Linglang froze, failing to understand why the Crown Prince would question her at such a moment. She instinctively replied, "This servant is Linglang..."
"I do not recall summoning you to attend to me," Xiao Youlan’s voice dropped, turning cold.
Linglang was thrown into a panic; she spilled her wine, set down the cup, and scrambled to kneel on the floor. "Your Highness... Your Highness..."
She shook violently, stuttering in her fear, unable to form a coherent sentence.
Xiao Youlan had no patience for her. He raised his voice and called out, "Mother Cui!"
Mother Cui, who had been waiting outside the door, entered immediately. Upon seeing the scene in the room, she guessed what had happened, yet she still asked, "Your Highness, what transgression has this girl Linglang committed?"
"Last time it was Hantao; this time it is Linglang. Mother Cui, whom do you intend to bring next time?" Xiao Youlan pressed his brow, his expression icy.
"Your Highness, those words are truly a heavy accusation against me!" Mother Cui knelt. "I merely thought that Linglang was also one of those you selected to stay that day!"
"I said that day that she was to attend to Doukou. Do you not understand plain speech, or do you believe that you should be the one in charge of the East Palace?"
The Crown Prince was usually composed, his emotions rarely showing on his face, but tonight his tone was heavy and stifling—he was truly angry.
Mother Cui hurriedly lowered her body until she was almost prostrate on the floor.
This was the Emperor’s most favored son! To provoke him was to risk losing one's head ten times over.
"Send Doukou in," Xiao Youlan said, enunciating every word.
Mother Cui dared not delay, answering at once.
Linglang was still kneeling on the floor, trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"Useless thing!" Mother Cui cursed under her breath, grabbing her without ceremony and dragging her out.
***
When Nan Xueyin arrived, Xiao Youlan was at his meal, though his expression was cold and he lacked any appetite.
Nan Xueyin approached and immediately noticed the flagon of wine.
"Serve the dishes," Xiao Youlan set down his chopsticks, his tone chilly.
He clearly seemed to be in a foul mood.
Nan Xueyin picked up her chopsticks and scanned the offerings on the table. "There are very few dishes here today that please Your Highness."
Xiao Youlan let out a cold laugh, as if to say: *So, you know that?*
Nan Xueyin found it amusing. Why was he so annoyed?
"This furnace-roasted chicken is not something Your Highness dislikes," Nan Xueyin said, placing a morsel into his bowl. "It is also an excellent accompaniment to wine, and as it happens, there is a fine flagon of wine right here."
"Fine wine?"
Xiao Youlan fixed a deep, scrutinizing gaze upon her. "You know wine?"
Nan Xueyin shook her head. "Not really, but the flagon is quite beautiful; I imagine the wine inside is excellent."
Xiao Youlan stared at her for a moment, then looked away.
His fingers rested on the rim of the wine cup, rubbing it back and forth.
This wine had been sent by his grandmother, the Empress Dowager. He knew this gesture carried the same intent as the Emperor sending palace maids: they were worried he was impotent or possessed a proclivity for men.
In truth, whether he drank this wine or not made no difference, but...
After a long moment, Xiao Youlan narrowed his eyes, as if he had made a decision. He picked up the cup and drained it in one gulp.
Nan Xueyin said softly, "Your Highness, eat the chicken first. This servant will go and have them prepare more of what you like."
"Mm," Xiao Youlan set down the cup.
When Nan Xueyin returned, the candlelight had dimmed and the door was tightly shut.
The attendant outside smiled teasingly. "His Highness said that as soon as you returned, you were to go straight in."
Nan Xueyin nodded and pushed open the door. To her surprise, no sooner had she stepped inside than her wrist was firmly seized, and she was pulled in and pressed against the cold, hard wall.
Nan Xueyin caught a familiar scent. "Your Highness?"
Xiao Youlan leaned against her, his tall, sturdy frame radiating heat. His voice came from above, noticeably raspy: "You said you knew nine types, hmm?"
"Yes..."
Nan Xueyin’s voice was low and trembling.
Her current nervousness was not entirely feigned.
After entering the palace, Nan Xueyin had studied daily on how to please a man. Because she possessed great physical flexibility, she could easily master even the most difficult positions, and thus she had learned nine in total.
But she had never performed those acts with a man.
The intimacies between men and women had once been far removed from her life. The only exception was that day she escorted Xiao Mingyu to a banquet; after several rounds of drinks, Xiao Mingyu, in high spirits, grabbed a woman and began frantically undressing her behind a rockery.
The woman’s expression had seemed one of pain; she had craned her neck and let out a scream, as if she were about to die.
Thus, Nan Xueyin had always felt that a woman’s passive endurance during such acts might be a thousand times worse than her own training or killing.
But for the sake of her mission, she had no choice.
She did not look at Xiao Youlan, her fingers unconsciously clutching his sleeve.
Xiao Youlan felt her movement and lowered his gaze, as if studying her face.
After a long time, he said hoarsely, "Go to the bed."
Having said that, he released her.
Nan Xueyin took a deep breath and answered that she would.
She stepped into the inner chamber, but Xiao Youlan did not follow.
Perhaps he was waiting for her to prepare?
Nan Xueyin lowered the bamboo-green curtains on both sides and sat on the edge of the bed to wait. When the Crown Prince was slow to appear, she pondered for a moment, then stood up to untie her sash.
Behind her came steady footsteps. Xiao Youlan’s voice had returned to its usual coldness. "...What are you doing?"
Nan Xueyin answered honestly, "Preparing to serve you."
As she spoke, she turned to face the Crown Prince.
She had shed her outer robe, leaving only a dark blue bodice that bared her fragrant shoulders; her breasts rose in a beautiful arc, and her waist was slender and delicate. Under the dim candlelight, her skin was as fine and flawless as jade.
Xiao Youlan’s eyes darkened. He stared at her for a moment, then looked away. "...Put your clothes back on."
Nan Xueyin: ?
Though she did not understand, she was tactful. She threw on a robe and stepped forward to help the Crown Prince undress.
As she drew near, she felt the cool dampness on his body, and as she looked up, she saw beads of water lingering on his temples.
Only then did Nan Xueyin understand: he had not entered the room earlier because he had gone to splash his face with cold water, hoping to suppress the aphrodisiac effects of the wine.
Nan Xueyin took off the Crown Prince's outer robe and hung it on the sandalwood rack.
Xiao Youlan climbed into bed and signaled, "You will sleep in this room tonight as well."
Nan Xueyin took a step forward, intending to remove her outer garment.
"Keep it on."
Xiao Youlan practically ordered her, as if he had no desire to see her scantily clad.
Nan Xueyin was puzzled. "Does Your Highness not require this servant’s services?"
Xiao Youlan paused and said as calmly as he could, "There is no need. You are simply to sleep here."
"...Very well."
Xiao Youlan slept near the inside, leaving her plenty of space.
After Nan Xueyin lay down, she could barely feel his presence, save for his slow, steady breathing.
Nan Xueyin found it strange.
The Crown Prince had drunk the wine and brought her into the room; he could have easily taken her. Had it been Xiao Mingyu, he certainly would have done so.
Yet Xiao Youlan did not.
Was he too restrained, or did he still harbor suspicions toward her?
After a long silence, Nan Xueyin said softly, "Your Highness, it is cold."
"..."
Xiao Youlan did not speak, but he shared half of the quilt with her.
After another long, silent stretch, Xiao Youlan said, "Sleep."
That was his way of saying she should speak no more.