Xiao Man saw that the surroundings were quiet and deserted, so she took off her clothes and got into the water. The water temperature was just right, so she sank into the water completely.
Since her rebirth, she had been hiding in the General of Protecting the Nation's mansion, sorting out everything she knew while also guarding against everyone in the mansion. Although it was not a deep palace, it was as dangerous as one. Her future was uncertain and fraught with peril, and she dared not make the slightest mistake.
Xiao Man closed her eyes and sank to the bottom of the water, letting the water submerge her head. She let go of her thoughts and, for some reason, the scene from that day flashed in her mind.
Blood everywhere, fires raging like dragons, licking her skin. The intense pain was as if it had etched itself into her bones, leaving her no room to forget!
Suddenly, she heard the sound of water, as if someone had entered the hot springs. Xiao Man's eyes snapped open, and she quietly surfaced. The mist made it difficult to see clearly, but she knew someone had entered the water, yet she hadn't seen anyone!
Xiao Man felt a surge of anxiety. No matter who it was, it would be bad if she were caught bathing with someone. She immediately swam quietly towards the shore. As soon as she reached the shore, she felt someone behind her.
Xiao Man was startled and instinctively struck out with her palm. To her surprise, the other party was prepared, grabbed her wrist, and pulled hard. Xiao Man fell into the person's embrace!
Being in the water, she had no leverage and could not break free from the person's grasp. The man held her tightly, and in the darkness, she could only hear his heavy, suppressed breathing, which seemed to carry pain: "Who... are you?"
A man!
Countless thoughts raced through Xiao Man's mind. Could it be someone sent by the mansion to ruin her reputation again? Would someone come to catch them in the act any moment? How could she escape?
Xiao Man's mind was racing, trying to figure out how to escape. Suddenly, the man buried his head in her neck and sniffed deeply. Just as Xiao Man was contemplating killing him and running, she heard the man who was restraining her say, through gritted teeth, as if with joy, "It's you!"
Xiao Man's heart pounded. Could it be an old acquaintance who recognized her?
As Xiao Man was trying to guess the person's identity, the man bit down on her shoulder fiercely, as if venting, his teeth sinking into her flesh.
Xiao Man gasped in pain and could no longer hold back. She retaliated by biting down hard on the man's shoulder.
The man cried out in pain, and his grip on her loosened slightly. Xiao Man kicked out, sending him falling into the water. Xiao Man then burst out of the water, grabbed her clothes from the shore, quickly put them on, and darted into the bamboo forest, disappearing in an instant.
A moment later, a figure climbed out of the water. It was none other than Prince Qin, Nangong Yu!
Nangong Yu's star-like eyes were filled with rage. How dare that woman escape again!
Tonight was the fifteenth, the night his蛊毒 (gǔdú - poison) would flare up. The hot springs at Gan Ye Temple could help alleviate his pain, which was why he had come to Gan Ye Temple today.
He had not expected that the woman he had been searching for in vain would also be at Gan Ye Temple. Truly, she was found without looking!
A faint taste of blood still lingered in Nangong Yu's mouth. The faint fragrance seemed to still be lingering in his nostrils. The agony of a thousand ants gnawing at his bones had driven him to the brink of madness. However, after encountering that woman, the pain slowly began to lessen and dissipate.
If it was a coincidence once, then twice confirmed it!
That woman must have a way to counteract the蛊毒 within him, or at least alleviate his suffering!
When Nangong Yu felt the pain within a bearable range and no longer hindered his movements, he got out of the water and put on his clothes. Sudan Fiction Network.
"Guards, seal off Gan Ye Temple. No one is allowed to enter or leave!"
Xiao Man hurried out of the bamboo forest and ran headlong into Wen Mohan, who was waiting outside, unable to enter. Wen Mohan was worried about Xiao Man's safety after she had entered a forbidden area, only to have her crash into his arms in a panic.
"Xiao..." Xiao Man covered Wen Mohan's mouth, glanced back at the depths of the bamboo forest, and, disregarding propriety, dragged Wen Mohan away.
Gan Ye Temple was brightly lit, and the heavily armed silver-armored soldiers had surrounded the entire temple. The pilgrims lodging at Gan Ye Temple were all wealthy and influential. Being disturbed late at night, they were quite displeased, but when they saw the guards surrounding the temple, clad in silver armor, they all fell silent.
"Why has Prince Qin's silver-armored army surrounded Gan Ye Temple?" people gathered in twos and threes, whispering and inquiring.
Prince Qin's silver-armored army was valiant and skilled, each a master of the military, and they obeyed only Prince Qin.
It was said that the silver-armored army could fight a hundred with one, which was why no one dared to underestimate Prince Qin, even though he was not born of the Empress.
Si Ye looked at the whispering crowd, then at his master sitting on a chair with a stern expression, wishing he could slap himself. They had failed their duty last time when someone had broken in under their watch.
And this time, that woman had actually broken through his guards again and escaped!
He could already imagine his miserable future!
"His Highness's order is that men stand on the left and women on the right. Because an assassin attacked our Prince and was injured by him, everyone present must be checked for injuries."
Although everyone did not know what had happened, they dared not defy Prince Qin, who never needed a reason to kill. The crowd quickly lined up as instructed.
Si Ye looked at Prince Qin, "My Lord, it is done."
"Are all the people accounted for?" Prince Qin asked lazily. His white robe made him appear ethereal, as if he could ascend to immortality at any moment.
Si Ye asked the monk beside him, "Are all present?"
"The guests in the East and West Courtyards have not come out," the monk replied quickly. The East and West Courtyards were home to the court's dignitaries. Even with Prince Qin's reputation, they might not come out obediently.
"Who resides in these two courtyards?"
"The East Courtyard houses the Prime Minister's wife and her family. The West Courtyard houses the old Madam of the General of Protecting the Nation's mansion and the female dependents of the mansion."
"General of Protecting the Nation's mansion..." Nangong Yu narrowed his eyes. Was it a coincidence?
"Find a wet nurse and have these women go into the rooms one by one to check for injuries," Nangong Yu commanded, then stood up and headed straight for the West Courtyard.
That woman knew martial arts, but the Prime Minister's daughter did not. For some reason, he suspected it was Xiao Man. Thinking of this possibility, Nangong Yu felt a flicker of relief.