Chapter 131

After this speech, Xiao Mingyu's face turned ashen.

This was a threat.

A naked, blatant threat!

Yet Xiao Mingyu could not understand; Lianzhou was so far from Fengdu, and he had cultivated those forces in Lianzhou early on, handling matters so cleanly that no traces should have been left behind.

How exactly did Xiao Youlan know so clearly?

And Wang Yong's advisor...

He clearly remembered that he had already sent men to kill him!

"Does Fourth Brother need time to consider?"

Seeing Xiao Mingyu remain silent for a long time, Xiao Youlan instead revealed a touch of thoughtful concern, "There is no rush regarding the matter of the antidote; Fourth Brother can consider it carefully before giving this Crown Prince an answer."

He paused, as if remembering something, "Of course, according to the plan this Crown Prince previously proposed, the matter of the antidote must be settled before Fourth Brother leaves Fengdu. If Fourth Brother delays in deciding and the antidote is not sent to Fengdu before Fourth Brother returns to Lianzhou, then this Crown Prince cannot guarantee whether the things Fourth Brother has done will spread throughout Fengdu."

He did not say he would poke this matter before Emperor Yongzheng, but rather that it would spread throughout Fengdu.

This was no different from a more terrifying threat.

Emperor Yongzheng was an emperor, but he was also a father.

He still held some affection for Consort Xian and some paternal bond with Xiao Mingyu.

Moreover, in this world, the way of officialdom is to blend in with the dust; one can hardly find an official who is clean-handed and does not covet a single cent. For a Prince, merely embezzling some money and killing a few people was nothing in the eyes of the Emperor.

Emperor Yongzheng would only suppress this matter and forbid it from being mentioned again.

However, if this matter spread through Fengdu first, the nature of it would be different.

After all, the common people hate corrupt officials the most.

And while Emperor Yongzheng had to consider his paternal feelings, he was even more worried about losing the hearts of the people.

If the matter of Xiao Mingyu were to spread wildly among the populace, Emperor Yongzheng would be unable to suppress it; for the sake of his reputation as a sage, he would certainly act decisively to strip Xiao Mingyu of his Prince title and even throw him into prison.

Xiao Mingyu knew this point very clearly.

"Let us go."

Xiao Youlan said, taking Nan Xueyin's hand to leave.

Nan Xueyin did not commit to an opinion on this, merely following his footsteps.

"... Wait!"

Xiao Mingyu finally spoke, his voice raspy.

Xiao Youlan paused his steps, "Has Fourth Brother considered it?"

Xiao Mingyu gave a hum, his face pale, "I agree to your proposal."

"Hm?"

"I will send Bai Sheng back to Lianzhou to have the antidote delivered as soon as possible," Xiao Mingyu lifted his eyes with difficulty, staring at Xiao Youlan, "but the Crown Prince must hand over that advisor of Wang Yong to me."

"Very well." Xiao Youlan agreed.

With this matter settled, Xiao Mingyu let out a slight sigh of relief.

Watching the two hands of Xiao Youlan and Nan Xueyin clasped together, he felt a stabbing pain; as they were about to leave, Xiao Mingyu spoke again: "Hold on."

Xiao Youlan glanced sideways, "Changed your mind?"

"No," Xiao Mingyu said in a low voice, "I have words I wish to say to Nan Xueyin."

Xiao Youlan narrowed his eyes, looking at Xiao Mingyu before the desk with scrutiny.

Xiao Mingyu did not look at him; his gaze fell upon Nan Xueyin's face, his voice sounding powerless, "After all, we have known each other for a time; these are the last few words."

Nan Xueyin did not refuse, "Very well."

After all, the White Jade Guanyin Pendant her parents left her was still in Lianzhou; she had to make this matter clear.

Nan Xueyin looked at Xiao Youlan, "Wait for me outside the door."

Xiao Youlan stared at her for a moment and gave a hum of assent.

