——

After finishing the meal, Yan Yunning went to the Imperial Kitchen and ordered several dishes that Xuan Yanyu was fond of. Once the dishes were ready, Qiuci carried the food box, and together with Yan Yunning, they made their way back to the Crown Prince’s chambers.

Ye’an and Ye Chen stiffened the moment they saw Yan Yunning and Qiuci approaching.

“Crown Princess.”

“Crown Princess.”

“Mm.” Yan Yunning took the food box from Qiuci’s hands and looked at Ye Chen and Ye’an, who were blocking the doorway, puzzled.

Ye Chen pressed his lips together. “Crown Princess, His Highness is angry. After his bath, he said he was going to take an afternoon rest and that no one was to disturb him. His Highness said no one — which probably means you as well, Crown Princess.”

This “no one is to disturb His Highness” — he was fairly certain His Highness had said it specifically for the Crown Princess’s ears.

After all, apart from the Crown Princess, who would dare disturb His Highness?

Even His Majesty and the Empress would not go disturb His Highness.

Yan Yunning raised the food box in her hands. “Stand aside. I am worried he will faint from hunger.”

“Please come in, Crown Princess.” Ye’an proactively opened the door to the bedchamber for Yan Yunning.

“Have Xuan Yanyu raise your monthly allowance later.” Yan Yunning smiled and said.

“This servant thanks the Crown Princess.”

“Crown Princess, will I not get a raise?” Ye Chen said urgently.

Yan Yunning rubbed her chin and said unhurriedly, “We shall see how you conduct yourself going forward.”

Ye Chen was about to say a few more words, but Ye’an closed the bedchamber door.

Ye Chen: “…”

Inside the bedchamber, Xuan Yanyu lay with his eyes closed, both hands folded and resting on his abdomen, his breathing even. Yan Yunning pressed her lips together — he seemed to have genuinely fallen asleep.

No, that could not be right. When he actually slept, he was never this composed and proper. This was surely an act.

She tiptoed to the edge of the bed and crouched down, her fine features full of mischief.

“Xuan Xixi, I did not mean to keep it from you…” Yan Yunning observed that the man’s ear twitched ever so slightly.

She continued, “But I was afraid that if I told you, you would get angry again.”

“So, I was planning to keep it from you indefinitely.”

The man lying on the bed made no further pretense — his fist clenched visibly tight.

“Never mind, I will tell you after all.” Yan Yunning watched as the man’s fingers relaxed slightly, and barely suppressed her laughter. “Actually — perhaps I should keep it from you.”

Xuan Yanyu: “…??”

“The truth is, it is nothing important. It is just that last night, I accidentally pulled out one of your hairs.” Yan Yunning leaned close to his ear, her voice soft and coaxing. “I am sorry — but I also pulled out one of mine and placed them together.”

“Xuan Xixi, see how good I am to you — even your lone strand of hair, I would not let it be lonely.”

Of course, she was making all of this up. She would never pull out her own hair.

Xuan Yanyu: “…”

He thought it was she who should go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to see an Imperial Physician!!

“Xuan Yanyu, getting angry all the time is not good for you.” Yan Yunning tapped his cheek lightly.

“Before I met you, This Seat never once lost his temper.” The man opened his eyes and said plainly.

No one had ever given him reason to.

Yan Yunning giggled softly. “Then are you still angry now?”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow and turned the question back on her. “Crown Princess, what do you think?”

Yan Yunning hooked her finger around his and asked timidly, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I truly do not know.”

The man propped himself on one arm, narrowed his eyes, and asked, “Who is it — who in your heart matters more than This Seat?”

“No one — truly no one!!” Yan Yunning felt there was no way to explain this clearly.

“You sounded very serious when you said it.”

Yan Yunning leaned in closer, her bright eyes wide and earnest. “My eyes never lied. All I see in them is you — there is truly no one who matters more to me than you!!”

“You are this close to This Seat, and yet there is still someone else in your eyes — is that not strange?”

At this distance, Yan Yunning simply leaned in and stole a small kiss, then said sweetly, “I was only teasing. Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you trust me?”

