Chapter 59: Held Firmly in the Palm of Xiao Youlan

Nan Xueyin did not move a muscle.

Xiao Youlan did not urge her, sitting there, watching her with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

He did not speak, yet Nan Xueyin understood his meaning—Wu Zhui.

After a moment of silent confrontation, Nan Xueyin was the first to look away.

She could not afford to take this risk.

She then grabbed her chopsticks and, right in front of Xiao Youlan, expressionlessly picked up a pancake, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed forcefully, bite by bite, as if what she were crushing was not a pancake, but Xiao Youlan's bones, and what she were swallowing was not a pancake, but Xiao Youlan's flesh and blood.

Swallowing the last bite, Nan Xueyin raised her eyes.

Xiao Youlan's gaze was profound: "I am almost envious of Wu Zhui."

Nan Xueyin forced a cold laugh and said unceremoniously: "Then trade places with him; you go wander outside, and let Wu Zhui enter the Eastern Palace to be the Crown Prince."

The surrounding attendants were terrified to hear this; what an act of treason!

Yet Xiao Youlan laughed out loud.

"Your Highness, Grand Secretary Wei is here."

Feihong reported from outside the door.

"Good."

Xiao Youlan stopped laughing, though the mirth had not yet faded from his eyes, and he raised a hand to brush Nan Xueyin's cheek: "And the bracelet, don't forget it."

Having said this, he rose and left.

The spot where he had brushed her still felt tingly and numb; Nan Xueyin wiped it hard with the back of her hand, wanting to erase his trace.

Elsewhere.

Xiao Youlan met with Wei Nian in the study.

"That personal attendant beside the Prince of Duan, the one named Wu Zhui, has been found."

Xiao Youlan lifted his eyelids.

Wei Nian continued: "He was captured by the Yan Family. The Yan Family's daughter has feelings for the Prince of Duan, but the Yan Family has heard rumors of the Prince of Duan's past romantic escapades, so they are not entirely at ease and want to extract some information from Wu Zhui."

He glanced at the Crown Prince and said: "The Yan Family is doing this mainly in hopes of dispelling Miss Yan's expectations for the Prince of Duan; they still prefer that Miss Yan marry into the Eastern Palace. However, Wu Zhui is truly loyal; despite the Yan Family's threats and inducements, he has not uttered a single word of ill against the Prince of Duan."

Xiao Youlan did not comment on this, only saying: "Rescue Wu Zhui before noon today."

He did not ask if it were possible, but gave the order directly.

Because if the Eastern Palace wanted to do something, almost no one in Fengdu could stop it.

Wei Nian understood: "Those secrets concerning the Prince of Duan are very important to us; if the Yan Family cannot get them out of him, we shall be the ones to ask."

Xiao Youlan remained silent.

It was not for the sake of asking about those secrets of Xiao Mingyu; he wanted Wu Zhui purely because of "Hua Lianying."

Wei Nian asked: "Your Highness, where do you think we should keep Wu Zhui after he is rescued?"

Xiao Youlan rested his hand on the desk, tapped the surface slowly, and said: "Find a gambling den."

Wei Nian:?

Wei Nian: "Huh?"

He thought he had misheard, "What?"

Xiao Youlan gave a hum of affirmation, having made up his mind: "The largest gambling den in Chunping Ward."

Wei Nian racked his brains but could not understand why; could it be that the Crown Prince had some other scheme?

He gradually realized that this was the true heir apparent—great talent and bold vision, using strategies like a god—not something for subordinates like them to fathom.

Near lunchtime, an Imperial Physician arrived at the Eastern Palace, led by an attendant, and knocked on Nan Xueyin's door.

When they entered, Nan Xueyin was idly playing with the Jade Bracelet in her hand; Linglang watched from the side, her heart in her throat, terrified that she might let it slip and break the bracelet—this was a priceless treasure!

Hearing the commotion, Nan Xueyin paused her movements and lifted her eyelids to look over.

The attendant said: "His Highness the Crown Prince said to have Imperial Physician Sun come over to take the young lady's pulse and see how well her body has recovered."

