Chapter 108: Extremely Displeased

The crowd's gazes turned one after another toward the courtyard gate.

Shu Yu walked inside, meeting their stares with a cheeky grin: "Everyone is waiting for me?"

Catching sight of Xiao Mingyu, his smile widened, "Oh, Prince Duan is here too."

He then put on a very regretful expression, "What a pity, His Highness the Crown Prince didn't come. The Eastern Palace, you know, has too many affairs, and His Highness is the most trusted by the Emperor. Sigh, Prince, you understand!"

That look on his face ignited a nameless fire in Xiao Mingyu; on the surface, however, he did not show it, smiling instead: "Official Shu, long time no see. Is His Highness the Crown Prince doing well?"

"He's well, His Highness is doing great, still as handsome and dashing as ever, occupying the position of the number one beauty in Fengdu," Shu Yu said, "Hmm... his luck is also getting better and better. When that huge black panther suddenly attacked at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, His Highness didn't even get a single scratch."

Why was he not hurt? Because Nan Xueyin saved him.

Xiao Mingyu had witnessed that scene with his own eyes that day.

He had been right across from them that day, and when he saw the black panther pounce toward Xiao Youlan, he had a feeling similar to "Finally!"

Because once Xiao Youlan died and the position of Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace became vacant, he would have a chance.

But he saw Nan Xueyin pull Xiao Youlan away, exposing herself to danger instead.

Xiao Mingyu felt displeased at the time.

Extremely displeased.

It was he who saved her, and it was he who made her an Assassin.

If not for him, would she be where she is today?

As it turned out, she actually ran off to protect another man?!

"Official Shu, I wonder if you have brought the item from His Highness the Crown Prince?"

At this moment, Hu Ga could not help but step forward to ask.

Only then did Shu Yu remember this matter.

Xiao Mingyu also remembered; just now, the people from Loulan Kingdom said they wanted something from the Crown Prince, and even claimed that as long as Nan Xueyin agreed, the Crown Prince would definitely give it.

He did not believe it one bit.

Xiao Mingyu's gaze fell upon Shu Yu.

Shu Yu's hands were empty, and from head to toe, apart from the sword at his waist, he had nothing else; it did not look like he had actually brought anything.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

So that's how it is...

"Oh, oh, oh, I almost forgot!"

Shu Yu laughed, "Of course I brought it. I already said, as long as Miss Nan nods in agreement, His Highness the Crown Prince is willing to give anything."

As he spoke, he reached into his robes, pulled out a book, and handed it to Hu Ga.

Seeing that there really was an item, Xiao Mingyu could not help but be stunned.

And upon seeing this, Hu Ga's expression was somewhat complex, "How come... it is a book?"

What Shu Yu held in his hand was an old book, its cover already somewhat yellowed.

The Crown Prince of the Ye Dynasty was incomparably noble; if he were to send a gift, Hu Ga felt, shouldn't it be something like gold, jade, emeralds, agate, or coral?

Shu Yu glared: "You're looking down on it because it's a book? Do you have any idea what this book is? How many people in this world would beg for this book and still not be able to get it!"

Hu Ga cooperatively put on a look of wanting to learn, "That was indeed my ignorance, but I wonder, what is so unique about this book?"

Shu Yu snorted: "This book is a collection of the poems and essays written throughout the life of Empress Rouyi. Whenever His Highness the Crown Prince misses the Empress, he takes it out to read, leaving many of his own insights and annotations in the book. You actually dare to doubt the value of this book?"

Xiao Mingyu was stunned to hear this.

He knew of this book.

After Empress Rouyi passed away, he had once accidentally heard someone mention such a book, and also heard that the Crown Prince would hold this book and cry secretly in bed in the middle of the night.

He thought it was interesting and deliberately went to borrow this book from Xiao Youlan, saying he wanted to read it.

Xiao Youlan refused without even thinking.

