Chapter 29: Do Not Think Her Kind and Gentle

On the other side.

After dinner, Xiao Youlan was going to handle official business as usual; before setting off, he first glanced at Nan Xueyin.

Feihong, at his side, wore a look of confusion.

Nan Xueyin, however, understood his meaning at once; she opened her palm and said, "The Ointment given by Your Highness is truly effective. My wounds have healed completely, and not even a trace of a scar can be seen."

Xiao Youlan's gaze lingered on her palm for a moment, discovering that her hands, like her neck and shoulders, were slender, fair, and soft—was her entire body perhaps the same?

His eyes grew dark and murky; he gave a hum, "Go to the study; grind the ink for me."

"Very well."

For the past two days, because Nan Xueyin had injured her hand, Feihong had been the one grinding the ink in the study.

Nan Xueyin picked up the ink stick to look at it, appearing somewhat disdainful: "How did Feihong manage to make such a mess of a perfectly good ink stick?"

Xiao Youlan let out a laugh, "That is why I wanted you to come over."

Nan Xueyin suddenly tilted her head, curved her beautiful eyes, and gave him a mischievous smile, "Does Your Highness miss me?"

Xiao Youlan probably had not expected the words "miss you" to come up, but facing her slightly teasing, sly smile, he did not deny it, "Yes, I do miss you."

Nan Xueyin was taken aback for a moment.

"Grind the ink."

"……Very well."

Nan Xueyin replied, lowered her head to scoop up clear water, and began to grind the ink with care.

Beside her, Xiao Youlan flipped through books, the paper making a rustling sound; Nan Xueyin let her mind drift slightly, finally realizing that the Crown Prince had been noticeably different toward her lately.

"Is the Crown Prince in?"

Shu Yu's voice came from outside the door.

Upon receiving an affirmative answer from Feihong, Shu Yu strode inside, and upon seeing Nan Xueyin, he even greeted her cheerfully: "Yo! Miss Doukou!"

Nan Xueyin nodded politely to him.

"What is it?" Xiao Youlan asked in a calm voice.

"Oh, it's like this," Shu Yu said, "When the Ruan girl was sent home, her family was quite frightened to see her in that state; the old lady of the Ruan family even fainted from crying on the spot. Qiutong Momo delivered her personally and patiently explained that it was a grave mistake made by the subordinates, but it seems they didn't really believe it."

"If it were you, would you believe it?" Xiao Youlan asked.

Shu Yu chuckled, "That depends on my relationship with Ruan Yunchan! If she were my own sister, I certainly wouldn't believe it. If she had nothing to do with me, then I would."

He then continued with other matters, "Also, Your Highness, your cousin, the Dou girl, was sent out of the palace tonight. Just now. I heard them say that the Dou girl cried all afternoon, unwilling to leave. But who doesn't know the Empress Dowager's nature—she always means what she says."

Xiao Youlan did not speak.

After finishing these two matters, Shu Yu did not leave; he stood there, grinning, and occasionally glanced at Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin understood his meaning; she could know about the previous two matters, but the following things were not for her to hear.

She was tactful and spoke up at the right moment: "Your Highness, the ink is ready."

She put down the ink stick and said, "I had someone stew some pear soup for Your Highness just now; I reckon it's almost ready, so I'll go take a look."

"Very well."

After Nan Xueyin left, Shu Yu asked, "Your Highness, what happened at Baoci Palace today? Why was the Empress Dowager in such a hurry to send her away?"

Xiao Youlan briefly recounted the day's events and said, "The Dou family's power and status are growing; it is not impossible for them to sway imperial power in the future, so someone is needed to suppress them. The Ruan family is very suitable. Grandmother Empress Dowager told the Ruan family on the surface that it was a mistake made by someone in the palace, but she soon sent Dou Fangchun home—this is an implication that the matter is related to her. In this way, the Ruan family's hatred and dissatisfaction will only be vented toward the Dou family."

Shu Yu suddenly understood.

