Delight surfaced in the depths of Qi Qingchen’s eyes.

Yan Yunning opened her mouth, looked at Yan Shiyao, then looked at Qi Qingchen and Zhaorang in turn. This, this, this…

Had the plot gone a little off the rails?

【Fafa, how was it written in the book?】

Fafa: 【Master, in the book, Xuan Yanyu didn’t go up the mountain to Qingyu Stronghold at all. He and Qi Qingchen stayed at the foot of the mountain to provide support for Yan Shiyao and Nanchu. Zhaorang came to find Xuan Yanyu, and the next day Xuan Yanyu had Ye Chen send her back to Xuanzhao — and after that, Zhaorang was never mentioned in the book again.】

Yan Yunning rubbed her chin. 【So the plot has gone off the rails?】

Fafa: 【…】

【What is the relationship between Xuan Yanyu and Zhaorang? Why would Zhaorang know that he dislikes eating food others pick for him?】

Fafa: 【Zhaorang’s full name is Xuan Zhaorang. Master, what do you think?】

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow. 【Xuan Yanyu’s imperial sister?】

Fafa: 【That’s right~】

Yan Shiyao’s eyes reddened. She said huffily, “Big Brother Qi, I’ll ask Brother Yu to accompany me. I don’t need you.”

Qi Qingchen looked at her and said nothing.

Yan Shiyao gritted her teeth. Seeing how completely indifferent Qi Qingchen appeared, she turned and ran out.

Xuan Zhaorang curved her lips — now that was right. Going to find Crown Prince Brother was the right move.

Qi Qingchen was somewhat annoyed. He gave Yan Yunning and Xuan Zhaorang a nod, then walked out as well.

Yan Yunning cleared her throat and, as if saying it casually, remarked, “Ranran, since you can tell that Xuan Yanyu dislikes eating food others pick for him, can you tell why he would lose his temper for no apparent reason?”

Xuan Zhaorang was his imperial sister — she should know him quite well…

Xuan Zhaorang’s eyes trembled slightly. “You… you…”

How could she call Crown Prince Brother by his given name directly!

Yan Yunning was puzzled and pointed to herself. “Me?”

What did that mean?

Had she made him angry?

After a brief silence, Xuan Zhaorang asked curiously, “Have you always called him that? Didn’t he get angry?”

“No.” Yan Yunning said without thinking.

It seemed like the first time she had called him that, he had said something about it — but after that, he never mentioned it again.

Xuan Zhaorang burst out laughing and stepped forward to hook her arm through Yan Yunning’s, her voice very sweet. “Ningning~”

She felt the five-day limit could stand to be extended.

Yan Yunning looked at her with suspicion.

Xuan Zhaorang put on an adorable expression.

“…” Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow slightly, and said at a leisurely pace, “Tell me — why does Xuan Yanyu lose his temper for no apparent reason?”

Xuan Zhaorang looked faintly surprised. “He doesn’t lose his temper for no reason.”

“?” Yan Yunning said with a half-smile, “So he’s simply moody and unpredictable in general?”

Xuan Zhaorang met the girl’s bright, dewy eyes and shook her head. “No.”

Yan Yunning: “…”

Then why had he suddenly stopped speaking to her?

Xuan Zhaorang blinked gently. “Ningning, you don’t need to worry about him being angry at you. If he were truly angry, you wouldn’t be standing here perfectly fine.”

Because those who dared to anger Crown Prince Brother either committed grave offenses and were thrown into the imperial prison — or they were daughters of ministers who harbored designs on becoming Crown Prince Brother’s women, who were warned by Ye Chen and Ye Jian and were never seen in Crown Prince Brother’s presence again.

The fact that Ningning was still standing here meant Crown Prince Brother had not yet tired of her.

Yan Yunning swallowed. Could it be that if she angered him — he would simply have her done away with, just like that?

…

When dinnertime arrived, Xuan Yanyu and Yan Shiyao had still not returned.

Xuan Zhaorang propped her chin in her hand and scooted a little closer to Qi Qingchen, her voice honey-soft. “Qi Qingchen, why isn’t Brother Xuan back yet? Would you go look for him? Please?”

Ye Chen and Ye Jian were with Crown Prince Brother on either side, so nothing could go wrong — but it was so late now and Crown Prince Brother still wasn’t back. She was still a little worried.

