“Father Emperor…”

Xuan Yanyu raised his hand to cut him off, and in an utterly flat voice said to Xuan Yunchen, “I was not joking with you. From now on, do not call me Father Emperor.”

The little one’s eyes reddened. With careful hesitation, he tugged at his sleeve. “I am sorry, Father Emperor. Your son knows…”

“Ye’an, escort His Highness the Crown Prince back to the residence.” Xuan Yanyu had no patience to hear him out.

“Father Emperor…” The little one gripped the jade pendant at his waist, sniffling and hitching with suppressed sobs. “Your son knows he was wrong. Do not abandon your son.”

Ye’an, who had entered the chamber, saw the pitifully weeping Xuan Yunchen and could not decide whether he ought to carry the young prince away.

“Still standing there?” Xuan Yanyu undid his jade pendant, stood, and went to sit in the rosewood chair.

The little one stared at the jade pendant in his hands and wiped his tears. On his short little legs, he climbed off the bed’s edge, put on his small boots, and pattered over to stand before Xuan Yanyu. He tossed the jade pendant onto the man, then declared:

“Fine — going back is going back. You do not like this hall — but there are plenty of people who do. When the imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother return, this hall will tell them you bullied this hall, and have them teach you a lesson…”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Ye’an raised a hand and covered the little one’s mouth, lowering his voice. “Say no more — this subordinate will take you back to the residence.”

The little one kicked at Ye’an.

Ye’an’s eyelid twitched. That look in his eyes was exactly the same as His Majesty’s when he was angry.

After Ye’an carried Xuan Yunchen out of the bedchamber, Xuan Yanyu picked up the jade pendant that had been thrown at him. His gaze settled on the portrait, and a hollow ache spread through his chest.

“I am sorry, Ningning.”

If Ningning were to learn that Xiaoxiao had become attached to another woman and begun treating her as his mother empress — how deeply grieved she would be…

——

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Yan Yunning walked unhurriedly along the main street, thoroughly at a loss. She had no silver, no identity, and no way of even securing a room at an inn.

Her baby was beyond reach. Xuan Yanyu was even further beyond reach. With her current status, there was no way into the Xuan King’s Palace.

An hour ago, she had still been in the Crown Prince’s residence waiting for her baby to return. The baby had not come — only guards arrived, and without a single word, they threw her out of the Crown Prince’s residence.

Once she reached the main street, she inquired and learned that Qilan now belonged to Xuanzhao.

She also came to understand: after she suddenly disappeared following Xiaoxiao’s birth, many women had imitated her appearance over the years in an attempt to enter the palace and win favor. No wonder Ye Chen had not dared confirm her identity — he was afraid of angering Xuan Yanyu.

It was also understandable. With the territories of Xuanzhao now expanded to include Qilan’s lands, the Xuan King’s Palace lacked a mistress, so naturally many women would resort to any means to enter the palace. She was the one who was suffering — the real thing being taken for a counterfeit, driven out of the Crown Prince’s residence to boot. If only she could have even seen Ye’an — that brainless fool Ye Chen!

“Ningning?”

She heard a delighted voice. Yan Yunning turned around and saw Yan Shiyao, eyes red with excitement. Before Yan Yunning could react, she was pulled into an embrace.

“Where did you go?” Yan Shiyao’s voice trembled on the edge of tears.

On the day of Ningning’s delivery, she had learned of Ningning’s sudden disappearance and wept the entire day. She had come to regret it — she was the elder sister; she should not have been so petty with her little sister.

“Is she one of my brother’s maidservants?” Qi Xingqian craned his head up to study Yan Yunning with great curiosity.

“What?” Yan Shiyao glanced at her own son and then looked back at Yan Yunning.

Yan Yunning touched the tip of her nose. “I was thrown out.”

“You also made my brother angry?” Qi Xingqian’s eyes went wide, and he pouted. “I made my brother angry too — just came out of the palace.”

His brother had not been hard on them either. He had apologized to his brother, and his brother had let them leave the palace.

Yan Yunning: “…”

She stared at the little one on the ground for a moment, then smiled and asked, “Is this your child?”

