Chapter 97: Give Me a Kiss, Then I'll Stop Being Angry

After Empress Dowager Zong left, she even chatted and laughed with Xiao Youlan for a few moments outside the palace gate.

After Empress Dowager Zong left, Xiao Youlan walked in quickly, looking very uneasy, and came to ask Nan Xueyin, "What did Grandmother Empress Dowager just say to you?"

Nan Xueyin was blunt and direct, saying: "She said that I am not from a prominent family and am not worthy of you."

"That is not the case." Xiao Youlan immediately denied it.

"She saw the bracelet I was wearing and told me about your past. Before me, you had a woman."

"Wasn't that also you?" Xiao Youlan stared at her.

Nan Xueyin was noncommittal about this, did not mention his kneeling, and finally said: "The Empress Dowager advised me, for your own good, to leave you as soon as possible and not to hinder your great cause."

These things were not much different from what Xiao Youlan had guessed; they were indeed words his grandmother would say.

He looked at Nan Xueyin, "Then what about you? How did you answer her?"

Nan Xueyin did not look at him, her gaze falling elsewhere, and said: "I said, I will consider it, let her wait for me..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Youlan suddenly grabbed her chin, stopping her words.

He stood in front of her, looking down at her from above, his expression clearly displeased, his voice deep, "Nan Xueyin, sometimes I really doubt that you have a heart."

He seemed to think of something, ground his teeth, and stared into her eyes, "Do you still like Xiao Mingyu?"

Nan Xueyin suddenly slapped his hand away.

This topic was too sensitive, so Xiao Youlan did not pursue it further, and Nan Xueyin did not say anything.

Before long, a palace maid brought over a change of clothes.

Nan Xueyin took them, and as soon as the palace maid left, she prepared to change on the spot.

Xiao Youlan said nothing, turned around like a gentleman, and faced away from her.

Nan Xueyin took off her damaged and dirty clothes and put on a clean and tidy new set, her movements very quick.

Finished, she did not speak and set off to walk outside.

Xiao Youlan followed behind.

The two returned to the main hall; the damaged tables and chairs had already been replaced with new ones, and the fruits, melons, and wine had all been set out neatly, with the singing, dancing, and gift-giving continuing as if nothing had happened just now.

On the table, there was an extra golden longevity star riding a deer pot, floating with the mellow fragrance of wine.

Originally, Xiao Youlan did not like to touch alcohol when out and about, so the wine pot had been removed earlier; after the new table was set, the palace maids did not know this, so they did not have time to remove it.

After taking their seats, Nan Xueyin saw Xiao Youlan pick up the wine pot and pour a full cup.

His expression was indifferent; he poured the wine and drank it in one gulp.

Nan Xueyin had drunk wine before; she felt this stuff did not taste good, one could even say it was hard to swallow, yet Xiao Youlan actually drank so much in one breath.

But he still had no expression; after finishing it, he poured another cup.

"You are still drinking?" Nan Xueyin could not help but speak, her original intention being to persuade him.

"Mm." Xiao Youlan's tone was neither salty nor bland, and he drank another whole cup.

Nan Xueyin roughly understood; he was angry.

Angry, and then taking it out on himself.

The reason?

Because the Empress Dowager advised her to leave, and she said she would consider it?

"Youlan."

Emperor Yongzheng also noticed Xiao Youlan's anomaly and asked: "I rarely see you drink in the past, why are you having one cup after another today?"

Xiao Youlan's head was still very clear, and he replied upon hearing this: "Today is Grandmother Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, and this son is happy, so I am drinking as an exception."

Emperor Yongzheng was very pleased with this and nodded with a smile: "In that case, this is your display of filial piety."

Xiao Youlan smiled slightly and continued to lower his head to pour wine.

Nan Xueyin was silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and when Xiao Youlan raised his cup to drink again, she gently pressed down on the rim of the cup.

Xiao Youlan looked sideways.

Nan Xueyin asked: "What can I do to make you stop being angry?"

Xiao Youlan stared at her for a while and tilted his head, "Is this because you are worried that I am angry and will go back to punish Wu Zhui?"

Nan Xueyin did not speak.

"Fine," Xiao Youlan gave a light scoff, as if he had quickly convinced himself, "If you want me to stop being angry, then you drink with me."

Nan Xueyin paused.

"Otherwise, when we go back, I really will punish Wu Zhui, for example, by having someone give him ten or twenty lashes..." Xiao Youlan said slowly, his tone leisurely, yet it held a kind of invisible intimidation.

"Fine."

Nan Xueyin replied crisply.

Xiao Youlan raised an eyebrow.

Nan Xueyin let go of him, took an empty wine cup herself, learned from Xiao Youlan's manner just now, poured a full cup, and in front of him, downed it in one gulp.

Xiao Youlan watched with great interest, seemingly in a better mood, and lightly raised his chin, signaling: "Again."

Not only did she drink, but he also continued to drink.

Both of them were more or less unhappy in their hearts, and as they drank, they inexplicably began to compete, unwilling to show weakness; you drank a cup, did you? Then I want a cup too.

One pot of wine was soon not enough, and Xiao Youlan ordered the palace maids to bring up a second pot, a third pot...

They were drinking heartily on this side, and Xiao Mingyu not far away took it all in, feeling inexplicable and reaching the peak of his annoyance.

He watched Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan, and he also followed suit, cup after cup.

Above, Empress Dowager Zong noticed and felt puzzled: "These children, why are they all drinking so much today?"

Emperor Yongzheng laughed: "They must be happy!"

As he spoke, he raised the wine cup in his hand, "Mother, your son is also happy today, this cup, your son toasts you!"

Zong Taihou also revealed a smile, picked up her wine cup, and took a sip.

It was not until the birthday banquet was nearing its end in the morning that Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan finally stopped.

Feihong came to welcome them back to the Eastern Palace; as soon as he got close, he smelled the strong scent of alcohol, "Oh my, Your Highness the Crown Prince, just how much have you had to drink?"

Nan Xueyin snorted, "No matter how much, it's definitely one cup less than me."

Xiao Youlan glanced at her, "I had one cup more than you."

"One cup less."

"One cup more."

Feihong:...

It was just so childish.

"Let's head back to the Eastern Palace," Feihong urged.

Neither of them refuted this.

On the way, the two did not speak.

Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Nan Xueyin headed straight for her room; she had drunk too much, her head was spinning, and she wanted to sleep.

But she still remembered the important matter, turned back, and called to him, "Xiao Youlan."

Upon hearing this, Feihong immediately wanted to pounce over and cover her mouth; how could she be so bold as to address the Crown Prince by his given name!

Xiao Youlan stood outside the door, not minding this at all, and asked her, "What is it?"

Nan Xueyin asked, "I drank the wine, you won't be angry, nor will you go and punish Wu Zhui, right?"

Xiao Youlan, however, curled the corners of his lips, "I was lying to you, and you actually believed it."

Nan Xueyin was stunned.

Xiao Youlan took a long stride, entered the room, and closed the door behind him.

Nan Xueyin felt an inexplicable pressure and took half a step back.

Xiao Youlan then took a step forward, stood still, lowered his eyes to look at her, and said in a slow voice, "Give me a kiss, and I'll stop being angry."