"Is this person crazy?"
"This King believes he is gravely ill, beyond hope of cure!"
Wen Ruyu glanced back at Nangong Yu, then at Si Chen, silently asking with her eyes what was happening, why was His Highness like he had eaten gunpowder?
Si Chen shrugged innocently. How could His Highness be in a good mood when a romantic rival showed up to provoke him?
"Your Highness, the matter you asked me to investigate has some leads."
"Speak."
"The ones who attacked Xiao Man were from the Demonic Palace."
"Demonic Palace?" Nangong Yu's brow furrowed in confusion. Didn't the Demonic Palace have a close relationship with Xiao Man, even being considered her faction? Why would they attack her?
Nangong Yu leaned back against the bolster, his thoughts racing. The murder of Nangong Cheng had openly brought the struggle for the throne to the forefront. Striking him down now would remove him from this conflict. What a clever scheme. "This girl is playing a grand game!"
After leaving the Prince of Qin's manor, Wen Mohan went directly to the General's manor. The servants there had already recognized the promising young official and did not impede him. Wen Mohan proceeded straight to Water Moon Pavilion.
Water Moon Pavilion remained orderly, with the maids diligently performing their duties. Even with Xiao Man unconscious, there was no sign of panic in Water Moon Pavilion.
"Master Wen."
"I've come to see Man'er." Wen Mohan sat by the bedside and took out the jade bracelet he had retrieved from Nangong Yu, placing it on Xiao Man's other wrist.
"Man'er, the things I give you, I'd rather you destroy them than give them to someone else."
Ying Xue brought hot tea. "Master Wen, please have some hot tea. It's been raining outside, and I wonder when it will stop."
"This storm will pass soon," Wen Mohan said gently, accepting the tea. "However, this rain is merely the prelude to a tempest."
Ying Xue frowned. "Master Wen speaks like our young lady, in such a learned manner, I don't understand."
"Oh? Has your young lady said this too?"
"Yes, miss said, 'The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease.' She talked about impending storms, about young swallows, and about enduring storms to reach the end. She said many things."
Wen Mohan listened and then chuckled. "Man'er has always been intelligent and understands the current situation well. It's normal that you don't understand. Take good care of your young lady."
"Master Wen, rest assured, we will take good care of our young lady. She will be fine!"
Wen Mohan nodded, glancing at the still unconscious Xiao Man, he concealed the affection in his eyes. "Man'er, rest assured, I will certainly seek justice for you!"
In the downpour, a figure moved slowly. Though it appeared slow, in an instant, the figure was before them. Any martial arts grandmaster would have been shocked; the long-lost technique of "Shrinking the Ground to an Inch" had appeared.
The person wore a red monk's robe, and with each step, though seemingly slow, they moved incredibly fast. Even walking in the torrential rain, their shoes and socks remained dry, as if the rain posed no threat to them.
Xiao Zhen returned from the army. He removed his conical hat and straw cape and handed them to the gatekeeper. Suddenly, he sensed something behind him and turned. He saw a figure approaching slowly in the downpour, reaching him in an instant.
Xiao Zhen's hand rested on his sword hilt, but as he clearly saw the approaching person's face, he released his grip. "Zen Master Wuyou."
"Amitabha, General, I trust you have been well." Zen Master Wuyou clasped his hands together.
"Master, you haven't descended the mountain in many years, have you?" Xiao Zhen asked, his brow furrowed.
"Indeed. Counting the days, this old monk has not descended the mountain for a full ten years," Zen Master Wuyou said kindly.
"Master, please come inside."
Xiao Zhen led him into the main hall. "Master, what brings you to visit today?"
"This old monk has come today for only one matter," Zen Master Wuyou said with a compassionate smile. "To take Xiao Man away."
Xiao Zhen stood up abruptly, then slowly sat down. "Master, why do you wish to take my daughter away?"
"The Seven Stars Aligning in a Deathly Formation is an unavoidable fate. I have a connection with her and wish to show her a path to survival. It depends on whether the General can bear to part with her."
"My daughter can be saved?" Xiao Zhen was deeply shocked. Even the Imperial Diviner had no solution, yet Zen Master Wuyou had a way to save her?
"Amitabha, this old monk has come precisely for this matter," Zen Master Wuyou clasped his hands. "There is a clear spring at Gan Ye Temple. With the aid of the finest treasures and my Buddhist practices, if the eldest miss were to soak in it daily for three years, there might be a glimmer of hope for survival."
"Three years!" Xiao Zhen hesitated. It wasn't that he didn't trust Zen Master Wuyou. Gan Ye Temple was not far from the capital, and visiting would be easy. However, life in the temple was humble, and he feared Xiao Man would suffer hardship. Moreover, staying for three years – he truly couldn't bear to part with her.
"Does it have to be three years?"
"Three years for a chance at survival. It's worth a try, isn't it?"
Xiao Zhen's expression changed completely, his eyes filled with deep reluctance. But what Wuyou said was right. Three years in exchange for a chance at life was worth attempting. Furthermore, Wuyou's confident arrival suggested he had sufficient assurance of saving Man'er!
"I entrust my daughter to your care, Master."
"As the eldest miss is unconscious," Zen Master Wuyou said unhurriedly, "General, please choose two reliable maids to attend to the eldest miss closely."
"Can I go with her?" Xiao Zhen asked quickly, then felt he was being presumptuous. His daughter was grown, and as a man, how could he take care of Xiao Man? "I will arrange it immediately."
Steward Lu immediately went to Water Moon Pavilion to select the servants to attend to Xiao Man. Judging by the General's intentions, he was preparing to let Zen Master Wuyou take the eldest miss away.
When Steward Lu arrived, Wen Mohan had not yet left. Upon hearing that Xiao Man was to be sent away, a flicker of worry crossed his eyes. "Steward Lu, where is Man'er being sent?"
"Master Wen," Steward Lu bowed respectfully. "Zen Master Wuyou of Gan Ye Temple has personally come and requested to take the eldest miss. The General has agreed. She can bring two maids to attend her. I am here to make the arrangements."
"I will go!" Ying Xue immediately declared. "I will take care of miss."
"I will go too," several maids said in unison.
Steward Lu looked at them. "Ying Xue, Yin Zhu, you will accompany the eldest miss to Gan Ye Temple. As for the rest, manage Water Moon Pavilion well. Miss Qiu Tong, you are an old attendant to miss; I entrust Water Moon Pavilion to you."
Qiu Tong had wanted to go with them, but hearing Steward Lu's words, she gritted her teeth and nodded. "Ying Xue, Yin Zhu, you must take good care of miss."
"Sister Qiu Tong, rest assured, we will take good care of miss."
Wen Mohan hesitated for a moment, then stopped Steward Lu and personally carried Xiao Man onto the carriage. The General doted on Man'er, yet he was willing to painfully entrust her to Zen Master Wuyou. Was it because Zen Master Wuyou had a way to save Man'er?
Xiao Zhen and Wen Mohan stood at the entrance of the General's manor, watching the carriage disappear into the misty rain. "General, can Zen Master Wuyou save Man'er?"
"There is a glimmer of hope," Xiao Zhen said slowly. "Even if it is only a glimmer, I cannot let it pass."
"Is Zen Master Wuyou trustworthy?"
"This person is trustworthy."