Had she not, after all, deliberately caused Xiao Cheng to make Yu Zhi lose her child?

Had she not made Yu Zhi subsist on thin, watery congee for years?

Was it truly necessary to humiliate her this much now?

She did not dare return to the household, either — once she did, there was no telling what kind of man her mother would next marry her off to as a concubine.

She was a concubine-born daughter, and her mother would never consider her interests. She had no choice but to swallow her grievances and wait on Yu Zhi.

Xiao Wu tilted her chin up. “You may leave, Second Madam.”

Su Rouija looked toward Yan Yunning. Yan Yunning, who could not quite figure out how to play the role of a moved character, also looked her over.

“Who permitted you to stare at the Crown Princess?” Lu Jin’an exhaled slowly.

To think that she had bullied their elder young mistress like that. She deserved to feel remorse about it now.

Had she known that the elder young mistress’s younger sister was the Crown Princess, Xiao Cheng and Su Rouija would surely have died of regret.

“C… Crown Princess.” Su Rouija’s eyes welled with aggrieved tears, and she thudded to her knees.

“Crown Princess, please grant this concubine justice! For reasons this concubine cannot fathom, the Grand Protector has been unable to rise from his sickbed. This concubine suspects it is the First Madam’s doing. Your Highness must look into this properly — this concubine trusts that the Crown Princess will deliver a just verdict.”

“What is she saying?” Yan Yunning looked toward Yu Zhi and blinked.

Yu Zhi wiped the corner of her eye. “Crown Princess, like my husband, Jiajia’s mind has also been affected, which is why she speaks incoherently. Your Highness need not pay her any mind.”

Yan Yunning nodded. “Understood.”

“Crown Princess, that is not true — everything this concubine has said is the truth. Your Highness may investigate.” Su Rouija grew frantic and reached out to tug at the hem of Yan Yunning’s skirt.

Had Yu Zhi not been steadying Yan Yunning, the force of Su Rouija’s grip would nearly have pulled her off balance.

“Crown Princess.”

“Crown Princess.”

Xiao Wan and Xiaoyue gave a startled jolt.

Yan Yunning stepped back two paces. “I am fine.”

“C… Crown Princess, this concubine did not mean to.” Su Rouija said in fright, her voice trembling at the end.

“Striking a person of higher rank is an offense against authority. Your stipend is docked for half a year. Henceforth, remain in your courtyard unless there is cause to leave — and most especially when this Consort visits the Grand Protector’s estate in the future.” Yan Yunning said with impatience.

A fall like that would leave one aching for days.

“Crown Princess, this concubine truly did not mean to —” Before she could finish the sentence, Yu Zhi waved her hand and had a maidservant clamp a hand over Su Rouija’s mouth and drag her out of the side chamber.

“Crown Princess, might you stay tonight and dine with us?” Yu Zhi asked hopefully.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Yan Yunning’s bright little face. She had sent a maidservant to tell Xuan Yanyu she would be back before the evening meal.

Yan Shiyao smiled and said, “No need, Madam. Ningjing has to return to the palace shortly.”

“Next time, then — next time I will definitely stay for a meal.” Yan Yunning followed Yan Shiyao’s lead.

“Of course.” Yu Zhi gently turned to Yan Shiyao. “Will the Princess also be staying in the estate’s guest chambers?”

Yan Shiyao curved her lips into a smile. “Thank you for your kind offer, Madam. I will stay in the Princess’s residence.”

“Very well.” Yu Zhi did not press further.

“Madam, then Ningjing and I will take our leave.” Since Concubine Lu had now been seen, and the hour was still early, she wished to stroll through Xuanzhao’s market streets with Ningjing.

Once Xuan Yanyu ascended the throne in the future, Ningjing would become the Empress of Xuanzhao, and going out of the palace would no longer be so easy.

Yu Zhi still wanted to hold them a little longer, but feared it might make Yan Shiyao suspicious, so she gave a nod. She offered Yan Yunning a few words of parting, and said nothing more.

The Crown Prince had sent word to her and Nanny Lu — Ningjing’s identity was to be kept from everyone. When A’Ci arrived at the Grand Protector’s estate, she had also made sure to instruct A’Ci immediately.

