Chapter 21: She Is the Only One Who Can Save the Situation

Such amorous scenes were not uncommon for Nan Xueyin beside Xiao Mingyu; she had seen even more exaggerated ones, so her expression remained calm. She entered the room, and seeing them in the height of their passion, she did not speak to disturb them, but simply stood to one side and waited.

Xiao Mingyu's gaze swept past the doorway and saw her.

Nan Xueyin was about to call out to him, but he withdrew his gaze again, "Yes, one petal is still missing."

With one hand supporting the beauty's fragrant shoulder, he focused on his brushwork.

Under his brush, the beauty let out a delicate moan, "Prince..."

The tone was lingering and winding, tugging at one's heartstrings.

Nan Xueyin paused; for some reason, she did not want to listen, so she turned to leave.

"Stop." Xiao Mingyu finally spoke; this time it was to her, his voice sounding cold.

Nan Xueyin stopped in her tracks.

The beauty beside him asked in a sweet voice, "Didn't you promise, Prince, that only we sisters would accompany you tonight? Why has another come? And with such beauty, it truly makes one feel inferior."

Xiao Mingyu gave a laugh, "She is not for this purpose."

He patted her bottom, "You two go out first."

The two were quite obedient; they answered one after another and brushed past Nan Xueyin to leave.

Xiao Mingyu sat up straight on the couch and tossed his brush onto the floor, "Did you go out with the Crown Prince today?"

Nan Xueyin reported in a businesslike manner, "This subordinate followed the Crown Prince out of the Eastern Palace and encountered Yan Xunhuai riding recklessly on Ziwei Avenue. This subordinate saved the Crown Prince, and later went to..."

"Saved the Crown Prince?"

Xiao Mingyu interrupted her.

Nan Xueyin replied, "Yes, at the time, the donkey cart lost control and rolled down a slope. If this subordinate had not acted, the Crown Prince would certainly have been injured."

Xiao Mingyu raised an eyebrow, "You, a mere palace maid, can even stop a donkey cart?"

Nan Xueyin paused slightly and lowered her eyes, "This matter was my lack of consideration. Afterward, I faked an injury and broke my wrist; the Crown Prince did not grow suspicious."

Xiao Mingyu gazed at her for a moment; ignoring her injury, he instead asked, "Why did you act to save him at that time?"

Nan Xueyin was puzzled as to why this was the question, but she answered truthfully, "It was an instinctive action."

"Instinctive," Xiao Mingyu repeated, then gave a mocking laugh, "I fear it is rather that you are constantly concerned for the Crown Prince, and seeing him fall into danger, you threw yourself out to save him immediately."

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

She suddenly asked, "The Prince told me to go to the Crown Prince's side to become his bedchamber attendant and gain his trust. Therefore, for this subordinate to be close to the Crown Prince and care for him is also part of my duty and task. I do not understand why the Prince's meaning now seems as if this subordinate did something wrong? Think carefully: if this subordinate had stood by and watched the Crown Prince get hurt today, would the Crown Prince really still trust this subordinate?"

Xiao Mingyu was momentarily unable to refute this, but his expression grew visibly gloomier.

Nan Xueyin asked again, "Does the Prince have any other instructions?"

Xiao Mingyu was practically gritting his teeth: "No."

"Then this subordinate will return to the Eastern Palace."

After walking a few steps, she remembered something and added, "Just as the Prince said, if I frequent the Eastern Palace, it will inevitably invite suspicion. From now on, if there is nothing urgent, please try not to have me come over."

Xiao Mingyu kept a cold face and said nothing.

Nan Xueyin opened the door and went out.

Wu Zhui was still outside, "Shall I see you off?"

Nan Xueyin did not refuse, and on the way, she asked, "Why is Hua Lianying not to be seen?"

Wu Zhui shrugged, "After you left, the Prince investigated and learned that the matter of the Lin father and son was indeed arranged by her, so he had her confined to the courtyard, and then..."

And then he found two new women to keep him company.

The two understood this implicitly and needed no further words.

