Xiao Man alighted from the carriage, heading straight into the military camp without a backward glance. Nangong Yu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, watching Xiao Man’s figure disappear through the camp gate, before letting the curtain fall.
“Your Highness, shall we return to the manor?”
“Let’s go.”
Si Chen drove the carriage towards the Prince of Qin’s manor. As they passed through a secluded alley, a figure boarded the carriage.
“Your Highness, we’ve discovered something rather peculiar,” Wu Xiang said with hesitation, unsure if he should tell Nangong Yu. If he did, he feared Nangong Yu might not be able to handle the shock. If he didn’t, and Nangong Yu found out later, he would surely settle the score, and Wu Xiang would be the one to suffer.
“What is it?”
“On the night Wen Mohan went missing, he was at Nanluo Villa. Yongning Princess’s personal dark guard, Dongfang Wei, paid ten taels of silver to a woman from a nearby village, claiming she was to be a concubine. However, less than half an hour later, he returned her unharmed,” Wu Xiang relayed the information he had gathered to Nangong Yu.
“Was the woman found?”
“Found her. The woman said a noble young master was poisoned, seemingly by the Huomei poison,” Wu Xiang said, watching Nangong Yu’s face turn ashen. He wondered if he should continue.
“And then?”
“Then, a young lady in the room chased her out and had her sent back,” Wu Xiang said, glancing at Nangong Yu. “That young lady was Princess Yongning.”
That young lady was Princess Yongning. The words echoed in Nangong Yu’s mind, refusing to fade away.
Si Chen watched Nangong Yu sit in silence for an hour and couldn’t help but sigh. Ever since His Highness became involved with Xiao Man, he had changed. Nothing could shake his composure before, but now, every move Xiao Man made could affect him.
“Your Highness, the person has been apprehended.”
Wu Xiang threw the bound Dongfang Wei onto the ground. Dongfang Wei was in so much pain he wanted to curse, but with a handkerchief stuffed in his mouth, he could only make muffled sounds.
Si Chen stepped forward and removed the handkerchief from Dongfang Wei’s mouth. Dongfang Wei, his face contorted with anger, demanded, “What do you want?”
Nangong Yu picked up the sword placed nearby. The sword was unsheathed, its cold glint sending shivers down one’s spine. Dongfang Wei immediately flinched, his arrogance considerably diminished.
“Prince of Qin, can’t we discuss this properly? You summoned me, and I came, didn’t I?” Dongfang Wei tried to make his tone sound friendly. “But you had me bound and brought here. What is the meaning of this?”
Nangong Yu picked up a handkerchief and meticulously wiped his sword. “My sword has not tasted blood in a long time. I wonder if the blood of the Young Master of the Martial Arts Alliance would suit its taste.”
A threat! Dongfang Wei frowned. His intuition told him Nangong Yu was dangerous. Something that could provoke such a threat from Nangong Yu was likely more terrifying than death.
“What do you want to know?”
Nangong Yu was pleased with Dongfang Wei’s quick understanding. “A few days ago, you bought a woman in Niujia Village. What for?”
“Xiao Man asked me to buy her. I was merely following orders,” Dongfang Wei replied.
Nangong Yu executed a sword flourish. Dongfang Wei felt a cold gust of wind as a strand of his hair fell to the ground. If the sword had struck him, it would have been far more than a mere hole.
“I asked what she was bought for?”
Dongfang Wei swallowed. “Master Wen was poisoned. To detoxify Master Wen.”
“What poison?”
“It seemed to be the Huomei poison.”
“Seemed?” Nangong Yu narrowed his eyes dangerously.
Dongfang Wei was exasperated. “I wasn’t there from the beginning. I arrived midway. When I got here, Xiao Man told me to find a woman, saying Wen Mohan was poisoned and needed someone to detoxify him. I just did as I was told. Why are you troubling me? If you have the guts, go find Xiao Man…”
Towards the end, Dongfang Wei’s voice trailed off. Nangong Yu’s sword was pressed against his neck, a mere inch from piercing it. He could already feel the bone-chilling cold of the blade against his skin. Su Dan Novel Network.
“So, did that woman detoxify Wen Mohan?”
“Wen Mohan refused to yield, preferring death.” Dongfang Wei swallowed, trying to shrink his body away from the sword.
“So you sent her back unharmed?”
“I couldn’t make that decision!” Dongfang Wei didn’t want to provoke Nangong Yu. The relationship between Nangong Yu and Xiao Man was unclear, and Xiao Man’s relationship with Wen Mohan was even more complex. But Dongfang Wei knew Nangong Yu was about to be eliminated!
Nangong Yu’s hand gripping the sword trembled. Dongfang Wei grew more nervous. “Hold your sword steady. I am Xiao Man’s personal dark guard. If you kill me, Xiao Man will hold you accountable.”
“So, the one who finally detoxified Wen Mohan was… was…”
“It was Xiao Man,” Dongfang Wei quickly added when he saw Nangong Yu struggling to utter Xiao Man’s name.
Si Chen felt like ripping out Dongfang Wei’s tongue. Even if you knew, you shouldn’t say it! Don’t they know His Highness is still recovering from serious injuries and cannot handle such stimulation?
Nangong Yu turned away, so no one could see the despair on his face. “Get out!”
Dongfang Wei wanted to flee, but he was tied up like a dumpling and couldn’t move. He quickly signaled Si Chen to untie him. Si Chen drew his sword and cut through the ropes binding Dongfang Wei. Dongfang Wei, as if granted a great pardon, quickly escaped.
“Your Highness, this matter requires further investigation. The truth might be…”
*Pfft*. Nangong Yu’s anger overwhelmed him, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, scaring Si Chen.
Si Chen hurried forward to support Nangong Yu. “Your Highness, are you alright? Someone, quickly, call a doctor!”
Nangong Yu waved his hand, indicating it was unnecessary, but Si Chen, worried, still sent for a physician.
Steward Ye, filled with confusion, asked, “His Highness was fine when he left, and he was fine when he returned. How did he end up spitting blood?”
Si Chen hesitated, unsure how to explain to Steward Ye.
Steward Ye, however, instantly understood. “It has something to do with that young lady from the Xiao family.”
Si Chen nodded profusely.
Steward Ye frowned. “Did that young lady from the Xiao family anger His Highness?”
Si Chen continued to nod.
Steward Ye looked at Nangong Yu’s pale face, which seemed as though he had suffered a heavy blow, and continued to guess, “Is that young lady going to abandon His Highness?”
Si Chen gave a thumbs-up. As expected of the Steward of the Prince of Qin’s manor, to guess this much just from conjecture.
“She… she never admitted to being His Highness’s woman. Why would she abandon His Highness now?”
Si Chen felt a pang of heartache. Indeed. That heartless Xiao Man, after taking their prince’s innocence and getting what she wanted, turned her back and denied everything. She never intended to have the prince from the start. But a woman who is fickle and promiscuous should be drowned in a pigsty!
“She… she… her relationship with Wen Mohan is too intimate. It angered His Majesty.”
“It’s common knowledge that Wen Mohan is her fiancé. Isn’t intimacy expected?” Steward Ye said slowly.
Si Chen’s eyes widened, and he gnashed his teeth fiercely. “Whose steward are you? Are you perhaps Xiao Man’s steward? Why are you defending her at every turn!”