“…”

“…”

A ragged chorus of voices scattered unevenly through the great hall. They were sharp-minded enough to understand — this was His Majesty’s warning to them.

The imperial guard had not had the audacity to openly name, in the middle of the great hall, who else wished to seize the throne under the guise of recruiting household escorts.

Yet His Majesty had not intervened the moment the imperial guard said those words — he had waited until the guard declared “we are professional” before stepping in, unhurried and at ease. No one was a fool; His Majesty’s meaning was clear to all of them.

Don’t be a clown.

“The coup attempt has failed.” Xuan Yanyu stretched lazily and rose, taking Yan Yunning’s hand. He said with apparent regret, “Since the Prince of Second Rank declined to choose between the white silk cord or the poisoned wine just now, then let it be death by a thousand cuts. His entire family is to be exiled to servitude.”

Done with that, he glanced at Yan Yunning with a sly, mischievous smile. “Am I not merciful — I did not even have his ten clans exterminated.”

Yan Yunning: “…”

Death by a thousand cuts?

Merciful??

Those two words really ought not to be used together.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty — Shutong—” Pei Shutong had barely opened her mouth before a guard dragged her away.

The Prince of Second Rank slumped numbly to the floor, lips moving in some faint murmur.

“Oh, I nearly forgot.” Xuan Yanyu looked mildly down at the assembled civil and military officials and said with great “benevolence,” “All of you — go watch the Prince of Second Rank’s execution.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Yes… Your Majesty.”

The military officials fared well enough, but the civil officials’ voices trembled as they replied. They had no intention of treason — must His Majesty be quite so “benevolent” in making an example of them?!

With the trouble resolved, Xuan Yanyu took Yan Yunning’s hand and returned with her to the royal bedchambers.

——

Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight more days had gone by.

One evening, when Yan Yunning returned from her bath, she discovered that the man who had been lying in bed just moments ago had, once again… vanished.

The reason for the “once again” was this — ever since her monthly indisposition had cleared, this man had, true to his word, disappeared every single night without fail.

“Send for Ye’an to come to the main hall.” Yan Yunning was so irritated her teeth itched.

“Yes, Empress.” Xiao Wan retreated from the bedchambers in small, quick steps.

Half an hour later, inside the main hall, Ye’an bowed nervously and said, “Your Highness, this subordinate truly does not know where His Majesty has gone.”

Their Emperor seemed to have something wrong with him these past few days — every night he started hiding from the Empress, and this very night he had run off to the Crown Prince’s chambers.

He had given the little Crown Prince, who was in the middle of sneaking snacks, quite a fright.

“You don’t know? You are his personal imperial guard — how could you not know?” Yan Yunning pressed at her philtrum.

Ye’an’s heart pounded. He told the lie resolutely. “Your Highness, His Majesty sent this subordinate away. This subordinate truly does not know.”

“Truly don’t know?” Yan Yunning’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

“Truly don’t know!” Ye’an upheld Xuan Yanyu’s instructions and refused to reveal a single thing.

“Very well, if you don’t know, then you don’t know.” Yan Yunning lifted her teacup and took a calm sip. “When you see Xuan Yanyu, please pass along a message for me — if he does not come back tonight, we will separate tomorrow.”

Ye’an’s heart lurched. “This… this subordinate understands. If this subordinate sees His Majesty, this message will certainly be conveyed.”

Yan Yunning set down her teacup and looked at Ye’an with a bright smile. “You may retire. If Xuan Yanyu has not returned by the middle of the hour of Hai — around twenty-two to twenty-two thirty — there is no need for him to return at all. We will separate tonight, and first thing tomorrow morning, have my name removed from the imperial jade registry.”

Ye’an glanced at the night sky outside, then back again — there was barely more than half an hour left before the time the Empress had named.

“This subordinate takes his leave.” With that, Ye’an shot out of the main hall like an arrow.

Yan Yunning’s beautiful eyes gleamed with amusement as she broke into soft laughter. “Qiuci, do you believe Xuan Yanyu will come running back in a moment?”

