“Imperial Father, it was this son who pulled the Crown Princess into crouching on the main street. She had no choice but to accompany this son —”

“Nonsense.” The Prince of Xuan cut him off in a burst of anger. “Does this Emperor not know you?”

“Imperial Father, it was this son who was feeling unwell and crouched in the street to rest for a moment. The Crown Princess was frightened and crouched beside me in tears to comfort me. How it reached Imperial Father’s ears and turned into the Crown Princess’s fault — this son cannot say.” Xuan Yanyu delivered this fabrication with complete composure.

The Prince of Xuan swept a look up and down at him. The man had a hand pressed to his abdomen, his brow furrowed faintly, and his expression did carry a trace of genuine discomfort.

When he spoke again, the Prince of Xuan’s voice had unmistakably softened. “You’re truly unwell? Not just making excuses for your Crown Princess?”

“Imperial Father, please have Imperial Physician Wen summoned — he may take this son’s pulse.” Xuan Yanyu said it deliberately, in a slightly weakened voice.

“Chief Eunuch Feng, go and fetch Imperial Physician Wen.” The Prince of Xuan stepped out from behind the imperial desk and crossed to Xuan Yanyu, steadying him by the arm and guiding him to a seat.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Chief Eunuch Feng wasted not a second and hurried out in a quick shuffle of small steps.

“How did you come to feel unwell?” The Prince of Xuan’s voice had gentled considerably.

Xuan Yanyu lied without so much as a flicker. “A headache.”

Remembering that he had just been clutching his abdomen, the man added, “My stomach aches as well.”

The Prince of Xuan’s expression shifted, and he personally began rubbing Xuan Yanyu’s temples, his voice warm. “How did you come to have a headache and a stomachache?”

Xuan Yanyu’s mouth twitched. And why else would it be? Because you drove me to it, Your Majesty.

The Prince of Xuan tapped a finger to Xuan Yanyu’s forehead, his meaning clear. “You had better not be deceiving this Emperor.”

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together and replied at a measured pace, “I would not.”

Imperial Physician Wen arrived promptly. The moment he stepped into the Imperial Study, the Prince of Xuan said, “Forget the formalities — come and examine the Crown Prince.”

“This old subject obeys.”

Imperial Physician Wen hurried forward to take Xuan Yanyu’s pulse.

The pulse beat strong and steady, the bones and sinews solid and vigorous. For a pulse like this, where was there any trouble?

Why had Chief Eunuch Feng said the Crown Prince was unwell?

And… what ailment was he supposed to say His Highness had?

“What is wrong with this Prince? Why does my head ache and my stomach ache?” Xuan Yanyu asked, looking perfectly well.

“Imperial Physician Wen — what do you make of it?” The Prince of Xuan’s cold and penetrating gaze swung toward Imperial Physician Wen.

Imperial Physician Wen swallowed carefully and chose every word with deliberate care. “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has caught a chill.”

His Majesty cannot be offended — but His Highness can be?!

At his age, he could not bear the combined fury of His Majesty and His Highness!

“Is that so?” The Prince of Xuan’s tone was cold and flat, making it abundantly clear he did not believe a word.

“Your Majesty, it is so. His Highness has indeed caught a chill.” Imperial Physician Wen said it with perfect solemnity.

“What are you standing there for?! Go and write the prescription!!” The Prince of Xuan bellowed.

Imperial Physician Wen gave a startled flinch. “This old subject goes at once.”

With that, he stumbled out of the Imperial Study at a half-run.

“You’re truly ill?” The Prince of Xuan pressed his hand to Xuan Yanyu’s forehead.

“Mm.” The man gave a feeble nod. “Imperial Father misunderstood Ningning and spoke ill of her — shouldn’t you apologize to Ningning?”

“You—!” The Prince of Xuan raised his hand and gave Xuan Yanyu’s shoulder a light cuff, his disbelief plain. “You’re asking this Emperor to go and apologize to your Crown Princess?!”

“Was it not Imperial Father who always taught this son that regardless of station, if one is in the wrong, one must offer a proper apology?” He paused for half a beat, then Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. “Imperial Father — why not let Ningning go to the treasury and pick out a few trinkets? It would settle the misunderstanding and offer her a little compensation.”

Chief Eunuch Feng’s eyelid gave a quiet twitch. Trinkets?

The treasury of the Palace of Prince Xuan held only rare and priceless treasures. What His Highness the Crown Prince called a “trinket” was nowhere to be found in there.

“Fine, fine — let her go and pick.” The Prince of Xuan tapped him on the forehead in exasperation.

