Nan Xueyin lay flat on her bed, her hands crossed over her abdomen.
The night was as still as deep water, until it was broken by a woman's low sobs, spreading outward in layers like ripples on a calm surface.
It was Hantao crying, with a mournful, wretched, and pitiful sound, as if she had suffered some great grievance.
Mother Cui grew impatient and scolded sharply, "Crying, crying, all you know is crying! What use is crying?"
Linglang had already gone to bed, but having been woken up by the noise, she threw on a coat, opened the door, and stepped out. "Oh, why are you back?" she asked. "Didn't Hantao go to wait on the Crown Prince? How... how is it that you're crying?"
Hantao said bitterly, "Now that you see me back, you must be secretly rejoicing in your heart!"
Linglang said innocently, "What are you talking about..."
Mother Cui sneered coldly, "You have no ability of your own and failed to win the Crown Prince's favor, so why put on a long face for everyone else! Wasn't it you today who swore up and down that you could make the Prince keep you? And what happened? You ended up making a fool of me right along with you! And now you're throwing a tantrum again!"
She added, "In my opinion, from now on, the job of waiting on the Crown Prince should just be left to Doukou and Linglang!"
Nan Xueyin stared at the dim ceiling, listening to their conversation.
In this way, even if she did not win complete trust, she could at least dispel a portion of the Crown Prince's internal suspicions.
Xiao Mingyu had sent her into the Eastern Palace to become a spy, not only to steal necessary intelligence, but more importantly, to uncover the Crown Prince's secret.
Xiao Youlan had a hidden affliction.
Originally, the Eastern Palace was as secure as a fortress, and not a single rumor ever leaked out—until by chance, a young man who had just entered the Administration of the Eastern Palace got roaring drunk at a private banquet and accidentally let slip a few words. Someone with a keen ear noted them down and immediately reported back to Xiao Mingyu.
Yet as to what kind of hidden affliction it precisely was, the man could not give the slightest further detail.
Because of this, Xiao Mingyu had tried every possible means to send someone into the Eastern Palace.
For Xiao Mingyu, if she could discover Xiao Youlan's hidden affliction, she could deal him a crushing blow and ultimately seize the position of Crown Prince.
Nan Xueyin had come under orders, and no matter what, she had to stay in the Eastern Palace until she found that secret.
The next day, before dawn, the servants of the Eastern Palace were already up and busy. Servants naturally had to get up earlier than their masters, and especially now that the Crown Prince was diligent, sleeping only two or three hours a day, the servants slept even less.
Having started out as an assassin and covert guard, Nan Xueyin was a light sleeper to begin with; back when she was on missions, there were times she went without sleep for nights on end. Waking up early was nothing to her.
After a simple wash, particularly making sure her human-skin mask had no flaws, Nan Xueyin walked out the door.
Mother Cui was just about to knock on her door when she saw that she was already up. Nodding in satisfaction, she said, "The Prince is about to get up. Hurry over and wait on him!"
"Yes."
The person in the next room was also up. Having cried for most of the night, Hantao's eyes were swollen like walnuts. Gritting her teeth, she glared over with hatred.
Yet Nan Xueyin did not even give her a single glance.
When she reached the outside of the door, Xiao Youlan had already woken up and risen.
Attendants carrying water and holding tea bustled in and out—every single one of them was a male servant.
Nan Xueyin once again considered the possibility that the Crown Prince had a preference for men, and walked inside with an unperturbed expression.
She saw Xiao Youlan's broad back; he wore only a moon-white sleeping robe, and a young male attendant was about to put his outer robe on for him.
Nan Xueyin took two steps forward and took the robe from the attendant's hands.
Xiao Youlan saw her. With a calm expression, he asked, "Is your health better?"
Nan Xueyin lowered her eyes, focusing on straightening his collar. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This maid is much better. It's just that I cannot yet wait on Your Highness properly."
Xiao Youlan made no comment on this, his gaze shifting to her hands. "You have a lot of calluses."
