Nan Xueyin had always been a light sleeper, especially with the current Crown Prince lying right beside her. Throughout the entire night, she had not truly slept, merely closing her eyes to rest.
Xiao Youlan's sleeping posture was surprisingly good. He had turned over just once and remained completely still thereafter.
Although the two of them shared the same quilt, a distinct distance separated them, and not the slightest touch occurred.
Daylight leaked into the room, and Xiao Youlan, sensing something, stirred slightly.
Nan Xueyin woke instantly, climbing out of bed on tiptoe to dress and groom herself neatly.
She had not had time to remove her hair ornaments yesterday, but because of her quiet sleeping posture, her hair was not ruffled at all. Only the white jade pearl hairpin at her temple was slightly crooked; she bent down and carefully straightened it in the mirror.
A rustling sound came from the bed.
Nan Xueyin turned around and saw Xiao Youlan sitting up, so she walked over. "Your Highness is awake. How did you sleep last night?"
Xiao Youlan was actually somewhat unaccustomed to it. For years, he had been used to being alone—sleeping alone, waking up alone. Last night was the first time he had shared a bed with a woman he had known for only a few days, and today, upon opening his eyes, he was met with her face again.
What surprised him somewhat was that he did not feel any aversion toward her.
Xiao Youlan paused for a moment and said, "...Today the Empress Dowager will likely summon you for questioning."
Nan Xueyin knelt half on the floor to put his shoes on. "Then this servant will make sure to wash and dress properly so as not to cause Your Highness to lose face."
Xiao Youlan: ......
Xiao Youlan: "That is not what Gu meant."
Nan Xueyin chuckled softly. "This servant knows. Your Highness, rest assured; this servant knows her limits and knows how to answer."
"Hmm?"
With his shoes now on, she lifted her face and smiled at Xiao Youlan. "Your Highness certainly doesn't want Empress Dowager to worry, right? Therefore, this servant will tell Her Ladyship that last night she received Your Highness's favor, so Her Ladyship can set her mind completely at ease."
Xiao Youlan gazed at her for a moment and gave a soft "hmm."
Dressed and groomed, Nan Xueyin walked out of the room alongside Xiao Youlan.
Just as expected, Mother Cui, accompanied by Linglang and Hantao, had been waiting outside the door for a long time.
Upon seeing Xiao Youlan, the three of them bowed and paid their respects.
With an indifferent expression, Xiao Youlan glanced at them and headed toward the inner palace.
The moment he left, Mother Cui couldn't wait to question Nan Xueyin: "Were you to the Crown Prince's satisfaction last night?"
At that moment, Nan Xueyin realized that in the eyes of outsiders, she was now considered the current Crown Prince's first woman.
She smiled slightly, though the smile carried a hint of coldness. "Mother Cui, if His Highness were dissatisfied with me, wouldn't he have driven me away just like he chased away Lady Linglang?"
Mother Cui's expression stiffened.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Hantao at the back rolled her eyes. "What is there to be so pleased about? Even if you received his favor, don't you still lack any proper rank today? His Highness simply regards you as a plaything to warm the bed..."
Nan Xueyin raised an eyebrow. "And what do you regard me as? Yesterday you dragged me aside to tell me Linglang is Mother Cui's niece and that the two of them are cut from the same cloth, and today you're back to speaking ill of me."
Mother Cui's expression turned ugly as she shot Hantao a sideways glance.
Taken aback, Hantao stamped her foot. "Who said we were cut from the same cloth!"
She hurriedly stepped forward to explain, "Mother, I really didn't say that..."
At that moment, an elderly yet dignified matron approached from a distance.
Without the slightest hesitation, Mother Cui brushed Hantao aside and broke into a smiling welcome. "Oh my, what brings Elder Sister Qiutong all the way here?"
Qiutong smiled. "Her Ladyship the Empress Dowager heard that the Emperor sent several serving palace maids to the Crown Prince, and she wished to see how well they are being tended to."
With that, she asked the others, "Which one of you is Miss Doukou?"
Nan Xueyin stepped half a step forward and curtsied. "Greetings, Mother. This servant is Doukou."
Qiutong looked her up and down, her smile lingering. "Come with me to Baoci Palace."
Nan Xueyin acknowledged the order.
The reigning Empress Dowager bore the surname Zong. As the Emperor's birth mother, she was very advanced in age, her hair completely frosted with white. She sat upright in Baoci Palace, her demeanor refined, and amidst the wrinkles of old age, the extraordinary beauty of her youth was still faintly discernible.
