Chapter 10: If It Rains, You Come to Pick Me Up

On the sixth day after Nan Xueyin returned from the pastry shop, a continuous spring rain began to fall in Fengdu.

After she finished serving the Crown Prince, she went to the backyard to eat; the palace servants all took their three meals here.

Nan Xueyin spent most of her time by Xiao Youlan's side and had not even recognized all the palace servants in the Eastern Palace; Hantao was naturally outgoing and would call people "brother" or "sister" on weekdays, having actually made a group of friends.

Nan Xueyin served her food and picked a clean spot to sit; Hantao was at her left hand, eating and chatting happily with three palace servants.

"Sister Hantao, it's raining lately, you should wear more. I heard from the attendants by the Emperor's side that the Virtuous Consort has caught a cold."

"The Virtuous Consort? The biological mother of Prince Duan?"

The conversation over there was in full swing, while Nan Xueyin remained calm, piling vegetables onto her rice and stuffing her mouth full.

"Yes. The Virtuous Consort's health has never been very good. This time she fell ill suddenly, and it's said she can't even get out of bed for the time being. The Emperor sent for Prince Duan to return; to put it bluntly, it might be to see her for the last time."

Hantao was quite interested, "I heard Prince Duan is dashing and gallant, and hasn't taken a wife yet?"

Nan Xueyin continued to chew her food intently.

"Although he hasn't taken a wife, he already has quite a few concubines. And I heard that he seems to be keeping a woman by his side, giving her whatever she wants, and doting on her greatly."

"That woman is truly lucky! Who knows, maybe she'll be the one to become the Duan Prince Consort in the future!" Hantao's eyes held unconcealable envy.

Nan Xueyin acted as if she hadn't heard and ate the last mouthful of rice.

She ate very quickly; this was a habit formed during Assassin training. In order to forge the best Assassin, the training arranged by Prince Duan was extremely strict and perverted, giving only one meal a day, and the time was very short; if one ate slowly, one could only go hungry.

Therefore, although she arrived late, Hantao and the others hadn't finished eating yet, but she wiped the corners of her mouth and stood up to leave.

Nan Xueyin's movements caught the attention of Hantao and the others. She heard a palace servant laugh and tease: "Sister Hantao, you all came together. Look at Doukou, who accompanies the Crown Prince every day, while you can only hover around us. Why is the difference so big?"

"Go away!" Hantao said coquettishly, then snorted, "Who knows how long she can stay by the Prince's side!"

Nan Xueyin did not listen to what they said afterward.

How long she could stay by Xiao Youlan's side, she did not know.

But she knew that it wouldn't be long before Xiao Mingyu would come to Fengdu.

In fact, the Virtuous Consort's health had always been robust; she only pretended to be frail. Her son wanted to be the Crown Prince, and she wanted to be the Empress. If something major happened, the Virtuous Consort would feign illness to let Xiao Mingyu find an excuse to return.

But Nan Xueyin did not quite understand; she had not discovered any hidden illness in the Crown Prince, so why was Xiao Mingyu in such a hurry to come over?

Perhaps something had happened that she didn't know about?

The next day, it was rarely sunny in Fengdu.

When Nan Xueyin was tidying Xiao Youlan's clothes, she said, "Let the people by your side bring an umbrella, just in case."

"Can't carry it, too many things."

"Then..."

Xiao Youlan glanced at her: "If it rains, you come to pick me up."

Nan Xueyin was slightly stunned and raised her eyes. Xiao Youlan had already walked out. She only saw his tall and slender back, with a leather jade belt cinching his waist narrow.

A moment later, she withdrew her gaze.

After the Crown Prince went to court, Nan Xueyin began to prepare today's breakfast.

When she was almost done, she heard an attendant outside mutter, "Why is it raining again? Is the sky leaking?"

Nan Xueyin looked outside; the rain had indeed fallen, tapping on the roof tiles and rustling into a sheet.

"If it rains, you come to pick me up," the Crown Prince's words still rang in her ears.

She wiped her hands, had someone find two oil-paper umbrellas, and left the Eastern Palace.

Nan Xueyin had replaced Doukou as a palace maid and walked in the palace, knowing where the morning court was held.

Not far out, she saw court officials walking out of the palace in groups of three or five; the court had already been dismissed.

Xiao Youlan was among them. He was tall and had a sense of standing out from the crowd, and Nan Xueyin saw him at a glance.

His personal attendant Feihong held a dark blue oil-paper umbrella, raising his arm with some difficulty to cover the drizzle above the Crown Prince's head.

Dou Fangchun was also there, saying excitedly: "Crown Prince brother, we haven't seen each other for a long time. I specially sent an umbrella for you today. Won't you say a word of thanks to me?"

A little palace maid was holding an umbrella for her, but she refused it and insisted on crowding next to Xiao Youlan.

Xiao Youlan still had an indifferent expression. He did not push her away, nor did he speak, just slightly frowning.

Nan Xueyin had spent some time by his side and could roughly tell that he was unhappy at this moment, even a bit annoyed.

It was at this time that she smiled and spoke: "This servant is late in delivering the umbrella. This word of thanks should be said by this servant."

Xiao Youlan looked at her.

Dou Fangchun was immediately displeased: "Why are you here?"

Nan Xueyin said: "It is the Prince's intention that if it rains, this servant should come to pick him up."

Dou Fangchun sneered, "Don't be wishful here..."

Before she finished speaking, Xiao Youlan suddenly walked toward Nan Xueyin.

She raised her wrist at the right time, and Xiao Youlan stood under her umbrella.

The oil-paper umbrella was wide enough; the two were under the umbrella together, with a distance between them, yet they could not get wet by the rain.

Dou Fangchun's face looked very bad all of a sudden.

Nan Xueyin held the rosewood umbrella handle in her right hand, the Jade Bracelet on her wrist exposed, and smiled at her again, "Many thanks to Miss Dou today. Go back early, don't catch a cold."

This meant she was not invited to the Eastern Palace.

As she spoke, she handed the oil-paper umbrella she was holding in her left hand to Feihong. Feihong took it and immediately returned the dark blue one to the palace maid behind Dou Fangchun.

Dou Fangchun glared at Nan Xueyin with hostility, gritted her teeth, and turned to Xiao Youlan, wanting to act spoiled like she did when she was a child; Crown Prince brother was soft-hearted and would definitely not refuse.

Before she could speak, Xiao Youlan said: "Going back."

Three words, which bluntly blocked Dou Fangchun's words at the bottom of her throat.

When the two walked back, Xiao Youlan's air pressure was still low.

Nan Xueyin thought for a moment and explained: "This servant was preparing breakfast for the Prince and came over as soon as I saw it raining. Who knew the court would be dismissed early today, and Miss Dou also came at a coincidental time."

Feihong said from the side, "Miss Dou is waiting for His Highness outside the gate!"

Nan Xueyin understood, "Miss Dou is truly devoted to the Crown Prince."

Xiao Youlan glanced at her.

Nan Xueyin curved her eyes and smiled.

Xiao Youlan: "Hold the umbrella properly."

Nan Xueyin's smile did not fade, "This servant is holding it."

Returning to the Eastern Palace, Nan Xueyin closed the umbrella, shook off the water droplets, and leaned against the door outside.

"Doukou."

Xiao Youlan was becoming more and more accustomed to calling her naturally.

Nan Xueyin responded and walked inside, thinking the Crown Prince wanted to eat breakfast, but his voice came from within the room: "Come in."