Chapter 146: These People Are Here for Her!

Xiao Youlan eventually left after all.

But the heart that Nan Xueyin had been wringing for several days finally relaxed very gently.

So, the fact that Xiao Youlan had not come to see her these past few days was not because he was still angry, nor was it because he did not like her anymore.

It was simply because he was very busy; with matters of the Eastern Palace and matters of the Emperor, he could not pull himself away.

As Xiao Youlan's figure disappeared outside the door, Nan Xueyin took out the paper she had been holding in her hand all along and unfolded it: "To hold your hand and grow old with you."

Even she herself felt it was well written.

"Miss Nan..."

An attendant behind her called out cautiously.

Nan Xueyin turned her head, "What is it?"

The attendant said, "Miss Song has arrived, saying she is here to deliver food to Lord Shu. It's just that Lord Shu is not here at the moment, and I am unsure what to do."

So they ran over to ask her.

Nan Xueyin pondered for a moment, "Let her in."

"Yes."

Song Jianing soon walked in carrying a Food Box.

"Miss Nan." Song Jianing was a little shy when she addressed her, because Nan Xueyin's face was truly too beautiful; even though she was a woman herself, she was still stunned when interacting at close range.

Nan Xueyin had not realized this point, only asking her, "Here to bring delicious food to Shu Yu again."

Song Jianing's cheeks flushed slightly, "Why say 'again'..."

"Because two days ago, Shu Yu ate the iced milk curd you brought in big mouthfuls right in front of me," Nan Xueyin pointed to the shade of a tree not far ahead, "right there, eating very happily."

Song Jianing's face turned even redder.

Nan Xueyin, however, smiled, "Shu Yu has gone into the palace with the Crown Prince; you wait for him here first. It's hot outside, shall we go into the room together? It's cooler inside."

Song Jianing nodded her head, "Okay."

Nan Xueyin took Song Jianing to the flower hall.

This place was by the water and quite cool.

Song Jianing set down the Food Box, took out the pastries inside, and shared them with Nan Xueyin.

"It wouldn't be good for me to eat what you made for Shu Yu, would it?" Nan Xueyin did not take it at first.

"What of it? He wouldn't dare to be angry." Song Jianing was calm and composed.

Nan Xueyin thought that was true, so she took a piece and bit into it, her eyes lighting up involuntarily, "Delicious. Your culinary skills are this good?"

Song Jianing said with a smile, "As long as Miss Nan likes it."

Nan Xueyin continued to eat the remaining pastry.

Song Jianing stole glances at her from time to time, and finally, unable to help herself, she tentatively asked, "Miss Nan, you and His Highness the Crown Prince... how are things now?"

Nan Xueyin was also truthful, "The two of us had a fight a while ago and didn't speak for several days."

Song Jianing was stunned for a moment, "How could you fight?"

Nan Xueyin tilted her head, "Don't you think that he and I are not a match?"

"A talented man and a beautiful woman, how could you not be a match?"

"Background, that is." Nan Xueyin finished a piece of pastry and clapped her hands.

"But, isn't sincerity the most important thing?" Song Jianing looked at her.

"Sincerity?"

Song Jianing nodded, "Yes. Some people are very realistic and snobbish, feeling that whoever one marries must be of equal social status, and they don't care if there is sincere affection. Many people are like this. But there are also some who are unwilling to settle; they will not marry someone they do not like for the sake of so-called power and status, because if they did, every moment thereafter would be torture for them."

Nan Xueyin was lost in thought.

"Actually, if you think about it carefully, neither of these two types of people is wrong. The important thing is, what kind of person do you choose to be? And what kind of person is His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Nan Xueyin was slightly stunned.

Xiao Youlan, he was someone who valued sincerity more.

No wonder he was so angry that night.

It was because Nan Xueyin had asked him to marry another woman, which also meant that Nan Xueyin did not believe in his sincerity, nor did she cherish his sincerity.

"I heard that during this time, His Highness the Crown Prince has brought many people to the Eastern Palace," Song Jianing said, "among them are storytellers who are loudly proclaiming all kinds of true-to-life love stories among the common people, regardless of high or low status, as long as they love each other, they can be together. There are also scholars; it is said that His Highness the Crown Prince had them look for historical allusions, such as palace maids who became Empress, commoners who became Empress Dowager... stories of that sort."

Nan Xueyin was startled.

No wonder Xiao Youlan had been so busy lately.

No wonder there were always so many people in the study recently.

So Xiao Youlan was busy with these things.

Folk storytelling could win the hearts of the people.

Historical allusions could shut the mouths of the civil and military officials.

In this way, even if her background was not high, Nan Xueyin could legitimately become the Crown Princess, and then become his Empress.

Xiao Youlan said he had a way; he was not lying to her.

He had gone to such lengths for her, yet she had said such things to him...

Nan Xueyin was truly remorseful.

At the same time, she was also very grateful to Song Jianing; if it weren't for her, she might not have realized this for a long time.

"You cannot enter! Without His Highness the Crown Prince's order, how can you barge into the Eastern Palace?!"

At this moment, the reprimand of an attendant came from not far away.

Nan Xueyin raised her eyes and saw a team of personal guards forcing their way in outside the door, each one clad in armor and carrying a sword at their waist.

They looked like they had been sent by the Emperor, and it was quite obvious that this group had come with ill intent.

"What is going on?" Song Jianing also poked her head out to look.

Nan Xueyin frowned, "Something must be about to happen."

What she could think of right now were things like the Emperor passing away or chaos in the palace.

Knowing that as she watched that group of imperial guards brazenly walking toward her, and she sensed the intense hostility erupting from them, Nan Xueyin suddenly realized something was wrong.

It was not a palace coup; these people were coming for her!

Nan Xueyin did not know what had happened for the moment, but the situation was extremely urgent, so she quickly made a judgment, shoved the piece of calligraphy she had written into Song Jianing's hand, and said with a serious expression, "When the fighting starts later, you don't need to worry about me."

Song Jianing instinctively grabbed the paper and asked, "Fighting? Why would there be fighting? If I don't worry about you, then you..."

"Go find Shu Yu, find the Crown Prince."

Nan Xueyin grabbed her shoulders, leaned down, and interrupted her in a low voice.

Song Jianing was stunned.

Nan Xueyin had already let go of her and turned to walk toward the imperial guards.

Song Jianing watched her back, wanting to say something, but saw Nan Xueyin duck to dodge the hand of an imperial guard reaching for her neck, instead drawing the long sword from his waist and nimbly stabbing it into his shoulder.

Song Jianing widened her eyes, did not think much, gripped the paper tightly, stood up, and ran outside without looking back.

Who would have thought that imperial guards were blocking the gate leading into the palace.

"I am the fiancée of the Eastern Palace imperial guard Shu Yu, who dares to stop me!"

Song Jianing hid the paper inside the lapel of her clothes, gathered her courage, and asked sternly.

The imperial guards remained unmoved.

Song Jianing tried to force her way out but was easily stopped; she tried several times, all of which failed.

She suddenly felt that she was very useless; so what if she could cook? She was still just a weak woman!

Just at this moment, an attendant from the Eastern Palace walked over.

"Miss Song."

Song Jianing thought they were going to drag her back, and despair welled up in her heart.

Who would have thought, the attendant grabbed the imperial guard at the gate and forcibly pinned him to the side, "Miss Song, run!"

Song Jianing was startled; she had no time to thank them, so she seized the opportunity of this gap and ran out as fast as she could.