Chapter 205: Xiao Youlan Has Arrived

Yu Rang very much wanted to ask, if His Highness the Crown Prince had matters to attend to, then what about Sister Xueyin? Did she have matters to attend to as well? Why hadn't she come over together with him?

But in the end, he held it back and did not actually say it out loud.

He merely nodded.

A youth of this age could not yet hide his inner emotions very well; Nan Jiyun took one look at him and could roughly guess what he was thinking.

Yet he did not say it directly either, and smiled, "Let us sit and wait. There are not many rules in the Eastern Palace; just be at ease."

Yu Rang nodded again.

He was holding a teacup in both hands and was just about to sit down when the corner of his eye suddenly caught a flicker of light and shadow outside the door.

Thinking it was Nan Xueyin who had arrived, he immediately turned his head to look; once he saw the doorway clearly, his complexion turned deathly pale.

The one who had come was not Nan Xueyin at all, but a robust black leopard!

The leopard stood under the autumn sunlight, every single hair on its body seeming to shimmer with a striking luster, and those copper-bell-sized eyes, with pupils narrowed into two black lines, revealed the fierce intimidation of a savage beast in every way.

Yu Rang was badly frightened; he could neither sit nor stand, and his legs had lost their strength in an instant, making it impossible for him to even flee.

"Yo."

Nan Jiyun also saw the black leopard, his expression brightened with joy, and he was about to walk forward.

"Uncle Nan!"

Yu Rang panicked and tugged at his arm, "Don't go over! I fear this savage beast will hurt someone!"

He truly had not expected the Eastern Palace to be such a dangerous place!

Sister Xueyin was such a gentle and kind woman; living with such a savage beast every day, she must be living in constant fear!

Nan Jiyun reassured him, "It is fine, this leopard is called Xiaoyang, it will not attack people."

Yu Rang did not believe it, "How is that possible? The nature of a savage beast can never be changed."

Seeing him like this, Nan Jiyun simply waved at Xiaoyang, "Xiaoyang, come here."

Xiaoyang obediently stepped forward.

"Such a good boy, Xiaoyang." Nan Jiyun smiled from ear to ear and reached out to stroke Xiaoyang's large head.

Yu Rang was still afraid and wanted to stop Nan Jiyun, but he was not in time.

Yu Rang still thought Nan Jiyun's hand would likely be bitten by the leopard, and in terror, he wanted to close his eyes, unable to bear watching the tragedy about to unfold.

But to his shock, the leopard actually stood there so submissively, letting Nan Jiyun stroke it.

It even revealed an expression of enjoyment, looking exactly like a large black dog kept by some family...

Yu Rang was stunned.

"What are you doing here? Where is Little Snow?" Nan Jiyun asked Xiaoyang in a gentle, soft voice.

Listening to this, Yu Rang felt that Uncle Nan still possessed a childlike heart.

How could a leopard understand what a person said?

However, he then saw with his own eyes the leopard turn its head and gesture toward behind it.

Nan Jiyun also grasped its meaning, "She is in the back?"

Xiaoyang nodded its head.

Yu Rang was even more astonished.

This... was it truly possible to converse?

It was precisely while he was still shaken that Nan Xueyin, draped in the radiance of the autumn sun, stepped into the hall unhurriedly.

As soon as she arrived on the scene, Xiaoyang immediately shook off Nan Jiyun and ran straight toward Nan Xueyin.

In front of Nan Jiyun, Xiaoyang was actually still quite calm; it didn't matter if he didn't pet it, and if he did, it was just a bit of comfort.

But facing Nan Xueyin, Xiaoyang was uncontrollably excited, its head pushing hard against her palm and body, akin to: Pet me, pet me, pet me quickly! I want to be petted, petted, petted!

Yu Rang watched, dumbfounded, not knowing what to say for a long while.

Nan Xueyin casually patted Xiaoyang, walked straight inside, and sat on a chair, while Xiaoyang crouched by her side.

