Chapter 191: The Clever and Formidable Panther

Nan Xueyin was a little surprised; she turned her head to look at Xiao Youlan beside her and mouthed, "Marriage?"

Xiao Youlan nodded, "Yes, next month."

Nan Xueyin felt a very strange sensation.

Of course, she liked Shu Yu quite a bit, and she also liked Song Jianing; that the two of them could get married was naturally a joyous event of the highest order.

However, she just felt that although the days since she had left hadn't been long, many things had happened, whether in the Eastern Palace or in Fengdu.

It was truly as if a lifetime had passed.

The group walked out of the Eastern Palace, and Shu Yu finished his joking and chatting with the guards, then respectfully saluted Xiao Youlan, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Xiao Youlan nodded slightly.

Shu Yu raised his head and looked toward Nan Xueyin, appearing very excited.

Nan Xueyin felt he was very much like one of those high-energy dogs that, upon meeting another dog it hadn't seen in a long time on the side of the road, would wag its tail behind its butt vigorously, wanting to tell its dog brother about everything that had happened recently...

"Let's go," Xiao Youlan said.

The carriages were prepared at the Eastern Palace; Nan Jiyun took one, and Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan took another.

Just as the carriage was about to set off, a black figure was seen rushing out with a *whoosh*.

"Xiaoyang?" Nan Xueyin caught it.

Xiaoyang was jumping for joy; it looked as if it thought Nan Xueyin was going to take it out to play.

Of course it wanted to go out; although the Eastern Palace was large, it couldn't compare to the outside world.

Nan Xueyin saw its intention and pursed her lips, "Xiaoyang, I'm going out for something very important, how about you..."

She wanted to say, how about you wait for me at home?

Before she could finish, Xiaoyang lifted its big head, its large, round eyes seemingly brimming with tears.

Nan Xueyin's heart softened at once.

Xiao Youlan also smiled from the side, "Then let's bring it along; hide it in the carriage so the commoners don't see it, and then there will be nothing to fear."

Nan Xueyin sighed, "Alright."

Shu Yu led the team, with the Eastern Palace personal guards closely escorting them on both sides, to deliver Nan Jiyun and the criminal evidence in his possession to the Supervisory Court.

Along the way, the commoners gave way, all looking sideways.

"What is going on? Why is the Eastern Palace making such a big scene?"

"Looking at this direction, it's heading to the Supervisory Court!"

"I heard Prince Duan is in Fengdu recently; the way I see it, the two brothers, Prince Duan and the Crown Prince, are at each other's throats!"

"What do you mean 'at each other's throats,' that's an ugly way to put it. Prince Duan has committed many evils, and His Highness the Crown Prince is weeding out the strong to support the weak!"

"..."

Nan Xueyin listened to the bold discussion outside and raised her eyebrows to look at Xiao Youlan opposite her, "Do you never forbid the commoners from discussing these things?"

Xiao Youlan asked in return, "Why should I forbid it?"

"In the past, Xiao Mingyu forbade such discussions. If any commoner in Lianzhou said a bad word about him in private, he would have them arrested, either locking them up until they died or making their families scrape together hundreds of taels of silver to buy them back."

Xiao Youlan curled his lips, "Only those who commit many evils and lack the support of the people need to use such methods."

Nan Xueyin chuckled and went along with him, "That's true, our Crown Prince is the most amazing."

Xiao Youlan felt a bit like kissing her, but there was a huge black panther lying between the two of them.

He had no choice but to temporarily suppress this thought.

It was just that Xiao Youlan was pondering, this was only one black panther; if he and Nan Xueyin were to marry in the future and have children of their own, would it be even more inconvenient for them to be intimate while bringing up children?

This was a very serious question.

Gradually approaching the Supervisory Court, the carriage came to a steady stop.

Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan did not get out; over there, Shu Yu guided Nan Jiyun off the carriage to walk inside, and even specifically assigned two guards to follow him.

Suddenly, Xiaoyang in the carriage became restless.

Nan Xueyin keenly lowered her head, "What's wrong?"

Xiaoyang could not speak; it twitched its nose, wanting to burrow out of the carriage.

