——

The following evening.

Yan Yunning picked up the soup ladle with great enthusiasm and filled Xuan Yanyu’s bowl to the brim once more. Looking at the porcelain bowl of soup, Yan Yunning was unable to keep the corner of her mouth from tilting upward. “Xuan Xizi, have a little more.”

Xuan Yuncheng, who had just taken a bite of his steamed egg with shrimp, stared wide-eyed at Yan Yunning — was this really his Mother?

Since when had his Mother ever treated his Father like this?

Was it not always his Father who served his Mother at meals?

Something is not right!!

“May I eat something else?” Xuan Yanyu looked up and asked, cautiously.

From the moment they had entered the dining hall, she had been ladling soup for him. He had finished one bowl and she had filled it again to the brim. Could it be that because he had been avoiding her these past few nights, she was punishing him by letting him eat only soup?

Yan Yunning’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Never mind — I’ll just drink the soup.” The man raised the porcelain bowl, intending to drain it in one go, when Yan Yunning pressed down on his hand and smiled with deep intent. “You can drink it in a while. Eat your meal first.”

Xuan Yanyu gave her a strange look.

“What are you looking at?” Yan Yunning leaned close to him and stole a kiss on his lips, the smile reaching the corners of her eyes. “Eat.”

“Eww~” The little one covered his eyes with his small hand, drawing out the final sound.

“…” Yan Yunning lovingly moved the porcelain bowl of soup in front of Xuan Yanyu. “Drink it all.”

Xuan Yanyu squinted and looked Yan Yunning up and down, then asked offhandedly, “Lingning, do you need something from me?”

“…You’re overthinking it.” Yan Yunning replied without any sign of alarm.

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow, plainly unconvinced.

“Mother, this official wants some too.” Seeing that Yan Yunning had ladled two bowls of soup for Xuan Yanyu, the little one wanted a taste as well.

“Mother will make some especially for Xiaoxiao tomorrow. Today it was made just for your Father alone — there is none left.” Yan Yunning ladled a small bowl of sweet potato soup and placed it in front of the little one, her voice soft and gentle. “Xiaoxiao will have sweet potato soup today — Father’s doesn’t taste good.”

Xuan Yanyu, who had found the soup’s flavor oddly off-putting and had been reluctant to take another sip, heard that it had been made especially for him alone, let the corner of his mouth curve, lowered his head, and took a large mouthful.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yan Yunning watched the man drink the soup, and the smile that had not yet faded from her eyes deepened further.

“Father, is it not tasty?” The little one gazed at Xuan Yanyu with hopeful eyes.

Yan Yunning’s eye twitched. She had realized — the more she told him not to drink it, the more curious he became.

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together. It really was not tasty — the flavor was very strange. But thinking that it had been made by Yan Yunning, he raised his eyebrow slightly. “It is tasty.”

“Father, this official wants some too.” The little one hopped down from the sandalwood chair and pattered over to Xuan Yanyu, staring at the soup in his bowl and swallowing hard.

If someone who didn’t know better saw him swallowing like that at a bowl of soup, they would think it was some rare delicacy.

Seeing the little one’s expectant gaze, Xuan Yanyu hesitated briefly, picked up the bowl and had almost held it to the little one’s lips — when Yan Yunning intercepted it. Two seconds later, the little one stared at the now-empty bowl and pursed his lips.

In low spirits, he returned to his sandalwood chair and obediently ate his steamed egg with shrimp.

“Xiaoxiao, Mother promises she will make you a bowl of something delicious tomorrow.” Yan Yunning picked up the little one and gently coaxed him. “This one truly does not taste good.”

The little one lifted his dewy eyes and looked at Yan Yunning without a word.

“Mother absolutely will not do this again — no matter how it tastes, next time Mother will definitely let Xiaoxiao have a sip.” Yan Yunning patted the little one’s small head with genuine remorse.

Had she known, she would have found a way to send Xiaoxiao away first today.

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze fell on the porcelain bowl, something searching flashing through his eyes.

