The Yan Yunning who had run inside did not hear Xiao Shi’s voice.
Xiao Shi watched the girl’s figure grow smaller and smaller as she ran, and murmured softly, “Thank you. For not leaving me behind. For not abandoning me.”
Xuan Zhaoran, who was just about to leave the manor, caught sight of Yan Yunning’s forehead, which had turned blue with a bruise, and her heart gave a start. As Yan Yunning ran closer, the hand wrapped in gauze bandages came into view, and Xuan Zhaoran’s lashes trembled slightly.
“Ranran, are you heading out? Didn’t Xuan Yanyu say you weren’t allowed out of Yuan Jing Manor?” Yan Yunning stopped and asked.
“I’m going to the inn to check in. Crown Prince is also at the inn — he won’t blame me for leaving Yuan Jing Manor.” Xuan Zhaoran took her hand and looked it over. “How did you get these injuries?”
“It’s nothing serious.”
It had been an accidental cut, and it would have been fine without bandaging — but Xiao Shi had insisted the physician wrap it up, making it look far more serious than it was. It was really just a scrape.
“How can it be nothing serious? And your forehead? What happened to your forehead?”
Yan Yunning redirected the conversation. “What are you going to the inn for?”
Xuan Zhaoran lowered her eyes, and without concealing anything, replied, “The girl who came to Yuan Jing Manor yesterday — her name is Ling Mianmian. She is a princess whose title was personally conferred by royal decree of Crown Prince, and she and her brother are twins born before their time. The two of them have never been very healthy since childhood, especially her.”
“Yesterday she had an allergic reaction to the pastry, which has left her body in an even worse state. Crown Prince had only just arrived at Yuan Jing Manor when Ye Chen called him back. I wanted to go and check on her too.”
“Xuan Yanyu personally issued the decree? Didn’t the Prince Xuan agree to conferring her the title?”
If Prince Xuan had agreed, it would not have fallen to Xuan Yanyu to issue the decree himself.
Xuan Zhaoran stepped a little closer and said in a low voice, “He didn’t agree. Crown Prince insisted on conferring it, and Father Emperor was angry with Crown Prince for several days because of it.”
Ling Mianmian had done nothing for Xuanzhao, and was even sickly — to be conferred the title of princess for no apparent reason was something Father Emperor could not have agreed to. But Crown Prince had been so insistent, and Father Emperor could do nothing about it.
The Empress Dowager had even gone to persuade Crown Prince, but to no avail whatsoever.
“Why was he so set on conferring the title of princess on Ling Mianmian?” Yan Yunning asked, puzzled.
Xuan Zhaoran looked at her and pressed her lips together before saying, “Perhaps it was because of Ling Mianmian’s older brother. Her brother was chosen by Father Emperor as Crown Prince’s study companion, and stayed at Crown Prince’s side from childhood until Crown Prince was fifteen or sixteen, before passing away from illness.”
“Crown Prince has looked after Ling Mianmian especially because of him. Back when Ling Mianmian’s brother was at Crown Prince’s side, Ling Mianmian would also visit Crown Prince’s manor every three or four days or so.”
Father Emperor had ultimately relented and allowed Crown Prince to confer the title of princess on Ling Mianmian — from what the Empress Dowager had hinted, it was partly out of fear that Crown Prince had developed feelings for Ling Mianmian. Once the title was conferred, Father Emperor immediately dispatched Crown Prince to Qilan.
Her guess was that Crown Prince had not contradicted Father Emperor and had obediently come to Qilan, likely in order to secure Father Emperor’s consent to conferring the title on Ling Mianmian.
That was only her speculation, however — she wasn’t entirely clear on the details.
Yan Yunning couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh. He really was devoted to conferring titles on people — if she recalled correctly, he had wanted to confer a princess title on her too, asking her to stay by his side!
“More or less, but you are not as important.”
Yan Yunning rubbed her aching temple. Sometimes she really did think too much. Even without her, Xuan Yanyu would be just fine.
He had so many people he cared for — how could anything happen to him? How wonderful, to have so many people to care for. She didn’t need to worry about him, or whether he might lose his mind after she suddenly disappeared.
At that thought, Yan Yunning let out a slow breath, and the weight on her heart eased considerably.
