Without anyone urging his father along, the old man would already be anxious enough on his own — the moment A’Yu nudged him, his father would be so frantic his lips would break out in sores.

Xuan Yanyu let out a low, quiet laugh. “This palace fears that by the time you reach this palace’s age, you’ll still be alone.”

“……” Mu Heng raised his chin with practiced arrogance, then remarked with meaningful weight, “Someone invited me to a restaurant for a meal just today, Your Highness the Crown Prince. You should have seen her — you can’t imagine how beautiful that woman was.”

“Gentle and beautiful, absolutely insisting on treating me to dinner. What a burden.” He sighed theatrically.

Xuan Yanyu had no patience for his bragging. He picked up a small spare rib, blew on it gently, and brought it to Yan Yunning’s lips.

Mu Heng had equally little patience to keep watching. He let out an almost imperceptible sigh. He and A’Yu had known each other for so many years, and this was the first time he’d ever felt A’Yu was so… hmm.

He couldn’t find the right word, so he’d simply call it theatrical — just like that girl called Yan Yao on the street.

Even blowing on it first. Tsk.

So patient with his Crown Princess, yet he couldn’t be bothered to summon an Imperial Physician to look her over. Surely A’Yu didn’t actually have a preference for someone this sickly?

Someone who couldn’t even feed herself??

Truly peculiar. No wonder none of the perfectly normal noblewomen in the capital ever caught A’Yu’s eye.

“Staying in the capital?” The words had barely left Xuan Yanyu’s lips when the Princess Imperial, unannounced, led little Young Lord across the threshold and into the room.

Xuanzhao Yang stepped inside the hall, caught sight of the two seated at the head of the table, and shook his head. So disgustingly affectionate.

“Momo pays respects to Crown Prince Uncle and Crown Princess Aunt.” The little one announced in his small, milky voice — and then, without warning, his world went dark.

He frantically pried at Xuanzhao Yang’s hand.

“This one pays respects to Her Highness the Princess Imperial.” Mu Heng rose and bowed in greeting.

“Crown Prince Uncle, save Momo!” After half a day of struggling without budging her grip, the little one began calling for rescue.

Yan Yunning composed herself and took the seat beside Xuan Yanyu, addressing the newcomer with a soft, “Imperial Elder Sister.”

“Why are you here?” Xuan Yanyu laced his hands together, rested them behind his head, and lounged idly back against the sandalwood chair — not noticing that he’d exposed the reddish mark on his throat that looked as though something had bitten him there.

Xuanzhao Yang pointed at his neck and teased with a laugh, “Oh my, which bold little insect dared to bite our Crown Prince?”

Mu Heng’s mouth twitched. Insects don’t know the Crown Prince’s identity — is there even a question of daring??

Yan Yunning closed her eyes briefly, then tapped her embroidered slipper against the man’s leg, signaling him to sit up properly.

Xuan Yanyu obediently straightened himself. He glanced down at Xuanzhao Yang. “Couldn’t you go keep your Prince Consort company instead of coming here?”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it’s truly rare to see you this obedient.” The thought of collecting silver from him stirred to life again in Xuanzhao Yang’s mind.

The table had no cloth, and she’d caught a clear view beneath it — Ningning had kicked little Xi’er once and he’d immediately sat up straight.

She genuinely worried that the lovesick Xuan Xi’xi, on account of a single word from Ningning, might hand over all her comfortable days into Qilan’s hands.

After all, Ningning’s maternal family was in Qilan. Given Ningning’s current identity, returning to Qilan would certainly alert the Qilan Emperor — and given the present situation between Qilan and Xuanzhao, the Qilan Emperor would likely never allow Ningning to meet her father.

One was the Crown Princess of Xuanzhao; the other was the Grand Chancellor of the Qilan Kingdom. How could the Qilan Emperor ever permit the Chancellor to see Ningning?

The Qilan Emperor would be terrified of what the Chancellor might say to Ningning.

Unless Xuanzhao were willing to bow its head and no longer stand above Qilan — only then might the Qilan Emperor, with his people watching, allow Ningning and the Chancellor to meet occasionally.

What bowing the head meant, she hardly needed to spell out.

Bow once, and there would be a second time. As long as the Qilan Emperor held the Chancellor, he could keep extracting concessions from Xuanzhao indefinitely.

Unless Ningning didn’t care about the Chancellor — but that was impossible. After all, the Chancellor and his wife were Ningning’s father and mother.

“When has this palace ever been disobedient?” Xuan Yanyu beckoned to Xu Mochen, who had run over and nestled himself beside Yan Yunning.

