Yan Shiyao worked hard to steady her emotions, her voice soft and low. “Big Brother Qi, at the market today I noticed a sachet that suits you very well. Have a look — do you like it?”

As she spoke, Yan Shiyao drew a pale blue sachet from her sleeve and held it out toward Qi Qingchen, her eyes full of expectation.

Qi Qingchen instinctively glanced at Xuan Zhaorang. The latter was staring straight at the sachet in Yan Shiyao’s hand.

That’s wrong — shouldn’t it be given to Crown Prince Brother?

“Big Brother Qi.” Yan Shiyao bit her lip, the corners of her eyes faintly red.

Qi Qingchen pressed his lips together and said in a measured tone, “Yaoyao, thank you for the thought, but I’ve never been one to wear these sorts of accessories.”

Yan Shiyao awkwardly withdrew her hand.

Xuan Zhaorang curved her lips. He didn’t like wearing sachets? She was determined to make him wear one.

He had accepted hers, not Shiyao Sister’s — Shiyao Sister ought to finally be disillusioned with him now.

“Yaoyao, have a seat and eat.” Qi Qingchen smiled and picked up a pair of chopsticks, passing them to Xuan Zhaorang.

“Qi Qingchen, surely you don’t think I’m a little child?” Xuan Zhaorang’s small face was full of exasperation.

It wasn’t as if she couldn’t pick up her own chopsticks.

“Alright, weren’t you hungry? Eat quickly then.” The arc of Qi Qingchen’s lips deepened.

Xuan Zhaorang pursed her mouth to one side.

Yan Shiyao concealed the ache at the bottom of her eyes and slowly settled into the wooden chair.

“Qi Qingchen, I want to eat some tangerines.” Xuan Zhaorang pointed at the plate of unpeeled tangerines on the round table, a sweet smile playing at her lips.

Qi Qingchen set down his chopsticks helplessly, picked up a tangerine, and began carefully peeling it for her.

Xuan Zhaorang propped her chin in her hand and watched him with a look of admiration, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Yan Shiyao — who sat in the wooden chair, the tip of her nose red.

Those who neither contend nor compete are simply forgotten. Growing up in the imperial palace, Xuan Zhaorang had seen it — women with the same temperament as Shiyao Sister were all forgotten in the back palace by Imperial Father. If one wanted to live a better life, the only way was to find some means to earn favor.

Shiyao Sister was not suited for the back palace. If she truly married Crown Prince Brother, with a constant stream of new consorts entering the palace, given Shiyao Sister’s nature, she would likely be cast aside and neglected by Crown Prince Brother.

And yet Shiyao Sister had to marry Crown Prince Brother — Imperial Father would absolutely not allow Shiyao Sister to marry anyone else.

Qi Qingchen passed the peeled tangerine to Xuan Zhaorang.

Xuan Zhaorang smiled and took it, then broke off half and held it toward Yan Shiyao. “Shiyao Sister, taste it — does the tangerine Qi Qingchen peeled taste good?”

Yan Shiyao turned those words over and over in her mind. Does the tangerine Qi Qingchen peeled taste good?

Big Brother Qi had peeled it himself. For her.

“Take it.” Xuan Zhaorang placed the half-tangerine in her palm.

Yan Shiyao stared at the tangerine in her hand, her heart so pained she could barely breathe.

“What does whether a tangerine tastes good have to do with whether I peeled it?” Qi Qingchen sighed helplessly.

“It has everything to do with it — you peeled it yourself! Even if it doesn’t taste good, you have to say it tastes good, otherwise you’ll be sad.” Xuan Zhaorang’s voice was honeyed and soft.

Qi Qingchen’s gaze swept across her face, and he burst out laughing for no apparent reason.

Xuan Zhaorang glared at him fiercely. “What are you laughing at?”

Qi Qingchen raised his hand and ruffled her head. “Not laughing. Now eat your meal quickly.”

Xuan Zhaorang unhooked a sachet from her waist and lifted her chin high. “Just now when I saw Shiyao Sister take out a sachet, I wanted to give you one too.”

Qi Qingchen’s throat bobbed.

