“If we go back, Luo Xuan will certainly not arrange a guest room for us again. And now that A’Ci has tracked me down, I can’t have him go on sleeping at the inn — that’s right, isn’t it?” Yan Yunning laid it all out in a reasonable tone.

Qi Qingchen was still at the mountain village, which meant her A’Jie would certainly go back. If her A’Jie went back, Xuan Yanyu would definitely follow. And she was not about to be left behind alone in a strange place — for now, she had no choice but to rely on Xuan Yanyu.

“What are you trying to say?” The man’s voice was deep and resonant.

Yan Yunning looked at him and began to smile.

Xuan Yanyu half-lidded his eyes, a faint tightening in his throat. His long fingers idly rubbed the jade thumb ring on his hand, back and forth.

“Well… I was thinking — could A’Ci stay in my guest room, and I stay in your… your guest room as a lodger? Would that be all right?” Yan Yunning said, throwing all shame to the wind.

Even as the words left her lips, she felt her own cheeks grow warm. Once was one thing, but a second time — that seemed a bit deliberate.

Fafa: [Mistress, didn’t you say Luo Xuan would go looking for trouble with Xuan Yanyu and you weren’t counting on him anymore?]

[Don’t be dense — Xuan Yanyu still has Ye Chen and Ye Jian with him. Staying close to him is far safer than being on my own.]

Fafa: […]

Xuan Yanyu’s lips curved knowingly as he looked at her. “Why would you want to lodge in my room?”

“Luo Xuan has a thing for Elder Brother Qi. I told you about her schemes, so she already had me locked up once. Staying by your side is safer. I’ve thought it through — if I went to find Elder Brother Qi, Luo Xuan would…”

Before she could finish, Xuan Yanyu cut in coldly, “If Luo Xuan had no feelings for Qi Qingchen, you would go to him. Is that what you’re saying?”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. If Luo Xuan didn’t care about Qi Qingchen, she wouldn’t go after Yan Yunning for disrupting her plans, and then she wouldn’t need to go find anyone at all.

A flash of irritation crossed Xuan Yanyu’s fine features. He didn’t know what he was angry about — but he was angry.

Right up until the evening meal, Xuan Yanyu did not say a single word to Yan Yunning.

From the afternoon all the way through dinner, Xuan Yanyu kept a stony expression the entire time. Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. She didn’t even know why he was upset.

She replayed their conversation carefully in her mind.

Could it be that he didn’t want her lodging with him?

If he didn’t want it, he could just say so. What was the point of going silent on her?

She was the one who was upset!

She wouldn’t speak to him either — that was final!

But she also couldn’t afford to be done in.

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt!

“A’Jie.” Yan Yunning leaned her head against Yan Shiyao’s shoulder, the more she mulled it over, the more aggrieved she felt.

Ignore her then, she’d ignore him right back. She refused to lower herself first.

A’Ci sidled over too. “Little lemon, are you unhappy?”

Yan Yunning raised her damp, glistening eyes, her voice carrying a pitiful edge. “A’Jie, don’t have feelings for Qi Qingchen anymore. Just for my sake — can you?”

Qi Qingchen wasn’t worth a single bit of her A’Jie’s feelings.

Xuan Yanyu arrived just in time to hear those words. He gave a cold laugh. “Just for your sake? As if your liking or disliking someone means others aren’t allowed to feel the same?”

His tone carried a distinct edge of mockery.

Yan Yunning’s lips parted. She was saying that for his benefit — so what was with the snide remarks?!

Yan Shiyao bit her lip, eyes lowered. “Ningning, do you still have feelings for Elder Brother Qi?”

“No, I never did. I just think he’s not good enough for you, A’Jie. Look at the way he and Luo Xuan…”

She was cut off by a light cough from Qi Qingchen.

Yan Yunning clamped her mouth shut, feeling deeply awkward.

A’Ci watched them all with his soft, uncomprehending eyes.

“Right, I’m going to step out for a bit.” The girl beat a hasty retreat, her presence shrinking as she fled outside.

In Xuan Yanyu’s ears, her words still echoed — “I never had any feelings for Qi Qingchen.” He pressed his lips together and turned to follow her out.

Yan Yunning covered her face and ran all the way to the pavilion. [Fafa, how does something this mortifying manage to happen to me?]

Fafa: [It’s all right, Mistress!]

