“Did Yan Qige not compete for the throne?”

“Not only did he not compete, he didn’t even say a word when Consort Chen was made an imperial consort on the emperor’s coronation day. Afterward, he traveled to the ends of the earth and didn’t return for ten years. Initially, the late emperor and Empress Dowager ordered that no one was permitted to spread these matters on pain of death. After Zhao Zhang ascended the throne, he dealt with a large number of palace attendants who knew the inside story, so the common people outside the palace knew nothing of these secrets. Now that the emperor governs diligently and the people’s lives are good, even fewer pay attention to such matters.”

“He… did he truly leave the capital because Consort Chen entered the palace?”

Zhao Yirong didn’t answer her. Yusang recalled Consort Chen’s provocative words to her – it seemed this was indeed true. Her heart felt somewhat unpleasant. She stood up, glanced at Yongze Palace in the distance, then lowered her eyes and said, “I should leave the palace first.”

After speaking, Yusang paid no attention to Zhao Yirong beside her, leaped down the steps several zhang away, and walked away quickly without looking back.

After leaving the imperial palace, Yusang cast some magic to find her direction. Although the spellcasting backlash injured some of her vital essence, she endured it. Walking onto Huadu’s main street, Yusang felt somewhat uncomfortable and forced herself to find a secluded spot by a large tree to sit down. She tried to circulate her qi to heal and repair her vital essence, but after several attempts, she couldn’t succeed and instead exhausted herself into a sweat.

Just as Yusang once again disrupted her qi flow and coughed from her struggles, a cool spiritual power suddenly transmitted from her wrist into her meridians. This spiritual power smoothed her disrupted blood flow, and she immediately felt much better. Yusang opened her eyes to see Yan Qige in white robes standing before her.

“Didn’t I say not to cast magic recklessly in the palace? Why didn’t you wait for me to bring you out?”

“You were so busy – how could I dare trouble you?” Yusang stood up and spoke expressionlessly as she walked past Yan Qige.

“What’s wrong? Are you sulking?” Yan Qige followed with his hands clasped behind his back, walking alongside her to ask.

“How would I dare?”

“Such sharp, sarcastic words are not your usual preference.”

“Are we very familiar? We’ve only known each other for a few months – how could that compare to your long acquaintance with Consort Chen? I didn’t know you loved drinking chrysanthemum tea, so how would you know I’m naturally sharp and mean-spirited?”

“You’re angry just because of Consort Chen?” Yan Qige stepped forward to block Yusang’s path, actually showing some amusement.

Yusang looked up at him with angry resentment, saying, “Should I be jumping for joy instead? Yan Qige, I used to only think you were cold-blooded and heartless, but today I discovered you’re also so inhumane.”

After speaking, Yusang angrily swept her sleeves and walked toward the crowd on the main street without looking back. After walking half a street, Yan Qige caught up with her. No matter how fast Yusang walked, Yan Qige easily kept pace beside her.

Yusang glared at him fiercely from the corner of her eye and huffily quickened her steps, walking faster than ever before. When she reached the end of the street, she discovered the person beside her had disappeared. Yusang stopped and couldn’t help looking back to search, finding only various passersby coming and going behind her, with not a trace of Yan Qige’s shadow.

“What a bastard! Is it so difficult to humble yourself and apologize to me?” Yusang stamped her foot hard and spat, puffing her cheeks as she turned around. The moment she turned her face, she crashed into a chest.

Yusang instinctively tried to retreat quickly, but stepped on her skirt in her haste. Fortunately, the person in front was quick to encircle her waist. Yusang’s nose pressed against the person’s chest, and the pleasant sandalwood scent filled her nostrils. Even without looking up, Yusang knew it was Yan Qige.

“Regarding Consort Chen, I neglected your feelings. I shouldn’t have drawn you into this matter. If you’re angry, you can speak directly.” Yan Qige’s voice pressed down from above. Yusang’s face immediately burned red, and she stammered, unable to speak a complete sentence.

“You… you… Who said I was angry? I just don’t like her.”

“So you’re not angry anymore, right?” Yan Qige’s words seemed to be spoken close to Yusang’s ear, exceptionally gentle and slow, causing Yusang’s mind to roar as she said dazedly, “Not angry.”

“That’s good then.” Yan Qige released Yusang, his tone quickly returning to its usual cold arrogance.

Yusang looked at Yan Qige in astonishment. After a moment, even her teeth ached. She reached out to push hard against his chest, but was caught by the wrist as Yan Qige anticipated it.

“This is all you amount to – fickle, flying into a rage from embarrassment. This is for you – stop quarreling with me.” Yan Qige smiled lightly as he spoke, taking a small brocade box the length of chopsticks from his sleeve with his other hand and placing it in the hand he was holding by the wrist.

“What is this?” Yusang asked without good humor, casually taking it and opening it to find a hibiscus walking ornament inside. Though it appeared to be no longer new, the craftsmanship was exquisite and the materials pure and fine – not an ordinary ornament.

“I destroyed your hairpin last time – this is to replace it.”

Yusang was surprised, thinking she had misheard. She looked up at Yan Qige, seeing his face still showing a smile and his eyes gentle. She quickly lowered her head and said somewhat hesitantly, “Is this… an apology and peace offering to me?”

“What do you think?” Yan Qige slightly raised his chin and slowly uttered three words, then turned with hands clasped behind his back to walk forward.

Yusang took out the walking ornament to look at it in her hands. She truly loved it dearly and couldn’t help feeling better. Seeing Yan Qige walking slowly as if waiting for her, her mood suddenly brightened considerably. She ran to catch up and craned her neck to ask with a smile, “Yan Qige, you clearly came to apologize and make peace with me – why won’t you admit it? I won’t laugh at you.”

“You’re truly noisy.” Yan Qige spoke while looking straight ahead.

“Just admit it! Say ‘Yusang, I was wrong’ and I promise not to laugh at you.” Yusang grinned as she mimicked his voice.

Yan Qige stopped walking, turned around with hands clasped behind his back to survey Yusang. In his eyes was the expression of wanting to strangle Yusang yet being helpless about it. He seemed to want to say something, but when the words reached his lips he stopped again. He took the hibiscus walking ornament from Yusang’s hands, saying, “If you keep chattering endlessly, I’ll take it back.”

Hearing this, Yusang became anxious and reached out to snatch the ornament back, glancing at him sideways and saying, “How can you take back something you’ve given away? And you call yourself a prince – how petty.”

“Let’s go. We need to return to the imperial palace once more.” Yan Qige didn’t continue chatting idly with Yusang but led the way forward with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Go again?” Yusang’s face fell as she thought again of Consort Chen’s face and the discomfort she felt in the palace.

“Although this bracelet allows me to enter the palace, that demon-suppressing formation in the palace makes me truly uncomfortable. Could I not go? I’ll just wait for you outside the palace.” Yusang looked at Yan Qige with a bitter expression.

Yan Qige turned to look at her, revealing a rare, beautiful smile. Seeing this, Yusang felt something terrible was about to happen and turned to run, but Yan Qige grabbed her arm, saying, “Naturally, that’s not possible – you must come with me.”

“Hmph, I thought you had become kind-hearted, but it turns out you gave me something just so I’d go suffer with you.” Yusang puffed her cheeks and complained as she looked back, but didn’t refuse further.