"How did you get so badly injured?" Xiao Man asked, frowning. Nangong Yu's internal injuries were particularly severe, as if old wounds had been reopened.
"It's a miracle I even survived," Nangong Yu said with a grave expression. "The personal attendants who served me closely... not even their bodies were left whole."
Xiao Man furrowed her brow. "What exactly happened?"
"To be able to tamper with things within the Prince of Qin's manor… that takes considerable skill. Thinking it over, there are only two people capable of such a feat." Nangong Yu took a sharp breath. "Either it was that high-and-mighty individual, or..."
"My master."
"Last time you shot the assassin with your ox-hair needles, which also contained your unique potent poison. Yet Nangong Yan only suffered a period of weakness and was fine. You forgot, my poison-making skills were all taught to me by my master."
Nangong Yu chuckled. "Yes, your poison-making skills were all taught by him. And he's skilled in manipulating people's hearts, with many experts under his command. Dealing with him is truly not easy."
"I know."
"That's why I hope you can always remain calm," Nangong Yu lowered his gaze. "Don't let hatred cloud your judgment."
Xiao Man reached out and poked Nangong Yu's wound. He gasped in pain and grabbed her hand. "I'm already this injured, and you still want to kick me while I'm down."
Xiao Man broke free from his grasp. "You should focus on recovering."
"Xiao Man," Nangong Yu struggled to sit up as Xiao Man turned to leave, but the movement aggravated his wounds, and blood began to seep out.
"Don't move recklessly. Do you not want to live?" Xiao Man reprimanded him angrily.
"Can you stay and keep me company?" Nangong Yu asked weakly.
Xiao Man sat back down and helped him lie down. "Sleep. I'll leave after you've fallen asleep."
Nangong Yu lay on the bed, his gaze fixed on the canopy. "Xiao Man, what do you think Yao Ran came to the imperial capital for?"
"We've completely dismantled Blue Moon's spy network. For her to come now, it's nothing more than trying to rebuild their network," Xiao Man stated indifferently.
"It's more than that. Her objective is also to find the Blue Moon Princess."
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged. "To kill the Blue Moon Princess, likely. Yao Ran betrayed her trust for her own gain, and she probably wants to eliminate all potential threats."
"The Blue Moon Empress has no direct heirs, and her health has been deteriorating recently. The Blue Moon court is unstable, and all the princesses are adopted. Blue Moon's officials won't accept them. They desperately need someone of direct bloodline."
"Oh? Are you interested in Blue Moon's court affairs?" Xiao Man inquired. "Should we find a fake Blue Moon Princess for them to take back, so we can control Blue Moon's every move?"
Nangong Yu choked slightly. Xiao Man was truly shameless. Could it be that Xiao Man didn't know about this matter either?
"Yao Ran has been inactive since entering the imperial capital. Why do you think that is?"
"I'm not her, so how would I know what she's thinking?" Xiao Man crossed her arms. "What's the matter, Prince Qin? Do you find the Blue Moon Prime Minister attractive and have other intentions?"
"You're being unreasonable again!"
"Am I being unreasonable, or are you harboring lustful thoughts?" Xiao Man asked with amusement. "When a man inexplicably cares about what a woman is thinking, it's either because he wants to sleep with her or harm her. Which category do you fall into?"
Nangong Yu gritted his teeth. "I want to harm her, alright!"
"A man of standing, racking his brains to harm a woman. Aren't you ashamed?" Xiao Man said with disdain. "I think your head was injured this time. Get some good sleep and wake up your brain."
By the time Xiao Man left the Prince of Qin's manor, lanterns were already lit, and guards from the Divine Capital Guard were patrolling the streets. They saluted Xiao Man when they encountered her.
"Be diligent, and be on high alert. You are the guardians of this imperial capital. Don't let any suspicious details or individuals slip by."
"Yes, Commander."
Cen Yu, hidden in a dark corner, watched Xiao Man in the distance and let out a cold smile. Xiao Man was as arrogant as ever.
"Young Master, should we capture her?"
"Capturing her won't be easy," Cen Yu said slowly. "A rash move might alert the person behind her, making things difficult to handle."
"So, we're just going to watch?"
"Zi Xia, sometimes, to capture someone, you don't need to act yourself. You just need to find her weakness and let her walk into a trap!" Cen Yu fiddled with a vacant jade pendant in his hand. He had taken it from Wen Mohan, and Xiao Man would be familiar with it, as she had given it to Wen Mohan.
"Young Master, what should we do?"
Cen Yu tossed the jade pendant to Zi Xia. "Take this to Xiao Man and tell her that if she wants Wen Mohan to live, she must do as I say. Come to Nanluo Mountain Villa outside the city within an hour, or she can prepare to collect Wen Mohan's corpse."
"Yes, Young Master." Zi Xia took the jade pendant to find Xiao Man, while Cen Yu went out of the city to Nanluo Mountain Villa to wait. Nanluo Mountain Villa was now an unhealable scar in Xiao Man's heart, but he was determined to tear open her wound and make her suffer immensely!
Xiao Man walked alone on the quiet street. The February night was still cold, and the wind stung her face. She stopped abruptly after walking a while.
"You've been following me for a long time. Aren't you going to show yourself?"
Zi Xia emerged from the darkness and flung something towards Xiao Man. Xiao Man caught it and her expression immediately changed. This was the jade pendant that Wen Mohan had taken from her. Wen Mohan had once said that as long as he lived, the jade would remain, but now it was in someone else's hands!
"I know you. You're Cen Yu's attendant!"
"I'm deeply honored that Princess Yongning remembers me," Zi Xia said coldly. "My master asked me to deliver a message to you: arrive at Nanluo Mountain Villa outside the city alone within an hour, or prepare to collect Wen Mohan's corpse!"
Zi Xia turned to leave, but Xiao Man wouldn't let him go. She moved swiftly, blocking his path. Zi Xia was startled and was about to retaliate when Xiao Man struck him with a palm, sending him flying into a wall, where he spat out blood.
Xiao Man rushed forward and stomped on Zi Xia's head. "Did your master not tell you that I detest being threatened the most?"
Zi Xia struggled but found himself unable to resist. He simply lay flat. "Kill me or torture me, as you wish. I am merely a servant. To exchange my life for Lord Wen's would be worth every bit of it!"
Xiao Man scoffed. "If anything happens to him, not only will you die, but Cen Yu will also die. I won't let anyone closely associated with you off the hook!"
Zi Xia glared at Xiao Man, his eyes filled with anger. "It's all your fault. If not for you, the Young Master and Lord Wen would still be brothers!"
"Brothers?" Xiao Man's tone was laced with mockery. "Cen Yu never considered Mohan a brother. Don't think no one knows about his sordid thoughts."