Chapter 180: Mm, the Child Takes After You

Nan Xueyin was somewhat unable to hold her ground.

She and Xiao Youlan had been separated for many months; this kiss, after such a long interval, felt instead like the very first time.

Yet he was kissing her extremely deeply at this moment, with a fierce posture that gave the distinct feeling he wanted to tear Nan Xueyin apart and swallow her whole.

Nan Xueyin truly could not bear it; she braced against his chest and pushed him away with force.

She gasped for breath, unable to speak for a long while.

"It was just that I didn't think of it for a moment," because of the surging passion, Xiao Youlan's voice was noticeably hoarse, "After you left, I was constantly busy with various government affairs. I had grown accustomed to it, so upon seeing you again, I couldn't help but speak first of the things you would be concerned about."

As he spoke, he took out a square brocade box from the side and fished out a pair of jade bracelets from within.

Nan Xueyin recognized them at once, "This is the one the Empress Dowager gave me before."

She asked, "Have you been keeping them with you all this time?"

Xiao Youlan put the bracelets back on her wrists: "I kept these in the Eastern Palace for the time being. Hearing today that you had entered the city, I came to pick you up and specifically brought them along. With these bracelets not on your wrists, I felt uneasy."

Once they were on, he lowered his eyes to examine them, "Indeed, you look best wearing these."

Nan Xueyin's wrists were slender and white, though not frail; rather, the bones were distinct, and the lines of her wrists were smooth and firm.

With the bracelets slipped on, they were set off by her snow-white skin, appearing all the more lustrous.

Nan Xueyin shook the bracelets, "Actually, wearing these is very inconvenient for fighting; I always worry about smashing them."

"When you are by my side, there is no need to fight at all. It was my failure to do things well before that caused you to fall into danger," Xiao Youlan was very remorseful; he paused, then added, "Even if you smash these bracelets, it doesn't matter; I will buy you better ones. The bracelets are not important; you are what is important."

Nan Xueyin raised her eyebrows: "Others always say Xiao Mingyu is the best at using sweet words to coax people into happiness; actually, our Crown Prince is quite good at it too."

Xiao Youlan looked up at her: "I only coax you alone into happiness; he coaxes many people."

Nan Xueyin felt he was so adorable; her eyes curved, and she took the initiative to kiss him.

Having had the previous adaptation, this time, Nan Xueyin was like a fish in water.

She closed her eyes, her arms unconsciously stroking Xiao Youlan's chest and climbing up to his neck.

Neither of them noticed when the carriage had stopped.

Only their breaths were intertwined, becoming increasingly scorching.

Just as she reached for Xiao Youlan's belt by instinct and tried to undo it, suddenly, a rustling sound came from beneath the carriage, and a large, dark head pushed open the wooden door.

Nan Xueyin was in the heat of the moment and originally did not intend to pay it any mind.

However, her skirt hem was tugged hard.

She let out a sound of surprise and released Xiao Youlan.

Feeling a bit displeased, she looked to the side.

Upon seeing that furry leopard head, her anger melted away like ice and snow in an instant.

"... Xiaoyang?"

Nan Xueyin called out tentatively.

The little leopard—no, it was a big leopard now—let go of Nan Xueyin's clothes and kept rubbing its head against her chest.

Nan Xueyin had thought that since she had suddenly disappeared and so much time had passed before she appeared again, Xiaoyang must have forgotten her completely.

Unexpectedly, Xiaoyang placed its two front paws on the carriage, and with a heave, its two hind legs followed; such a large leopard squeezed into the carriage, pinning Nan Xueyin to the cushion, rubbing and licking her.

Clearly, Xiaoyang had not forgotten her; one could even say it had been missing her madly.

Her face felt so itchy; Nan Xueyin rubbed Xiaoyang's head, "You've actually grown this big? How long has it been since we last met? I originally thought it was Mulan..."

Xiao Youlan laughed from the side: "Xiaoyang grows very fast, and it is indeed very much like its mother."

He asked again: "How did you recognize it was Xiaoyang and not Mulan?"

Nan Xueyin said with sincerity: "Because that look in its eyes isn't very bright."

Xiao Youlan had not yet had time to stop her.

Upon hearing this sentence, Xiaoyang's movements suddenly stopped.

Nan Xueyin had not reacted in time when Xiaoyang let her go, turned around, and got off the carriage.

