She could still smile — how mocking.

Yan Yunning looked questioningly toward Xuan Yanyu. “Is that so?”

She truly hadn’t known that Chu Wantang had been imprisoned in the Tribunal.

Since returning from the Xuan royal palace to the Crown Prince’s manor, she hadn’t left the manor once, and no one had told her.

But even knowing that Chu Wantang had been imprisoned in the Tribunal — what did that have to do with her?

Chu Wantang was not her mother. And in the matter of A’Fu, had Chu Wantang’s plan not been foiled when she fled using the scented incense, Chu Wantang’s scheme would have succeeded. It was plain to see that Chu Wantang had never regarded her as a daughter either.

Naturally that was so — she was not Chu Wantang’s daughter. Of course Chu Wantang would not treat her as one.

So even knowing, she would not be saintly enough to go and help Chu Wantang. She was not so foolish as to go and help someone who had tried to harm her.

“Yes.” Xuan Yanyu explained, “Chancellor Yan made an error, and Chu Wantang was imprisoned in the Tribunal alongside him. This prince has already secured the Chancellor’s release and sent an imperial physician disguised as a common doctor to Qilan to treat his injuries. You need not worry.”

Orders had also been given to the Imperial Guards to follow. They were only waiting for the right moment to bring Yan Ruijing to Xuanzhao.

“All right. I understand.”

Hearing Yan Yunning say merely “All right. I understand.” before turning unconcernedly back to the soup Xuan Yanyu was feeding her — a surge of fury rushed straight to Yan Shiyao’s chest.

What a heartless person. Learning that their mother had been locked in the Tribunal by the Qilan Emperor, and yet not even the slightest stir.

Even if their mother had never cared for her since she was small, as a child, she could not simply leave her mother be. If their mother truly passed away in the Qilan Tribunal, could she really go on living her life in peace?

Would she feel no regret??

She was now a mother herself. With such a cold heart, would her own child treat her the same way one day?!

If their mother truly passed away, she would hate Yan Yunning for it — because Yan Yunning could so easily say a word to Xuan Yanyu, or simply beg him, and Xuan Yanyu would most certainly save her mother. But she did not!!

She did not!!

She was not even the least bit moved!!

Ningning could clearly save their mother, yet she looked on with cold indifference.

Only now did she finally understand why, in that fleeting memory, she had not spoken a soft word to save Ningning from beneath Xuan Yanyu’s sword — it must have been because Ningning had broken her heart so thoroughly that she could not be bothered.

“Ningning, mother is getting on in years — it is never well to be held in a Tribunal. How about we find a way to bring her to Xuanzhao? What do you think?”

Yan Shiyao also began picking out fish bones in imitation of Xuan Yanyu, placing the deboned fish into Yan Yunning’s bowl.

Bringing her to Xuanzhao, to live in the Princess Commandery’s manor — since the Qilan Emperor had imprisoned both father and mother in the Tribunal, there was no reason left to remain in Qilan.

His Majesty Xuan Wang had assigned quite a few maidservants and guards to the Princess Commandery’s manor, and the living conditions were excellent.

Even better than life in the Chancellor’s manor. Their mother and father coming here would live well.

Yan Yunning smiled. “A’Jie, how would I bring the Chancellor’s wife to Xuanzhao? You give me far too much credit.”

The contempt at Yan Shiyao’s lip corners was slight, though her tone remained gentle. “Ningning, you’ve forgotten — you are the Crown Princess. You need only ask the Crown Prince, and mother could…”

“But A’Jie, didn’t you say I mustn’t go against the Crown Prince? That I must listen to the Crown Prince?” Yan Yunning cut in with an aggrieved look.

“You also told me not to place demands on the Crown Prince — I truly don’t dare to, actually, even if you hadn’t said anything.”

Xuan Yanyu watched Yan Yunning with a teasing gleam in his eye, curious to see what story she would spin.

“Is that so?” Yan Shiyao’s heart gave a cold lurch.

Ever since Ningning was brought back, she had been good to her — yet she had not anticipated that Ningning would now deceive her like this. The one imprisoned in the Tribunal was her mother too!!

