Xuan Yanyu took the little one from Yan Yunning’s arms, picked up a plate of cakes, and handed it to him. “Weren’t you not hungry? Take the cakes and go play for a while.”

Xuan Yuncheng wrinkled his small brow, and under Xuan Yanyu’s expectant gaze, said in a small voice, “Imperial Father — this Crown Prince is hungry again.”

“…” Xuan Yanyu set the little one down in the chair beside him, swapped their positions, and seated himself between them.

“Imperial Mother~” The little one craned his small body sideways, gazing at Yan Yunning with eager, longing eyes.

Xuan Yanyu turned to block Yan Yunning from view, glancing sideways at the little one. “Xuan Yuncheng? No talking at meals — where are your manners?”

“This Crown Prince understands.” The little one sat up straight and proper, picked up his small bowl, gripped the gold-inlaid spoon, and scooped up steamed egg custard with elegant, refined movements, eating in small bites.

Yan Yunning tugged at Xuan Yanyu’s sleeve and lowered her voice. “Xiaoxiao is still young — don’t keep lecturing him about manners.”

“He is not that young.” Xuan Yanyu picked up a lotus-leaf chicken leg, tender and falling off the bone, and brought it close to Yan Yunning’s lips. “He is the Crown Prince, and one day will be the King of Xuanzhao — naturally he must understand propriety. If he grows up without it, how could Xuanzhao ever be entrusted to him?”

Yan Yunning nodded and bit into the fragrant, savory chicken. Xuan Yanyu brought out a square handkerchief and wiped the meat flecks from the corner of her mouth.

The little one’s round eyes watched them unblinking. His Imperial Grandfather and Imperial Grandmother fed him — and Imperial Father just asked how old he was. Yet here was Imperial Father feeding Imperial Mother, and he wasn’t asking her how old she was?

Yan Yunning swallowed the soft, tender chicken, and the man offered her another spoonful of rice. Yan Yunning opened her mouth naturally and ate it down, then inadvertently met the little one’s gaze, which had gone slightly vacant as he stared at them. She quietly pushed aside the piece of fish Xuan Yanyu was bringing to her lips.

“You don’t like it?” The man ate the deboned fish himself and picked up a piece of roasted goose, bringing it to her lips.

Golden-brown crispy skin, glistening with a slick of juices over its caramel-colored surface — fragrant and tender. Having gone without eating all day, Yan Yunning swallowed involuntarily. “I’ll help myself.”

“You find Us distasteful?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice dropped low, as though he had entirely forgotten the little one existed.

“…” Yan Yunning curled one finger around the man’s and said helplessly, “Xiaoxiao is still here.”

She didn’t dare say she found him distasteful. The last time she’d said that, the very next moment…

Yan Yunning touched her lips. She had no desire to lose her composure in front of Xiaoxiao.

“No matter.” The man glanced at the roasted goose and gestured for her to open her mouth.

The little one quietly turned his head away and went back to his egg custard.

At that very moment, outside the walls of Prince Xuan’s palace, the Grand Emperor and the Empress Dowager were hurrying into the palace. Upon learning that Xuan Yanyu had issued an imperial decree at noon that day, announcing throughout Xuanzhao that the Empress had returned from her prayers of blessing, the two elders had rushed to the Prince Xuan’s palace without stopping to rest.

The moment they entered the palace, they heard word spreading throughout the whole court: “His Majesty has bestowed his favor upon a woman. Everyone had wondered who could be so fortunate — for five years, the Prince Xuan’s palace had stood empty, and now it was finally receiving its first honored guest. None had expected it to be Her Majesty the Empress, returned from her prayers of blessing.”

“Her Majesty the Empress had not abandoned His Majesty and the Crown Prince — she had spent a full five years praying for Xuanzhao, for His Majesty, and for the Crown Prince.”

Word then reached them through a maidservant that the family of three was presently dining together in the Taiyi Hall. The Grand Emperor and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance, and with tactful restraint, chose not to disturb them.

After finishing their meal, the family of three walked through the Imperial Garden — one on each side, holding the little one’s hands between them. The cool evening breeze was a pleasure against the skin. The garden’s lake was so clear it seemed to have no bottom, and the wind stirred gentle ripples across its surface. Palm-sized goldfish spun in slow circles through the water. Without knowing when it had appeared, a sunset now filled the sky — the orange-red light reflecting off the lake’s surface and tinting the water in its warm, beautiful hues.

It was like scattered paint from a palette, swaying and shimmering within the lake.

“How beautiful.” The little one broke free of Xuan Yanyu’s hand and pulled Yan Yunning toward the water’s edge. “Imperial Mother, look — isn’t it beautiful?”