Nan Xueyin had no reason to refuse an Imperial Physician delivered to her door.

She tossed the Jade Bracelet onto the table with a casual flick; with a crisp "clack," Linglang thought it had shattered and her heart nearly stopped, but upon closer inspection, the bracelet was perfectly fine, not even a crack, and she finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"Sorry for the trouble."

Nan Xueyin extended her hand.

Although she was cold and heartless most of the time, she still showed considerable respect toward those who practiced medicine.

Imperial Physician Sun stepped forward in response, placed a thin silk handkerchief on her wrist, and then rested his fingers upon it.

After a short while, he withdrew his hand and said: "The young lady's body is recovering very quickly and very well."

Nan Xueyin asked: "Can I perform strenuous movements?"

Imperial Physician Sun shook his head: "The young lady suffered severe injuries previously, damaging her foundation; if you rush into strenuous activity, your body will not be able to bear it. It is best to carefully recuperate for the time being."

Nan Xueyin remembered the fight on the pleasure boat last night and the subsequent desperate flight; she had indeed been completely drained of strength afterward, and her wounds had healed much slower.

Sure enough, her body had not yet fully recovered.

"How long must I recuperate before I can return to my original state?" Nan Xueyin asked again.

Imperial Physician Sun sighed: "Not to mention that as people age, their bodies are destined to decline. The injuries and illnesses we suffer throughout our lives all cause varying degrees of damage to the body; it is absolutely impossible for the body to return to its initial state."

It was just like a blade that would eventually dull after killing too many people.

Nan Xueyin quickly accepted this point and asked: "Then when can I perform strenuous movements?"

Imperial Physician Sun replied: "At least ten days to half a month."

Nan Xueyin nodded.

"I will prescribe a medicine for the young lady; if you drink it daily, you will be able to recover faster."

Nan Xueyin thanked him gladly.

Imperial Physician Sun finished writing the prescription, picked up his medicine chest, and walked out, while the attendant said in a low voice, "Imperial Physician Sun, there is another young lady in the Eastern Palace who is ill; I must trouble you to take a look at her as well."

"Is Zhong Yun truly ill?" Nan Xueyin asked in confusion; she had thought the girl was faking it.

The attendant replied as he was asked, "At first, Miss Zhong was likely half-faking and half-truly ill, but after arriving at the Eastern Palace, perhaps due to heartbreak, Miss Zhong's condition worsened, and now she is lying in bed unable to get up."

Nan Xueyin frowned.

If Zhong Yun were well, she could pester Xiao Youlan for a while.

Now that she was bedridden, wouldn't Xiao Youlan be even more inclined to hover by her side?

At the mere thought of Xiao Youlan, Nan Xueyin felt irritable.

It had been a long time since she had been threatened by anyone, yet she was being held firmly in the palm of Xiao Youlan's hand.

Her gaze shifted to the Jade Bracelet on the table, and Nan Xueyin's only thought was to smash this wretched bracelet and then give Xiao Youlan a beating.

Footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by the attendant's respectful greeting: "Your Highness, Crown Prince."

Nan Xueyin took a deep breath, endured the humiliation, picked up the bracelet, and put it on.

As Xiao Youlan stepped into the room, he happened to see the Jade Bracelet settle onto Nan Xueyin's wrist; its lustrous, translucent emerald color made her skin appear even fairer and more delicate.

Nan Xueyin sat there with a very unfriendly expression.

Watching her, Xiao Youlan suddenly remembered a snow-white lion cat he had raised when he was young, which always had an aloof, untouchable air and would bristle when it was unhappy.

She looked just like she was bristling right now.

Yet the more she was like this, the more it made one like her, even making one want to reach out and stroke her.

Thinking this, Xiao Youlan stood still in front of her and truly raised his hand to stroke her cheek.

For the sake of Wu Zhui, Nan Xueyin bit the bullet and let Xiao Youlan touch her.

But he was truly insatiable; after stroking her twice, he even pinched the soft flesh of her cheek.

Nan Xueyin finally could bear it no longer and bit down on his hand.