Seated beside Empress Dowager Zong was a young woman of about sixteen or seventeen, with fair skin and thick hair. She wore a lotus-purple gauze tunic over a light-green pleated skirt, and held a freshly snapped peach blossom in her hand, contemplating how to place it into a vase.
Before coming to Fengdu, Nan Xueyin had familiarized herself with the basic situation in the palace, and she knew that the Empress Dowager was raising a young girl named Dou Fangchun by her side.
Her father, Imperial Uncle Dou, was Empress Rouyi's biological younger brother, meaning Dou Fangchun was Xiao Youlan's proper maternal cousin.
Back when Empress Rouyi was still alive, Dou Fangchun frequently came into the palace to play, staying for a period of time in her aunt's palace. Later, after Empress Rouyi passed away and the Emperor saw that all the princesses were already married off and the inner palace was truly desolate, he had Dou Fangchun brought over to be raised by the Empress Dowager's side, serving merely to alleviate the old woman's boredom.
"This servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager and Miss Dou." Nan Xueyin bowed respectfully, kneeling on the ground to salute.
Just as Empress Dowager Zong was about to speak, Dou Fangchun approached with the peach branch in hand. "Your Ladyship, look at this flower. Should I trim it here, or here?"
Empress Dowager Zong followed her gaze.
Consequently, Nan Xueyin was temporarily ignored.
Dou Fangchun swept a glance at her, her eyes far from friendly and carrying a distinct air of provocation.
Among all the young ladies of the noble families and elites in Fengdu, Dou Fangchun was one of the most promising candidates to become the Crown Princess.
Right now, she was doing it on purpose.
Nan Xueyin maintained her kneeling posture without moving, her face showing not the slightest trace of embarrassment or annoyance.
After quite a while, Empress Dowager Zong finished trimming the peach branch and handed it back to Dou Fangchun. "This way it can be kept in the vase for several days. Go arrange it."
Dou Fangchun's smile was radiant. "Her Ladyship always has the best eye!"
Qiutong picked up a handkerchief to wipe Empress Dowager Zong's hands, her eyes gesturing toward the little palace maid still kneeling on the floor.
Empress Dowager Zong was in no hurry. As she wiped her hands, she asked, "I hear it has been you attending to the Crown Prince these past few days?"
Lowering her head respectfully, Nan Xueyin replied in a gentle and unhurried tone, "Replying to Her Ladyship the Empress Dowager, ever since this servant entered the East Palace, she has been attending to His Highness's daily life and meals."
Saying this, she paused.
Empress Dowager Zong let out a slow "hmm" and put down the handkerchief.
Only then did Nan Xueyin continue: "This servant discovered that every day during meals, regardless of whether His Highness likes the dishes or not, he will always take a couple of bites, leading those beneath him to assume he enjoys them all. After this servant arrived, I tried probing His Highness's preferences and instructed the kitchen ahead of time every day on what dishes to prepare. Now, His Highness is able to eat a little less than half a bowl more rice at every meal."
"Oh?"
Empress Dowager Zong's interest was piqued. "How did you figure it out?"
Nan Xueyin said, "His Highness has an upright and self-restrained temperament; regardless of whether he likes something or not, once it is placed on the table, he will definitely eat a bite or two of it. However, if he encounters something he truly likes, His Highness will also take a few extra bites. Every day, this servant simply counts from the side, observing which dishes His Highness eats more of and which ones he eats less of, and records them one by one."
Dou Fangchun curled her lips in disdain. These were all things done by servants; she wouldn't even deign to find them tiresome.
Yet Empress Dowager Zong showed a rare expression of gratification. "The Crown Prince is forbearing and reserved, and few people are ever able to figure out his preferences. You have truly put a great deal of thought into this. The Emperor did not choose the wrong person."
Her tone also grew much gentler as a result. "Get up."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager."
Nan Xueyin stood up, and Empress Dowager Zong asked about the matter she cared about most: "I heard that it was you who was kept in the Prince's chambers last night?"
Nan Xueyin nodded lightly. "Yes, last night this servant attended to His Highness in bed."
Dou Fangchun was in the midst of arranging the flower vase when her palm suddenly slipped, the bottom of the vase striking the table with a dull "thud."
The sound seemed overly abrupt inside the hall.
Dou Fangchun forced an explanation. "I—I lost my grip for a moment..."
Empress Dowager Zong did not fault her, but instead asked Nan Xueyin, "Tell me, what was it like last night?"
Nan Xueyin was puzzled. What was it like?
Empress Dowager Zong: "When you served the Crown Prince last night, how long did it take? How many times did the Prince take you?"