Chapter 190: Xiao Youlan

"Going out?"

Nan Xueyin scratched Xiaoyang's big head with one hand, tilted her face up, and asked Xiao Youlan, "Where are we going?"

Xiao Youlan replied, "Uncle is going to submit the evidence of Xiao Mingyu's crimes, and I intend to accompany him. Recently, Xiao Mingyu and I have both been under investigation, and government affairs have gradually come to a halt. It's perfect; we can take this time to stroll around Fengdu and have some fun. You've been to Fengdu before, but you haven't really explored it, have you?"

Nan Xueyin nodded, "That's right, I haven't really explored it before."

Previously, when she came to Fengdu, she basically came alone carrying a blade; after killing the target, she would return to Lianzhou.

At that time, she didn't have much silver, nor did she have the leisure to tour Fengdu.

Now that Xiao Youlan brought it up, Nan Xueyin was still a bit tempted, though she was also skeptical, "You spend most of your time in the Eastern Palace; are you familiar with Fengdu?"

Xiao Youlan smiled, "I may not be familiar with it, but isn't there still Shu Yu?"

Nan Xueyin suddenly realized, "Oh, right, Shu Yu."

It was only at this moment that she remembered, "Yesterday when you came to the inn to pick me up, I didn't see Shu Yu following you. I haven't seen him all night either. Where is he?"

Xiao Youlan had already walked over to the wardrobe to get clothes for Nan Xueyin, and upon hearing this, he replied, "I told you yesterday that Shu Yu went to attend to some business; did you not remember him?"

Nan Xueyin said honestly, "That was indeed forgotten completely."

Xiao Youlan let out a laugh, "He worked until the middle of the night before returning. He is free starting today; I don't have to handle government affairs, so he can also rest for a few days."

As he spoke, he brought over a brand-new set of clothes to help Nan Xueyin change.

Xiaoyang was still acting spoiled, rubbing black fur all over Nan Xueyin.

Xiao Youlan called out to it, "Xiaoyang, go out; your mother needs to change her clothes."

Xiaoyang ignored him, acting as if it hadn't heard.

Nan Xueyin patted Xiaoyang, "You go out first."

Only then did Xiaoyang look at her with reluctance, leaving while looking back every step of the way.

Feihong, who was guarding outside the door, was very tactful and took the initiative to close the door.

In the room, only Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan remained.

Xiao Youlan sighed, "I've raised it for several months, yet in its heart, it only thinks of you."

This was referring to Xiaoyang.

Nan Xueyin tilted her head, "Your grandmother the Empress Dowager and your father the Emperor think the same."

Xiao Youlan chuckled, "Indeed. Shall I help you dress?"

Nan Xueyin patted her clothes and picked up long black hairs with two fingers, "So much of Xiaoyang's fur."

"The weather has turned cold recently, and Xiaoyang is indeed shedding much more. Counting the time, it should be nearing its mating season soon," Xiao Youlan reminded softly, "Get up."

Nan Xueyin stood up as told, "It is indeed almost mating season. Although Xiaoyang is smart, when it really reaches the mating season, it will probably keep running outside, right?"

"Yes, if it isn't restrained then, I fear it will frighten the commoners along the way."

"Should we have Xiaoyang castrated?"

Xiao Youlan was just putting her outer robe on; he fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, "If Xiaoyang hears this, it might get angry again."

Nan Xueyin scratched her head.

"I am considering finding a little female leopard for it," Xiao Youlan said.

"That works too..."

The clothes were soon on, and Xiao Youlan led Nan Xueyin to the vanity.

"Are you going to style my hair into something hideously ugly again this time?" Nan Xueyin asked him.

"This time it will definitely look good," Xiao Youlan promised confidently.

Nan Xueyin thought for a moment; Xiao Youlan was famously intelligent. No matter what poetry or essays they were, he could recite them after reading them a few times, grasp their meanings, and once he learned enough, he could master them completely.

When she was in Qingzhou, many people said that apart from having once been heartbroken over a palace maid and a woman, and having argued and made a scene with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince could be called a perfect person.

