The little one leaned closer and looked carefully, rubbing his eyes with puzzlement. “Uncle, this pendant of yours is identical to Auntie’s — Xiaoxiao did not look wrong.”

A’Ci let out a soft laugh, his tone becoming light. “Your Auntie is very happy now — she has a husband who loves her, and now she has a child too.”

“Mm, Uncle-Consort listens to everything Auntie says — just like Father does with Mother Consort.” The little one smiled with his eyes curved into crescents.

A’Ci tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to smile but finding that, in the end, no smile came.

“Uncle, have a pastry — Mother Consort said you like them.” The little one picked up a piece and grinned at A’Ci.

A’Ci looked at the little round thing, those eyes as bright as black grapes, smiling so wide that even, pearly little teeth were on full display, radiating a rosy, spirited charm. Something stirred at the corner of his mouth. “All right — thank you, Xiaoxiao.”

“No need to stand on ceremony with me.” The little one gave his small eyebrows a flick.

The corner of A’Ci’s mouth curved, a smile of sorts appearing. “Xiaoxiao looks very much like your father, but his temperament is just like your mother’s.”

The little one touched his own small face and scooted closer to A’Ci with a grinning expression. “Uncle, do you think I’m good-looking?”

“Father said today that there is nothing good-looking about me.” The little one added this remark with his small lips pressed together.

A’Ci patted his small head. “Xiaoxiao is good-looking in every way.”

The little one tilted his chin up with self-satisfied pride. “I think so too.”

A’Ci laughed and shook his head. Such a little narcissist, at this age.

On the other side of the manor, having finished speaking with Yuzhi and Mu Shiqing, Yan Yunning and Xuan Yanyu were taking a leisurely stroll through the back garden of the Grand Commandant’s Manor.

A certain person looked around in all directions without catching a glimpse of his son, and began to grow anxious. “Where is Xiaoxiao? It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen him.”

Yan Yunning pursed her lips. “Xuan Xixi, you’re only asking about Xiaoxiao now? If someone had carried him off, you’d be too late even if you ran after them!”

“Impossible — there are quite a few people following Xiaoxiao.”

Yan Yunning: “……”

“Go find the Crown Prince — it’s time to return to the palace. There is a palace banquet this evening.” Xuan Yanyu turned and instructed Ye’an.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Xuan Xixi.” Yan Yunning deliberately softened her voice to its most intimate register and took Xuan Yanyu’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

The man pressed his lips together briefly and gave the smiling, warmly radiant woman a sideways glance. He said with perfect seriousness, “Stop constantly entertaining fantasies about me. I will not be enchanted by you.”

“……” Yan Yunning bit down on her back teeth. “Fine.”

She promptly released his hand and smiled faintly. “Is this more to Your Majesty’s satisfaction?”

“I am very unsatisfied.” Xuan Yanyu’s deep, dark eyes settled on her as he reached out and took her hand again.

“……” Yan Yunning stared at their now-rejoined hands for a good while, then couldn’t help raising a finger to the man’s temple. “Xuan Xixi, is something not quite right in here?”

“……” The man lifted his eyelids, his deep eyes flickering between light and shadow.

“I truly, truly, truly will not leave you again.” Yan Yunning gave his hand a little shake, her clear, luminous eyes fixed on his handsome face without wavering.

“Mm.” Xuan Yanyu drew her toward his side, deliberately steering the conversation elsewhere. “Do you know where Xiaoxiao went?”

One more stretch of five years, and he truly would lose his mind.

“Back to the palace!” Yan Yunning left Xuan Yanyu with nothing but a roll of her eyes, and set off ahead in long strides, leaving him behind.

She simply could not understand — no matter what she said, why would he not believe her that she would never leave again?

Xuan Yanyu: “?”

——

The evening sky was like a sheet of ink-stained rice paper slowly laid across the heavens, growing dimmer by the moment.

Inside the palace hall, the rosewood table was laden with an array of dishes. Musicians plucked at their instrument strings, and dancers — bells tied at their waists — turned and swayed through the great hall with lithe, willowy grace.

The ministers and their principal wives watched the dancing with quiet, smiling murmurs, while Pei Shutong, beneath the guise of watching the dancers, stared in a daze at the man on the high seat — dressed in the resplendent yellow dragon robes of the Emperor.

His elegantly boned fingers held a wine cup, which he raised for a light, unhurried sip, his throat moving in a slight ripple as he swallowed.

