To harbor presumptuous feelings toward a princess was the gravest of offences — a crime of profound disrespect.

“Punish him. If something had happened to Xiao Ran and the little Commandery Princess today, there would be no need to keep any of them.” Xuan Yanyu accepted the clean cloth Ye’an offered him and wiped his hands at a leisurely pace.

“Your Majesty.” Ye’an lowered his voice. “That is Qiuci — on the Xuanwang Consort’s side……”

Xuan Yanyu tossed down the cloth and looked at him with measured composure.

Ye’an shut his mouth and said no more.

——

The Imperial Garden.

Yan Yunning sat with Xuan Yuncheng in the pavilion.

“Mother Empress, did Imperial Father also have to do exactly what your son does every day — wake up for morning lessons, study imperial etiquette, observe court proceedings, practice mounted archery, cultivate relationships with the sons of important ministers — and on and on and on, all the knowledge and skills an heir apparent must master?”

“Of course.” Yan Yunning wrapped her hand around the little one’s small fist and tenderly applied salve to his fingers, which had developed blisters.

“And did Imperial Father want to learn all of it?”

Yan Yunning paused slightly. “Your Imperial Father had no right to refuse. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to.”

The little one lowered his head. Over his childlike face spread a look of helpless resignation, and he murmured softly, “Your son also has no right to refuse.”

“Xuanwang Consort, Your Royal Highness.” Qiuci came over carrying a hand warmer and placed it in Yan Yunning’s palms. “This servant just saw the palace guards escort Qiuci into the palace — heading in the direction of the Imperial Prison.”

Yan Yunning’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

“This servant heard it is because of Qiuci and a maidservant named Xiao Ting — who serves Lady Mu Shiqing — and their involvement in causing the Fifth Princess to go into early labor. His Majesty has therefore issued a decree to punish both Qiuci and Xiao Ting.”

Yan Yunning’s expression changed. “Tell me in detail.”

Qiuci pressed her lips together and continued, “Xuanwang Consort, after the Fifth Princess left the palace today, she was deliberately struck in the abdomen by Xiao Ting, which caused the early labor.”

“And the cause is this: Qiuci, in an unguarded moment, once instinctively called out the Princess’s given name — and Xiao Ting overheard. Qiuci then rejected Xiao Ting’s advances.”

“She harbored a grudge against Her Royal Highness the Princess, which led to today’s incident — deliberately colliding with Her Royal Highness on the main street and causing the Princess to go into early labor.”

“Is something the matter with Auntie?” the little one asked anxiously.

“Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, please be at ease. The Fifth Princess is unharmed, and the little Commandery Princess is also unharmed.”

Qiuci observed Yan Yunning’s expression carefully, then said, “Xuanwang Consort, Qiuci harbored presumptuous feelings toward the Princess — this is what led to the Fifth Princess and the little Commandery Princess nearly coming to harm. Should he not be punished?”

“He should be punished,” the little one said gravely.

Upon hearing that Xuanzhao Ran and the little Commandery Princess were unharmed, Yan Yunning relaxed. She tapped the hand warmer in her grip and let out a soft sound. “And where is Xuan Yanyu?”

“Ah?” Qiuci looked blank, not understanding why His Majesty had suddenly been brought up.

Yan Yunning raised her brow lightly. “Why didn’t he come and tell me himself? Why is he conveying it through you?”

Her voice was not loud, but for Xuan Yanyu — a martial arts practitioner who always kept his attention trained on his surroundings — it was perfectly audible. He yanked the palace gate open immediately and demanded with cold fury, “What did you say?”

“Is Your Majesty not in the middle of handling affairs?” Holding Xuan Yanyu’s sharp, icy gaze, Yan Yunning met him with complete composure.

Xuan Yanyu descended the palace steps and took Xuan Yuncheng from Yan Yunning’s arms. He turned to Ye’an with a solemn expression. “From now on, address me as Young Master Xuan.”

