Chapter 189: Should Be... A Token of Love

Returning to the Eastern Palace, Nan Xueyin frequently glanced sideways to look at Xiao Youlan.

Sensing her gaze, Xiao Youlan smiled instead, "What is it? You've been looking at me the whole time?"

Nan Xueyin asked sincerely, "Are you not unhappy?"

Xiao Youlan asked in return, "Why should I be unhappy?"

Nan Xueyin thought for a moment, "Because your Imperial Father is in a coma, and you are... not so close with your grandmother, the Empress Dowager, anymore."

Xiao Youlan smiled slightly, his voice calm, "Little Snow, do you know? Affection within the imperial family is very different from that among the common people. Do you still remember your father?"

Nan Xueyin nodded, "I remember. My father could write; every day when he returned from working in the fields, he would wash his hands and feet clean before coming to hug me, and he would even teach me how to write."

Xiao Youlan said, "But my Imperial Father would not do that. He has many sons and daughters; sometimes, I might not see him for ten days or half a month. In my memory, he has almost never hugged me—perhaps he hugged me once, but he handed me over to the wet nurse before long. Only the Empress taught me to write and told me stories. When I cried, she would comfort me. When I missed my Imperial Father, the Empress told me that he was doing something very great."

He paused, then curled his lips in a mocking way, "But now that I have grown up, I have gradually come to understand: what is so great about what the Imperial Father does? It is nothing more than reviewing memorials every day, handling state affairs, and then flipping a concubine's tablet to spend the night in her palace. If there is no one in the palace he likes anymore, then he begins a selection. Is it hard work? He has never been rained on or exposed to the sun, and his food and clothing are the most noble. Is it great? Yet there are still many commoners in the world who go hungry and live bitter lives."

Therefore, Xiao Youlan did not regret his decision to only want Nan Xueyin.

He respected his Imperial Father, but he did not like him, nor could he tolerate growing into a man like his Imperial Father.

Moreover, he had been trapped in self-doubt for a long time.

He knew that he would most likely inherit that throne, but he did not know if he would do better than his Imperial Father.

Nan Xueyin nodded.

"And my grandmother, the Empress Dowager," Xiao Youlan said in a flat tone, "she never really hugged me either. The pastries and snacks were made by the kitchen; she only moved her mouth to let them make a little of what I liked to eat. She said she liked me, but in truth, she only liked that my status was legitimate, that I was the eldest son of the primary wife, and that I was highly praised—a very suitable heir."

Nan Xueyin nodded again.

"Why are you only nodding and not saying a word to comfort me?" Xiao Youlan asked her with amusement.

While speaking, the two had already returned to the room.

Nan Xueyin did not answer, but walked straight toward the room.

Xiao Youlan was left where he stood, a look of confusion appearing on his face.

He waited patiently for a while before he saw Nan Xueyin come out.

"What did you go do?" Xiao Youlan asked.

Nan Xueyin's left hand was behind her back; she must have taken something out.

She walked right up to Xiao Youlan, pursed her lips, and signaled to him, "Take your hand out."

Although Xiao Youlan was puzzled, he still obediently stretched out his hand and opened it.

Then, Nan Xueyin placed something in his palm.

The touch was somewhat cool; Xiao Youlan lowered his eyes to look and saw it was a White Jade Guanyin Pendant.

Although the Crown Prince did not care for gold or jewelry, he had been surrounded by all sorts of rare trinkets since he was a child; he knew the white jade used for this pendant was very ordinary, and the carving of the Guanyin could only be called average.

The cord used for the pendant was clearly old and had already changed color.

He recalled some past events and asked Nan Xueyin, "Is this the pendant you were always looking for before?"

Nan Xueyin gave a hum, "Yes, this was left behind at the Duan Prince Mansion before. I was taken back by Xiao Mingyu earlier, and I found a way to retrieve this pendant."

Xiao Youlan pondered, "I remember, this was left to you by your parents."

Nan Xueyin couldn't help but praise, "Your memory is really good."

Xiao Youlan wore a smile.

Nan Xueyin looked at him and said, "I am giving this to you."

Xiao Youlan was stunned for a moment, clearly surprised, "Giving it to me?"

Nan Xueyin nodded her head, looking a bit embarrassed, "Consider it... a token of our love."

Xiao Youlan was stunned again.

"My background is very ordinary, and I don't have anything worth showing off on me, only this pendant... actually, I also know this pendant isn't worth much money, but it was bought for me by my father and mother after they saved up for a long time. This is the only keepsake my father and mother left me. Someone once secretly took it out to play with, and I beat them severely. This is very important to me. And."

Nan Xueyin paused briefly, her gaze shifting from the white jade pendant to Xiao Youlan's face, her voice becoming even gentler, "Back then, my father and mother told me that in this world, no one is lonely for their whole life. You will always meet someone who loves you. Xiao Youlan, your Imperial Father and your grandmother, the Empress Dowager, did not love you that much. The Empress who loved you also passed away many years ago. But you don't need to be sad. Because you have me now."

Xiao Youlan's heart felt incredibly soft.

In fact, in such a long speech by Nan Xueyin, not a single word said "I love you," but Xiao Youlan knew that a thousand words could not express more than this meaning.

He gripped the white jade pendant in his hand tightly, leaned over, and kissed the corner of Nan Xueyin's mouth, "Alright, Little Snow, I love you too."

Just a moment ago he had asked Nan Xueyin why she didn't comfort him, but this pendant and these words were more effective than any comfort.

Nan Xueyin blinked her eyes, "But I am disguised right now, this isn't my original appearance, how could you bring yourself to do that!"

Xiao Youlan chuckled softly, "It's not like you don't know, I have never relied on your face to recognize you."

As he spoke, he carefully tucked the white jade pendant into his robes.

At night, Nan Xueyin removed the Human Skin Mask from her face, washed up simply, and went to sleep on the bed with Xiao Youlan.

They had kissed, but they did not kiss for very long.

Because Nan Xueyin was sleepy.

She yawned, leaned into Xiao Youlan's embrace, and said in a daze, "Do you know? I rarely slept before, and even when I did sleep, I was extremely cautious; the slightest movement would wake me up... but now, because you are by my side, I... just want to sleep..."

Xiao Youlan kissed her brow, "Sleep."

Nan Xueyin closed her eyes with peace of mind.

This sleep lasted until the sun was high in the sky.

After Nan Xueyin woke up, she lay on the bed and stretched a big, lazy stretch.

Outside the room door, there was a whimpering sound, and something was scratching at the entrance.

Nan Xueyin knew that it must be Xiaoyang.

She was just about to speak to let Xiaoyang in, when she heard Xiao Youlan's voice, "No, Xiaoyang. Your mother is sleeping; you will wake her up."

Xiaoyang let out two cries, as if asking: Then why are you going in?

Xiao Youlan was calm and composed, "I am your father, so I can go in."

Xiaoyang:?

Nan Xueyin laughed out loud and sat up on the bed.

She spoke, "Stop bullying Xiaoyang."

Hearing that she had woken up, Xiao Youlan stepped inside.

Xiaoyang could not be stopped at all; it went straight past him and lunged toward Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin sat on the edge of the bed, hugging the massive, affectionate leopard, thinking that if she were not an Assassin with great strength, she would surely be pinned down by Xiaoyang, unable to move.

She took a moment to ask Xiao Youlan, "Why did you come over now?"

Xiao Youlan smiled, "I was just about to head out, so I came to wake you up."