Du Gu Ming Yu was deeply shocked. He knew exactly what kind of person Zhan Tian Que was. Even when facing him, Zhan Tian Que would show disdain. Ever since the news of his sister's passing, Zhan Tian Que had vanished as if he'd evaporated. How could he suddenly be looking for Du Gu Luo?
"He's looking for you?" Du Gu Ming Yu asked doubtfully. Zhan Tian Que was a man of principle, and the leader of the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry. Why would he come looking for Du Gu Luo for no reason?
Du Gu Luo shook her head. "Ah Man asked him to come."
Du Gu Ming Yu felt a flicker of suspicion. Didn't Zhan Tian Que only obey his sister's commands? Why would he obey Xiao Man's? Was there a secret he didn't know about?
"Is Zhan Tian Que in the Imperial Capital?" Du Gu Ming Yu asked, suppressing his emotions.
Du Gu Luo shook her head again. "No."
"Then where did you see him?"
"Wu Yue Country." Du Gu Luo took out a packet of pastries from her embrace, eating as she asked, "Do you want some?"
Du Gu Ming Yu shook his head. He had been in the military camp for a long time and was not clear about the events in Wu Yue Country. He asked again, "Did Zhan Tian Que come alone?"
"Oh, and the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry."
Du Gu Ming Yu's heart pounded like a drum. He had a vague feeling that Xiao Man must have a connection with his sister! Otherwise, how could she mobilize the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry, command Zhan Tian Que, and know his preferences?
"A' Luo, does the Eldest Young Lady know my sister?" Du Gu Ming Yu asked cautiously.
Du Gu Luo tilted her head and thought for a moment. Ah Man knew her, so logically, it was possible. She answered with certainty, "She knows!"
Du Gu Ming Yu felt an inexplicable sense of relief upon hearing this.
It seemed that Xiao Man's understanding of him was through his sister. But when did the two of them meet?
After all, there was a significant age difference, and his sister, as the Empress Dowager of Yun Qi, could not leave Yun Qi. Could it be that Xiao Man had visited Yun Qi? No, Xiao Man shouldn't have been to Yun Qi, so how did these two meet?
There was also a key figure, Zhan Tian Que. Did he obey his sister's orders to find Xiao Man, or did he only obey Xiao Man's orders?
In Chun Xi Garden, it wasn't just Xiao Man and her companions. On a distant hillside, two figures were hidden behind the trees, inconspicuous.
"Let's go back. Master has ordered that you are not allowed to act recklessly again. If you continue to misbehave, you will become a dead person!"
Both of them wore heavy cloaks that concealed their faces, but another figure appeared small and delicate, seemingly a woman. "Look, he's smiling so happily."
The man beside her frowned slightly. Although he didn't understand why the Master kept her, he himself disliked her. She was insidious and venomous, and acted without regard for consequences. Such a person would eventually ruin the Master's grand plan.
"Let's go."
"Don't worry, I won't make a move on them now." A low female voice came through, with a hint of fierceness. "One day, I will repay them a thousandfold for the suffering they have inflicted upon me!"
The two figures departed silently, as if they had never been there.
Xiao Man rested her chin in her hand, gazing at the red plum blossoms outside. Her eyes were gentle, and her gaze seemed filled with emotion. After a pot of wine, she was already slightly tipsy, but she was trying hard to maintain her composure.
Xiao Man didn't have a good tolerance for alcohol. Coupled with the incident of drunkenly teasing the Prince of Qin last time, she hadn't touched alcohol again since returning. Her tolerance hadn't increased, naturally. If it weren't for the light flavor of the plum blossom wine, Xiao Man would have been completely drunk by now.
At the Prince of Qin's manor, Nangong Yu was buried in work. "Have all the cases committed by Nangong Fei been sorted out?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, they have all been sorted out. The victims have been found one by one, and their testimonies have been written. We only await Your Highness's command to go to the Jingzhao Mansion to seek justice."
"Has any news come from the Prince of Yan's manor?"
"Nangong Fei has been crippled." Si Chen's expression was somewhat indescribable as he said this.
Nangong Fei had committed too many wicked deeds and deserved to die. However, Miss Xiao's actions were also ruthless. With one kick, she had crippled Nangong Fei, making him unable to have children, and the old Prince of Yan had cried himself to death several times!
"I'm asking about the Prince of Yan's reaction."
"The old Prince of Yan woke up, cried, and fainted again. Once he calms down, he'll likely seek trouble with Miss Xiao." Si Chen stated truthfully. After all, the old Prince of Yan doted on this illegitimate son to the core, expecting him to continue the family line. In the end, Xiao Man's kick shattered all his hopes.
"That will be if he has the ability. Have the plaintiffs report to the Jingzhao Mansion and send all the evidence to His Majesty's imperial desk. We must ensure that Xiao Man is not implicated." Nangong Yu said coldly. Nangong Fei dared to openly tease Xiao Man, so crippling him was still a light punishment!
"With Your Highness cleaning up the mess for Miss Xiao, Miss Xiao will naturally be safe." Si Ye said sarcastically.
Nangong Yu raised an eyebrow and looked at Si Ye. "Speak properly."
Si Ye stepped forward. Si Chen quickly pulled him back, shaking his head gently, signaling him not to speak.
Si Ye threw Si Chen off. "Miss Xiao didn't consider the consequences at all when she hit someone, nor did she think about cleaning up the mess afterward. Your Highness is rushing around, busy as can be, cleaning up her mess, yet she's out there drinking wine, admiring plum blossoms, and engaging in sweet talk!"
"Drinking wine, admiring plum blossoms, and engaging in sweet talk?" Nangong Yu finally caught on to the key point. "With whom?"
"Who else could it be? Wen Mo Han!"
Nangong Yu's face darkened. The information he had received was that Xiao Man had gone out with Du Gu Ming Yu. He knew perfectly well what Du Gu Ming Yu's relationship with her was, so there was no need for jealousy. However, Wen Mo Han was another matter!
Nangong Yu got up and started to leave. Si Ye quickly followed a few steps. "She's at Chun Xi Garden."
As soon as he finished speaking, Nangong Yu had already disappeared. Si Chen sighed helplessly. "Why do you have to do this?"
"For Xiao Man, I've done so many things in secret, endured so much hardship. If I keep paying for Xiao Man silently like this, and she doesn't know, won't Wen Mo Han have an opportunity?"
Si Chen scratched his head. "Don't you dislike her?"
"Why would I like her? It's enough that I like her!" Si Ye gritted his teeth. "The woman I like, no matter how much I dislike her, I have to find a way to bring her back!"
Si Chen found this amusing.
"What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at your duplicity," Si Chen said, tidying up the case files on the desk. "Your Highness has gone to chase after his beauty, so we'll go clean up the mess."
When Nangong Yu arrived, Xiao Man was already drunk, but she was desperately trying to maintain her composure. She lay on the table, staring intently at the plum blossoms outside the window. The glazed windows were good; they were warm and didn't obstruct the view.
Seeing Xiao Man in this state, Wen Mo Han immediately realized she was drunk. He got up and brewed some tea to help Xiao Man sober up.
However, Xiao Man was afraid she would do something to tease someone again if she got drunk, so she sat obediently in her seat, not daring to move.