“No.” Qi Qingchen’s voice was flat.

Brother Xuan?

How long had they even known each other? And she was already worried about him?

“Qi Qingchen, please go look for him. I’m already hungry — if they don’t come back, how are we supposed to eat?” Xuan Zhaorang tugged at his arm with a playful pout.

Qi Qingchen fixed his eyes on her, his throat bobbing. “You’re hungry — and that’s the only reason you want me to go look for him?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Xuan Zhaorang’s little head nodded away.

“Alright.” The corners of Qi Qingchen’s mouth lifted very slightly.

Xuan Zhaorang’s lips curved into a smile.

She was the one who could get things done. Crown Prince Brother was too hopeless — it had been nearly a year and he still hadn’t managed to bring Shiyao Sister away from Qi Qingchen.

What was so difficult about dealing with one Qi Qingchen?

She’d take care of it.

When she got back, she would definitely ask Imperial Father and Imperial Mother for a reward.

She had secretly overheard Imperial Mother and Imperial Father complaining about why Crown Prince Brother had to be sent to Qilan — they worried he wasn’t eating well, worried that Ye Chen and Ye Jian weren’t looking after him properly.

Imperial Father had said that if he didn’t want Crown Prince Brother and Shiyao Sister to first develop some feelings between them, he would have asked the Qilan Emperor for Shiyao Sister long ago.

Imperial Father also said that if Shiyao Sister were brought directly to Xuanzhao, given Crown Prince Brother’s nature, he would likely grow cold toward her.

If Crown Prince Brother and Shiyao Sister were made to spend every day together in Xuanzhao, Crown Prince Brother would probably be unwilling.

Coming to the Kingdom of Qilan was different — he had no choice but to be around Shiyao Sister every day, and over time, wouldn’t feelings naturally develop?

Before Qi Qingchen could even rise to go look for them, Xuan Yanyu and Yan Shiyao walked in side by side.

Xuan Zhaorang immediately straightened up and sat perfectly proper.

Qi Qingchen narrowed his eyes slightly. Why did it feel like Zhaorang was very afraid of Xuan Yanyu?

Yan Shiyao glanced at Qi Qingchen and Xuan Zhaorang, then lowered her eyes to conceal the disappointment at the bottom of her gaze. She felt that Big Brother Qi seemed very attentive toward Zhaorang — he treated Zhaorang differently than he treated others.

“Where is Yan Yunning?” Xuan Yanyu couldn’t help but ask.

Why were only Qi Qingchen and little Ran here?

“Ningning said she didn’t want to eat, that she was in no mood.” Zhaorang replied dutifully.

What “no mood to eat” — she had seen it clearly. Just as dinnertime was approaching, the inn’s serving boy had carried food up to Ningning’s room. Ningning had also specifically run to her room to tell her that if Crown Prince Brother asked where she was, to say she had no mood to eat.

She had originally thought Ningning was overthinking it — why would Crown Prince Brother ask about her? But as it turned out, Crown Prince Brother actually did ask.

Should she tell Crown Prince Brother that Ningning had already secretly eaten her dinner?

But then Ningning had specifically told her to keep it to herself…

“I’ll go check on her.” Yan Shiyao forced out a faint smile.

“No need. I’ll go take a look.” Xuan Yanyu’s eyes deepened slightly. He said mildly, “Eat your meal first.”

Xuan Zhaorang stared at Xuan Yanyu’s retreating figure in a daze. Was Crown Prince Brother going in Shiyao Sister’s place to check on Ningning so that Shiyao Sister wouldn’t go hungry — or was he going because he wanted to see Ningning himself?

Qi Qingchen knocked on the table with dissatisfaction, his voice dropping slightly. “Zhaorang, eat. Stop staring.”

“Qi Qingchen, speak nicely — I don’t like that tone of yours.” Xuan Zhaorang pretended to be annoyed and puffed out her cheeks, though the corners of her eyes still held a smile.

Qi Qingchen’s eyes shifted, and he softened his voice. “Eat. Is that alright?”

Xuan Zhaorang grinned broadly at him. “That’s perfectly fine~”

Qi Qingchen stared at the girl’s smiling face and was momentarily stunned. She had tilted her head back to smile up at him, her eyes curving into crescents, the very picture of cheerful willfulness.