“If we go back, Luo Xuan definitely won’t arrange a room for us again. Since Ah Ci has found me, he can’t keep staying at the inn, right?” Yan Yuning explained calmly.  

With Qi Qingchen in the stronghold, her elder sister would inevitably return there. And if her sister went back, Xuan Yanyu would surely follow her.  

She refused to be left alone. In this unfamiliar place, she could only rely on Xuan Yanyu for now.  

“What do you want to say?” The man’s voice was deep and magnetic.  

Yan Yuning looked at him and began to smile.  

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes slightly, his throat tightening as his slender fingers absently rubbed the jade ring on his thumb.  

“Um… I was thinking, Ah Ci could stay in my room, and I could… borrow yours? Is that okay?” Yan Yuning asked shamelessly.  

Just saying it made her cheeks flush. Once was one thing, but doing it a second time felt deliberate.  

Fafa: [Master, didn’t you say Luo Xuan was going to cause trouble for Xuan Yanyu and that you couldn’t count on him anymore?]

[Fool, Xuan Yanyu still has Ye Chen and Ye Jian by his side. Staying close to him is much safer than being on my own.]

Fafa: […]

Xuan Yanyu curled his lips, giving her a meaningful look. “Why do you want to stay in my room?”  

“Luo Xuan is infatuated with Brother Qi. Because I told you about her scheme, she locked me up once already. Staying by your side is safer. I thought about it—if I went to Brother Qi, wouldn’t Luo Xuan just…”  

Before she could finish, Xuan Yanyu coldly interrupted, “If Luo Xuan had no feelings for Qi Qingchen, you’d go to him instead, is that it?”  

Yan Yuning pouted. If Luo Xuan didn’t like Qi Qingchen, she wouldn’t have targeted her for ruining her plans. She wouldn’t need to seek help from anyone at all.  

A trace of anger flickered across Xuan Yanyu’s handsome face. He didn’t even know why he was mad, but he was furious.  

From afternoon until after dinner, Xuan Yanyu remained sullen, not speaking a word to Yan Yuning. She pressed her lips together, completely baffled by his anger.  

She carefully replayed their conversation in her head.  

Was it because he didn’t want her staying in his room?  

If he didn’t want to, he could just say so. Why give her the silent treatment?  

She was the one who should be angry!!!  

“Elder Sister…” Yan Yuning leaned against Yan Shiyao’s shoulder, growing more aggrieved the more she thought about it.  

Fine, if he wanted to ignore her, she’d ignore him too!  

But she didn’t want to die.  

The more she thought about it, the sadder she felt!  

“What’s wrong?” Yan Shiyao asked with a soft laugh.  

Ah Ci also leaned in. “Little Lemon, are you unhappy?”  

Yan Yuning lifted her teary eyes, her voice pitiful. “Elder Sister, please stop liking Qi Qingchen. For my sake, okay?”  

Qi Qingchen wasn’t worthy of her sister’s affection at all.  

Xuan Yanyu, who had just arrived, overheard this and let out a cold laugh. “For your sake? Just because you don’t like him, no one else is allowed to?”  

His tone was laced with sarcasm.  

Yan Yuning’s pink lips parted slightly. Wasn’t she doing this for him? Why was he being so sarcastic?!  

Yan Shiyao bit her lip, her lashes lowering. “Ningning, do you… still have feelings for Brother Qi?”  

“No! I never had feelings for him. I just think he’s not good enough for you. Look at how he’s with Luo Xuan—”  

Before she could finish, Qi Qingchen cleared his throat lightly.  

Yan Yuning awkwardly fell silent.  

Ah Ci blinked at them, confused.  

“Uh, I’m going out for a bit.” The girl, her mood thoroughly dampened, dashed out of the room.

Xuan Yanyu’s ears were still ringing with Yan Yuning’s words—I never had feelings for Qi Qingchen. He pressed his lips together and turned to follow her out.  

Yan Yuning covered her face as she ran all the way to the pavilion. [Fafa, how did I end up in such an awkward situation?]

Fafa: [Master, it’s okay!]

