Chapter 82: So Worried About Him

Nan Xueyin leaned back against the seat opposite him, her mind full of thoughts about bugs and cockroaches.

Hearing him ask this, she answered truthfully: "Yes, I asked."

Xiao Youlan's gaze darkened.

Nan Xueyin thought he would be very angry, blaming her for seducing another man or something of the sort.

Yet, Xiao Youlan's voice grew even more tender, "So, what are your thoughts?"

He seemed to be truly considering things for her, saying unhurriedly: "If we really analyze it, Lu Yan is naturally much better than the Duan Prince. Firstly, Lu Yan is younger and has a better family background; most importantly, his mother comes from a prestigious, influential clan, not some ordinary little palace maid. Having one bedchamber maid and one concubine is already considered quite self-disciplined among the nobles and dignitaries of Fengdu. Secondly, Lu Yan is brimming with interest in you; he even dared to stare at you without looking away in front of the Crown Prince."

Nan Xueyin nodded, "That makes sense."

Xiao Youlan glanced sideways.

When saying this, Nan Xueyin's expression seemed to show she was truly interested in this matter, "Young, good family background, clean, likes me. He is indeed..."

But before she could finish, Xiao Youlan suddenly covered her lips.

Nan Xueyin frowned and glared at him.

"Young? I am also in my early twenties."

"I am the legitimate eldest son of the current imperial family; I will inherit the throne and ascend as emperor in the future. There is no one in this world with a better family background than mine."

"I have only you as a woman."

"And another thing."

Xiao Youlan stared into her eyes, his deep pupils seeming to contain an indelible, thick ink, "Could it be that I don't like you enough?"

Nan Xueyin still furrowed her brows.

So he was seemingly analyzing the benefits of marrying Lu Yan, but in reality, he was praising his own advantages.

It was truly childish enough.

"Compared to him, I am better."

Xiao Youlan lowered his voice, as if coaxing her.

Nan Xueyin, however, just heartlessly patted the back of his hand, signaling him to let go quickly.

Xiao Youlan released her and said gently: "I won't take you out anymore in the future. Once I finish my work, I will return to the palace as soon as possible to accompany you."

Nan Xueyin was puzzled, "The reason?"

Xiao Youlan touched her face, "You are too charming; you are always being coveted by others."

"So, from now on, you will stay in the Eastern Palace. If you want anything, just ask; I can give you anything."

Isn't this just the definition of imprisonment?

Nan Xueyin was expressionless: "Locking me in the Eastern Palace, is this also called liking me?"

Xiao Youlan's eyes and brows held a smile, "There are many kinds of liking; possession is also a form of liking."

Nan Xueyin sneered, thinking to herself that sooner or later she would smash his Eastern Palace to pieces.

Today, she competed with others in archery and swordsmanship, not just to vent her anger, but also to see how well her body had recovered.

It was indeed not as good as her past self, but it had recovered about sixty or seventy percent.

If she really found an opportunity to tear the Eastern Palace apart, it wouldn't be impossible to take Wu Zhui and escape together.

It was just that she hadn't thought through where she and Wu Zhui could go after leaving the Eastern Palace.

The Duan Prince Mansion?

"Are you thinking about the Duan Prince?" Xiao Youlan asked.

Nan Xueyin's gaze turned to his face.

"We were just talking about the Duan Prince earlier. He was attacked and injured, and the woman by his side had a miscarriage and lost the child. When this news reached the Yan Family, Miss Yan felt pity and, acting on her own, forgave him. Just this morning, the two of them reconciled."

Nan Xueyin's expression did not change at all.

Xiao Youlan understood, "If you aren't thinking about him, then you must be thinking about running away?"

Nan Xueyin still had no reaction.

Xiao Youlan touched her face, "The outside is very dangerous; staying in the Eastern Palace, staying by my side, is the safest."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp horse neigh sounded outside.

The carriage slowed to a stop, and before Xiao Youlan could ask, Shu Yu reported: "Your Highness, ahead is the Duan Prince's carriage."

Such a coincidence?

"Are the Eastern Palace's horses afraid of the Duan Prince's horses? They neigh as soon as they see them," Nan Xueyin said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Of course not," Shu Yu defended the honor of the Eastern Palace with his life, "It's mainly because the Duan Prince's side is being ambushed and they are fighting!"

Nan Xueyin was stunned; she stood up subconsciously and pushed open the carriage door.

