“Your Majesty, after the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess finished their evening meal, they retired early. His Highness said that tomorrow morning he would attend court with Your Majesty, so he wished to sleep earlier,” Ye’an said hastily.

“Retiring so early — it seems he truly is unwell.” The Empress Xuan smiled and instructed the maids to begin serving the meal, then turned to Emperor Xuan with a gentle voice, “Your Majesty, let us eat first.”

Emperor Xuan’s lips twitched slightly. Retiring early in order to attend morning court — what nonsense.

Preposterous!

Not knowing what thought came to him, Emperor Xuan lowered his eyes, his expression darkening as he looked toward Ye’an. “Go back and tell Yuyu that since he is unwell, he need not attend morning court tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ye’an acknowledged the order.

“Let us eat.” A faint smile rose on Emperor Xuan’s face as he patted the Empress Xuan’s hand at his side.

Empress Xuan’s eyelid twitched — she had a feeling something would happen at tomorrow’s morning court.

Throughout the meal, Empress Xuan ate with her heart in her throat, while Noble Consort Pei kept saying pleasant things to keep Emperor Xuan entertained.

The Emperor was greatly pleased, rewarding her with many treasures, and even permitting Pei Shutong to visit the palace to keep her company on occasion.

——

The following morning.

At the court assembly, Emperor Xuan, disregarding the objections of the assembled ministers, decreed that Yan Shiyao be bestowed the title of “Youle Commandery Princess” of Xuanzhao.

The name carried the meaning: may the remainder of her life be blessed with constant joy.

A residence was granted to her, and she was to be accorded treatment equal to that of a princess.

After court adjourned, on the small path back to the Imperial Study, Chief Eunuch Feng boldly offered a jest: “Your Majesty, if the Crown Prince had not taken a liking to the Crown Princess, but instead to the Youle Commandery Princess — and cherished her as he cherishes the Crown Princess — how wonderful that would be.”

Emperor Xuan’s footsteps paused slightly, his displeasure undisguised. “Then We would not have permitted her to be with Yuyu. We would have made her identity public, and if Yuyu had the ability, he could deal with the ministers himself. If he lacked the ability, he would have to give her up.”

He was the sovereign. At the moment of the General’s Lady passing, he had made a promise to her — that her daughter would not enter the Xuan Palace. For an emperor to break his word, how would the people and ministers regard him?

Without a perfect solution, at that time, if the emperor broke his promise, all of Xuanzhao would inevitably fall into chaos.

If Yuyu had no way out, he would simply have to give her up. He would absolutely not permit Yuyu to show such partiality toward one woman — for Xuanzhao, that would not be a good thing.

Not even Yan Shiyao, who had helped Yuyu and Xuanzhao, would be an exception!

As for Yan Yunning — he had yet to think of a good reason to separate her from Yuyu. There was no urgency for now. Perhaps in another year or two, Yuyu would grow weary of her.

Chief Eunuch Feng nodded with understanding, having largely grasped Emperor Xuan’s meaning.

The Crown Prince must not be permitted to have a weakness.

“To the Imperial Medical Institute,” Emperor Xuan changed direction. “Let us go see how Shiyao fares.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Chief Eunuch Feng nodded with a smile. “Your Majesty, with the many imperial physicians of the Medical Institute in attendance, the Youle Commandery Princess is recovering quite well and can move about already.”

“That is good. Is it known who injured Shiyao?”

“Your Majesty, this servant does not know. This servant only knows that it was the Crown Prince who had the night guard carry the critically wounded Youle Commandery Princess to the Imperial Medical Institute.”

Emperor Xuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave a calm order: “Investigate. Find out who injured the Commandery Princess and how she was injured, then repay that person in kind. Afterward, do not leave them alive.”

“This servant understands.” Chief Eunuch Feng accepted the verbal decree.

——

The Imperial Medical Institute.

By the time Emperor Xuan arrived, Yan Shiyao had already learned that she had been bestowed the title of Commandery Princess of Xuanzhao. She had only just finished her morning meal when people came to congratulate her — it would have been hard not to know.

“Shiyao pays her respects to Emperor Xuan. Long may Your Majesty prosper.” Yan Shiyao, her small face deathly pale, knelt on the ground and performed her obeisance.

“Rise.” Emperor Xuan personally helped Yan Shiyao to her feet.

