The Emperor's face was as dark as ink. He didn't believe his ministers were entirely clean, but if they were caught with their hands full and held hostage, threatening his empire, that would be an unforgivable offense!
"My lords, I will not hide from you that I have also had dealings with Yaoyue Tower," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "My black marks are too numerous to count, known by everyone. For instance, I put chili water into Grand Tutor Sun's tea."
Grand Tutor Sun glared hatefully at Xiao Man. "You still have the nerve to speak of it!"
"I threw firecrackers into the palace latrines, splattering some people with shit," Xiao Man said, receiving the furious and disgusted gazes of the crowd. So, the culprit was you. "I snuck into His Majesty's wine cellar and drank His Majesty's prized vintages, and I also framed Prince Qi. I infiltrated the Crown Prince's palace and stole the Crown Prince's pastries. While Prince Qin was away, I crawled through a dog hole and snuck into Prince Qin's manor to sleep in Prince Qin's bed. I also climbed the wall of Prime Minister Wen's mansion to pick peaches..."
The crowd looked at Xiao Man's expression as if they had seen a ghost. Stealing His Majesty's wine and the Crown Prince's pastries was one thing, but you snuck into Prince Qin's manor to sleep in his bed. Were you coveting Prince Qin's beauty?
The Emperor coughed twice. "Enough! Who doesn't know you've done countless absurd things!"
"I'm just telling all you lords that black marks are not to be feared. But if they are used to betray His Majesty, to betray Yusheng, then it is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations!"
The Emperor nodded in agreement. "The past is the past. As long as the deeds are not monstrously wicked, I will not hold you accountable. But if anyone dares to betray me and endanger the empire of Yusheng, I will grind them to dust and exterminate their entire clan."
"Your Majesty is wise."
"Court is dismissed," the old Emperor said coldly. "Xiao Man, remain."
As the ministers left the Golden Hall, they all cast fierce glares at Xiao Man. Xiao Man smiled indifferently. "Farewell, my lords. Those who don't wish to leave are welcome to accompany me for tea in the Imperial Study."
Upon hearing this, those ministers who had originally intended to reprimand her quickly departed, and in the blink of an eye, only Xiao Man and Wen Mohan remained in the Golden Hall.
"Man'er."
"Wait for me at the palace gate. I'll come out after I report to His Majesty." After speaking, Xiao Man followed Eunuch Hu to the Imperial Study.
Upon entering the Imperial Study, Xiao Man first bowed. "Your subject pays her respects to Your Majesty. Your subject is guilty and begs for severe punishment."
The old Emperor lifted his eyelids and looked at Xiao Man. "What crime have you committed? Who dares to punish you? You have offended all the court officials today!"
Xiao Man jutted her chin. "It doesn't matter if I offend them, but I cannot let Your Majesty be the villain."
The old Emperor's mood immediately lightened. "What do you mean?"
"It is too coincidental that several princes have met with misfortune one after another. It is too coincidental!" Xiao Man said slowly. "I do not believe in coincidences, so I investigated, and upon investigating, I discovered many things."
"What else did you discover?"
"I believe the lord of Yaoyue Tower must be hiding by Your Majesty's side."
The Emperor's gaze was stern, directed at Xiao Man. "Xiao Man, you must have evidence for your words."
"Your Majesty, your subject has no evidence. But based on your subject's investigation, this lord of Yaoyue Tower is very capable. This person was once a strategist by the side of the Young Emperor of Yunqi. After causing chaos in Yunqi, this person disappeared. To sow discord in the court of Yusheng, one must be by the side of the person in power and possess a certain degree of influence."
The old Emperor fell into thought. After a long time, he slowly asked, "Who do you think this person is?"
"Your subject does not know," Xiao Man sighed helplessly. "This person is hidden by Your Majesty's side. Perhaps, besides Your Majesty, no one else knows of his existence. Therefore, your subject does not know who this person truly is. Your Majesty might as well think carefully. By your side, who is not related by blood, possesses outstanding wisdom and literary talent, and is highly trusted by you? This person is very likely the mastermind."
After Xiao Man left, the old Emperor's expression remained obscure, and he remained silent for a long time.
Hu Wan also could not fathom the Emperor's thoughts, doing his best to minimize his presence. Princess Yongning had really stirred up a hornet's nest this time. Her temper was still the same, fearing nothing. He wondered if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Xiao Man has truly grown up now," the old Emperor said after a long pause. "I underestimated her before."
Hu Wan's heart skipped a beat. "Indeed, today is different from the past. In the past, with the Great General protecting her, she could do as she pleased, living as a carefree young lady. But now that the General has been harmed, and the General's manor is full of the old and the weak, if Princess Yongning does not use her brain, given the people she has offended over the years, she would likely have been devoured alive."
"Hu Wan, you are still too naive," the old Emperor said slowly. "If a person is inherently a prodigal, how can they change in such a short time? Even if they change, where would they find such deep schemes?"
Hu Wan lowered his gaze, daring not to reply. His Majesty was now wary of Princess Yongning. Even if Princess Yongning acted for His Majesty and the empire of Yusheng, it made His Majesty uneasy. After the death of Xiao Zhen, who would have thought that Xiao Man, who rose to prominence, would be even more exceptional than her father? Princess Yongning was likely in danger.
"Why are you not speaking?"
"Your servant is dull-witted," Hu Wan said with a bewildered expression. "Princess Yongning's actions today were for Your Majesty and for the empire of Yusheng. Your servant observed Princess Yongning's meticulous observation skills and genuinely cannot see where her deep schemes lie, hence I dared not speak."
The old Emperor glanced at Hu Wan. "A prodigal young lady who only knew how to cause trouble and fight from a young age, yet after Xiao Zhen's death, she single-handedly bore the burden of the entire Xiao family and succeeded her father as the commander of the Imperial Guard. The children of the Xiao family are indeed not useless."
Hu Wan truly could not fathom what the Emperor intended to do. "Your Majesty, is this change in Princess Yongning good or bad?"
"My sons, the Crown Prince committed suicide, Prince Qi fled to his fiefdom. Now only the third and fourth princes remain. But both the third and fourth princes have been severely injured. If this continues, I will be left without an heir," the Emperor said mournfully.
"Should we send people to protect the two princes?"
"The fourth prince holds military power and is skilled in martial arts, yet he was severely injured. The Imperial Guards are likely useless against the mastermind." The old Emperor carefully considered Xiao Man's words. Xiao Man said this person was deeply trusted by him, held high office, possessed outstanding wisdom and literary talent, and was not related to him by blood. After much thought, the old Emperor could only think of one person.
"Hu Wan, what kind of person do you think Wen Mohan is?"
"A child," Hu Wan said without hesitation.
"How so?"
"He revolves around Princess Yongning all day long. Isn't that childish behavior?" Hu Wan said with a smile. "Lord Wen is more henpecked than Prime Minister Wen."