"Tell me later, how did you two meet?" Yan Yuning pulled him to sit on the mat.

"My queen." Xuan Yunyao leaned his head on her shoulder and said truthfully, "The puppy I raised accidentally ran away on the day of the Lantern Festival. I had someone post a notice saying whoever found it would be rewarded handsomely. It was Miss Qu who found it and saved it."

"I gave Miss Qu a banknote, but she refused to accept it. I asked her what she wanted, but she said she was not favored in the mansion and dared not ask for anything because her elder sister would take it anyway."

"She is Tuan Tuan's benefactor. I will never let her suffer any more injustice. I will present her with gifts in the name of His Royal Highness Prince Rui. This way, her elder sister will not dare to snatch her things or bully her again."

Yan Yuning's eyes darkened. The more she listened, the more she felt something was wrong. How could a legitimate daughter like something belonging to a concubine's daughter? ?

Besides, why didn’t he just hide the banknotes himself so that no one else would know about it? How could his elder sister take them away?

"I don't know why you and the Emperor think that I like Miss Qu."

Yan Yu Ning sighed and patted his hands, "Rui Rui, if no one knows about the banknote, how could it be taken away?"

"I asked Miss Qu about this. She said that she had nowhere to hide in the courtyard where she lived. Her elder sister would ask the maids to turn it over every now and then. When I wanted to ask more, she started crying out of grievance. I was tired of seeing her crying, so I didn't say anything."

Yan Yuning pulled his ears and smiled slowly, "Do you believe this?"

Xuan Yunyao lowered his eyes and turned the jade ring, "You don't believe it, but after all, it was she who found Tuantuan, so I will help her."

"Ruirui, if I follow your emperor one day in the future, will you really marry Miss Naqu?" Yan Yuning lowered her eyes and looked into his eyes.

Meeting Yan Yuning's gaze, Xuan Yunyao raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Hmm."

"Rebellious son." After a long while, Yan Yuning uttered two words.

Xuan Yunyao: "..."

Isn't it okay to just joke?

"What about spreading petals, dancing with swords, and taking the hairpin that your brother gave to your sister-in-law?"

Xuan Yunyao lowered his eyes and smiled, "Queen, take a guess."

"Stop talking nonsense and speak." Yan Yuning patted his hands.

Xuan Yunyao played with the jade pendant and said, "Miss Qu said that no man had ever danced with a sword for her, nor had he ever walked the road paved with jade petals like my elder sister. As for the step-shaking ornament, I gave it to Miss Qu simply because I thought it was beautiful."

Yan Yuning's eyelids twitched slightly. "So, because of what Miss Qu said, you danced with swords for Miss Qu? Let someone pave the way for Miss Qu."

Xuan Yunyao blinked and nodded.

Yan Yu Ning took a deep breath, pushed away the boy who was leaning on her shoulder, and smiled slightly, "You are so stupid, you are being fooled."

Now she knew why the rumor about Ruirui pursuing Miss Naqu in such a high profile spread. She was afraid that Miss Naqu had spread the rumor.

"Queen!"

"Don't call me Queen, idiot." Yan Yuning stood up and walked out of the ancestral hall without looking back.

Xuan Yunyao: "..."

Idiot or not, can you please take him out of the ancestral hall? !

——

The next evening.

Yan Yuning summoned Qu Qingqing and also summoned her eldest daughter Qu Ying into the palace.

"Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager, Your Highness Prince Rui. May the Empress Dowager be in good health."

"Please sit down." Yan Yuning smiled.

"Thank you, Queen Dowager, for the seats." The two of them sat down politely.

Ye An carefully nodded to Xuan Yun Yao, who was dozing with his head lazily tilted.

The latter raised his eyelids and stretched.