"Your Highness, if the Princess were to see you like this, she wouldn't rest in peace even in the netherworld," Duke Chen sniffled, tears streaming down his face. "Qianyun is gone. You and the young heir mustn't suffer any more."
Prince Chu choked back a sob, but then clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering Duke Chen's face and clothes. Duke Chen was so shocked his soul almost departed his body.
"Guards, quickly summon a physician!"
Chaos erupted in the mourning hall. Guards hastily carried the unconscious Prince Chu to his chambers, while the imperial physician was called to diagnose him. However, after a long examination, he couldn't ascertain what was wrong with Prince Chu and could only offer a perfunctory explanation.
"His Highness has vomited blood and fainted from excessive grief. Once he takes this calming draught I prescribe, he will be fine."
News spread like wildfire: Prince Chu, overcome with sorrow over the death of his wife, had vomited blood and fainted before her mourning altar. People outside marveled at Prince Chu's deep devotion, and young ladies of noble families dreamed of marrying a man like him.
"Prince Chu, gravely ill and fainted from excessive grief over the death of his consort?" Nangong Yu looked up at Wen Ruyu, "Are you certain?"
"It's true. The news has spread everywhere. They say Prince Chu was struck hard by the death of his consort, vomited blood, and fainted. Everyone is praising his profound love."
"Profound love?" Nangong Yu sneered. "If his love were truly profound, where was he when the Princess was in difficult labor?"
Wen Ruyu fanned himself with his jade fan. "He's merely crafting an image of a devoted lover to deceive those naive young girls. After all, the position of Princess Consort is now vacant. Given his nature, he will undoubtedly choose a noble daughter who can provide him with the greatest assistance. Without a favorable image, which family would willingly marry their daughter to a prince with an uncertain future?"
"Utterly hypocritical."
"Your Highness, it's best not to expose such hypocrisy."
"Those who rely on exploiting women to obtain what they desire are all cowards."
"Your Highness, you too achieved all you possess today by means of a woman," Wen Ruyu said softly. Few knew of the affair between Nangong Yu and Dugu Man; Wen Ruyu happened to be one of them.
"This king did not exploit any woman. On the contrary, she used this king until she had her fill, and then cast him aside!"
Wen Ruyu covered his mouth with his fan and chuckled secretly. "I wonder who Prince Chu's next target will be."
"Whoever it is, it won't be Xiao Man," Nangong Yu snorted coldly. "However, he has lost his consort. This king ought to pay his respects."
"Could the assassin who attacked you last night have been Prince Chu?" Wen Ruyu followed Nangong Yu out. "I've investigated. Only Prince Chu's estate experienced an incident, but the consort died in childbirth. Surely that doesn't count as an incident?"
"If death isn't an incident, then what is?" Nangong Yu glanced at Wen Ruyu. "Are you out of your mind? The Princess Consort died in childbirth. The news was only delivered to Duke Chen's estate this morning. Why?"
"Prince Chu was not in the estate last night!"
"Whether he vomited blood and fainted from excessive grief or from a qi and blood imbalance, the truth will soon be revealed," Nangong Yu's face broke into a confident smile. "Let's go. We'll go to Prince Chu's estate to watch the show. If my guess is correct, Xiao Man will also be there. Bring Shan Yu Yan along. If this king goes out without her, that person in the palace will surely devise some foolish plan."
Nangong Yu, along with Shan Yu Yan, went to Prince Chu's estate to offer condolences. Just as they arrived, Nangong Yi, accompanied by his consort, was also there to pay his respects. "Fourth Imperial Brother."
"Thirteenth Brother is also here to pay his respects, I presume? Perfect, we can go together," Nangong Yu said coldly. "I heard that Consort, your wife, is with child. Congratulations to you both."
"Thank you, Fourth Imperial Brother."
Nangong Yi's gaze swept over Nangong Yu's companion. "This must be Miss Shan."
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qi, Your Highness Princess Consort Qi." Shan Yu Yan immediately bowed.
Nangong Yi looked directly into Shan Yu Yan's eyes. "Some people are shameless. No matter how well others treat them, they always find ways to snatch what belongs to others."
Shan Yu Yan lowered her gaze. Was His Highness Prince Qi subtly insulting her? Or was he insulting His Highness Prince Qin?
"What is rightfully yours, no one can take away. What is not yours, you cannot keep," Shan Yu Yan replied gently. "If something can be snatched, it means it never belonged to you."
"Shameless!" Nangong Yi snorted and entered the estate first.
Princess Consort Qi offered an apologetic bow before following Nangong Yi. Shan Yu Yan then turned to Nangong Yu. "Your Highness, is Prince Qi scolding me or you?"
"He's scolding both of us."
"When did Your Highness snatch something from Prince Qi?" Shan Yu Yan asked, a look of confusion on her face. "As a humble woman, how could I have possibly snatched anything from him?"
Nangong Yu glanced at Shan Yu Yan and couldn't help but smile. Nangong Yi's insult to him stemmed from the belief that he had snatched Xiao Man. His insult to Shan Yu Yan was because he thought she had snatched something from Xiao Man... Xiao Man's possessions... The smile on Nangong Yu's face deepened. So, in the eyes of his thirteenth brother, he belonged to Xiao Man. This showed that he was a man of contradictory words.
Xiao Man saw the two looking at each other affectionately at the entrance of Prince Chu's estate from afar and couldn't help but purse her lips. "Those two seem quite well-matched."
Ying Xue looked puzzled. "Which two?"
Xiao Man lowered the carriage curtain. "Let's go in a little later. We don't want to spoil their good deed."
Ying Xue was bewildered and immediately lifted the curtain to peek outside. She saw Nangong Yu and Shan Yu Yan entering Prince Chu's estate together, and then secretly glanced at Xiao Man.
"Miss, please don't be angry."
"Why would I be angry?" Xiao Man picked up a book and calmly began to read.
"His Highness Prince Qin... he..."
"His affairs do not concern me," Xiao Man interrupted, her voice cold.
Ying Xue's gaze fell on the book in Xiao Man's hand. "Miss, the book is upside down."
Xiao Man raised her eyes and gave Ying Xue a warning look. Ying Xue quickly lowered her head, pretending not to have seen anything, but inwardly she grumbled. She claimed not to care, but clearly, she did, and refused to admit it.
Inside the mourning hall, maids and servants knelt on the ground. Duke Chen and his wife were receiving guests who had come to pay their respects.
When Xiao Man entered, Duke Chen and his wife were speaking with two princes.
"Man'er." Nangong Yi took a step forward upon seeing Xiao Man enter, but his arm was caught by Du Yulan. Du Yulan looked at Nangong Yi, a plea in her eyes. She didn't want Nangong Yi to embarrass her in front of so many people. Even though everyone knew Prince Qi was infatuated with Xiao Man, she still hoped Nangong Yi would show her the respect she deserved in public.
"Yong Ning greets Fourth Imperial Brother and Thirteenth Imperial Brother," Xiao Man stepped forward and bowed. "Duke, Madam, please accept my condolences."
"Thank you, Princess Yong Ning." Duke Chen's wife's eyes were red. Clearly, she had just passed by, but with Prince Chu incapacitated and no one in charge of the estate, the couple who had lost their beloved daughter still had to muster the strength to handle her funeral arrangements.