Chapter 7: How Many Times Did the Crown Prince Have You?

Nan Xueyin had always been a light sleeper, and with the current Crown Prince lying right beside her, she did not truly sleep all night, merely closing her eyes to rest her mind.

Xiao Youlan's sleeping posture was surprisingly good; he turned over only once and did not move again after that.

Although the two of them were covered by the same quilt, there was a distance between them, and not the slightest touch occurred.

Daylight leaked into the room from outside, and Xiao Youlan seemed to sense it, stirring slightly.

Nan Xueyin immediately woke up, climbed out of bed with light, cautious steps, and dressed neatly.

She had not had time to remove her hairpins and jewelry yesterday, but because her sleeping posture was good, her hair was not disheveled; only the white jade bead flower at her temple was slightly crooked, so she bent down and carefully straightened it in the mirror.

A rustling sound came from the bed.

Nan Xueyin turned around, saw Xiao Youlan sitting up, and walked over, "Your Highness is awake. Did you sleep well last night?"

Xiao Youlan was actually somewhat unaccustomed to it; for many years, he had been used to being alone—sleeping alone, waking up alone. Last night was the first time he had shared a bed with a woman he had known for only a few days, and today, upon opening his eyes, he saw her face again.

What surprised him quite a bit, however, was that he did not feel any aversion toward her.

Xiao Youlan paused for a moment and said, "... The Empress Dowager will likely summon you today to ask some questions."

Nan Xueyin knelt halfway on the floor to put his shoes on for him, "Then this servant will be sure to groom and dress well, so as not to lose face for Your Highness."

Xiao Youlan:...

Xiao Youlan: "That is not what I meant."

Nan Xueyin chuckled, "This servant knows. Your Highness may rest assured; this servant knows her place and knows how to answer."

"Hm?"

Once the shoes were on, she raised her face and smiled at Xiao Youlan: "Your Highness surely does not wish for the Empress Dowager to worry, right? Therefore, this servant will tell Her Ladyship that I received Your Highness's favor last night, so that Her Ladyship may be completely at ease."

Xiao Youlan watched her for a moment and gave a soft "Hm."

Once dressed, Nan Xueyin followed Xiao Youlan out the door.

As expected, Cui Mama was waiting outside for a long time with Linglang and Hantao.

Upon seeing Xiao Youlan, the three of them bowed and offered their greetings.

Xiao Youlan's expression was indifferent; he glanced at them and headed toward the palace.

As soon as he left, Cui Mama couldn't wait to ask Nan Xueyin: "Was the Crown Prince satisfied with you last night?"

Nan Xueyin realized then that in the eyes of others, she could be considered the current Crown Prince's first woman.

She smiled slightly, though the smile was somewhat cold, "Cui Mama, if His Highness were not satisfied with me, wouldn't he have sent me back, just like he sent away Miss Linglang?"

Cui Mama's expression stiffened.

Hantao, standing behind, couldn't stand it anymore and rolled her eyes: "What are you so proud of? Even if you received his favor, don't you still have no rank today? His Highness just treats you as a bed-warming toy..."

Nan Xueyin raised an eyebrow: "And what do you take me for? Yesterday you pulled me aside to tell me that Linglang is Cui Mama's niece and that the two of them are birds of a feather, and today you are here criticizing me again."

Cui Mama's expression turned sour, and she shot a glance at Hantao.

Hantao was startled and stamped her feet, "Who said birds of a feather!"

She hurriedly stepped forward to explain: "Mama, I really didn't say that..."

At this moment, an elderly but dignified-looking Momo approached from afar.

Cui Mama ruthlessly pushed Hantao aside and greeted her with a smile, "Oh my, what brings you here? I've troubled you, old sister Qiutong, to make this trip."

Qiutong smiled: "The Empress Dowager heard that the Emperor sent a few palace maids to serve the Crown Prince, so she wanted to see how they are serving."

As she spoke, she asked the others: "Which one is Miss Doukou?"

Nan Xueyin stepped forward half a pace and curtsied, "Greetings, Momo. This servant is Doukou."

Qiutong looked her up and down, her smile lingering, "Come with me to Baoci Palace."

Nan Xueyin acknowledged the order.

The current Empress Dowager's surname was Zong; she was the Emperor's biological mother and was quite advanced in years, with hair entirely white as frost. She sat upright in Baoci Palace, her manners elegant, and one could still vaguely see the peerless beauty of her youth amidst the wrinkles of old age.

