Chapter 158: Massage My Legs

Due to encountering an Assassin on the road, the party of Xiao Mingyu arrived in Lianzhou a bit late.

When the carriage came to a steady stop outside the Duan Prince Mansion, the sky had already darkened.

Nan Xueyin pushed open the wooden door and saw Xiao Mingyu at a glance, standing beneath the carriage waiting for her.

Nan Xueyin curled her lips into a mocking smile: "What, we've arrived at the Duan Prince Mansion, and the Prince is still afraid of Assassins?"

Xiao Mingyu held back his temper and said as gently as he could: "Come here, I have something to tell you."

Nan Xueyin stopped smiling, her gaze somewhat indifferent.

"What?"

"I have nothing to say."

Xiao Mingyu let out a scoff, "In that case, you don't want that white jade pendant anymore?"

Nan Xueyin furrowed her brows.

Seeing her thwarted, the bit of displeasure in Xiao Mingyu's heart finally eased, and he twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a hint of a smile.

A moment later, in the study.

Having sat in the carriage for so long, Xiao Mingyu was exhausted and plopped down onto the couch.

A tactful maid immediately stepped forward; one knelt on the ground to remove his shoes and socks, while another quickly brought tea and snacks.

Xiao Mingyu sat slumped on the couch, staring at the doorway for a good while before he saw Nan Xueyin step inside.

It was very obvious that she was unwilling.

Xiao Mingyu stared at her, his brows knitting together.

The maid had removed his shoes and socks, and her soft palms stroked up along his knees, her voice coy and timid: "Prince, let this servant massage your legs for you."

Last time, after this maid said this, she stayed the night in the study, accompanying Xiao Mingyu; the next day, while receiving a bowl of contraceptive medicine, she also received many rewards.

She was repeating her old trick.

However, this time, she did not receive permission.

Xiao Mingyu's expression looked even worse, and he said coldly: "All of you, get out!"

Although the maid was confused as to why, she still obediently rose and left.

Nan Xueyin glanced at the back of the maid as she left, wondering if the sun had risen from the west today.

"If you mind these maids, I will have them all dismissed tomorrow."

Xiao Mingyu's gaze landed on her as he spoke slowly.

Nan Xueyin was even more confused, "Your maids, what does that have to do with me?"

Xiao Mingyu took a deep breath: "You have not yet left the Duan Prince Mansion; you are still a person of my Duan Prince Mansion."

Nan Xueyin nodded, "Then what will it take for you to let me leave?"

Xiao Mingyu countered instead: "What will it take for you to be willing to stay?"

Nan Xueyin sneered: "It is impossible for me to stay."

"Then likewise, it is impossible for you to leave."

Nan Xueyin revealed an expression of annoyance.

After a long while, she said viciously: "You being like this is truly meaningless. You and I have known each other for a while; there is no need to make the situation so ugly."

Xiao Mingyu smiled slightly: "This is what you call making the situation ugly?"

He deliberately raised his eyebrows: "The situation in the Eastern Palace right now is what you would truly call ugly."

Nan Xueyin was stunned and looked up.

She knew the temperament of Xiao Youlan.

His relationship with his father, the Emperor, had never been good; every time he returned from seeing the Emperor, he was always sullen.

Last time, after Nan Xueyin pretended to be Doukou and disappeared, Xiao Youlan had also made a huge scene for a long time.

This time, she feared he had stirred up many more things.

"Do you want to know about Xiao Youlan?" Xiao Mingyu asked.

Of course Nan Xueyin wanted to know.

Xiao Mingyu raised his eyebrows: "Come over and massage my legs, and I will tell you."

Nan Xueyin was slightly stunned.

Xiao Mingyu pulled back his robes to reveal his legs, and even lifted both legs up, placing them onto the couch.

This was a signal for Nan Xueyin to come over and massage his legs.

Nan Xueyin was silent for a moment before moving her feet forward.

"Do you really like Xiao Youlan that much, worrying about him so much that you would willingly massage my legs for his sake?" Xiao Mingyu's voice carried jealousy.

Nan Xueyin stood still in front of the couch.

Xiao Mingyu lifted his chin, "You, come."

Nan Xueyin suddenly revealed a faint smile.