——

The weather that day was exceptionally fine. Great sweeping drifts of cloud crossed the sky, and the air was thick with the savory fragrance of street food. Yan Shiyao held Yan Yunning’s hand and walked leisurely along the main street.

“Ningjing, your hand is so warm.” Yan Shiyao asked with curiosity.

Yan Yunning squinted lazily. “Probably because I am wearing a lot of layers.”

Xuan Yanyu had been saying these past two nights that holding her was like holding a little hand-warmer, and he could do without even pulling up the brocade quilt.

Yan Shiyao smiled sweetly to herself. Her mother had once had a midwife explain to her that in the early stages of pregnancy, body temperature rose somewhat. Could Ningjing actually be with child?

The only pity was that the child’s father would be Xuan Yanyu.

Thinking of Xuan Yanyu, she remembered the kick he had given her — just thinking about it made her feel the pain all over again!

“Yan Shiyao.” A low, muffled male voice drifted into Yan Shiyao’s ears.

Hearing someone call her name, Yan Shiyao turned her head to look back.

Clad in white robes, Qi Qingchen stood before several guards, looking haggard. Yan Shiyao pressed her lips together and said nothing. Qi Qingchen stepped forward a few paces. “Are you all right?”

He did not quite understand himself. He had clearly intended to use her to return to Qilan — yet seeing her nearly die, he had found himself regretting that he had ever said to her, asking Yan Yunning to help send him back.

If he had not said it, she would not have gone to tug at Xuan Yanyu’s sleeve, and Xuan Yanyu would not have kicked her, and she would not have nearly — nearly lost her life then.

He should not have done this. There was something deeply wrong with thoughts like his. Returning to Qilan was what mattered most. Why should he feel regret?

“I am fine.” Yan Shiyao replied.

“This Highness is about to return to Qilan. Would you like to come with me?” Qi Qingchen asked.

Yan Shiyao raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly. “There is no need, Your Highness the Third Prince. I have not yet had the chance to live in the Princess’s residence.”

Hearing Yan Shiyao address him as “Your Highness the Third Prince” once more, Qi Qingchen’s throat tightened. “Our betrothal — it was annulled by my father’s decree. Was it because you petitioned the Xuanwang?”

Only the Xuanwang could have made his father change his mind. And the Xuanwang had even conferred the title of Princess Youle upon her! It was very likely that she had gone to petition the Xuanwang — she despised him that much?

“It has been annulled?” Yan Shiyao’s eyes brightened slightly.

She had only said a few words to the Xuanwang, and it had been annulled just like that?

Qi Qingchen narrowed his eyes. “You did not know?”

“I know now.” Yan Shiyao smiled with a charming tilt of her head. “Your Highness the Third Prince, yes, it was this subject’s daughter who told the Xuanwang. Did you not tell this subject’s daughter to find her own way out? And has this subject’s daughter not now had our betrothal annulled?”

As she spoke, she raised her hand and lightly tapped Qi Qingchen on the shoulder. “Your Highness the Third Prince…”

“Yan Shiyao?” Qi Qingchen suddenly seized her wrist, and said in a low voice, “Did this Highness not promise to make you the future Empress of Qilan? Why?!”

Yan Shiyao kicked him. She said with a light scoff, “Your Highness the Third Prince, how can you be so certain that you will ascend the throne? Hmm?”

“You…” Qi Qingchen clenched his fist and stared at her with fury. After a long moment, he said slowly, “Very well, Yan Shiyao. You had best not come to this Highness for anything in the future — because if you do, this Highness will absolutely, absolutely not let you off.”

Having said this, he gave a self-mocking laugh. What affair could a Princess of Xuanzhao possibly bring to him?! He had no cause to feel unsettled over this. And yet why was there this heaviness in his chest after all?

Walking far enough away to put some distance between herself and Qi Qingchen, Yan Yunning gave Yan Shiyao a strange look. The latter said with a guilty conscience,

“After being kicked by the Crown Prince and returning to my senses, I realized that if Qi Qingchen were also to be named Crown Prince by the Qi Emperor, he would end up just like the Crown Prince. So I thought it better to find a man of more ordinary standing sooner rather than later.”

The corner of Yan Yunning’s mouth twitched. She said slowly, “So, looking like that — are you blaming Xuan Yanyu?”