In the Tantai Palace, Feng Moran fell to the ground in disarray. His blood pact had not yet been broken, and each time it flared, it felt as if ten thousand poisons were attacking his heart, making him wish for death.
The Empress stood not far away, watching Feng Moran curl into a ball, and sighed silently, "A Ran, why must you?”
Feng Moran gritted his teeth. The pain of the poison’s onset left him with no extra strength to retort to the Empress’s words. In his mind, Xiao Man’s disappointed expression constantly replayed.
After all, he had grown up, and his wings had hardened!
The Empress stepped forward and helped Feng Moran up. "If you want her to obey obediently, you must first break your blood pact. Otherwise, you will be controlled by her for your entire life."
Feng Moran pushed the Empress away. "Don't touch me with your dirty hands!"
The Empress's expression turned cold, and she released her hand that was supporting Feng Moran. Feng Moran once again fell back to the ground, sweat soaking his temples and clothes. His fingers, from exerting too much force, had rubbed bloody on the ground, yet he did not utter a plea for mercy.
The Empress stood aside and watched with cold eyes, as if greatly appreciating Feng Moran's dishevelled state.
By the time the poison attack subsided, it was already late at night. The Empress picked up the teapot and poured a cup of cold tea. "Do you want some water?"
Feng Moran got up from the ground and walked directly to the bedside. He pressed the mechanism by the bed, and the door to the adjacent hot spring pool opened. The Empress sat outside, watching Feng Moran enter the hot spring pool to bathe, a smile curling at the corner of her lips. The blood pact's attacks were becoming more painful each time. He could still endure it now, but after some more time, with Feng Moran's temperament, he would soon surrender.
After Feng Moran finished bathing, he changed into clean clothes and emerged, regaining his aloof, unsullied, celestial appearance.
"It's so late, where are you going?" the Empress asked softly, drinking the cold tea.
"It's none of your business." Feng Moran's figure disappeared into the dark night.
The Empress put down her teacup, took off her outer robe, and lay down on the bed. "Struggle as much as you want. As long as you have a weakness, no matter how you struggle, you will ultimately be unable to escape my palm."
"Your Majesty, Young Master Feng has left the palace and gone to the Princess's residence."
"Let him go," the Empress said slowly. "Some people, some things, cannot be obtained by force. He must understand that besides me, he cannot have anyone."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Feng Moran entered the Princess's residence to look for Xiao Man, but Xiao Man was not in her room. Instead, she was resting in Wen Mohan's room. Feng Moran stood outside the room until dawn before quietly leaving.
Xiao Man slowly opened her eyes and looked outside. She had noticed Feng Moran's arrival. She had thought Feng Moran's blood pact had been broken, but now it seemed it had not, otherwise, his aura would not be so disordered. Could it be that the blood pact could not be broken by anyone?
Wen Mohan saw Xiao Man get up and also sat up. "Aren't you going to sleep a little longer?"
Xiao Man lay down again. "Let's rest a while longer. Waking up too early is useless."
Wen Mohan found it amusing. "I always feel like you're plotting something, but when I think that others will be the ones to suffer, I feel a little happy. Is this behavior wrong?"
Xiao Man smiled, her eyes curving. "What could I be plotting? Clearly, someone is plotting against me."
"Murong Shengrui and Prince Qin have arrived," Wen Mohan said anxiously, holding Xiao Man's hand. Prince Qin was fine; at least he wouldn't harm Xiao Man. But Murong Shengrui was different. Murong Shengrui was ruthless and capable of anything. He was worried Xiao Man would be hurt again.
Moreover, in Bianjing, there was the extremely troublesome Feng Moran hidden. And Xiao Man had already fallen out with Feng Moran during the selection ceremony. In the future, Feng Moran would likely make things difficult for her at every turn.
"Man'er, actually, you didn't have to fall out with him so early."
Xiao Man smiled. "I fell out with him long ago. Enduring until now is already the extreme. Moreover, I never intended to reconcile with him."
"I suspect Sky Treasure Pavilion is related to him."
"I also suspect Sky Treasure Pavilion is related to him, so I've made some arrangements," Xiao Man said faintly. "Today, we can get up late. After all, it will be very lively outside today."
The two lay on the bed, their eyes meeting, and an ambiguous atmosphere spread between them. Wen Mohan's eyes deepened. "Since you don't want to get up, why don't we do something else?"
Xiao Man was slightly stunned, instantly understanding what Wen Mohan meant. For the first time, she blushed and quickly turned away. "It's dawn, time to get up."
"You just said we didn't need to get up so early..."
"If you don't want to get up, I don't mind letting you sleep forever." A voice came, startling them both. They sat up simultaneously, only to find someone else had entered the room.
"Nangong Nu," Wen Mohan quickly pulled the quilt to cover Xiao Man. "Intruding into someone's bedroom does not seem like the act of a gentleman."
"I never said I was a gentleman." Nangong Yu looked at Wen Mohan coldly, an indescribable emotion swirling in his eyes, a mix of anger and displeasure, yet unable to be vented.
Wen Mohan got up, picked up his clothes nearby, and dressed calmly. "You sleep a little longer. Your Highness Prince Qin, please show yourself out."
Nangong Yu took a deep look at Xiao Man, then got up and followed Wen Mohan to the study.
Xiao Man watched their retreating figures, a peculiar light flashing in her eyes, only to lie down again moments later. "Men are such a hassle!"
"Master," Yingxue entered silently. "It's already chaos outside. The people from Sky Treasure Pavilion disappeared overnight. The entire Sky Treasure Pavilion is empty. Outside, they are spreading rumors that Sky Treasure Pavilion was attacked by enemies and wiped out."
"Has my good master made any moves?" Xiao Man asked faintly.
"The Imperial Advisor went to Sky Treasure Pavilion. Even the Empress went. The officials searched Sky Treasure Pavilion inside and out, but found no clues. It's estimated that the Imperial Advisor must be very angry."
Xiao Man smiled. "Do you know what those two little scamps, Yun Qi, are doing?"
"Prince Song is staying in the imperial palace and has not come out. Emperor Yun is nowhere to be seen, but he should be hiding in Bianjing. Should we flush him out?" Yingxue tentatively asked. In her opinion, Murong Shengrui was the enemy, but her master seemed to have other plans.
"It's fine. He doesn't pose a threat to us now," Xiao Man said slowly. "At this time, we have a common enemy. Even if we want to settle scores, we must wait until the external enemies are eliminated."
"Yes, Miss."
"Has the Fourth Princess left?"
"No."
"After so many years of struggle, letting go is not an easy thing. Moreover, if she leaves Bianjing, won't those two outside drink her blood and gnaw her flesh? It's understandable that she doesn't want to leave the imperial capital."
"Miss, the two princesses outside and the Fourth Princess are also sisters. Will they really attack the Fourth Princess?"