Chapter 118: The Beloved Is Only One

Nan Xueyin, however, merely let out a cold laugh.

She was beautiful, yet she kept a cold face, her gaze icy and sharp, possessing a particular sense of oppression.

County Princess Yongying could not handle it, but she was, after all, the daughter of a prince; even if she had to force it, she had to put on an air of authority, puffing out her chest, "What is it? Did I say something wrong? It's the truth! Who knows where you got this leopard from, keeping it here—if it bit me today, wouldn't it bite my Crown Prince brother tomorrow?"

"Xiao Tanghe."

Xiao Youlan's voice suddenly rang out.

County Princess Yongying looked up abruptly, "Crown Prince brother, I..."

Before she could complain or seek sympathy, Xiao Youlan spoke first: "This leopard is a gift from me. Do you have any dissatisfaction with that?"

County Princess Yongying was stunned.

The Crown Prince gave a gift, to her?

Xiao Youlan stood behind Nan Xueyin, his figure tall; when he lowered his eyes to look down, he appeared very distant.

County Princess Yongying subconsciously said, "But it bit me..."

Nan Xueyin spoke coldly: "Then take off your shoe and let's see what kind of injury it is."

She clearly had not smelled the scent of blood; Xiaoyang was still young and had not learned to hunt, so logically, it should not have bitten very hard.

County Princess Yongying wanted to say something more, but Xiao Youlan said, "Take it off."

She could ignore Nan Xueyin's words, but she had to obey Xiao Youlan's.

County Princess Yongying bit her lower lip lightly, resigned herself to her fate, and lowered her head to take off her shoe, followed by her sock.

The skin on her right foot was snow-white, without even a tiny red mark.

Nan Xueyin glanced at it, and a mocking smile lifted the corner of her mouth, "Is there even a tiny bit of injury? Why act so aggrieved?"

County Princess Yongying was sheepish and could not speak.

Nan Xueyin did not let her off easily, her gaze still resting coldly on her face: "As for you, by what right did you kick my Xiao Bao?"

She said, word by word: "A-p-o-l-o-g-i-z-e."

County Princess Yongying was startled; as a dignified County Princess, how could she just apologize like that?

She immediately looked toward Xiao Youlan, hoping the Crown Prince would speak up for her.

Seeing Xiao Youlan's expression, County Princess Yongying's heart sank—his expression was unexpectedly cold and indifferent.

Sure enough, the next instant, Xiao Youlan said: "Apologize."

He was on Nan Xueyin's side.

County Princess Yongying was full of grievances and tried to defend herself: "Crown Prince brother, I didn't mean to!"

Xiao Youlan did not speak, just watched her quietly like that.

County Princess Yongying had known this Crown Prince brother since childhood and knew that such an expression was a precursor to his anger.

When the Crown Prince was angry, he never made a big scene by scolding or putting on a stern face; he just remained silent like this.

And compared to the former, the Crown Prince's silence was even more frightening.

County Princess Yongying had no other choice but to lower her head, and with a tearful voice, she said honestly: "... I'm sorry."

Nan Xueyin stroked Xiaoyang's head and asked it: "Did you hear that?"

As a leopard, it was actually very difficult to understand the meaning of human speech, but Xiao Bao was a clever leopard and could roughly understand what had happened based on their expressions and tone.

In short, Xiaoyang knew this was a beneficial thing for itself and let out two hums.

Nan Xueyin's expression finally softened a little, and she carried Xiaoyang as she walked outside.

Passing by County Princess Yongying, she paused slightly, "I'll let you off this time; if you dare to bully my Xiao Bao again, it won't be this simple."

After saying this, she strode away without looking back.

County Princess Yongying put on her shoes and socks with her head down; once finished, as her feet touched the ground, tears suddenly began to stream down her cheeks.

Xiao Youlan caught sight of her tears.

"County Princess, please stop crying."