“Yes.” Yan Shiyao nudged the little one in front of Yan Yunning and said gently, “Qianqian, this is the aunt your mother told you about.”

“Greetings, Auntie.” The little one called out obediently.

His mother had told him he had a very beautiful aunt — the mother of his brother Xiaoxiao.

His mother had not deceived him. Seeing Auntie up close, she was indeed very beautiful. Oh, but compared to his mother… just a tiny, tiny, tiny bit less so.

His father said his mother was the most beautiful. Auntie could only be second, then.

“Hello.” Yan Yunning bent down and pinched his little cheek.

Qi Qingchen gave a nod to Yan Yunning, scooped Qi Xingqian up from the ground, and turned to Yan Shiyao with a gentle voice. “I will take Qianqian home first. You two talk.”

“All right.” Yan Shiyao smiled and nodded.

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Qi Qingchen. He had changed greatly over five years.

She wondered whether her Xuan Xixi had changed…

“Ningning, have you… seen His Majesty?” Yan Shiyao took Yan Yunning’s hand and carefully chose her words. “His Majesty has been waiting for you all this time. The Xuan King’s Palace still has no mistress to this day. His Majesty now… takes no interest in court affairs and frequently travels to Chaxizhen.”

She had also heard this from Xiaoxiao.

Qi Qingchen had analyzed it plainly: in the present-day Xuanzhao, His Majesty existed only in name — real power still rested in the Grand Emperor’s hands. If not for the Grand Emperor, given how His Majesty had been conducting himself, Xuanzhao would long since have been finished.

Yan Yunning’s heart felt a dull, heavy constriction. Her voice came out just as heavy. “No. In my current position, I cannot enter the palace.”

Yan Shiyao sighed, then thought of Xuan Yunchen — her eyes lit up with a striking brightness. “Have Xiaoxiao bring you into the palace! Sister will go and speak to Xiaoxiao about it.”

“Xiaoxiao?” Yan Yunning said slowly. “He went into the palace in tears — I would guess he will not be coming back out anytime soon.”

As for entering the palace, she might as well find out when Xuan Yanyu would next visit Chaxizhen and take her chances there.

It would be a good chance to see her maternal grandfather and grandmother as well.

“One way or another, you will see him before long.” Yan Shiyao smiled warmly. “Ningning, come back with sister for now, and wait for a chance to see His Majesty.”

Yan Yunning stood in place and did not move.

Yan Shiyao’s smile stiffened slightly. With an apologetic look, she said, “Ningning, are you still blaming sister for pushing you that year? I am sorry — sister apologizes to you. That year, sister was also in a panic over Mother’s matter. Looking back now, it was sister’s fault.”

Although she had not pushed hard at the time, Ningning had still fallen. If not for the Grand Commandant’s wife being present, there might never have been today’s Xiaoxiao…

After a long silence, Yan Yunning said quietly, “It is all in the past.”

Yan Shiyao’s smile returned to her face. “Then come back to the residence with sister.”

“All right, I would not want to impose on sister.” Yan Yunning’s voice carried a soft, upturned note of amusement.

As evening fell, the light faded slowly. Yan Yunning held Yan Shiyao’s hand, the two of them talking and laughing as they walked forward together — as if returning to the first time they had met.

——

Walking through the residence gate flanked by stone lions, Yan Yunning’s eyes brightened. The main hall was hung with festive red lanterns. A small stream ran through the courtyard, in which several goldfish swam. In the center of the courtyard, a round table had been set out.

It was covered with an array of delicious dishes. Qi Xingqian was draped over the round table, drooling with longing, and could not stop himself from sneaking out a small hand — but before he could steal a single bite, a little girl with fine and delicate features slapped his hand away and scolded, “Mother hasn’t come back yet. Steal another bite and see if Father doesn’t scold you.”

The little one’s eyes instantly filled with tears. “Sister, you hit me again. It really hurts when you hit people.”

“What is it? Why are you crying?” Qi Qingchen walked out with bowls and chopsticks in hand. Qi Xingqian immediately threw himself into his arms and tattled. “Father, sister hit me — my hand is all red.”

The little girl pursed her lips, saying nothing in her defense, and simply took the bowls and chopsticks from Qi Qingchen’s hands and set them out one by one.