The Crown Prince, the King of Chu, the King of Qin, the King of Han, and the King of Qi all held their own territories. Behind the Crown Prince stood the Empress and the maternal uncle's mansion. The King of Qin commanded military power and had a distinguished record of military achievements. The King of Han was supported by the virtuous consort and the Ministry of Personnel, and could even gain some assistance from the Prime Minister's mansion. The King of Qi had the powerful Jin family and the virtuous consort behind him.
After much calculation, the King of Chu appeared to be the weakest, with no maternal family support, no military power, and a frail physique. To establish himself in the capital, his greatest desire would be to win over the neutral officials.
"The King of Chu has been in Jiangnan for ten years and has certainly not achieved nothing," Xiao Man said, her eyes dark and distant. "Yingxue."
"Your servant is here."
"Send a message to Ajin. Jiangnan is his territory. Have him investigate what the King of Chu was doing during those ten years in Jiangnan." Xiao Man felt that the King of Chu was unfathomable. Since returning to the capital, he rarely went out and seldom associated with officials, as if his only reliance was the Emperor's favor. Yet, Xiao Man felt something was amiss.
She vividly remembered the first time she saw the King of Chu, his smiling eyes, tranquil and unfathomable, as if all things were within his gaze and under his control. Among the princes, the King of Chu gave her the impression of being the most inscrutable.
"Miss, Young Master Wen is here," Qiu Tong reported as she entered. Originally, she had intended to send him away directly, but Wen Mohan insisted he would not leave without seeing Xiao Man, so Qiu Tong finally came to report.
Xiao Man's hand paused slightly as she was about to place a chess piece. "Mohan? What is he doing here at this hour? Please invite him in."
Wen Mohan entered, bringing with him a gust of cold air. His pale complexion lent him an air of fragile refinement that evoked pity.
"Man'er."
"It's snowing, the roads are difficult, and it's cold. Why aren't you recuperating at home? What are you running around for?" Xiao Man put down her chess piece and invited Wen Mohan to sit. A maid immediately served hot tea.
Wen Mohan sat directly opposite Xiao Man, his gaze falling on the chessboard. "If I didn't come, I fear you would never speak to me again."
Xiao Man immediately understood that Wen Mohan likely already knew. "Since you already know, I'll be frank. I and..."
"Wen Moyu is Wen Moyu, and I am me," Wen Mohan interrupted. "She is now the esteemed Princess of Han, with her own choices. What she does has nothing to do with the Prime Minister's mansion, nor does it have anything to do with me. Father has already recalled the Prime Minister's mansion's hidden guards and will no longer provide her with any assistance. Man'er, please don't hold my grudge against her actions against me, alright?"
"You are, after all, siblings. Blood is thicker than water," Xiao Man said softly. "I simply don't want you to be caught in the middle and find yourself in a difficult position. You should understand that the best relationship between us is no relationship at all."
"Man'er, don't be so cruel to me," Wen Mohan pleaded. "I am different from her, and I will not do anything to harm you because of her. Please believe me, okay?"
"But I will do something to harm you because of her," Xiao Man stated decisively. Hesitation leads to trouble. The closer you are to her, the greater the harm to you, Wen Mohan."
"You won't."
"I will," Xiao Man declared firmly. "If she tries to harm me again, I will kill her. At that time, how will you face me?"
"I told you, that is her choice. Everyone must be responsible for their own choices. Wen Moyu is like that, and so am I," Wen Mohan said softly. "Even if you kill her, I will still be me, and nothing will change. How I faced you before, I will continue to face you in the future."
"Why make things so difficult for yourself?"
Wen Mohan shook his head. "I am not making things difficult for myself. I simply don't wish for you to regard me as an enemy, and I will not become your enemy."
Xiao Man sighed with helplessness. "Fine, fine. In terms of eloquence, ten of me are no match for you. I originally intended it for your own good, but in the end, I seem to be the villain."
"As long as you don't hold my grudge for what others have done, I will be relieved," Wen Mohan said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Tomorrow is my coming-of-age ceremony. You will come, won't you?"
Xiao Man nodded slowly. "I will."
Wen Mohan smiled brightly upon receiving Xiao Man's reply. "With your answer, I am at ease. If so, I'll see you tomorrow."
Xiao Man stood up to see Wen Mohan out. As Wen Mohan stood, he swayed slightly. Xiao Man quickly supported him. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I suppose I've been sitting for too long, and I'm a bit dizzy," Wen Mohan said, catching his breath. "It's nothing."
Xiao Man frowned and placed her finger on Wen Mohan's wrist. His pulse was irregular, weak, and faint. She then felt Wen Mohan's forehead; it was burning hot. He had a fever.
"Someone," Xiao Man called out, and people quickly entered to help Wen Mohan onto a couch. She reached to loosen his belt. Wen Mohan's face turned red, and he quickly stopped her.
"Man'er, I'm fine."
"Whether you're fine or not, I'll know after I check. Now, take your hand away," Xiao Man said irritably. One by one, they were all so troublesome, the King of Qin, and now Wen Mohan. Didn't they know how to take care of themselves?
Wen Mohan's abdominal wound had festered and become inflamed, causing his high fever. Xiao Man felt a headache coming on after seeing it.
"Does the Prime Minister's mansion not have a physician?"
Wen Mohan remained silent. "The people in the mansion always make a fuss. I applied the medicine myself."
"You bathed, didn't you?" Xiao Man asked coldly. "In this cold weather, to let a wound fester and become inflamed, you're truly asking for it."
Wen Mohan acted like a naughty child, saying in a small voice, "I feel uncomfortable all over if I don't bathe for a day..."
Xiao Man took out a sharp little knife. "I need to remove the rotten flesh from the wound. It will be very painful, so bear with it."
Wen Mohan nodded, but he underestimated his own tolerance for pain. When the knife cut into his flesh, the pain instantly brought tears to his eyes. The tears welled up, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall. Only after Xiao Man had finished cleaning the rotten flesh from the wound and applied the medicine did Wen Mohan let out a muffled groan.
"Does it hurt?"
Wen Mohan nodded, tears almost falling. Xiao Man said angrily, "You deserve it! I hope it hurts like hell! Serves you right for not following medical advice."
Wen Mohan felt wronged. "Can't you offer me some comfort?"
"No!" Xiao Man said decisively. "This is all your own doing! If there's a next time, I won't bother treating you. Just find a rope and hang yourself; it'll be easier."
"I wouldn't bear to die."
"Then why are you trying so hard to court death?" Xiao Man said while washing her hands. "For ten days, no bathing, and don't let the wound get wet. Change the dressing daily, have the physician do it. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Wen Mohan was truly as obedient as a child who had made a mistake, listening to Xiao Man's lecture.