Yan Yunning: “……”

“……” Ye’an worked his mouth in resignation and accepted his fate. “Yes — Miss Yan, Young Master Xuan.”

“Mother Empress, what about me then?” the little one asked, stretching out his small arms to reach for Yan Yunning’s hand. Xuan Yanyu took a step forward, and the little one clasped Yan Yunning’s hand and laid it on top of Xuan Yanyu’s larger palm, asking softly, “Mother Empress, what should Ye’an call your son?”

“……” Yan Yunning patted his head. “Have Ye’an take you back to the inner chambers.”

The little one glanced at Xuan Yanyu and nodded obediently.

After Ye’an and Xuan Yuncheng had walked out of earshot, Yan Yunning lifted her gaze to Xuan Yanyu. “You didn’t go to see Ranran?”

Qiuci had said Ranran went into early labor after leaving the palace — Xuan Yanyu must have known long ago, yet he had spent the entire afternoon with her.

“No. I’m not a physician — if I showed up at the General’s Manor, they would have to receive me with all due ceremony, which serves no purpose. My going would be useless.”

Xuan Yanyu tentatively draped his arm over Yan Yunning’s shoulder. Seeing that she did not push him away, he could not help but curve his lips.

“Because of Qiuci — is Your Majesty planning to hide from me? For how long?” Yan Yunning asked, with a smile that was not quite a smile.

“Half an hour at most.” Xuan Yanyu kneaded her lower abdomen gently. “Is it still uncomfortable?”

“Much better.”

The man offered an explanation of his own accord. “I was afraid you would be angry, so I had Qiuci speak to you first. And then I was afraid you’d come to find me to settle accounts, so I told Ye’an to say I was in the middle of handling affairs.”

“How do you intend to handle Qiuci?”

She understood — harboring improper feelings for a princess was a grave offense, all the more so because it had indirectly led to Ranran and the child nearly coming to harm. But to be punished simply because Qiuci had called out Ranran’s name once in an unguarded moment……

“Ningning, if I don’t punish him, Imperial Father won’t let him off either.” Xuan Yanyu saw Yan Yunning lower her head in silence and drew her against his chest. “I won’t take his life.”

Yan Yunning said quietly, “I understand.”

“Ningning.” Xuan Yanyu hesitated, and then, seeking to appease her, touched the tip of his nose to hers. “You can’t give me the silent treatment.”

“Let go — it’s ticklish.” Yan Yunning rubbed her nose.

Xuan Yanyu tightened his arms, afraid she would push him away.

“Let go — it’s hot.”

“No. Not hot.” Xuan Yanyu, unsteady on his feet, rested his head against her shoulder.

“Get away from me.” Yan Yunning gave his ear a firm tug.

The man pressed himself closer still, a low laugh rolling from his throat. “Mm — moved away.”

“Xuan Yanyu, I want to see Qiuci.”

“Are you certain?” The man looked at her with meaningful intent.

“Mm.” Yan Yunning nodded.

Xuan Yanyu’s expression became somewhat complicated. He gritted his teeth. “I’ll go with you.”

Yan Yunning frowned. “Xuan Yanyu, what kind of expression is that?”

“Why don’t we just not go?” The man made one last attempt.

Yan Yunning leaned in close and narrowed her beautiful eyes at him. “What scheme are you cooking up?”

“You still want to go?” Xuan Yanyu answered her question with one of his own.

Yan Yunning studied him with suspicion. “I’m going.”

“Fine.” The man nodded with the air of someone entirely at ease.

Yan Yunning: “?”

——

In a corner on the western side of Xuanwang Palace — a privy built of green-grey bricks, used by the maidservants and eunuchs — even before they drew close, the foul smell reached them.

Palace eunuchs assigned to cleaning duty moved about with waste buckets, loading the contents onto carts, which were then driven by coachmen to the refuse grounds outside the palace.