The ministers withdrew from the Imperial Study, and the Grand Emperor set off for Taiyi Palace.
Inside the hall, everyone had already gathered except for Xuanzhao. After the group had paid their respects and taken their seats, the Grand Emperor smiled and beckoned Xuan Yuncheng over. “Xiaoxiao, come sit beside Imperial Grandfather.”
“Imperial Grandfather, why did you come so suddenly?” The little one pattered over to the Grand Emperor’s side. The Grand Emperor lifted him onto his lap and pinched his small nose. “Once things were settled, of course I came to see Xiaoxiao.”
“Imperial Father, with so many people here, you only came to see Xiaoxiao?” Xuanzhao Yang said boldly, teasing him.
The Grand Emperor stirred the steamed egg custard. “If Xiaoxiao weren’t here, why would I bother coming?”
Xuanzhao Yang: “……”
His Imperial Father’s favoritism was utterly unconcealed — just as he had once doted on Xuan Xixi. He had sat down without even noticing his beloved son had yet to arrive.
“Imperial Grandfather, I don’t want the egg custard anymore.” The little one wrinkled his small brow and pushed away the custard being spooned toward his mouth.
“Then what does Xiaoxiao want to eat? Imperial Grandfather will pick it out for you.” The Grand Emperor’s voice carried a warmth he reserved for no one else.
“Imperial Grandfather, never mind. Once Imperial Father gets here, he’ll ask Xiaoxiao how old he is again.” Xuan Yuncheng’s eyes — dark as black grapes — darted about as he lodged his complaint. “Imperial Grandfather, Imperial Father also said Xiaoxiao has no manners, and Xiaoxiao feels so hurt inside. So — can Xiaoxiao skip morning lessons tomorrow?”
He had played sick far too many times; he needed a new excuse. He had heard all about it — his Imperial Father did not get out of bed until noon every single day, yet he himself had to get up early for morning lessons!
Yan Yunning cleared her throat softly. Xuanzhao had brought up what Xuan Yanyu said about Xiaoxiao days ago, and now he was dragging it up again just to get out of morning lessons.
“Mother Empress, what is it?” the little one asked, blinking.
“Nothing.” Yan Yunning smiled.
The little one turned back to the Grand Emperor, pouting. “Imperial Grandfather, will you or won’t you?”
The Grand Emperor had nearly lost his temper at the first half of the boy’s complaint, but then he heard the little one say, “Can Xiaoxiao skip morning lessons tomorrow?” — and understood at once it was just another excuse. He changed the subject:
“Why hasn’t Yanyu come yet? Is everyone supposed to wait on him alone? I and his mother empress arrived long ago. The way he carries on — does he expect me to go fetch him myself?”
Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. Xuan Yanyu was resting — who would dare disturb him? The eunuch sent to relay the message could only wait until he woke on his own and then inform him to come to Taiyi Palace for the meal.
One cup of tea later, Xuan Yanyu arrived, bleary-eyed and unhurried. Amid the sounds of everyone rising to bow, the Grand Emperor’s voice rang out sharply: “How dare you make me wait for you?”
The man sat down beside Yan Yunning and glanced at the Grand Emperor feeding Xuan Yuncheng peeled shrimp, then said flatly, “You didn’t have to wait.”
“Xuan Yanyu!” The Grand Emperor, furious, slapped the imperial table.
Xuan Yanyu pressed two fingers to his brow, his voice low and gravelly. “Imperial Father, Xuan Yuncheng is no longer a small child. You mustn’t spoil him so.”
The Grand Emperor gave Xuan Yanyu a cold look. “How is he not a small child? Our Xiaoxiao is only five years old. I was the same way with you when you were little.”
The man frowned. “Your son never avoided morning lessons. I never made up excuses or pretended to be sick.”
The Grand Emperor pursed his lips.
The little one, conscience pricking, burrowed deeper into the Grand Emperor’s arms.
“Starting today, your son will raise him himself.” Xuan Yanyu lifted a silver spoon, scooped a mouthful of soup, and held it out to Yan Yunning.
Xuanzhao Yang pressed her lips together. She thought Xuan Xixi and her Imperial Father were much the same — one focused on Ningning, the other on Xiaoxiao.
“Absolutely not. I’ve raised Xiaoxiao from infancy. Just because you say you’ll take over, I’m supposed to hand him over?” the Grand Emperor said, displeased.
“Your son isn’t consulting you.” Xuan Yanyu placed a piece of carefully deboned fish on Yan Yunning’s white jade plate and cast a casual glance at the little one nestled in the Grand Emperor’s arms. “Sit properly and eat by yourself.”