Leaving Nan Xueyin in a disarray on the carriage: "What happened?"

Xiao Youlan took a handkerchief, carefully wiped the Xiaoyang saliva off her face, and explained: "I have spoiled Xiaoyang; it is prone to getting angry."

Nan Xueyin:?

Nan Xueyin: "Because I said its eyes weren't bright, so it got angry?"

Xiao Youlan nodded: "That is how it is. The night before last, Linglang casually said that Xiaoyang seemed to have grown fat, and it was so angry that it ignored Linglang for several days."

Nan Xueyin:...

So, would Xiaoyang also ignore her for several days?

At this moment, she heard her uncle's shrill scream: "Ah! A leopard! Ah ah ah!"

She poked her head out and heard Feihong trying to persuade him: "Don't be afraid, Xiaoyang doesn't bite people."

But her uncle still dodged away from Xiaoyang.

From Nan Xueyin's perspective, Xiaoyang deliberately bared its teeth at her uncle, scaring him into dodging behind Feihong again and again, before it flicked its head and walked away.

Xiao Youlan was also watching from her side and chuckled softly: "Both smart and mischievous."

Nan Xueyin curled her lips: "When I was little, my father and mother used to say the same about me."

Xiao Youlan: "Mm, the child takes after you."

Nan Xueyin was stunned for a moment.

After Xiaoyang had walked far away, Nan Jiyun finally recovered his usual composure and gentleness.

Nan Jiyun had always been a calm and collected person, but truly, too many inconceivable things had happened within this single day; he kept feeling as if he had had an unrealistic dream—whether it was a beautiful dream or a nightmare, it was hard to say...

Xiao Youlan and Nan Xueyin got off the carriage, and the two tidied up briefly; basically, one could not tell that they had just been planning to kiss each other to death inside the carriage.

"Uncle, let's go to the study to discuss matters together."

Xiao Youlan extended a warm invitation.

Nan Jiyun gave a nod of assent.

He turned his head to look at Nan Xueyin, but discovered she had no intention of following along, so he couldn't help but ask, "Little Xue, aren't you coming?"

Nan Xueyin shook her head: "I already know about those matters; you and the Crown Prince can just discuss them, Uncle."

Nan Jiyun wanted to ask, then what about you?

Xiao Youlan said softly: "Shu Yu is out and hasn't returned, and I have kept Wu Zhui at the Eastern Palace to serve, and he has even taken on an apprentice. You can go to the back and find them."

Nan Xueyin seemed to have heard something interesting: "Wu Zhui? Took an apprentice?"

"Yes, what is it?"

In Nan Xueyin's memory, Wu Zhui had once sworn to the heavens that he would never take an apprentice in this lifetime.

She was intrigued: "I understand."

Feihong leaned over: "Miss Nan, let me show you the way."

Nan Xueyin politely declined: "You had better stay and attend to the Crown Prince; I know the way."

Feihong painfully lost the opportunity to show off in front of the future mistress and sighed in disappointment.

Nan Jiyun watched, stunned.

"Uncle, I'm leaving."

"……Ah."

Watching Nan Xueyin's retreating figure, Nan Jiyun realized that his niece was much more lighthearted and relaxed now than she had been at the Qingzhou Nan Family, and she was no longer cold, but instead very fond of smiling.

He couldn't help but wonder, could it be that his niece had been at the Eastern Palace all along?

"Uncle, let's go," Xiao Youlan called to him.

Nan Jiyun came to his senses and followed after him.

To his surprise, the study of the Eastern Palace was furnished very simply, without any gold or jade decorations; it was even more austere and ordinary than the studies of Nan Jiyun's own superiors and colleagues.

Looking around, Nan Jiyun suddenly had a very keen feeling—this time, no one would be able to protect Xiao Mingyu any longer.

Those corrupt elements in the imperial court would also eventually be purged with great force.

To have such a Crown Prince, and to have such a monarch in the future, was a blessing for the people of the Ye Dynasty.

While they were discussing matters, Nan Xueyin headed toward the back courtyard of the Eastern Palace.

As she walked, she suddenly felt that something had been following her; when she walked faster, the other party walked faster, and when she slowed down, the other party slowed down too.

She pretended nothing was happening and continued walking forward.

After walking a dozen steps, she suddenly spun around—