Chapter 55: That Is Not a Room for You

Shu Yu was taken aback.

Zhong Yun changed her approach and asked, "Brother Shu, did you hear with your own ears Brother Youlan's order that this room was to be given to this young lady to live in?"

Shu Yu shook his head, "That, I did not."

"That settles it then," Zhong Yun said, "This is merely this young lady's one-sided word; it cannot be determined that this room was meant for her."

Following her line of reasoning, Shu Yu said, "But the Crown Prince didn't say this room was for you to live in either."

Zhong Yun blinked her tear-filled eyes, "My grandfather was Brother Youlan's mentor. Since Brother Youlan promised to look after me, he would naturally arrange the best for me. Even if Brother Youlan hasn't said this room is for me, once he knows, he certainly won't object."

Shu Yu was somewhat led astray by her.

He turned his head and looked at Nan Xueyin, "What do you say?"

Nan Xueyin's expression was cold, "It makes no difference to me."

Shu Yu was quite pleased, "You are quite sensible, not adding trouble for others."

Nan Xueyin continued, "But I must state beforehand, the Crown Prince said this room was for me to live in. Since I don't have this room to live in, then I won't stay in this Eastern Palace. Tell the Crown Prince; this time you can't blame me, it's mainly because the room is gone."

When she said this, her tone was uncharacteristically light.

Shu Yu was slightly stunned.

Zhong Yun looked at her, "This sister, are you blaming me?"

Nan Xueyin denied it: "No."

Yet Zhong Yun's eyes grew hazy with tears of grievance again, "I know, you must be blaming me. Blaming me for wanting to snatch your room, and blaming me for being close to Brother Youlan."

Nan Xueyin:...

"It's all my fault, I shouldn't have come to Fengdu..." As Zhong Yun spoke, she covered her face with both hands and began to sob.

Nan Xueyin stood where she was, feeling a bit of a headache.

Shu Yu was likely feeling a headache too, and couldn't help but urge Nan Xueyin, "Just let her have the room; it's just a room, what does it matter?"

Linglang had been waiting outside the room and heard the entire conversation, so she couldn't help but say, "The Crown Prince had us tidy this room a few days ago, with unprecedented care. It was originally meant for the young lady Doukou. Since young lady Doukou probably can't come back now, then of course it's for the young lady of the Zhong family!"

She looked Nan Xueyin up and down, "You actually dared to fabricate that the Crown Prince let you live in this room. That is too fake!"

Nan Xueyin nodded, "Then I'm leaving."

Having said that, she truly turned and walked away.

"Brother Youlan!"

Before she had walked far, Nan Xueyin heard Zhong Yun's voice of surprise from behind her.

How did Xiao Youlan wake up so quickly? Nan Xueyin quickened her pace.

Zhong Yun was still saying joyfully: "Brother Youlan, where did you go just now? I waited for you for such a long, long time..."

But Xiao Youlan did not pay her any mind; his footsteps did not stop as he walked straight toward Nan Xueyin, grabbed her wrist, and said in a voice that was somewhat hoarse and displeased, "Running away again?"

Nan Xueyin was forced to stop.

Xiao Youlan looked down at her from above; he had not fully woken up, and a heavy, baleful aura pressed between his brows, "How many times must I drag you back before you learn your lesson?"

Nan Xueyin said coldly, "With no room to live in, I have to leave."

Xiao Youlan frowned, "How could there be no room to live in? Isn't the room next to mine the one tidied up for you? I already told you on the road."

Once these words were out, Zhong Yun, Shu Yu, and Linglang were all stunned.

Firstly, when facing her, the Crown Prince actually referred to himself as "I".

Secondly, the room next to the Crown Prince was actually truly prepared for her.

Nan Xueyin replied: "But the young lady of the Zhong family wants to live in it."

Xiao Youlan was puzzled: "What young lady of the Zhong family?"

He truly had not remembered this person.

Zhong Yun felt so humiliated, calling to him with a sobbing tone: "Brother Youlan..."

Xiao Youlan looked sideways, and only then did he slowly recall that there was indeed such a person.

