Entering the sleeping quarters, Nangong Yu paused, then raised his hand.
"I am tired and wish to rest for a moment. You shall wait outside."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Si Chen closed the door and stood guard outside. Nangong Yu walked to the center of the room, his expression cold. "What? Still not coming out?"
A person emerged from behind the curtains. Tall and slender, they were backlit, making their face indistinguishable, but Nangong Yu recognized them nonetheless. "She sent you?"
"Not at all." The newcomer was Dugu Mingyu, his face still refined, but with a growing sense of composure. "I came myself. She doesn't know, and besides, she's not one to cause trouble for others, especially those she's decided to distance herself from."
"What brings you here?"
"Why do you ask when you already know? I am here for her." Dugu Mingyu stepped forward and said softly, "She needs help."
"If she needs help, she should be the one to ask me." Nangong Yu sat by the table, reaching for a tea cup. However, the tea in the pot had long since gone cold, and he had no desire to drink it, so he put it down.
"Do you not know what kind of person she is?" Dugu Mingyu's voice was steady and strong. "She wants nothing more than to stay away from you, to not disturb your life, hoping for a separation from now on. No matter how difficult, she will never ask you for help."
Nangong Yu fell silent. How could he not understand Xiao Man? But it was precisely because he understood Xiao Man that he felt a lingering regret. She was always so cold, so cruel, parting ways without a word, not even offering an excuse.
"Dugu Mingyu, your sister is truly a heartless person."
Dugu Mingyu's eyes flickered, about to retort, when Nangong Yu continued, "Years ago, she pulled me from a pile of dead bodies, took me in, and taught me military strategy and martial arts by hand. For a time, I thought I was special to her. But after a brief period together, she vanished without a trace, no farewell, not a single word left behind."
Dugu Mingyu lowered his gaze. This was his sister's nature.
"The next time we met, she was even worse. She climbed into my bed and then acted as if nothing had happened. When I caught her, she still innocently denied it. Is that not heartless?"
Dugu Mingyu wanted to nod, but thinking of the woman he respected most, he could only stare at Nangong Yu like a wooden statue, saying nothing.
"Later, she chose Wen Mohan without hesitation, abandoning me completely. Now, she wants to sever all ties and never see me again. I truly wish to see what her heart is made of, to be so hard as iron, or perhaps I am not good enough, not worthy of her true feelings?"
Dugu Mingyu frowned, feeling that if Nangong Yu continued, it would seem like everything was his sister's fault!
"If it weren't for you, my sister would never have had a rift with Murong Sheng Rui!" Dugu Mingyu retorted. "If it weren't for you, my sister wouldn't have considered retreating from public life, thus falling into Murong Sheng Rui's trap and leading to the extermination of her entire clan!"
"Because of me?" Nangong Yu faintly sensed some secrets he was unaware of. Perhaps he had never been abandoned, only that fate had intervened!
Dugu Mingyu immediately realized he had said too much. But if Nangong Yu didn't know these things, he would resent his sister forever.
"After that battle, my sister never left Shengjing again. Do you know why?"
Nangong Yu didn't know. He had sent people to inquire about Dugu Man countless times, but all he heard was that Dugu Man was doing well, helping Murong Sheng Rui consolidate imperial power. She was like a model mother, wielding her sword, doing her utmost to help her child seize power.
"To protect your life!"
Nangong Yu's eyes were filled with shock, seemingly disbelieving. "From that time on, my sister began to disperse all her power. She had long foreseen that one day, she and Murong Sheng Rui would inevitably fall out. But he was, after all, the child she had raised with her own hands. She hoped they wouldn't reach the most tragic point, so she planned to step back and give him the imperial power, only wanting her freedom. She never imagined this retreat would be so devastating."
Disbelief filled Nangong Yu's eyes. Dugu Man had never abandoned him. Even though she left without a word, she hadn't abandoned him; she had merely protected him in a different way.
"Why me?"
"Are you getting a benefit and then complaining?" Dugu Mingyu said displeased.
Nangong Yu immediately smiled. "Yes, I'm getting a benefit and then complaining. So, none of this was an accident; it was all inevitable."
"Let's get to the point. She truly needs your help."
"Because of the person behind Feng Moran," Nangong Yu said indifferently. "This person who has never shown themselves has made you fearful."
Dugu Mingyu was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "One Feng Moran almost led to our complete annihilation. I truly cannot imagine how terrifying the mastermind hidden behind Feng Moran is. And my sister is currently pregnant and cannot afford any mistakes. Yet she is always fearless and exceedingly concerned about Feng Moran's affairs. I worry she will be harmed."
"I worry just as much as you do, but worry is useless. You know her temperament better than I do. She's headstrong and always puts herself in danger." Nangong Yu rubbed his temples. "If Feng Moran is killed, will she be able to focus on her pregnancy?"
Dugu Mingyu nodded in agreement. Regardless of who was behind Feng Moran, as long as Feng Moran was dead, Xiao Man would have no choice but to calm down and focus on her health.
"So, you wish to join forces with me to kill Feng Moran first."
Dugu Mingyu echoed his agreement. "Yes. As long as Feng Moran is killed, the person behind him will lose their eyes and ears and will surely reveal themselves."
Nangong Yu pondered. "The person behind the scenes likely wants to obtain something from your sister. But what could it be, worth such great effort to obtain?"
"On my sister's person... money?"
"What else does she have besides money?"
"People." Dugu Mingyu replied. "And many people, capable individuals of all sorts."
"Anything else?"
"The throne?"
Nangong Yu felt a headache coming on. "If one desires the throne, why would they go to such great lengths?"
"That's true. Then for what? It couldn't be for my sister herself. But if it's for her, then this person is too twisted, taking pleasure in tormenting others?"
"Perhaps he wants something from the former Qin treasury," Nangong Yu said slowly. "And she is the only one who can open the former Qin treasury."
"The former Qin treasury? Isn't that a legend? Does it really exist?"
Nangong Yu looked at Dugu Mingyu's bewildered expression and immediately understood that Xiao Man had not told Dugu Mingyu about this. Indeed, the fewer people who knew, the safer it was. Not telling Dugu Mingyu was also a form of protection.