Yan Yunning smiled and ruffled his head. “The orange glow reflecting in the lake — it truly is beautiful.”

Xuan Yanyu stepped forward to stand beside the two of them. Watching the big one and small one holding hands, a line he had never expected drifted through his mind: “Xuan Xixi — if the Crown Prince’s residence had a lake, would the sunset be reflected on it in orange and red too?”

He gazed in a daze at the lake’s surface — the trailing willow’s reflection, the spread of sunset light across the water, and there, cast upon the sunlit surface of the lake, the reflection of the three of them.

“Imperial Father, Imperial Mother — can Xiaoxiao stay in the palace tonight?”

“Hmm?” The man returned to himself, reached down, and tweaked the little one’s ear. “Stay in the palace? Which chamber would you like to stay in?”

“In the Crown Prince’s residence that Imperial Grandfather built for Imperial Father, of course. This Crown Prince plans to move into the palace from now on.” The little one smiled sunnily.

“That would be fine.” Yan Yunning crouched down and lifted the little one into her arms, pressing her cheek against his soft face.

The little one clenched his small hands. A faint flush of pink crept across his cheeks. Before Yan Yunning could tease him, the warm, soft little bundle in her arms was scooped away by Xuan Yanyu.

“That was built by your Imperial Grandfather for Us — not for you. You’ll go back to your own Crown Prince’s residence shortly.” Xuan Yanyu’s gentle tone carried a note of quiet, undeniable authority.

“Imperial Grandfather said — if this Crown Prince wants it, it shall be given to this Crown Prince.” The little one stretched out his small arms, wanting Yan Yunning to hold him.

The man tapped his little hand. “You are heavy.”

“No I’m not. Imperial Grandfather says this Crown Prince is very light.” The little one protested, dissatisfied.

“Your Imperial Grandfather was deceiving you.” The man’s unhurried, languid tone was entirely nonchalant.

Xuan Yuncheng pouted. “Imperial Mother~”

Yan Yunning shot Xuan Yanyu a glare, pried the man’s hands apart, and took the little one back into her arms. “He’s not heavy. Our Xiaoxiao is not heavy. You don’t have to go back to the Crown Prince’s residence — tonight, Xiaoxiao can rest in Imperial Father and Imperial Mother’s chamber…”

“Absolutely not.” Xuan Yanyu bit out the words deliberately. “He is five years old.”

“I know — you’ve said it twice now.” Yan Yunning looked at him, genuinely puzzled.

He was five years old and still a small child. Surely having his father and mother coax him to sleep was perfectly normal?

The man swept his tongue across his lips and slowly exhaled four words: “It is not proper!!!”

Yan Yunning was mildly taken aback. The little one rested his small hand on Yan Yunning’s neck, nestled in her arms, and watched Xuan Yanyu, waiting for his Imperial Father to continue.

Xuan Yanyu looked at the two of them and conceded. “Have Xiaoxiao move to the Crown Prince’s inner chambers.”

Yan Yunning gently bowed her head and pressed her forehead to the little one’s, smiling as she began, “Little treasure…”

Before the words could go any further, Xuan Yanyu swept the little one out of her arms and handed him to Ye’an, who had come near. He said in a low voice, “Take His Highness to bathe. After bathing, have him rest early — there are morning studies tomorrow.”

“The sky hasn’t even fully darkened yet, and you want Xiaoxiao to rest?” Yan Yunning asked, puzzled.

“Mm.” The man set his teeth ever so slightly, seized her hand, and strode toward the bedchamber in long steps.

“I don’t want to rest this early — I haven’t finished walking around yet…”

“Yes you do.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was low and lazy and laden with suggestion.

“…I don’t!!”

“Yes you do.” The man repeated with a low, gentle laugh.

Yan Yunning: “…”

In the deep of night, the bedcurtain stirred softly. The man’s slender fingertip lightly tapped Yan Yunning’s soft lips, his voice low, hoarse, and tender. “Aside from Us, you may not kiss anyone — not even Xiaoxiao.”

“Mm…” Yan Yunning’s unfocused gaze settled on Xuan Yanyu.

“Today, you gave no thought to Our feelings.” The man’s eyes were faintly tinged with red.

Yan Yunning clutched the rumpled brocade blanket, her voice low and soft. “All right. I understand. It won’t happen again next time.”

“Lingning — don’t leave Us. Love only Us — will you?” Xuan Yanyu’s breath was unsteady, his voice like fractured glass.

“Mm~ I won’t… I won’t… leave you… only… only love you…” Yan Yunning murmured her reply, her words drifting and indistinct.