Chapter 33: Jealous?

Xiao Youlan did not speak for a long while.

Nan Xueyin's tone grew even softer, "Does Your Highness not like hearing these things?"

"It is not that I do not like hearing them," Xiao Youlan said, "it is that I, I feel a bit embarrassed."

He was sincere when he said this; Nan Xueyin saw his reddening earlobes.

The Crown Prince was experiencing his first stirrings of love; his heart would race at the mere mention of a few risqué words.

Xiao Youlan pinched her hand and asked again, "What else did Grandmother Empress Dowager say to you? You were gone for a long time."

Nan Xueyin replied obediently, "Her Majesty said a lot. She said this servant is very capable, being able to make Your Highness fond of me. She also said she was worried, because when the Emperor was at Your Highness's age, he had already married a Crown Princess and even had a secondary consort by his side."

Xiao Youlan nodded, "When the Emperor was twenty, he married the eldest daughter of the Dou family, who is my mother, the Empress."

The two of them were naturally in love and had once spent a period of time filled with deep affection and sweetness.

It was just that it did not last very long.

Xiao Youlan frowned, not wanting to continue discussing this, and looked at her, asking, "Have you decided what birthday gift you want?"

Nan Xueyin shook her head, "This servant has racked her brains, but cannot think of anything."

She sighed with a distressed expression, as if she were acting spoiled, "This servant is truly too stupid."

Xiao Youlan laughed upon hearing this, "You are not stupid."

He gazed at her, his eyes bright, "If you cannot think of anything, then do not think about it; I will prepare everything. You just need to wait for your birthday with peace of mind."

Nan Xueyin nodded and obediently said she would.

The Crown Prince truly began to secretly prepare a birthday surprise for her, while on the other side, the Emperor and Empress Dowager were also selecting suitable candidates for the Crown Princess from among the noble families.

In the middle of the month, the Empress Dowager summoned Nan Xueyin again.

Stepping into the main hall, Nan Xueyin immediately caught sight of a bright and pure young girl sitting below; she was sixteen or seventeen years old, with dark hair and snow-white skin, cherry lips and rosy cheeks, naturally possessing a lovable, smiling appearance—the type of daughter-in-law that elders would like upon seeing.

The Empress Dowager wore a smile on her face and told Nan Xueyin, "This is Grand Tutor Zhong's granddaughter, Zhong Yun. The Grand Tutor is advanced in age and has resigned from his post to return to his hometown; she is extremely filial and has been serving by her grandfather's side, only arriving in Fengdu these past few days."

Nan Xueyin understood; this Zhong Yun was one of the candidates the Empress Dowager had chosen for Xiao Youlan to be the Crown Princess.

She curtsied, "This servant greets Miss Zhong."

Zhong Yun's almond eyes were moist; she had been looking at Nan Xueyin the whole time, and upon hearing this, she smiled and nodded, "Hello."

The Empress Dowager told her, "This is Doukou, the palace maid currently serving by the Crown Prince's side."

"So it is you," Zhong Yun's eyes lit up suddenly, "You are so beautiful! No wonder Brother Youlan likes you."

She sighed with worry, "I remember when we were young, Brother Youlan also liked me very much; knowing I liked to eat Almond Crisp, he would always prepare it for me. But I have not been in Fengdu for a long time; Brother Youlan must have forgotten what I even look like."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, "Listening to you, do you remember what the Crown Prince looks like?"

"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager overestimates me; of course I cannot remember clearly," Zhong Yun smiled shyly, "But I know that the most handsome and noble person in a crowd must be Brother Youlan."

Nan Xueyin listened quietly from the side, having no intention of interjecting.

"I understand Brother Youlan; he is a cold and restrained person. Doukou, how did you gain Brother Youlan's favor?" Zhong Yun looked over, her face full of curiosity, "Can you compose poetry and prose, or play the zither and flute? Or perhaps, do you have a masterful brush for painting that makes people forget the mundane world upon seeing it?"

