“Ranran!” Jiang Xian, who had kept his eyes on Xuanzhao Ran the entire time, abandoned his place in the queue and strode over in a few quick steps. “Ranran, are you all right?” he asked, frantic with worry.

“A——A’Xian, my stomach hurts so much.” Whether from the shock of the collision or something else, a sharp, stabbing pain suddenly radiated through Xuanzhao Ran’s abdomen in wave after wave. Her voice trembled. “The baby——the baby——”

“Don’t be afraid. It’s all right.” Jiang Xian bent down and lifted her into his arms. His own voice was shaking uncontrollably. “Ranran……it’s all right……it’s all right. Don’t be afraid.”

Fearing the jolting might hurt her, he dared not run — he could only stride forward in long, urgent steps.

“Xiao Ting, why are you crouching on the ground? Madam has been waiting for you a long time.” Qiuci jogged over in two or three quick steps, just as Jiang Xian carried Xuanzhao Ran away.

He crouched down and picked up the spring pancake that had fallen and become dusted with dirt. “How did this fall on the ground? You can’t give this to Young Miss anymore — I’ll go buy another one.”

“Your Highness the Princess……” The girl who had accidentally collided with Xuanzhao Ran stared at Qiuci, who was bent over retrieving the spring pancake. Belatedly, a cold sweat broke over her. “Qiuci — I……I collided with Her Royal Highness the Princess.”

“What did you say?” Qiuci asked, bewildered.

“Qiuci.” Xiao Ting grabbed his wrist in a panic, her eyes rimming red. “I……I bumped into Her Royal Highness the Princess. I……will I……will I……”

“Her Royal Highness the Princess?” Something shifted in Qiuci’s expression. “Which princess?”

“I don’t know. She was very beautiful. I……Qiuci, Her Royal Highness the Princess was hit in the stomach by me — I didn’t mean to. She……I……” Xiao Ting was growing incoherent. She clutched his hand tightly, her voice breaking with tears. “Qiuci……am I……am I going to die……”

“No. Since Her Royal Highness did not pursue the matter with you on the spot, nothing will happen to you.” Qiuci helped Xiao Ting to her feet and patted her head. “Stop crying. Go back to Madam’s side — I’ll go buy Young Miss some spring pancakes.”

“Qiuci……am I truly going to be all right?” Xiao Ting asked, still uneasy.

“You will be. Don’t worry.”

“Mm.” Xiao Ting choked back a sob and nodded.

Qiuci raised his eyes and gazed ahead for a moment, thoughtful, then turned and made his way to the spring pancake stall.

——

Xuanwang Palace — Xuanwang’s Private Chambers

Xuan Yuncheng sat at the imperial desk, chin propped in his hand, staring at the daybed not far away. Reclining on the daybed, his mother empress was resting her head on his Imperial Father’s arm while his Imperial Father diligently fed her pieces of fruit.

He lowered his gaze to the scrolls and stack of memorials spread before him. He was the Crown Prince, after all — when he didn’t understand something, he still had to trot all the way over to his Imperial Father to ask, then trot all the way back to the desk to work. Was this any way to teach someone?

He missed Imperial Grandfather. Imperial Grandfather always sat right beside him and read with him.

“Too sweet.”

“Is it?” The man placed the peach Yan Yunning had taken a bite from into his own mouth.

“Is it sweet?” Yan Yunning asked with a smile.

“Sweet.” Xuan Yanyu kissed her on her soft lips.

“Your Highness, Your Highness.” Ye Chen tugged at Xuan Yuncheng’s sleeve and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Read the scrolls. Read the scrolls.”

“Imperial Father is disturbing this palace,” the little one said, patting the sleeve Ye Chen had just tugged. “Go over there and drive Imperial Father out.”

“……” Ye Chen looked over at Ye’an, who was quietly grinding ink on the side, and spoke in the softest of voices. “His Highness is telling you to go drive His Majesty out. Didn’t you hear?”

Ye’an gave a light laugh, not even lifting his head. “His Highness said ‘you.’ What’s this — have you grown bold enough to stop following His Highness’s orders now?”

Ye Chen: “……”

“Go on, then.” Ye’an watched his predicament with gleeful satisfaction.

Ye Chen: “……”

“Mother Empress, your son is sleepy.” The little one let out an exaggerated yawn, his voice soft and drowsy.

“Sleepy?” Yan Yunning had just started to sit up when Xuan Yanyu pressed her head back down, curved his lips, and said, “He’s faking it. He’s barely looked at those scrolls for any time at all — there’s no way he’s sleepy.”