"..."
When you hold swords and blades too much, of course you get them.
Nan Xueyin said softly, "Ever since I was little, this maid helped out at home by cutting grass, feeding pigs, and doing all sorts of coarse work. These hands certainly cannot compare to Sister Hantao's delicate and smooth ones."
After tying his belt, she raised her face slightly. "Will Your Highness dislike this maid because of this?"
Xiao Youlan looked away. "Hardly. At present, Gu has no mind for matters between men and women."
Shu Yu walked in from outside and, for the first time ever, saw a woman in the Crown Prince's bedchamber. Full of curiosity, he circled around Nan Xueyin. "Could you... could you be Doukou?"
Nan Xueyin asked in confusion, "You recognize this maid?"
Shu Yu smiled and said, "Wasn't this what His Highness the Crown Prince was muttering about last night?"
Nan Xueyin lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, looking somewhat shy.
"I heard that His Majesty first selected over a hundred people from the palace, weeding them out layer by layer, before choosing the few of you. How did you get selected?" Shu Yu asked with curiosity.
Before Nan Xueyin could speak, he answered himself, "I imagine you must have some extraordinary skills..."
Rubbing his chin, he stepped a few paces closer and deliberately lowered his voice. "How many... positions do you know?"
Nan Xueyin was startled and turned her head to look at Xiao Youlan.
"Shu Yu," Xiao Youlan called his name.
Shu Yu said innocently, "I was only asking for you."
Xiao Youlan gave him a lukewarm glance, and Shu Yu obediently shut his mouth.
Finally, Xiao Youlan sat down on a huanghuali square stool, and Nan Xueyin stepped forward to place the hair crown on his head.
As she lowered her head, Nan Xueyin said, "Nine."
Her voice was extremely soft, audible only to the two of them.
Xiao Youlan looked at her in incomprehension.
Right on cue, a blush crept up the roots of Nan Xueyin's ears. Once the hair crown was secured, she lowered her head and stepped back.
On the way from the Eastern Palace to morning court, it was only halfway there that Xiao Youlan finally collected his thoughts—
Nine.
She was talking about the positions she knew in bed.
Shu Yu said he was asking on the Crown Prince's behalf, so she had quietly answered the Crown Prince.
Xiao Youlan's lip line tightened, his emotions indescribable.
When the Crown Prince finished morning court and returned to the Eastern Palace, Nan Xueyin had already laid out today's breakfast.
Xiao Youlan walked into the room without a word and took his seat at the table.
"This maid does not yet know what Your Highness likes to eat and what you dislike; these were made after asking the kitchen. Would Your Highness care to taste this lotus seed porridge with hibiscus first?"
As she spoke, Nan Xueyin used her delicate hands to ladle porridge for him. Her sleeves slipped down, revealing a stretch of fine, white wrist; though slender, it was not weak, instead revealing bone structure and possessing a strong sense of athletic beauty.
Xiao Youlan's gaze paused slightly, and he took the bowl of porridge.
After all, coming from the imperial family and having received excellent etiquette training from a young age, Xiao Youlan did not speak while eating.
Nan Xueyin watched from the side, seeing that he ate with extreme refinement and order. The collision of bowls, chopsticks, and spoons made almost no loud noise; anything he disliked, he would not touch at all after a single bite; things he liked, he would eat a couple more bites of, but never more than three bites at most.
Nan Xueyin frowned inwardly.
What a rigidly conventional and boring man.
Xiao Youlan had eaten his fill and put down his chopsticks.
"Is Your Highness full?" Nan Xueyin timely handed over a silk handkerchief.
Xiao Youlan took it, wiped the corner of his mouth, and gave a hum of assent.
"Then this maid will withdraw first." Up to this moment, Nan Xueyin hadn't eaten a single bite of anything.
"Hold on," Xiao Youlan called out, stopping her.
"Does Your Highness have any other instructions?"
With a bland tone, Xiao Youlan said, "Gu lacks someone to grind ink."