Xiao Man scaled the wall and entered the courtyard without alerting anyone, but she startled Ying Xue, who was guarding the room, upon entering.
Ying Xue breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Xiao Man who had climbed through the window.
"My dear young lady, you've finally returned. If you didn't come back soon, the manor would have been in chaos," Ying Xue exclaimed.
Chu Xue quickly sprang from the bed. Xiao Man had been gone for a full month.
During this time, she had been impersonating Xiao Man, lying in bed feigning weakness. Her bones ached from it.
"Miss, if you hadn't returned soon, I wouldn't have been able to keep up the pretense," Chu Xue said, stretching her arms.
"Haven't I returned?" Xiao Man instructed, "First, have someone bring hot water. I need to bathe and change. Ying Xue, tell me what happened in the manor while I was away."
"Miss, while you were away, the Third Concubine made a mistake and had her authority over the household stripped by the Old Madam. The authority has now fallen back into Madam's hands," Ying Xue recounted the recent events of the manor, adding, "Also, the Third Miss has returned to the manor. She found a spiritual medicine while out and healed Consort Xian's facial injuries, gaining considerable favor with Consort Xian."
"Any news from the upper court?"
"The Old Madam came to see you, Miss. Seeing that you were always sickly, she paid you little mind," Ying Xue said this with a hint of grievance, as the Old Madam's demeanor clearly suggested she thought their young lady was in decline.
"Her disliking me is not a new thing. She knows perfectly well why I've been lying in bed in a weakened state. Speak of the important matters."
"Madam has arranged a marriage for the Second Miss. The groom is the son of Master Ling, the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture."
Xiao Man looked up at Ying Xue. "What kind of person is Master Ling's son?"
"Indeed, this man is impeccable, pure and self-disciplined, a rare good man. However, he is bold and unafraid of trouble, a bit of a troublemaker. He is currently a constable in the Capital Prefecture. It's said he is upright and just, treating high officials and commoners alike, regardless of their status." Ying Xue relayed all the information she had gathered to Xiao Man.
"Madam has truly gone to great lengths," Xiao Man sighed. This seemed like a good marriage, but on their wedding night, it would likely erupt into chaos. Moreover, she didn't believe this marriage would succeed.
"Miss, what do you mean by that?"
"From the information you've gathered, this Master Ling is a man who cannot tolerate any wrong. If he learns on his wedding night that the Second Miss is not a virgin, with his bold and fearless nature, do you think he will cause a scene?"
Ying Xue gasped, "Then the General's manor's reputation..."
"Don't worry, the General's manor's reputation will not be harmed, because Master Ling will not allow his son to cause a scene. But the Second Miss will suffer greatly. She will surely be tormented and might even die mysteriously at the Ling family's home." Xiao Man sighed. Women in the inner chambers were adept at using these bloodless means of murder.
"These past few days, the Second Miss has been coming to beg the Eldest Miss for help every day. But Miss is not here, and we've kept our doors shut. Miss, what should we do? Should we stand by and do nothing?" Ying Xue asked cautiously. Now that Xiao Xiang had thrown her lot in with Xiao Man, if they did nothing, it might dishearten their subordinates.
"Is the wedding date set?" Su Dan Novel Network
"It is set for the twenty-eighth of June."
"There's still time, no need to rush. Tomorrow morning, please invite the Second Miss over to discuss it," Xiao Man said slowly.
Madam's scheme was based on the assumption that neither Xiao Xiang nor anyone from the General's manor would dare to publicize Xiao Xiang's non-virginity. She was the only one Madam had miscalculated.
"Yes, Miss."
"Also, issue an order: exterminate the Jiuyu Tower. I want Jiuyu Tower to cease to exist from this day forward!"
"Your subordinate obeys."
After Nangong Yu sent Xiao Man back to the General's manor, he returned to the Prince of Qin's manor. As soon as he arrived, Wen Ruyu quietly entered his room.
"You've finally deigned to return."
"Have you investigated the matter I asked you to look into?"
"I have. Dugumun is indeed dead. Her body is in the underground palace beneath Emperor Yun Qi's sleeping quarters, but there's something strange about it," Wen Ruyu said with some doubt.
"What is strange?"
"It's said Dugumun was burned to death in Shou Kang Palace, but the body in the underground palace is completely intact, with no signs of burns."
Nangong Yu frowned. "Are you sure it's the same person?"
"Our people opened the coffin and examined the body. It is indeed the same person."
Nangong Yu couldn't help but wonder, if Dugumun was already dead, then why had those connected to Dugumun gathered in the capital, and why had they gathered around him?
Nangong Yu felt he was overlooking something, but he couldn't figure out what it was.
Wen Ruyu looked at the dispirited Nangong Yu and snapped his jade fan shut. "Snap out of it. I heard that you almost lost your life saving Xiao Man in Yunzhong City this time."
Nangong Yu didn't look at Wen Ruyu but said gravely, "My trip to the border this time was quite fruitful."
"How so?"
"The Demon Cult leader's real name is Yu Qianmo."
"The Young Master of the Martial Alliance!" Wen Ruyu quickly interjected. "Then why does he call himself the Demon Cult leader?"
"Perhaps he's caused too much trouble and fears people will find the Martial Alliance, so he adopted that name." Nangong Yu said slowly. "He was also in Yunzhong City this time."
"Tsk, trouble follows this man wherever he goes. Were you implicated by him again?" Wen Ruyu fanned himself with his jade fan.
"It wouldn't be considered being implicated by him. Also, I've always found Xiao Man's movement technique familiar. If Yu Qianmo hadn't mentioned the name of that technique, I wouldn't have remembered it." Nangong Yu still felt he was overlooking something, and something very important. "Ping Zong Bu, Dugumun's lightness skill."
Wen Ruyu gasped, "Your Highness suspects that Miss Xiao is colluding with Yun Qi?"
"No, she would never collude with Yun Qi." Nangong Yu said slowly. "Xiao Man's martial arts do not seem to be taught by Xiao Zhen. Go and investigate who taught Dugumun her skills."
"You suspect these two share the same master?"
"Highly likely. Given Xiao Man's aversion to Yun Qi and her attitude towards Du Gu Ming Yu, she should know Dugumun. Otherwise, there would be no need for her to risk her life to save Du Gu Ming Yu. The key is to find the connection between these two. I feel that if we can clarify their connection, all the mysteries will be solved."
"Alright, I will handle this matter for you."
"Also, issue an order. I want Jiuyu Tower to disappear!"
"Understood!"
Nangong Yu stood up, pushed open the window, and looked at the jade wheel in the sky.
I thought you were still alive. I never imagined you truly met your end in the deep palace. How shall I repay what I owe you?
What you owe me, who should I claim it from?