Chapter 126: She Likes Me

If it were the first time, Xiao Mingyu would have thought he had misheard.

Upon the second repetition, Xiao Mingyu could no longer doubt it.

His expression turned cold and somber, his gaze landing on Nan Xueyin with a chilling, biting intensity, "Leave? For what reason?"

Nan Xueyin did not speak, so he took a step forward, "Because of the Crown Prince? What benefits did he give you and Wu Zhui? Hmm? You don't seem like the type of person to defect for a pittance of gold and silver jewelry. You promised back then that you would stay by this Prince's side for a lifetime. Now that you are suddenly changing your tune, is the Crown Prince threatening you?"

Suddenly, a playful, light laugh came from not far away.

Xiao Youlan's voice followed, clear and moist like jade, carrying a smile: "So in Fourth Brother's eyes, I am that kind of person."

Xiao Mingyu looked in the direction of the voice.

Xiao Youlan, unhurried and steady, walked forward and came to a stop beside Nan Xueyin.

From Xiao Mingyu's perspective, when the two of them stood side by side, it always subconsciously brought to mind descriptions like "a perfect match" or "well-suited."

Xiao Youlan's peerlessly handsome appearance would make anyone's features pale in comparison, no matter who he stood next to; only Nan Xueyin's bold and vivid features could hold their own against him.

Xiao Mingyu watched them standing together, the restless emotion in his heart even more intense than before.

Xiao Youlan spoke slowly: "I have never had the habit of threatening people."

Nan Xueyin:...

I really want to ask, are you sure?

You, the Crown Prince, don't have the habit of threatening people, then who was it that locked Wu Zhui up and forced me to do this and that?

But in front of Xiao Mingyu, there was no need to expose certain things.

Xiao Mingyu let out a cold laugh, "So, staying in the Eastern Palace and insisting on leaving the Duan Prince Mansion are both Nan Xueyin's own choices?"

Xiao Youlan nodded, "Naturally."

Xiao Mingyu narrowed his eyes, "Why would she make such a choice?"

Xiao Youlan raised an eyebrow: "Fourth Brother, isn't the reason she chose this way obvious?"

A certain bad premonition surfaced in Xiao Mingyu's heart.

The next instant, Xiao Youlan said, enunciating each word clearly: "Because, she likes me."

He articulated the words so clearly that they fell into Xiao Mingyu's ears.

Xiao Mingyu froze in place, a sharp buzzing sound ringing in his brain.

She likes me.

Nan Xueyin, likes Xiao Youlan?

How could that be!

The one Nan Xueyin likes is clearly him!

It is him, Xiao Mingyu!

Xiao Mingyu looked at Nan Xueyin, but she had no intention of offering any explanation.

It was as if a long-standing dam in Xiao Mingyu's heart had suddenly collapsed; everything seemed to have had no warning, yet also seemed long-expected.

He stepped back two paces involuntarily, feeling as if something was rapidly slipping away from him.

It seemed he was truly about to lose something very important.

"You..." Xiao Mingyu struggled to make a sound, but his voice had an indescribable hoarseness.

What should he say?

He himself did not know.

"Prince! So you are here!"

Yan Zhirong had searched for him and, with a sharp eye, noticed Xiao Mingyu, walking over quickly before noticing Xiao Youlan and Nan Xueyin, "Crown Prince."

Xiao Youlan nodded slightly.

"Why is Your Highness here?" Yan Zhirong's gaze lingered on Nan Xueyin involuntarily, "Is there some matter for which you came to find the Prince?"

"Mm, there is a matter, but it has been mostly discussed."

Xiao Youlan said calmly, looking at Xiao Mingyu, "Fourth Brother, give me a definite answer after the luncheon ends today."

With Yan Zhirong present, it was inconvenient to continue discussing topics like Assassins or antidotes; in the future, when Xiao Youlan married Nan Xueyin, the tighter her past identity was kept, the better.

Xiao Mingyu could not speak.

Xiao Youlan knew he had heard, so he did not say more, turned his head, and called out, "Little Xue."

Nan Xueyin looked at him.

The two of them then left side by side.

Yan Zhirong's gaze lingered on their backs for a moment longer before she turned to look at Xiao Mingyu.

To her surprise, Xiao Mingyu's complexion was incredibly pale.

