Chapter 220: Our Wedding

Nan Xueyin looked bewildered, "See me?"

Wei Nian admitted, "Yes..."

Xiao Youlan looked sideways and asked, "Hasn't he been under interrogation these past few days? Is he not cooperating?"

"This... it's hard to say."

Wei Nian looked troubled, "To say Prince Duan isn't cooperating, he actually is; when asked about certain matters, he confesses them frankly, and it matches the evidence we have in hand—everything he says is the truth. However..."

He scratched his head, "He always starts crying while covering his face as he speaks, and his state of mind isn't particularly good. According to the jailers on duty, he sleeps very restlessly and cannot eat; he has grown much thinner during this time. This subordinate is worried that if he continues like this, he might..."

He might die in the prison ahead of time.

Wei Nian did not say this sentence.

But both Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan could guess it.

Xiao Youlan pondered for a moment, his gaze falling upon Nan Xueyin, and he asked her, "What about you?"

Nan Xueyin did not hesitate at all, saying straightforwardly, "I won't go."

Xiao Youlan was not surprised by her reaction.

After a pause, Nan Xueyin seemed to think of something, the corners of her mouth lifting in a subtle arc.

Xiao Youlan caught her little expression out of the corner of his eye and curled his own lips as well.

Based on his understanding of Nan Xueyin, this little fox was harboring something wicked.

Sure enough, she looked at Wei Nian and said, "When you go back later, tell Xiao Mingyu that once he has confessed everything and admitted to all his crimes, if I am in a good mood, I will go over to see him."

Wei Nian was stunned, "Truly?"

Nan Xueyin smiled maliciously, "Not truly, but what can he do about it?"

She had liked Xiao Mingyu before.

Xiao Mingyu knew this.

He also knew that her status was not a match for his.

But she could kill; she was far too good at killing, and she was the best blade he had ever used.

Perhaps there was another reason: he also held a tiny place for her in his heart.

Therefore, Xiao Mingyu insisted on not letting go.

He coaxed her, deceived her, and always gave her many illusory expectations.

It was just like flying a kite; every time she drifted too far, he would tug on the string, and if she got too close, he would push her away with a cold face.

It repeated like this, seemingly without end.

So, some things were the retribution Xiao Mingyu deserved.

"Do you hate him?"

In the room, Xiao Youlan held Nan Xueyin's wrist with his backhand, his voice soft.

"A little bit," Nan Xueyin said, "I don't like killing; it hurts every time I get injured."

Xiao Youlan lowered his eyes, his gaze resting on her smooth face; his heart stirred, and he lowered his head, his lips brushing against her cheek.

"But it can't be considered particularly hateful," Nan Xueyin said, wrapping her arms around his waist, her brows and eyes curved, "If he hadn't sent me to you, we would never have had today."

Xiao Youlan let out a laugh and finally kissed her lips.

Between their lips and teeth, Xiao Youlan asked softly, "Little Xue, what pattern would you like for your wedding dress?"

"Hmm?" Nan Xueyin didn't react for a moment.

Xiao Youlan gently stroked her back, "Recently, I have arranged our wedding."

Nan Xueyin was startled, her pupils widening slightly, "Wedding?"

Xiao Youlan hummed, "You will marry me and become my Crown Princess."

"Wouldn't that be too rushed?" After all, the Emperor was still ill.

"This matter must be handled as soon as possible," Xiao Youlan said, "Father's health is not good; if he passes away, I must observe mourning, and our wedding would have to be delayed. Delays lead to changes; besides, I don't think I can wait any longer."

Nan Xueyin looked amused, "What is there to be so impatient about?"

Xiao Youlan's eyes were deep as he watched her, "You know what I cannot wait for."

Nan Xueyin's heart skipped a beat, and her earlobes turned slightly red.

Xiao Youlan lowered his head to kiss her again.

The Crown Prince's wedding was orchestrated by the Eastern Palace.

It was submitted to the palace, first reported to the Yongzheng Emperor and the Ministry of Rites, and then people were sent to Baoci Palace to notify the Empress Dowager.

However, this was not to seek their opinions, but merely a notification.

The Crown Prince held great power; no one could stop what he wanted to do.

Furthermore, Nan Xueyin, who was about to become the Crown Princess, was the niece of Nan Jiyun, and the Nan Family had rendered great service in eliminating the forces of Prince Duan; the two were a perfect match in status, and no one in the court or the public dared to object.

On the day of the grand wedding, the entire palace feasted, and the whole city celebrated.

Nobles and officials, both civil and military, all offered their blessings.

Even the Empress Dowager sent her trusted Momo to deliver wedding gifts.