“Xuan Xixi, you told Imperial Father you’d raise Xiaoxiao yourself. You’re lying on the daybed — how exactly are you raising him?”

The little one pattered over to the edge of the daybed and said with great gravity, “Mother Empress is right.”

“I’m watching to make sure you don’t slack off. There’s an Imperial Tutor, a regent, a palace martial arts instructor — what else do you need me to do?”

Xuan Yanyu gauged the hour, then lifted his eyes to Ye Chen. “Escort His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the training ground. I’ll take a midday rest with the Xuanwang Consort. Before the evening meal, bring the martial arts instructor before me — I want to review what the Crown Prince has practiced this afternoon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ye Chen tidied the scrolls, arranged them neatly, then came before Xuan Yuncheng and bowed respectfully. “Your Highness, this subordinate will escort you to the training ground.”

“No.” The little one’s eyes went red as he looked at Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning. “Imperial Father, Mother Empress — Imperial Grandfather said your son may begin learning swordsmanship and mounted archery when he turns six.”

“Did you not hear me just now at the meal? From now on, I am the one raising you.” Xuan Yanyu paid no heed to his tears.

“But Imperial Grandfather also said Imperial Father must not be too strict with your son.” The little one refused to look at Xuan Yanyu. He crouched down beside the daybed and stared up at Yan Yunning with tears hovering on the edge of falling.

“We’ll learn at six — we’ll learn at six.” Yan Yunning, her heart aching, scooped the little one into her arms and wiped his tears away.

Xuan Yuncheng nestled in Yan Yunning’s embrace and sneaked a glance at Xuan Yanyu — and met his Imperial Father’s cool, level gaze. He stuck out his little tongue.

“Hm.” Xuan Yanyu’s elegant face wore a half-smile that wasn’t quite a smile as he held Xuan Yuncheng’s challenging stare. “Getting bolder and bolder, are we?”

“Mother Empress, Imperial Father is glaring at your son.” The little one feigned fright and burrowed deeper into Yan Yunning’s arms.

Ye Chen scratched his head. This scene felt strangely familiar — just like the time the Xuanwang Consort used to link arms with Yan Shiyao and declare she was afraid of His Majesty.

“Mm?” Yan Yunning looked back at Xuan Yanyu. The man’s expression had softened into something impossibly gentle.

“Ningning.” The man let out a quiet sigh. “As the heir apparent, Xiaoxiao must master both civil and martial arts. Five years old is not too young — I began my own training at five. Just think — you’re always coddling him, but if he has no abilities of his own when he’s in danger, what will he do?”

“He’ll have his personal guards,” the little one chimed in.

“Can his personal guards be at his side every single moment?” Xuan Yanyu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

If Ningning weren’t here, he’d be sorely tempted to give this child a good thrashing.

“Why couldn’t they be? If they’re not beside your son, where else would they go?”

“You——” Xuan Yanyu exhaled slowly, his fist clenching.

This one alone could be the death of him.

“Imperial Father, their purpose is to protect your son — of course they’ll always be by your son’s side. You’re overthinking it.”

Yan Yunning clasped the man’s tightly balled fist and gave it a soothing pat.

“Xiaoxiao.” Yan Yunning chose her words carefully. “Mother Empress thinks your Imperial Father has a point. Don’t you also want to grow up to be like your Imperial Father one day——”

“Mother Empress.” The little one glanced at Xuan Yanyu, his eyes lighting up like stars. “Mother Empress wants your son to be like Imperial Father? Then Imperial Father doesn’t need to manage anything at all — he gets to wake up whenever he likes, every single day. Can your son do the same?”

As long as he could remember, he had never seen Imperial Father go to morning court or handle memorials the way Imperial Grandfather did.

“That’s……that’s not what I meant.” Yan Yunning pursed her lips. “Mother Empress meant……you should grow up to be like your Imperial Grandfather.”

The little one blinked, genuinely puzzled. “Mother Empress, why does your son have to be like Imperial Grandfather when Imperial Father doesn’t?”

Yan Yunning was struck speechless. She lifted Xuan Yuncheng out of her arms and handed him to Xuan Yanyu, flustered. “Mother Empress just remembered — there is something very important I need to attend to. Xiaoxiao, stay here and talk with your Imperial Father.”

“Mother Empress? Mother Empress!” Watching Yan Yunning dash out of the bedchamber in a panic, the little one was even more flustered than she was.

The man’s eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement. He called out slowly, “Xuan Yuncheng.”