Today, setting aside all else, Xuan Yanyu had tended to Ningning and seen her through the meal before leisurely eating himself.

A Crown Prince had taken on the duties of a maidservant. And Ningning had turned around and told her she didn’t dare make demands of the Crown Prince?

Even if she bothered to lie, she should think first.

Even if Xuan Yanyu cared nothing for Ningning, she still carried Xuan Yanyu’s child in her womb, didn’t she?

If Ningning truly wanted to bring their mother to Xuanzhao, she could perfectly well use the child in her womb as leverage over Xuan Yanyu.

If Xuan Yanyu would not agree — threaten him. Say she didn’t want the child. Xuan Yanyu’s firstborn — there was no way he wouldn’t care. He would simply have to comply and bring their mother to Xuanzhao.

“Yes.” Yan Yunning said without changing her expression.

Yan Shiyao lowered her gaze, concealing the disappointment in her eyes. “I understand. Your Highness the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, please continue your meal. Shiyao will take her leave.”

Stepping out of the Crown Prince’s manor, Yan Shiyao looked up at the sky. Tears ran uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.

She couldn’t understand — why was Ningning’s heart so cold? If she saved their mother, all of them could live well together here in Xuanzhao. Was that not good?

Even if their mother had done something wrong, Ningning had no right to treat her like this!!

She wiped her tears. A flicker of cold malice crossed her eyes. She would find a way to rescue their mother herself.

She was not as ruthless as Yan Yunning!!

The following day.

After a long spell of hesitation, Yan Shiyao ran to the Grand Commandant’s manor in tears.

She managed to catch Qiuci just as he was about to head out, and rushed forward to grab his arm, sobbing. “Qiu… Qiuci, Ningning, she…”

“What’s wrong? What happened to Little Xiao Lemon?” Qiuci’s alarm was written plainly across his face.

Little Xiao Lemon wasn’t with child now?

Had something gone wrong??

“I… I went to the Crown Prince’s manor yesterday and saw that Ningning has lost a great deal of weight — so much… I asked her about it, but she didn’t dare say a word. You don’t know — Xuan Yanyu, he… he… Qiuci, can you think of a way to rescue Ningning?”

Yan Shiyao wept so hard she nearly fainted.

Qiuci’s face darkened. “Take me to the Crown Prince’s manor.”

He couldn’t get in on his own — Yan Shiyao was a Princess Commandery, so going in as her guard, he probably could.

“All right, all right.” Yan Shiyao nodded frantically and asked, “Qiuci, would you truly dare to offend the Crown Prince for Ningning’s sake?”

Qiuci said simply, “Offend him then.”

He grabbed Yan Shiyao’s arm and ran forward, his tone impatient. “Even if it means offending the Crown Prince, Little Xiao Lemon must be safe.”

Yan Shiyao stumbled along after Qiuci. The wind rushing toward them tousled her hair and stirred a strange, churning feeling in her chest.

An inexplicable, peculiar sensation welled up — envy. She was suddenly deeply envious of Ningning.

Xuan Yanyu indulged her in everything, and then there was Qiuci — willing to risk his life for her.

Daring to offend the Crown Prince — wasn’t that just risking his life?!

Qiuci’s mind was entirely fixed on getting to the Crown Prince’s manor as quickly as possible, and he paid no attention to the two guards quietly falling in behind them. By the time he noticed, he had already been knocked unconscious.

Xuanzhao’s guards were naturally a cut above Qiuci.

“Princess Commandery, what are your instructions?” a guard asked respectfully.

Yan Shiyao wiped her tears. “Don’t hurt him. Take him to the thatched cottage on the eastern side of the city first.”

“Understood.” The guard hoisted Qiuci over his shoulder and hurried east.

Yan Shiyao turned around. Her gaze, layered with complexity, looked toward the direction of the Crown Prince’s manor. She was only trying to get Ningning to change her mind and save their mother — she had done nothing wrong!!

She had done nothing wrong. She only wanted to save their mother.