A thought flashed through his mind — that he should toss the imperial edict aside, that he was unwilling to follow Xuanzhao’s State Preceptor’s arrangement, that he was unwilling to let Yan Shiyao go to Xuanzhao…

No — he could not think this way. He must not…

Was this not what he had longed for all this time?

What was he thinking?

In his heart, nothing should matter more than the throne of the Qi Emperor.

Qi Qingchen raised his eyes, only to find that the spot where Yan Shiyao had just been standing was now empty. He pushed through the crowd and ran out.

“Your Crown Prince!” Jiang Jin bit her lip.

She wished she could throw Yan Shiyao out of the residence that very instant.

“My lady, do not be angry. Don’t forget — you carry the Crown Prince’s firstborn son or daughter in your womb. Your status is noble, so there is no need to lower yourself by bickering with Yan Shiyao.”

“Her current standing gives her no right to surpass yours. His Majesty will never allow someone of her present station to marry the Crown Prince.” Zhu Qing smiled, soothing Jiang Jin.

“You’re right. Taking good care of the pregnancy is what matters most.” Jiang Jin exhaled slowly.

“Indeed.” Zhu Qing smiled softly.

——

Yan Shiyao had been walking alone toward the dining hall when Qi Qingchen caught her by the arm. He said, irritated, “Why did you leave on your own?”

“Third Prince… no, Crown Prince — this commoner assumed you would want to celebrate with them, and not wishing to intrude, naturally took her leave.” Yan Shiyao looked up at him with a smile.

“Come eat together.” His expression dark, he took Yan Shiyao by the arm and walked silently toward the dining hall.

Yan Shiyao bit her lip. Was Qi Qingchen’s mind not working properly??

Dining Hall.

After sitting down, Qi Qingchen said nothing and began placing food in Yan Shiyao’s bowl.

“Qi… Crown Prince, are you so overjoyed that you’ve become… muddled again??”

“Eat. After the meal, I’ll accompany you out for a walk.” Qi Qingchen took the bowl of rice from the maid’s hands and set it in front of Yan Shiyao.

Yan Shiyao took an anxious sip of tea. Going for a walk right now?

Should Qi Qingchen not be preparing for the enthronement ceremony at a time like this??

Surely he wasn’t trying to harm her??

“Yan Shiyao.” Qi Qingchen set down his golden chopsticks and turned to look at her.

“Wh… what?” Yan Shiyao swallowed.

“Eat.” Qi Qingchen withdrew his gaze and drained his teacup in one go.

“Crown Prince, I’m done — this commoner is leaving.” Yan Shiyao stood up and made to flee the dining hall.

She suspected Qi Qingchen might be trying to harm her.

“Stop.” Qi Qingchen caught her by the arm and pulled her against him. “Did I not say — I’ll send you away in three days.”

“Crown Prince, you don’t mean to have me follow you to the Crown Prince’s residence in three days, do you?” Yan Shiyao raised an eyebrow.

In three days, Qi Qingchen’s enthronement ceremony would take place, and once he was formally established, he would take up residence in the Crown Prince’s residence. Qi Qingchen had also said he would send her away in three days — was he intending to have her come along and live there too??

Qi Qingchen glanced at her. “Eldest Young Miss Yan, you are reading too much into this.”

Yan Shiyao: “…!!”

She was reading too much into it??

“Yan Shiyao, stop letting your imagination run wild.” The man flicked her lightly on the forehead, amused.

Yan Shiyao rolled her eyes inwardly, rose, and sat down on the sandalwood chair beside Qi Qingchen, unhurriedly beginning to eat.

After breakfast, Qi Qingchen accompanied Yan Shiyao as they strolled leisurely about for the entire day.

That evening, after washing up, the two of them lay on the bed. Yan Shiyao stole a glance at Qi Qingchen — he had closed his eyes.

Yan Shiyao: “?”

So strange today??

Every other time at this hour, he would never simply lie there with his eyes closed and rest.

——

Kingdom of Xuanzhao — Prince Xuan’s Palace — Crown Prince’s Bedchamber.

Having secretly eaten a piece of pastry in the middle of the night, Yan Yunning was now bent over a bamboo basket, retching.

Xuan Yanyu did not even have time to put on his sleeping robe. He hurried out of bed, lit the gilded candlestick, and poured water for Yan Yunning.