Xiao Youlan asked, "Is this all you wanted to tell me?"

"Not just this," Shu Yu said, "There is also the matter of the Prince of Duan."

"How is he?"

Shu Yu's expression turned serious, "Reliable intelligence: last year, the Prince of Duan dispatched the most capable Assassin at his side, who has now been planted in the Eastern Palace."

The next day, as Nan Xueyin was serving Xiao Youlan his meal, Feihong entered from outside and said, "Your Highness, the Dou girl has come, saying she wishes to see you."

Xiao Youlan did not even lift his eyelids, "I have no time; tell her to go back."

Feihong acknowledged the order.

However, no sooner had he walked out the door than he heard Feihong exclaim in shock: "Miss Dou, how could you barge in! The Crown Prince is busy; you cannot go in!"

Clearly, the group of them had been unable to stop her.

Dou Fangchun burst through the door and let out a mournful cry toward Xiao Youlan: "Cousin!"

Xiao Youlan frowned, clearly displeased.

Dou Fangchun did not realize this and looked at him pitifully, "Cousin, do you know? The Empress Dowager told me to go home and forbade me from living in the palace anymore."

"I know," Xiao Youlan said expressionlessly, "And then?"

And then?

Dou Fangchun's eyes turned red instantly, "Cousin, I don't want to go back! I want to live in the palace; I want to live with you!"

Xiao Youlan did not really want to pay her any mind.

Nan Xueyin calmly ladled a bowl of duck meat porridge, placed it by his hand, and said softly, "Your Highness."

Dou Fangchun's eyes darted over to her, and she immediately gritted her teeth, "Is it because of you? Is it you who caused me to be unable to stay in the palace?"

Nan Xueyin's figure trembled slightly, as if she were a little afraid, "Miss Dou, this servant would not dare."

Dou Fangchun said hatefully: "Who are you putting on this act of weakness for! You..."

She likely wanted to curse "bitch," but before she could, Xiao Youlan coldly reprimanded: "Dou Fangchun!"

Dou Fangchun looked aggrieved, "Cousin……"

"Audacious, scheming, and framing others—these are all you."

"I……"

"Everything today is of your own doing; it has nothing to do with Doukou. Do not think that because she is kind and gentle, you can bully her at will."

Nan Xueyin:...

In all these years, this was the first time someone had called her kind-hearted and weak.

Dou Fangchun was streaming tears, unwilling to accept this to the extreme, "Cousin! Why must you protect her like this? I am your cousin, I am the only one qualified to be the Crown Princess! She is just a little palace maid, meant only to warm your bed, a mere tool—"

The words were becoming increasingly unpleasant, and Xiao Youlan's expression turned gloomy as he shouted, "Someone, come here!"

Feihong responded and entered.

"Drag her away, and there is no need to show any tenderness. Tell them this is my will." Xiao Youlan's voice was unimaginably cold.

Having received the Crown Prince's assurance, Feihong's heart was set at ease.

Just a moment ago, they had been worried about harming the precious body of the Dou family young lady and being unable to bear the responsibility if held accountable, which was why they had let her barge in; since the Crown Prince had said this, they could now act without worry.

Dou Fangchun was forcibly dragged out; she could not break free and screamed with a sobbing tone, "Crown Prince Cousin! I am your cousin! We are family! How can you bully me for the sake of a palace maid? Doukou! You lowly..."

Feihong hurriedly covered her mouth.

The noisy sounds gradually faded away, and Xiao Youlan remained cold-faced as he gave an order: "Have Changling come to see me."

Wei Nian, Grand Secretary of the Eastern Palace of the Grand Secretariat of the Eastern Palace, courtesy name Changling, primarily assisted the Crown Prince in managing the affairs of the Eastern Palace, and when some matters involved areas outside the Eastern Palace, he would be the one to go and handle them.

Nan Xueyin's heart paused slightly, feeling a bit uneasy.

Two years ago, she and Wei Nian had crossed paths.