Chapter 6: Preparing to Serve in Bed

Linglang was startled, not understanding why His Highness was questioning her at this moment, and subconsciously said, "This servant is Linglang..."

"I do not recall summoning you here to serve." Xiao Youlan's voice turned cold.

Linglang was flustered, spilling the wine; she set down the wine cup and hurriedly knelt on the ground, "This servant... this servant..."

She was trembling violently, panicked and stuttering, unable to say anything coherent.

Xiao Youlan did not waste words with her and raised his voice to call, "Cui Mama!"

Cui Mama had been waiting outside the door; hearing the call, she immediately entered. Upon seeing the scene in the room, she guessed seven or eight parts of it, but she still asked first, "Your Highness, I wonder what wrong this girl Linglang has committed?"

"Last time it was Hantao, this time it is Linglang. Cui Mama, who are you planning to bring next time?" Xiao Youlan pressed his brows together, his expression icy.

"Your Highness's words truly humble this servant!" Cui Mama knelt down, "This servant only thought that Linglang was also someone you selected and kept that day!"

"I also said that day that she was to serve Doukou. Are you unable to understand human speech, or do you feel that in this Eastern Palace, you should be the one in charge?"

The Crown Prince had always been one to keep his emotions hidden, but tonight his tone was too heavy, deep and gloomy; he was truly angry.

Cui Mama hurriedly lowered her body, almost prostrating herself on the ground.

This was the Emperor's most beloved son! To anger him, ten heads would not be enough to lose!

"Send for Doukou." Xiao Youlan said, enunciating every word.

Cui Mama dared not do otherwise and immediately responded.

Linglang was still kneeling on the ground, her whole body trembling like a sieve.

Useless thing! Cui Mama cursed inwardly, grabbed her without ceremony, and dragged her out.

When Nan Xueyin arrived, Xiao Youlan was eating, though his expression was cold and he had little appetite.

Nan Xueyin walked closer and caught sight of the wine pot at a glance.

"Serve the dishes." Xiao Youlan put down his chopsticks, his tone slightly cool.

He looked to be in a bad mood.

Nan Xueyin took the chopsticks and scanned the dishes on the table, "There are not many dishes here today that Your Highness likes."

Xiao Youlan let out a cold laugh, as if to say: You know that?

Nan Xueyin found it amusing; why was he so angry?

"This furnace-roasted chicken, Your Highness does not dislike it," Nan Xueyin picked up a piece and placed it in his bowl, "It is also an excellent dish to accompany wine; it just so happens that Your Highness has a pot of good wine here."

"Good wine?"

Xiao Youlan fixed his deep gaze upon her, carrying a sense of scrutiny, "You even recognize wine?"

Nan Xueyin shook her head, "I don't recognize it much, it's just that this wine pot is extremely beautiful, so I imagine the wine inside must be excellent too."

Xiao Youlan stared at her for a moment, then looked away.

His fingers rested on the rim of the wine cup, rubbing back and forth.

This wine was sent by his grandmother, the Empress Dowager; he knew this act had the same meaning as the Emperor sending palace maids to him—they were all worried he was impotent or had a penchant for men.

In fact, whether he drank this wine today or not did not matter, but...

After a long while, Xiao Youlan narrowed his eyes, seemingly having made up his mind; he picked up the wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

Nan Xueyin said softly, "Your Highness, eat this chicken first; this servant will go tell them to prepare more of what you like."

"Mm." Xiao Youlan set down the wine cup.

When Nan Xueyin returned, the candlelight was dim and the door was tightly shut.

The Guard outside the door smiled teasingly and said, "His Highness said that once Miss Doukou returned, she should go straight in."

Nan Xueyin nodded and said alright, then raised her hand to push open the door. Who would have expected that as soon as she stepped inside, her wrist would be tightly gripped and she would be pulled in and pressed against the cold, hard wall.

Nan Xueyin caught the familiar scent, "Your Highness?"

