After lying down for a while, Yan Yuning sat up. “Xuan Yanyu, I’m hungry.”  

The man on the couch helplessly opened his eyes.  

He regretted it again. Next time, he absolutely wouldn’t let her stay overnight.  

The young girl lay on the bed, staring at him with wide, expectant eyes. Xuan Yanyu rubbed his temples and spoke in a low voice, “Do you have to eat right now?”  

“No, I just wanted to let you know.”  

“…” Xuan Yanyu exhaled sharply. “Yan Yuning, shut up. Starting now, you’re not allowed to speak.”  

Yan Yuning blinked.  

She held back for a while, then opened her mouth again. “Xuan Yanyu, you know…”  

The man on the couch turned over, his back facing her.  

Yan Yuning scratched her nose. Well, she’d annoyed him.  

…

The next day.  

Yan Yuning pushed open the door of the guest room. Yechen leaned against a tree trunk and glanced behind her. “Where’s the young master?”  

Yan Yuning felt a little guilty. When she woke up in the morning, Xuan Yanyu had moved to the bed to continue sleeping—probably because the couch had been uncomfortable.  

“Could he still be in bed?” Yechen muttered under his breath.  

Their Highness had never been one to sleep in.  

“Yan Shiyao, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s estate, clinging to Brother Qingchen all day—I’m embarrassed for you.” The soft yet mocking voice of Luo Xuan rang out.  

“That’s actually a fair point,” Yechen nodded in agreement.  

Yan Yuning glared at him. “Careful, or I’ll tell Xuan Yanyu!”  

Yechen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly backtracked. “Second Miss Yan, dear lady, please don’t.”  

“Ah—” A delicate cry sounded.  

Recognizing Yan Shiyao’s voice, Yan Yuning’s expression changed, and she rushed toward the source of the sound.  

Luo Xuan stood over Yan Shiyao, gripping her chin with a condescending smirk. “Yan Shiyao, Brother Qingchen can only—must only—be mine.”  

She released Yan Shiyao with a flick of her wrist, her smile laced with cruelty.  

Nuonuo stepped forward and handed her a handkerchief. Luo Xuan took it, wiped her fingers, then tossed it onto Yan Shiyao’s face.  

Yan Shiyao bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening as she fought back tears.  

Back in the Prime Minister’s estate, with her mother’s protection, she had never suffered such humiliation.  

This time, she had left the estate at her mother’s urging—to take this opportunity to get closer to the Third Prince and deepen their relationship.  

She adored A’Chen, so she hadn’t refused her mother’s suggestion.  

“Yan Shiyao, look at yourself. How could you possibly deserve Brother Qingchen? He’s destined to inherit the throne one day,” Luo Xuan said with a bewitching smile.  

“Oh? Did the Emperor of Qi tell you that? What if the other princes found out Qi Qingchen was set to inherit? Do you think he’d still live peacefully?” Yan Yuning helped Yan Shiyao up from the ground.  

The girl’s beautiful eyes narrowed, her pink lips curling into a mocking smile.  

Luo Xuan’s smile turned icy as she lightly licked her lips. “Yan Yuning, you’re quite clever.”  

She knew Luo Xuan wanted to target her, which was why she stuck close to Xuan Yanyu during the day and slept in his room at night.  

Luo Xuan still hadn’t uncovered Xuan Yanyu’s identity, and he was smart enough to only wound her without making a fatal move. But she would still make Yan Yuning pay for her injuries.  

Still, if Yan Yuning could stay in Xuan Yanyu’s room, their relationship must be unusual. For now, it was best not to provoke that madman.  

But Yan Shiyao’s feelings for Brother Qingchen? She couldn’t let that slide!  

“Ningning, let’s go,” Yan Shiyao murmured, her eyes fixed on the ground as she clenched her hands at her sides.  

Yan Yuning frowned. “Elder Sister, we can’t just let this go.”  

“Second Miss Yan, have you forgotten? This is my Taoyuan Manor. How dare you think of teaching me a lesson on my own turf?” Luo Xuan’s lips curled into a smirk.  

“Brother Qi!” Yan Yuning caught sight of Qi Qingchen approaching and released Yan Shiyao, running to his side. “Luo Xuan bullied my sister!”

