Chapter 36: I Really Want To

Nan Xueyin knew the Crown Prince was thin-skinned, and she was teasing him on purpose.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Youlan caught her hand, cradled it in his palm, leaned in, and bit down on the remaining half of the candied hawthorn she had just bitten.

This series of actions seemed very natural, yet Nan Xueyin still saw his ears turn bright red.

Xiao Youlan had already pulled his hand away; she looked at the candied hawthorn in her hand, and his warmth seemed to still linger on her skin.

In the past, she always felt he was too cold and indifferent, and she had once thought that if one day she were required to serve him in bed, from undressing to intimate entanglement, he would remain silent and expressionless throughout, at most frowning slightly.

What she did not expect was that he would be such a green and sincere young man.

Xiao Youlan carefully chewed the hawthorn and swallowed it, saying, "My lady is right, it is very sweet."

Nan Xueyin suddenly laughed.

The two continued their stroll.

Nan Xueyin ate the candied hawthorn at a leisurely pace while calculating in her heart: with the Crown Prince in this state, is it possible that if she probed a little and fished for information, she could find out what his so-called hidden ailment actually is?

"My lady, shall we go inside and look around?"

Xiao Youlan seemed to have become addicted to calling her that, and had grown used to it.

Nan Xueyin came back to her senses, followed his gaze, and discovered that what he was referring to was a jewelry shop.

She had very little desire for such things and shook her head, "No need."

Regarding the form of address, she played along with the Crown Prince, saying, "My husband has already given me many pieces of jewelry in the past."

A shop assistant stood outside the shop door and could not take his eyes off the two when he saw them; for no other reason than that they were truly too good-looking!

Especially this man, who was tall and possessed a handsomeness rarely seen in the world, with not a single flaw to be found on his entire person.

Seeing that their attire was not common and their temperament was even more extraordinary, they must surely be either wealthy or noble!

How could he watch business slip away like this? He hurriedly said with a face full of smiles, "This madam, have you ever heard this saying: a woman's vanity case in this world is always missing one piece of jewelry, just as a woman's wardrobe in this world is always missing one garment. One can never have too much jewelry!"

Nan Xueyin:...

Nan Xueyin: "I have only heard that a butcher's hand in this world is always missing a knife, because the pigs can never be finished off."

In the business world, coaxing people to spend silver is also colloquially called "slaughtering pigs"; her words were a veiled jab at them using this sales pitch to swindle people out of their silver.

The assistant was not stupid; he understood and gave a dry, awkward laugh, "This madam is, is truly humorous!"

Xiao Youlan nodded: "Yes, that is exactly what makes her so likable."

The assistant glanced at him—you have such a handsome face, yet you are a lovesick fool!

But his mind turned extremely fast, and he said, "Seeing that you are young, you must be newlyweds, right? Your affection is truly deep; nowadays, few people are willing to accompany their young wives out shopping."

Xiao Youlan smiled pleasantly.

"Young master, are you planning to buy some jewelry for your wife? The madam's skin is whiter than snow; wearing gold, silver, and jade would surely be the icing on the cake, looking extremely beautiful." The assistant coaxed them step by step.

Xiao Youlan turned his gaze to Nan Xueyin, "My lady, shall we go in and look?"

His pitch-black eyes stared intently at her, and the depths of his eyes seemed to say: I want to give this to you, I really want to.

Nan Xueyin no longer refused and nodded, "Alright."

The assistant was overjoyed and happily ushered the two into the shop.

The shop was not small and was decorated luxuriously; in the center of the hall sat a copper-gilt beast-eared tripod incense burner, with wisps of incense smoke rising slowly, and everything hanging on the walls or placed on the tables was a scene of golden and jade splendor.

"What kind do the two distinguished guests like? We have many styles of jewelry here, and they are all very new," the assistant explained enthusiastically, pointing to a green-white Jade Hairpin on the table, "For instance, this Jade Hairpin was gifted by the current Crown Prince to a favored palace maid by his side! The style, pattern, and craftsmanship are exactly the same."

Nan Xueyin looked over.