Xiao Youlan pressed against her, his tall, upright body burning hot, and his voice came from above her head, noticeably hoarse: "You said, you know nine types, hm?"

"Yes..."

Nan Xueyin's voice was very low, carrying a slight tremor.

At this moment, her nervousness was not entirely feigned.

After entering the palace, Nan Xueyin learned every day how to please men. Because her body had good flexibility, she could easily perform even the most difficult movements, so she had learned nine types in total.

But she had never performed those positions with a man.

The affairs between men and women had once been very far from her, except for that day when she was a Guard for Xiao Mingyu at a banquet. After three rounds of drinks, Xiao Mingyu was in high spirits; he pulled over a woman and hurriedly began undressing behind the rockery.

The woman's expression seemed very painful; she tilted her neck back and let out a scream, as if she were about to die.

So Nan Xueyin always felt that when women were passively enduring during intimacy, it was perhaps a thousand times more uncomfortable than her training or killing.

But for the sake of her mission, she had no choice.

She did not look at Xiao Youlan, her fingers unconsciously clutching his sleeve.

Xiao Youlan felt her movement and lowered his eyes, seemingly examining her face.

After a long time, he said hoarsely, "Go to the bed."

Having said that, he released her.

Nan Xueyin took a deep breath and responded in the affirmative.

She stepped into the inner chamber, but Xiao Youlan did not follow.

Perhaps he was waiting for her to get ready?

Nan Xueyin let down the bamboo-green curtains on both sides and sat on the edge of the bed waiting. The Crown Prince was slow to arrive, so she pondered for a moment and then stood up to untie her sash.

Steady footsteps came from behind; Xiao Youlan's voice had returned to its usual coldness, "... What are you doing?"

Nan Xueyin answered honestly, "Preparing to serve in bed."

As she spoke, she turned around to face the Crown Prince.

She had shed her outer robe, leaving only a dark blue bodice on her upper body, revealing her two fragrant shoulders. Her chest rose in a graceful curve, her waist was narrow and could be encircled by a hand. Under the faint candlelight, her skin was delicate, like flawless jade.

Xiao Youlan's eyes were dark and murky; he watched her for a moment, then looked away, "... Put your clothes on."

Nan Xueyin:?

Although she did not understand, she was sensible enough to drape a garment over herself and step forward to undress Xiao Youlan.

Being close, she felt the cold, damp mist on his body; she lifted her eyes slightly and saw water droplets remaining on the hair at his temples.

Only then did Nan Xueyin realize that he had not entered the room earlier because he had gone to wash his face with cold water to suppress the aphrodisiac effects of the wine.

Nan Xueyin took off the Crown Prince's outer robe and hung it on the red sandalwood clothes rack.

Xiao Youlan got onto the bed and gestured, "You will sleep in this room tonight as well."

Nan Xueyin took a step forward, intending to take off her outer garment.

"Keep it on."

Xiao Youlan practically barked the command, as if he very much did not want to see her in a state of undress.

Nan Xueyin asked in confusion, "Does Your Highness not need this servant to attend to you?"

Xiao Youlan paused, then said as calmly as he could: "No need for attendance; you are just to sleep here."

"... Alright."

Xiao Youlan slept toward the inside, leaving her plenty of spacious room.

After Nan Xueyin lay down, she could barely feel Xiao Youlan's presence, save for his slow and even breathing.

Nan Xueyin found it strange.

The Crown Prince had drunk the wine and pulled her into the room; he could very well have had his way with her. If it were Xiao Mingyu, he certainly would have done so.

Yet Xiao Youlan did not.

Was he too restrained and self-controlled, or did he still harbor wariness toward her?

After a long silence, Nan Xueyin said softly, "Your Highness, it is cold."

"..."

Xiao Youlan did not speak, but he shared half of the quilt with her.

After another long silence, Xiao Youlan said, "Go to sleep."

This meant she was not to speak again.