“Ningning, are you going over to find Crown Prince?” Xuan Zhaoran asked.
Yan Yunning glanced at her somewhat dirtied clothes and shook her head. “I won’t go. I’ll take a bath and change.”
Xuan Zhaoran looked at her slightly disheveled state and asked with concern, “Ningning, are you really alright?”
“I’m fine.” Yan Yunning patted her on the shoulder. “Go quickly.”
“Alright, I’m off.”
Xuan Zhaoran did not ask again, left Yuan Jing Manor, bought a few small items along the way, and made her way to the inn.
At the inn, Xuan Yanyu was sharing a meal with Ling Mianmian.
Xuan Zhaoran handed the items she was carrying to Xiao Ying and stepped forward with a smile. “Crown Prince, Older Sister Ling.”
“Ranran, come and eat with us.” Ling Mianmian picked up a fresh pair of wooden chopsticks and held them out to Xuan Zhaoran.
“Thank you, Older Sister Ling.” Xuan Zhaoran accepted the chopsticks and sat down in a wooden chair.
Xuan Yanyu ate a few bites of the dishes and then set down his chopsticks. He lowered his gaze and turned the jade thumb ring on his hand, his mind somewhat elsewhere.
“Older Sister Ling, are you feeling better?” Xuan Zhaoran asked, glancing sideways with a smile.
“Much better.” Ling Mianmian ladled out a bowl of ginseng soup and set it in front of Xuan Zhaoran.
Crown Prince had sent for Imperial Physician Wen, who was far superior to her own physician.
“That’s good then.” Xuan Zhaoran pursed her lips and couldn’t help asking, “Older Sister Ling, how did you end up eating the pastry Young Yanzhuo gave you?”
Ling Mianmian said ruefully, “The pastry looked so odd — I couldn’t tell it had red beans in it. When I saw Little Yanzhuo looking at me with his eyes all bright and eager, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.”
If she had known there were red beans in it, she wouldn’t have eaten it. The retching had been absolutely awful.
Xuan Yanyu’s hand, which had been fiddling with the jade thumb ring, stilled. He said in a low, even voice, “What was odd about it?”
“Wasn’t it odd? Crown Prince, you didn’t even see it.” Ling Mianmian picked up a rose cake. “Crown Prince, those pastries truly can’t compare to this.”
“This seat finds what you’re holding to be the truly unappealing one.” Xuan Yanyu stood up, smoothed his brocade robe, and made his way toward the door.
“Crown Prince, you’re leaving? I’m not done eating yet.” Ling Mianmian’s eyes dimmed.
Xuan Yanyu did not pause. Ye Chen pushed open the door, and the two walked out of the side chamber.
“Brother…” Ling Mianmian stared at his tall retreating figure, her chest constricting so tightly she could barely breathe. “You haven’t finished eating with Mianmian yet.”
“Older Sister Ling, are you alright?” Xuan Zhaoran set down her chopsticks, looking at her with concern.
Ling Mianmian pressed her hand to her heart, standing completely still, eyes fixed on the wooden door. Her voice was low and muffled. “Brother always finishes eating with Mianmian.”
Xuan Zhaoran furrowed her brow slightly. With Crown Prince gone, she had no reason to linger either. Not knowing whether Ling Mianmian had heard what she said, Xuan Zhaoran offered a brief farewell and left the inn.
Yuan Jing Manor.
After finishing the meal, Mu Shiqing cornered Yan Yunning and gave her a thorough scolding. “You… how did you end up like this?”
“Does it hurt? Who did this — tell me, and I’ll take you to get back at them.”
With the passage of time, the bruise on her forehead had grown even more pronounced.
Yan Yunning caught a glimpse in the bronze mirror, and the next moment threw herself against Mu Shiqing’s arm and whimpered, “Mu, it looks awful — how can it look this awful.”
Mu Shiqing pressed down his irritation first and said gently, “It doesn’t look awful. Not in the slightest.”
He wasn’t humoring her — it genuinely didn’t look awful.
Yan Yunning pursed her lips. Older Brother Jiang and Older Sister Ruoyi had said the same, as had her cousin and her cousin’s husband, all echoing what Mu had said. But Little Yanzhuo had said it really didn’t look good.
Could a child lie?