Chapter 85: Must You Imprison Me Completely?

When Xiao Youlan said these three words, he deliberately enunciated each one, as if he were holding each syllable between his lips and teeth to savor it carefully before slowly letting it out.

If an outsider were to hear it, they would feel it was full of tenderness, affection, and endless attachment.

Nan Xueyin hummed, not answering his question directly, but instead offering a sharp critique: "Deeply calculating."

This was said because he had deliberately disgusted Xiao Mingyu to his face, while also fishing for information from his mouth.

Xiao Youlan suddenly laughed.

He looked at her and offered a counter-evaluation: "Full of lies."

His voice was soft, and his tone was more like teasing.

"You probably don't know, but from the moment you told me your name was Hua Lianying, I suspected it was a lie. Because the three words 'Hua Lianying' sound like a dodder flower, and you have no need to cling to anyone."

Nan Xueyin did not speak.

Later, hearing that Xiao Mingyu had encountered an Assassin attack and that a woman he kept by his side was named Hua Lianying, Xiao Youlan was almost certain that this was not her real name.

She even claimed it was a coincidence of having the same name; how was that not full of lies?

"The surname should be the 'Nan' of the south," Xiao Youlan's thoughts flowed slowly, "and the 'Xue' of frost and snow. As for the third character, if it isn't the 'Yin' of sound, it must be the 'Yin' of heroic bearing. I prefer the former. It sounds better."

Nan Xueyin still did not make a sound.

Her assessment of the Crown Prince was accurate enough: deeply calculating.

Without needing her to disclose it, he could deduce her name all on his own.

Xiao Youlan asked: "Was this name given to you by your parents?"

Nan Xueyin gave a reluctant hum in response.

"You have now grown into the person they hoped you would be."

Xiao Youlan's tone sounded too sincere, without a hint of hypocrisy, which actually left Nan Xueyin stunned for a moment.

He asked again: "In daily life, how does Xiao Mingyu address you?"

Nan Xueyin looked over.

"Miss Nan?"

"Xueyin?"

"Yinyin?"

Xiao Youlan paused, "That's not it."

He recalled a past event, and as if deep in thought, he said: "Back at the gambling den, when Xiao Mingyu was attacked by an Assassin and was injured, he called out a name. I didn't hear it very clearly at the time, and you brushed it off. Thinking back on it now, what he shouted was indeed your name."

Nan Xueyin was silent for a long while.

Is the Crown Prince's brain a bit too good?

"So he addressed you by your full name; how distant," Xiao Youlan raised an eyebrow, "is your relationship not good?"

"A master-servant relationship doesn't require an intimate form of address, does it?" Nan Xueyin said coldly.

"That makes sense."

Xiao Youlan smiled slightly, "However, you and I are not master and servant."

After a moment of silence, he spoke softly: "Xiaoxue?"

Nan Xueyin was startled, subconsciously recalling her own parents.

So much time had passed that she could no longer remember their faces, only a vague, shadowy image of a couple standing there, calling her name tenderly.

"Xiaoxue."

"Xiaoxue, come and eat."

"Xiaoxue, why are you fighting with people again?"

A strange emotion swept through Nan Xueyin's entire body; her ears burned, and she glared fiercely at Xiao Youlan, "What are you calling me for!"

Xiao Youlan raised his eyebrows, "So you like it when others call you that?"

Nan Xueyin was stunned, her expression turning even fiercer, "Who told you I like it!"

Xiao Youlan coaxed her with a smile: "Fine, you say you don't like it, then you don't like it. Don't be angry."

Nan Xueyin continued to glare at him.

"Your Highness, the carriage has entered the city."

Outside, Shu Yu raised his voice to remind them.

Nan Xueyin looked out through the window, and thinking of something, she said coldly: "Now that we're back at the Eastern Palace, I suppose you're going to imprison me completely."

Xiao Youlan's gaze fell upon her: "Do you not like staying in the Eastern Palace?"

Nan Xueyin was expressionless: "The Eastern Palace is small and stuffy; no one likes staying there."

"Stuffy, is it."

Nan Xueyin's resistance was insignificant, yet Xiao Youlan was actually concerned with such trivial details.

He said gently: "If you are more obedient, I will give you a gift to relieve your boredom."

"You'll give me anything?" Nan Xueyin glanced sideways.

"I will give you anything."

Nan Xueyin pulled a wicked smile, "Then I want to be the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace."

Xiao Youlan said: "That is a bit difficult, but there is something similar that you can be."

"What?"

"The Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace."

Nan Xueyin:...

A difference of one character, a world of difference.

Nan Xueyin immediately wiped the smile off her face, "Then you might as well kill me with a sword."

Xiao Youlan, however, laughed: "I will pick something else to give you."

Nan Xueyin stopped speaking.

She suddenly remembered that Xiao Mingyu had been very good to her before, very special; every time he went out, he would think of her, and when he returned, he would bring her many things—delicious food, fun toys, a dazzling array of items.

Once, near the end of the year, Xiao Mingyu had to return to Fengdu to report on his duties; at that time, Nan Xueyin had not been an Assassin for long and still had to train, so she remained in Lianzhou.

Xiao Mingyu did not return himself, but he arranged for someone to bring a small pig back for Nan Xueyin.

At the time, that person only said this was a gift from the Prince to Miss Nan, but did not explain exactly what it was for.

Nan Xueyin looked at the red rope tied around the small pig's neck, which looked very festive, and thinking it was the end of the year, she thought, what else could this be but a New Year's pig?

Therefore, without a word, she and Wu Zhui and the others roasted the pig until it was fragrant and shared it among themselves.

After the New Year, Xiao Mingyu returned from Fengdu, and the first thing he did was come to find Nan Xueyin and ask her: "Do you like the little pet I sent you?"

Nan Xueyin was puzzled, "What little pet?"

Xiao Mingyu said: "The little pig, of course. It is unique to the Western Regions; it is said that this kind of pig does not grow large and is a very cute little pet. I was worried you would feel lonely in Lianzhou, so I specifically had someone bring it over for you."

Nan Xueyin was stunned for a moment, then fell into a long silence.

Xiao Mingyu was still looking around, "The little pig should have grown a bit by now, right? Bring it out so I can have a look."

At that moment, Bai Sheng and Wu Zhui walked over side by side.

Bai Sheng rubbed his belly and said with immense nostalgia: "That roasted pig from a couple of days ago was truly delicious; I wonder when we will be able to eat one again."

This time, it was Xiao Mingyu's turn to be stunned.

He looked at Bai Sheng, then looked at Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin guiltily averted her gaze.

After a long while, Xiao Mingyu sighed, "Forget it."

He actually even smiled and said: "As long as you were able to eat happily, then it was not a waste of my efforts."