Xiao Zhen's face was darker than it had ever been. Gripping his sword, he strode towards the Prince of Han. Prince Nan Gongcheng’s expression changed dramatically. “General, I was entertaining guests in the front hall and had no idea how Xiao Man ended up here. Xiao Man, who was the last person you saw before the incident?”
“It was the Fifteenth Princess,” Xiao Man said slowly. “The Fifteenth Princess was pushed into the water by Princess Zhao Yao. I accompanied the princess to change clothes. While waiting outside, I heard movement from inside the room. When I entered, I found the princess on the ground. As I stepped forward to check on her, I was attacked.”
“When I woke up, there wasn't a soul in the room. I thought you had abandoned me and run, so I went to find Brother Mo Han.”
“That is indeed what happened. The princess came to find me alone. When I discovered Man’er was missing, I immediately brought people to search for her and then encountered Man’er and Xue Kun being brought out by His Highness Prince Qin,” Wen Mo Han stated.
“So, you are all innocent then?” Xiao Zhen's voice was icy. He had returned to the capital, and people dared to harm his daughter under his nose. If they were so audacious now, wouldn’t they be even more brazen in his absence?
“Imperial Uncle.” A guard hurried in and whispered something into Duke Xue's ear. Duke Xue's expression instantly shifted.
“Imperial Uncle, has something happened?” Nan Gongcheng’s heart pounded. What on earth was going on? Who was trying to frame him so maliciously on his wedding day?
“The maidservant sent to my son’s room is dead.” Duke Xue looked at Xiao Zhen. “General, the person behind this is vicious. If His Highness Prince Qin hadn't accidentally discovered the secret room, Miss Xiao would have been the one in trouble. This is clearly an attempt to incite hatred between Duke Xue's mansion and the General's mansion.”
“I believe this is someone trying to sow discord between myself and the General!” The Crown Prince entered with the Crown Princess. “General, please remain calm. I am sure my tenth brother will provide an explanation to the General, to Miss Xiao, and to Duke Xue's mansion.”
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Nan Gongcheng was filled with hatred. He could have distanced himself from this matter, but with the Crown Prince's words, he would have to take responsibility regardless of whether he was involved, as the incident had occurred within his own residence.
“Very well, I will await the Prince of Han’s explanation.” Xiao Zhen immediately sat down beside Xiao Man. “Daughter, do not worry. With your father here, I will certainly seek justice for you. If your eyes can be healed, then all can be discussed. If not, your father will make them pay a hundredfold!”
Nan Gongcheng calmed himself. “Guards, summon the maidservants who brought the princess and Miss Xiao here. Also, summon all the guards and nannies stationed here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Moments later, the guards brought in eight people. However, among them, the maidservant who had brought Xiao Man and the others was nowhere to be seen. “Your Highness, Cui'er has committed suicide by poisoning herself.”
Cui’er was the maidservant who had brought Xiao Man and the others. Nan Gongcheng's heart sank. Cui'er was a maidservant in his mansion. There was no way he could clear his name, even if he jumped into the Yellow River!
Nan Gongcheng steadied himself. “Who was on duty at Biyun Pavilion today?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, it was the two of us. Later, Miss Cui'er brought the Princesses here to change clothes and asked us to step aside. She then had two nannies come, to avoid disturbing the noble guests.”
“Then who replaced them?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, we two were sent to replace them. However, by the time we arrived, there was no one in Biyun Pavilion.”
“You have been so negligent, allowing the princess to be unattended in Biyun Pavilion, leading to Miss Xiao being harmed by an assailant. What crime do you deserve?” Nan Gongcheng surreptitiously glanced at the expressions of Xiao Zhen and Duke Xue, but both men were looking at him with cold indifference.
“Your Highness, spare our lives, Your Highness, spare our lives.” The crowd knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.
“General, Imperial Uncle, this is the negligence of the servants, allowing an assailant to exploit the loophole. I will hand these individuals over to you two for disposal. What are your thoughts?”
Xiao Zhen sneered. “Well said, Your Highness the Prince of Han. Well said, Prince of Han's mansion. My daughter was injured in your mansion, and you offer a few scapegoats to absolve yourself? Today, this General is truly enlightened. Man’er, let us go. If the Prince of Han cannot handle this properly, your father will ask His Majesty to uphold justice for you!”
“General, I did not mean…”
Xiao Zhen picked up Xiao Man and walked out. “From this day forward, my General's mansion will not welcome anyone associated with the Prince of Han!”
Nan Gongcheng clenched his fists, a flicker of hatred in his eyes. That old fool, let him be arrogant for a few more days. Once I ascend the throne, the Protectors of the Nation's General's mansion will be the first to be annihilated!
“If His Highness the Prince of Han cannot provide Duke Xue's mansion with a satisfactory explanation, our Duke Xue's mansion will not let this matter rest! Take the young master, we are leaving.”
On the way back to the mansion, Xiao Zhen’s face was filled with grief. He reached out to touch Xiao Man, but hesitated, fearing his trembling hand would worry her.
“Daddy…”
“Man’er, do not be afraid. Even if I have to pour all my resources, I will cure your eyes,” Xiao Zhen vowed.
Xiao Man nodded slowly, her mind racing. It was Nan Gongcheng's wedding day, and he shouldn’t seek to cause trouble for himself on such a day. However, to be familiar with the mechanisms and layout of the Prince of Han's mansion, to be able to mobilize the Prince of Han's mansion's guards and maids, and to be able to silence witnesses in time – the perpetrator must be someone from the Prince of Han's mansion!
Nan Gongcheng had always intended to ruin her reputation and marry her as a concubine to gain the support of the General's mansion. However, now that he had married Wen Mo Yu, he had also achieved his goal. Therefore, the person who attacked her today, even if it wasn't Nan Gongcheng himself, must be someone connected to him. In essence, the conflict between the Crown Prince's mansion and the General's mansion benefited only the Prince of Han.
The Prince of Han's mansion had been prepared long ago. The Prince of Han had recently been enfeoffed and had moved out to reside there. Apart from the builders, only the Prince of Han himself, the master of the mansion, was familiar with its mechanisms and layout. Even if Nan Gongcheng wasn't the one who committed the act, he was definitely an accomplice.
A face flashed in Xiao Man's mind. After a long sigh, Xiao Zhen heard her sigh, his nose twitched, and he almost shed tears, but he held them back. His dislike for Nan Gongcheng grew even more.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the General's mansion. The coachman's voice came through, “General, the Third Miss… the Third Miss is kneeling at the gate.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhen frowned and alighted the carriage, holding Xiao Man.
When Xiao Ling saw Xiao Zhen disembark, a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes. Her gaze then fell upon Xiao Man, who was being held by Xiao Zhen, and a look of astonishment crossed her face. “Daddy, what happened to Eldest Sister?”
“A dignified young lady of the General's mansion, kneeling outside for what reason? Yan Jia Yi was the one who made a mistake, not you,” Xiao Zhen said in a gentle tone.
“Thank you for your leniency, Daddy.” Xiao Ling replied obediently, then followed Xiao Zhen into the General's mansion.
The butler stepped forward. “General…”
“Go and invite Physician Ye.”
“Yes.”
Chapter 188 The Death of Li Zhao Yao