“I believe it.” Qiuci moved behind Yan Yunning and began kneading her shoulders.

Yan Yunning blew gently on her fingertips, her small face with its exquisite features curving into a wicked grin. “Come on then — it is my turn to hide from him.”

——

Crown Prince’s Chambers.

Xuan Yanyu frowned and reproached the little one. “Xuan Yuncheng, why are you eating snacks again before bed?”

“Hungry.” The little one drooped his head and fidgeted with his fingers.

“Did you not eat dinner?” Xuan Yanyu tapped the table, his voice deep and firm. “Come here.”

“Okay.” The little one shuffled slowly over to Xuan Yanyu.

Xuan Yanyu lifted him onto his lap, picked up a square handkerchief, and wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of his mouth. “No more snacks before bed from now on.”

“Okay.” The little one nodded obediently.

“Go wash up. Rest early after.”

“Father.” The little one called out in a soft, sweet voice.

“Mm? What is it?” The man responded in a low tone, softening his voice.

The little one tilted his head and looked at him in puzzlement. “Father, it is so late — why have you come to my chambers?”

“Father has never stayed to keep Xiaoxiao company at bedtime. Tonight, Father will stay with Xiaoxiao.”

The little one blinked. “Then who is keeping Mother company? Father, who did you find to stay with Mother?”

Xuan Yanyu flicked his forehead and could not be bothered to explain.

“You and Mother had a quarrel, and Mother sent you away — isn’t that right?” The little one tilted his small face up, his eyes bright and gleaming. “Father, Mother doesn’t want you anymore.”

Xuan Yanyu widened his eyes. “Don’t talk nonsense. Why would your mother not want your father?”

“Father.” The little one leaned close to Xuan Yanyu’s ear, the corners of his mouth secretly curling upward. “Don’t worry — this official will not tell anyone that Mother doesn’t want you and drove you out of her chambers.”

“Xuan Yuncheng!”

The little one raised his small eyebrows and covered his lips with his little hand. “This official is quiet, this official is quiet.”

Xuan Yanyu let out a low grunt.

After a moment of silence, the little one took it upon himself to play peacemaker. “Ye Chen, go tell my Mother that Father knows he was wrong and has been crying here until he couldn’t breathe, and beg Mother to forgive him.”

“Yes, Your High—”

“No.”

Ye Chen swallowed the rest of his unfinished words.

“What is wrong with it?” The little one patted his father’s large palm with his small hand and said in a very grave, earnest tone, “Father, don’t make Mother angry. What if Mother thinks some other man is better than you and truly doesn’t want you?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Xuan Yanyu stroked the little one’s dark hair, his voice entirely without inflection. “Father will deal with him. Your Mother can only be Father’s.”

“Then won’t Mother never forgive you?”

The little one looked up and met Xuan Yanyu’s deep, dark gaze, which carried a cold undercurrent. He instinctively looked away.

The man’s eyelids lowered, concealing the chill in his eyes. He pinched the little one’s small cheek and let the corner of his mouth rise slightly. “Xiaoxiao, did Father not just say — your Mother can only be Father’s. Only Father’s. She cannot fall in love with someone else.”

“Oh.” The little one tapped the toe of his shoe lightly against the expensive floorboard. “Then go back and find Mother quickly.”

“…” Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together. “Did I not also say just now — tonight Father stays with you.”

The little one looked at Xuan Yanyu with great seriousness, puffed out his small chest, and said in a soft, round voice, “This official does not need that.”

Xuan Yanyu: “…”

Ye Chen pressed his lips tightly shut. This Emperor had been driven out of the Empress’s chambers, and now it seemed he was about to be driven out of the Crown Prince’s chambers as well.

“Go apologize to Mother.” The little one jumped down from Xuan Yanyu’s arms onto the floor, tilted his small head, and gestured for him to leave quickly.

Xuan Yanyu: “…”

“Ye Chen, see Father out.” The little one let out a small yawn, a hint of sleepiness settling over his small face.

Xuan Yanyu: “…”