“Xuan… bleh… Xuan Yan… bleh… Xuan Yanyu, I feel like I’m going to die from this…” Yan Yunning’s eyes misted over, and she lay limply across the bed.

He gathered her in his arms, wiped the corners of her mouth, and coaxed her softly, “I’ll have Imperial Physician Wen decoct a few doses of anti-nausea medicine. Once you drink it, you won’t be sick anymore.”

“Mm.” Yan Yunning took a sip of the water he handed her and rinsed her mouth.

She leaned against Xuan Yanyu’s shoulder. The teardrops clinging to her lashes slowly slid down, and her fair little face wore a pitifully forlorn expression.

“When did you sneak the pastry?” Xuan Yanyu said quietly. He gave her cheek an exasperated pinch, then used the pad of his finger to wipe away her tears. “I don’t recall you taking any pastry before the lights went out.”

Yan Yunning clasped his hand and used it to dab at her own tears, her voice soft and languid. “I grabbed it after you blew out the candle.”

He stared at her in disbelief. “So last night, when you were lying with your back to me, you were secretly eating pastry in the bed as well?”

No wonder after washing up and lying down for a short while, she had needed to wash up again. He had simply assumed it was one of those pregnancy quirks. He had asked the physician — people with child sometimes behaved differently than usual. It turned out she had been sneaking pastry.

Tonight, the morning sickness had given her away. Otherwise, he would soon have been puzzled again by why she was getting up to wash a second time.

Meeting his long-suffering gaze, Yan Yunning blinked. “Xuan Xixi, no — absolutely not.”

If she admitted it, he would lecture her again.

“You!” Xuan Yanyu said through gritted teeth, and gave her cheek a resigned tug. He accepted his fate and held her, preparing to carry her behind the dressing screen to wash up.

Yan Yunning pitifully grabbed his arm, her voice going soft. “Xuan Yanyu, I’m hungry.”

“…” The man looked down at the girl putting on an air of meekness, let out a long breath, and relented. “Just this once. No more midnight eating from now on.”

“All right.” Yan Yunning giggled. “Xuan Yanyu, I think I love you a little bit more now.”

“Yan Yunning?” Xuan Yanyu gazed into her bright eyes, the corner of his mouth curving slightly. His voice dropped low. “Only you could deceive me and still have me willing to believe it.”

Yan Yunning’s eyes went wide. “You don’t believe me?”

“I do,” the man said, looking at her, raising an eyebrow, his voice low and husky. “But what I believe even more is that you’re coaxing me in advance so that next time I’ll agree to let you eat at midnight.”

Yan Yunning: “…!!”

He was so calculating!!

And rather difficult to fool!!

“Crown Princess, am I right?” The man could not help but laugh.

Yan Yunning pursed her lips and buried her head in his chest, saying nothing.

“Someone come——”

Before Xuan Yanyu could finish, Yan Yunning called out urgently, “Wait!!”

“I’m only asking someone to inform the Imperial Medical Court to prepare your medicine and bring food. Why the wait — do you want to eat your midnight meal tomorrow morning instead?” The man teased.

“… Xuan Yanyu, at least put on a sleeping robe!” Yan Yunning mumbled indistinctly. “The way you are now — only I get to see this. No one else.”

She had just been sick, and Xuan Yanyu hadn’t had time to dress properly — he was wearing nothing but his underpants!!

The maids keeping night watch outside the bedchamber would all see!!

The man suddenly laughed softly. “Thank you for the reminder, Crown Princess.”

He set Yan Yunning on the bed, took his sleeping robe from the sandalwood rack, and dressed properly, not forgetting to add, “Crown Princess, rest easy — I won’t let anyone else see.”

Yan Yunning silently pulled the brocade quilt over her head.

A deep smile rose in the man’s eyes. He called the maids in and instructed them to bring food and the medicine.

The maids received the order and withdrew from the bedchamber. Xuan Yanyu walked unhurriedly to the bedside and said in a low, quiet laugh, “Crown Princess, why won’t you respond to me?”

“I heard you!” Yan Yunning’s voice came out from beneath the brocade quilt, flustered and indignant.

“What did the Crown Princess hear?” The man tilted his head and laughed softly, repeating, “Mm? Crown Princess — what did you hear?”