Nan Xueyin felt that for her to ask a little palace maid such things was truly a bit strange.

She lowered her eyes, "This servant is not skilled in the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and does not even recognize many characters; I am just a bit more meticulous in serving people. Usually, the Crown Prince's dressing and meals are all handled entirely by this servant."

Zhong Yun did not believe her and pressed, "What about other things? Just these tasks, any servant could do them. Did you do something else?"

The Empress Dowager spoke with a smile, "You do not know, but the Crown Prince's tastes and preferences—the people in the Eastern Palace haven't figured them out after all these years, yet she went to the Eastern Palace and had them all clear in just a few days. This is not just ordinary attentiveness."

Zhong Yun beamed, "Her Majesty is absolutely right! They say one should not be ashamed to ask questions; I must learn more from Doukou."

At this moment, a palace maid entered from outside and reported, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

The past two years in Fengdu had been unusually cold, with people even freezing to death on the streets. The Empress Dowager felt pity for her children and grandchildren, so she exempted them from daily greetings, only requiring them to pay their respects at the Baoci Palace on the first and fifteenth of every month to fulfill their filial duty; this had been the custom for years.

Today happened to be the day for Xiao Youlan to pay his respects.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yun immediately sat up straight and tugged at the floral-patterned jacket on her upper body, making herself look neater and more dignified.

Nan Xueyin turned around and saw Xiao Youlan stepping into the hall.

He spotted Nan Xueyin at a glance, his gaze pausing on her.

He had just come from the morning court and had not expected her to be here as well.

But he was very pleased, a soft smile emerging in the depths of his eyes as he looked at her.

He strode in, stood still beside Nan Xueyin, and bowed toward the head of the room, "Grandson pays his respects to Grandmother Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, "You have come just in time; look, do you still remember this little sister?"

Xiao Youlan's gaze then fell upon Zhong Yun.

Zhong Yun stood up and bowed shyly, "His Highness the Crown Prince."

The Empress Dowager laughed from above, "Just a moment ago you were sweetly calling him Brother Youlan; why are you being so formal now that you have met, calling him His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Zhong Yun's face flushed red instantly.

Xiao Youlan remembered, "This young lady must be Grand Tutor Zhong's granddaughter, Miss Zhong Yun, right?"

Zhong Yun raised her head timidly, "Your Highness still remembers me?"

Xiao Youlan nodded, "I remember."

Zhong Yun's cheeks grew even hotter, and even her fair neck was stained with a crimson blush.

"Is Grand Tutor Zhong doing well?" Xiao Youlan asked.

"Everything else is fine; he still insists on washing his hands carefully before reading books every day. It is just that Grandfather is old after all, and his hearing is often unclear, so one has to shout quite loudly."

Xiao Youlan hummed in acknowledgment.

Zhong Yun added, "Grandfather is now most worried about my marriage; he always says to me, how is it that you are seventeen and no one has come to propose, are you unable to get married?"

Xiao Youlan smiled faintly, "There will always be a good match."

"Do not just stand there talking," the Empress Dowager said, "sit down."

Zhong Yun looked at him with eyes full of anticipation.

Xiao Youlan, however, said: "The Eastern Palace still has many matters to attend to, so it is inconvenient for your grandson to stay long."

"Very well," Zong Taihou did not insist, "you may return first."

Zhong Yun clearly revealed a look of disappointment, struggling to squeeze out a sweet smile, "Then, Crown Prince, we shall meet again next time."

After exiting Baoci Palace, Nan Xueyin let out a leisurely sigh: "There are always so many people who admire Your Highness."

Xiao Youlan glanced sideways, deliberating over his choice of words, "... Are you jealous?"

Nan Xueyin curled her lips: "This servant admires Your Highness, so naturally I would be jealous of other women. It is just that I always feel as though I have no right to be jealous."

Xiao Youlan lowered his eyes to look at her, and in a low but earnest voice, said: "You have the right. In this world, only you have the right."