“I have nothing pressing to attend to at the moment, so I may as well accompany Ningning back.” Yan Shiyao smiled pleasantly.

Yan Yunning linked arms with her affectionately, her eyes curving into small crescent moons. “Elder Sister is the best.”

She felt a little guilty about herself — stealing her elder sister’s potential sweetheart.

Alas!

But what could be done? It was all because her elder sister would end up dragging her into ruin in the end!

She had no choice!

Don’t blame her!

The moment they stepped over the threshold of the main hall, a teacup came hurtling toward her. Yan Yunning’s heart lurched — unable to dodge in time, the cup full of tea crashed to the floor, splattering all over the hem of her dress.

She looked down at the great soaking patch spreading across the hem of her skirt, so furious she could feel her lungs about to burst.

“Mother, what is the meaning of this?” Yan Shiyao moved to Chu Wantang’s side and gently rubbed her back in soothing strokes.

Chu Wantang looked at her with eyes full of tender concern and patted her hand. “Yaoyao.”

“Ningning has only just returned. Even if she has done something wrong, I ask that Mother not hold it against her.”

Chu Wantang fixed Yan Yunning with a cold, steely gaze. “Yan Yunning — what exactly did you do today?”

Yan Yunning met her gaze steadily, her expression composed and unhurried. “Today I ate crispy dragon’s beard pastry, mung bean cake, candied preserves, and also…”

“I’m not asking about that!” Chu Wantang cut her off abruptly, her expression sharp with severity. “What I am asking is: what exactly were you doing with the Third Imperial Prince today?”

Yan Yunning clicked her tongue. 【Am I not her biological daughter?】

Fafa: 【Master, of course you’re not.】

【I mean the original host — isn’t she her biological daughter?】

Fafa: 【The novel didn’t say. Judging by this attitude, probably not. Otherwise she wouldn’t be this blatantly biased.】

Yan Yunning: 【……】

“You are forbidden from having any private dealings with the Third Imperial Prince in the future.” Chu Wantang’s expression grew cold and rigid.

“And what is that supposed to mean, Mother?” Yan Yunning glanced at her.

A flash of irritation crossed Chu Wantang’s eyes. “Yan Yunning, these are the rules of the Prime Minister’s estate — what I say, you must abide by.”

She paused, then added emphasis. “Go and kneel in the ancestral hall. You may come out when you learn to comply.”

Yan Yunning let out a cold laugh, pushing back without the slightest deference. “The rules of Yan Yunning are: I do not follow your reckless—”

“You…!” Chu Wantang, struck by this sudden defiance, turned paper-white with fury. “Someone come — bring the household punishment!”

Yan Yunning watched as a servant came forward carrying a long braided whip, its surface covered in pointed barbs. Just the sight of it made her heart recoil. 【Good heavens, this old woman’s heart is truly vicious.】

Fafa: 【Master, you had better think of a way to get yourself out of this.】

Chu Wantang reached out and took the braided whip, her voice cold and flat. “Today I will teach you a lesson.”

“Mother, no.” Yan Shiyao’s eyes reddened, her voice on the verge of tears. “Ningning doesn’t know any better — please don’t take your anger out on her.”

“Move aside, Yaoyao.” Chu Wantang was unmoved.

Yan Shiyao shook her head over and over and stepped behind Yan Yunning to shield her.

“Someone!” Chu Wantang ordered the servants waiting to one side. “Take the First Young Miss away!”

【I know now — this Lady of the Prime Minister’s household is absolutely not my birth mother!】 Yan Yunning cursed inwardly with indignation.

Fafa: 【……】

“What is happening here?” Yan Ruijing flicked his sleeve, and his hands, clasped behind his back, tightened slightly.

“Father, please, save Ningning.” Yan Shiyao’s eyes were red-rimmed as she pleaded for help, tears rolling down without cease.

Yan Ruijing cast a cold glance at Chu Wantang.

Chu Wantang met that icy gaze, and her heart clenched.

“Ningning is your child too. Whatever treatment Yaoyao receives, Ningning receives the same — not a single thing less. Madam, if you cannot understand that, I don’t mind—”

“My lord, I understand.” Chu Wantang swallowed the indignation in her heart with great effort.

