Chapter 115: She Is Waiting for Him

Nan Xueyin was somewhat surprised; she had not expected Wei Nian to take the initiative to speak to her about Xiao Youlan.

She paused for a moment, then followed up by asking, "Discussing state affairs?"

Wei Nian shook his head. "Although it is not state affairs, it is a major matter concerning the stability of the realm."

Nan Xueyin listened attentively.

Wei Nian looked at her, but a trace of an imperceptible sigh was mixed into his tone as he said, "The Crown Prince's marriage."

Nan Xueyin was slightly stunned.

Elsewhere.

Emperor Yongzheng was inside the palace, his wide sleeves tied back, standing before the desk and wielding his brush across the paper.

"Once having seen the vast sea, it is hard to be moved by other waters; except for the clouds above Mount Wu, no other clouds compare."

After finishing, Emperor Yongzheng was very satisfied with the transitions of the brushwork and smiled happily. Without turning his head, he said to Xiao Youlan, "I have seen that woman you like. She is indeed good; no wonder you like her."

Xiao Youlan looked at that line of poetry, his voice gentle and composed as he said, "Nan Xueyin."

"Hm?" Emperor Yongzheng did not understand at first and glanced over.

Xiao Youlan said again, "Her surname is Nan, and her given name is Xueyin."

Emperor Yongzheng then understood and said, "I have seen this Miss Nan; she has quite a bit of beauty. If all the noble daughters of Fengdu were placed together, I fear none could compare to her peerless beauty. No wonder you like her."

Xiao Youlan thought to himself, that is not it.

I do not like her because she is beautiful; when I first fell for her, she did not look like this.

"She also saved you at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet; she is someone who dares to act."

Xiao Youlan felt a softness in his heart and thought, that is right, that is the reason I fell for her.

"I am also quite satisfied with her."

Emperor Yongzheng's words revealed a sense of approval, but Xiao Youlan's heart was always uneasy.

"I just do not know, what is Nan Xueyin's background? What do her father's generation do, and what about her mother's family?" Emperor Yongzheng asked.

These past two days, he had sent out many people to investigate Nan Xueyin's background.

However, this woman seemed to have appeared out of thin air.

Emperor Yongzheng had found nothing, knowing only that she had been brought back by Xiao Youlan from a villa outside the city.

He could not help but feel suspicious; since when had the Eastern Palace become such an iron barrel that the Crown Prince protected Nan Xueyin so well that even the eyes and ears of the inner palace could not uncover a single shred of information?

But then he thought, could it be that this Nan Xueyin is the daughter of some great aristocratic family?

Emperor Yongzheng could not figure it out, so he simply asked.

Xiao Youlan lowered his eyes and answered truthfully, "She is an orphan; her parents both passed away when she was ten years old."

Emperor Yongzheng frowned.

Looking at the Crown Prince's expression, this did not seem like a lie.

But being an orphan meant having no family background.

Emperor Yongzheng looked deeply at Xiao Youlan and said, "In that case, since you like her so much, then take her into the Eastern Palace. I grant it."

Xiao Youlan raised his eyes.

"Although she has no family background, she did, after all, save your life, so I will make an exception and select her as a Secondary Consort. In the future, when you marry the Crown Princess, her status in the Eastern Palace will remain unchanged." As Emperor Yongzheng spoke, he turned back to write the remaining verses, his tone carrying a very clear sense of being beyond dispute.

Xiao Youlan paused and said slowly, "Father, let us delay this matter for now."

Emperor Yongzheng frowned again.

For an orphan with no father or mother to become an Eastern Palace Secondary Consort was a heaven-sent blessing that would make one's ancestors proud; who in the world would not be filled with gratitude?

He asked, "Why?"

Xiao Youlan thought to himself, because I do not want her to be an Eastern Palace Secondary Consort; if she is to be anything, she will be the Crown Princess.

But Xiao Youlan also knew clearly that, at present, no one would agree to let Nan Xueyin become the Crown Princess.

Father would not, Grandmother would not, and the entire court of civil and military officials would not nod in agreement.

While he was still only the Crown Prince, this matter could not be put on the agenda.

He could only wait.

He could only stall.