After the Crown Prince went out, only Nan Xueyin and Xiao Mingyu remained in the study.

They had known each other for many years, but at this moment, neither of them spoke, maintaining a strange and long silence.

A long time passed.

Nan Xueyin: "I have a pendant left behind in Lianzhou."

Xiao Mingyu: "Have you fallen for Xiao Youlan?"

The two spoke in unison.

The words overlapped, becoming somewhat jumbled.

The two stopped at the same time.

Xiao Mingyu looked at her, "Your pendant?"

"That White Jade Guanyin Pendant; you have seen it."

Xiao Mingyu recalled it and quickly remembered, "It is your treasure; you never let others see it easily. Back then, Bai Sheng was young and always curious, so he snuck it out to look at it. You caught him on the spot and gave him a beating. His eyes were swollen for three days before they recovered."

Speaking of this, Xiao Mingyu pulled at the corners of his mouth with a hint of amusement.

Nan Xueyin, however, did not smile and nodded, "That is the one."

She said, "When Bai Sheng brings the antidote, have him bring this pendant to me as well."

That way, she would not have to bother making another trip to Lianzhou.

Xiao Mingyu looked at her, his expression sorrowful, "Have you truly fallen for Xiao Youlan?"

Nan Xueyin tilted her head, "Isn't it obvious?"

Xiao Mingyu was stunned.

"If there is nothing else, I am leaving," Nan Xueyin said.

Seeing her turn to walk outside, Xiao Mingyu stood up abruptly, "Wait a moment!"

Nan Xueyin stopped, "Anything else?"

In truth, Xiao Mingyu did not know what to say.

But he really wanted to stay with Nan Xueyin; even if they said nothing, he would feel at peace.

Seeing him silent, Nan Xueyin's patience ran out, "I really must go."

Xiao Youlan appeared cold and distant, but in reality, he was a massive jealous type.

If she stayed inside for too long, he would surely sulk.

Furthermore, she did not want to stay with Xiao Mingyu; he gave her a very dull, suffocating feeling.

After saying this, Nan Xueyin rose and walked toward the outside.

Watching her back, a sudden, heart-wrenching ache gripped Xiao Mingyu's heart; he hurried forward two steps and grabbed her wrist, "Don't..."

Nan Xueyin turned her head.

Xiao Mingyu looked at her, appearing somewhat sorrowful, "Before, Wu Zhui told me that you liked me, that you had liked me for many years. I seem to know it, yet I am not certain..."

"It is true."

Nan Xueyin interrupted him.

Xiao Mingyu was slightly stunned.

"I did like you in the past, because you were my savior, and to me... you were also fairly decent." Nan Xueyin deliberated for a moment; she used to think Xiao Mingyu was very good to her, but later, after meeting Xiao Youlan, she discovered that Xiao Mingyu was merely so-so toward her—to put it nicely, that was considered decent.

"And now?" Xiao Mingyu's eyes felt sore.

"I don't like you now." Nan Xueyin was blunt and direct.

"Why?" Xiao Mingyu pressed.

"Not liking you means I don't like you; there aren't that many 'whys.' If you really must ask, it is because you are not worth it." Nan Xueyin's voice was very cold.

Xiao Mingyu stood frozen in place.

For so many years, Nan Xueyin had never spoken such words to him.

She actually said he was not worth it?

"From now on, let's just act as if we don't know each other."

Nan Xueyin finished saying this, shook off Xiao Mingyu's hand, and walked out of the study without looking back.

Xiao Mingyu stood all alone in the empty study.

The warmth of Nan Xueyin's skin still lingered on his fingertips; he unconsciously smelled his palm and caught her cold fragrance, pressing his palm against his face as if Nan Xueyin were gently caressing him.

Xiao Mingyu's Adam's apple bobbed rapidly, and suddenly, his body had a reaction.

He lowered his head, looking at his own hem in astonishment.

He... was capable again?