Chapter 208: The Crown Prince Has Raised Her Really Well

Feihong was startled and took two quick steps forward, "What did you say?! Didn't I tell you all to keep a close watch!"

The personal guard looked bitter: "We did keep a close watch, strictly guarding the entrances and exits. According to the rules, we were supposed to come back to report today's progress at this time, but during the final check, we discovered that the room was empty. The Duan Prince has somehow disappeared!"

Feihong felt anxious.

The struggle between the Crown Prince and the Duan Prince had now reached a white-hot stage. Currently, the Crown Prince held the upper hand, having trapped the Duan Prince in the Supervisory Court. With the evidence looking solid and no room for rebuttal, the Duan Prince's downfall was imminent, yet who could have imagined that the Duan Prince would actually vanish!

Feihong looked at the sweating personal guard before him, truly feeling that he was hopeless!

He could not think of a way to remedy the situation for the moment and subconsciously turned his head to look at Xiao Youlan.

The personal guard also followed his gaze.

At this moment, Xiao Youlan was the backbone and hope for them all.

However, before Xiao Youlan could speak, the sound of steady footsteps came from the room.

Nan Xueyin had finished bathing and come out. As she walked, she gathered the loose hair on her shoulders. With one hand she twisted her hair, and with the other, she took a simple peach-wood hairpin and inserted it diagonally, securing it in place.

Her movements were neat and crisp, a pleasure to behold.

Xiao Youlan could not help but take an extra look.

"I heard just now that Xiao Mingyu is missing?" Nan Xueyin's voice was cold and clear.

She was basically never that respectful, calling Xiao Mingyu "Duan Prince," though, after all, she even addressed the Crown Prince by his name directly.

Feihong was already used to it and nodded, "Exactly, and we don't know where he has hidden himself..."

"He didn't just hide," Nan Xueyin stood still beside Xiao Youlan, "He is going to rebel."

The word "rebel" fell heavily, like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake in the dead of night, stirring up abrupt and violent ripples.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Youlan could not help but slightly knit his brows.

Feihong and the personal guard also revealed looks of panic.

Feihong tentatively spoke: "This is a matter of great importance; we must go and investigate..."

The personal guard also said: "We have not yet received any intelligence in this regard..."

Nan Xueyin had no intention of explaining.

It was also at this moment that Xiao Youlan spoke: "Then, Little Snow, what are your plans for what comes next?"

Nan Xueyin was slightly taken aback and looked sideways at him.

"You may command the Eastern Palace personal guards and the four major military camps of Fengdu," Xiao Youlan said as such.

When he said this, his expression was very serious.

Nan Xueyin knew that he gave her unconditional trust and support.

But she curved her eyes and said: "I cannot manage so many people. I will tell you what kind of methods and routes Xiao Mingyu is likely to take, and you can make the arrangements."

It was not that she did not believe in Xiao Youlan's sincerity and affection, but she felt that, after all, Xiao Youlan was the Crown Prince. No matter how intense the liking and love, it should still be distinguished from power.

The Eastern Palace, and the future state affairs, were better kept in Xiao Youlan's own hands.

Nan Xueyin did not want to, nor should she, intervene too much.

Perhaps Xiao Youlan would not think anything of it, but how would others see it?

She also worried that after this happened many times, besides love, other things would grow between her and Xiao Youlan—for instance, being more like colleagues than a married couple... If that happened, even when lying together, they wouldn't be able to say sweet nothings, but would only talk about the current situation, which would be too boring.

Therefore, she was unwilling to start such a precedent today.

Xiao Youlan gazed at her for a moment, then said "Mm," and "Alright."

Led by Xiao Youlan, the Eastern Palace personal guards and advisors held a brief meeting in the study.

Nan Xueyin did not participate, but had informed Xiao Youlan of everything she knew beforehand.

Additionally, Wu Zhui, now as a part of the Eastern Palace, also attended this meeting.

He had originally worked for Xiao Mingyu, and he was clear about many of the personnel arrangements Xiao Mingyu had made in Fengdu, which was one of the important reasons he could participate in the meeting.

The meeting ended quickly, and everyone set off according to the arrangements.

Nan Xueyin and Xiaoyang were in a small courtyard not far from the study. Some people were in a hurry and did not notice her, but others had sharp eyes and spotted her at once.

When Wu Zhui came out, he saw Nan Xueyin at a glance.

"Your attire today reminds me of the past," Wu Zhui said with a smile, and as he spoke, he reached out to pat Xiaoyang's big head.

Nan Xueyin understood what he meant.

In the past, when Nan Xueyin was at the Duan Prince Mansion, she rarely dressed up. On ordinary days, she would either twist her hair up simply with a wooden hairpin or tie it with a dark-colored hair ribbon.

Wu Zhui and Nan Xueyin often went out together to complete missions; he had seen her past appearance and was very familiar with it.

It was not until she entered the Eastern Palace that there were many exquisite styles among Nan Xueyin's hair.

Later, Wu Zhui also saw it all; for a period of time, Wu Zhui had even forgotten what the former Nan Xueyin looked like.

Tonight, Nan Xueyin had returned to her former simple attire.

Nan Xueyin curled the corners of her lips, "Because the things to be done today are not much different from the past."

While they were speaking, Xiao Youlan also came out of the study.

Nan Xueyin's gaze suddenly shifted to Xiao Youlan.

In the past, she was always dressed in black, standing expressionless behind Xiao Mingyu, using her own face, but more often using different faces she had disguised herself with. She held blades and swords, protecting Xiao Mingyu's safety without hesitation, even if she herself was covered in wounds, she would not care.

But now, she would stand by Xiao Youlan's side.

What was the same was that the things to be done were similar; what was different was that her status with Xiao Mingyu had never been equal, yet Xiao Youlan regarded her as his wife.

Xiao Mingyu had used those debts of gratitude and so-called liking to trap her, but she was now staying by Xiao Youlan's side of her own free will.

"Let's go."

Nan Xueyin said these two words concisely to Wu Zhui, then brushed past him and walked straight toward Xiao Youlan.

Xiaoyang also followed quickly.

Wu Zhui watched her, then watched her and the Crown Prince exchange a few low words, the two of them walking side by side toward the outside, and could not help but feel a sense of emotion in his heart.

He said with his mouth that Nan Xueyin reminded him of the past, but if one were to really speak of it, the past and today were not the same.

In the past, Nan Xueyin had already grown beautiful enough, but most of the time, she would use a thick Human Skin Mask to cover her face; even when not disguised, she always had no expression, looking cold, distant, and devoid of human warmth, like a mannequin.

Nowadays, even without any magnificent adornments, the corners of Nan Xueyin's brows and eyes look much more gentle and approachable.

Yes, gentle, approachable.

That such words would one day appear in relation to Nan Xueyin, Wu Zhui found inconceivable.

He felt this was because the Crown Prince had raised her truly well.

Like a withered flower, under the Crown Prince's meticulous watering, she was stretching out her branches and leaves, blooming intensely.

The night was heavy, and Wu Zhui suddenly heard someone calling him from afar: "Brother Wu..."