Chapter 40: So the Crown Prince's Hidden Ailment Is This

That day at the Flower Viewing Banquet in Baoci Palace, Songyue had shown her face before Xiao Youlan, and that day she had been wearing just such a jade hairpin in her hair.

The jade hairpin was very beautiful, and one could say it was a rare piece of exquisite jewelry for a palace maid.

It is said that after the Flower Viewing Banquet, Baoci Palace pursued the matter and docked Songyue's monthly wages for several months.

She had no new jewelry, so that jade hairpin was all the more indispensable; she must have worn it every day.

Returning to the room to continue serving the meal, Nan Xueyin spoke softly: "By the way, Your Highness, didn't you buy me a lot of jewelry yesterday? This morning, I gave one of the white jade hairpins to Linglang."

She looked toward him, "Will Your Highness be unhappy?"

Xiao Youlan found it amusing instead: "Why would I be unhappy?"

"Because those were all bought with your silver."

"Since I gave them to you, they are yours, and you may dispose of them as you please."

Nan Xueyin's eyes curved.

So later, whether Linglang returned first or Songyue came over first, seeing if Xiao Youlan misidentified them would allow her to further determine if he could clearly distinguish a woman's features.

Estimating that the time was about right and they should be arriving, Nan Xueyin picked up Xiao Youlan's bowl to serve duck soup, but "accidentally" spilled the broth onto her fingers.

Nan Xueyin set down the bowl and said: "Your Highness, I will go wash my hands."

Xiao Youlan said: "Just wash them here."

He was referring to the place where he had just washed his hands.

Sharing a washbasin with the Crown Prince was a favor that had never happened before.

Nan Xueyin acknowledged the order, walked to the washstand, and submerged both hands into the cold water.

At this moment, she heard footsteps approaching outside the door, someone entered, and asked respectfully: "Crown Prince."

Xiao Youlan gave a flat "Hmm," with no intention of speaking further.

Nan Xueyin was facing away from that side, rubbing her hands, and asked: "Your Highness, who has come?"

Xiao Youlan paused for a moment and said: "Songyue, I suppose."

Nan Xueyin wiped her hands at this point and turned her head to look.

Standing there was clearly Linglang.

Xiao Youlan had misidentified her because she had a white jade hairpin stuck diagonally in her hair, and she was not carrying a Food Box in her hand.

Linglang lowered her head timidly and said in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, I am Linglang."

Xiao Youlan paused.

Nan Xueyin walked out calmly and asked: "Didn't I tell you to bring the Food Box? Why have you returned empty-handed?"

"I... I couldn't find it. I asked them, and they all said they didn't know where it had been put..."

Nan Xueyin thought to herself, of course, because she had hidden it.

She said good-naturedly: "It's fine, I will go get it."

Having received Xiao Youlan's permission, Nan Xueyin set off to retrieve the Food Box.

On the way, she quickly organized her thoughts—

With Feihong and Mu Cheng, Xiao Youlan had not misidentified them after a brief moment of recognition.

However, last night he had mistaken Dou Fangchun for Zhong Yun, and today he had mistaken Linglang for Songyue.

Could it be assumed, then, that for Xiao Youlan, men were slightly easier to distinguish, but if it were a woman, he found it very difficult to recognize her appearance, and most of the time he had to rely on body shape, accessories, and the like?

That day in the bathhouse, he said he had a hidden ailment that no divine doctor or physician in the world could cure.

Yesterday at the Tianxiyuan Restaurant, he said he didn't have much of a feeling for a woman's appearance...

Integrating all the details, the truth was ready to emerge.

So the Crown Prince's hidden ailment was this.

Face Blindness.

He could not remember a person's appearance, especially a woman's.

Was it precisely because of this point that his Eastern Palace had no women serving him? After all, no matter what kind of woman it was, they all looked the same; perhaps in Xiao Youlan's eyes, she, Linglang, Hantao, and Cui Mama all wore the same face.

