Chapter 128: Must Be Mine

Nan Xueyin was stunned.

This was clearly a tone as gentle and slow as flowing water, yet it possessed an innate, intangible power to intimidate.

Nan Xueyin knew that Xiao Youlan was not just saying it for the sake of speaking.

The Crown Prince of the Ye Dynasty always appeared indifferent and aloof, but he was never soft-hearted; on the contrary, he was always crisp and decisive in his actions.

He was the ultimate superior; from birth until now, the people who could make him bow his head or yield could be counted on one hand.

When he said he would make someone lose everything and have their head roll, he was serious, and he was indeed capable of doing it.

In the near future, Xiao Youlan would be the true Son of Heaven whose rage would leave a million corpses in its wake.

"If the person by your side back then had been me, the moment he looked at you, he wouldn't have been able to keep his eyeballs," Xiao Youlan said, lost in thought.

Nan Xueyin thought silently that, in truth, she had been moved for a long time back then when Xiao Mingyu gave up the chance to curry favor and pulled her away on the spot.

Until now, Nan Xueyin suddenly realized that Xiao Mingyu did not seem... that good after all.

Before pulling her away, Xiao Mingyu had been weighing the pros and cons.

That day, perhaps he wanted to take her away, or perhaps he would have truly handed her over.

It was merely a difference of a single thought.

"You and I met too late," Xiao Youlan said with regret, "By my side, things that cause grievances will never happen to you."

Nan Xueyin's lips moved slightly, wanting to say something.

Not far away, a somewhat timid voice came: "Cr-Crown Prince brother, pretty sister!"

Following the voice, Nan Xueyin saw a little girl about five or six years old.

Xiao Youlan told her: "That is one of Prince Kang's granddaughters, Xiao Baojing."

Nan Xueyin understood.

The little girl's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she stood not far away looking at the two of them, especially at Nan Xueyin, her eyes filled with anticipation, yet she seemed afraid of something and dared not approach.

"Come here," Xiao Youlan said.

Hearing his words, Xiao Baojing finally felt relieved, moved her short legs, and trotted over.

"What is it?" Xiao Youlan asked, lowering his eyes to look at her.

"I... I came to find the pretty sister," Xiao Baojing said very softly.

"Hmm?"

Xiao Youlan raised an eyebrow and looked at Nan Xueyin, "She came to find you."

Nan Xueyin had heard it too, but she was not very good at dealing with children of this age, so she was a little nervous; she cleared her throat and asked her: "... Looking for me?"

Xiao Baojing nodded her head, her cheeks flushing a bit more, "I think you are so pretty!"

Nan Xueyin was stunned.

She... rarely encountered little girls like this.

But truth be told, this feeling of being praised by a little girl was very good.

Looking at the little girl's sparkling grape-like eyes, her own heart felt pure, excited, and joyful.

"And you and Crown Prince brother are a perfect match too!"

Nan Xueyin was stunned again.

Xiao Youlan, meanwhile, curled one side of his lips and scrutinized Xiao Baojing carefully once more.

He did not particularly like his uncle, Prince Kang, but this little cousin was quite likable.

Many years later, following the downfall of Prince Kang, Xiao Baojing lost her greatest backing, was mistreated by her in-laws, and her husband betrayed the vows between them, bringing home a young and delicate woman to force Xiao Baojing to leave with nothing.

This matter reached the palace and was learned of by Xiao Youlan, who was on the throne.

The Emperor spoke with his golden mouth; first, he arranged for Xiao Baojing to divorce her husband and had all her dowry returned to her without a single item missing. After that, her husband's family met with one setback after another, lost their official positions and titles, no one dared to associate with them, and in the end, the entire clan died out without heirs.

But that was a matter for many years later.

Now, six-year-old Xiao Baojing looked at Nan Xueyin and, emboldened, asked curiously: "When I grow up, will I become like you?"

Nan Xueyin asked: "In your eyes, what am I like?"

