“She really is pitiable. Sent away right after birth and barely back for a few days before almost facing family punishment.” Ye Chen sighed, his tone full of pity.  

Xuan Yanyu frowned, his voice low and solemn. “Where is the Prime Minister’s wife now?”  

“Your Highness, she’s in the ancestral hall.”  

A wicked smirk curled at the corner of Xuan Yanyu’s lips. “Go scare her a little.”  

“Your Highness, the Prime Minister’s wife is Eldest Miss Yan’s mother,” Ye Chen reminded him.  

Xuan Yanyu cast him a cool glance. “She made Ah Yao cry. That’s reason enough.”  

Ye Chen paused, then nodded. “Understood, Your Highness.”  

Yan Yuning wandered around before finally finding Yan Shiyao’s Yaozhi Courtyard. The garden was filled with blooming flowers, their fragrance thick in the air.  

Beneath the rockery, fish swam freely, and the pebble-lined path offered a slightly rough but pleasant sensation underfoot.  

“Elder Sister.”  

Yan Shiyao was organizing scrolls when she heard the voice and looked up in surprise. “Ningning, what brings you here?”  

Yan Yuning’s eyes darted around. “Elder Sister, Xuan Yan—uh, Young Master Xuan said you haven’t eaten. He’s extremely worried and asked me to persuade you.”  

Yan Shiyao set the scrolls on the desk, a faint smile touching her lips. “Brother Yu is making too big a deal out of it.”  

Yan Yuning put on a serious face. “Elder Sister, Young Master Xuan truly cares for you. Entrusting you to him puts my heart at ease!”  

Xuan Yanyu, who had just stepped into the courtyard, froze at those words. What nonsense was this pitiful girl spouting?  

If she scared Ah Yao with such talk, he’d have to teach her a lesson—no more reckless words in the future.  

“Ningning, don’t talk nonsense. Brother Yu and I… there’s no possibility. I—I already have someone I love.” Yan Shiyao’s cheeks flushed slightly, shyness flickering across her face.  

Yan Yuning’s eyelids twitched, and she quickly cut in, “Elder Sister, I have someone I love too! My heart belongs to Ah Chen. Elder Sister, don’t you think we’d make a perfect match?”  

Sorry! I had no choice!

Yan Shiyao was stunned. “Ningning, you… you’re in love with the Third Prince?”  

“Of course! I’ll marry no one but him. Elder Sister, what about you? Who’s the one you love?” Yan Yuning blinked innocently, her expression guileless.  

“I—I… Ningning, I’m a little tired. I should rest now.” Yan Shiyao lowered her eyes, her voice soft.  

“Rest at this hour?”  

“Yes.” Yan Shiyao bit her lip, her expression evasive.  

Yan Yuning rubbed her nose. “Then I’ll take my leave.”  

With that, she turned and walked away.  

Fafa: [Master, you just depressed the female lead.] 

Yan Yuning sighed. [Sigh, what else could I do?] 

“Good heavens, what are you doing here?!” Yan Yuning clutched her chest, startled.  

Xuan Yanyu leaned lazily against the wall, arms crossed, casting her a sidelong glance.

Yan Yuning gulped and forced herself to walk forward—only for her collar to be yanked back. She turned angrily to glare at the person behind her.  

Then, as if remembering something, her defiance deflated. “I tried persuading her.”  

“How exactly did you persuade her?” Xuan Yanyu released her, dusting off his hands.  

“Just… told her to eat. She wouldn’t listen to me.” Yan Yuning muttered under her breath.  

Xuan Yanyu arched a brow. “Oh? Nothing else?”  

“Nothing! Don’t worry, absolutely nothing else.”  

Xuan Yanyu snorted. Still a little liar.  

Fafa: [Master, starting tomorrow, the novel enters its main plot. The Emperor orders all the princes to conceal their identities and experience commoners’ lives. The female lead secretly follows the male lead.]

[What?! Experience commoners’ lives?!]