He furrowed his brows and asked, "Why are you in the Eastern Palace?"

Zhong Yun was stunned, and said pitifully: "Grandfather died, so naturally I have to follow you! Didn't Grandfather say before he passed away today that he wanted to entrust me to your care? Brother Youlan, you promised my grandfather at the time; could it be that you don't want to look after me now?"

Xiao Youlan was still holding Nan Xueyin's hand; when facing Zhong Yun, his words were heartless, "I am not failing to look after you. Today I arranged a residence for you. If you are not satisfied, you can have someone report it. You should not have come to the Eastern Palace, and you especially should not have said you wanted that room. That is not a room for you."

This time, Zhong Yun was so ashamed her face turned red, and she choked out, "But I am very sad, Brother Youlan. I grew up following my grandfather since I was small, you know that! He died, I am in pain, I have no friends in Fengdu, I only have you... I don't know who I can tell, I could only come to find you..."

Xiao Youlan said coldly, "Sadness is human nature, but finding me is useless. I do not know how to comfort people, and I certainly won't cry with you. You are already seventeen; you can digest these emotions yourself, rather than finding someone to cry to every time you are sad."

Zhong Yun's movements froze, and for a long while, she did not know what to say.

Because the words Xiao Youlan spoke were truly too cold and hard, she even forgot to shed tears for a moment.

Xiao Youlan called: "Feihong."

Feihong walked forward, and Xiao Youlan ordered: "The night is deep, escort young lady Zhong back."

"Yes!"

Zhong Yun had no other way; she looked back at every step, and left with tears in her eyes.

Xiao Youlan led Nan Xueyin toward the room and said, "This is what was prepared for you."

Nan Xueyin did not speak.

This was the main room, which was naturally more than twice as large as that side room.

The vanity was also particularly exquisite, with the jewelry and hairpins from when Nan Xueyin was still "Doukou" placed on it, including the bracelet bestowed by the Empress Dowager Zong, which was also among them.

"Cui Mama was originally someone by the Emperor's side, and was recalled after you disappeared. From now on, Linglang will serve you. If you feel it's not enough, I will arrange for more people," Xiao Youlan said in a low voice.

"It's enough." Nan Xueyin did not like having so many people around her.

Xiao Youlan nodded, called Linglang in, and instructed her: "This is young lady Hua Lianying. From now on, you will take care of her daily life. Everything is to be done according to the situation of young lady Doukou back then."

Nan Xueyin sat to one side, and hearing Xiao Youlan address her as "young lady Hua Lianying," she felt it was extremely strange, and forcibly restrained herself from showing it on the surface.

Linglang let out a soft cry, worried that the words she had just spoken might have offended this noble person, and she did not dare to raise her head.

"Go and bathe now, and change your clothes," Xiao Youlan said.

"Yes."

Nan Xueyin then followed him.

Linglang diligently prepared hot water, and while serving her, she secretly observed her expression.

Seeing Nan Xueyin step into the bathing tub and watching the blood-red color spread across her body, as well as seeing the various gashes and bloodstains on her clothes, Linglang could not help but be stunned; could, could this person be a desperate outlaw!

She could not help but steal several glances at Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin could feel those gazes, but she did not care; she took a comfortable bath, changed into a set of clothes, and set out to leave.

She walked to the bed, but Xiao Youlan had already fallen asleep on her bed fully clothed.

Nan Xueyin:?

Does the Crown Prince not have his own room?

She did not intend to get into the bed, nor did she have Linglang wake the Crown Prince; instead, she went to fetch a thin quilt, intending to sleep on the pear-blossom couch beneath the window to the side.

Nan Xueyin still did not sleep deeply, and in the second half of the night, she heard footsteps.

Someone walked up to the pear-blossom couch, looked at her, and then climbed up lightly and carefully, lying down to sleep beside her.

Nan Xueyin opened her eyes to look, and sure enough, it was Xiao Youlan.

She reached out to push him.

Xiao Youlan, however, caught her hand and pulled her into his embrace, his voice low and slightly hoarse, "Sleep a while longer. I haven't slept for several days."