"The Crown Prince is impotent?" Nangong Yu's expression was rather amused when he received the news. The Crown Prince was known for his fondness for women and his virility, a secret widely known in the capital. The current rumor of his impotence left Nangong Yu in disbelief.
Suddenly, Nangong Yu recalled Xiao Man's words. It seemed she had given the Crown Prince more than just a tonic to enhance his virility; she had likely laced it with something else, something that would erupt at a certain point, rendering the Crown Prince permanently impotent!
"Your Highness, is this news true?" Wen Ruyu asked in surprise. The Crown Prince being impotent was impossible. After all, the Crown Princess had borne him three children, and with his other consorts, the Crown Prince had two sons and three daughters. If he were truly impotent, how could he have children?
"Has Xu Ruolian been sent away?"
"She has been sent away. We will ensure the Crown Prince's men can never trace the whereabouts of her and her son." Wen Ruyu fanned himself with his fan. The Emperor had decreed Xu Ruolian be put to death, but she was merely a pitiable figure. Officially, she was executed, but in secret, they had smuggled her out of the capital.
"Have you found Murong Shengrui's trace?"
"No, but we are certain he has left Yunqi and his whereabouts are unknown."
Nangong Yu tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table. They had intercepted twelve marriage proposals from Murong Shengrui. In the end, he had no choice but to send his hidden guards with the proposals to infiltrate the capital, finally delivering them to the Emperor. Qu Yang was the overt envoy, meant to attract attention, while Murong Shengrui must have also accompanied him to the capital secretly.
"He must be in the capital," Nangong Yu stated with certainty. "Xiao Ling has returned. His first priority will be to ascertain if Xiao Ling is the person he is searching for. Once he confirms Xiao Ling is not the one, he will undoubtedly lurk in the shadows, searching. When he exposes himself..."
Nangong Yu couldn't fathom what Murong Shengrui might do, considering he was a madman. How could a sane person predict the actions of a lunatic?
"Wen Ruyu, what do you think a madman is thinking?"
"I am not a madman, how would I know what a madman thinks?" Wen Ruyu replied irritably. "Only a madman knows what a madman is thinking."
"Indeed, only a madman knows what a madman thinks. Who do you think is the madman?"
"Xiao Man."
Nangong Yu narrowed his eyes dangerously. Wen Ruyu quickly waved his hands, "She is truly not a normal person. What normal person would deliberately provoke so many powerful enemies on a whim? Look at the people she has provoked, which one of them is normal?"
Nangong Yu paid no attention to Wen Ruyu. Xiao Man was no madwoman. If she truly went mad, the world would tremble. He still couldn't comprehend Xiao Man's true trump card. Murong Shengrui was at their doorstep, yet she remained unperturbed.
"Your Highness, Miss Shan has arrived."
"Come in." Shan Yuyan entered, carrying a food box. Today, she was not accompanied by Liu Zhu, but by Lianyi. Lianyi had been searching for an opportunity to approach Nangong Yu and had found it by seeking out Shan Yuyan, posing as Shan Yuyan's maid to get close to Nangong Yu.
"Your Highness, I had someone cook some porridge and brought it for you to taste." Shan Yuyan handed the food box to Lianyi. Lianyi quickly took it and personally served Nangong Yu a bowl of porridge, presenting it with both hands. However, Nangong Yu didn't even glance at it, continuing to review official documents.
Lianyi held the bowl, unsure whether to set it down or keep holding it, waiting for Nangong Yu's instructions.
Nangong Yu was never a man to dote on women, and even less so when Lianyi was sent by the Empress Dowager. Lianyi's wrist began to ache, and the bowl in her hands trembled uncontrollably. Finally, she couldn't hold on any longer, and the bowl slipped, spilling directly onto the official documents.
"Your Highness, I beg for your forgiveness." Lianyi knelt down in panic. Her hands were sore from holding it for so long, which caused her to lose her grip.
"Since your hands are useless, there is no need to keep them. Guards, drag her away and behead her."
"Your Highness, spare me, Your Highness, spare me."
The guards dragged Lianyi away. The execution was to take place in the courtyard. Screams drifted in from outside. Shan Yuyan acted as if she heard nothing and stepped forward to help Nangong Yu clean the soiled documents.
"How did she end up by your side?"
"The Empress Dowager ordered me to follow her commands."
Nangong Yu sneered. The Empress Dowager truly considered him a puppet. He was not his thirteenth brother, who listened to her in everything, not even daring to pursue the woman he loved.
"Have you been to the General's mansion recently?" Nangong Yu asked, looking at Shan Yuyan.
"No." Shan Yuyan's voice was soft. "Does Your Highness wish for me to go?"
"You and Xiao Man are old acquaintances, weren't you? When you last visited, didn't you catch up?" Nangong Yu asked casually.
"We haven't seen each other for many years; we've grown distant." Shan Yuyan replied calmly. The matters between her and Xiao Man were private and did not require a third party's knowledge; they were secrets between the two of them.
"I recall that in the Imperial Academy, Xiao Man always protected you," Nangong Yu said, taking an official document and resuming his work after the table was cleaned.
Shan Yuyan's expression remained unchanged. "Princess Yongning's protection back then is something Yu Yan will always remember."
"Do you hate me?" Nangong Yu suddenly changed the subject. "After all, your father died because of me."
A complex emotion flickered in Shan Yuyan's eyes, then she slowly shook her head. "I do not hate you. As a subject, it is one's duty to face death for one's lord."
"You are quite open-minded." Nangong Yu suddenly looked at Shan Yuyan. "Were the wontons she made delicious?"
Shan Yuyan's face changed. She looked at Nangong Yu in surprise, her mouth opening but no words coming out, as she was momentarily unsure how to answer Nangong Yu.
Before Shan Yuyan could reply, Nangong Yu turned his gaze away. "It truly makes me jealous. When we were children, she burned her hands with blisters just to make you a bowl of wontons. She even learned to cook because of you. After all these years, despite saying she loves me, she has never made wontons for me."
"Your Highness..."
"Do you know what my first reaction was when I learned you were returning to the capital?"
Shan Yuyan asked cautiously, "I do not know."
"To kill you."
Shan Yuyan's face turned pale. She could feel that Nangong Yu was telling the truth; he truly wanted to kill her!
"My thirteenth brother is close to her, but I have never been jealous of him. Even Qin Zeyan, who was once engaged to her, never made me feel jealous. Only you..." Nangong Yu took a deep breath. "I am very jealous. Even though you are just a woman, I am jealous, because you have received a sincerity that I have always longed for but never obtained."
Hearing this, Shan Yuyan relaxed and straightened her back. "I am relieved to hear Your Highness say that. Your Highness, if, one day, you harm Xiao Man, Yu Yan will never forgive you!"