“Okay.” The little one jumped down to the floor and walked to his own seat, settling in obediently.
“Since you’re taking him over, take him over — just don’t be too strict.” The Grand Emperor conceded.
Truly, he was not suited to raising Xiaoxiao at the moment. The moment Xiaoxiao cried, he could not bring himself to refuse him.
Yanyu as a child never cried. He was very well-behaved. But Xiaoxiao directed all his cleverness toward figuring out how to wriggle out of morning lessons.
“Imperial Father need not worry.”
“You——” The Grand Emperor bowed his head and took a slow, steadying breath.
He repeated silently to himself: This is all for his imperial grandson’s good.
Yan Yunning tugged at Xuan Yanyu’s sleeve and lowered her voice. “Eat. Less talking.”
“All right.” The man’s low, resonant voice curved into a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
“Enough of all this — no more on that subject. Today is a family banquet. Let’s eat.” The Empress Dowager spoke with a smile, putting an end to the matter.
“Urgh——” Xuanzhao Ran pressed a handkerchief to her mouth, unable to suppress the wave of nausea rising in her stomach.
“Ranran, drink some water.” Jiang Xian held out a cup with one hand while his other moved deftly to rub her back.
“Still morning sickness?” The Empress Dowager turned her head toward the nanny at her side. “Go to the Imperial Medical Academy and have a physician brew a medicinal draft.”
“Yes, Empress Dowager.”
Yan Yunning leaned close to Xuan Yanyu and asked quietly, “Xuan Xixi, when did Ranran and the Prince Consort get married?”
“Early last year. Why?”
“What about Qiuci?”
The man’s brow furrowed slightly. “Qiuci and Xiao Ran’s stations are incompatible. Imperial Father and Mother Empress would never permit Xiao Ran to marry Qiuci. Xiao Ran is very happy now — Jiang Xian treats her very well.”
Yan Yunning tilted her head slightly and saw Jiang Xian gazing at Xuanzhao Ran with eyes full of tender concern. Xuanzhao Ran was too unwell to eat, and Jiang Xian’s expression was visibly anxious.
“Pregnancy looks so exhausting,” Yan Yunning murmured.
Xuan Yanyu’s eyes brightened. “Ningning is absolutely right — which is why one Xiaoxiao is more than enough for us.”
Yan Yunning glanced at him. “Is His Majesty afraid of putting me through hardship,” she asked, with curious amusement, “or afraid that I’ll give birth to a baby and leave again?”
Before Xuan Yanyu could answer, Yan Yunning turned the lid of her teacup in a slow circle, then continued, “Your Majesty, let me rephrase the question. If I gave birth to a baby and still wouldn’t leave — would you still think one Xiaoxiao is enough?”
“Mm, one is sufficient.” The corner of Xuan Yanyu’s mouth curled into a teasing smile. “I only have one imperial throne. If there were another prince, I would fear the two brothers competing for it — driving me to my grave the way my Imperial Father drove his Imperial Grandfather.”
Yan Yunning: “……”
The more Xuan Yanyu thought about it, the more he felt he was right. He said in earnest, “They would both be children you gave me, so I couldn’t take sides with either of them. What if the younger one also wanted the throne? What would I do? So — we’ll just keep Xiaoxiao.”
“What if it’s a daughter? Didn’t you say you’ve always wanted a daughter?” Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow, cutting off his wandering train of thought.
Xuan Yanyu picked up a shrimp and offered it to Yan Yunning’s lips, with a trace of playful mockery. “What if it’s not a daughter? I can’t risk being driven to an early grave for the sake of another child.”
Yan Yunning: “……”
Because Xuanzhao Ran was feeling unwell and had barely eaten, she drank the anti-nausea decoction the physician brought, and Jiang Xian took her out of the palace and back home.
The carriage jostled along, and once they reached the main street, Xuanzhao Ran and Jiang Xian stepped down from the carriage and strolled leisurely toward the General’s Manor.
Catching sight of a street vendor’s pan-fried dumplings steaming with fragrant heat, Xuanzhao Ran rested a hand on her rounded belly, and a pretty dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth. “A’Xian, I’m hungry.”
“All right — wait here. Your husband will go buy some for you.” Hearing Xuanzhao Ran express a wish to eat, Jiang Xian smiled with undisguised delight.
“Mm, I’ll wait.” Xuanzhao Ran’s lips curved slightly.
Jiang Xian went to join the queue. Xuanzhao Ran looked around for somewhere to lean against. She had only just turned when a young woman came rushing forward with her head down and collided straight into her.
“Your Highness the Princess!” The two maidservants in attendance caught Xuanzhao Ran just in time before she could fall.