Shi slowly took her seat on a wooden chair and said earnestly, “Yaoyao-jie, from now on Xiao Shi will absolutely never act that way again.”

Yan Shiyao lowered her head and drank her porridge.

Xuan Zhaoarn rested her cheek in her hand, glancing between Yan Shiyao and Xiao Shi. Ningning still hadn’t come — if she were here, she could ask Ningning what had happened between those two.

· · ·

At that moment, Yan Yunning was busy with a matter of her own.

“Yan Yunning!!!” Outside the door, Ye Chen heard Xuan Yanyu’s shout and stood bolt upright with a start.

The moment Second Miss Yan arrived, she had chased both him and Ye’an out. And ever since, he had been listening to His Highness shout at Second Miss Yan without pause — he had no idea what she had done this time.

Inside the room, the man yanked the thin quilt over himself and, with reddened ear tips, said, “Can’t you wait a little longer?”

Yan Yunning glanced at him, tossed the brocade robe onto the bed, and said, “Wait by yourself then — I’m going to eat. If you ever ask me for anything in the future, I’m not listening.”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. What did it matter whether she listened or not? She wasn’t going anywhere regardless!

He would settle accounts with her after the wedding!!

Yan Yunning, who had been turning the matter over in her mind all the way without reaching any answer, ran into Qi Qingchen heading toward the dining hall. She shook her head. Look at him — the child was only a few months from being born.

Yan Yunning and Qi Qingchen arrived at the dining hall one right after the other. When Xuan Zhaoarn saw Qi Qingchen, her expression became deeply awkward.

Qi Qingchen’s gaze landed on Xuan Zhaoarn, and he let out a cold, dismissive huff.

“Where is Elder Brother Xuan?” Xuan Zhaoarn noticed Xuan Yanyu was absent and couldn’t help asking.

“Don’t ask — eat.” Yan Yunning took the bowl of rice Yan Shiyao passed to her and ate a large mouthful.

The angrier she got just thinking about it!

Xuan Zhaoarn studied her, her curiosity sharpening like pricked ears. “Ningning, did you and Elder Brother Xuan have a fight?”

“Eat your vegetables — stop asking.” Yan Yunning picked up a piece of vegetable with her chopsticks and placed it in Zhaoarn’s bowl.

Xuan Zhaoarn twitched slightly at the corner of her eye.

The more Ningning said that, the more curious she felt — what was she supposed to do? She didn’t dare go ask the Crown Prince, and if Ningning wouldn’t say, who else could tell her?

Xuan Zhaoarn: “Ningning?”

Yan Yunning smiled with curved eyes. “Eat!!”

Xuan Zhaoarn: “…”

Qi Qingchen leaned toward Yan Shiyao and murmured against her ear, “You’re about to be a big sister again.”

When he had returned to the palace, he hadn’t seen Yan Zhiyi by the Emperor’s side, and asked about it on a whim. The Emperor told him that the Chief Minister’s wife was expecting, and that Yan Zhiyi had taken a few more days of leave.

Yan Shiyao felt the man’s breath against her ear and stomped hard on his foot.

A big sister is a big sister — what was he pressing so close for?

Noble Consort Lu spent every day with her father, didn’t she? Wasn’t that perfectly normal?

“Sss…” Qi Qingchen stamped his foot.

Yan Shiyao!! He had kindly told her, and this was how she reacted?

Xuan Yanyu — who had taken his time bathing and changing into fresh brocade robes — arrived fashionably late and swept a glance over the wooden table before sitting down beside Xuan Zhaoarn.

Yan Yunning sent him a glare.

Xuan Zhaoarn, caught between the two of them, looked left and right, unable to tamp down her boundless curiosity.

She worked up the courage to tug at Xuan Yanyu’s sleeve, then immediately let go.

The man cast a sideways glance at her. “?”

Xuan Zhaoarn murmured softly, “Brother, did you… did you and Ningning have a fight?”