Murong Shengrui came to pay his respects. Looking at Xiao Man, who was dressed in mourning clothes, a hint of stunning beauty flashed in his eyes. As the saying goes, "To look pretty, a touch of filial piety," Xiao Man, in her mourning attire, shed her fierceness and revealed her gentleness. He was captivated for a moment.
Seeing Murong Shengrui staring at Xiao Man in a daze, Murong Ziheng fiercely pinched Murong Shengrui's waist. Murong Shengrui frowned and looked at Murong Ziheng, who unobtrusively withdrew his hand.
"Wipe your mouth, it's drooling."
Murong Shengrui snorted coldly and stepped forward, offered a stick of incense, and then stopped in front of Xiao Man. "A'man, please accept my condolences."
Xiao Man merely returned the bow mechanically, as if the person before her were a stranger, and she only needed to perform the most basic etiquette. Murong Shengrui's handsome brows furrowed even tighter. He disliked Xiao Man's sorrowful and indifferent demeanor. Even when he had killed members of the Dugu family in front of her, she had never shown such an expression. Murong Shengrui felt both jealous and pained.
"A'man, you are so distant with me."
"Do you want to lie in there too?" Xiao Man raised her eyes and asked faintly, her words full of threat, her gaze full of aggression, as if the moment Murong Shengrui said yes, she would make him accompany Wen Mohan in death.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. His Majesty merely worries that you are overly sad and harming your body. He means no disrespect. We beg for your understanding." Murong Ziheng quickly pulled Murong Shengrui away. "At this time, you should provoke her less."
Murong Shengrui's gaze swept over the mourners, his eyes filled with mockery. How many of these people were genuinely here to pay their respects? Most were here to watch the show, wanting to see the expression of the princess who had won the power struggle, now that she had lost her husband. But they were destined to be disappointed, for the Xiao Man he knew was not someone who could be easily defeated!
"Ziheng, what do you think A'man is thinking?"
Murong Ziheng looked at Xiao Man, feeling a sense of unease. Tian Hao said she had desecrated the Empress Dowager's body, but why would she do that?
"Murong Shengrui, do you know who desecrated the Empress Dowager's body?" Murong Ziheng inquired.
"It was Nangong Yu."
"Nangong Yu?" Murong Ziheng was very surprised. "Why would Nangong Yu desecrate the Empress Dowager's body?"
"To prevent her from falling into my hands," Murong Shengrui said faintly. He knew exactly what Nangong Yu was planning, but he also had to thank him for desecrating the Empress Dowager's body, otherwise, he wouldn't have realized that she was still alive.
"Then why don't you avenge the Empress Dowager?"
"Avenge?" Murong Shengrui nodded slowly. "Revenge will be sought, but not now. He has now become the new emperor of Yusheng. Seeking revenge against him is not an easy task. Do you want to go to war with Yusheng? If you do, I will give you troops, and you can fight however you wish."
Murong Ziheng choked. If he had the ability to contend with Nangong Yu, he would have already seized Murong Shengrui's throne. How could he be here, fawning over him and cleaning up his messes from behind?
"What exactly are you staying in Lanyue for?"
Murong Shengrui gestured towards Xiao Man with his chin. "My ambition has always been only her."
Murong Ziheng suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "She is the Princess of Lanyue, and soon to be the Empress of Lanyue. What do you desire from her? Her throne, or the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry under her command?"
Murong Shengrui glanced coolly at Murong Ziheng. "Can't I just desire her as a person?"
"Your Majesty, stop joking. If you truly desired her, why would you work so hard to stay here? If Xiao Man were just an ordinary village girl, would you treat her like this?"
"If she were just an ordinary village girl, I would have already snatched her back to the palace. How could it be now, and I haven't even touched her hand?"
"Pervert!" Murong Ziheng spat.
Murong Shengrui did not retort. What he desired, he knew clearly, and there was no need to tell others.
Yelü Heng also came with his retinue to pay their respects, but he wore a dissolute smile, as if he were just there to watch the drama. Xiao Man gave him a look, and Yelü Heng's smile grew even more pronounced.
"Princess, please accept my condolences. I never thought you would be a widow so soon after your marriage. There is a saying, isn't there, to describe a woman with a tough fate, who curses her husband? What is it called?"
"It's called 'disaster comes from the mouth'!" Xiao Man curved her fingers and struck Yelü Heng fiercely in the ribs. Tears instantly welled up in Yelü Heng's eyes. Before he could even cry out, Xiao Man punched him in the jaw, silencing his cry, and then grabbed Yelü Heng by the neck, breathing hot air into his ear.
"Not everyone can watch my show. If you want to watch a show, you must have the life for it. Do you believe I can detain you in Lanyue as a male prostitute to serve the female soldiers in the army? Your Beirong wouldn't dare to utter a single fart!"
Yelü Heng's face turned from pale to green, then to purple. He stared fiercely at Xiao Man, his hatred for her intensifying. "I, this prince, came to pay my respects. If the Princess does not welcome me, then this prince will leave."
"Get lost!" Xiao Man threw Yelü Heng to the ground. Yelü Heng, red-faced from the fall, was helped up by his guards, whom he angrily shoved away.
"Let's go."
"Farewell, and don't see me out!" Xiao Man's voice was cold and devoid of emotion. Those who had intended to cause trouble, seeing that the Third Prince of Beirong had suffered a loss at Xiao Man's hands, immediately suppressed their desire to stir up trouble and paid their respects obediently.
At this moment, a figure entered, followed by two women.
"The Second Princess has arrived."
Xiao Man raised her eyes. Of the five princesses, she had not yet met this Second Princess. She immediately looked over. The newcomer was dressed in plain clothes, her hair tied up neatly and elegantly, exuding a heroic spirit. The two guards behind her were dressed identically.
The Eldest Princess's eyes lit up when she saw the Second Princess return. "Second Sister, you're back."
"Eldest Sister, Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister, allow me to offer an incense stick to Lord Wen first, and then I will catch up with my sisters." The Second Princess said gently, then stepped forward, took an incense stick, offered it, and stood before Xiao Man. Her expression was calm, and her gaze was firm. "Princess, please accept my condolences."
"Thank you, Second Princess."
The Second Princess turned and walked towards the other princesses. The Eldest Princess, as if she had found her anchor, stepped forward and linked her arm with the Second Princess, pulling her outwards. "Why did you come back now?"
"If I hadn't come back now, I might not have been able to return," the Second Princess said meaningfully. "Why don't I see Third Sister?"
"Third Sister is out leading the army, filling in for Fifth Sister's absence."
The Second Princess nodded and looked at the Fifth Princess. "Fifth Sister, I heard you were injured. Is it serious? How is your recovery?"
"Thank you for your concern, Second Sister. My injuries are no longer serious."
"Fourth Sister, you used to be the most cheerful. Why the glum face now? Is something on your mind?" the Second Princess inquired.
The Fourth Princess forced a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Second Sister. I am fine. It's just that too many things have happened recently, and I'm feeling a bit down."