[Ugh, you don’t understand. How am I supposed to face Qi Qingchen after this?] Yan Yunning propped her chin on her hand and sighed.

Fafa: […]

“Do you still want to lodge here?”

The low, resonant voice came from directly above her. Yan Yunning turned her head away, unwilling to look at him.

The man pressed his lips together and coaxed her, “Stop being upset, will you?”

He had never coaxed anyone before, and no one had ever dared make him coax them. This was the very first time.

Yan Yunning’s eyes swiveled around. “Then I want to sleep on the bed. You sleep on the couch.”

“Fine.” He’d slept on the couch last night anyway. One more night was nothing.

Yan Yunning pushed her luck further. “If I can’t sleep, you have to talk with me.”

“All right.” A smile settled in the man’s eyes.

The dusk deepened.

Ye Chen watched Yan Yunning head back into Xuan Yanyu’s room and felt his eyes contract sharply.

“What are we supposed to do about this? Ever since Yan Yunning showed up, His Highness has been hovering around her every single day. Don’t tell me His Highness is actually thinking of taking Yan Yunning as a secondary consort?” Ye Chen’s expression was grave, and he couldn’t hold back his muttering.

“His Highness never cared for First Miss Yan to begin with. I’m afraid His Highness might defy the King of Xuan’s wishes for the sake of Second Miss Yan.” Ye Jian’s face was equally serious.

“Should we report this to His Majesty now?” Ye Chen said after a brief pause.

Ye Jian replied gravely, “That would earn us His Highness’s displeasure.”

Ye Chen pressed his lips together. His Highness could not be offended. But His Majesty even less so.

“What if we deal with Luo Xuan? Yan Yunning’s afraid of her, isn’t she? Without Luo Xuan around, she’d stop clinging to our Highness.” Ye Chen’s tone took on a vicious edge.

Ye Jian flicked him on the forehead. “No wonder His Highness says you’re dense. Luo Xuan is clearly entangled with the Qilan royal family in ways that run deep. If we touch her, we’ll bring all kinds of trouble on ourselves.”

“Do you honestly think His Highness would indulge her like this if he didn’t feel something for Second Miss Yan?” Ye Jian added.

He had been by His Highness’s side since childhood. Did he not know his own master?

With or without Luo Xuan, the situation would be the same!

Ye Chen’s breath hitched slightly. “You’re saying — His Highness has his eye on Yan Yunning? Or do you think His Highness is only being so lenient with Yan Yunning because of First Miss Yan?”

Ye Jian gave him a blank look, utterly exasperated. “Because of First Miss Yan? First Miss Yan is Xuanzhao’s future Crown Princess. If His Highness had no actual interest in Second Miss Yan, would he be sharing a guest room with her? Is that proper?!”

If it truly were for First Miss Yan’s sake, he could just send himself and Ye Chen to protect Second Miss Yan. Why would he need Second Miss Yan lodging in his own room?

Ye Chen pressed his mouth shut.

If His Highness wasn’t going to take Yan Yunning as a secondary consort, then by custom, Yan Yunning ought to be addressing His Highness as “Elder Brother-in-law.” The two of them sharing a room was most certainly not proper.

“This morning, when I went to tidy His Highness’s bedding, His Highness’s quilts were on the couch.” Ye Jian said with an unhurried air.

Ye Chen nearly tumbled out of the tree, his voice seething with indignant disbelief. “His Highness, how could he be so… so…”

Did His Highness still remember his own standing?!

Inside the room.

Yan Yunning crouched beside the couch, slowly sipping a cup of tea.

Xuan Yanyu lay on his side on the couch. His fine black robe hung on the carved clothes rack nearby, and a light blanket was draped over him.

“Are we done? Can you go to sleep now?” The man’s voice was low and rough.

The fragrance of tea drifted through the air. Yan Yunning took a small sip and shook her head with a smile. “Not yet. Tell me another story.”

What time was it even now? Back in the modern world, this was the perfect hour to be lying in bed scrolling on your phone!

Xuan Yanyu paused, his voice growing rougher still. “Yan Yunning, if you push your luck any further…”

Yan Yunning pouted and muttered, “Fine, if you don’t want to tell one, then don’t.”

She stood up, set the teacup on the table, walked over to the bed, lay down on her side, and pulled the brocade quilt over herself.