They were still outside Fengdu City, and the towering city gates could be seen in the distance.

The terrain was open, the road was clear, and the view was therefore exceptionally wide.

Nan Xueyin looked out and could see the noble carriages in the distance; judging by the shape and decoration of the carriage, it indeed belonged to the Duan Prince.

At this moment, the carriage procession was surrounded by a small group of men in black; the guards and Hidden Guards were in the midst of a fierce battle, and Xiao Mingyu had not yet managed to retreat.

"So worried about him."

Xiao Youlan's magnetic voice sounded by her ear; he was right behind her, his broad, warm palm pressed against her waist.

Nan Xueyin shrank back involuntarily, a gesture of avoidance.

Xiao Youlan felt it and was therefore even more displeased, holding her down with a nearly forceful movement.

"Hmm?"

In reality, Nan Xueyin herself could not clearly say whether she was worried about Xiao Mingyu's safety; her actions just now were perhaps more like a habitual response formed over many years.

After all, it had been so many years; every time Xiao Mingyu encountered an attack, she would stand up for him without a second thought.

"Your Highness, are we going to help?"

Underneath the carriage, Shu Yu rested his palm against his brow like a sunshade, observed the battle situation on Prince Duan's side for a moment, then turned his head to ask.

Xiao Youlan turned his face away and asked Nan Xueyin with apparent patience: "Tell me, should we go help him?"

Nan Xueyin did not speak, her brows and eyes cold as she looked into the distance.

She gradually realized that Xiao Mingyu had many more people with him on this trip; Nan Xueyin recognized most of them, and they were all very formidable Assassins and Hidden Guards.

With her gone, and Xiao Mingyu having encountered successive attacks, he had transferred other experts over as well.

This seemed to be to prove that she, Nan Xueyin, was not unique and irreplaceable.

Xiao Youlan wore a smile and said: "If you hadn't stood up just now, I might have sent a few people to help, but as things stand now..."

He did not finish the second half of his sentence.

But Shu Yu was not stupid; he understood, this meant they were not going.

He thought for a moment, his expression becoming a bit excited, "Then Your Highness, shall we go add to the chaos?"

Xiao Youlan looked over.

"For example, I could cover my face and, taking advantage of the chaos, kick a few of their people." Shu Yu rubbed his hands together as he said this, eager to give it a try.

Xiao Youlan let out a laugh, "No need, just pretend we didn't see it."

"Alright." Shu Yu was quite disappointed.

"Return to the city."

Xiao Youlan's voice was flat, brooking no argument.

After speaking, he wrapped his arm around Nan Xueyin's waist and brought her back into the carriage together.

On the other side.

Prince Duan's men had already suffered heavy casualties; all the guards and Assassins were covered in blood on their bodies and faces, some their own, some the enemy's. They stood shoulder to shoulder, catching their breath, "They are all people who don't value their lives!"

"I thought that after being attacked once last time, Fengdu had strengthened its defenses, so there wouldn't be any Assassins—"

"They even launched a sneak attack! Otherwise, we wouldn't be getting beaten like this!"

Someone spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground, which seemed to contain a fallen tooth, and said bitterly: "If that person were here, even with a sneak attack, we wouldn't be in such a sorry state!"

Nan Xueyin's real name was known to few among the group of Hidden Guards and Assassins, but they all knew that there was a female Assassin by the Prince's side whose movements were as swift as a ghost, and who had never once failed.

But now, this person did not know where she had gone.

"Quick! You few, cover the Prince's retreat!"

"Lord Bai, there is a carriage over there!"

Bai Sheng looked in that direction and truly saw a carriage convoy, also recognizing that it was no ordinary convoy.

He immediately turned his head to tell Xiao Mingyu, "Your Highness! That is the Eastern Palace's convoy over there!"

Xiao Mingyu was racking his brains trying to think of how to escape; hearing this, he looked into the distance and knitted his brows.

The Eastern Palace's convoy—did that mean Nan Xueyin would be among them?

"Looking at the direction, they are returning from the military camp," Bai Sheng deduced.

Xiao Mingyu thought that military matters were of great importance, and the Crown Prince was a cautious person; he would not take Nan Xueyin, an Assassin from a hostile force, to the military camp.

In other words, it was impossible for Nan Xueyin to be with the convoy.

He made a prompt decision, "Move toward them! No need to ask for help; lead the Assassins over there, and the Eastern Palace will naturally take action."