Fafa: [That’s how it’s written in the book. The other princes are just background characters. The Emperor’s real purpose is to give Qi Qingchen a chance to better understand the Qilan Kingdom so he can inherit the throne in the future.]  

Fafa: [After returning to the capital, the relationship between the male and female leads deepens—one vows to marry no one but her, and the other swears to wed no one but him.]  

[Huh? What about Xuan Yanyu? No scenes for him?]

Fafa: [Oh, he’s there. He went along too.]  

[So he just watched the leads get together? Didn’t he try to sabotage them?]

Fafa: [Of course he did, but he still couldn’t stop them from ending up together.]  

Yan Yuning: […]  

No way. She refused to accept this ending! She would rewrite it!!!  

Fafa: [Master, you were the one Xuan Yanyu killed. Instead of trying to break up the leads, wouldn’t it be better to just… suck up to him?]  

[What nonsense are you spouting? Am I insane?! Why would I suck up to him?! As long as the leads don’t end up together, Xuan Yanyu won’t go crazy and threaten the female lead, and I won’t get killed!]

Fafa: [Master, but what if the female lead ends up with someone else? Wouldn’t you still be in danger?]  

[…No! Impossible! I refuse to listen! Shut up!!!]  

Fafa: […]  

…

“What are you thinking about?” Xuan Yanyu suddenly leaned in close.  

His warm breath brushed against her cheek, carrying a faint, intoxicating scent. Yan Yuning stammered, “Y-you… stay away from me.”

[Fafa, if it weren’t for his stupidly handsome face, I’d have slapped him already.]  

Fafa: [Master, are you sure it’s not just because you’re scared of him?]  

[Shut up. Who asked you to state facts? I don’t like hearing them.]  

She had already made up her excuses!  

Fafa: […]  

Xuan Yanyu let out a mocking chuckle, lazily lifting his eyelids.  

Seeing his infuriating expression, Yan Yuning snapped, “From now on, unless necessary, stay far away from me. I don’t want to see you!”  

With that, she dashed out at top speed.  

Xuan Yanyu was so furious he couldn’t even speak. He kicked the wall hard.  

“Your Highness, calm down, calm down…” Ye Chen wiped sweat from his forehead, inwardly lamenting.  

His Highness had been raised in luxury since childhood—no one had ever made him this angry before.  

And no one dared to.  

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with rage. “Pick out some gifts and send them to the Prime Minister’s wife.”  

Ye Chen hesitated. “Your Highness… are we not scaring her anymore?”  

He had already prepared the men.  

“Why would we? She did well today!” Xuan Yanyu’s expression darkened.  

“But Your Highness, didn’t you say the Prime Minister’s wife upset Miss Yan, so—”  

Halfway through his sentence, Ye Chen looked up and met Xuan Yanyu’s icy gaze. A chill ran down his spine, and he swallowed the rest of his words.  

“Understood, Your Highness. I’ll arrange it immediately.” Ye Chen lowered his head, not daring to say another word.  

…

Morning light filtered through the window lattice, spilling onto the soft bed as Yan Yuning slowly woke up.  

She yawned, rubbing her sleepy eyes.  

Fafa: [Master, the male lead, female lead, and male supporting character have already met.]  

[They left already???] Yan Yuning got out of bed and walked to the washstand, starting her morning routine.  

Fafa: [Yes.]  

After wiping her face, a maid handed her a bamboo toothbrush.  

[Then what am I supposed to do?] Yan Yuning rinsed her mouth with water.  

Fafa: [Master, even the male supporting character—who’s incredibly powerful—couldn’t break them up. Maybe you should just… give up? There’s no hope.]  

Yan Yuning took the towel handed to her by the maid and dabbed her lips. [So you want me to just wait to be killed?]

Fafa: [No, Master. I just don’t want you to waste your effort for nothing. Wouldn’t it be better to just enjoy life while you can?]  

Yan Yuning tossed the towel onto the tray. [How will I know if I don’t try?]

Fafa: […Then good luck.]  

Yan Yuning: […]