Nan Xueyin held it down, "Don't go out."

Xiaoyang, however, let out two *awoo* sounds and still wanted to go outside.

Nan Xueyin felt that something might be about to happen and turned to look at Xiao Youlan, "If I let Xiaoyang out at the entrance of the Supervisory Court, what will happen?"

Xiao Youlan thought for a moment, "There are no commoners here, only a bunch of officials and guards; let them be scared if they are."

With these words from the Crown Prince, Nan Xueyin loosened her grip.

As soon as Xiaoyang poked its head out, a series of screams and exclamations erupted all around.

Nan Xueyin looked out through the wooden door pushed open by Xiaoyang and saw Xiaoyang bypass the crowd, heading straight for Nan Jiyun.

At this moment, Nan Jiyun was surrounded by a group of Supervisory Court officials; he was already afraid of Xiaoyang, and upon seeing it suddenly pouncing straight at him, his face turned pale with fright, and he called out, "Little Snow!"

Seeing his uncle so terrified, Nan Xueyin could not bear it; she braced herself against the wooden wall, about to get out.

But she saw Xiaoyang suddenly push off the ground with its hind legs, leap up, and fiercely pounce an official beside Nan Jiyun to the ground.

The surroundings fell into chaos; Shu Yu stepped forward, originally intending to drag Xiaoyang back, but upon looking closely, his expression suddenly turned cold and stern, "You intended to assassinate Magistrate Nan?!"

Once these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

Shu Yu bent down, picked up a gleaming dagger from beside the official, and walked quickly to the carriage, presenting the dagger to Xiao Youlan.

Nan Xueyin glanced at the dagger and finally realized that Xiaoyang had not been attacking without purpose; it had smelled the scent of danger.

Although Nan Xueyin was an Assassin and could sense killing intent, the one acting was an official, not an assassin; he had no killing intent on him, so she hadn't been able to detect it.

If they hadn't brought Xiaoyang today, and if they hadn't let Xiaoyang down, I fear this dagger would have already been plunged into her uncle's body.

"Take the person into custody and interrogate him," Xiao Youlan issued the follow-up order.

"Yes!"

Over there, Nan Jiyun also realized that Xiaoyang had saved his life.

The bit of fear in his heart finally eased a lot; Nan Jiyun took a deep breath, plucked up his courage, and said to Xiaoyang, "Thank you."

Xiaoyang glanced at him without letting go of the villain screaming under its claws, its expression a bit haughty.

This was the first time Nan Jiyun had looked properly at Xiaoyang's expression, and he was surprised to find that it was actually quite cute!

Nan Jiyun then plucked up his courage and patted Xiaoyang's head, "What a truly smart and formidable leopard!"

Xiaoyang's pupils dilated slightly, feeling a bit comfortable from being petted...

Thus, after the official who attempted the assassination was detained, Nan Xueyin called out, "Xiaoyang."

Xiaoyang stood beside Nan Jiyun and did not move.

Nan Xueyin probably understood what it meant: "Do you want to protect Uncle?"

Xiaoyang let out an "Aowu" cry.

Nan Xueyin was hesitating when Nan Jiyun said again, "Little Snow, just let it follow me for now!"

Xiao Youlan also said in a low voice, "I think this is quite good."

Thus, Nan Xueyin nodded, "Alright."

Over there, Nan Jiyun walked inside clutching the evidence of Prince Duan's crimes, followed by a sturdy and agile black leopard; those in the know all recognized this as the leopard raised by the Eastern Palace and knew that this man was someone from the Eastern Palace Crown Prince, so they naturally treated him with a bit more awe.

As for those who secretly wanted to assassinate or cause trouble, seeing such a fierce and menacing beast, they naturally retreated and dared not make a move.

Because of this, Nan Jiyun held his head high and chest out, and even his voice grew louder when he spoke.

On the other side, the carriage drove away from the Procuratorate.

Nan Xueyin was still thinking about Xiaoyang, wondering if it would behave itself.

Xiao Youlan, meanwhile, held her in his arms, kissing her every now and then, while asking, "What do you want to eat later?"