"This king has tasted it, it's very sweet," Nangong Yu said slowly. "To say that a forcibly twisted melon isn't sweet is just an excuse for the incapable. If you can't eat the grapes, you say they're sour."
Ye Yichen's face turned dark, but he dared not retort to Nangong Yu. It was still sweet. Xiao Man had almost taken his life. He truly forgot his pain once his wounds healed!
"You stay here and look after Ye Qing..." Nangong Yu paused, "Forget it, let Si Chen stay here instead."
"Your Highness, Si Chen has always been by your side. This return to Shengjing is fraught with peril. It's best to keep Si Chen with you."
"Xiao Man is more dangerous than me," Nangong Yu shook his head. "Ye Qing is a trap, and both Xiao Man and I know it's a trap but must jump in. I can just leave, but Xiao Man cannot. With Si Chen by her side, I will at least be more at ease."
Xiao Man looked at the Silver Frost Flower on the windowsill, her expression complicated, her thoughts wandering elsewhere.
She liked the Silver Frost Flower. Its leaves bore ice, and its flowers were frosted. It was an extremely cold plant with potent poison. She had stumbled upon the Silver Frost Flower by chance and spent considerable effort cultivating it. Even as a young maiden, she had thoroughly understood its toxicity, blending its poison into various concoctions to create unique poisons that no one could replicate, nor could anyone devise an antidote.
"I never thought that one day, I would expose myself because of you." Xiao Man reached out and stroked the leaves of the Silver Frost Flower. The ice thorns around the leaves pricked her fingers, and her blood dripped onto the leaves, instantly absorbed. The leaves and flowers of the Silver Frost Flower immediately appeared remarkably vibrant.
Xiao Man was puzzled. When did the Silver Frost Flower start absorbing blood?
After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Man dripped blood from her fingertip onto the leaves. Indeed, the Silver Frost Flower seemed exceptionally excited, as if Xiao Man's blood were a delicacy.
A thought flashed through Xiao Man's mind. Just as she was about to test it, Wen Mohan walked in. "You've been looking at flowers all day. Even though this one is special, you don't need to stare at it for an entire day."
Wen Mohan reached out towards the Silver Frost Flower, but Xiao Man intercepted him. "Don't touch it. This flower is poisonous."
Wen Mohan quickly retracted his hand. "Since it's poisonous, why do you keep it in the room?"
"Although it's poisonous, it's my favorite flower," Xiao Man said slowly. "This flower is called the Silver Frost Flower. Its flowers are poisonous, its leaves are poisonous, and its roots are also poisonous. The most potent poison is in its roots, followed by its flowers and leaves. The flowers are the least toxic but the most useful."
Wen Mohan pulled a nearby chair and sat down beside Xiao Man, looking at the potted flower. "So, you like this kind of flower."
"Yes, I like this kind of flower." Xiao Man reached out, and the flower bud of the Silver Frost Flower seemed to have sentience, gently brushing against Xiao Man's fingertips.
"When will this flower bloom?"
"At the third quarter of the hour of the rat," Xiao Man said softly. "The Silver Frost Flower blooms at the third quarter of the hour of the rat and only lasts for a quarter of an hour. The entire Silver Frost Flower is poisonous, yet few know that its stamen is the key to its antidote."
"It seems the saying that extremely poisonous things are always accompanied by their antidotes holds true."
"Yes, it certainly does."
"Feng Moruan giving you the Silver Frost Flower probably wasn't just a simple gift, was it?" Wen Mohan asked with concern. "I always feel he has other intentions."
"He does have other intentions." Xiao Man hesitated, unsure whether to tell Feng Moruan the truth.
"Is it related to the people in Liuguang Pavilion?" Feng Moruan has a perceptive heart and his own understanding and insights into matters. Although Xiao Man didn't reveal who was living in Liuguang Pavilion, judging by the guards, the person residing there must be of no small importance. Furthermore, He Qingyi's daily appearances suggest it's someone who is injured."
"Ye Qing is living in Liuguang Pavilion."
"Divine Physician Ye Qing, who used to be the resident physician at the General's mansion."
"You know?"
"When I saw him as the resident physician at the General's mansion, I suspected his intentions were impure and might be detrimental to you. I investigated him secretly and later discovered his close association with Prince Qin. I immediately understood that he was Prince Qin's spy planted in the General's mansion, and as long as he wouldn't harm you, I paid no further attention."
Xiao Man looked at Feng Moruan with some surprise. "How many things are there that I don't know about you?"
Feng Moruan smiled. "Whatever you wish to know, I will tell you without reservation."
"I don't want to know about the past. In the future, I will be involved in everything." Xiao Man said gently. "However, if Mohan is willing to tell me, I'd be very happy to be a listener."
"There's nothing much to tell about the past. In the future, we will all be involved." Wen Mohan's smile was gentle. "Divine Physician Ye residing in Liuguang Pavilion must be seriously injured. Is there any difficulty in saving him?"
Xiao Man looked at the Silver Frost Flower on the windowsill. "Because of this flower."
"Can this flower save him?"
Xiao Man nodded. "But this flower was given to me by Feng Moruan when I left Tantai Palace. And my purpose in going to Tantai Palace was to stall him, to facilitate Nangong Yu's rescue."
"He knew you were going to rescue someone, so he gave you the flower?" Wen Mohan frowned. "Is he that kind?"
"This is a test." Xiao Man took a deep breath. "Only one person can cure the Mirror Flower Water Moon poison, and only one person is most familiar with the toxicity of the Silver Frost Flower."
"Only you." Wen Mohan suddenly understood. Feng Moruan wanted to use this to test if Xiao Man had truly become estranged from him. Once he obtained evidence of their estrangement, he would do his utmost to deal with Xiao Man. "Whatever decision you make, I will support you."
Xiao Man sighed. "If it were just me, I wouldn't worry. But the one who can truly cure Mirror Flower Water Moon is not Xiao Man, but Dugu Man."
Wen Mohan gasped. This situation was far more dangerous than he had imagined. He vaguely knew how wary Feng Moruan was of Dugu Man. If this matter were not handled properly, Xiao Man's identity would eventually be exposed, and then Feng Moruan would not be the only one wanting to kill Xiao Man!
"Man'er, personally, I would prefer you not to risk exposing yourself to save someone. However, I respect your choice," Feng Moruan said with some difficulty. "But, I still want to ask, can you not save him?"
Xiao Man slowly shook her head. No, she couldn't. If Ye Qing were a stranger with no connection to her, she could naturally refuse. But Ye Qing was her sworn elder brother, who had helped her greatly. She couldn't just stand by and watch him die.
"What is the worst-case scenario?"
"I would fall out completely with Feng Moruan, becoming sworn enemies. The Empress would resolutely stand by Feng Moruan's side, Murong Sheng Rui might stab me in the back at any moment, and as for Yusheng, I can never go back," Xiao Man said wistfully. "I myself don't care. After all, it's easy for me to run away alone, and with my special constitution, I'm immune to all poisons and fear nothing. But I worry about you."