“I thank Your Majesty.” Yan Shiyao’s eyes still held traces of red, and she looked particularly haggard.

This was Emperor Xuan’s first time seeing Yan Shiyao. The girl’s face bore a sickly pallor; she appeared delicate and frail. Her features were not unattractive, but she bore not the slightest resemblance to either the General or the General’s Lady.

The emperor furrowed his brow, suspicion stirring in his heart.

The State Preceptor had said she was the young miss of the Yan Family, and Shiyao also had the imperial jade pendant — it should not be wrong.

Perhaps it was the different environment in which she had been raised that had shaped her this way.

Or could it be that jade pendant…

It seemed he needed to investigate the matter more thoroughly.

“Your Majesty.” Yan Shiyao’s soft, gentle voice broke through Emperor Xuan’s contemplation.

“Does Shiyao have something to say to Us?”

“Your Majesty.” On Yan Shiyao’s face, free of rouge and powder, tears welled up. “May Shiyao entreat Your Majesty to dissolve the betrothal between Shiyao and the Third Imperial Prince Qilan? Shiyao does not wish to marry him.”

Emperor Xuan’s eyes flickered slightly. “Rest assured. We will grant your wish.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” A smile became visibly apparent on Yan Shiyao’s small face.

“How did you come to be so gravely injured?” Emperor Xuan frowned and asked. “Do you remember who hurt you?”

Yan Shiyao bit her lip and refused to speak.

What would be the use of saying it? Even if she did, Emperor Xuan would not do anything to Xuan Yanyu.

“Youle Commandery Princess, speak freely. His Majesty has said that once the one who harmed you is found, he will not be left alive.” Chief Eunuch Feng offered encouragement.

Yan Shiyao pressed down the corners of her mouth that wanted to smile. She suddenly wanted to know what Emperor Xuan’s reaction would be if he learned it was Xuan Yanyu who had injured her.

Would he truly do as he had said — not leave Xuan Yanyu alive?

After all, he was the emperor. How could an emperor’s word mean nothing?

Emperor Xuan’s sharp gaze fell upon Yan Shiyao — she wore a smile that was not quite a smile, hesitating and hedging. To speak plainly, he found this kind of coy behavior exceedingly disagreeable.

If she had something to say, she should say it. He had already said he would see justice done for her, yet she was still concealing and evading — he had no patience to waste on her, and he turned to leave.

Yan Shiyao took a deep breath and suddenly said, “It was the Crown Prince. It was the Crown Prince who injured Shiyao. Your Majesty, will you truly not leave—”

The emperor’s footsteps halted. His brows knitted tightly together, and after a long silence he said, “The Crown Princess is also in the palace — you must know this. It has been quite a long time since you two last saw each other. Go to the Crown Prince’s chambers and visit her — the two of you can have a talk.”

Not a word about Yan Shiyao being injured.

“Imperial Father.” Just as those words fell and Emperor Xuan was about to turn and leave, he came face-to-face with Yan Yunning, who had come looking for Yan Shiyao.

Emperor Xuan made a sound of acknowledgment. “Where is Yuyu?”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. “The Crown Prince has gone to the Imperial Study to find you.”

Upon learning that her elder sister had been bestowed the title of Commandery Princess, Xuan Yanyu had gone to the Imperial Study.

Emperor Xuan cleared his throat — there was no longer any rush to leave, since going to the Imperial Study would only mean being irritated by that wretched boy.

Going now, it was plain to see, he would be asked why he had bestowed the title of Commandery Princess upon Shiyao.

A maid brought a rosewood chair. After Emperor Xuan sat down, he asked in an unhurried tone, “Why did Yuyu suddenly fall ill yesterday?”

Yan Yunning gave a light cough. “He may have caught a chill after bathing and fallen ill.”

As if Xuan Yanyu had been unwell — it had been she who was exhausted and unable to move. Xuan Yanyu had had no choice but to remain in the bedchamber to keep her company. She had told him to go to the Grand Cherishing Hall for the evening meal on his own, but Xuan Yanyu had refused.

He had sent Ye’an to tell Emperor Xuan that he was unwell and that she was keeping him company in the bedchamber. Otherwise, Emperor Xuan and Empress Xuan would surely blame her for not knowing propriety.

And this time, his feigned illness was also because he feared Emperor Xuan might punish her over the incident on the main street where she had caused a scene — so he had taken the matter upon himself.