Chapter 129: She Is Truly the Woman I Set My Sights On!

From Nan Xueyin's position, she could roughly hear the conversation between Xiao Mingyu and Xiao Qingling.

"As soon as I received Fourth Brother's letter, I rushed back immediately. I barely rested along the way, but I didn't expect that I still wouldn't make it in time to see Fourth Brother's betrothal ceremony."

Xiao Qingling's voice carried a rasp, and Nan Xueyin was surprised to find it sounded very familiar.

Xiao Mingyu said politely, "I am already very happy that you could make it back today! Between us brothers, there is no need to be so concerned!"

Xiao Qingling said, "I have also prepared congratulatory gifts for Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law. I am having them moved inside right now; I hope Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law will like them."

Xiao Mingyu laughed, "Qingling, you've gone to great lengths. Come! Hurry inside and have something to eat. You must be exhausted from the long journey!"

Saying this, the two brothers walked inside.

Xiao Mingyu told him, "Many people have come today, and the Crown Prince is here as well."

Xiao Qingling was immediately overjoyed, "Really?"

Following the direction of Xiao Mingyu's finger, Xiao Qingling looked toward where Xiao Youlan was.

His gaze met Nan Xueyin's unexpectedly, and they collided.

This kind of gaze was, to Nan Xueyin's surprise, not unfamiliar.

Xiao Qingling, however, was full of surprise and asked Xiao Mingyu, "Fourth Brother, is that woman... the one the Crown Prince likes nowadays? Everyone is saying so!"

Xiao Mingyu's smile, however, was somewhat forced.

Xiao Qingling did not seem to notice anything amiss and called out with a smile, "Crown Prince!"

His expression and tone were full of a youth's exuberant vitality.

Xiao Youlan's expression was rather indifferent, "You're back."

Xiao Qingling nodded his head and pointed to an empty seat at the same table, "May I sit here?"

Xiao Youlan glanced at Xiao Mingyu, "This is Jiaoyuan; you should ask the master of the garden."

So Xiao Qingling looked toward Xiao Mingyu again.

Xiao Mingyu squeezed out a smile, "We are all brothers, no need to be so formal. If you want to sit there, then sit."

"Thank you, Fourth Brother!"

Xiao Qingling sat down, and seeing that Xiao Mingyu was about to leave, he hurriedly grabbed him, "Fourth Brother, haven't the guests all been entertained? Why are you leaving again? Sit down and have something to eat with us. It has been so long since we've all gathered like this."

Xiao Mingyu actually did not want to share a table with Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan, but he was truly worried about being detected as having something to hide, so he had to bite the bullet and agree.

"And Fourth Sister-in-law, you should sit too!"

Xiao Qingling greeted Yan Zhirong as well.

Yan Zhirong then sat down beside Xiao Mingyu.

The people at the table each had their own thoughts, and no one was in a hurry to speak.

Only Xiao Qingling sat there carelessly, poured himself a cup of wine, took a small sip, and blinked his eyes, "As expected, the wine in Fengdu is still the best! I brought several jars when I went to my fief, but they were always finished in a few days. That place can't brew such mellow wine, and it made me crave it so much..."

Xiao Mingyu said, "If you like it, I will have someone pack a few more jars for you to take back later."

"Really? Then thank you, Fourth Brother!"

Xiao Qingling was happy; he picked up a chopstick of food, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed, then asked Xiao Youlan, "Crown Prince, now that Fourth Brother is betrothed and has a Fourth Sister-in-law, shouldn't your marriage also be put on the agenda?"

He glanced at Nan Xueyin again, "Is this young lady the one you like, Brother? I heard some things about her on the way here—what is her name?"

Xiao Youlan answered in a calm voice, "Her surname is Nan, and her given name is Xueyin."

"That's a nice name! Xueyin, Xueyin, wouldn't her nickname be Yinyin?" Xiao Qingling was full of interest.

The speaker had no intention, but the listener did.

These words fell into Yan Zhirong's ears, and she was stunned in her heart.

Yingying.

Yinyin.

Her breathing became inexplicably rapid.

