Malicious Intent

Carrying a tray as she walked toward Junyu Pavilion, she recalled how Yicui had come to her early that morning, saying Yun Xinyin wanted to eat her peach kernel pastries.

So she made a plate and brought it over.

Standing outside Junyu Pavilion, she heard Duan Nanyu inside, speaking gently and laughing with Yun Xinyin. “Yin’er, do you think it will be a boy or a girl?”

“Yin’er hopes it’s a boy, so he can be as brave as you, Nanyu, a true hero.” Yun Xinyin replied, her words filled with laughter and affection.

“Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s our child,” Duan Nanyu’s voice was tender and full of love.

Such gentle words had never been spoken to her.

Before her, he showed only rage, shouting, venting his anger—even resentment. Yet she had never wronged him.

Her nose tingled, and tears threatened to spill.

“Come in,” a cold voice called from within the chamber. Yun Xueyan quickly blinked away her tears and pushed the door open. Duan Nanyu was rising to sit.

“Kneeling, she raised the tray above her head. “Your servant greets the Prince and the Princess.”

“Rise,” Duan Nanyu’s gaze fixed on the pastries. “Yin’er, this is the peach kernel pastry you wanted? It seems nothing special. Why bother having her make it?”

He picked up a piece, his brows furrowing. “Is this even edible?”

Yun Xueyan kept her head down, silent—he was doing this on purpose! Deliberately humiliating her, so she refused to respond, refused to answer.

She forced a bitter smile. If he feared it wouldn’t taste good, why ask her to make it? Was it simply because Yun Xinyin wanted it, and she must serve?

Lowering her eyes, her silent smile grew increasingly sorrowful.

She could not fight fate. All she could do was obey.

“Nanyu, don’t trouble my sister. I wanted to eat it. Why don’t you try for yourself? It really tastes good.” Yun Xinyin smiled, taking a piece from the tray and placing it in Duan Nanyu’s mouth.

He shook his head helplessly but bit into the pastry.

The intimate gesture burned itself into Yun Xueyan’s gaze, stifling her breath, tearing apart every illusion, piercing her heart like lightning—her blood nearly froze.

Her hand trembled, almost dropping the tray. She glanced up at the pair before her; neither paid her any mind.

But she did not notice that sharp, discerning eyes had observed everything—yet said nothing.

Yun Xinyin, beaming, ate another peach kernel pastry, occasionally glancing at Duan Nanyu, her eyes filled with deep affection.

He smiled back, chewing thoughtfully; her skills were indeed good, but… why was there a bitterness?

“Yin’er, do you find these pastries bitter?” Duan Nanyu asked suddenly, examining the pastry closely, as though searching for something.

“No, it tastes just as it always has.” Yun Xinyin shook her head, reaching for another, but Duan Nanyu stopped her.

Yun Xueyan’s heart skipped at his words. How could the peach kernel pastry taste bitter?

“How did you make this?” Duan Nanyu’s brows snapped together, his voice sharp and accusatory, all suspicion aimed at Yun Xueyan.

He was implying she had tampered with it.

“I made it the usual way,” Yun Xueyan answered truthfully, her eyes shining as she looked at the pair.

He flung the pastry at her, rose, and slapped the tray to the ground, his fury unchecked. “The bitterness should come from apricot kernels, not peach kernels—I know that much! Apricot kernels can cause miscarriage! You want to kill my child!”

He had lived in the palace for years; he knew this well. Luckily, he tasted the pastry himself today—otherwise, his child might have disappeared for no reason!

Seeing the pastry fall from Yun Xinyin’s hand, his heart seethed with suspicion. Was she truly so vicious?

Yet the evidence before him left no room for denial. His brows furrowed, suppressing himself, but his anger erupted.

His words left Yun Xueyan’s chest tight; she seemed to realize something, her step faltering. No wonder she had sensed something amiss while making the pastries—the jar contained apricot kernels, not peach kernels!