She had never seen such an expression on Xiao Mingyu's face and could not help but worry, "Prince, what is wrong with you? What did the Crown Prince say to you?"

Xiao Mingyu shook his head slowly.

"Are you really okay?" Yan Zhirong's subconscious told her that something must have happened.

Xiao Mingyu managed to regain the strength to speak, saying hoarsely: "It's nothing..."

"Then why is your complexion so terrible?"

"It's just... I've been too tired lately," Xiao Mingyu said.

Yan Zhirong wanted to press further, but Xiao Mingyu spoke first: "Let's go, there are still many guests to entertain."

Yan Zhirong had no choice but to swallow the words on the tip of her tongue.

But for some reason, the face of the woman who had just been standing beside the Crown Prince was completely imprinted in her mind.

This was not the first time Yan Zhirong had seen her.

But in the past, Yan Zhirong had felt nothing; today, Yan Zhirong suddenly felt that the woman gave her a very unique feeling.

For some reason, Yan Zhirong subconsciously wanted to link her and Xiao Mingyu together.

But...

How could this be possible?

Yan Zhirong was preoccupied with her thoughts all the way back to the banquet hall, where Xiao Mingyu had recovered some of his energy and was raising a smiling face to entertain the guests.

Yan Zhirong called her personal maid, Zisu, to her side and said, "Go and find out the name and background of that woman by the Crown Prince's side."

Zisu responded, then reassured her, "Miss, please rest assured. That woman does have a bit of beauty, and His Highness the Crown Prince is just fond of her on a whim, which is why he keeps her by his side. She certainly has no connection to our Prince."

She knew what her mistress was worried about.

Yan Zhirong did not speak.

"Look, at the engagement ceremony just now, His Highness the Crown Prince didn't even bring her along. This goes to show that her status must be lowly; the Crown Prince looks down on her, so he wouldn't take her to any grand occasions."

Zisu was a pretty-looking maid who had been praised as a beauty since she was young, and some even said in private that she was even prettier than her mistress.

She had an instinctive hostility toward some beautiful women, so she couldn't help but say a few extra words.

Yan Zhirong frowned upon hearing this, "You talk too much."

Zisu immediately lowered her head, "This servant was just worried and lost her composure."

Yan Zhirong did not continue to reprimand her, "Fine, go and investigate."

"Yes."

The banquet hall was bustling.

Nan Xueyin, however, stood still outside the door, refusing to go in.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Youlan looked back.

"I'm not hungry, I won't go in," Nan Xueyin said.

"We have to wait until the banquet is over to find Xiao Mingyu; are you really going to wait outside?" Xiao Youlan asked.

"Yes."

Xiao Youlan watched her for a moment and suddenly asked, "You don't like crowded places?"

Nan Xueyin nodded, "I don't."

She had never liked them; if it weren't for Xiao Youlan's threats earlier, she would never have attended the Empress Dowager Zong's birthday banquet, no matter what.

"Why?"

Nan Xueyin pursed her lips, but she did not hide it, "I don't like being stared at."

In fact, Nan Xueyin knew that she looked... quite good.

She had felt this way since she was a child.

Because beauty is a very intuitive thing; wherever she appeared, she would attract many gazes—men's, women's, amazed, hostile, greedy...

For a woman, being too beautiful is not a good thing.

For an Assassin, being too eye-catching is also not a good thing.

Therefore, Nan Xueyin did not like this face of hers.

Before, she would intentionally or unintentionally cover her features, and later, she learned the art of disguise.

Xiao Youlan smiled, "They look at you because they think you are beautiful."

Nan Xueyin glanced at him, "Does the Crown Prince even know what is beautiful or not?"

Xiao Youlan was clearly face-blind.

"I don't know," Xiao Youlan's eyes were gentle, "So, I like you not because you are beautiful, but simply because you are you."

Nan Xueyin was slightly stunned.

"Let's go, stay inside for a while," Xiao Youlan coaxed.

"... I'm really not hungry," Nan Xueyin still wanted to resist.

"I really want you to come in with me."

Nan Xueyin was puzzled, "Why?"

Xiao Youlan curled his lips, "I want everyone to know that the Crown Prince of the Ye Dynasty, Xiao Youlan, has a woman he likes. And he likes her very much, and values her highly."

Nan Xueyin's heart was pounding.

Xiao Youlan lowered his voice, "Is that okay? Little Xue? Promise me?"