"By the way," Xiao Qingling quickly asked about other things out of curiosity, "Crown Prince, where is Miss Nan from? What does her family do? How did you and she meet?"

Xiao Youlan was actually a bit annoyed by the questioning.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Xiao Qingling put down his chopsticks, his expression becoming a bit cautious, "Crown Prince, did I annoy you?"

Xiao Youlan was even more annoyed.

Suddenly, Nan Xueyin spoke coldly, "I saw the Crown Prince when he was killing someone."

Xiao Qingling was drinking wine and was choked by her sudden sentence, and he began to cough violently.

"Wh-what? Kill... killing someone?"

Nan Xueyin patiently waited for him to finish coughing before saying, "I caught him in a compromising position and ordered him to bring me into the Eastern Palace to live in luxury. He had no choice but to agree."

Xiao Qingling coughed until his face turned red.

Before he could ask anything else, Nan Xueyin added, "If you're hungry, keep eating; if you're thirsty, drink some more wine. Asking so many questions without end, are you starved for affection?"

Xiao Qingling laughed out loud instead.

As he laughed, he actually obediently shut his mouth and began to eat.

Xiao Youlan looked at Xiao Qingling's well-behaved appearance, and the look in his eyes toward Nan Xueyin carried even more intense admiration and respect—she is truly the woman I set my sights on!

Xiao Qingling was a very troublesome younger brother.

He had been talkative and meddlesome since he was a child, and Xiao Youlan, who liked quiet and solitude, was annoyed by him every single time.

And if Xiao Youlan ignored him, he would play the victim, especially liking to bring up his own tragic childhood experiences.

Xiao Youlan was kind-hearted after all, and was always made to feel guilty, forced to lower his head and admit his faults.

This was the first time Xiao Youlan had seen Xiao Qingling act so well-behaved.

However, he did not stay well-behaved for long.

The banquet ended, and according to their agreement, Xiao Youlan was to accompany Nan Xueyin to find Xiao Mingyu for the antidote to the Gu Poison.

"Finished eating!"

Xiao Qingling was full and satisfied; he set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Xiao Youlan with great interest. "Your Highness, shall I accompany you into the palace? After I returned, I saw the Emperor in a rush, but I haven't seen Grandmother Empress Dowager yet. Grandmother Empress Dowager's birthday was a few days ago, and I wasn't able to make it back in time; I feel very guilty about it."

Xiao Youlan:...

He remembered that back then, when Xiao Qingling's birth mother was pregnant with him, Imperial Concubine was overcome with jealousy and wanted to frame her to cause a miscarriage, but it was Empress Rouyi who used all her strength to protect both mother and son.

Now, Xiao Youlan felt that his mother's actions back then were not entirely correct.

Seeing that Xiao Youlan did not speak, Xiao Qingling prepared to use his old tricks again. "Crown Prince..."

"Do you not have your own carriage?" Nan Xueyin frowned, interrupting him.

Xiao Qingling chuckled. "I just wanted to go back with Crown Prince, that's all."

"In the future, when you marry and have children, will you want to be with the Crown Prince then, too?"

Xiao Qingling was stunned, his gaze falling upon her face.

Nan Xueyin's expression was very cold.

A moment later, Xiao Qingling lowered his eyes. "Alright."

He looked a bit pitiful.

Nan Xueyin's heart was as firm as a rock; she felt not the slightest bit of pity.

Xiao Qingling left all alone, and Xiao Youlan, feeling a sense of relief, looked at Xiao Mingyu. "Fourth Brother, shall we continue the matters we haven't finished discussing in the study?"

"... Very well."

Xiao Mingyu stood up and squeezed Yan Zhirong's hand. "Zhirong, you rest first. Once I've finished handling these matters, I will come to find you."

Yan Zhirong's peripheral vision remained fixed on Nan Xueyin; her mind was elsewhere, and she nodded in a slightly perfunctory manner.

The three of them arrived at the study.

After dismissing all the servants, Xiao Mingyu sat dejectedly before the desk, his face pale. "The antidote, I can give it."