Feng Tianlan's gaze fell upon the veil hanging over Xiao Man's head. He sighed. It was done. The person who had seen his face was no longer alive. Even if he no longer wore the veil, no one would recognize him.
"Master."
"Your master is fine." Feng Tianlan reached out, gently patting Xiao Man's head and taking off the veil. He set it aside, then picked up the prepared medicine and handed it to Xiao Man. "Drink this."
Xiao Man averted her gaze, daring not to stare at Feng Tianlan's face. She mechanically took the medicine he offered and downed it in one gulp. The medicine was bitter, but not as bitter as the ache in her heart. They, two women, shared the same master! She exerted almost all her strength to control herself, ensuring not the slightest crack in her composure.
After bidding farewell to the Grand Tutor, Xiao Man returned to the General's mansion. A smile played on her lips, giving no hint of her inner turmoil. The moment she entered her room, the smile vanished. She slowly sat down by the table. Grand Tutor Feng Tianlan of Yusheng was actually Feng Moran, Du Gu Man's former teacher. How ironic!
The person she had never doubted was the one who had schemed against her all along! And it was someone who appeared detached, kind-hearted, and as gentle as the wind, yet harbored the most cruel and heartless intentions in secret!
Xiao Man furiously swept everything off the table, causing a great clatter. The maids outside heard the noise and came to knock. "Miss, what happened?"
"I'm fine," Xiao Man said, her voice strained.
"We heard things breaking, are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine, just let me be alone for a while."
"Yes, Miss."
The footsteps receded. Xiao Man buried her face in her arms and wept, her sobs suppressed and restrained. She had always wanted to know why the Grand Tutor of Yusheng had targeted her. Now that she had found the connection between them, her heart ached as if it would shatter. She would have preferred Feng Tianlan to harm her because of the Yusheng imperial family, rather than believe that Feng Tianlan had approached her with ill intentions from the very beginning!
Upon hearing that Xiao Man had returned, Xiao Zhen hurried over. He pushed the door open in his haste. "Man'er, are you alright?"
But as soon as he spoke, he saw Xiao Man weeping at the table. He froze, forgetting to react. Xiao Man quickly stifled her tears, wiped her face haphazardly, and turned around, forcing a smile that was more bitter than tears. "Father."
Xiao Zhen closed the door and walked to Xiao Man's side, pressing her head into his embrace. "Cry if you need to."
Xiao Man gritted her teeth, trying to hold back her tears. Her beloved master was the mastermind behind it all, yet she didn't know why her master wanted to kill her. Furthermore, Feng Tianlan had a deep connection with the General's mansion, and she couldn't even let Xiao Zhen know that she hated Feng Tianlan.
"Father, it's all my fault for being useless..."
"It's not your fault." Xiao Zhen took a deep breath. In the span of a single day, both his son and daughter had been injured. Xiao Zhen's hatred for the perpetrator was no less than Xiao Man's. "Father will not let the person behind this go unpunished."
Xiao Man did not reply. She buried her head in Xiao Zhen's embrace, seeking a sliver of warmth, yet daring not to indulge too much. She feared that eventually, even the people of the General's mansion would betray her. She didn't even know who she could trust!
As Xiao Zhen left Shuiyue Cottage, Xiao Luo happened to be coming to see Xiao Man. Xiao Zhen stopped him. "How is Qingge?"
"She's resting. How is my sister?"
Xiao Zhen sighed. "She's blaming herself. She cried for a long time before falling asleep. Don't disturb her."
Xiao Luo lowered his gaze, a flash of pain in the depths of his eyes. He then turned and strode away. Xiao Zhen watched Xiao Luo's receding back and said nothing.
"Investigate. I want to know who is behind this scheme!"
"Yes, General."
Xiao Man woke again as dusk settled. The broken fragments on the floor had long been cleared. A dim oil lamp was lit by the bedside, its wick crackling and spitting sparks. Xiao Man stared at the faint light of the lamp, wrapped her legs, and sat silently on the bed.
When Nangong Yu infiltrated the room, he saw a dejected Xiao Man, emanating an aura of gloom, like a lost lamb with no direction.
Nangong Yu presented the oil-paper packet he held to Xiao Man. However, Xiao Man remained unmoved, not even lifting an eyelid. Nangong Yu sat by the bed, opened the packet, revealing a bag of candies.
Xiao Man was unresponsive. Her mind raced with countless thoughts, almost bursting her head. The image of Feng Moran would occasionally flash in her mind—gentle and loving, always patiently teaching her, never even speaking a harsh word.
But suddenly, the man she regarded as a father appeared with a distorted face, secretly poisoning her. Xiao Man tried to deceive herself, perhaps her master had nothing to do with this! Yet, this was merely self-deception.
Nangong Yu took a candy, peeled off the wrapper, and placed it in Xiao Man's mouth. "Someone once told me that when you feel pain and sadness, eat a piece of candy. When your mouth tastes sweet, your heart will also feel sweeter, and you won't feel so unhappy."
Tears fell without warning. Xiao Man didn't want to cry. She disliked showing her vulnerability, but she couldn't help it. She hadn't cried when Murong Shengrui betrayed her, but upon learning that her master had abandoned her, she found herself unable to breathe from the sorrow.
In Nangong Yu's eyes, Xiao Man had always been very strong. But now, seeing Xiao Man crying like a torrent of tears, helpless and lost, he didn't know how to comfort her.
"If one candy isn't enough, eat two. If two aren't enough, eat three." Nangong Yu, flustered, peeled candies and fed them to Xiao Man. He had never been good at coaxing people into happiness, not until he met Xiao Man. He had started learning to make girls happy, yet Xiao Man was not a girl who needed coaxing.
"Your Highness, I feel so much pain," Xiao Man said, her eyes teary, pressing her hand to her chest. "It hurts as if needles are piercing me."
Nangong Yu's hand, holding the candy, trembled. After a long moment, he pulled Xiao Man into his embrace. "Don't be sad, I'm here."
"Why him? Why him?" Xiao Man sobbed uncontrollably. The moment she saw Feng Tianlan's face, she felt as if she had been torn in half—one half numb with pain, the other burning with hatred.
Him? Nangong Yu suddenly understood. Xiao Man's deep sorrow and pain were not because of Chu Qingge, but because of someone else!
Nangong Yu sifted through everyone Xiao Man had met and everything she had experienced in the past two days, finally piecing together who "he" was.
"Feng Tianlan?"
Upon hearing the name, Xiao Man's body stiffened. Her hands clutched Nangong Yu's chest tightly. She tried her best to control herself, but her body still trembled uncontrollably.
Nangong Yu tightened his embrace. What had Feng Tianlan done to make Xiao Man hate him so deeply, to cause her such pain?