Wen Mohan did not wish to look at Wen Moyu, who was struggling in her death throes. Her heart was torn to pieces. It would take twelve hours for the poison to take effect and lead to death. He was now desperate to be by Xiao Man's side. He ordered his men to gather information on the Wuyue Kingdom while he packed his bags, preparing to travel there.
"You intend to rush to the Wuyue Kingdom based on mere unsubstantiated news?" Cen Yu asked, bewildered. He was genuinely surprised that Xiao Man had managed to subdue the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry and wasn't concerned for her safety. After all, the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry was no pushover; they were an invincible army.
"The Yun Emperor is vicious. I worry that Man'er might fall into his trap."
"Xiao Man is no naive lamb to be bullied," Cen Yu said, placing a hand on him. "Calm yourself. You are the Imperial Envoy for disaster relief. How can you simply leave?"
"Cen Yu, I entrust everything here to you. I must go to the Wuyue Kingdom myself to confirm her safety," Wen Mohan stated resolutely. "Without personally ensuring her safety, I cannot rest."
"Mohan, if everything Wen Moyu said is true, her ambitions are not small," Cen Yu suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Subduing the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry, colluding with the Wuyue Kingdom, the defeat of the Han King's army—it was likely her doing. Whatever Xiao Man intended, a moment's thought sent shivers down one's spine.
"Cen Yu, have you forgotten what I told you? Even if she intends to overturn the heavens, I will support her," Wen Mohan said calmly. "From the moment I chose her, I decided the path I would walk."
"Mohan, don't you feel wronged?" Cen Yu asked with a pang of sympathy. He was a noble young master admired by all, yet he was consumed by thoughts of Xiao Man. And that woman was heartless. He feared that Wen Mohan would give his all and gain nothing in the end. "Aren't you afraid of giving everything and receiving nothing in return?"
Wen Mohan swung himself onto his horse. "I don't expect anything in return. I just try my best to love her. Even if I gain nothing in the end, I will have been true to myself and to her. Cen Yu, I leave this place to you."
Cen Yu watched Wen Mohan and his men gallop away, a helpless, bitter smile on his lips. "No expectation of return, only a clear conscience?"
"Patriarch, Wen Moyu wishes to see you."
"She wants to see me?" Cen Yu let out a scoff, but he still walked in. Wen Moyu was curled up on the ground, writhing in pain. The agony of the poison was tormenting her, truly tearing her heart to shreds, making her wish for death.
Cen Yu dragged a chair over, crossed his arms, and kicked his legs up, sitting before Wen Moyu. He calmly savored her tragic struggle in her final moments.
Wen Moyu was in too much pain to speak. She looked up along Cen Yu's leg. "Brother Cen, save me..."
"I cannot help you," Cen Yu's voice was utterly indifferent.
Wen Moyu looked at Cen Yu in astonishment. Cen Yu had always treated her well, always readily agreeing to her requests. Her repeated schemes against Xiao Man had been possible thanks to his help.
"Brother Cen... you... don't you like me? If you save me, I'll agree to anything."
"I have never liked you," Cen Yu's voice was exceptionally heartless, but it was the truth. He had never liked Wen Moyu.
"Then why did you always agree to my requests and help me against Xiao Man?" Wen Moyu asked, confused. Cen Yu had always provided her with unconditional help. She had always assumed Cen Yu liked her, but now he claimed he never had. Then why had he helped her behind Wen Mohan's back?
Many scenes flashed through Wen Moyu's mind. In an instant, she seemed to understand. Finally, her gaze settled on Cen Yu's face. "It was you!"
Cen Yu's expression remained unchanged. He calmly watched Wen Moyu. "How does it feel to have your heart torn to shreds?"
"You harmed me!" Wen Moyu struggled fiercely. "It was you!"
"Don't get too agitated, or you will only suffer more," Cen Yu said gently.
Wen Moyu's eyes were filled with hatred. "It was you, from beginning to end, you harmed me!"
"Wen Moyu, I did not harm you. On the contrary, I have always been helping you," Cen Yu's alluring face became even more bewitching.
"You instigated my dissatisfaction with Xiao Man, you gave me the Fire Charm Poison, you gave me advice, you had me poison Prince Qin, and you repeatedly incited me to deal with Xiao Man!" Wen Moyu struggled to sit up. "Why, why did you do this to me?"
Cen Yu merely smiled gently, not answering Wen Moyu's question.
Wen Moyu spat out a mouthful of black blood and collapsed back onto the ground. "You dislike Xiao Man, you hate her, you wish her dead, why?"
A flicker of dark light flashed in Cen Yu's eyes. He neither admitted nor denied it.
Wen Moyu carefully recalled the past. In fact, at the beginning, she didn't dislike Xiao Man at all. She even admired her. But Cen Yu would always subtly mention Xiao Man's faults to her and her brother, causing her to resent Xiao Man and create conflicts.
Cen Yu knew she liked Prince Qin, so he devised strategies for her, having her drug Prince Qin on the Qixi Festival... but by a twist of fate, she lost her purity to Prince Han. Cen Yu subtly guided her, blaming everything on Xiao Man. Xiao Man had stolen the man she loved, caused her to lose her chastity, and secretly helped her scheme against Xiao Man.
What feud did Xiao Man and Cen Yu have? As far as she knew, they should have no grievances. Then why did Cen Yu insist on Xiao Man's death? What was the commonality between her, Cen Yu, and Xiao Man?
Wen Moyu suddenly looked up at Cen Yu, but due to the poison, she was weak and fell back to the ground. "Haha, I understand, I understand! From beginning to end, I was just a pawn you used to compete for favor, hahaha."
The smile on Cen Yu's face faded. He quietly watched the seemingly deranged Wen Moyu, saying nothing.
"You dealt with Xiao Man, trying every means to put her to death, because of my brother!" Wen Moyu rolled onto her back, a mournful smile gracing her lips. Cen Yu was always inseparable from her brother. He disliked Xiao Man not because Xiao Man said he was more handsome than the male escorts at Lanxiao Pavilion, but because her brother had once unintentionally praised Xiao Man as a good girl, and Xiao Man was the only woman her brother had ever praised.
"You despicable, shameless, vile wretch! How dare you covet my brother!" Wen Moyu roared with all her might.
The smile on Cen Yu's face vanished completely. His pair of amorous peach blossom eyes filled with killing intent. "Just a lowly wench born from a brothel prostitute, and you truly think you are his sister?"
Wen Moyu gritted her teeth and glared at the androgynous man before her. Such a beautiful face, yet such a malicious heart. If not for his instigation, she would still be the esteemed eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion, and her brother might have long since been in love with Xiao Man and flown together like a pair of mandarin ducks!
"If my brother knew you harbored such filthy thoughts towards him, he would surely distance himself from you!"
"He will not know."