Wen Moyu collapsed onto the ground, blood gushing from her body, as if draining her last vestiges of life. She hated Xiao Man, but even more, she hated Wen Mohan!
Xiao Man was a stranger, so her malice was understandable. But Wen Mohan was her own brother, who would kill her for another woman!
"Wen Mohan..." Wen Moyu gasped for her last breath, her voice sharp. "Haha, you’d do anything for Xiao Man... But no matter what you do, she’ll never love you. You’ll never have her. You’ll only watch her dote on other men!"
"Shut up!"
Wen Moyu took a breath. She suddenly recalled something Xiao Ling had told her, and a vengeful smile flickered across her face. "Wen Mohan, you still don't know, do you? The woman you so carefully... cherishe was already a used shoe, defiled by countless men, yet you still dote on her like your precious jewel..."
Wen Mohan grabbed Wen Moyu by the collar. "You're lying, I won't believe you!"
However, Wen Moyu would never answer him again.
Wen Moyu's corpse was rolled into a blanket and hastily buried in the mass grave.
The mass grave at night was as eerie and terrifying as hell. Several figures appeared, digging open the freshly filled grave.
"Still breathing."
"Take her."
These people came and went like phantoms. Apart from a few crows in the mass grave, no one else saw them.
Xiao Man was reading incoming messages when she suddenly heard a sound. She quickly shoved the letter into a drawer. At that moment, the window was blown open, and Nangong Yu leaped in.
Xiao Man propped her chin on her hand, smiling at Nangong Yu. "Your Highness Prince Qin, if people were to know that Prince Qin sneaks into my boudoir every other day, I'm afraid even without anything, something will become of it. Aren't you afraid I'll cling to you then, demanding you take responsibility?"
Nangong Yu heard this and nonchalantly sat down. "Would you ask this prince to take responsibility?"
"No." Xiao Man got up to make tea. It had been snowing these past few days, and the entire Imperial Capital was covered in white, beautiful yet exceptionally cold.
"Don't you have wine?"
"My tolerance for alcohol isn't good. Let's have tea." Xiao Man replied with a smile. "Your Highness braves the snow to come here. Is there something important?"
"Today, the ministers petitioned to attack the Wuyue Kingdom and proposed that Prince Han lead the army." Nangong Yu leaned closer to Xiao Man, fixing his gaze on her. "What do you intend to do?"
Xiao Man's expression was serene as she took the tea, poured the water, her movements orderly. "What can I do? Naturally, I'll clear the path for Your Highness." Su Dan Novel Network.
"You want to kill him." Nangong Yu's expression was calm.
Xiao Man poured away the first brew of tea, re-brewed it, and handed it to Nangong Yu. "Your Highness is mistaken. Why would I kill him?"
"Then what do you intend to do?"
"Give him an opportunity to achieve merit, establish his prestige, and contend for military power." Xiao Man smiled broadly. "I'm helping him."
Nangong Yu took a sip of tea. "You can be so kind to him?"
Of course, Xiao Man wouldn't be so kind to Nangong Cheng. If someone else went, her plan wouldn't proceed as smoothly. Only Prince Han was the most suitable candidate.
"Tell me, what do you need this prince to do?" Nangong Yu asked directly. If Xiao Man wanted Nangong Cheng to attack the Wuyue Kingdom, Nangong Cheng would likely never return.
"Facilitate this matter, that's all." Xiao Man said slowly. "When there are multiple enemies, one must first eliminate the weakest before dealing with the strongest. If one chooses the strongest from the outset, in the end, it'll only be mutual destruction, merely weaving clothes for others."
Nangong Yu nodded slowly. Xiao Man had unique insights into power struggles. Sometimes, he couldn't fathom what she was planning. For instance, attacking the Wuyue Kingdom, where the people were all soldiers and skilled in using gu, Nangong Cheng's expedition would likely be a suicide mission. However, to kill a single Nangong Cheng, such elaborate means were unnecessary.
Nangong Yu's eyes shifted slightly. "You want the Wuyue Kingdom!"
Xiao Man looked up at Nangong Yu and smiled meaningfully. "No, I want the Four Kingdoms' trade route!"
Nangong Yu thought carefully. The Wuyue Kingdom was a trade hub, but also an indispensable point on the Four Kingdoms' trade route, and a crucial one at that. If Xiao Man controlled the Four Kingdoms' trade route, she would effectively control the throat of the four nations' trade!
"Xiao Man, I find myself more and more impressed with you," Nangong Yu said softly. "Is this something you want to do yourself, or is someone making you do it?"
"No one can control me. Not my father, nor my master." Xiao Man's expression was calm. "If I want to do something, it is because I want to do it, not because someone wants me to!"
"Very well. In that case, this prince will help you secure the Four Kingdoms' trade route!"
"In that case, this humble subject thanks Your Highness."
"To thank this prince, show me your true feelings. Verbal thanks are ultimately too shallow." Nangong Yu bowed slightly. "Xiao Man, how about you become this prince's..."
Nangong Yu suddenly clutched his chest, pain surging through him, instantly spreading to every limb. Nangong Yu collapsed onto the ground, his teacup overturning, spilling and leaving a stain on the carpet.
"Your Highness!" Xiao Man exclaimed in alarm, quickly rising to check on Nangong Yu. Nangong Yu was trembling with pain, curled up on the ground, writhing in agony. The gu poison had erupted!
Xiao Man was also quite surprised. It wasn't even the fifteenth of the month, yet Nangong Yu's gu poison had erupted. What was going on?
Xiao Man took Nangong Yu's pulse, her face turning ashen. What was happening? Why had the gu poison erupted now? There was clearly still time!
Xiao Man stared blankly for a moment, then calmed down and went to get her medicine box. She had to suppress this gu poison outbreak first, otherwise, Nangong Yu would surely die.
Xiao Man unbuttoned Nangong Yu's robes, and needles were swiftly and accurately inserted into his acupoints. Beneath Nangong Yu's skin, something seemed to be surging. Black threads moved under his skin, a horrifying sight.
As Xiao Man inserted each needle, the blackness beneath the skin gradually calmed down. Nangong Yu, who looked as though he had just been fished out of water, was covered in sweat, his face devoid of any color.
Xiao Man was also quite anxious. She had someone bring hot water to wipe Nangong Yu's body, then covered him with a blanket. Looking at Nangong Yu lying on the carpet, fast asleep, Xiao Man's heart was in turmoil.
Once the gu poison in Nangong Yu's body erupted, he wouldn't have long to live. After three outbreaks, even an immortal couldn't save him.
Xiao Man tremblingly opened the bottom layer of the medicine box. Inside lay a crimson pill. However, she dared not give it to Nangong Yu. After all, she hadn't forgotten that after feeding the pill to the little white rabbit, it had turned into a blood-red rabbit, its blood vessels bursting and dying.