Xiao Mingyu had a vague, ominous premonition, and sure enough, the next instant, Nan Xueyin raised her right fist and hammered it fiercely down onto Xiao Mingyu's legs.

"Crack!"

A sound rang out.

It seemed the wood supporting the underside of this soft couch had snapped; Xiao Mingyu's legs took the force directly, and a sharp pain surged, causing him to nearly roll his eyes back.

"Nan Xueyin!" Xiao Mingyu gritted his teeth, breaking into a cold sweat from the pain.

Nan Xueyin tilted her head: "Didn't you say to massage your legs?"

"Is this a leg massage?!" Xiao Mingyu's bones were nearly broken!

"This is the only way I know how," Nan Xueyin said, "I am an Assassin, not a maid. Didn't you know this long ago? Asking me to come and massage your legs—if that isn't being a masochist, then what is?"

Xiao Mingyu was furious, panting as he asked her, "You don't want to know about Xiao Youlan anymore?"

"I wouldn't tell you even if you pounded my legs; I knew nothing good would ever come out of your mouth," Nan Xueyin scoffed, too lazy to say more, and turned to leave.

"Nan Xueyin!"

Xiao Mingyu's roar came from behind, "You're really something! Don't forget, the pendant your parents left you is still in my hands! Sooner or later, I'll smash it to pieces!"

Nan Xueyin sneered at this.

If he smashed the pendant, what else would he have to threaten her with?

He wouldn't dare smash it.

But come to think of it, that pendant could not remain by his side any longer.

And there was also Xiao Youlan...

Nan Xueyin's expression darkened slightly.

Not long after leaving the study, Nan Xueyin saw the backs of the two brothers, Bai Sheng and Bai Chuan, from a distance.

The two were urging their subordinates to move luggage.

Bai Chuan asked curiously, "Brother, why do you think Miss Nan is suddenly treating our Prince like this? Didn't she like the Prince very much before?"

Bai Sheng was very calm: "Don't ask about things you shouldn't."

Bai Chuan, however, rubbed his chin: "If you ask me, it must be that Miss Nan has had a change of heart. After all, she stayed in the Eastern Palace for a long time; the Crown Prince is so good—he looks good, has high status, and is devoted. If I were a woman... even as a man, I would prefer the Crown Prince."

Bai Sheng: "If the Prince hears you say that, you won't want to live anymore."

Bai Chuan: "Ying, brother, save me."

Nan Xueyin:...

Why hadn't she realized before that this Bai Chuan was so delicate?

Bai Sheng was the first to sense her presence; he turned his head, saw Nan Xueyin, and immediately called out, "Miss Nan."

Bai Chuan had just finished talking about her and felt a bit guilty, so he called out in a low voice, "Miss Nan."

Nan Xueyin did not mind their gossip behind her back and went straight to the point: "In the Fengdu Eastern Palace, how is the Crown Prince doing?"

Bai Sheng's expression was somewhat unnatural: "Miss Nan, this matter... I do not know."

Nan Xueyin understood what he meant: "Xiao Mingyu forbade you from telling me?"

Bai Sheng did not answer.

This was a tacit admission.

Nan Xueyin said calmly: "Tell me, or every time I see your brother, I will beat him once."

Bai Sheng was stunned.

Bai Chuan was also stunned.

Bai Chuan was innocently shocked: "What does this have to do with me?"

Nan Xueyin shrugged her shoulders: "Threatening someone with what they value most is a principle Xiao Mingyu and Xiao Youlan taught me."

Bai Chuan looked aggrieved and turned to look at Bai Sheng.

Bai Sheng was hesitating, feeling that Nan Xueyin wouldn't actually do such a thing...

"Quick! Quickly call a doctor!"

A maid ran over in a hurry not far away.

Someone asked her: "What's wrong? Why are you calling a doctor suddenly? Is the Prince not feeling well?"

"The Prince... his leg was almost broken from being pounded... he's hurt so badly..."

"What? Who did this?"

"It was..."

The maid was about to say it, but out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of Nan Xueyin standing with her hands behind her back; her face turned pale, and she swallowed her words in terror.

"A-anyway, the Prince is injured, go and invite a doctor!"

Bai Sheng looked at the maid, then looked at Nan Xueyin.

Very well.

She even beat the Prince, let alone his brother.

Bai Chuan was on the verge of tears: "Brother..."