Xiao Qingling, who was far away in Tingzhou, did not rush back to attend his brother's wedding, but he still sent people to deliver generous gifts, with a special instruction: these were for the bride.

Xiao Youlan saw it with his own eyes, his expression calm, "I am not angry."

Nan Xueyin praised him with a smile from the side, "His Highness is magnanimous."

Xiao Youlan looked sideways at her.

On the wedding night, Xiao Youlan didn't drink more than two cups of wine before returning to the bridal chamber.

Nan Lizhu took Xiaoyang to guard outside the bridal chamber to prevent anyone from coming in to tease the newlyweds.

But to be honest, as the apple of the Crown Prince's eye, no one dared to come and tease Nan Xueyin's bridal chamber at all.

Furthermore, Nan Xueyin kills without blinking an eye, and there are few in the world who can beat her; it is not worth losing an arm or a leg just to tease the newlyweds.

Xiao Youlan came to the bridal chamber, and Nan Lizhu was also very tactful, taking Xiaoyang away.

In the vast bridal chamber, only Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan remained.

Nan Xueyin sniffed his lapels, "There is no smell of alcohol."

Xiao Youlan said softly, "My mind was full of thoughts of you, so I hurried back."

Nan Xueyin laughed out loud.

Xiao Youlan, however, did not laugh; his expression was exceptionally solemn as he kissed her brow, then kissed the tip of her nose, and finally, kissed her lips.

Nan Xueyin's clothes were all removed, but she did not feel cold at all.

Xiao Youlan was patient and meticulous.

Everything seemed to follow a natural course.

At that moment, Nan Xueyin let out a soft sound, calling him, "Xiao Youlan..."

Xiao Youlan interlaced his fingers with hers and said softly, "I am here."

In the prison.

Xiao Mingyu had become so thin he was unrecognizable, his head drooping as he sat leaning against the corner of the wall.

He had not changed his clothes or washed his hair for a long time, and his appearance was wretched.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, Xiao Mingyu lifted his head in surprise.

"Yinyin..."

The prison was particularly empty today; it seemed there was some joyous event in the palace, as even the guards were fewer in number.

Throughout the entire prison, only his voice echoed.

The interrogation regarding him had long since ended; Xiao Mingyu had thought that when he spilled everything, Nan Xueyin would be willing to come see him once, but she did not.

He did not see her even once more.

Xiao Mingyu scrambled up from the ground as if his life depended on it and walked toward the doorway where a faint light shone, "Open the door! Let this Prince out! I want to see her!"

The nearest jailer cursed impatiently, "This Prince? Hmph, once the Crown Prince finishes his wedding and deals with you, the best you'll get is being demoted to a commoner; you still think you're a Prince?"

Xiao Mingyu widened his eyes in shock, "Wed... wedding?"

In truth, he already had the answer in his heart, but as if trying to grasp a glimmer of hope, he asked with a trembling voice, "Who, who did he marry?"

The jailer sneered, "Are you talking nonsense! Naturally, it's the precious niece of the great hero Lord Nan, Miss Nan!"

"Impossible..."

Xiao Mingyu shook his head, "She is just an Assassin, she is just an ordinary woman, how could she be the Crown Princess? She isn't even worthy of being a concubine in the Duan Prince Mansion..."

The jailer could not bear to listen any longer, lifted his leg, and kicked him hard, "Not worthy? Who doesn't have two eyes and one nose? Whose ancestors haven't farmed the land? Now that it's your family's turn to be Emperor, you put on these airs... Hmph, without us ordinary people, what kind of worthless thing are you!"

That kick landed on Xiao Mingyu's chest, and he could not help but fall to the ground, his entire chest burning with pain.

He could not get up and lay there on his back.

The jailer was still chattering away, cursing; ordinary people hated these corrupt officials the most and wished they could strip them of their skin and bones.

But Xiao Mingyu could no longer hear those words.

He lay on his back, and vaguely, he seemed to see Nan Xueyin.

But she had her back to him, seeming to walk further and further away.

Xiao Mingyu wanted to follow her, but he no longer had the strength; he could only stop, his eyes red, and beg humbly, "Yinyin, I truly regret it; I beg you to look at me, will you?"

Fresh blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

He did not care at all, only gazing infatuatedly at Nan Xueyin's figure, "Yinyin, I am truly..."

The jailer finished his rant, feeling refreshed, and glanced inside.

Seeing Xiao Mingyu motionless with blood at the corner of his mouth, he was greatly startled.

"Hey! What are you playing dead for?"

But there was no response.

The jailer's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly turned and rushed outward, "Someone! Come here! The prisoner... the prisoner seems to be dead!"