"As long as I am here, you will not dare to harm her!" Nan Gongyu said in a low voice. "Coincidentally, we will settle old and new scores today. What you owe to Du Gu Man, and what you owe to her, I will collect it all for them today!"
Nan Gongyu's attacks became increasingly fierce. Mu Rong Sheng Rui was ultimately too young and had not experienced setbacks. How could he be a match for Nan Gongyu, who had honed his skills through actual combat? After several rounds, he was already covered in wounds from Nan Gongyu's attacks.
"Young Master, I will assist you." Wei Wuji saw that Mu Rong Sheng Rui was at a disadvantage and immediately rushed forward, attacking Nan Gongyu's vital points with utmost ferocity.
Nan Gongyu sneered, "Eunuch, how dare you!"
Xiao Man glanced at Nan Gongyu, who was fighting two opponents, and waved her hand. The rigidly prepared Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry immediately charged forward.
Xiao Man continued to sit calmly, brewing tea with an unruffled demeanor, her movements as fluid as flowing water, exceedingly pleasing to the eye. The Northern Rong soldiers fought back valiantly but were no match for the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry. Their formations were shattered, and they were ultimately forced to surrender their weapons. (Sudan Novels)
Mu Rong Sheng Rui’s gaze fell upon Xiao Man, who was calmly brewing tea. She was leisurely and composed, unflustered even when Mount Tai collapsed before her. In his memory, she was always so gentle and demure. Even when angry, she was soft-spoken. But at the appearance of this man, the fleeting surprise and joy in her eyes, along with her girlish demeanor, pierced his eyes and his heart.
"Young Master, let's retreat first!" Wei Wuji grabbed Mu Rong Sheng Rui and quickly withdrew.
Mu Rong Sheng Rui’s gaze remained on Xiao Man. He said something to her, but it was drowned out by the sounds of battle. Xiao Man did not look at him again from beginning to end, as if he were an unrelated stranger!
Disappointment spread in his heart, quickly turning into intense unwillingness. Clearly, the you of the past only had eyes for me. Why do you now refuse to even glance at me?
Xiao Man, having achieved a great victory, then turned to the front gate to coordinate with Zhan Tian Que, encircling Fei Mo's army and capturing Fei Mo alive!
However, those sent to Moke City returned without finding Ulan Na.
"Ulan Na was not found?" Xiao Man was somewhat surprised. "Could Mu Rong Sheng Rui have taken her away?"
"Mu Rong Sheng Rui fled so disastrously, how could he have had time to take her?" Nan Gongyu comforted her. "What did Fei Mo say?"
"He said she was imprisoned in Moke City and was not taken away."
"Master, when we arrived, the guards had been killed, and Princess Ulan Na was nowhere to be found."
"Could someone else have rescued her?" Xiao Man frowned, pondering who would have rescued Ulan Na at this time.
"Don't worry too much. I've already sent people to look for her. She will be fine," Nan Gongyu said gently.
"Right, I still haven't asked you, why did you come to Moxi City?" Xiao Man inquired.
"I received news that Mu Rong Sheng Rui was lurking in the Wu Yue Kingdom, preparing a net to capture you. I was worried about your safety and rushed over." Nan Gongyu reached out and pinched the flesh of Xiao Man's cheek, then released it. "Have you ever kept your promise to me?"
Xiao Man glared at Nan Gongyu and touched her cheek where he had pinched. "I have my ways of dealing with him, which is why I dared to go up. What about you?"
"I have plenty of ways to make him cry for his mother and father," Nan Gongyu said proudly. "Are you capable with your skills?"
Xiao Man was momentarily choked. She admitted she was outmatched. If it were in the past, let alone Mu Rong Sheng Rui, even if Nan Gongyu and Mu Rong Sheng Rui attacked together, she could make them cry for their mothers and fathers!
"If you run all the way to the Wu Yue Kingdom like this, what about the Imperial Capital?" Xiao Man finally softened her attitude. He had traveled thousands of miles to help her; she had to accept his intentions.
"The Imperial Capital is quite lively now. In the months since you left, one dramatic event after another has unfolded there," Nan Gongyu said, gesturing for Xiao Man to pour him a cup of tea so he could speak while drinking.
Xiao Man immediately poured a cup of tea and handed it to him. "What kind of dramatic events?"
"Do you remember the woman we rescued on the road back then?"
"Nian Nu Jiao?" Xiao Man instantly recalled. After all, this person had openly staged a fake accident with her in the Imperial Capital, but it was left unresolved because she was seriously injured.
"Yes, it's her!" Nan Gongyu nodded. "My father arranged a marriage for the Thirteenth Prince. His fiancée is the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Du."
"Grand Tutor Du..." Xiao Man thought carefully. "Is he the one whose eldest daughter had her tongue removed by you?"
"No," Nan Gongyu explained. "Grand Tutor Du is the Emperor's teacher. The one whose tongue I removed was Du Jian Cheng. Although they both have the surname Du, they are not related. Also, Du Jian Cheng is no longer a minister and has been demoted and sent out of the capital."
"Grand Tutor Du is His Majesty's teacher, so he must be an extremely formidable figure."
"Even Prime Minister Wen would respectfully address Grand Tutor Du as 'Grand Tutor.' Grand Tutor Du has immense prestige among literati. Even Prime Minister Wen would not dare to act presumptuously."
"What kind of person is Miss Du?"
"She is also a formidable young lady," Nan Gongyu's voice deepened. "Speaking of which, she almost became the young madam of the Prime Minister's mansion."
"Mo Han?" Xiao Man was slightly confused.
"Yes. Prime Minister Wen fancied Miss Du at the time, and Grand Tutor Du was also quite satisfied with Wen Mo Han. Wen Mo Han also seemed quite pleased with this marriage, and it is said that both families had secretly discussed the marriage. However, for some reason, the marriage ultimately fell through."
Xiao Man stared at Nan Gongyu. Nan Gongyu felt a bit guilty, but his expression remained unchanged. "This Miss Du is beautiful and virtuous, but she is not to be trifled with."
"And then?"
"The Emperor bestowed her in marriage to my Thirteenth brother as his consort. As soon as the imperial decree was issued, Nian Nu Jiao went to the Grand Tutor's mansion to cause trouble."
Xiao Man was not surprised at all. Given Nian Nu Jiao's personality, going to cause trouble was extremely normal. Back then, her third sister was merely Prince Qi's secondary consort, and Nian Nu Jiao still went to provoke her. Now that she was to become the main consort, how could she not cause a scene?
"I assume she didn't get any advantage, did she?"
"Indeed, she gained no advantage," Nan Gongyu said unhurriedly. "Nian Nu Jiao went to cause trouble at their home. The Du family is a scholarly lineage. They should have resolved the matter behind closed doors. But Miss Du insisted otherwise. She opened the door and stood at the entrance, exposing all of Nian Nu Jiao's face and pride. Afterwards, she even had someone invite the Thirteenth Prince over and righteously lectured him, making the Thirteenth Prince wish he could crawl into a dog hole and disappear."
"So the marriage fell through?"
"No, the two will be married next month," Nan Gongyu said, taking a sip of tea. "Man'er, look, Crown Prince Brother already has several children, Third Brother is about to become a father, and although Thirteenth Brother is not yet married, his wedding is approaching. Nian Nu Jiao is also carrying a child. When will we get married?"