Chapter 125: Wu Zhui and I Are Leaving the Duan Prince Mansion

Xiao Youlan's expression was indifferent, his tone slow and steady, "Some matters were delayed."

Hearing Xiao Mingyu's words, the guests who were in the dark only then realized that the person who had arrived was the Crown Prince, and they hurriedly stood up to pay their respects: "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"No need for formalities." Xiao Youlan nodded to the crowd.

Xiao Mingyu was still feeling displeased inside, but seeing that Xiao Youlan had not brought Nan Xueyin with him, his mood was not quite as bad, "Please, Your Highness the Crown Prince, take your seat."

As he spoke, he turned to the side to indicate the seat that had been specially left empty for him.

The imperial family placed the greatest importance on etiquette, and seats were arranged according to rank and status; this had been settled long before the engagement day, so even if Xiao Youlan had not arrived on time, no one would have occupied the seat that belonged to him.

"Very well."

Xiao Youlan replied, stepped into the hall, and sat down with graceful ease.

He met the gaze of the Prince, nodded politely, and said, "Uncle."

The Prince smiled at him: "I thought you weren't coming!"

"Fourth Brother is getting engaged, how could I not come."

It was clearly a most ordinary conversation, yet the people around them listened with bated breath.

The ceremony continued, but it was obvious that everyone's attention was no longer on Xiao Mingyu, but rather focused more on Xiao Youlan.

"I've finally seen the legendary Crown Prince today! In the past, they said the Crown Prince was as handsome as a god descended to earth, and I didn't believe it, but now I just want to go back and slap myself twice—there isn't a man in this world better-looking than the Crown Prince!"

"Didn't you just say the Duan Prince was good-looking?"

"The Prince is good-looking, yes, but placed in front of the Crown Prince, that is..."

Two young girls were whispering to each other below, and although they didn't finish the last sentence, the meaning was already obvious.

They spoke very softly, yet Xiao Mingyu heard them.

He felt irritated, but he couldn't scold them to shut up immediately; it was like swallowing a fly—spitting it out wouldn't do, and swallowing it was even worse.

"If we're really talking about it, with the Crown Prince's looks and status, whoever becomes the Crown Princess is truly lucky."

"The Crown Prince is known for his self-discipline; the Eastern Palace doesn't even have a single secondary consort yet."

"I fear there is no one in this world worthy of the Crown Prince, nor anyone who could make the Crown Prince like them..."

Xiao Mingyu heard this and couldn't help but think of Nan Xueyin.

He knew Xiao Youlan liked her.

At the same time, he found it strange; didn't Xiao Youlan usually act as if he wanted to keep her by his side at all times? Why hadn't he brought her along today?

Could it be... that Xiao Youlan had grown tired of her?

Or was it that Nan Xueyin was determined to return to his side, had repeatedly defied Xiao Youlan, and had finally angered him enough to be locked away?

It was precisely because his thoughts were in such turmoil that Xiao Mingyu was absent-minded for the second half of the ceremony.

After the engagement ended, there was still a luncheon.

The guests were all guided by servants and maids to the banquet hall.

Xiao Mingyu spoke to the guests with a smile, while behind him, the conversation between the Prince and Xiao Youlan could be heard.

"I heard that the palace maid named Doukou who was by your side before is nowhere to be found; is the one you have with you now another woman?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you bring her along today?"

Xiao Mingyu's thoughts stirred, and he pricked up his ears to listen closely.

"Prince."

Yan Zhirong suddenly called out to him.

Xiao Mingyu could only turn his head, "... What is it, Zhirong?"

After their exchange, by the time Xiao Mingyu went to look for Xiao Youlan again, his conversation with the Prince had already moved on to the next topic.

Xiao Mingyu still did not know why Nan Xueyin had not come today.

The irritation in his heart grew even stronger.

Especially since a small incident had occurred today where the staff had mixed up the seats of two guests, inevitably leading to some conflict.

Xiao Mingyu became even more annoyed.

In front of Yan Zhirong and the guests, Xiao Mingyu naturally would not show it.

But when he turned to face Bai Sheng, the hostility in his brow could no longer be hidden, "I don't know what use I have in keeping you and the rest of you! Didn't you and Wu Zhui come to the Duan Prince Mansion at the same time? You are even a year older than him! How is it that your tasks are now not handled as well as his?"

Bai Sheng lowered his head like a quail, not daring to refute a single word.

"Prince."

A servant gathered his courage to call out to him.

Xiao Mingyu didn't even turn his head, his tone filled with obvious impatience, "What is it now?"

The servant was a bit timid and was so frightened that he couldn't speak clearly, "S-someone is here, saying they want to see you..."

This behavior only made Xiao Mingyu more annoyed, and he turned to scold him, "If you don't know how to speak properly, I will cut out your tongu..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Mingyu suddenly stopped.

He saw Nan Xueyin.

Her appearance and temperament always possessed a soul-stirring beauty, and after staying in the Eastern Palace for a period of time, this beauty had become even more prominent and striking.

Xiao Mingyu looked at her, and his overflowing rage seemed to subside.

Xiao Mingyu spoke slowly, "You've returned."

Nan Xueyin gave a hum, her tone indifferent, "I've come to ask for something."

"Ask for what?"

"When Wu Zhui and I first came to the Duan Prince Mansion, the Prince planted Gu Poison in our bodies," Nan Xueyin said in a flat, straightforward manner.

"You've come to ask for the medicine to suppress the Gu Poison." The Gu Poison he planted in them would flare up every so often, so they needed to take medicine regularly to suppress it; this was the most effective way to control his Hidden Guards and Assassins.

He calculated the days and frowned, "The two of you, it is not yet time for your medicine."

He paused, then sneered, "Also, why are you the one coming to get Wu Zhui's medicine? Did you find him? You are all alone and weak, how could you find him? Did the Crown Prince help you?"

His gaze swept over Nan Xueyin from head to toe, "If he was willing to help you, did he make you do something?"

Facing his continuous, endless questions, Nan Xueyin was unwilling to answer.

She could not be bothered to pay attention to any of his questions.

"Why aren't you speaking?"

Xiao Mingyu noticed her abnormality and narrowed his eyes, "Did you sneak back? Did you suffer a setback at the Crown Prince's place? This Prince told you long ago that his kindness toward you was just a passing fancy; once he grows tired of you, he will kick you aside. Only the Duan Prince Mansion is your only home!"

He huffed, "It is just as well that you have returned. From now on, stay by this Prince's side and do your job well, and this Prince can pretend that nothing ever happened."

Nan Xueyin still did not speak.

Her excessive coldness caused the anger that Xiao Mingyu had just calmed down to show signs of burning again.

He frowned and said word by word, "Are you mute? Speak!"

Nan Xueyin raised her eyelids, her face devoid of much expression, and she spoke just as he had demanded, saying, "Wu Zhui and I have decided to leave the Duan Prince Mansion; I ask that the Prince give us the Gu Poison Antidote."

Xiao Mingyu was suddenly stunned.

He stared intently at Nan Xueyin, "You... what did you say?"

Nan Xueyin then repeated simply, "Wu Zhui and I are leaving the Duan Prince Mansion; I ask that the Prince give us the Gu Poison Antidote."