Xuanzhao Yang pursed her lips. She hadn’t noticed him listening to much of what their Imperial Mother said — and as for the Emperor, he dismissed him with even more disdain.

Every day it was “my imperial son” this, “my imperial son” that.

“Crown Prince Uncle.” The little one didn’t move, just called out once and tilted his head up to look at Yan Yunning.

Crown Prince Uncle never wanted to hold him anyway. Every time he tried to get Crown Prince Uncle to pick him up, Crown Prince Uncle would dodge away from him.

His mother had told him to keep his distance from Crown Prince Uncle.

“Crown Princess Aunt,” the little one hesitated, then finally spoke up, “do you have anything for Momo?”

Xuanzhao Yang: “……”

She had told him to ask his uncle — not his aunt!!

That rascal Xuan Xi’xi had made a habit of taking advantage of her at every turn, great and small, and with the Emperor spoiling him rotten — wasn’t it finally cause for celebration that he’d taken a principal consort? Surely it was only right to let Momo come and claim a little of the joy.

Yan Yunning was momentarily caught off guard. She truly had nothing on her at the moment that she could give to a child.

She could only lift the pastries from the imperial table and hold them out to the little one, saying in her quiet voice, “Will these do?”

The little one pouted, then picked one up and said in a soft, doughy voice, “Thank you, Crown Princess Aunt, for the pastries for Momo.”

Xuanzhao Yang caught a glimpse of Xuan Yanyu’s handsome face wearing a look of pure amusement as he watched her. The sight of it made her so furious she pressed her fingers to her philtrum.

That little wretch was absolutely delighted by this!!

“Crown Princess Aunt’s pastries are the most delicious pastries Momo has ever tasted.” Xu Mochen took an exaggeratedly large bite and wheedled, “Could Crown Princess Aunt let Momo bring a few more home to the estate?”

His mother had said — ask for plenty.

Xuanzhao Yang: “……”

What on earth would they do with all those pastries?

Set up a stall on the main street??

Did the Princess’ estate not have enough pastries???

“Of course.” Yan Yunning settled the little one in her arms, then turned a sidelong glance toward Xuan Yanyu, the corner of her mouth curving. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, please have the kitchen prepare extra pastries for Momo to take with him.”

“Mm.” Xuan Yanyu took Xu Mochen from Yan Yunning’s arms and passed her a cup of water.

“Crown Prince Uncle.” The little one curled contentedly into Xuan Yanyu’s embrace, his small face bright with excitement.

“Mm? What else do you want?” Xuan Yanyu ruffled his little head.

Xuanzhao Yang coughed twice.

The little one shook his head. “Nothing more, Crown Prince Uncle.”

He mustn’t be greedy. The pastries were enough.

Xuanzhao Yang: “……”

“Your Highness the Princess Imperial, are you feeling unwell?” Mu Heng, noticing that Xuanzhao Yang’s expression had turned somewhat stifled, couldn’t help asking.

Xuanzhao Yang shook her head with a strained smile.

“Momo, you truly are Crown Prince Uncle’s dear little Momo. Did your mother bring a modest gift for Crown Prince Uncle and your Crown Princess Aunt?”

“Crown Prince Uncle, Mother brought silver — do you want it, Crown Prince Uncle?” The little one’s expression was that of someone fully prepared to go ask Xuanzhao Yang for it the moment Xuan Yanyu nodded.

“Xu Mochen!!!” Xuanzhao Yang gasped sharply.

Bad enough that he hadn’t managed to ask that rascal Xuan Yanyu for anything — now he wanted to take her silver too!!

Did that rascal need it??

All of Xuanzhao was his.

“Crown Prince Uncle.” The little one shrank deeper into Xuan Yanyu’s arms.

“Fine. Truly, fine.” Xuanzhao Yang was practically seething.

That rascal Xuan Xi’xi barely paid Momo any attention, yet Momo clung to him all the same. She spent every day by Momo’s side and never once saw Momo take her side this completely!!

What kind of logic was that??

The man raised his chin with casual authority. “Elder Imperial Sister, setting aside ordinary days — now that Ningning has entered the Crown Prince’s estate, and this is your very first visit since she arrived, is it proper to come empty-handed?”

Xuanzhao Yang pressed her fingers together. She desperately wanted to say: she was never setting foot in this wretched Crown Prince’s estate again.

But with Ningning here, she — as his imperial elder sister — could not afford to completely lose her composure. Otherwise she would absolutely give that little wretch a thorough tongue-lashing.

Setting aside ordinary days, indeed??

She’d never once seen him set things aside on ordinary days either!!