“There is no need. I have no use for a maidservant.” Aci shifted his gaze away, somewhat ill at ease.
His eyes accidentally met Xuanzhao Ran’s — clear, bright, and lively — and he lingered for a beat before glancing away as though nothing had happened.
Xuanzhao Ran blinked. He didn’t want to look at her!
Fen’er’s gaze fell on the hand Aci had used to steady Xuanzhao Ran. He said he didn’t need a maidservant, yet he was still holding on to someone and not letting go?
“Leave.”
Fen’er tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Young Master, I…”
“Leave.” Aci fixed her with a cold stare.
Fen’er let her hand fall in embarrassed resignation and retreated from the room, her reluctance plain.
If she had known, she would have simply followed Madam out earlier.
“Aci, I’ve missed you a little.” Xuanzhao Ran suddenly leaned in close. Their noses collided without warning, and Aci stumbled back several steps in a hurry.
The girl pressed her hand to the tip of her nose, eyes welling up with tears, lashes fluttering rapidly.
“You… who’s to blame?”
Xuanzhao Ran pursed her lips. “Me.”
Aci rubbed his nose.
“Aci, who is this Madam? How did you end up as a young master?” The girl’s voice carried a faint nasal lilt.
“Quan Furen came to Qilan on business and intends to settle here in time. The day after I left the Prime Minister’s estate, I happened to run into her, and I’ve been at her side ever since.” Aci gave a brief account.
He could tell that Quan Furen knew a great many people, so he had used a small stratagem to stay close to her and gather information about the young master. As it turned out, Quan Furen did indeed come by word of him.
“I see.” Xuanzhao Ran inched toward him, her voice soft and sweet. “Are you still going to stay here?”
Aci extended one finger and gently pushed her back. “No.”
“Then where are you going?” Xuanzhao Ran hooked her finger around his. “Aci, come back to Xuanzhao with me.”
The young man clenched his fist and gave a light cough, freeing his hand from hers. “Your Highness the Princess, I still have matters to attend to and will not be returning to Xuanzhao with you.”
Xuanzhao Ran coaxed, “Ningning will be going to Xuanzhao with my Crown Prince brother too, you know. Aren’t you close with Ningning? Why wouldn’t you go?”
“Little Lemon is going to Xuanzhao? What for?”
Grandma Lu and the young master were both in Qilan. If little Lemon went to Xuanzhao, they wouldn’t be able to see each other often anymore.
“You’re so slow — Ningning is going to Xuanzhao with my Crown Prince brother naturally to marry him. My brother has already set the date, and Ningning hasn’t objected.”
Aci’s eyes trembled almost imperceptibly. “Little Lemon is willing? She’s willing to marry your brother?”
Would Xuan Yanyu leave his back palace empty for little Lemon’s sake?
“Of course she is. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to marry my brother?” Xuanzhao Ran hooked her finger around the pendant at his waist. “Aci, this pendant is so beautiful. Where did you buy it? I want one too.”
Aci pulled the pendant free from her hand, his voice dropping slightly hoarse. “Little Lemon gave it to me. I don’t know where she bought it.”
Xuanzhao Ran bit her lip tightly. Her first thought was whether Yan Yunning had given one to Xuan Yanyu as well.
Most likely not. Otherwise, her Crown Prince brother would have it hanging at his waist every single day. Xuanzhao Ran lowered her lashes, inexplicably feeling a pang of sadness and wistfulness on her Crown Prince brother’s behalf.
“Your Highness, if you like it, go ask little Lemon where she bought it.”
He was not going to give her his.
This pendant had not come easily. After little Lemon gave it to him, he had inexplicably been scolded by Grandma for it.
Mist gathered in the girl’s eyes. Aci looked down at her. “Your Highness the Princess, where are you staying? I’ll walk you back.”
Xuanzhao Ran stared at the pendant at his waist and sniffled. “My brother doesn’t even have one.”
Aci raised an eyebrow. “Your brother doesn’t have one, and you’re this upset?”
