All the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Physician’s Court had taken up residence in the Crown Prince’s Manor, yet they were entirely at a loss. Xuan Yanyu had also grown visibly thinner in recent days.

Whenever Yan Yunning woke, she would keep watch over him to make sure he ate properly. The man obediently listened to her — whatever Yan Yunning told him to eat, he ate.

“Crown Princess, Snowball is here.” Qiuci placed Snowball in Yan Yunning’s arms.

Snowball had become considerably better-behaved. It no longer barked when it saw Xuan Yanyu. Yan Yunning smiled brightly. “Your Highness, has Snowball improved its manners?”

“Mm.” The man’s voice was so low it could barely be heard.

“Your Highness, I would like to see Yuzhi Elder Sister, Elder Brother Mu, Sister Wen, A’Ci, Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother, and Father.” Yan Yunning stroked Snowball’s small head. “And… Yan Shiyao.”

Last time Yan Shiyao had given her a push, and it was Fafa who had caused her to fall — but she was going home now. She should see her.

Ever since she had gone to the Prime Minister’s manor, aside from the time Yan Shiyao had come because of her mother’s affairs, Yan Shiyao had treated her rather well on all other occasions.

“All right.” Xuan Yanyu did not look at her. He lay slumped against the edge of the bed, his face buried in the brocade quilt, helpless and forlorn.

“Your Highness, I only… I only want to see them a little. There’s nothing else behind it…”

“Mm. This Palace knows.” The man’s voice was muffled and fragmented.

Yan Yunning had no wish to cry at all — yet her tears insisted on falling anyway.

After a while, Yan Yunning smiled and said, “Your Highness, do you think there will be a sunset this evening? If there is, will Your Highness come with me to watch it?”

“Mm. Yes.” Just those two simple words in reply — he was afraid that if he said even one more, he would not be able to hold himself together.

The girl was smiling — yet her tears were falling without a sound. She worked hard to keep her voice from wavering, the same as always. “Your Highness, there used to be a little person who said she would treat me to her pastries one day — I don’t know if she ever opened that pastry shop. Could you… could you go and taste her pastries for me? And tell me whether they’re good?”

“This Palace… this Palace will go and find your Maternal Grandfather and Maternal Grandmother for you.” The man stumbled, barely able to stay on his feet, and ran outside.

“Xuan Xixi…”

That barely-there call — Xuan Yanyu’s steps faltered. His lips trembled as he said, “You promised this Palace you would never leave. You cannot break your word.”

The hall doors were pulled shut behind the man. Yan Yunning’s face had gone pale. She called for Xiao Wan to bring a writing brush and paper, dismissed every last maidservant from the room, gathered Snowball into her arms, sat down in the sandalwood chair, gripped the brush handle, and wrote with careful, earnest strokes:

May Xuan Xixi’s affairs at court proceed smoothly, and may he handle them with ease and skill.

May Xuan Xixi’s health be good, and may everything go smoothly for him.

May Xuan Xixi find joy each and every day, with contentment always by his side.

When the weather turns cold, remember to put on an extra cloak before morning court. When the memorials pile too high, remember to rest before continuing. Remember to eat your meals properly. Do not skip meals when you are angry…

At this point, Yan Yunning paused. Xuan Xixi would not remember her. If he saw these words, it would only leave him confused and troubled.

“Whimper~” Snowball nuzzled against Yan Yunning’s arm. Yan Yunning patted the little creature’s head, folded up the paper carefully, and tucked it beneath the bedding.

Two days later, Xuan Yanyu received a letter from the Xuanzhao Imperial Guards stationed in Qilan, informing him that Qi Qingchen was by Yan Shiyao’s side day and night, and that they had no way to bring Yan Shiyao back to Xuanzhao.

Xuan Yanyu pinched the bridge of his nose and said in a low, firm voice, “Have Xuan Yan brought around. This Palace will go to Qilan and bring Yan Shiyao back personally.”

“Your Highness, that will not do. You could simply tell the Crown Princess the truth — if she knew that Yan Shiyao and Qi Qingchen are together now, she would no longer wish to see Yan Shiyao. Going to Qilan yourself right now would be far too dangerous.” Ye’an urged.