Sitting beside Empress Dowager Zong was a young woman, appearing to be sixteen or seventeen, with fair skin and thick hair, wearing a lotus-purple gauze shirt and a light green skirt, holding a newly plucked peach blossom branch and considering where to place it in a vase.

Before Nan Xueyin arrived in Fengdu, she had learned the basic situation in the palace and knew that the Empress Dowager was raising a young girl named Dou Fangchun.

Her father, Imperial Uncle Dou, was the younger brother of Empress Rouyi, which meant that Dou Fangchun was Xiao Youlan's legitimate cousin.

When Empress Rouyi was still alive, Dou Fangchun often came to the palace to play and would stay in her aunt's palace for a period of time. Later, after Empress Rouyi passed away and the Emperor saw that the princesses had all married off and the inner palace was truly desolate, he brought Dou Fangchun in to be raised by the Empress Dowager's side, just to provide some diversion for the old lady.

"This servant pays her respects to the Empress Dowager and Miss Dou." Nan Xueyin knelt on the ground respectfully and performed a kowtow.

Empress Dowager Zong was about to speak, but Dou Fangchun leaned over with the peach branch in her hand, "Your Ladyship, look at this flower; should I trim it here, or here?"

Empress Dowager Zong looked in that direction.

Nan Xueyin was thus temporarily ignored.

Dou Fangchun swept a glance at her, her gaze far from friendly, carrying a sense of provocation.

Among the young ladies of the noble and powerful families in Fengdu, Dou Fangchun was one of the most promising candidates to become the Crown Princess.

Now, she was doing this on purpose.

Nan Xueyin remained in her kneeling position, her face showing not the slightest bit of shame or annoyance.

After a good while, Empress Dowager Zong finished trimming the peach branch and handed it back to Dou Fangchun, "That will do to keep it in the vase for a few days. Go and arrange it."

Dou Fangchun smiled brightly, "Her Ladyship's eye is always the best!"

Qiutong took a handkerchief to wipe Empress Dowager Zong's hands, her eyes gesturing toward the little palace maid still kneeling on the ground.

Empress Dowager Zong, unhurried, wiped her hands and asked: "I hear that you have been the one serving the Crown Prince these past few days?"

Nan Xueyin respectfully lowered her head, her tone gentle and composed, and replied: "In reply to the Empress Dowager, this servant entered the Eastern Palace and has been serving His Highness's daily life and meals these past few days."

Having said this, she paused.

Empress Dowager Zong gave a slow "Hm" and set down the handkerchief.

Nan Xueyin then continued: "This servant discovered that every day when His Highness eats, regardless of whether he likes the food or not, he only takes a couple of bites, so the people below assumed he liked everything. After I arrived, I tried to probe His Highness's preferences and instructed the kitchen on what dishes to prepare each day. Now, His Highness is able to eat half a bowl of rice more at every meal."

"Oh?"

Zong Taihou became interested, "How did you find that out?"

Nan Xueyin said, "The Crown Prince has a disciplined and self-restrained nature; regardless of whether he likes something or not, if it is placed on the table, he will certainly eat a bite or two. However, if he encounters something he likes, the Crown Prince will eat a few more bites. Every day, I would count from the side, observing which ones the Crown Prince ate more of and which ones he ate less of, and I recorded them one by one."

Dou Fangchun curled her lips in disdain; these were all things for servants to do, yet she did not find it tiresome.

Zong Taihou, however, revealed a rare look of gratification, "The Crown Prince is reserved and restrained; few people are able to grasp his preferences. You truly went to some trouble. The Emperor did not choose the wrong person."

Her tone also became much gentler because of this, "Rise."

"Many thanks, Empress Dowager."

Nan Xueyin stood up, and Zong Taihou asked about the one thing she cared about most: "I heard that it was you who was kept in the Crown Prince's room last night?"

Nan Xueyin nodded lightly, "Yes, it was I who served him in bed last night."

Dou Fangchun was fiddling with a vase, and upon hearing this, her palm suddenly slipped, and the base of the vase struck the table, emitting a dull "thud."

This seemed overly abrupt within the hall.

Dou Fangchun explained with difficulty: "I, I didn't hold it steady for a moment..."

Zong Taihou did not say anything to her, but instead asked Nan Xueyin: "Tell me, what was the situation like last night?"

Nan Xueyin was puzzled; what situation?

Zong Taihou: "Last night you served the Crown Prince; how long did it take? How many times did the Crown Prince take you?"