Nan Xueyin felt that during the time she wasn't in Fengdu, Xiao Youlan must have secretly learned how to style hair, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought it up himself just now.

Therefore, she nodded, "Alright. You style it for me."

Xiao Youlan expressed great honor, as if a beautiful wish had finally been fulfilled.

Nan Xueyin sat down in front of the vanity.

This was Xiao Youlan's room. In the past, besides that bright bronze mirror, there were only various gold and jade hair crowns on the vanity.

But looking now, there were two additional vanity cases on the table, holding many exquisite hairpins and hair ornaments.

Nan Xueyin asked, "When did you add these?"

Xiao Youlan was patiently combing through her long hair with a comb and replied, "After you were taken away, I felt that you would return one day, and one day you would live with me, so whenever I saw beautiful jewelry, I would collect it. I didn't realize I had collected so many. There are many clothes in the wardrobe suitable for you to wear, which I have also prepared for you during these days."

Nan Xueyin felt moved.

She felt now that even if Xiao Youlan styled her hair poorly later, she wouldn't be angry with him.

Looking in the mirror, Xiao Youlan's eyes were slightly lowered, his expression extremely focused.

Nan Xueyin felt again that he must have achieved some success in his learning, and today's hairstyle would definitely be a success.

She waited for Xiao Youlan to style her hair. Because it was slow, and she had just woken up—though she had actually slept for a long time—she couldn't help but feel sleepy, and before long, her eyes closed.

She didn't know how much time had passed when her head dipped, and she was jolted awake.

She blinked her eyes, realizing that she was waiting for Xiao Youlan to style her hair.

She yawned and asked, "Is it done?"

Xiao Youlan's expression, however, was very grave, "It seems..."

It seems?

A bad premonition rose in Nan Xueyin's heart, and she raised her eyes to look into the mirror.

Then, she fell into a strange silence.

Xiao Youlan quietly put down the comb and took half a step back.

Nan Xueyin stared at herself in the bronze mirror; the thoughts she had just had—"even if Xiao Youlan combs her hair horribly later, she won't be angry with Xiao Youlan"—were almost instantly cast to the back of her mind.

In the mirror, the hair on her left side was pulled up and tied high, with the ends sticking up into the air, while the hair on the right side was divided into several strands and then bundled together, resulting in every strand looking lumpy and bulging, as if her head had grown tumors...

Nan Xueyin gritted her teeth, enunciating each word, "Xiao, You, Lan!"

Xiao Youlan was actually quite bewildered too; how could it end up like this?

He had been very careful with every step, so why was the result like this?

Facing Nan Xueyin's fury, he tried to appease her, "Don't be angry yet; my touch was off today, and my state wasn't good... I really practiced for a long time, I don't know why it's like this again... Little Xue, I'll go call Linglang. Wait for me for just a moment."

Nan Xueyin took a deep breath, "Go!"

Xiao Youlan hurriedly slipped away.

Looking at his retreating figure, then looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Nan Xueyin was so angry she laughed.

So, there is no such thing as a perfect person in this world; if anyone asks, just look at this hairstyle Xiao Youlan combed.

This is Xiao Youlan's fatal flaw.

Because of this little interlude, by the time the two of them finished getting ready and went out, it was already past mealtime.

Nan Jiyun had already eaten lunch in advance and said respectfully, "Your humble servant will wait for the Crown Prince and Little Xue."

Xiao Youlan smiled, "No need. We will accompany you over, and then eat at the Fengdu Restaurant."

"That works too."

On the way out of the Eastern Palace, while still at a distance, Nan Xueyin heard Shu Yu's voice, as flamboyant as ever, carrying a clear sense of showing off.

"... Yes, it's me, I'm the one getting married. What do you mean I'm shamelessly begging someone to marry me... that's so hurtful to say; it's because I am devoted and faithful that Jianing also likes me and is willing to entrust the rest of her life to me. I'm just following our Crown Prince's example!"