Before leaving, Nan Xueyin said to Wu Zhui, "I likely won't be coming back much from now on; I will have to rely on you to keep a close watch here."

Wu Zhui smiled, "I will certainly look after the Prince carefully."

Nan Xueyin's tone was cool, "Whether it is the Prince or Hua Lianying, as long as they don't add trouble to my mission, that is all."

The next day, there was a light rain in Fengdu.

After Nan Xueyin rose, she heard that something had happened at the Eastern Palace last night, discovered by Officer Shu Yu while on patrol.

She walked toward the Crown Prince's bedchamber and heard Shu Yu saying to Xiao Youlan outside the door: "... At the time, I heard movement on the wall; I am certain there was a person! But that person's movements were too fast, and by the time I chased after them, there was nothing left."

Feihong said, "Perhaps it was a wild cat in the palace? The Eastern Palace guards are strict; how could anyone enter and leave so rashly?"

Shu Yu scratched his head, "A wild cat, then..."

He sighed and said, "Regardless of whether it was a cat or a person, in short, because of this, I discovered Jiang Yan and Hantao behind the rockery on the east side. They were hiding behind it, engaging in their trysts; one was calling 'good Hantao', the other 'Brother Yan'—I had goosebumps all over. When I went over, this Jiang Yan still had his bare buttocks exposed... Mmph!"

Halfway through his words, Xiao Youlan suddenly used a handkerchief to block his mouth.

Shu Yu was full of confusion.

Xiao Youlan's gaze fell upon Nan Xueyin outside the door.

Nan Xueyin understood his meaning; he likely felt it was inappropriate for her to hear such things.

The problem was, she had originally undergone special training in this area; she was even more familiar with such matters than they were.

Furthermore, she had already witnessed the affair between Hantao and Jiang Yan with her own eyes.

At the time, she had warned Hantao not to have any more extravagant hopes for the Crown Prince; it seemed Hantao had listened, but had been entangled by Jiang Yan and could not break free.

After Xiao Youlan went to attend the morning court, Nan Xueyin asked Shu Yu, "How will Hantao and Jiang Yan be dealt with?"

Shu Yu was annoyed, "You really did hear it after all!"

Nan Xueyin glanced at him, "You were speaking with such gusto, it would be hard not to hear."

Shu Yu couldn't help but laugh, and answered her question: "They must first be interrogated to see how the two of them ended up together. However, Hantao was, after all, sent by the Emperor to serve His Highness, and now that she has been deflowered by an attendant, she certainly cannot remain in the Eastern Palace. As for Jiang Yan... it depends on the results of the interrogation. If he and Hantao are in mutual love, it would be nothing; His Highness is kind-hearted and might even fulfill their wishes. However, if Jiang Yan used his power to deceive Hantao into giving herself to him, then His Highness will not be lenient. His Highness hates such people the most and will never condone or indulge them."

Nan Xueyin nodded.

However, in the current situation, there was no true affection between Hantao and Jiang Yan, and neither of them could continue to stay in the Eastern Palace.

Outside, the rain gradually grew heavier.

When Xiao Youlan returned from the morning court, his mood was low.

He usually wore a cold, indifferent expression that gave nothing away, but today his lips were pressed even tighter, and his brows were slightly furrowed; it was clear he was in a bad mood.

Nan Xueyin stood under the veranda, and seeing Feihong put away the oil-paper umbrella, she smiled as if to please the Crown Prince: "Look, Doukou has already prepared breakfast for Your Highness."

Xiao Youlan, however, frowned deeply: "Why is everything left for her to do? In such a large Eastern Palace, can no one else be found to handle things?"

Feihong was stunned, "Ah, this..."

Hasn't it always been like this!

"Her hand is still injured; are you all blind?" Xiao Youlan's tone grew a few degrees colder and sharper.

Feihong could no longer smile, and the group of attendants, sensing the Crown Prince's fury, knelt down one after another.

Nan Xueyin saw Feihong looking at her eagerly, his gaze revealing a plea for help.

It was as if she were the only one who could save the situation.