Facing Emperor Yongzheng's slightly displeased gaze, Xiao Youlan said unhurriedly, "Recently, Fourth Brother is discussing marriage with the Yan Family. If I were to select a Secondary Consort, it would inevitably overshadow the main event. After all, everyone knows I do not care for women; if they suddenly heard I had a Secondary Consort, they would surely be curious and inquire everywhere. In this way, no one would care about Fourth Brother's marriage."

Emperor Yongzheng furrowed his brows: "You are the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, your nobility far exceeds that of your Fourth Brother, Prince Duan. You are the master by nature; there is no such thing as overshadowing the main event."

He then warned him in a deep voice: "You also know that the fourth one has always been eyeing your position covetously. You should have used the matter of the Secondary Consort to suppress his momentum and dampen his arrogance."

Xiao Youlan knew his father would say this.

He was not anxious and said, "It is not that I do not understand Father's teachings. But I also know that Virtuous Consort's health in the palace has always been poor. She only has Fourth Brother as a son and is full of anticipation for his marriage to the daughter of the Yan Family. If I were to overshadow Fourth Brother's momentum, Virtuous Consort would surely be heartbroken. Back then, the Empress also passed away early precisely because she was often heartbroken."

Hearing him mention Empress Rouyi, Emperor Yongzheng's expression changed slightly.

"I have Father's love and importance, enjoying unique honor and favor, and will ascend the throne to inherit Father's will—that is a matter for many years from now. Now that Father still sits on the throne and manages the affairs of the world, I am merely a son, Father's subject, and even more so, Father's son. A son hopes his father is well, and thus hopes that Father's inner palace is well. Virtuous Consort is one of the few remaining old acquaintances in the palace; having her by Father's side, Father can feel more at ease every day. Therefore, I do not wish for Virtuous Consort to be heartbroken or harmed."

Emperor Yongzheng sighed, "You are a filial child."

He paused and said, "Then I will listen to you; let us hold off on this matter for now."

Xiao Youlan respectfully thanked him.

On the way back to the Eastern Palace, Xiao Youlan was still in a bad mood.

It seemed that every time he saw Emperor Yongzheng, his mood was always bad.

Clearly, they were father and son.

Stepping into the study, Xiao Youlan saw Nan Xueyin at the desk at a glance; she was lazily leaning back in his chair, holding the little black panther in her arms.

Perhaps it was too comfortable, as the little black panther had its eyes closed and was fast asleep, while Nan Xueyin's hand was stroking the little black panther's head, now and then.

Her posture was very languid, and her expression was also faint.

Yet Xiao Youlan just knew that she was waiting for him.

The gloom lingering in his heart dissipated in this instant, and his mood became inexplicably soft.

He walked forward.

Nan Xueyin looked at him, showing not the slightest intention of moving to give up her seat.

Xiao Youlan did not ask her to get up either; instead, he went to the side on his own initiative, brought over a new chair, and placed it beside Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin then lay down even more composedly and comfortably.

She glanced at Xiao Youlan's face, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What is it? In a bad mood? Got scolded by the Emperor again?"

Xiao Youlan imitated the way she stroked the little black panther, patted her head, and said, "Father Emperor summoned me regarding my marriage."

Nan Xueyin had long since heard about it from Wei Nian, so she was not surprised; she feigned indifference, let out an "oh," and asked, "Who is he making you marry this time? Dou Fangchun? Zhong Yun? Or perhaps Dou Yun? Zhong Fangchun?"

Xiao Youlan laughed upon hearing this, his eyes curving into crescents, and said, "Marry you."

Nan Xueyin was suddenly stunned, and for a moment, she was actually unable to speak.

"Father Emperor said to let you be my Secondary Consort," Xiao Youlan said again.

An inexplicable irritation rose in Nan Xueyin's heart, and she snapped, "The ghost wants to be your Secondary Consort."

Xiao Youlan smiled: "That is why I said, there is no rush for this matter; let us slow it down."

Slow it down?

Slow it down until when?

Slow it down to what extent?

Nan Xueyin was itching to know, but she forcibly held it in; how could she ask? If she asked, wouldn't it make it seem like she cared very much about this matter?

She was too concerned with her pride, so she stubbornly did not utter a single word.

Xiao Youlan had his own plans in mind, and before succeeding, he did not elaborate.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Youlan had a sudden thought and suggested, "Xiao Xue, how about I teach you how to write?"