"Qin Xue, have someone investigate the whereabouts of everyone on the list from the day my father was murdered, especially Du Yu Lan." Xiao Man said with a grave expression, hoping it was just a coincidence. Otherwise, Du Yu Lan would pay a heavy price for her actions.
"Miss suspects her?"
"Everyone on the list is a suspect, and several of them have had grievances with me." Xiao Man said slowly, "My relationship with Prince Qi is close. Asking you to investigate her first was merely to clear her suspicion sooner."
"Your subordinate will investigate the whereabouts of everyone on the list as quickly as possible."
"This Hundred Flowers Pavilion is no longer safe. Let's move to another contact point. Since they want your life, if they fail once, they will certainly try a second and third time. We must be cautious."
"Yes, Miss."
As Qin Xue dressed, she said, "Miss, please don't tell A Jin about my injury."
"Do you think he won't find out if I don't tell him?" Xiao Man gritted her teeth. "When my father's affairs are cleared up... I will definitely officiate your wedding."
"Miss, our great vengeance is not yet avenged, how can we concern ourselves with romance?" Qin Xue said calmly after getting dressed. "Moreover, Emperor Yun has discovered your whereabouts. We don't know what other cruel methods he will use against you. How can your subordinate be concerned with romance at such a time?"
"He won't have time to deal with me in a short period. Otherwise, the empire he gained through all his schemes would have a new ruler." Xiao Man smiled, "The child I let go out of kindness back then unexpectedly became useful one day, which is quite unforeseen."
"Miss is referring to Prince Song?"
"Prince Song Zi Heng. He was an insignificant little thing back then, no one paid him any mind. I showed a moment of kindness and let him go. Mu Rong Sheng Rui knew nothing of this. I wonder if Mu Rong Sheng Rui will be happy when he sees him again." A glint of delight flashed in Xiao Man's eyes. The unexpected kindness back then had, to her surprise, helped her greatly today.
"Prince Song has been living incognito all these years, secretly developing his power. It is clear he has always coveted the throne. By letting him go back then, didn't you unleash a tiger upon yourself?"
"If I hadn't let him go back then, would he be in such a position to help me trouble Mu Rong Sheng Rui today?" Xiao Man asked playfully. "Moreover, my agreement with him was that as long as Du Gu Man was alive, he could not cause any trouble. But now that Du Gu Man is dead, the agreement between us is void. I actually hope he has some capability and can best pull Mu Rong Sheng Rui down from the throne."
"Miss, you truly have foresight."
Hearing this, the smile disappeared from Xiao Man's face. "If I had foresight, I wouldn't have ended up in this situation, unable to protect my own kin, watching the Du Gu family members die tragically before my eyes. Now my father has been murdered, and I still haven't caught the killer."
"Miss, you will catch the killer."
"Of course, I will catch the killer." Xiao Man said with a smile. "Alright, I will have someone escort you to another hideout. You should also prepare yourself, ready to leave the imperial capital at any time."
Qin Xue's expression became grave. "Miss, do you already know who the killer is?"
"If I knew, would I be sitting here talking to you?" Xiao Man sneered. "I would have gone to kill them with my saber long ago!"
"That makes sense. You always seek revenge." Qin Xue nodded in agreement. "Unless the opponent is too strong for you... Miss, the killer isn't someone very powerful that you can't defeat, right?"
"Nonsense. If I can't defeat them, I'll bring all of you to gang up on them!" Xiao Man stood up. "Quickly find out about the people on the list for me."
"Yes, Miss."
After Xiao Man left, the hidden guards escorted Qin Xue to her new location. Qin Xue's expression was solemn. From her understanding of Xiao Man, Xiao Man must have found something. But why did she hide it from her?
Every day, Xiao Man reported to the Imperial Guard, without fail, diligently training the soldiers. The soldiers of the Imperial Guard complained incessantly, but Xiao Man's personal guards were all women, and they couldn't defeat them. Instead, it ignited their fighting spirit, and they trained desperately, intending to defeat the people around Xiao Man and earn Xiao Man's admiration.
The Emperor was quite pleased with Xiao Man's performance. He ignored the other ministers' impeachments of Xiao Man for abusing their precious sons. "I heard that two days ago, Grand Tutor Sun's grandson broke two ribs in the Imperial Guard. Was he seriously injured?"
Hu Wan cautiously replied, "I heard he rolled down a mountain during training. Not only were his ribs broken, but one of his legs was also fractured. He is recuperating at home."
"This girl Xiao Man, did she go to the Imperial Guard to vent her anger on the pampered sons of the elite?" the Emperor asked doubtfully.
"Your Majesty, Princess Yong Ning is not that kind of person."
"If she's not that kind of person, then what kind of person is she?"
"When Princess Yong Ning wants to do something, she never beats around the bush. If she really wants to trouble someone, she'll go directly to them. She wouldn't be causing trouble in the military camp."
"But in just a few days since she joined the Imperial Guard, how many people has she driven away, and how many has she injured? Is she really not there to cause trouble?"
Hu Wan was also a little uncertain. After all, Xiao Man had always been willful. Perhaps she had acted impulsively. He couldn't guarantee that Xiao Man wasn't causing trouble.
"Why don't we summon Deputy Commander Ran and ask him?"
"That's fine too. Although the Imperial Guard has been handed over to Xiao Man for management, we can't just let her run wild." The Emperor ordered Ran Sheng to be summoned to the palace and asked him in detail what Xiao Man did in the military camp every day.
Ran Sheng replied calmly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Commander trains the soldiers in the military camp every day."
"What kind of training do they do?"
"Archery, endurance, strength, and speed."
The Emperor was a little confused. "I understand archery. I also understand strength and speed. What is this endurance?"
"The Commander says that in a battle between two armies, whoever's soldiers can last longer on the battlefield has a greater chance of winning. So, they train the soldiers' endurance every day."
"How do they train endurance?"
"Running up and down the mountain," Ran Sheng said slowly. "The Commander says that the mountain environment is complex and ever-changing. Running back and forth not only trains the soldiers' endurance but also hones their reaction speed."
"So, Grand Tutor Sun's grandson rolled down the mountain like this?"
"Yes, Sun Miao accidentally tripped during training and rolled down the mountain." Ran Sheng lowered his head. Although he felt the training was a bit excessive, the results were astonishing, and he inwardly agreed.
"And you didn't stop her?"
"The Commander is trying to increase the soldiers' chances of survival on the battlefield. This is something that benefits the soldiers, so this subordinate cannot stop her."
The old Emperor glanced at Ran Sheng and smiled. "Alright, you may go. Just stop her when she's being too reckless, but don't let anyone die."
"Your subordinate accepts the order."