Chapter 84: Nan, Xue, Yin?

As the fight was in full swing, Nan Xueyin stepped forward in two long strides, gripped Shu Yu's wrist, and forcefully pressed down the sword that was about to pierce the Assassin's heart, instead lifting a foot to kick the person several yards away.

"You're not killing him?" Shu Yu did not understand her intent.

Nan Xueyin ignored him, stood firm, her expression cold, and issued a stern threat: "Get out, now!"

There were not many remnants left, only about a dozen or so; those with light injuries dragged those with heavy injuries, turned, and scattered in flight.

Shu Yu was anxious, "Quick! Chase!"

Yet Nan Xueyin held his wrist and did not let go, "Don't chase a desperate foe, haven't you learned that?"

Shu Yu turned his head to look at her, frowning, "They are bold and reckless, daring to attack the Crown Prince's carriage; this matter must be investigated to the end, no leniency can be tolerated!"

"No need."

Xiao Youlan spoke slowly, "Listen to her."

Shu Yu glanced at him, then glanced at Nan Xueyin, let out a regretful "Sigh!", and helplessly sheathed his sword.

"Crown Prince."

Hearing Xiao Mingyu's voice behind her, Nan Xueyin's hand gripping Shu Yu's wrist couldn't help but stiffen.

The last time she heard it was on a pleasure boat; at that time, he was being intimate with Yan Zhirong, and when they discussed her, his tone was full of disdain.

Xiao Youlan turned around and called out, "Fourth Brother."

Xiao Mingyu's gaze lingered on Nan Xueyin for an imperceptible moment; she did not turn back, and he only saw her slender and upright shoulders and back.

He quickly withdrew his gaze, cupped his hands toward Xiao Youlan, and smiled, "It is fortunate to have met the Crown Prince today, and I am also grateful for the Crown Prince's help; otherwise, I fear I would have been dead or injured today."

Xiao Youlan replied politely, "This is only as it should be."

Nan Xueyin felt that the two brothers were more hypocritical than the other.

She remained with her back to Xiao Mingyu, not moving.

Shu Yu said to Xiao Mingyu, "Prince."

Seeing Nan Xueyin not moving, he leaned in slightly and asked in a low voice, "Are you embarrassed?"

Nan Xueyin glanced at him, feeling that he had too many things to worry about and too many words to say.

But it was because of this small action of Shu Yu's that Xiao Mingyu's gaze turned back over, "Just now I saw this young lady's movements were agile; I wonder where the Crown Prince found such a remarkable woman?"

A smile spilled from Xiao Youlan's lips, his voice even carrying laughter, as he said, "This young lady was originally Fourth Brother's Assassin, was she not? What is it, Fourth Brother, you don't recognize her?"

Xiao Mingyu was slightly stunned.

"Fourth Brother sent her into the Dali Temple Prison to assassinate a convicted official but failed to arrange a timely rescue. If I hadn't arrived in time to save her, the next time Fourth Brother saw her, it would likely have been only her tombstone."

Xiao Mingyu could never have imagined that he would put it so directly, and his complexion turned ugly inch by inch.

"Although I have racked my brains and still cannot understand why Fourth Brother refused to rescue her, in any case, she is now my person." Xiao Youlan's smile deepened infinitely as he said this.

Xiao Mingyu managed to squeeze out a strained smile, "So, she is now an Eastern Palace Assassin?"

Xiao Youlan shook his head, "Not an Assassin. I kept her to take her as my wife."

That last trace of Xiao Mingyu's smile disintegrated, as if a towering city wall had suddenly cracked and collapsed, leaving a mess of wreckage on the ground.

Nan Xueyin also understood at this moment why Xiao Youlan had taken the initiative to ask her if she wanted to go down and fight while they were in the carriage.

He was indeed ill-intentioned, wanting Xiao Mingyu to see her, especially to see her by the Crown Prince's side.

This was an invisible warning and a declaration of war.

He did it just to let Xiao Mingyu know that she was already his.

"From now on, unless it is our grand wedding, I fear it will be difficult for Fourth Brother to see her again," Xiao Youlan said leisurely, "Fourth Brother, you were master and servant after all; why not have a final word?"

He put on a frank and generous appearance, still holding Nan Xueyin's wrist, and turned her to face Xiao Mingyu.

Nan Xueyin said nothing, her eyelids drooping, not looking at Xiao Mingyu again.