It was indeed ninety percent similar to the Jade Hairpin Xiao Youlan had given her originally, with the only remaining ten percent difference being the material.

The one Xiao Youlan had sent was made of top-tier material, with a translucent and moist jade quality, while this one was much more ordinary.

"You know about the Crown Prince favoring a palace maid?" Xiao Youlan asked.

Once the assistant heard this, he became spirited, "Of course! On this street, who doesn't know about this? The Crown Prince is famously cold-hearted and indifferent; everyone thought he would be lonely until he grew old, but unexpectedly, a little palace maid fell from the sky, and he actually likes her dearly. It is said that the Crown Prince took her to the birthday banquet at the Kang Wang Mansion and even sent the Dou family's daughter out of the palace for her sake."

So that was how it was being spread outside.

Xiao Youlan asked: "How do you all view the Crown Prince and this palace maid? Do you think they can make it?"

Nan Xueyin could not help but turn her face to look at him.

Xiao Youlan likely knew she was looking at him, as his earlobes turned red again; he did not look at her, waiting for the assistant's answer.

The assistant smiled cheekily: "As for these matters in the palace, we common folk dare not discuss them casually."

He leaned in closer to him, "However, we can still talk about it secretly in private. If you ask me, a person only lives for a few decades in this world, and it is not easy to encounter someone you like. Since the Crown Prince has met her and likes her, he cannot let go easily. According to my understanding of the Crown Prince, he is also a devoted person; I fear that in this life, he will have eyes only for this little palace maid."

Nan Xueyin found it bizarre.

Xiao Youlan, however, was so happy that his eyebrows and the corners of his eyes were full of smiles, as if he wanted to treat this assistant as a soulmate.

Just as the assistant was about to push the green-white Jade Hairpin at hand further, Xiao Youlan said happily: "Wrap it up, we will take it."

The assistant was stunned for a moment, then quickly smiled and replied: "Right! Very well!"

He went to wrap the Jade Hairpin, and Nan Xueyin, not understanding, asked softly: "Why did you buy it?"

Xiao Youlan: "Didn't the previous one break when it fell?"

"Didn't you send a better one later?"

"But you look very beautiful wearing this one; I want to see you wear it." Xiao Youlan's tone was earnest.

Nan Xueyin was momentarily speechless.

Xiao Youlan asked again: "See if there is anything else you like? I will buy it for you together."

It seemed that if he did not spend this silver today, he would not feel comfortable at all.

Nan Xueyin pursed her lips, "... Alright."

She finished the remaining candied hawthorn quickly, scrutinized the jewelry on the table, and pointed to a gilt silver hairpin with a lark pattern not far away, "That one."

It looked more pleasing to the eye.

The assistant had already wrapped the green-white Jade Hairpin and trotted back, eagerly holding up the silver hairpin, opening his mouth to shower them with praise, "Madam truly has a good eye! This..."

Nan Xueyin interrupted him, "And that white magnolia pearl flower."

Xiao Youlan continued: "Wrap up the jade pearl flower on the side as well."

Nan Xueyin tilted her head in confusion.

"It matches that bracelet of yours." That was Xiao Youlan's explanation.

He was talking about the Jade Bracelet the Empress Dowager had given her.

When they finally walked out of the jewelry shop, both of them were carrying quite a lot.

This was nearly enough to match half a month's worth of business for the shop; the shop assistant followed them without stopping, seeing them off for quite a distance, his face nearly splitting from smiling.

Until Nan Xueyin, unable to bear it any longer, glanced at him, "Are you planning to see us all the way home?"

The shop assistant then gave a chuckle, stood still, and waved enthusiastically, "Safe travels, you two! Do come again!"

The two walked side by side toward the Eastern Palace.

Xiao Youlan asked: "Do you not like that shop assistant?"

Nan Xueyin shook her head, "It's not that I don't like him. It's just..."

She thought for a moment, "I'm not very used to being served by others."

As they spoke, they reached the end of Ziwei Main Street, and just as they were about to turn, a woman's startled cry suddenly came: "Why are you here?"