“Mm, this official forgives Mother.” The little one said generously.

“Thank you, my darling.” Yan Yunning gently pressed her forehead to the little one’s, entirely forgetting what she had promised Xuan Yanyu.

“Oh, how wonderfully embarrassing~” The little one tilted up his small face, the tips of his ears beginning to flush pink.

Yan Yunning pinched his little cheek. “And you find that embarrassing?”

“Yes!” The little one’s voice rose in pitch, his little milky tones utterly endearing.

Yan Yunning laughed and ruffled his hair. “All right, all right — if you say you’re embarrassed, then you’re embarrassed. Be a good boy and finish eating.”

“I know, Mother.” The little one was easily cheered, and before long was happily biting into a piece of Eight-Treasure Cake in great mouthfuls — not the slightest trace of the sulking from moments ago visible anymore.

Once the little one was appeased, Yan Yunning moved closer to Xuan Yanyu. The man glanced at her sideways, displeasure evident on his handsome face.

Yan Yunning: “?”

What was the matter with him now?

“Mother, this official has finished eating.” The little one finished his Eight-Treasure Cake, took the square handkerchief Ye Chen handed him and wiped the corners of his mouth, and said in a soft, round voice, “This official must go to the imperial study — Grandfather Emperor is still waiting for this official.”

“Go on then.”

“This official takes his leave.” Xuan Yuncheng gave them both a small wave of his hand and bounced out of the dining hall in a moment.

“What is the matter?” Yan Yunning pressed her fingertip to the back of Xuan Yanyu’s hand.

The man extended his distinguished hand and tapped his forehead with one finger.

Although she did not entirely understand, Yan Yunning followed his meaning and, with a soft smack, pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Xuan Yanyu: “…”

“Is that all right now?” Yan Yunning blinked her beautiful eyes and asked softly.

Xuan Yanyu tapped her on the forehead and enunciated clearly, “What I meant was — Xiaoxiao is growing up. Did you not also promise me…”

“I understand.” Yan Yunning admitted the mistake before he could finish. “It won’t happen again.”

“Don’t be cross with me~” Yan Yunning’s voice went honeyed and coaxing as she tugged at his sleeve.

Xuan Yanyu’s fingers curled inward. The woman was so close, the air around him filling with the faint, gentle fragrance that clung to her. His throat moved slightly. He felt inexplicably warm — very, very warm.

“Xuan Xizi? What’s wrong with you?” Yan Yunning leaned closer still.

“Nothing.”

“Truly nothing?” Yan Yunning wrapped both hands around the back of his neck, her nose tip touching his nose tip.

The sweet, warm breath of the woman drifted across his face. Xuan Yanyu’s breathing quickened slightly, and his whole body gradually began to heat. He was no fool — he understood at once.

“The food today had something wrong with it — hurry… hurry and have the imperial physicians go check on Xiaoxiao.” He said with urgency.

Yan Yunning was not sure whether she should feel touched that his first thought had not been to suspect her.

Seeing Yan Yunning’s calm and unruffled expression, Xuan Yanyu almost laughed out of exasperation. “The soup had something in it?”

Yan Yunning stepped back slightly, touching the tip of her nose. Well then — she had gotten moved too soon. Now he had his doubts.

“You…” Xuan Yanyu was momentarily at a loss for words.

No wonder she had not let Xiaoxiao have even a sip.

“So… shall we… go back to the chambers?” Yan Yunning asked flatly.

She had drunk only a little herself, but already felt rather warm.

Xuan Yanyu licked his lips, scooped Yan Yunning up in his arms, and strode in great steps toward the bedchambers.

The moment they were inside, the chamber doors were kicked shut behind them by the man. He then lowered his head and kissed Yan Yunning on the lips. That night was destined to be nothing like the quiet evenings that had come before.

——

The following noon, supported by Xiao Wan’s arm, Yan Yunning finished washing up and could not help letting out several complaints about the imperial physicians — could they not have given her something a little milder?

Her throat was parched and aching, and a dull soreness had settled into every joint of her body.