Chapter 109: The Heartless Man

When Nan Xueyin saw Bai Sheng call Shu Yu aside, she guessed that Xiao Mingyu had something to say to her.

She had originally thought Xiao Mingyu would ask her about official business, such as the assassination attempt at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, or perhaps the Crown Prince's hidden ailment; these were all very urgent matters.

However, he did not.

When Xiao Mingyu spoke, what he said was this sort of snide remark.

A wave of confusion rose within Nan Xueyin, and she turned her head to look at him, "Isn't this exactly the mission the Prince assigned to his subordinate?"

Xiao Mingyu was slightly stunned.

"The subordinate completed it well, so the Prince should be happy," Nan Xueyin added.

Xiao Mingyu bit down on his back teeth.

Because this was indeed his order; that day when the heavy snow was flying, she knelt before him, and he had arranged this mission for her.

But he was indeed very unhappy.

Anger spread through his chest, and Xiao Mingyu spoke coldly again: "But if I remember correctly, when I sent you to the Eastern Palace, it was for you to uncover the secrets of the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince's secret was something Nan Xueyin already knew.

She had not had the chance to say it before, and at this moment, she had not yet had the chance to speak.

Then she heard Xiao Mingyu continue: "Not for you to go and be lovey-dovey with the Crown Prince. You are an Assassin, not a prostitute."

Nan Xueyin was startled, and her brows furrowed.

Xiao Mingyu had been in a fit of anger just now, and as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them; he wanted to explain, his lips moved, but he said nothing.

Nan Xueyin suddenly felt it was extremely meaningless.

Xiao Youlan's face kept appearing in her mind; she concealed the matter of her Face Blindness and only said, "This subordinate is incompetent."

Because he had said such harsh words, Xiao Mingyu felt guilty, and his tone softened slightly, "Since that is the case, there is no need for you to continue staying in the Eastern Palace. Escape and return to my side."

Nan Xueyin glanced at him.

"This kind of thing should be very simple for you."

It was very simple.

Nan Xueyin asked in return: "Then what about Wu Zhui?"

"Wu Zhui?"

"At that time, this subordinate's life and death were uncertain, and Wu Zhui disregarded everything to search everywhere; now he is locked in the Eastern Palace, and the guards are very strict. If it were to rely solely on this subordinate, it would be very difficult to rescue him."

Nan Xueyin wanted Xiao Mingyu to think of a way, whether through negotiation or by outsmarting them, to rescue Wu Zhui as well.

Xiao Mingyu's expression, however, was very cold: "When he insisted on leaving my side back then, he said that he would bear all the consequences himself."

Regarding Wu Zhui's actions at that time, Xiao Mingyu was still very dissatisfied even now.

"Now, I simply consider him to have left the Duan Prince Mansion."

Nan Xueyin's brows furrowed even tighter.

She looked at Xiao Mingyu in the carriage and began to feel he was a stranger.

When Xiao Mingyu did not have such great power back then, he did not have so many people by his side: one was Nan Xueyin, who killed and protected his safety for him, and one was Wu Zhui, who took care of his daily life and settled all the trivial matters for him.

At that time, Xiao Mingyu would always sigh: "Without the two of you, I truly would not know what to do."

He also said: "Accompany me until the very end."

But now, he said he only considered Wu Zhui to have left the Duan Prince Mansion.

"Wu Zhui only left the Prince's side to save this subordinate," Nan Xueyin reiterated.

"So, are you trying to say that he cares about you more than I do?" Xiao Mingyu asked suddenly.

Nan Xueyin:?

She swore she hadn't mentioned a single word of that sort just now.

The tiny bit of guilt from before had mostly dissipated, and Xiao Mingyu narrowed his eyes at her, "Nan Xueyin, you are very capable. A Wu Zhui, a Crown Prince, both are being led around by you. Besides them, who else is there?"

"Miss Nan?"

A youthful voice rang out with great interest.

The sound of horse hooves came from far to near, finally stopping right in front.

Lu Yan pulled on the reins, making the steed beneath him follow at the same speed beside Nan Xueyin, a smile on his face, "I really didn't expect to run into you here."

Realizing belatedly, he saw Xiao Mingyu in the carriage and nodded slightly in greeting: "Prince Duan."