[Sigh, you don’t understand. How am I supposed to face Qi Qingchen after this?] Yan Yuning propped her chin on her hand and sighed.  

Fafa: […]

“Still want to borrow my room?”  

A deep, magnetic voice came from above her. Yan Yuning turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge him.  

The man pursed his lips and coaxed, “Don’t be angry, alright?”  

He had never coaxed anyone before—no one had ever dared to make him. This was a first.  

Yan Yuning’s eyes flickered mischievously. “Then I get the bed, and you take the couch.”  

“Fine.” It wasn’t like he hadn’t slept on the couch last night. One more night wouldn’t kill him.  

Yan Yuning pushed her luck. “And if I can’t sleep, you have to talk to me.”  

“Deal.” The man’s eyes held a trace of amusement.  

…

The night deepened.  

Ye Chen’s pupils constricted as he watched Yan Yuning enter Xuan Yanyu’s quarters—again.

“What are we supposed to do? Ever since Yan Yuning showed up, His Highness has been hovering around her all day. Could he really be considering taking her as a concubine?” Ye Chen muttered grimly.  

“His Highness never liked the eldest Miss Yan to begin with. I’m afraid he might defy the Emperor for the sake of the second Miss Yan,” Ye Jian said solemnly.  

“Should we report this to His Majesty now?” Ye Chen wondered after a brief pause.  

Ye Jian’s voice was grave. “Then we’d offend His Highness.”  

Ye Chen pressed his lips together. Offending the Crown Prince was bad, but offending the Emperor was worse.  

“What if we just… deal with Luo Xuan? Yan Yuning is afraid of her, right? Without Luo Xuan, she wouldn’t have a reason to cling to His Highness anymore,” Ye Chen suggested, a hint of ruthlessness in his tone.  

Ye Jian flicked him on the forehead. “No wonder His Highness calls you an idiot. Luo Xuan is clearly tied to the Qilan royal family in some way. If we touch her, it’ll only bring us trouble.”  

“And do you really think His Highness would indulge Yan Yuning like this if he had no interest in her?” he added.  

He had grown up by His Highness’ side—did Ye Chen really think he didn’t know him?  

Luo Xuan or not, it wouldn’t change a thing!  

Ye Chen’s breath hitched. “Are you saying… His Highness has taken a liking to Yan Yuning? Or is it just because of the eldest Miss Yan that he tolerates her?”  

Ye Jian rolled his eyes, utterly exasperated. “Because of the eldest Miss Yan? The eldest Miss Yan is the future Crown Princess of Xuanzhao. If His Highness had no interest in second Miss Yan, would he let her stay in his quarters? Is that even proper?!”  

If it were really just for the eldest Miss Yan’s sake, he could’ve simply assigned him and Ye Chen to protect Yan Yuning. There was no need to let her sleep in his room.  

Ye Chen pouted.  

If His Highness didn’t take Yan Yuning as a concubine, protocol dictated that she should address him as brother-in-law. Sharing a room with him was beyond improper.  

“When I went to tidy His Highness’ bedding this morning… it was on the couch,” Ye Jian said meaningfully.  

Ye Chen nearly fell out of the tree. “His Highness, how could you—”  

Did His Highness even remember his status?!  

…

Inside the quarters.  

Yan Yuning squatted by the couch, leisurely sipping a cup of tea.  

Xuan Yanyu lay sideways on the couch, his black brocade robe draped over a carved clothing rack nearby, a thin blanket covering him.  

“Had enough? Time to sleep,” the man said, his voice low and rough.  

The aroma of tea lingered as Yan Yuning took another sip and smiled, shaking her head. “Nope. Tell me another story.”  

What kind of bedtime was this? In modern times, this would be prime scrolling-on-phone hours!  

Xuan Yanyu paused, his voice growing even huskier. “Yan Yuning, if you push your luck again—”  

Yan Yuning pouted and mumbled, “Fine, no story then.”  

She stood up, placed the teacup on the table, then walked to the bed and lay down sideways, pulling the quilt over herself.