Chapter 172: Is Something the Matter?

Yu Rang lowered his head and said, "I am not clear on matters of the imperial court, and I dare not discuss them casually."

Madam Wang nodded slightly, "Yes, that is the sensible way."

She beckoned to Nan Xueyin, "Xiaoxue, Fuguang brought back quite a few gifts; you should pick through them first."

Nan Xueyin responded obediently.

After saying this, she wanted to call Nan Fuguang over to talk; she doted on this only son of hers, who had been away studying and only sent a letter every few months, so she had not spoken with him for a long time.

But before she could speak, Nan Fuguang had already eagerly crowded up to Nan Xueyin and said, "Sister, let me take you over to pick some."

Nan Xueyin glanced at Madam Wang.

Madam Wang was both annoyed and amused, "Go on, you two!"

Only then did Nan Xueyin reply, "Alright."

Nan Fuguang led Nan Xueyin to pick out gifts, and Yu Rang followed along at the side.

"Sister, I heard that you were drifting outside ever since you were ten; were you adopted by some kind-hearted person?" Nan Fuguang asked curiously.

"You could say that," Nan Xueyin said vaguely.

"I feel like that kind-hearted person must have treated you quite well; why did you return to the Nan Family later?"

Nan Xueyin's tone was indifferent: "Because the kind-hearted person died."

"Ah..."

Nan Fuguang could not help but be stunned.

After a moment of silence, the three of them arrived before the gifts.

Nan Fuguang regained his ability to speak and said, "Sister, look, this is Almond Crisp. It was originally only available in Fengdu. The Crown Prince loves to eat it, and after he bought it several times, this shop became exceptionally popular and opened many branches. I specifically bought some back to taste what exactly it is that the Crown Prince likes so much."

He had bought three boxes; Nan Xueyin said a word of thanks and accepted one box.

"And this hairpin. Sister, have you ever heard of it? The Crown Prince once liked a palace maid and prepared beautiful clothes and exquisite jewelry for her; this was the hairpin she wore the most."

Nan Xueyin took a look, but she did not immediately recall it. Had she worn it back then?

"But this isn't the real one, it's a replica, but it's also very exquisite and made with the best materials," Nan Fuguang looked at her a bit shyly, "Sister, I think you would look very beautiful wearing this."

Nan Xueyin smiled slightly: "Uncle and Aunt have given me many pieces of jewelry, and I still have many I haven't worn. Leave this one for Lizhu."

Nan Fuguang muttered: "She isn't even pretty, wearing such a beautiful hairpin is just a waste..."

Nan Xueyin suddenly looked at him, her gaze turning slightly cold.

It felt very much like being stared at by some kind of wild beast; Nan Fuguang subconsciously shut his mouth and shivered.

Nan Xueyin spoke slowly: "I think Lizhu is very pretty, and besides, she is your only younger sister."

Nan Fuguang was stunned.

Nan Xueyin casually picked out an ordinary pearl flower, "I'll just pick these, thank you, Brother Fuguang."

After saying this, she turned and walked toward Madam Wang.

After thanking Nan Fuguang, she still had to thank her aunt.

Nan Fuguang stood where he was, feeling a very strange sensation in his heart; that look from his sister just now...

"Zhengliu, don't you think my cousin..." Nan Fuguang was lost in thought, wanting to discuss it with his good friend Yu Rang.

Zhengliu was Yu Rang's courtesy name.

Before Nan Fuguang could finish his sentence, Yu Rang nodded his head, his face a little red, "She is very pretty."

Nan Fuguang:?

Nan Fuguang: "Get a grip! That is my sister!"

Yu Rang whispered: "There isn't much of an age difference..."

Nan Fuguang:...

He didn't want to talk to him anymore!

Because she was sulking, Nan Lizhu was not even willing to come out for dinner.

Madam Wang went to persuade her, but Nan Lizhu refused to even open the door, her voice filled with tears: "Mother, you are just biased! You like Brother! If you like Brother so much, then why did you give birth to me? I'd rather just starve myself to death!"

Madam Wang was also a bit angry: "You really become more unreasonable as you grow up! Open the door! Come out and eat dinner! If you don't come out, you won't eat today!"

"I won't eat then! Anyway, I'm already full from being angry!"

Nan Lizhu was determined not to open the door or come out.

In the dining hall, Nan Fuguang said nonchalantly: "If she doesn't want to eat, let her be. She's chubby anyway, skipping a meal or two won't do anything."

Nan Jiyun slapped him on the back in annoyance: "What nonsense are you spouting? Your sister is what they call 'round as a pearl and smooth as jade,' how cute!"

Nan Fuguang widened his eyes: "Cute?! Father, you are the most biased one in this family..."

