Chapter 13: Like to Smile at Him? Hmm?

When Nan Xueyin sat down, her figure swayed slightly, and the position where she settled was a few inches closer to Xiao Youlan.

Xiao Youlan noticed this, turned his head to look over, and asked, "What is the matter?"

A blush appeared on Nan Xueyin's cheeks at just the right moment, "This servant might be... drunk."

Xiao Youlan:?

Xiao Youlan: "You did not drink much."

Nan Xueyin whispered: "This servant does not know how to drink alcohol; today is the first time."

Xiao Youlan was stunned for a moment.

The first time, and it was for him.

Nan Xueyin blinked slowly: "This servant might not be able to serve Your Highness anymore; this servant needs to sit and recover for a moment."

Xiao Youlan found it somewhat amusing: "Still need to recover? Let us go back."

Nan Xueyin looked puzzled, watching Xiao Youlan stand up and say to Prince Kang, "Uncle, there are still matters at the Eastern Palace, so this nephew will take his leave first."

"Very well, go and attend to your business!"

Xiao Youlan was in no hurry to leave; he first extended his right hand toward Nan Xueyin.

The Crown Prince's fingers were slender like jade with distinct knuckles; because he held a brush year-round, several knuckles were covered in a thin layer of calluses.

Nan Xueyin looked at his hand, not reacting for a moment.

"If you are not drunk, can you stand up by yourself?" Xiao Youlan waited in a leisurely manner.

Nan Xueyin glanced at him, smiled faintly, and grasped his fingers.

Xiao Youlan seemed somewhat surprised; why was she only grabbing his fingers? But he said nothing and applied a slight force with his hand.

Nan Xueyin then followed the force and stood up.

The two of them left under the gaze of the guests.

Shu Yu was waiting outside the door; seeing them, he could not help but be surprised and asked: "Why are you out so early? What happened to Doukou?"

Xiao Youlan said calmly: "She blocked wine for me and got drunk."

Shu Yu found it strange, "Just how much did she drink? She looks like she cannot even walk steadily."

Xiao Youlan: "Half a cup."

Nan Xueyin corrected: "It was more than half a cup."

Shu Yu:?

Shu Yu: "With those small wine cups at the banquet, it is impossible to get drunk even after a full cup. Since she had to block wine, why didn't you call me in? If I claim to be second in drinking capacity, no one dares to claim first."

Xiao Youlan glanced at him, "Then why don't you go in and have some?"

Shu Yu chuckled, "No, no."

He cleared his throat and changed the subject: "Anyway, since Doukou is drunk, let's go! Let us return to the Eastern Palace."

Xiao Youlan got into the carriage first and reached out to support Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin relied on his strength to board the carriage, swaying unsteadily as she fell into a seat beside him.

Her fragrant shoulders and jade-like bones, along with her slender waist, meant her full, soft chest was pressing right against his arm.

Nan Xueyin felt Xiao Youlan's body stiffen noticeably, but he did not push her away.

"... I have offended Your Highness."

She apologized in a low voice.

Xiao Youlan smelled the faint, lingering fragrance filling the space between her hair and sleeves; he lowered his eyes and saw the light blush on her cheeks, her usually cold eyes now misted with water, and in her hazy state, she appeared infinitely charming.

He stared at her for a good while before suddenly raising his hand.

Nan Xueyin was pretending to be drunk on purpose, precisely for this moment.

She knew this skin was beautiful, and if she were drunk, she would be even more alluring and moving.

According to Nan Xueyin's observations of Xiao Mingyu and others, as well as what she later learned in the palace, men generally find it hard to resist a beauty who is drunk.

At this moment, Xiao Youlan would either wrap his arm around her waist, hold the back of her head to kiss her, or perhaps reach his palm inside her collar or under her skirt to fondle her.

This was human nature.

If she wanted to become completely the Crown Prince's person, she had to have intimate interactions with him.

However, as Xiao Youlan reached over, his warm, large palm merely covered her eyes.

Nan Xueyin was stunned for a moment.

She was puzzled and confused; she bit her lip and tentatively called out, "Your Highness?"

She was trembling very lightly, her soft eyelashes brushing against Xiao Youlan's palm, creating a strange, numbing sensation.

Nan Xueyin did not see that Xiao Youlan's dark eyes had become increasingly profound.

She only heard Xiao Youlan's cold, restrained voice: "If you are drunk, then close your eyes and sleep for a while."