“Are you not going to get it?” Xuan Yanyu snarled, his composure shattering.

“This subordinate… understands.” Ye’an pressed his lips together. “This subordinate will see to it.”

Once the Imperial Guards had brought all the others — everyone except Yan Shiyao — to Xuanzhao, Xuan Yanyu also sent someone to the Grand Commandant’s manor to invite Yuzhi and A’Ci. With them staying by Yan Yunning’s side, he set out for Qilan without worry.

He had brought a considerable number of Imperial Guards with him on this trip. Riding without rest, day and night, they arrived in Qilan and entered the capital city quietly.

Xuan Yanyu did not go looking for Yan Shiyao first. Instead, he went to the pastry shop that the little person had opened.

He looked at the line of customers waiting, then raised his head to read the sign hanging above the shop:

Ning Shi Sweet Pastry Pavilion.

He stood there for a while. The little person spotted Xuan Yanyu, stood on her toes to look past him, and then turned back with a look of disappointment, smiling as she packed up pastries for her customers.

Half an hour later, the little person closed the wooden door and bowed respectfully to Xuan Yanyu. “This one pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The matter of Prince Xuan coming to Qilan to present betrothal and dowry gifts had made a stir throughout all of Qilan — she had naturally already guessed Xuan Yanyu’s identity.

“Ningning wanted to try your pastries and see if they were good. This Palace came to buy some on her behalf.” Speaking of Yan Yunning, Xuan Yanyu gave a quiet, faint smile.

“Your Highness, there is no need to speak of buying. That young lady — that is, the Crown Princess — already paid for them long ago.” The little person touched the jade pendant at her waist, the one carved with a single flower petal turned yellow with age.

She had followed the Crown Prince since she was small. Being left behind when danger arose was nothing new to her.

That time — she had originally meant to get back at that young lady, and had even caused her to knock her head and cut her hand. Yet even so, when danger came, the young lady had not abandoned her.

That debt of gratitude, she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

She had opened this shop and waited a long, long time — but it was not the young lady who came. It was her husband.

It did not matter. After all, that young lady had still remembered she owed her a visit for pastries.

Who knows — perhaps one day, she would come herself.

With the pastries packed, Xuan Yanyu left the Ning Shi Sweet Pastry Pavilion and made his way without pause to the private courtyard where Yan Shiyao was staying.

The guards at the gate were knocked unconscious by two Imperial Guards, and the group made their way smoothly into the courtyard.

Inside the yard, Qi Qingchen had Yan Shiyao by the nose and was reprimanding her in a cold voice.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. When had Qi Qingchen and Yan Shiyao grown so familiar with each other?

“Xuan Yanyu?” Hearing the sound of footsteps, Qi Qingchen immediately moved to shield Yan Shiyao behind him.

So the people from Xuanzhao that the Imperial Preceptor mentioned were coming to take Yan Shiyao away had really come after all?

All these days, he had assumed they would not come.

Yan Shiyao looked at the visibly haggard and broken Xuan Yanyu with a complicated expression. What had happened? Why had Xuan Yanyu come to Qilan — and why did he look so utterly shattered?

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, be careful.” Wu’an and the guards moved to block Qi Qingchen and Yan Shiyao.

“Stand down.” Qi Qingchen said lightly.

Wu’an hesitated briefly, then withdrew with the guards behind Qi Qingchen and Yan Shiyao.

“You came for Yan Shiyao?” Qi Qingchen took Yan Shiyao’s hand and gave it a light swing. “Your Highness the Crown Prince — because of you, Yan Shiyao’s left hand flares up in pain from time to time. How about this: cripple your own left hand, and this Prince will let you take Yan Shiyao.”

“Because if this Prince refuses to release her, even if you want to attack our Qilan, that would take time. So — cripple your left hand right now, and this Prince will let you take Yan Shiyao immediately.”

Xuan Yanyu had come personally to bring Yan Shiyao back to Xuanzhao — that meant he was in considerable urgency. Otherwise, Xuan Yanyu would not have risked coming to Qilan himself.

He had said he would avenge Yan Shiyao. He had to see it through.