Chapter 138: She Always Involuntarily Thinks of Xiao Youlan

Nan Xueyin also heard Feihong's voice and looked over, standing beside Xiao Youlan, her tone thoughtful, "The surname is Yan, Yan Zhirong's father?"

Xiao Youlan gave a hum, "I'll go see what's going on. Do you want to stay here, or come with me?"

Nan Xueyin glanced at Xiaoyang and Mulan, "I'll stay a while longer."

"Alright."

After Xiao Youlan left with Feihong, the courtyard became slightly quieter.

Nan Xueyin looked at Xiaoyang and Mulan, then at the Jiang Family father and daughter, suddenly feeling a bit at a loss.

After arriving at the Duan Prince Mansion, most of her time was spent either learning and training in the techniques and skills of an Assassin, or, once training was nearly complete, going out to complete missions.

She rarely interacted with people; as time went on, when she encountered others, she didn't know how to start a conversation. If a mission didn't require it, she would mostly keep a cold face, putting on a very distant and profound air.

Some people thought she was unapproachable, but in reality, it was just because she didn't know what to say.

Now, Nan Xueyin also didn't know what to say to the Jiang Family father and daughter.

She thought about it; there probably wasn't any need to say anything, right?

Thus, Nan Xueyin took a deep breath and walked toward the cage.

Seeing her, Xiaoyang came over happily and rubbed against her lower leg.

Mulan saw this and looked at Nan Xueyin again.

It likely recognized that this was the person it had pounced on and injured some time ago, and it revealed a slightly apologetic expression.

Nan Xueyin thought for a moment and tried extending her hand toward Mulan.

"……Be careful!"

Seeing this scene, Jiang Lian'er let out a sharp cry of warning.

After all, even without Xiaoyang present, Mulan was still a fierce leopard.

She still remembered the last time someone came to select a wild beast; they saw Mulan, liked it very much, and ignoring the obstructions of Jiang's father and Jiang Lian'er, reached directly into the cage to tease and provoke Mulan. As a result, their arm was bitten off on the spot.

That person was a scoundrel; it was clearly their own fault for not listening to advice and getting injured, yet they insisted on making Jiang's father pay compensation.

Jiang Lian'er had a very deep impression of this incident.

She was now also worried about Nan Xueyin getting hurt.

This time, there probably wouldn't be a need for compensation, but the Crown Prince liked her so much—if she got hurt, then she and her father would be finished!

However, Nan Xueyin's reaching motion did not stop; it had already probed into the cage.

And unexpectedly, Mulan did not bite off Nan Xueyin's arm as Jiang Lian'er had feared; instead, after a brief moment of thought, it licked her with its tongue.

A leopard's tongue is very rough, wet, and has a high temperature; Nan Xueyin was stunned for a moment. This was the first time she had experienced this kind of sensation.

Jiang Lian'er watched, dumbfounded, and let out a "Wow": "This is the first time Mulan has licked anyone!"

Nan Xueyin smiled slightly.

Mulan licked her two more times, then lay down.

Nan Xueyin withdrew her hand, her palm still sticky with a lot of the leopard's saliva.

The smile at the corners of her mouth had not yet faded when she sensed a gaze landing on her. She turned her head and saw Jiang Lian'er looking at her.

Nan Xueyin: "Is something wrong?"

Jiang Lian'er scratched her head in embarrassment: "It's... it's just that... you look very pretty when you smile."

Nan Xueyin was actually taken aback.

Perhaps because she had been complimented by Jiang Lian'er, the initial tension Nan Xueyin felt lessened somewhat.

At this moment, Jiang's father suddenly stood up, intending to tidy up some things.

Because the items were quite heavy, Jiang Lian'er couldn't lift them, so it had to be done by Jiang's father.

But Jiang's father was missing an arm; his sleeve was empty and dangling.

He was advanced in age, his hair already somewhat gray; that rough, aged appearance always made Nan Xueyin think of her own father.

She couldn't help but feel a stir in her heart. She stepped forward and naturally took the tools from Jiang's father's hands, "Let me."

Jiang's father was still resistant, "This... how could I trouble you? You are an honored guest..."