Madam Wang returned clutching her chest and said to Nan Jiyun: "I can no longer manage this daughter; you should go take a look yourself."

Nan Jiyun laughed: "Lizhu doesn't like to listen to me anymore either; let Xiaoxue go. She likes this sister the most now."

Nan Xueyin raised her head.

Madam Wang said: "If you can't persuade her, then don't bother. She's only in her teens and her temper is already this difficult; who would dare marry her in the future? Once she goes to her husband's family, she will surely be looked down upon..."

"I will try."

Nan Xueyin said, rising to leave.

Hearing her knock on the door, Nan Lizhu was still very impatient: "I said I'm not eating! Stop calling! Even if you scream until your throat breaks, I'm not eating!"

Nan Xueyin spoke gently: "Mimi has been meowing for a long time, running all over the courtyard; I feel like she must be looking for you."

The room was quiet for a moment, then the door gave a light creak.

Half of the door was pulled open, and Nan Lizhu poked her head out, her eyes red.

Nan Xueyin handed over the little orange cat she was holding.

Nan Lizhu hugged Mimi and kissed the little cat's head: "Mimi, you're the only one who is best after all."

"Are you hungry?" Nan Xueyin asked.

"Not hungry," Nan Lizhu said, but her stomach let out two rumbles immediately after.

Nan Xueyin heard it, but her expression did not change as she said, "Do you know what Nan Fuguang brought back?"

As soon as Nan Lizhu heard the name Nan Fuguang, she became angry, furrowing her brows and saying bitterly, "I don't care what he brought back! I don't want a single thing of his!"

"He bought Almond Crisp, which is said to be the Crown Prince's favorite."

Nan Lizhu was stunned.

"He also bought a hairpin, which is said to be the kind the Crown Prince once bought for a palace maid he liked."

Nan Lizhu swallowed her saliva and peered at her: "You... did you pick them out?"

Nan Xueyin laughed: "I don't like hairpins; I feel that one suits you better."

Nan Lizhu's mood seemed to improve: "Then... then I'll take a look later."

Nan Xueyin gave a hum of agreement and reached out to stroke the head of Mimi in her arms, "Alright, shall we go have dinner together?"

Nan Lizhu muttered: "Nan Fuguang is there too, he will definitely speak ill of me..."

"I will help you."

"Really?"

Nan Xueyin nodded.

"Then... then alright." Nan Lizhu was indeed hungry.

After soothing Mimi for a while, Nan Lizhu wiped away her tears and asked Nan Xueyin several times to make sure no traces of her crying could be seen, only then following Nan Xueyin to the dining hall.

Everyone had yet to touch their chopsticks.

Upon seeing Nan Lizhu, Nan Fuguang habitually started to speak: "Oh my, she really has more and more of the airs of a young lady now..."

Just as Nan Lizhu was about to speak, Nan Xueyin gripped her wrist, looked at Nan Fuguang, and said, "Bailudong Academy should be one of the best academies in the Ye Dynasty."

Speaking of this, Nan Fuguang was also full of pride, "That goes without saying."

"Before your break, did the tutor ask you to write any essays? What did you write? How did the tutor evaluate it?"

Nan Fuguang was asked until he felt a bit guilty.

Nan Jiyun was also curious, "That's right, you went to Bailudong Academy; I still don't know how much you've improved!"

Nan Fuguang was flustered and overwhelmed, unable to even eat his meal.

It was Madam Wang who spoke up: "Do not talk while eating, do not talk while sleeping; speak after you finish eating."

Nan Jiyun then fell silent.

But Nan Fuguang's complexion remained very poor, and he could barely eat his food.

Nan Lizhu, on the other hand, was delighted to see him thwarted, and she even ate half a bowl more for dinner.

The instigator, Nan Xueyin, was calmly eating on the side, not saying a word and not even lifting her eyelids, hiding her merit and fame deep within.

Yu Rang, sitting opposite, looked at her frequently.

Nan Xueyin lifted her eyelids and raised an eyebrow: Is something the matter?

Yu Rang suddenly blushed and hurriedly lowered his head.

Nan Xueyin fell into silence.

Nan Lizhu and Nan Fuguang were in a cold war; whenever they met, it was always one eye-roll from one and an eye-roll from the other, and they hadn't said a single word to each other for a good half-month.

It wasn't until one day later that Nan Lizhu dragged Nan Xueyin along to play ball-hitting game.

When they went to the courtyard, Nan Fuguang and Yu Rang were already playing.

Nan Lizhu finally said the first sentence to him in such a long time: "Hurry up and move aside! My sister and I want to play ball-hitting game too!"

Nan Fuguang gave a hum and also returned the first sentence he had said in such a long time: "No! You aren't even good at ball-hitting game, why should I give way to you?"