Chapter 58: Eat It Up

In Nan Xueyin's eyes, shrill screams and anxious panic were affirmations of her ability and majesty.

On the contrary, Xiao Youlan, despite Nan Xueyin having shot an arrow into his study, did not show the slightest bit of anger or annoyance; the look he cast toward her was filled with astonishment, bright to an incredible degree.

This made Nan Xueyin feel inexplicably displeased.

"Brother Youlan, she is truly so terrifying..."

Zhong Yun looked as if she had received some great shock, clinging to Xiao Youlan's arm, gazing timidly in Nan Xueyin's direction with a delicate and pitiful appearance.

Xiao Youlan did not comfort her, pulling his arm back ruthlessly, his tone cold: "Miss Zhong, men and women should not touch when handing things to one another."

Zhong Yun looked at him pitifully.

Xiao Youlan did not give her a single extra glance, walking straight toward Nan Xueyin, his expression and tone softening at this moment: "Why did you start playing with this? Have you been waiting for me too long?"

Nan Xueyin glanced at him: "No. I simply found the door pillar unpleasant to look at, so I shot an arrow at it."

Shu Yu could not help but comment: "You are being far too unreasonable!"

Nan Xueyin hoped Xiao Youlan thought the same.

However, the Crown Prince only let out a laugh: "That door pillar is indeed not good-looking."

Nan Xueyin suddenly felt bored, tossing the recurve bow to him casually.

Shu Yu watched, stunned; only a master would toss things for a servant to catch, how dared she throw things at the Crown Prince?

Yet, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Xiao Youlan calmly caught the recurve bow, not minding at all being treated so casually by her, even asking her softly: "Are you hungry?"

The crowd was even more shocked, unable to speak.

"Brother Youlan."

Zhong Yun moved forward with small steps: "Is it time to eat breakfast?"

Xiao Youlan glanced at her coldly.

When he went to Baoci Palace, the Empress Dowager was eating, and Zhong Yun was sitting there too.

Zhong Yun realized this, blushing as she said in a low voice: "I... I am sick, and, and I was too nervous at Baoci Palace, I didn't eat much, I am hungry..."

Xiao Youlan gave a hum.

Zhong Yun thought she could finally go eat breakfast together, but he said: "Then go tend to your illness first; whatever food you want, I will have someone send it."

Zhong Yun bit her lip lightly with her pearly teeth, looking at him with pitiful eyes: "Can I not eat with you?"

Xiao Youlan did not soften at all, refusing bluntly: "No."

Saying this, he instructed Feihong: "Take the Zhong girl to the side courtyard guest room."

Zhong Yun murmured: "Why the guest room..."

She glanced at Nan Xueyin several times, likely wanting to say that she was living right next door to the Crown Prince.

Xiao Youlan said calmly: "If you are unwilling to live there, that is also fine."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yun instantly seemed to ignite with hope.

Xiao Youlan continued: "There are a few side rooms over there, originally for palace maids and attendants to live in; there are a few empty ones, you can live there."

Zhong Yun's complexion instantly turned ashen again.

Xiao Youlan said to Feihong: "Take her there."

"Yes."

Zhong Yun was led away to the side by Feihong.

Shu Yu seized the opportunity to speak: "Your Highness, this is the recurve bow you had the craftsmen design and make earlier; what do you think of it?"

Xiao Youlan tried pulling the string, then tilted his head to ask Nan Xueyin: "What do you think?"

Nan Xueyin commented simply: "The force is alright."

Xiao Youlan gave a hum, turning to Shu Yu: "The force is alright."

Shu Yu was stunned.

Xiao Youlan handed the recurve bow back to him: "Well done, there is a reward."

Shu Yu was puzzled as to why one would ask a woman about such matters of weaponry, and he gave a delayed response.

Xiao Youlan smiled at Nan Xueyin: "Hungry, let's go eat breakfast."

The morning meal had already been set in the front hall.

Xiao Youlan washed his hands on the side first.

Pulling Nan Xueyin's hands to soak in the water, he lowered his eyes, seeing her clean, empty wrists, and asked: "The Jade Bracelet that the Empress Dowager bestowed upon you, why are you not wearing it?"

Nan Xueyin's tone was cool: "I don't have the habit of wearing bracelets."

She said deliberately: "Doukou is a palace maid, she would wear a bracelet, but an Assassin does not; this kind of thing affects the speed of drawing a sword."

She was reminding the Crown Prince of her true identity, and also telling him that the palace maid Doukou, who was obedient to his every word, would never return.

Xiao Youlan acted as if he hadn't heard her words, saying: "Go back and wear it; you look very beautiful wearing it."

"What if I don't wear it?"

"In that case, I will have no way to guarantee the life or death of Wu Zhui." Xiao Youlan's tone was soft and slow, sounding exactly like a lover's whisper, yet the words he spat out were ruthless to the extreme.

Nan Xueyin's gaze turned murky, and she stopped speaking.

Her hands were washed; not waiting for Xiao Youlan to wipe them for her, she picked up a cloth herself, dried them in a few strokes, and without turning her head, strode over to sit at the table.

Before, when the Crown Prince ate, Nan Xueyin was still Doukou; she would stand to the side to serve, adding dishes and picking food for him, observing the subtle changes in his facial expressions, weighing which dishes suited his appetite and which he disliked.

But today is different from the past; Nan Xueyin acted as if the Crown Prince did not exist, drinking a large mouthful of millet porridge on her own, drooping her eyelids, and chewing slowly.

The several attendants serving nearby looked at one another—throughout the entire palace, besides the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, who dared to pick up chopsticks before the Crown Prince?

This woman was truly one who did not follow the rules.

Looking at the Crown Prince, however, he did not mind this at all; after sitting down, he even diligently placed a pancake into her bowl, saying gently: "Eat slowly, don't burn yourself."

The attendants looked at each other in dismay, suspecting that the Crown Prince had been put under a spell.

Nan Xueyin saw that pancake, but she had no expression, nor did she eat it, simply acting as if it did not exist.

She ate quickly, soon finishing the last mouthful of porridge, leaving only that pancake, half of which was soaked and soggy from the porridge; she had no intention of eating it, letting it lie lonely at the bottom of the bowl.

Xiao Youlan saw it.

He set down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped the corners of his mouth, and spoke unhurriedly: "Do you not like eating it?"

Nan Xueyin replied: "I do not like it."

Xiao Youlan raised an eyebrow: "Just a moment ago you picked up a piece to eat yourself; was that also because you did not like it?"

Nan Xueyin looked at him without speaking.

Xiao Youlan read her meaning and asked it aloud: "You do not like that I picked it out for you?"

Nan Xueyin still did not speak, which was equivalent to a tacit admission.

Xiao Youlan's gaze rested on her face for a long time, his voice adding a touch of indescribable gentleness as he said: "Eat it."