"I am not an honored guest."

How could an Assassin be an honored guest?

Nan Xueyin spoke the truth and had already taken the tools over.

Jiang's father had no choice but to let her handle it.

At first, he was still worried that the items were too heavy and that a young girl like her would likely struggle.

Yet Nan Xueyin did not change her expression; when she lifted the heavy objects, it was visibly effortless, even easier than for him, Jiang's father, who had done manual labor for many years.

Jiang's father couldn't help but be astonished, "Could it be... that you are born with divine strength, Miss?"

"I just exercised a lot growing up."

Jiang Lian'er blinked her eyes from the side: "So women can also train to be this strong? Then I want to train too! Father, in the future, things like this can be left to me."

Jiang's father, however, denied it: "How can that be? You are a girl; why work so hard to build up such great strength? In the future, when Father has saved enough money, I will find you a good husband's family, and you can live out the rest of your life in peace and stability."

Nan Xueyin suddenly spoke: "Isn't it also quite good to build up strength? You won't be bullied at your husband's family in the future. Whoever bullies you, you just hit them."

Jiang's father was stunned upon hearing this.

Jiang Lian'er's pupils widened slightly, "That makes sense!"

The look in her eyes as she gazed at Nan Xueyin carried admiration, "Miss Nan, you are so farsighted!"

Jiang's father was so angered by his daughter's appearance that he laughed: "When that time really comes, you are a weak woman; how could you possibly beat all those people in your husband's family? Their whole family would definitely side with their own!"

Nan Xueyin: "Then just come find me. I can."

Jiang's father was stunned again.

Jiang Lian'er laughed out loud, "If it's Miss Nan, then even if the whole family comes at once, there's nothing to fear!"

Nan Xueyin curled the corners of her lips.

She suddenly felt that getting along with strangers was not that scary after all.

After finishing everything, Nan Xueyin had been there for quite a while.

She could not help but think of Xiao Youlan, so she bade farewell to the Jiang Family father and daughter, saying she would come again tomorrow, and then returned the way she came.

From afar, Feihong saw her and immediately trotted over.

"Miss Nan, you have returned."

"Where is the Crown Prince?"

"He is still in the study."

"Has the Yan Family member not left yet?"

"No, it looks like they still have plenty to talk about."

Nan Xueyin asked, "What did they talk about?"

Feihong recalled for a moment, "They talked about state affairs, and also mentioned the marriage between Prince Duan and Miss Yan."

"Then I will head back first. If the Crown Prince asks, just tell him I am in my room."

"Very well."

Seeing that Feihong was about to leave, Nan Xueyin called out to him, "Right."

"Do you have any other instructions, Miss Nan?"

"It is not an instruction, but please do me a favor; I would like to take a bath and need hot water."

Nan Xueyin had just helped Father Jiang tidy up, leaving her body dirty and faintly smelling, and she urgently needed to clean herself.

Feihong agreed quickly, "Very well! Please wait a moment, Miss Nan, it will be ready immediately."

Feihong felt that Miss Nan had become more personable today; in the past, she had seemed cold, aloof, and rarely spoke, but today was different.

However, Feihong thought this was very good.

A Miss Nan like this truly seemed like the mistress of their Eastern Palace.

Feihong hummed a little tune as he left, and before long, he had the hot water ready.

Nan Xueyin did not need Linglang's service; she undressed by herself, stepped into the bathtub, and sat down.

She washed her hair as well, gently rubbing it while soaking in the water.

The hot water was very comfortable; Nan Xueyin finished washing but did not get up, instead sitting in the bathtub with her back against the rim, closing her eyes to rest.

At this moment, Nan Xueyin heard a question from outside: "Where is she?"

Then came Linglang's voice: "Replying to the Crown Prince, the young lady is inside bathing."

Xiao Youlan gave a grunt of acknowledgment.

Nan Xueyin heard footsteps approaching; Xiao Youlan was walking inside.

She was currently stark naked, sitting in the water; although Linglang had scattered flower petals on the surface to cover the view beneath, she still uncontrollably began to feel shy and nervous.