It sounded as if he had not been moved by her at all.

For a fleeting moment, Nan Xueyin thought in despair that this man was probably impossible to conquer.

The carriage stopped steadily outside the palace gate, and Xiao Youlan looked sideways and said: "Rest well today; there is no need to serve me."

Nan Xueyin nodded her head, "Alright."

She then tilted her face up to look at him, smiling brightly, "Then see you tomorrow, Your Highness."

Xiao Youlan stared at her for an instant and gave a soft "Hmm."

After he got off, he instructed Cui Mama: "Doukou is drunk; you all should take good care of her."

Cui Mama acknowledged the order.

"Your Highness!"

Hantao was also waiting below, her voice trembling slightly due to shyness and urgency, "Doukou is drunk and unable to serve Your Highness, so may this servant do it today?"

Cui Mama glanced at her with some displeasure.

Hantao argued, "His Highness is of noble body, he cannot be without someone to serve him. This servant may not compare to Doukou, but I have some skills that Doukou does not!"

Shu Yu laughed upon hearing this: "You are so desperate; if you were a man, you would surely be able to pass the imperial examinations!"

Hantao opened her mouth and said, "This servant does not want fame; this servant is satisfied as long as I can serve the Crown Prince."

At the last half of the sentence, her voice rose at the end, carrying a seductive lilt.

Xiao Youlan's reaction remained indifferent, "I have no need for it. You just focus on taking care of Doukou."

"This serv—" Hantao wanted to say more, but was dragged away by Cui Mama.

Cui Mama put on a fawning smile, "This servant understands, this servant will certainly take care of her with all my heart."

After Xiao Youlan left, Cui Mama scolded Hantao: "What nonsense are you spouting? The Crown Prince is currently doting on Doukou; if you insist on pushing yourself forward, won't you just annoy His Highness?"

Hantao could not help but feel aggrieved.

Linglang could not help but mutter, "I wonder how Doukou got drunk? Was it a reward from the Crown Prince?"

Cui Mama glanced over: "If you really want to know, why not be clever and learn a thing or two? Next time you accompany His Highness out, won't you know then?"

Linglang said sheepishly: "How could I have such ability... I am just envious of Doukou."

Hantao said stubbornly, "What is there to be envious of?"

Linglang laughed, "If you have the ability, you should follow His Highness out too; then what would there be to be envious of?"

Hantao gritted her teeth, "I will sooner or later!"

Linglang was already tired of these tall tales she told, "You won't. If you could, the first day the Crown Prince saw you, he would have asked your name and let you stay, instead of turning to ask Doukou. Later, when you replaced Doukou to serve His Highness, you wouldn't have been sent back either. And just now, you were practically kneeling on the ground begging His Highness to favor you, yet His Highness didn't even look at you!"

"Knock, knock."

Nan Xueyin raised her hand and tapped the wooden wall of the carriage.

Linglang tactfully fell silent, while Hantao let out a heavy "humph" and ran off with her head buried.

On the other side.

Xiao Mingyu had stayed at the Kang Wang Mansion until late at night.

He had drunk a lot of wine, but given his constitution, no matter how much he drank or whether he was drunk, he would not flush, nor would he act like a madman.

Instead, he would become taciturn.

Wu Zhui supported the Prince and returned to Jiaoyuan. This was a coming-of-age gift bestowed upon the Prince by the Emperor years ago, and it was also their current residence.

Hua Lianying heard the news and immediately came out to welcome them. Seeing that Xiao Mingyu had not brought back any singing girls or beauties, she breathed a sigh of relief and gathered a gentle smile.

"The Prince drank too much tonight..." Wu Zhui explained.

Xiao Mingyu had originally been expressionless, but his gaze shifted to Hua Lianying's face, paused for a moment, and he suddenly pushed Wu Zhui away.

Wu Zhui was caught off guard and stumbled.

Xiao Mingyu stepped forward and pinched Hua Lianying's chin, forcing her to lift her face.

Hua Lianying called out timidly: "Prince..."

Xiao Mingyu did not speak; he stared at her for a while, then suddenly scooped her up horizontally and strode into the room.

Clothes fell all along the way, some even torn off brutally.

He was too urgent, and Hua Lianying could not help but frown, "Prince, this concubine is in pain..."

Xiao Mingyu looked down from above, his expression dark and terrifying, "You like smiling at him? Hmm? When you are by this Prince's side, why haven't I seen you so fond of smiling? And you even blocked wine for him?"