Chapter 73: If I Were to Die

Feihong politely declined, saying, "Miss Zhong, the military camp is truly not a suitable place for you to go."

Zhong Yun wanted to say something.

"Why do you want to go to the military camp?" Shu Yu could not understand. "There are only a bunch of rough men there, either drilling in formation or brandishing swords and spears. You, a young lady, should spend more time reading books, painting, and embroidering. What are you going there for?"

Zhong Yun blushed a little and lowered her eyes. "I... I know that place is not suitable for me, but..."

She said, shy and timid, "The Crown Prince is going there alone, he must be very lonely. I want to stay by his side."

Feihong was an ordinary man; hearing this, he could not help but reveal a knowing, indulgent smile.

But Shu Yu was not very ordinary, and he tilted his head. "But the Crown Prince already has someone to accompany him."

Zhong Yun was stunned and looked up at him.

"Did you see that woman who was spouting nonsense just now? She is going to the military camp tomorrow, too."

Zhong Yun was stunned again and asked, "Does she know how to drill in formation, or can she brandish swords and spears?"

Shu Yu said, "She probably doesn't."

Zhong Yun was puzzled. "Then why..."

Shu Yu spoke the truth: "Mainly because the Crown Prince asked her if she was going, and she said she was."

Zhong Yun's complexion turned somewhat pale.

She could not even see the Crown Prince's face, yet the Crown Prince had personally asked her if she wanted to go to the military camp together...

Feihong saw that her expression was poor and laughed it off: "Miss Zhong, your health has not yet fully recovered, so it is indeed not suitable to go to the military camp. You should stay in the Eastern Palace tomorrow to recuperate. Only when you have recovered your health can you better accompany the Crown Prince."

Zhong Yun forced the corners of her mouth up and gave a "Mm."

"Feihong."

In the study, Xiao Youlan's voice rose slightly.

Feihong hurried inside.

Zhong Yun stopped outside the door, pricked up her ears, and heard Xiao Youlan instruct: "Go prepare new dresses and jewelry, and have Linglang send them to her."

He did not name names, but it was obvious who this "her" referred to.

Feihong acknowledged the order but did not rush out, hesitating as if he had something to say.

Xiao Youlan then asked, "Is there anything else?"

Feihong cautiously mentioned, "Miss Zhong is here; she is right outside the study."

Xiao Youlan gave a flat "Mm." "I heard."

Feihong tentatively asked, "Then, does Your Highness want to... see her?"

Zhong Yun's heart skipped a beat, and she nervously gripped her sleeves.

Xiao Youlan's tone, however, was exceptionally indifferent: "No need."

Zhong Yun's heart sank to the bottom, and her eye sockets felt sore and uncomfortable.

Shu Yu said, appearing nonchalant: "There are many things in this world that cannot be obtained through obsession and force. When it is time to let go, one must let go; otherwise, you will be hurt, and the other party will also feel troubled."

But at this moment, Zhong Yun was completely unable to take these words in.

She lowered her head and bit her lip hard.

When Feihong came out and saw her, his gaze carried some sympathy.

Zhong Yun, however, squeezed out a smile. "It's nothing, I'll head back first."

She waved her hand and turned to leave.

With her back to Feihong and Shu Yu, the smile on her face vanished inch by inch, and endless jealousy and hatred surged in the depths of her eyes.

Later that day, Linglang carried the new dresses and jewelry toward the main house.

Zhong Yun had been waiting nearby for a long time; she walked out at the right moment and called out with a smile, "Miss Linglang."

Linglang stopped. "Miss Zhong, is there something you need?"

Zhong Yun smiled and said, "I've been taking medicine for my illness recently, haven't I? But the medicinal herbs I received today are not the ones I've been taking. I thought that since Miss Hua Lianying is also taking medicine, they must have mixed them up by mistake, so I specifically came to ask you."

"There's such a thing?" Linglang pointed to the dresses in her hand. "Then let me deliver these first, and I will check for Miss Zhong afterward."

Zhong Yun took her hand. "Aren't the dresses and jewelry for tomorrow? It's more important to exchange the medicinal herbs first."

Linglang thought that made sense, so she set aside the dresses and jewelry and followed Zhong Yun.

After exchanging the herbs and confirming there were no issues, Linglang went to the main house.

"Miss, these are the dresses and jewelry the Crown Prince had this servant bring for you to wear tomorrow."

Nan Xueyin did not even lift her eyelids; she was uninterested and said, "I know, just leave them there."

Linglang acknowledged the order and placed the dresses and hairpins on the table.