Xiao Mingyu gave a perfunctory 'hmm' on the surface, but looking at Lu Yan's appearance, he knew this brat had ulterior motives toward Nan Xueyin.

He sneered in his heart; so besides the Crown Prince and Wu Zhui, there was also a Lu Yan.

"I heard you saved the Crown Prince at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet; were you hurt anywhere?" Lu Yan asked with concern.

"Many thanks to Lu Little General for your concern, I am fine," Nan Xueyin's tone was flat.

Lu Yan sighed: "The Crown Prince is really something; he's such a grown man, yet he still has to rely on a weak woman like you to protect him."

Xiao Mingyu, who had always been protected by Nan Xueyin:...

Lu Yan smiled ingratiatingly at Nan Xueyin again: "If it were me, if any danger occurred, I would definitely stand in front of you, Miss, at the first moment, and would never let you be hurt by even a single hair. If I fell into danger and still had to let you come to save me, or even let you get hurt... then I really wouldn't even want to be a person anymore."

In fact, he was talking about the Crown Prince, while simultaneously hinting to Nan Xueyin that he was the better choice.

But there was still a Xiao Mingyu on the side.

Every word and every sentence sounded more like a mockery of him.

Xiao Mingyu's complexion turned faintly pale.

"You, Lu Yan!"

Shu Yu in front finally discovered that something was wrong, turned his horse around, and cursed: "If you aren't staying in the military camp properly, what are you running out here to cause trouble for!"

Lu Yan asked in return: "If you aren't staying in the Eastern Palace properly, what are you running out here to cause trouble for?"

"Of course, there is an urgent errand!"

"But I also have urgent business!"

"If you have business, why aren't you hurrying off to handle it instead of hovering around Miss Nan! Don't you know she belongs to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Just as Lu Yan was about to say something, Nan Xueyin suddenly spoke: "The Eastern Palace is almost here."

Lu Yan glanced sideways, looking at her with lingering reluctance.

Every look is one less, so he might as well look a few more times.

"I'm leaving."

It was unclear whether Nan Xueyin said this to Lu Yan or to Xiao Mingyu.

In any case, without turning her head, she nudged her horse's belly and galloped forward, calling out to Shu Yu: "Let's go back."

Shu Yu gave an "ah" in response, and finally shot Lu Yan a warning look.

Nan Xueyin and Shu Yu departed one after the other.

Xiao Mingyu felt displeased: She really is becoming more and more unruly!

Lu Yan sighed: "Miss Nan is truly too interesting."

Hearing this, Xiao Mingyu's heart tightened, and he asked: "Lu Little General, do you like Nan... that young lady?"

Lu Yan did not deny it, "I do. She's beautiful, fights well, and has such personality; who wouldn't like her?"

Xiao Mingyu paused.

"Hmm... perhaps she isn't the type you like, Prince," Lu Yan said, "After all, you like someone like Miss Yan."

"..."

These words were no different from stabbing a knife into Xiao Mingyu's heart.

Xiao Mingyu pondered and said: "As far as I know, His Highness the Crown Prince likes her very much. I'm afraid Lu Little General cannot compete with the Eastern Palace."

Lu Yan shrugged his shoulders and said: "Although I respect His Highness the Crown Prince, many things in this world change in an instant. There are many heartless men in this world who truly like and cherish the woman by their side at first, but for some unknown reason, they suddenly cast her aside like worn-out shoes later on, even sending her to another man's side."

Xiao Mingyu was stabbed hard by another knife, and he nearly failed to catch his breath.

"So, who knows what will happen in the future?"

Speaking of this, Lu Yan also remembered his urgent business, "Alright, Prince, chatting with you was very pleasant, but I must leave quickly."

Xiao Mingyu:...

It was not pleasant.

But he still revealed a smile: "Very well, see you next time."

Lu Yan waved his hand, his horse kicking up a cloud of dust.

On the other side.

Returning to the Eastern Palace, she dismounted.

Nan Xueyin was still immersed in a depressed mood, her brows knitted together, refusing to relax for a long time.

"Miss Nan."

Shu Yu called her.

Nan Xueyin turned her head and saw Shu Yu looking mysterious, "There is something, if you hear it, you will definitely be happy!"