Du Yulan hid one hand behind her back, gripping the medicine bottle concealed at her waist, her eyes fixed on Xiao Man. If Xiao Man made a move, she would use poison to subdue her.
"I stabbed your father three times, but I've paid a heavy price. Xiao Man, we're even!" Du Yulan said nervously. "Furthermore, I was forced. The true killer of your father is someone else!"
Du Yulan knew Xiao Man was cunning, but she hadn't expected her to be this cunning. Even when she dangled the bait of the killer who murdered Xiao Zhen, Xiao Man remained unfazed.
Du Yulan removed the hand from her waist, her palm stained with blood. She had been wounded by Xiao Man's sword while escaping, a serious but not fatal injury.
Du Yulan fled desperately, needing to return to the Fifth Princess's mansion quickly. Otherwise, Xiao Man would surely take her life today.
Xiao Man followed at a distance, like a cat toying with a mouse, forcing Du Yulan to flee in circles. She wanted to know who was behind Du Yulan. Initially, she thought Du Yulan was working for Feng Mo Ran, but the current situation suggested otherwise. As for the Fifth Princess, based on their two encounters, the princess lacked the intelligence. It was likely Du Yulan was manipulating her.
Du Yulan headed straight for the Fifth Princess's mansion, but Xiao Man wouldn't let her get close. She forced Du Yulan to escape in another direction, further and further away from the Fifth Princess's residence.
Blood dripped along the path, creating small blood flowers on the ground. Xiao Man followed the trail, but the bloodstains vanished by the stone bridge, and Du Yulan was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Man looked at the calm lake surface and then at her surroundings. This river connected to the moat. Du Yulan, a poor swimmer and already injured, would have met her death if she jumped in. Given her nature, she wouldn't have done so.
However, the area was a crossroads, and there were no clues. Finding Du Yulan's whereabouts would not be easy.
Xiao Man casually chose a direction and began searching. Du Yulan, hiding in a secluded corner, was pulled back by a masked figure beside her. Just as she wondered why, Xiao Man returned. If she had stepped out, she would have been caught red-handed.
Du Yulan was so terrified she dared not breathe. In the past, she always thought Xiao Man was overbearing and brainless, daring to offend anyone. But no matter how overbearing or arrogant Xiao Man was, and no matter how many people she offended, she remained alive and turned those she beat into her subordinates. On this point, Du Yulan was both perplexed and impressed.
"Can we go out now?"
"No," the masked figure said slowly. "We can't go out for a while. Xiao Man will surely set up a blockade around here, waiting to catch you. If we go out, we'll be caught in one fell swoop."
Du Yulan's face was as pale as paper. She was injured and bleeding continuously. If this continued, she would bleed to death before Xiao Man could kill her.
"I need treatment," Du Yulan gritted out. "I'm not lightly wounded."
The masked figure glanced at Du Yulan and led her into a civilian house. Inside, two people were tied up, their mouths gagged. Seeing them enter, they trembled in fear.
The masked figure motioned for Du Yulan to sit down and placed a bottle of hemostatic powder on the table. Du Yulan reached for it, tore her clothes in front of the masked figure, poured the powder onto her wound, pressed a handkerchief to it, and then found a piece of cloth to bandage it.
"How long do we have to stay here?" Du Yulan said weakly, feeling dizzy from blood loss.
"Until Xiao Man's people leave," the masked figure said nonchalantly. "When I saved you, you said you could help me kill Xiao Man. Yet now, you were nearly killed by her at the first encounter. Do you truly have the ability to kill her?"
Du Yulan sneered, "I can't kill her, but someone can. If this person develops a killing intent towards Xiao Man, she won't escape death."
"Are you talking about Feng Mo Ran?"
"Yes." Du Yulan picked up the teapot from the table and poured herself a cup of water. The water was cold, but the weather was hot, so she drank it down in one gulp. "These two already have a rift. With a little more instigation, we can make this master and disciple completely drift apart."
The masked man thought for a moment. "Over the years, people have tried to sow discord, but none have succeeded."
"It's different now," Du Yulan's lips curved into a seductive arc. "Xiao Man has grown up."
The masked man frowned. "What does Xiao Man growing up have to do with it?"
"How do you think Feng Mo Ran treats Xiao Man?"
"Almost to the point of granting her every wish. He dotes on her."
"More than that." Du Yulan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Feng Mo Ran has feelings for Xiao Man that are… different."
"Different feelings?" The masked man seemed puzzled. A moment later, he realized. "Feng Mo Ran has fallen in love with his disciple."
Du Yulan nodded slowly. "Jealousy is the best poison. Before, Xiao Man didn't understand romantic love. Men were all the same to her. But now, she has many men around her, and Wen Mo Han has become her fiancé. They are inseparable. What do you think the State Preceptor is thinking?"
"To snatch her back."
"You understand Feng Mo Ran too little." Du Yulan shifted slightly and winced in pain. "Feng Mo Ran loves his disciple, but he is also quite proud. He won't openly compete for affection, but he is skilled in underhanded tactics."
"Are his tactics as dark as yours?"
Du Yulan's expression turned cold. "If you're here to pick a fight, there's no need. Don't forget, our target is Xiao Man!"
The masked man chuckled. "I wouldn't dare trouble a beauty like Miss Du. I just don't know what Miss Du plans to do next."
"I heard that Yun Qi's young emperor is still infatuated with Xiao Man. Are you aware of this matter?" Du Yulan asked coyly, her eyes full of charm.
However, the masked man opposite her remained still, his gaze unwavering. "I know some things. What, you plan to use Yun Qi's young emperor?"
"Don't put it so crudely. I just mean that if Yun Qi's young emperor is used well, he can be an unstoppable sword." Du Yulan's face contorted into a cruel expression. "After all, Yun Qi's young emperor is known for his ruthlessness. If Xiao Man offends both Feng Mo Ran and Yun Qi's young emperor, caught between these two, do you think Xiao Man will survive?"
The masked man remained silent. "What if Yun Qi's young emperor is unwilling to act against Xiao Man? What will you do then?"
"Then we'll force him to act," Du Yulan said cruelly. "After all, Xiao Man controls the Crimson Feather Army under Empress Dowager Dugu, and even General Zhan Tian Que serves her. If Xiao Man successfully ascends the throne and becomes the Empress of Blue Moon, do you think she won't mobilize the entire nation to help the master of Zhan Tian Que seek revenge? Eunuch Wei!"