“Ningning, didn’t you say you wanted to eat beggar’s chicken? I came back to the estate today and made a point of bringing one for you.” Yan Ruijing said with a warm, genial smile.

Yan Yunning swallowed, her mouth beginning to water. “Father, I adore you.”

Yan Ruijing raised his hand and stroked her hair, his gaze carrying an almost imperceptible flicker of dazed emotion. “It’s Father who wasn’t there for our Ningning — letting her be treated unfairly.”

Yan Yunning blinked. 【Fafa, Father is a good father.】

Fafa: 【……】

In the garden pavilion.

Yan Yunning peeled back the lotus leaves wrapped around the beggar’s chicken on the round table and savored it with great contentment.

“Second Young Miss, you seem to be in very good spirits.” Xuan Yanyu settled lazily into the seat beside her, leaning his body back slightly as he narrowed his eyes to look at her. “How did you manage to make A’Yao cry? Hmm?”

Yan Yunning swallowed the bite of beggar’s chicken in her mouth. “It wasn’t me — it was her mother who made her cry.”

“Her mother?” Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. His slender fingers drummed lightly on the tabletop. “And yet somehow I heard it was because of you.”

“Then you heard wrong.” Yan Yunning didn’t even lift her eyelids, picking up a drumstick and taking a bite.

“A’Yao is so upset because of you that she won’t even touch her evening meal. Go and smooth things over with her.” Xuan Yanyu gave her an indifferent glance.

Yan Yunning nearly choked. 【Fafa, shouldn’t I be the one who’s upset? My mother doesn’t love me or care for me one bit.】

Fafa: 【The female lead’s characterization is that of a kind-hearted person — she’s probably feeling sorry for you.】

Yan Yunning clicked her tongue. 【When she acts like this, it makes me feel terribly guilty.】

She cast a sideways glance at Xuan Yanyu. The man’s bone structure was extraordinarily refined, his looks strikingly handsome.

He toyed with the jade archer’s ring at his fingertip in a casual, absent-minded manner. His robe was resplendent, and his every gesture carried the air of exalted nobility.

Maybe she should stop competing with the female lead for the male lead and go after Xuan Yanyu instead?

“Did you hear me? Hmm?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice cut through the quiet without warning, carrying a sense of pressure.

Yan Yunning shook her head. No — she’d better stick with stealing the male lead.

“Alright, alright. I know.” Yan Yunning finished off the drumstick in two or three bites and casually wiped the corner of her mouth.

Xuan Yanyu stared at her with displeasure.

“Go, I’ll be right there. No need to rush.” Yan Yunning sensed his gaze and blinked at him.

“Why aren’t you moving?” Xuan Yanyu spoke in a low, quiet tone.

“I’m not going.” Yan Yunning sprawled across the round table with utter disregard for any semblance of decorum.

What an attitude!

The man’s handsome face darkened, his dark eyes narrowing. “Second Young Miss — do you know where the last person who defied me now finds themselves?”

His expression was cold and piercing.

“What does that have to do with me?” Yan Yunning pretended not to understand.

“Second Young Miss, I had him’s hands and feet—”

“Elder Sister! I’m here!” Yan Yunning’s face drained white with fright as she suddenly cried out and bolted out of the pavilion at full speed.

Xuan Yanyu watched Yan Yunning’s panicked, fleeing silhouette and let out a low laugh. Such a timid little thing, and yet she still dares to defy him.

“Your Highness.” Ye Chen stepped out from the shadows. “Today, the Lady of the Prime Minister’s household intended to administer household punishment on Yan Yunning. The First Young Miss couldn’t bear to watch, so she wept and begged the Lady to stop.”

“Household punishment?” Xuan Yanyu’s smile carried a sardonic edge. “A girl of such timid nerves — how on earth did she manage to anger the Lady of the Prime Minister’s household so?”

“Your Highness, that I cannot say. But this Lady of the Prime Minister’s household is truly ruthless. If the Prime Minister hadn’t rushed back in time, that Yan Yunning would have been in a wretched state.” Ye Chen’s tone was filled with sighing sympathy.

“Still quite a pitiful little thing?” Xuan Yanyu murmured low beneath his breath.