At that time, his relationship with Xiao Youlan was not yet very bad; Xiao Mingyu wheedled and begged, even saying he was willing to trade his most precious jade cabbage for it.

Xiao Youlan only said coldly, "Fourth Brother, you seem to not understand at all that feelings are far more precious than those gold and jade trinkets."

That day, Xiao Mingyu was a little unhappy.

Because of this, he also knew that for Xiao Youlan, that book was extremely important and he would not easily give it away.

But today, how could he be willing?

Just for a Nan Xueyin?!

Hu Ga was also stunned to hear this.

His mind turned quickly, and he immediately understood why the Crown Prince had sent Shu Yu to deliver this.

This book was indeed far more precious than any gold or jade.

The world knew that Empress Rouyi and the Crown Prince shared a deep bond between mother and son, and many such anecdotes circulated within Loulan Kingdom; many relationships between mothers and children and family interactions were modeled after the two of them.

The Ninth Princess's birth mother had low status and was being used by the Second Prince as leverage to force the Ninth Princess to do evil.

By gifting this book to the Ninth Princess, the Crown Prince was using an extremely refined method to rebuke the Second Prince for his wrongdoing, while simultaneously stating the Crown Prince's position: I am currently protecting this mother and daughter; if you dare to continue your evil deeds, you will not only offend me but also hurt the hearts of the people of Loulan Kingdom.

As long as they held this book, the Ninth Princess and the Consort would be safe.

Hu Ga looked solemn as he took the book, held it in his arms, and pressed it against his heart.

"Many thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince, many thanks to Official Shu."

Shu Yu reminded him: "The person you should thank most is Miss Nan. If she hadn't agreed, His Highness the Crown Prince definitely wouldn't have softened his heart."

Hu Ga expressed his true feelings: "Many thanks to Miss Nan, truly, many thanks."

Nan Xueyin, however, frowned slightly.

How did she remember it, when from beginning to end she had never personally agreed to help?

But since things had reached this point, looking at Hu Ga's profuse expressions of gratitude, Nan Xueyin found it difficult to say anything.

"Alright, the items have been delivered, Miss Nan, we should return now," said Shu Yu.

Nan Xueyin gave a hum of acknowledgment and stood up.

Feeling Xiao Mingyu's gaze lingering on her with an ambiguous meaning for a long time, her footsteps faltered slightly, and she raised her eyes to look over.

But Xiao Mingyu had already shifted his gaze away a step ahead, asking Shu Yu: "Since Lord Shu is returning to the Eastern Palace, why not go together with this Prince?"

Shu Yu was puzzled: "This isn't on the way, why go together?"

Xiao Mingyu wore a smile: "This Prince is going to the Yan Mansion."

That was indeed considered on the way.

Shu Yu thought for a moment and said: "But this must be asked of Miss Nan; her status in the Eastern Palace is much higher than mine now."

Xiao Mingyu then looked at Nan Xueyin, "Shall we walk a stretch of the road together? Miss Nan?"

He deliberately emphasized the last three words.

After years of a master-servant life, Nan Xueyin knew he was in a bad mood now, and she also knew his meaning was that she could not refuse.

The two words 'obey' seemed to be carved into Nan Xueyin's bones; she could not say no, and biting the bullet, she said, "... Alright."

Nan Xueyin had ridden a horse when she came, and it was the same when returning.

Xiao Mingyu lifted the curtain in the carriage and caught sight of the woman on horseback at a distance neither near nor far.

In the past, he had only seen her riding in men's clothing and thought it ordinary, but now, dressed in such finery and riding on horseback, she was extremely bright and dazzling.

Bai Sheng was worthy of being Xiao Mingyu's newly promoted mind-reader; understanding the Prince's intent, he deliberately called out to Shu Yu and led him further away.

Thus, an opportunity was cleared for Xiao Mingyu and Nan Xueyin.

Xiao Mingyu let out a sarcastic sound: "Telling you to seduce the Crown Prince, your mission has truly been completed quite well."