"Your skin is white and very pretty! Your hair is black and styled in a very beautiful way. The hairpins and ornaments you wear on your head are all very beautiful!"

"Do you want to become very pretty?"

Xiao Baojing nodded vigorously.

Nan Xueyin suddenly smiled.

Xiao Baojing looked at her smiling face and felt it was truly unfairly beautiful.

Nan Xueyin patted her head, "Not only must you be pretty, but you must also have strength."

Xiao Baojing was puzzled: "Have strength?"

"If someone bullies you, you strike back. You can have ambition; whatever you want, you get it. You must also remain clear-headed and know what you want; nothing else will interfere with you."

At her age, Xiao Baojing still only half-understood such words.

She was struggling to figure out the meaning of these words when she suddenly heard a call: "Baojing! Baojing—where has this wretched girl run off to go wild again?"

Xiao Baojing looked back and told Nan Xueyin, "That is my mother!"

Having said that, she waved her hand hard, "Mother, I am here!"

The woman hurried forward and, seeing Xiao Youlan, paid her respects in fear and trepidation.

Xiao Baojing told her with a smile: "Mother, I was talking to the pretty sister!"

The woman, however, kept a straight face and gave her a hard slap on the back.

"Don't..." Nan Xueyin wanted to stop her, but she spoke a step too late.

Xiao Baojing was startled, and the smile on her face vanished instantly.

Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes, and just as they were about to fall, the woman glared at her fiercely, so she had no choice but to swallow her tears and grievances.

The woman was uneasy; she glanced at Nan Xueyin, then turned to Xiao Youlan: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Baojing is young and has committed many offenses; I hope Your Highness will forgive her."

"She is very well-behaved," Nan Xueyin said, knitting her brows.

Xiao Youlan also said, "Baojing has not offended anyone; seeing her, I am very pleased."

Only then did the woman heave a sigh of relief.

The woman dragged Xiao Baojing away; judging by their backs, Xiao Baojing was still explaining something aggrievedly on the way, but the woman was very angry and scolded her for a long time.

In the end, Xiao Baojing simply stopped talking, and her head drooped down.

"Baojing's mother is not of high birth; she married the Kang Wang's youngest son. They had a daughter, no son. The infighting in the Kang Wang Mansion is intense, so she is cautious in everything, fearing she might offend someone," Xiao Youlan said slowly.

Nan Xueyin frowned and said, "Her life is bitter, but the child is not at fault. Venting anger on a small child—as time goes on, the child will become insecure and timid."

She actually quite liked Xiao Baojing's personality; it was a bit like she was when she was little.

But if she is scolded and blamed like this from a young age, when she grows up, Xiao Baojing will also become timid and hesitant, and will no longer be as lively and cheerful as she is now.

Xiao Youlan laughed: "Our little Xue will surely be a good mother in the future."

Nan Xueyin was stunned and turned her head to look at him.

For some inexplicable reason, the image of Xiao Youlan holding a child and coaxing it to nurse surfaced in her mind again.

She took a deep breath and said, "Then if my child comes to speak with Your Highness the Crown Prince in the future, I ask that Your Highness not take offense."

Xiao Youlan smiled: "As a father, I naturally would not take offense at my own child."

These words were clearly teasing.

Nan Xueyin said crossly, "It might not be yours."

Xiao Youlan's smile deepened: "It can only be mine."

At this moment, a commotion broke out at the main gate.

Nan Xueyin looked up and saw a young man walking inside, and Xiao Mingyu went up to chat and laugh with him.

The young man looked a few years younger than Xiao Mingyu, and there was a very complex feeling about him; he seemed like a gentle scholar, yet there was a fierce, tough air between his brows.

Nan Xueyin knew that this fierceness was a temperament that only those who had experienced the battlefield and killed people would have.

"Is he good-looking?" Xiao Youlan noticed she had been staring at the person intently for quite a while and asked gloomily.

"Who is he?" Nan Xueyin asked.

"Xiao Qingling," Xiao Youlan enunciated heavily, "Jing Prince, another younger brother of mine."