The spectators glared at Xiao Man with hateful eyes. Couldn't you just let the Prince of Qin win once, you brat? You're going further and further each time. Don't you see the Prince of Qin's face is as dark as a stormy sky, ready to erupt into a hurricane at any moment?
Despite their resentment, the crowd couldn't help but admire Xiao Man. Facing the Prince of Qin, she refused to back down. This backbone of refusing to bow to power was the true spirit of a chess player. No wonder they weren't her match! For a moment, everyone began to worry about Xiao Man's predicament, fearing she would fall victim to the Prince of Qin's wrath for constantly embarrassing him.
"Haha." The Prince of Qin suddenly burst into laughter, a wild sound. "You are very good."
Xiao Man narrowed her eyes, her heart pounding. "I'm doomed, I'm doomed. Nan Gongyu is laughing like this, he must be plotting how to deal with me in his mind?"
"Your chess skills are superb, Your Highness. I humbly admit defeat," Nan Gongyu said frankly. "I thought my game with you would at least be evenly matched, but it seems I still have a long way to go. I must work hard."
Xiao Man's smile remained unchanged. "What do you mean?"
"Your Highness is too modest. I merely won by luck."
"You are a person of great talent, Sir. I wish to invite you to be my chess tutor. What do you say?"
Xiao Man slowly opened her eyes. So this is what he had planned!
"I dare not accept the title of tutor. If Your Highness wishes to spar, you may seek me out anytime." Xiao Man politely refused. If she agreed, she would never be able to leave the Prince of Qin's mansion.
Nan Gongyu stood up and descended from the stage. "Guards, invite Sir Xiao to be our guest at the Prince of Qin's mansion."
"Sir Xiao, please." Si Chen and Si Ye stepped forward, their demeanor suggesting that if Xiao Man didn't comply, they would drag her to the Prince of Qin's mansion.
Xiao Man slowly rose and stepped off the stage. The Prince of Qin was in front of her, and Si Chen and Si Ye were behind her. There was no escape. Fortunately, Xiao Man didn't intend to flee.
"Your Highness, it was just a chess game. Why trouble Xiao Qin?" someone immediately spoke up in Xiao Man's defense.
Nan Gongyu stopped. "Which eye of yours saw me troubling her? I am merely inviting Sir Xiao Qin to be our guest at the Prince of Qin's mansion."
Under the gaze of the crowd, Xiao Man boarded the Prince of Qin's mansion's carriage. Those from the Chess Pavilion rushed out. "Xiao Qin is finished now. He dared to publicly offend the Prince of Qin!"
"Alas, who told him to be so arrogant, showing no regard for anyone. He's finally met his match!"
At the Prince of Qin's mansion, Xiao Man calmly drank her tea. "Prince Chu sent me to persuade you to cooperate with him and deal with the Crown Prince."
Nan Gongyu pushed the pastries beside him towards Xiao Man. "Try these pastries."
Seeing Nan Gongyu deflecting the topic, Xiao Man didn't get angry. She picked up a pastry and took a bite, then couldn't help but frown. "Is your mansion's chef sick?"
"Not good?"
"It seems you mistook salt for sugar," Xiao Man put down the pastry. "It's inedible."
Upon hearing this, Nan Gongyu immediately picked one up and took a bite. His brow furrowed instantly. "It is indeed inedible."
Si Ye glared at Xiao Man. These were pastries His Highness had made since before dawn. It was one thing not to eat them, but to dislike them so much! You're getting too much respect!
Si Ye began to roll up his sleeves. Si Chen saw this and quickly grabbed him. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to teach this little brat a lesson for saying His Highness's handmade pastries are inedible! He's gotten too much leniency!"
Nan Gongyu was already embarrassed by the bad pastries, and then Si Ye exposed him on the spot. He looked at Si Ye with a gaze as venomous as poison, exceptionally terrifying!
Yet, Si Ye didn't understand why Nan Gongyu was angry. While rolling up his sleeves, he said, "Your Highness, don't be angry. Your subordinate will immediately teach him the ways of the world. He truly thinks my master has a good temper... Ouch..."
Si Chen looked at the inkstone in his hand, then at the unconscious Si Ye. He quickly put down the inkstone and dragged Si Ye away by one leg, fleeing swiftly. "This kid doesn't sleep at night and slacks off during the day. Your subordinate will discipline him."
Xiao Man couldn't help but chuckle. "Your two guards are truly like a pair of clowns."
Nan Gongyu's face darkened, and he remained silent.
Xiao Man felt awkward and mumbled, "I didn't know you made them. If I had known..."
"If you had known, what would you have done?"
"I definitely wouldn't have said they were inedible," Xiao Man said decisively. "I would have been more tactful, for example, I would have said I don't like them."
Xiao Man's explanation was worse than not saying anything. After she spoke, Nan Gongyu's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and he radiated cold air. "The braised rabbit made by my thirteenth brother, was it delicious?"
Xiao Man flinched. "That was made by his mansion's chef. How can it compare to the sincerity of Your Highness cooking it yourself?"
"Since you are representing my third brother today, shouldn't you also show some sincerity?" Nan Gongyu asked.
Xiao Man finally understood. The Prince of Qin made these deadly pastries precisely to get her to cook for him.
"What do you want to eat?"
"As long as it's made by you, I'll eat it."
Xiao Man reluctantly stood up and, with practiced ease, headed to the Prince of Qin's mansion's kitchen. After all, she had been to the Prince of Qin's mansion countless times and was quite familiar with its layout.
Nan Gongyu followed her like a young bride. While Xiao Man busied herself in the kitchen, he sat by the stove, fanning the fire for Xiao Man, and occasionally using his free hand to help her prepare vegetables.
"Joining forces to deal with the Crown Prince, that was your idea, wasn't it?" Nan Gongyu said while preparing vegetables.
"He had his own ideas. He was just trying to test me," Xiao Man said while chopping vegetables. "Although I knew he was not simple, I didn't expect his schemes to be so deep."
"The weapons the Crown Prince privately forged have yet to be found. I suspect he is harboring private soldiers," Nan Gongyu looked up at the busy Xiao Man. "You should be careful at Prince Chu's mansion."
"I'm aware," Xiao Man placed the chopped vegetables on a plate. The pot emanated the aroma of rice. She immediately washed the pot and stir-fried the dishes. Nan Gongyu washed and drained the prepared vegetables and went back to the stove to fan the fire.
"The Grand Tutor is still missing."
"He will appear when the time is right," Xiao Man said softly. "I just haven't figured out what role he is playing yet."
"His ambitions are surely not small," Nan Gongyu ignited the fire. The firelight illuminated his face, making his features appear more three-dimensional, making it impossible to look away.
"Whatever he is plotting, he will eventually reveal his true colors," Xiao Man said slowly. "Once I catch his tail, I will surely expose him!"
Nan Gongyu glanced at Xiao Man, about to speak, but ultimately chose to remain silent. Although Feng Tianlan's whereabouts had not been found, according to the clues, Feng Tianlan had been searching for medicine outside. His feelings for Xiao Man might have been genuine, but this Xiao Man was no longer the same Xiao Man. The crimes Feng Tianlan had committed would ultimately have to be borne by himself!