“Thank you, Imperial Father.” Xuan Yanyu curved the corner of his mouth.

The Prince of Xuan gritted his teeth and pressed his instruction home. “Since you’re unwell, stay in the palace for a few days and rest until you’ve recovered before leaving.”

He could not, for the life of him, fathom how he had managed to produce a son so hopelessly devoted to one woman.

Xuan Yanyu gave a nod without objecting.

“Go and rest in your chambers. This Emperor will come and see you in a little while.” The Prince of Xuan said it with a helpless air.

He was in no mood now to discuss the matter of the Emperor of Qilan with him.

“Yes, this son takes his leave.” Xuan Yanyu rose, performed a bow, and strode out — as though afraid that a moment’s delay would have the Prince of Xuan holding him back.

The Prince of Xuan drew a sharp breath and pressed his fingers to his brow. He must not lose his temper. He had only one imperial son — what could he do?

Had there been even one more, he would not have had to swallow this indignity.

Yan Yunning had spent a little time in the bedchamber of the Princess of Xuan, then slipped out on some pretext and made her way to Ranle Palace — where she happened to find Xuanzhao Ran in the middle of choosing a return gift for Jiang Xian. She fell into step beside her and the two of them left the palace together.

Out on the bustling main street, Yan Yunning and Xuanzhao Ran settled in at a tea house set up beneath an awning, waiting for Jing’er to go to the general’s residence and fetch Jiang Xian.

Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Jiang Xian — having dressed himself up a little — came hurrying into the tea house.

He wore a striking red robe and carried a captivating smile on his face. Sitting down beside Xuanzhao Ran, he gave Yan Yunning a nod, then propped his cheek in one hand and looked toward Xuanzhao Ran. “A’Ran, since when did you have time to seek me out today?”

Out in the busy street, Jiang Xian would call Xuanzhao Ran “A’Ran.” Any other time he called her Fifth Princess.

“Do you want the return gift or not?” Xuanzhao Ran poured him a cup of tea.

At the palace banquet, Jiang Xian had selected quite a number of gifts for her. Today she was returning the gesture.

“Fine, if my little A’Ran insists on giving, then I’ll take it.” Jiang Xian said it with a show of reluctance.

“Oh~” Xuanzhao Ran leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “This Princess is offering a gift, and you’re being reluctant about it?!”

Jiang Xian fixed his gaze on the girl’s lovely face, close enough to make his breath catch. He cleared his throat. “Not at all — Your Highness, I’m more than willing — not the least bit reluctant. A gift from Your Highness, I would hang it up properly and keep it with the greatest care.”

Xuanzhao Ran pressed her lips together. “Spoken so prettily — as if you’d really hang it up. More likely it’ll end up tossed in some corner.”

She had known him since she was young. His aunt had said he was scatterbrained and careless. His words might sound all very fine, but who knew where he’d actually leave it.

“You wrong me, A’Ran. I meant every word.” Jiang Xian said it urgently.

“I believe you.” Xuanzhao Ran cut him off before he could say another word.

Every time he got like this, if she didn’t say she believed him, he would go on and on without end.

Yan Yunning rested her chin in her hands and watched Jiang Xian from across the table. Hadn’t he said he didn’t like her?

He didn’t look the least bit like someone who didn’t like her at all.

“Sister-in-law, let’s go — we can walk around the street a bit.” Xuanzhao Ran finished the last sip of her tea and looked over at Yan Yunning with a smile.

“Mm.”

Jiang Xian pressed forward ahead of Jing’er and paid for the tea in small silver coins.

Yan Yunning glanced at him. He turned his head away, looking a little sheepish.

Xuanzhao Ran seemed long used to it and said nothing more.

On the lively main street, Jiang Xian’s footsteps slowed to a stop before a stall beneath a wooden frame awning. He fixed his gaze on the jade pendants laid out across it, and with a cheerful grin called out, “A’Ran, what do you think of this one?”

Xuanzhao Ran turned back and saw Jiang Xian hooking a finger through a pair of mandarin duck jade pendants. Her brow arched. “No — pick something else. That one isn’t suitable.”

What was he thinking, giving her that style?!

“Tch.” Jiang Xian swept his gaze across the stall and clicked his tongue. “This is the prettiest pair here. Everything else isn’t good enough for this young lord.”

Xuanzhao Ran pulled Yan Yunning along and drew nearer to him. She casually lifted a jade pendant from the stall — one hung with a red dangling ornament — and remarked with admiration, “It matches your robes quite well.”