For a brief moment, panic flashed in Luo Xuan’s heart.  

“Ningning, don’t talk nonsense,” Qi Qingchen said helplessly.  

Yan Yuning opened her mouth but said nothing.  

“Brother Qingchen, it’s A’Xuan who’s being annoying. Now even Second Miss Yan dislikes me too.” A tear slid down her cheek as Luo Xuan’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.  

Yan Yuning: “……？？？”  

“A’Xuan, Ningning was just joking. She’s still young—don’t take it to heart.” Qi Qingchen gently wiped her tears away with his fingertips.  

Yan Shiyao’s chest tightened painfully.  

Yan Yuning couldn’t take it anymore. “Qi Qingchen, you’re not worthy of my sister! You—”  

“Ningning!” Yan Shiyao bit her lip and pulled Yan Yuning back a few steps.  

No matter what, Qi Qingchen was still a prince. She couldn’t let Ningning disrespect him—especially since he had his reasons for acting this way.  

Fuming, Yan Yuning internally screamed, [Fafa! Fafa! What does the book say about this scene?!]

Fafa: [Qi Qingchen is using Luo Xuan.]

[?] The anger in the girl’s eyes faded slightly.  

Fafa: [There’s a pill in the secret chamber of Taoyuan Manor that can cure any poison. Only the clan leader knows how to open the chamber. Qi Qingchen wants that pill, so he has to humor Luo Xuan.]

[Why does he need the pill? Who’s poisoned?]

Fafa: [Consort Li—Qi Qingchen’s mother. Your sister knows about it, and Xuan Yanyu probably does too.]

[???] Yan Yuning pressed her lips together.  

So she was the only one who didn’t know?!  

Fafa: [Think about it, Master! Remember how anxious your sister was when Xuan Yanyu tried to hurt Luo Xuan?]

[……Doesn’t Xuan Yanyu have an antidote?]

Fafa: [Not sure. The book doesn’t specify what poison Consort Li was given, so it’s unclear if Xuan Yanyu has a cure.] 

[Then why doesn’t he just use his status as the Third Prince to force Luo Xuan to hand over the antidote?] Yan Yuning was baffled.  

Fafa: [My dear Master, the Emperor of Qi would never allow it. He wants Qi Qingchen to build prestige among the people—how could he let him use his royal status to demand the antidote?]

Yan Yuning: [……]

The Emperor was heartless! His own consort was poisoned, yet he still cared more about Qi Qingchen’s reputation among the commoners!  

“Brother Qingchen, Second Miss Yan speaks without restraint. She deserves to be taught a lesson,” Luo Xuan said softly.  

This was her chance to get revenge for her injuries.  

Yan Shiyao’s brow furrowed.  

“It’s fine. There’s no need to take it to heart,” Qi Qingchen said, his gaze darkening slightly.  

“Brother Qingchen, A’Xuan must have overstepped… cough…” Her voice was weak, punctuated by light coughs.  

Qi Qingchen steadied her. “Are you alright?”  

Luo Xuan leaned weakly against his chest, tears suddenly spilling over. “Brother Qingchen, Second Miss Yan and Eldest Miss Yan… they ganged up on me with their sharp words…”  

Today, she would get her payback.  

Yan Shiyao’s eyes flickered with unease as she clenched her handkerchief. “Brother Qi, it’s not as Miss Luo says.”  

“Eldest Miss Yan, are you saying A’Xuan is lying?” Luo Xuan rested her head against Qi Qingchen’s chest, her voice gentle, but her smile was pure provocation.  

“I—” Yan Shiyao took a deep breath.  

“Brother Qingchen, you see? Eldest Miss Yan has nothing to say for herself.” Luo Xuan’s tears fell pitifully.  

Yan Yuning held back as long as she could—then finally snapped.  

With a sharp “smack!”, she slapped Luo Xuan across the face.  

“Ningning!” Yan Shiyao’s voice trembled, but it was too late to stop her.  

The slap came without warning. Luo Xuan clutched her cheek, her eyes dark with venom as she glared at Yan Yuning—who glared back just as fiercely.