Her hand rested on the top of Xiaoyang's head, stroking its fur with rhythmic motions, and she raised her eyes to ask Yu Rang, "Why have you come over? Is there something the matter?"

Only then did Yu Rang finally snap back to his senses.

He had a very intuitive feeling, which was that the Sister Xueyin before him seemed a little different from the one he had met in Qingzhou.

In truth, her appearance was the same, and her voice had not changed at all.

Yet, looking at her like this, it no longer felt like the same person.

If he really had to describe it...

It was that the current Nan Xueyin was more relaxed and more at ease.

On the way here, Yu Rang had thought about it seriously; he liked Sister Xueyin, and if she encountered any trouble, he would try every means to resolve it for her.

But once he truly arrived in Fengdu, he gradually discovered that Sister Xueyin did not seem to have encountered any trouble, and had even gained the favor of the Crown Prince.

Seeing Sister Xueyin in person now, he was even more restless; from the outside, it appeared that Sister Xueyin was living very well here.

"I... I was worried about Uncle Nan, so I... came over to take a look. After arriving in Fengdu, I heard that both Uncle Nan and you, Sister Xueyin, were in the Eastern Palace, so I sought you out." Yu Rang lowered his eyes.

"I see." Nan Xueyin nodded slightly.

Hearing this from Yu Rang, she felt even more troubled in her heart.

It was obvious that what Yu Rang was worried about was not Nan Jiyun, but Nan Xueyin.

It was likely that upon hearing Nan Xueyin had come to Fengdu with Nan Jiyun, he had tried every means to come over, because he knew this journey was perilous.

Having arrived in Fengdu, because the matter between Xiao Youlan and Nan Xueyin had long since become the talk of the town, it was very easy for Yu Rang to hear about it.

It was also for this reason that he had plucked up the courage to find his way to the Eastern Palace.

Whether Yu Rang would be heartbroken or not, Nan Xueyin did not particularly care.

What she cared about was that Xiao Youlan seemed to be a little unhappy.

Having heard that Yu Rang had arrived while eating lunch just now, and guessing that Yu Rang liked her, Xiao Youlan returned to his room as soon as he finished eating.

Nan Xueyin asked him what he was doing, but he didn't say anything, only telling her to take Xiaoyang to see the guest first.

Nan Xueyin knew he was unhappy, so she did not press him for an answer and did as he said.

She pondered the matter the entire way, and because of this, Xiaoyang arrived a step ahead of her.

Yet, even after pondering for so long, Nan Xueyin still could not guess what Xiao Youlan was planning to do.

"Sister Xueyin, are you... doing well in the Eastern Palace?" Yu Rang stole a glance at Nan Xueyin and asked earnestly.

Nan Xueyin snapped back to reality and gave a soft hum, "Everything is very good. His Highness the Crown Prince treats me very well."

Yu Rang pursed his lips, "I... heard about it. I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince personally led men to the inn to bring Uncle Nan and Sister Xueyin back to the Eastern Palace. It's just that I find it a little strange... Sister, had you met His Highness the Crown Prince before? Otherwise, why would he have gone to the inn specifically?"

Nan Xueyin did not answer directly, "That is a bit difficult to explain clearly."

Surprisingly, Yu Rang did not press the matter further, and instead said, "I also heard that His Highness the Crown Prince took you to play polo, and before you were even married, he announced to everyone that you are his future Crown Princess."

Nan Xueyin went along with it, "Yes, I even won a jade pendant on the polo field and specifically gave it to His Highness the Crown Prince as a gift."

Yu Rang scratched his head, "A jade pendant... that must be very precious, right?"

This time, before Nan Xueyin could speak, a magnetic and slow male voice came from outside the door: "It is indeed precious."

Xiao Youlan had arrived.

Nan Xueyin looked up and could not help but be stunned.

Nan Jiyun looked over and was also stunned in turn.