Chapter 27: It Is You Who Makes Me Too Interested

Dou Fangchun felt her whole body go limp upon hearing this, and she collapsed weakly onto the floor.

Empress Dowager Zong looked down at her from above, her gaze cold and detached.

Thinking back to those years, Empress Dowager Zong had fought through a crowd of women to finally sit upon the throne of the Empress, and then watched as a new batch of women scrambled and fought, some dying, some injured. Within the inner palace, what kind of schemes had she not seen?

Today, Dou Fangchun's calculations and schemes were truly base and lowly; she could not hide the look of disgust in her eyes. "Such a stupid method, I can't believe you actually thought of it!"

Dou Fangchun sobbed aggrievedly, "I... I just like my cousin too much, I want to marry him!"

"You think that by poisoning the Ruan family girl, framing Doukou, and ruining her reputation, the Crown Prince would like you? It is truly foolish to the extreme! Doing this will only make the Crown Prince loathe you even more!"

Dou Fangchun trembled, her eyes turning red, and tears fell uncontrollably.

"And the Ruan family girl, that is also a sin you have committed."

Dou Fangchun sniffled, "Ruan Yunchan, she... isn't she fine? I didn't add much powder, she only fainted..."

"Are you incapable of understanding the Imperial Physician's words?" Empress Dowager Zong really wanted to slap this idiot again. "Although her life is not in danger, her future life will be affected. She entered the palace at my invitation; she came in lively and healthy, and will go back half-paralyzed. Do you think the Ruan family will not hold a grudge against the palace?"

Dou Fangchun choked, she really hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Furthermore, the Crown Prince's impartial nature—if I hadn't stopped him, he would have certainly investigated this matter to the end. If he had really traced it to you and discovered the truth—poisoning the daughter of a court official and framing others—you would just be waiting to enter the Neiyu prison!"

"No... no..."

Dou Fangchun panicked, struggling to crawl up and beg for mercy, "Empress Dowager, I know I was wrong, please save me!"

Empress Dowager Zong was simply speechless. "If I hadn't saved you, could you still be kneeling here before me in one piece? You should be thankful that Doukou is sensible; even though she was wronged by you, she didn't hold it against you."

So stupid, she wasn't even as good as a palace maid.

Empress Dowager Zong let out a breath and said, "In my view, you cannot stay in this Baoci Palace any longer, no matter what. Go home tomorrow!"

Dou Fangchun raised her teary eyes in shock, her voice trembling, "Empress... are you sending me away?"

Empress Dowager Zong's expression was indifferent, signifying that this decision left no room for negotiation. "After you go back, read more books and learn to be smarter so you can suffer fewer losses in the future. As for the position of Crown Princess, you should give up that thought; you don't have the capability. Even if you managed to sit there by relying on your father's generation, you would eventually be pulled down, or even die on that seat."

On the other side.

The side hall was temporarily unattended by palace servants, and the surroundings were quiet, save for the scent of flowers and the chirping of birds.

As soon as they entered, Xiao Youlan released Nan Xueyin and asked in a deep voice, "Why didn't you let me speak just now? Dou Fangchun framed you, and I intended to clear your name; why did you stop me?"

Nan Xueyin lowered her eyes to look at the hand Xiao Youlan had just held, her voice soft, "His Highness is good to this servant, and this servant already understands that in her heart. This servant cannot let His Highness fall into a difficult position for her own sake."

"How would I be in a difficult position?"

"No matter what, Miss Dou is, after all, His Highness's cousin. If you had investigated today and it became clear that Miss Dou had intentionally framed this servant, what would His Highness do? Punish her? But Miss Dou's father is His Highness's uncle; if you punished Miss Dou, wouldn't a rift form between His Highness and your uncle?"

Xiao Youlan did not speak.

"The Empress Dowager stopped His Highness from investigating in time precisely out of consideration for you. The Empress Dowager's intentions were profound, and this servant understood them and could not bear to let her down, which is why I stopped His Highness from speaking."

Xiao Youlan watched her without blinking.

Nan Xueyin raised her eyes, "This servant?"

"Being framed by others, and having your clothes torn off," Xiao Youlan asked directly, "Don't you feel aggrieved?"

Nan Xueyin lowered her eyes again, her voice calm and natural, "This servant stopped feeling aggrieved long ago. Those two Momos were about to tear off this servant's clothes when His Highness arrived just in time. The moment I saw His Highness walking toward me, I no longer felt aggrieved, only happy. Your Highness, being able to meet you in this life is truly a blessing this servant has cultivated over several lifetimes."

The soft voice entered his ears, and Xiao Youlan's heart softened as well, as if it had turned into a fluffy piece of cotton.

At this moment, Nan Xueyin released her right hand.

Her top had originally been torn halfway down, held up entirely by her right hand pressing tightly against it; now that she let go, the thin garment slid down again, revealing half of her shoulder.

Xiao Youlan's gaze fell, and he paused uncontrollably.

In fact, he had seen her in a state of undress before, but that was in the dead of night with dim candlelight, so he hadn't seen it very clearly.

Now, in broad daylight with the hall bright, he discovered that she was truly dazzlingly fair, her skin delicate, without a single flaw to be seen.

Nan Xueyin raised her face again, her cold and beautiful eyes misty, as if seeking help, "Your Highness, please help this servant?"

Xiao Youlan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he asked in a deep voice, "How do you want me to help?"

Nan Xueyin lowered her voice, "However His Highness wishes to help, this servant is willing."

A string somewhere in Xiao Youlan's heart seemed to snap at this moment.

The self-restraint and discipline he had been proud of for over twenty years crumbled completely in front of this woman. His gaze deepened, his large palm caressed the small of her back, and he lowered his head to kiss her shoulder.

Nan Xueyin was startled; she had originally thought Xiao Youlan would kiss her lips, but she hadn't expected it to be her shoulder.

Nan Xueyin's shoulders had carried heavy loads and endured swords, but they had never been kissed like this before.

He was utterly devout, kissing her skin inch by inch along her collarbone.

Nan Xueyin only felt the damp heat and softness; wherever he kissed, an indescribable numbness arose, and she couldn't help but moan aloud.

Xiao Youlan's kissing motion stopped.

Nan Xueyin said with a trembling voice, "Did this servant disturb His Highness's mood?"

"No."

Xiao Youlan's deep, slightly hoarse voice was right by her ear, "It is you who makes me too interested."

Nan Xueyin was suddenly stunned.

The Crown Prince was usually accustomed to being cold and detached, rarely discussing romance, and his speech and behavior were disciplined to an infuriating degree.

Saying such a sentence today, with ambiguous words and a lingering tone, was indescribably taboo and seductive.

Before she could get used to it, Xiao Youlan kissed her one last time, straightened his upper body, and said, "Hold up your skirt yourself."

Nan Xueyin was stunned to hear this.