“Do not try to coax This Seat.” Xuan Yanyu shifted backward, putting some distance between them.

Yan Yunning: “…”

“Then believe it or not.” Yan Yunning got up, opened the food box, and laid the dishes out on the round table. Her eyes curved into small crescents. “Come and eat.”

“Not hungry.”

“How can you not be hungry? What hour is it now?” Yan Yunning’s voice lifted with a smile. She walked to the edge of the bed and took the man’s hand. “Xuan Yanyu, you are going to be a father — how can you still be sulking over a meal?”

“I am not.” The man spoke as though each extra word scorched his tongue.

“Not hungry? Or not sulking over the meal?” Yan Yunning pressed her face close to his and asked.

“Tired.” Xuan Yanyu gave an unrelated answer.

“Then tell me — how do I prove it so you will believe me?” Yan Yunning was overcome with regret.

What had she been doing, running her mouth!!

Why had she said those extra words at all!!!

Xuan Yanyu said nothing. He furrowed his brow, lost in some silent thought.

Yan Yunning released his hand and turned to step away. The man caught her by the sleeve. “Where are you going?”

His tone was anxious — he feared she might slip away quietly as she had done that other time.

Yan Yunning bit her lip lightly. She dropped her gaze, her voice soft and forlorn. “You do not trust me even a little…”

“That is not it.” Xuan Yanyu’s eyes dimmed slightly as he explained, “I am angry that you deliberately provoked This Seat into being angry.”

“I was wrong. I will not speak carelessly again.” Yan Yunning blinked her long lashes and took the opportunity to lean into his embrace, putting on a pitiable, delicate air. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, if you were to fall ill from hunger, what would our baby and I do?”

“What’s more, I cannot let the baby grow up without a father — so I would only be left to take the baby and…”

“Yan Yunning!!” Xuan Yanyu said through gritted teeth. “This Seat has not fallen ill from hunger. You are the one making me ill from exasperation.”

“Then why are you not going to eat? Do you want to wait until it is cold??”

The man let out a low, disgruntled sound.

Yan Yunning smiled at him. “I will stop provoking you. Come and eat — these are all your favorites.”

Xuan Yanyu stole a glance at her from beneath his lowered eyes. Met with the girl’s wide, warmly curved gaze, he looked back down at the brocade quilt, his entire face a portrait of displeasure.

Yan Yunning closed her eyes. She had known he was difficult to win over, yet she had still gone and provoked him!!

She truly went looking for trouble when there was none to be had!!

“Xuan Yanyu, could you save being angry at me for after you have eaten?” Yan Yunning negotiated with him. “At least give me credit for carrying this food all the way from the Imperial Kitchen to your chambers — won’t you eat a little?”

“You carried it?”

“Mm.” Yan Yunning pouted. “My hands are all red from carrying the box.”

Seeing her look of quiet grievance, Xuan Yanyu took her hand and examined it carefully. Pale and tender, without so much as a single red mark from carrying a food box.

“It does not show anymore. They were red just now.” Yan Yunning said calmly.

“Ye’an.” The man called out toward the outer chamber.

“Your Highness.” Hearing Xuan Yanyu’s low voice, Ye’an pushed open the bedchamber door with trepidation.

It was he who had let the Crown Princess into the bedchamber — was His Highness now angry with him?

“According to palace regulations, have the maid who attended the Crown Princess today punished.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was ice-cold.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Stop.” Yan Yunning pulled her hand free and said with furrowed brows, “I only said that I was the one carrying the food box because I wanted you to eat. Today it was I who displeased you — have Ye’an punish me according to palace regulations instead.”

Ye’an’s brow twitched incessantly. How could he possibly dare!!

“Deliberately trying to displease This Seat?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was very cold. “You know This Seat cares deeply about you, yet you tell This Seat you have someone in your heart who matters more than This Seat?”

He would not bring up family — her mother, her father, she had no memory of them. Yu Zhi, who shared her blood, they had only spent a few days together.

The rest held no great place in her heart. Her maternal grandfather and grandmother were of advanced age — they could not possibly be more attractive than him.