Xiao Mingyu was cast into the internal prison, awaiting his final sentencing. Consort Xian was sequestered in the depths of the palace, no longer capable of causing any stir. Although Emperor Yongzheng remained seated on the throne in name, it was Xiao Youlan who now held the reins of the imperial government.
Precisely because of this, Xiao Youlan had become occupied, and the time Nan Xueyin and he spent together grew increasingly scarce. Shu Yu had returned to prepare for his wedding with Song Jianing, while Wuzhui focused on recovering from his injuries, spending his days inseparable from Jiang Lian'er. Fortunately, Nan Xueyin still had Xiaoyang to keep her company.
Nan Lizhu and Nan Fuguang also arrived. Actually, Nan Fuguang could be ignored entirely, for he was just as terrified of Xiaoyang as his father, not daring to come within half a step of the beast. Nan Lizhu, however, was much bolder; the first time she saw Xiaoyang, she approached with sparkling eyes, eager to stroke his massive head. At first, Xiaoyang found her annoying and dodged her, but Nan Lizhu lured him with fresh meat. This was a trick she had learned from raising cats, and it proved to be effective. Within a few days, Xiaoyang and Nan Lizhu were quite familiar with one another, often playing together.
Chapter 219