“Don’t you dare say you don’t want to wear it. I’ve been wearing this sachet for years — you have to wear it every single day.” Xuan Zhaorang said imperiously.

This sachet was, among all her sachets, the most unattractive and inconspicuous one. She had worn this particular one to Qilan precisely to keep a low profile.

“What if I don’t want to accept it?” Qi Qingchen’s voice held a concealed smile.

Xuan Zhaorang tilted her head. “If you won’t take it, fine — this sachet I’m giving to someone regardless. If you won’t take it, I’ll give it to Brother Xuan.”

Qi Qingchen’s smile froze on his face. He snatched the sachet from Xuan Zhaorang’s hand, gritted his teeth, and said, “Don’t give it to him.”

Xuan Zhaorang narrowed her eyes in a smile. “Then you must wear it every single day.”

She wouldn’t give it to Crown Prince Brother even without being told — Crown Prince Brother deserved better. Even she herself looked down on this sachet; Crown Prince Brother would look down on it even more.

“Understood.” Qi Qingchen’s fingertips hooked the sachet and fastened it at his waist.

Yan Shiyao looked at the sachet hanging at Qi Qingchen’s side. Tears slipped uncontrollably down onto the back of her hand. She bit her lip tightly and staggered out.

Qi Qingchen looked up at Yan Shiyao’s retreating figure, his brow furrowing. “What’s the matter with her?”

Xuan Zhaorang raised an eyebrow, picked a tangerine segment and chewed it in her mouth. “I’m not sure. Qi Qingchen, shouldn’t you go check on her?”

Qi Qingchen pressed his lips together. “No need.”

She probably just didn’t want to eat again.

Xuan Zhaorang laughed silently.

On the other side, Yan Yunning was lying sprawled across the bed, analyzing the plot.

【Fafa, if Qi Qingchen and Ranran end up together, will my older sister be able to smoothly get together with Xuan Yanyu?】

Fafa: 【Impossible. How could the male and female leads be separated?】

Yan Yunning pulled the brocade blanket over her head and covered herself. 【I can see that Qi Qingchen is quite indulgent toward Ranran.】

Fafa: 【…】

【Ranran is Xuan Yanyu’s imperial sister. If she and Qi Qingchen got together, wouldn’t that mean Xuanzhao and Qilan could remain on good terms forever?】 Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow lightly.

Fafa: 【Master, I don’t know — it wasn’t written that way in the book!】

Yan Yunning: 【…】

There was a knock on the wooden door, and then a man pushed his way in.

Yan Yunning lifted the brocade blanket and cast him a glance.

“Why didn’t you come to eat?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice carried a trace of laziness.

“…”

The man walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the girl lying there in silence — feeling a little helpless.

He had been fairly angry with her, angry that she was hiding from him. And before he had even cooled down, here he was having to coax her to come eat.

Xuan Yanyu looked down at Yan Yunning, who had buried herself thoroughly under the blanket with only her small head peeking out, and raised his well-defined fingers to tap her forehead.

“Xuan Yanyu!”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow, supported the back of her neck with his hand, and lifted her up from the bed. “Why didn’t you come to eat?”

The man was strikingly handsome. His low, unhurried voice carried a note of languid ease. Yan Yunning turned her head away and refused to look at him.

“Yan Yunning.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice dropped lower, with a hint of displeasure.

“I’m… I’m here.” The girl muttered in a small voice.

Provoking his anger would do her no good.

What if he changed his mind and demanded his silver back? She had no silver to return to him.

Xuan Yanyu looked down at her. “Why did you avoid me the day we came down the mountain?”

Yan Yunning swallowed. Wasn’t it because she had concluded she was reasonably safe from him, and knowing he would eventually marry her older sister, she had thought to keep her distance from here on?

Who would have guessed he would actually be angry about that?

Besides, she was afraid that if she spent too much time with him, someday she might find herself unable to bear leaving.

He was Xuanzhao’s Crown Prince — its future king. His back palace would certainly be filled with many consorts, something she could never accept. He was indulgent toward her in every way right now, and she was afraid she would fall for him.

While she had not yet given him her heart, keeping her distance now before it was too late was surely a good thing.