From this perspective, this was indeed a fatal weakness; no wonder the Eastern Palace had to be guarded like an iron fortress. If others learned that the Crown Prince had this deficiency and exploited it, he would find it hard to sit securely in the Eastern Palace, let alone ascend the imperial throne.

Nan Xueyin lowered her eyes, thinking, so this mission was not that difficult after all.

In the afternoon, not long after lunch, more court officials came to the Eastern Palace, all of them looking very urgent.

Nan Xueyin watched from the side, unable to help but wonder which corrupt official they had caught this time.

"Doukou."

Xiao Youlan, who was surrounded by people like stars around the moon, suddenly glanced to the side, looked past the crowd, and his gaze landed steadily on Nan Xueyin.

The crowd also turned to look over.

Nan Xueyin asked: "Does Your Highness have any instructions?"

"I will still be a bit busy this afternoon, do whatever you like. If you want to go out of the palace to play, have Feihong arrange for a few people to follow and protect you. Buy whatever you want, and get the silver from Feihong."

Under the gaze of everyone, Nan Xueyin was also stunned for a moment.

Because Xiao Youlan's words sounded like a husband about to go out on business, giving instructions to his wife.

Xiao Youlan finally said: "When I finish this busy spell, I will take you to watch the fireworks."

The crowd's gaze toward Nan Xueyin suddenly became profound—so that fireworks display the other day was a gift from the Crown Prince to her. The Crown Prince referred to himself as "I" in front of her, and did not avoid it even in front of so many people. It seems he truly dotes on her immensely; I fear he even intends to make her the Crown Princess?

Nan Xueyin obediently replied: "Alright."

Xiao Youlan set off to leave.

Nan Xueyin raised her eyes, looking at his tall and slender back, and for a moment could not describe what kind of emotion she felt inside.

Once his figure disappeared from sight, she thought to herself, she should go to Jiaoyuan tonight.

However, before she could set off, Wu Zhui arrived at the Eastern Palace.

Feihong received him and said with a polite smile, "His Highness the Crown Prince is currently discussing matters in the study and has given orders not to see guests."

Wu Zhui sighed, "Is that so? Then I have come at an inconvenient time."

Feihong added, "If there is anything urgent, you might as well tell me first; later, when His Highness is finished with his work, I will relay it to him."

Nan Xueyin was right there to the side, idly teasing the bird hanging under the veranda.

Wu Zhui glanced at her, "That will do as well."

He took an ink stick from his robe and said, "This is Pine Soot Ink that the Prince obtained by chance recently. The Prince's calligraphy is far less elegant and free-spirited than His Highness the Crown Prince's, so it would be a waste for this ink stick to remain with the Prince. He said it would be better to bring it as a gift to the Eastern Palace."

Feihong refused without a second thought, "But one should not accept a reward without merit."

"This ink stick is not some precious object; just consider it a casual gift between brothers. Now that the Virtuous Consort's condition in the palace has improved, His Highness the Prince will be returning to Lianzhou in a few days."

Nan Xueyin heard this, her expression remaining completely calm as she tossed a small handful of birdseed.

Feihong was startled, "The Prince is returning?"

"Yes," Wu Zhui said, "The Prince says this trip to Fengdu was too hurried, and the two brothers didn't get to properly gather or talk. If His Highness the Crown Prince has time, he should go to Lianzhou for a short visit. If he goes in the winter at the end of the year, Lianzhou Old Spring is even more delightful when warmed for drinking."

Feihong agreed, "Many thanks for the Prince's kind invitation."

Wu Zhui said no more and set off to leave.

Nan Xueyin clapped her hands, brushing away the birdseed crumbs from her palms and fingertips.

Lianzhou Old Spring, warming wine in winter.

This was also one of the secret codes, meaning that Xiao Mingyu had something extremely urgent that he must find her for.

And Wu Zhui said they were leaving.

It seems something truly major has happened.