Xuanzhao Ran turned her head away and wiped her tears. “Yes, I’m upset. Because I feel… I feel that in Ningning’s heart, you matter more than my brother does.”
“Stop crying.” Aci drew out the handkerchief she was clutching and dabbed at her tears. “Are you saying that in little Lemon’s heart, your brother simply must matter more?”
Xuanzhao Ran nodded. “Yes.”
Aci laughed softly and flicked her lightly on the forehead. “Why must your brother be the most important?”
Xuanzhao Ran bit her lip pitifully. “Because in my heart, my Crown Prince brother is the most important.”
Aci was quiet for a moment, then asked out of nowhere, “In your heart, who matters more — me or your Crown Prince brother?”
Xuanzhao Ran answered without hesitation. “My Crown Prince brother.”
Aci’s ears burned. Why had he even asked that?
“Aci, you matter too — just not as much as my Crown Prince brother.” Xuanzhao Ran tapped the tip of his nose with her fingertip. “Aci, what did you mean by asking that?”
Aci’s throat moved slightly. “Your Highness the Princess, it’s getting late. Let me walk you back.”
“Aci, have you thought it over? Are you going to fall for this Princess or not?” Xuanzhao Ran leaned toward him.
Aci stepped back and repeated, “Your Highness the Princess. Let me walk you back.”
Xuanzhao Ran pouted. “I’m not going back.”
If she went back, her Crown Prince brother would lecture her again.
“Your Highness, you don’t want to go back?”
Xuanzhao Ran walked over to the chaise and lay down, the corners of her lips curling. “No, I don’t. I want to stay with you.”
“Won’t your Crown Prince brother be worried? You were knocked unconscious and brought here — he must be looking everywhere for you right now.” Aci took a few steps and crouched beside the chaise, watching the girl who had closed her eyes. “Aren’t you afraid of Crown Prince’s anger?”
Xuanzhao Ran clutched her handkerchief and mumbled, “I am.”
Aci smiled lightly. “Afraid, and still you won’t go?”
Xuanzhao Ran said slowly, “I’m going to be lectured regardless. Might as well put it off a few more days. Aci, I’ll be counting on you for these few days.”
“Your Highness, you must go back tonight. I have something I must attend to tomorrow and will be leaving.”
“No. I’ve already sent word to my Crown Prince brother through someone. Wherever you go, I’ll follow.” Xuanzhao Ran turned onto her side and tugged lightly at a strand of his ink-black hair. “Aci, take me with you.”
Aci said patiently, “That won’t do, Your Highness. I truly have something important I must go and confirm.”
Xuanzhao Ran relented. “Then may I stay at the residence and wait for you? Would that not work?”
“Xuanzhao Ran, go home. You must go back tonight.” Aci’s brows knitted together.
“Aci!” Xuanzhao Ran cupped his face in both hands. “Being disrespectful to this Princess again. You have matters to handle — go handle them. I won’t wander off. I’ll just stay right here in the residence and wait for you to come back.”
The girl’s trailing words were soft and lilting. Aci’s expression dimmed slightly. “Your Highness, let go.”
Xuanzhao Ran glared at him and secretly gave his cheek a small squeeze, murmuring softly, “Still not satisfied? I won’t get in the way of your affairs at all.”
The young man drew a deep breath. “Your Highness, I will be leaving the residence tomorrow and will not be coming back. Are you certain you still want to stay here?”
“Where are you going? To find Ningning?”
Aci looked down at her, lips pressed gently together. “Your Highness, go back. There is no need to come looking for me after this.”
Xuanzhao Ran’s eyes reddened, a faint ache rising in her chest. “Aci, are you tired of this Princess?”
“Your Highness, I have no way of being your Prince Consort. Do you understand?”
There were still so many things he hadn’t sorted out or made sense of. The young master was currently in a state of amnesia. He didn’t yet understand why the young master had once refused to agree to little Lemon and Xuan Yanyu being together, and none of it was clear yet.
And she was Xuan Yanyu’s younger sister, to boot. In any case, there was no possibility between him and the Fifth Princess.