That day, Nan Xueyin did not see Xiao Youlan again until she went to sleep.

"I heard the Crown Prince was so busy he didn't even have time for dinner," Linglang remarked with a sigh.

Nan Xueyin thought, unmoved, that if he had spent less time pestering her these past two days and more time attending to official business, he wouldn't have been this busy today.

So she calmly washed up and then calmly lay down on the bed, facing upward.

She did not know how much time had passed before she felt someone approaching.

Nan Xueyin opened her eyes instantly. In the dim moonlight, she saw Xiao Youlan walking toward the bed without even having removed his outer robe.

Seeing she was awake, Xiao Youlan asked in a low voice, "Are you sleeping poorly because I'm not here?"

Nan Xueyin was expressionless: "You woke me up."

Xiao Youlan replied quickly: "I was wrong."

Nan Xueyin was speechless for a long while.

He stood still by the bed and asked her, "Did you see the dresses and jewelry?"

Nan Xueyin's tone was blunt: "I'm not sleeping with you tonight."

Xiao Youlan raised an eyebrow: "What about Wu Zhui?"

Nan Xueyin choked, frowning as she glared at him with a hint of indignation.

Xiao Youlan knelt on one knee at the edge of the bed and patted her bottom with good-natured patience, "Move in a bit."

His voice carried a hint of a smile, "Just consider it for Wu Zhui's sake."

For some reason, Nan Xueyin always felt that such words were extremely strange, whether spoken or heard.

Yet, she could only endure the humiliation and shift her body inward.

"Good girl."

Xiao Youlan praised her softly, sounding entirely sincere.

Nan Xueyin felt her earlobes burn as she listened.

Xiao Youlan lay down on his side, facing her, his brows and eyes filled with an indelible weariness.

He gazed deeply at Nan Xueyin for a long while, as if he hadn't seen her for several hours and needed to make up for it. After looking his fill, he closed his eyes contentedly, naturally wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

Nan Xueyin's body stiffened, but she understood that if she resisted, he would surely use Wu Zhui as leverage again.

After a moment of silence, Nan Xueyin said coldly: "Busy yourself like this every day, and sooner or later you will work yourself to death."

Xiao Youlan was not angry; instead, he let out a low chuckle.

He said in her ear: "If I die, I will certainly leave everything to you."

Nan Xueyin was taken aback.

She remembered that when she was in her early teens, she had also pondered such grand themes as life and death.

Xiao Mingyu had been completely calm about it: "Everyone must die; whether it is you or this Prince, we will all die. Perhaps, this Prince will even die before you."

Nan Xueyin found it hard to imagine his death.

Xiao Mingyu saw her shock and said with a smile: "Why that expression? At worst, after this Prince dies, you can just follow me in death."

At this moment, leaning in Xiao Youlan's arms and hearing his strong, steady heartbeat, Nan Xueyin fell into a long silence.

Before the sky was fully bright, Nan Xueyin felt Xiao Youlan move again.

He was awake.

Nan Xueyin kept her eyes closed, too lazy to move; Xiao Youlan seemed to watch her for a good while longer before suddenly stroking her cheek.

Nan Xueyin frowned; he knew she had been woken up, so he lightly pinched her face and said: "I won't bother you anymore, sleep a while longer."

After saying this, he let go of her and sat up.

The Crown Prince was busy for another whole morning, but fortunately, he finished before lunch.

The two ate lunch together, and Xiao Youlan looked Nan Xueyin up and down, "Why didn't you wear the new clothes I gave you yesterday?"

Nan Xueyin said indifferently: "Going to the military camp, there is no need to dress so brightly and beautifully."

Xiao Youlan said: "That is why I prepared convenient riding attire for you."

Nan Xueyin was stunned for a moment.

The dresses usually kept in the Eastern Palace, including the one she was wearing today, were all for show and not for use; it was difficult even to draw a bow or shoot an arrow in them. She had originally thought what Xiao Youlan prepared yesterday was similar, but she hadn't expected it to be riding attire.

"I thought that since you are an Assassin by trade, once you go to the military camp, you might want to handle some weapons." That was Xiao Youlan's consideration.

Nan Xueyin could not say she wasn't tempted.

She wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, her tone softening significantly, "I will go change now."

"Good."

Nan Xueyin returned to her room; she didn't need Linglang to serve her, so she changed out of the ru-skirt she had been wearing and picked up the riding attire to put it on.

Who would have thought that as soon as she put her sleeve on, a piercing pain shot through her arm.