Shu Yu, Bai Sheng, and the others were already too shocked to speak.

Xiao Youlan waited patiently for a moment, and Xiao Mingyu spoke slowly and heavily: "She is merely an Assassin; if the Crown Prince had taken a fancy to her, you should have told me earlier. The Crown Prince's lack of interest in women has long worried the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. If there is someone by my side who can make the Crown Prince happy, I would naturally present her to the Eastern Palace myself."

Nan Xueyin was not surprised by this response.

Xiao Mingyu did not like her, so naturally, he would not offend the Crown Prince to her face for her sake.

He would only say things that were advantageous to himself.

"If Fourth Brother gives her to me, won't there be no one to protect Fourth Brother's safety from now on?" Xiao Youlan asked.

"How could that be? I have many capable guards by my side."

"Is that so," Xiao Youlan said, "Just now, I saw that Fourth Brother's men encountered those Assassins and were truly unable to fend them off. I imagine that if she were still by Fourth Brother's side, Fourth Brother would surely have been safe and sound, and would not have ended up in such a state."

These words truly struck Xiao Mingyu where it hurt.

He paused before managing to speak calmly: "That is not the case; today was because we were ambushed..."

Xiao Youlan looked at him with a smile.

Xiao Mingyu did not want to look at him at all, secretly gritted his teeth, and turned his gaze to Nan Xueyin, "From now on, you will serve the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace. Nan Xueyin, you must serve with all your heart and strength, and must not harbor any disloyalty."

In fact, these words were an instruction to Nan Xueyin not to forget her original master; on the surface, she was serving the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, but in reality, he hoped she would remain loyal to him and search for the Crown Prince's secrets—after all, Nan Xueyin had not had time to pass on Xiao Youlan's secrets.

But there was another urgent matter now.

Nan Xueyin was a beat slow, finally realizing that Xiao Youlan's scheme after scheme was to find out what her name was.

At the very beginning, she had deliberately concealed it, telling Xiao Youlan that her name was "Hua Lianying".

But the real Hua Lianying had encountered danger and suffered a miscarriage, losing her child; this news had even reached the Eastern Palace, and Xiao Youlan had likely begun to suspect whether this was her real name from that time on.

Until this moment, he had finally coaxed her real name out of Xiao Mingyu's mouth.

Nan Xueyin sighed silently, raised her eyes to look at Xiao Mingyu, said nothing, and only frowned.

And seeing her frown, Xiao Mingyu also suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Have you remembered the Prince's instructions?" Xiao Youlan's voice was soft.

Nan Xueyin's gaze turned to his face, meeting that handsome face with a half-smile, and her furrowed brow did not smooth out.

Xiao Youlan knew that she had already understood his scheme.

He smiled warmly, "It seems you have remembered."

Nan Xueyin did not speak and shifted her gaze away.

Xiao Youlan went to ask Xiao Mingyu, saying, "Fourth Brother, why not return to the city together with the Eastern Palace's carriages and horses?"

His tone carried a smile, "That way, not only will there be more manpower, but with Miss Nan by your side, it will also be much safer."

He placed extra emphasis on the three words "Miss Nan."

At this moment, horse hooves clattered, and a troop of men and horses approached rapidly.

The leader was a burly man with a thick beard; upon seeing the Crown Prince and the Prince, he was the first to dismount nimbly, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, greetings, Your Highness the Prince."

Nan Xueyin recognized at a glance that this was the Hidden Guard who had discovered her presence outside the pleasure boat and intended to kill her.

After the greetings, the man seemed to have sensed a familiar aura and glanced at her.

But quickly, he bowed respectfully to Xiao Mingyu and said, "Hearing that the Prince was attacked, the young lady was extremely worried and specifically sent this humble one to come and provide escort."

In this way, Xiao Mingyu would no longer return to Fengdu City with the Eastern Palace.

The two performed some superficial courtesies and bid each other farewell.

Nan Xueyin followed Xiao Youlan back onto the carriage, her face expressionless, and she did not speak.

The carriage moved slowly, and Xiao Youlan spoke unhurriedly: "That man just now is named Yan San; he is the most loyal and formidable Hidden Guard of the Yan Family, usually guarding by the side of Yan Zhirong. Being sent now to provide escort and protection for the Prince shows that Yan Zhirong has deep feelings for the Prince."

"Don't you think so?"

As he spoke, his deep gaze fell upon her, filled with ample interest, "Nan, Xue, yin?"