Chapter 159: Why Must You Stay By My Side

Having originally struck Xiao Mingyu once, Nan Xueyin's mood was still considered decent.

But after hearing Bai Sheng finish speaking about Xiao Youlan's recent situation, her brows furrowed tightly again.

As expected, he had a huge falling out with the Emperor.

Vomiting blood—this was too serious.

Shu Yu was also not there; he must be having a terrible time right now, right?

Did he know that she was still alive?

And did he know that she would definitely go back?

After listening to Bai Sheng's words, Nan Xueyin did not say a word.

Bai Chuan asked in a low voice, "My brother has told you everything, you shouldn't hit me again, right?"

Nan Xueyin did not answer and turned to leave.

Bai Chuan did not dare to chase after her to ask, and uneasily sought his brother's opinion, "Brother, I shouldn't be getting beaten anymore, right?"

"You won't."

Hearing Bai Sheng's words, Bai Chuan let out a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good."

He also sighed, "If we really want to talk about it, Miss Nan and the Crown Prince have been torn apart, and the culprit is the Prince. The Prince is really not a..."

It was unknown whether he wanted to say "not a thing" or "not a person"; in any case, before he could finish his sentence, Bai Sheng hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand.

"Little ancestor, say another word and your brother won't be able to protect you anymore!"

Bai Chuan only revealed a pair of eyes, blinking them innocently.

"Don't discuss the Prince, and don't discuss Miss Nan, remember?"

Bai Chuan blinked his eyes hard.

Only then did Bai Sheng let him go.

Nan Xueyin returned to her small room in the Duan Prince Mansion.

Before, she hadn't felt it was small, but after having lived in the Eastern Palace—especially later on, when she lived right next to Xiao Youlan, where it was spacious and bright—compared to this, this room in the Duan Prince Mansion was simply pitifully small, not even as large as the bathing room in the Eastern Palace.

It was extremely cramped; the room could barely fit a bed, a wardrobe, and a small table, and there was only one window, through which the light was thin and weak; if the door wasn't opened, the entire room was dark and gloomy.

Any outsider who came here would never guess that such a small room housed the best Assassin of the Duan Prince Mansion.

Nan Xueyin felt it was truly ironic.

However, she still returned to the room.

She took off all the pearl hairpins and ornaments from her temples, removed her complex and luxurious outer robe, and changed into the dark-colored men's clothing she used to wear.

After finishing, she lay down on the bed fully clothed, even keeping her shoes on, just closing her eyes to recharge her energy.

The night grew deeper.

Maidservants and attendants moved through the courtyard, lighting the candles one by one.

Nan Xueyin heard them discussing in low voices.

"Miss Nan is back?"

"I heard she injured the Prince."

"What exactly happened between Miss Nan and the Prince? What will happen in the future?"

"Who knows..."

As their discussion gradually scattered with the wind, the surroundings fell into silence, with only the faint chirping of insects remaining.

Nan Xueyin suddenly opened her eyes in the darkness.

She vaulted out through the window, moving through the night like an agile leopard.

The layout of the Duan Prince Mansion had been the same for several years; she could find her way even with her eyes closed.

Before long, Nan Xueyin snuck into Xiao Mingyu's courtyard.

Xiao Mingyu was afraid of death; even in Lianzhou, in the Duan Prince Mansion, he had arranged Hidden Guards in the courtyard.

These two Hidden Guards, Nan Xueyin knew them; they were her defeated opponents.

Therefore, she entered Xiao Mingyu's room without the slightest effort.

Xiao Mingyu's room was more than ten times larger than hers, even larger and more luxurious than Xiao Youlan's room in the Eastern Palace.

It was said that Xiao Mingyu was afraid of the dark, so even the corners of the room were lit with candles, bright and shining, making the room look even more magnificent.

Nan Xueyin vaulted in through the window, silent as a ghost, and walked to the front of the bed.

Xiao Mingyu was sleeping soundly on the bed, with an incense burner placed at the head of the bed, slowly puffing out white smoke.

His outer robe was taken off and hung on the screen to the side.

Nan Xueyin walked over and searched everywhere, from the chest to the sleeves.

There was nothing.

She circled around and went to the desk under the window to look, but still found nothing.

She returned the way she came, and passing by the bed, she suddenly noticed with sharp eyes a piece of red string peeking out from under the pillow, which looked very familiar.

Nan Xueyin immediately understood; so her White Jade Guanyin Pendant had been hidden here by Xiao Mingyu.

She held her breath and bent down.

Just as her fingers touched the red string, Nan Xueyin heard a low chuckle.

Realizing something was wrong, she grabbed the red string and pulled it outward with force.

The string was pulled out, but it was completely empty; the Guanyin Pendant was not on it.

Xiao Mingyu lay on the bed, opened his eyes, and looked at her with a half-smile: "Look, I really understand you. I knew you would come to steal that pendant."

Nan Xueyin did not feel guilty, only asking: "So, where is the pendant?"

"Naturally, it is on me."

Nan Xueyin tossed the red string aside and, without a word, stepped forward to search Xiao Mingyu's person.

The most urgent task was to first obtain that White Jade Guanyin Pendant; it was the only thing she possessed that Xiao Mingyu could use to threaten her.

The Gu Poison in her body was not.

She would not die for a while, and the Gu Poison would not flare up too severely in the short term; if she turned the Duan Prince Mansion upside down, she would eventually find the antidote.

Once that was done, she could return to Fengdu.

However, just as she lifted Xiao Mingyu's quilt, her wrist was grabbed by him.

Nan Xueyin tried to shake him off, only to find she could not muster any strength.

A look of confusion appeared on her face.

"Is the scent of the incense pleasant?" Xiao Mingyu asked with a smile.

Nan Xueyin was stunned and turned her head to look at the incense burner by the bed.

"This was prepared specifically for you; those afflicted with Gu Poison will feel weak all over after smelling it."

Tricked again!

Nan Xueyin suddenly regretted that she had learned how to kill and how to disguise herself, but had never learned about poisons!

Her brows were tightly furrowed as she struggled to move further away from him.

Xiao Mingyu forcefully pressed down on her shoulders, "There is one thing I didn't tell you in the study during the day. It concerns why I must have you stay by my side."

Nan Xueyin did not want to listen at all.

Xiao Mingyu said slowly, "I don't know why, but other women can no longer stir my interest."

Nan Xueyin sneered, "That is because you have indulged in excess and are no longer capable now that you are getting on in years."

Xiao Mingyu stared at her, "However, Yinyin, whenever I see you or think of you, my body reacts. For example, right now."

As he spoke, he moved to lift his robe, seemingly wanting to let Nan Xueyin see the sensation she aroused in him.

"Disgusting!"

Nan Xueyin used all her strength to push him away, turned her face aside, and stumbled toward the exit.

Her footsteps were unsteady, and her vision was blurred.

Yet, she persisted in walking outward.

"Yinyin, you understand that things have reached this point; even if I were to die, I would not let you go. You can only stay by my side, whether you are willing or not." Xiao Mingyu's words echoed in her ears like a ghost, and he followed her.

Nan Xueyin bit her lip hard to keep herself conscious, "I would rather die than stay by your side..."

Just as her hand was about to touch the door, Xiao Mingyu suddenly placed his hands on her waist, like a venomous snake winding itself around her.

"How could I bear to let you die?" Xiao Mingyu's voice was as gentle as water, "Rest assured, this incense will not only leave you powerless, but it will also make your consciousness hazy and your memories blurred. When you wake up from your sleep, you will forget everything that happened in the Eastern Palace and fall in love with me all over again."