Just now, when she was taking off her shoes and socks, Shu Yu had tactfully turned his back, not looking too much, as it was against etiquette—one should not look at what is improper.

It was not until she had put them back on that Shu Yu turned around again.

He did not expect that as soon as he turned, he would see her tears.

It was not that Shu Yu felt sorry for her; it was mainly that His Highness the Crown Prince would find it annoying!

County Princess Yongying wiped her tears, "I don't want to cry either, I just..."

"Aggrieved?"

Xiao Youlan suddenly spoke.

County Princess Yongying pouted slightly; she was naturally aggrieved.

But Xiao Youlan showed no mercy, stating coldly: "One, you were the one who provoked this Xiao Bao first, which is why you were bitten. Two, you were not injured."

"But I am your younger sister! Crown Prince brother, is a person really not as important as a leopard?" County Princess Yongying could not help but ask.

Xiao Youlan's expression was indifferent: "The leopard is important because its owner is important. I have many younger sisters, but I have only one beloved. Which is light and which is heavy is obvious."

County Princess Yongying was startled.

Be-beloved?

Shu Yu explained considerately from the side: "The young lady from just now is surnamed Nan; she is His Highness the Crown Prince's beloved. His Highness was afraid she would be bored alone in the Eastern Palace, so he specifically had me find this leopard."

County Princess Yongying remembered; she had indeed heard people mention that the Crown Prince was now keeping a woman by his side.

She had not believed it at first, always feeling that the Crown Prince was cold and ascetic, not close to women, so how could he keep a woman?

Now, seeing it with her own eyes, she finally believed it.

County Princess Yongying was crestfallen, and Xiao Youlan ordered Shu Yu to send her back.

She stopped crying, but she was still not very happy, saying sullenly: "I was actually quite happy when I came over today. Usually, I am surrounded by young ladies, and we only talk about things like needlework and embroidery, which I don't really understand, so I have nothing to say to them. Coming to the Eastern Palace and chatting with you, I was really happy! I didn't expect all these things to happen."

"You don't have any friends?" Shu Yu asked.

"Because there are also no women like me who, when bored with nothing to do, would go off to practice archery or something."

"Archery?"

"Yeah!" County Princess Yongying sighed, "They all say I'm like a man, I reckon I'll never be able to get married in this lifetime."

Shu Yu: "..."

Uh, it shouldn't be that bad.

Miss Nan can practice archery, knows swordsmanship, and is also very skilled at horse riding; doesn't the Crown Prince still like her to death?

"I even learned martial arts!"

County Princess Yongying raised her left arm, clenched her fist, and flexed, "Brother Shu, look, these are my muscles!"

Shu Yu looked over, but couldn't see anything at all, half-doubting, "Muscles? Are there any?"

"There are! It's just that I'm wearing too many clothes, so you can't see them. If you don't believe me, just touch and see!"

County Princess Yongying was carefree and bold, grabbing Shu Yu's hand and placing it onto her own arm.

It was also at this moment that a "thud" sound came from outside the Eastern Palace gate.

Shu Yu looked over, secretly thinking "oh no" in his heart, and instantly pulled his hand back.

Standing outside the gate was his fiancée, Song Jianing of the Song family, and she was still carrying a Food Box in her hand.

Just now, she hadn't had time to speak, and having seen with her own eyes Shu Yu touching County Princess Yongying's arm, in her shock, the Food Box in her hand had fallen to the ground.

At this moment, Song Jianing stood there, her face pale.

"Jia..."

Shu Yu said only half a word before County Princess Yongying cut in, saying: "Sister Jianing, you must not misunderstand! My relationship with the Shu family has been good since we were small; we are just like buddies on a daily basis, there is actually nothing going on at all!"

She added: "Think about it, if there were really something between him and me, where would there be any room for you? Right? Now that you are Brother Shu's fiancée, you must absolutely not cause a scene with Brother Shu because of me! Otherwise, I would surely die of guilt."