Languid and captivating — for her, it held a fatal pull. Pei Shutong swallowed unconsciously, unable to tear her gaze away from the man seated in the place of highest honor.

At that moment, a wicked smile curved across Xuan Yanyu’s strikingly beautiful face. Pei Shutong watched as he held out the wine cup — from which he had already taken a sip — to Yan Yunning’s lips. Yan Yunning frowned and knocked his hand away.

He did not take offense in the slightest. Still smiling, he leaned close to Yan Yunning’s ear and said something inaudible to others. One could only see Yan Yunning’s expression shift through several changes in quick succession.

The dancers in the great hall were dressed beautifully, their movements sensual — many of the ministers could not look away. Why — why was it that he did not spare the dancers a single glance, his eyes resting entirely on Yan Yunning?

Pei Shutong shifted her gaze toward Yan Yunning. The woman was dressed in a red phoenix robe, the exquisite hairpins threaded through her hair swaying gently. The neck visible above her collar was fair and delicate. Her lashes were long, and her eyes were lively and beautiful — a gorgeous, luminous face without a trace of flaw.

The smile that curved her lips and the way her eyes curved with it made her equally difficult to look away from.

There was no question that Yan Yunning was a beauty that rewarded the eye.

Pei Shutong’s gaze swept next toward Xuan Yunchen. The little one, dressed identically to Xuan Yanyu in resplendent yellow imperial robes, had a face very much like Xuan Yanyu’s — ruddy lips and white teeth, features exquisitely refined. He was half-reclining in his rosewood chair, turning a pastry over and over in his small hands — adorable enough to make anyone want to scoop him up for a hug.

Sensing the dancers withdraw from the hall, Pei Shutong hurriedly withdrew her gaze.

“We have gathered today in celebration — no one need stand on ceremony. All beloved ministers and their ladies, please eat and drink at your ease. The smooth running of government affairs and the wellbeing of the people owe much to every minister present today — and to the ladies as well, naturally, for the care they tend to their households. I raise this cup to all of you. May the foundations of Xuanzhao stand firm forever, and may it flourish through all generations to come.”

Yan Yunning lifted the remaining half-cup of wine that Xuan Yanyu had been drinking from and tipped it back in one swallow.

The fiery, scorching liquor burned its way down her throat. Yan Yunning held back a cough with all her might, keeping her composure impeccable on the outside, while her embroidered slipper beneath the table stamped down hard on Xuan Yanyu’s boot.

Were these words hers to say?!

She pressed her lips together. The tip of her tongue had gone numb from the wine, and her head was growing faintly, pleasantly dizzy.

The ministers and their ladies rose, cups in hand, to return the toast. “Your servants wish His Majesty the Prince of Xuan enduring health and vitality, and the Princess Consort robust wellbeing. Your servants vow to fulfill their duties with unfailing loyalty.”

“Your servants’ wives wish His Majesty the Prince of Xuan and the Princess Consort a life of peace and good fortune, and pray that Xuanzhao flourish through all generations to come.”

Standing below, they had a clear and unobstructed view — the brocade silk spread across the imperial table did not reach all the way to the floor, and they could see plainly that Yan Yunning’s phoenix-embroidered slipper was pressed down firmly on top of Xuan Yanyu’s black brocade boot, which was embroidered with golden grass motifs.

“This is a family banquet — everyone, please eat freely.” Yan Yunning smiled with composed grace.

“The Princess Consort speaks most fittingly.” The ladies smiled in agreement, their laughter measured and restrained.

As the music swelled once more, another wave of dancers drew aside the hall curtains and entered with light, gliding steps, turning as they came. A faint, delicate fragrance of rouge drifted through the hall.

Xuan Yanyu gazed at Yan Yunning — her cheeks flushed a warm peach from the wine she had drunk — and said in a voice low and burning, “Beautiful.”

Yan Yunning’s gaze swept across the group of dancers in their pale green gauze skirts, then fixed on the woman at the center of them all — waist supple as a willow branch, eyes sparkling and bright, spinning and leaping with graceful abandon. Yan Yunning smiled leisurely. “It is beautiful — extraordinarily beautiful!!”

The man’s blazing eyes fixed on Yan Yunning’s red lips. Two words flashed through his mind: want to kiss. His throat moved, and without hesitation, he said them aloud.