Chapter 133: The Crown Prince Is Better Looking

Nan Xueyin immediately wanted to turn around, but her lower back was suddenly pressed against by something sharp.

As an Assassin, she reacted instantly; it was a dagger.

"Tell me, if this blade were to go in, how long would it take for you to recover?" the youth's voice carried a hint of keen interest.

Accompanying his words, the tip of the blade slid lightly across her clothing, as if it might pierce the fabric and stab into her flesh at any moment.

Finally, the youth sighed, "However, if I were to stain your clothes, it would probably be hard to clean up."

But the dagger remained pressed against Nan Xueyin's lower back, with no intention of leaving.

Nan Xueyin did not move, saying coldly, "Small tricks like this are fine for scaring children, but are you serious about trying to scare me?"

After finishing, she added word by word: "Jing Prince."

Xiao Qingling chuckled, "So you knew it was me."

He was also quite curious, "But I clearly changed my voice."

Nan Xueyin was expressionless: "The scent on you hasn't changed; it would be hard not to guess it was you."

"So that's how it is."

Xiao Qingling suddenly realized, "I've learned something new now; it turns out it's not just about changing one's voice, but also hiding one's scent."

Nan Xueyin couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind.

Xiao Qingling twirled the dagger in his hand and said quite seriously, "However, you really don't understand the rules. By rights, you should call me His Highness the Jing Prince, or Prince."

Nan Xueyin did not speak.

Xiao Qingling asked again: "But my Crown Prince brother must have never taught you any rules. In front of you, does he lower his posture? Is he very humble?"

"He must value you more than his own life; the Dou family is known for producing people who are deeply devoted. Empress Rouyi was a member of the Dou family, and she was infatuated with the Emperor, but because the Emperor was too fickle, she actually worried herself to death. The Empress only has the Crown Prince as her son, and he is also a devoted soul."

"And what about you?"

"Nan Xueyin, do you like the Crown Prince?"

He pursued her with question after question.

Nan Xueyin, however, found a flaw in the midst of this, suddenly launching an attack. While nimbly dodging the tip of the dagger by turning to the side, her right hand gripped Xiao Qingling's wrist, reversing the direction and pressing the tip of the blade against his own body instead.

Everything happened too quickly; Xiao Qingling had not had time to react at all.

He realized what had happened half a beat too late and couldn't help but exclaim, "As expected of the best Assassin."

Nan Xueyin felt nothing inside regarding such praise, only asking irritably, "Asking so much, do you have a brother complex?"

Xiao Qingling shook his head.

If he wasn't infatuated with Xiao Youlan, then only one possibility remained.

Nan Xueyin frowned, and sure enough, she heard Xiao Qingling whisper: "I care about you, not him."

Nan Xueyin didn't know what to say for a long while.

"Although you don't seem to remember me at all, but..."

Xiao Qingling wore an expression of some regret, "I truly feel that following the Crown Prince is not as good as following the Duan Prince. You are familiar with that place, Lianzhou, and Yan Zhirong will not be your match. The Duan Prince also likes you; once he spends more time with Yan Zhirong, he will understand his own heart better—the person he likes is you."

"As for the Crown Prince, his position in the Eastern Palace is truly too conspicuous; almost the entire world is watching him, and also watching the position of his Crown Princess. Think about it: you have no family background, no reputation, and you aren't even an ordinary citizen, but an Assassin—the most hidden identity, with so much blood on your hands. And him? He is His Highness the Crown Prince, the pride of heaven, the person who will ascend the throne to become Emperor in the future. The two of you are truly worlds apart."

"Even if the Crown Prince really likes you and is willing to defy the Emperor and the Empress Dowager for you, and defy all the civil and military officials, you don't need me to explain how difficult that process would be, right? He can be stubborn and insist on marrying you as his primary wife, but what will outsiders think? The Crown Prince, abandoning the country and the state for a woman. Everyone will be disappointed in him, and then he won't be able to remain the Crown Prince. Once kicked out of the Eastern Palace, he would at most be a Prince, but those others who are eyeing the position of Crown Prince will certainly try every means to take his life to prevent him from making a comeback—"

Nan Xueyin still did not speak, but her complexion turned pale bit by bit.

Because she knew these words were the absolute truth.

Her status and position were not worthy of Xiao Youlan.

Xiao Qingling observed her expression, the corners of his mouth lifting in a small arc, though his tone softened somewhat, "Actually, you don't only have the choices of the Duan Prince and the Crown Prince..."

Over there, Lu Yan's voice came from afar: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, I truly like Miss Nan and am determined to marry her as my wife! This is no lie!"

Nan Xueyin let out a snort of laughter.

Xiao Qingling's gaze turned gloomy, and he ground his teeth, "... I wasn't talking about him."

His gaze rested on Nan Xueyin's face for a long time, and he was actually very serious as he said, "The Jing Princess position is more suitable for you."

Nan Xueyin was startled and frowned deeply.

"Don't be in such a hurry to reject me!"

Before she could speak, Xiao Qingling had already guessed what she was going to say, "I, I am much better than the Duan Prince. I am very focused and have never been promiscuous. The Duan Prince has so many women that they could line up from Fengdu to Tingzhou, but I have grown this old and have never even held a girl's hand."

He looked down at his wrist held by Nan Xueyin and curled his lips, "Ah, this is the first time I've held one today."

Nan Xueyin:...

Xiao Qingling smiled: "I am also much better than the Crown Prince. Look, I am younger than him."

"By one year," Nan Xueyin reminded him.

Xiao Qingling was dead serious: "Being one year younger is still being younger."

Nan Xueyin swept a glance at his face, "The Crown Prince is better looking."

Xiao Qingling:...

Xiao Qingling gritted his teeth: "You like that face of the Crown Prince? It doesn't matter, I can use the Disguise Technique. I have studied the Disguise Technique, and I have studied it very seriously and learned it very well."

Nan Xueyin was slightly stunned.

He had studied the Disguise Technique?

In that case, Xiao Qingling most likely knew of her identity as an Assassin and also knew that she was very skilled in the Disguise Technique.

"I don't have that many people paying attention to me in the imperial court; I can forge an identity for you, saying you are a woman I met in Tingzhou, and fool the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. From then on, we will both live in Tingzhou and only return to Fengdu at the end of the year. Although Tingzhou is remote, the scenery is beautiful—long smoke and setting sun—you will definitely like it." By the end, Xiao Qingling's tone was truly gentle.

Nan Xueyin was expressionless: "I don't like it."

Xiao Qingling looked at her anxiously: "But you said you liked it before! You... do you really not remember?"