Xiao Man’s expression was calm. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“You should also know that His Majesty will not allow me to marry you,” Xiao Man stated frankly. “Besides, I promised Mo Han that I would give him a chance.”
Nangong Yu’s expression changed. “You give him a chance, and then you strip me of my rights?”
Xiao Man fell silent. There was no future between her and Nangong Yu. In fact, in the near future, they were very likely to become enemies. This was also why she had never considered marrying Nangong Yu.
“Have you never thought about marrying me?” Nangong Yu asked again, seeing Xiao Man’s silence.
“Yes,” Xiao Man nodded slowly.
Nangong Yu’s eyes reddened, but he forced himself to suppress it. He couldn’t understand why Xiao Man dared not face her own feelings, even though she clearly had feelings for him in her heart!
“You’re lying!” Nangong Yu grabbed Xiao Man’s shoulders. “You said that the moment you first saw me, you wanted to possess me. How could you possibly have never thought of marrying me?”
Xiao Man was shocked. “When did I ever say that?”
“That night, you were drunk and told me yourself. They say that one speaks the truth when drunk. Xiao Man, is it only when you’re drunk that you reveal your true feelings?”
Xiao Man inwardly cursed her drunken indiscretion. How could she have said anything and everything!
“Just drunken ramblings, please don’t take it seriously…” Nangong Yu sealed Xiao Man’s lips. Xiao Man was too rational, which was a virtue, but he hated her rationality. He wished Xiao Man could be like any other young girl, swept away by love and willing to take a gamble with him. But Xiao Man wouldn’t. She always remained rational. Even if she momentarily lost herself, afterward, she would calmly erase all traces, as if nothing had happened.
After a long while, Nangong Yu released Xiao Man, a triumphant smile in his eyes. “You have feelings for me, otherwise, you would have pushed me away long ago.”
Xiao Man gritted her teeth. “Lust is a basic human desire. I can be captivated by beauty, it’s not unusual.”
Nangong Yu let out a muffled laugh. He placed his hands on Xiao Man’s sides, lowering his body. “I am honored that you like my beauty. So, if beauty is offered to you, do you want to partake?”
Xiao Man pushed against Nangong Yu’s chest, her expression unchanged. “Your Highness Prince Qin, you dropped something!”
Nangong Yu remained unmoved. “What dropped?”
“Your integrity!” Xiao Man said through gritted teeth. “The aloof and proud Prince Qin, when did you become like a street hooligan?”
Upon hearing this, Nangong Yu pressed himself even lower, almost touching Xiao Man. “Then, Man’er, can you help this prince pick it up?”
“Master…” Zhan Tian Que pushed the door open. Seeing Xiao Man pressed against the table by Nangong Yu, he quickly blocked the person behind him and swiftly closed the door. “This subordinate has disturbed you.”
“General Zhan, what is it?” another voice, gentle as the wind, inquired.
“Young Master Mo, I apologize, my master seems to be occupied at the moment.” Zhan Tian Que’s intuition told him that Wen Mo Han must not know that Prince Qin was currently in Xiao Man’s room, intimately embracing.
Xiao Man quickly pushed Nangong Yu away and got up to open the door. Nangong Yu sat down on a chair nearby, quite displeased at having his intimate moment interrupted.
“Tian Que.” Xiao Man opened the door calmly, her gaze extending past Zhan Tian Que to look behind him. She had heard Wen Mo Han’s voice earlier and had come out specifically to confirm she wasn’t hallucinating.
“Man’er.” Wen Mo Han peeked out from behind Zhan Tian Que. “Are you alright?”
“It really is you.” Xiao Man was a little surprised to see the travel-worn Wen Mo Han. “How did you get here?”
“I captured a spy, and from him, I learned that the Young Emperor Yun Qi has set a trap here, intending to harm you. I was worried about your safety, so I rushed over,” Wen Mo Han said softly. “Fortunately, you are unharmed.”
Zhan Tian Que stood between them, winking at Xiao Man. *Grandma, there’s still a man hidden in your room. Aren’t you afraid of capsizing the boat by opening the door so openly?*
Xiao Man pushed Zhan Tian Que aside. “Are you having a cramp? You’re shaking nonstop.”
Hearing this, Zhan Tian Que almost spat out a mouthful of blood. *I’m doing this for your own good, and you think I have a problem? Fine, I won’t bother with you anymore. I want to see if these two, Wen Mo Han and Nangong Yu, will fight when Wen Mo Han sees Nangong Yu in your room.*
Xiao Man slowly walked to Wen Mo Han. “Thank you for your concern. This journey must have been very arduous. I’ll have someone prepare a room for you. You should wash up and get a good night’s sleep first.”
“No rush. I brought you a gift, I guarantee you’ll like it when you see it.” Wen Mo Han immediately took Xiao Man’s hand and left.
Nangong Yu had been prepared for Xiao Man to invite Wen Mo Han in and deliberately provoke him. He didn’t expect Wen Mo Han to directly drag her away. He immediately followed them out.
It turned out Wen Mo Han had not come to Moxi City alone. He had also brought a large chest. Wei Feng opened the chest, and inside lay a person, none other than Wulan Na.
“Wulan Na.” Xiao Man stepped forward in surprise, touching Wulan Na’s carotid artery. Confirming that Wulan Na was alive, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. “So, you were the one who rescued Wulan Na.”
“Yes, I arrived a few days ago. In Moon Crescent City, I heard from the common people that Princess Wulan Na had been captured. You went to rescue her, so when your two armies clashed, I led my men to infiltrate Moke City and brought her out.”
“You don’t know martial arts, how did you dare to go to Moke City? What if you had been captured too?”
“You drew away the main army, leaving Moke City vulnerable. That’s why I dared to go rescue her. Wulan Na is not lightly injured. Let someone tend to her wounds first.”
Xiao Man immediately had Wulan Na brought out and a physician summoned to treat her. Wulan Na had many injuries, but they were all superficial. The only serious injury was to her ten fingers, which had been broken by force.
Xiao Man’s expression turned grave as she watched the physician tend to Wulan Na’s wounds with concern.
“Young Emperor Yun Qi is truly vicious to treat a woman like this.”
Xiao Man lowered her gaze, remaining silent. It was somewhat ironic, considering she had taught Murong Sheng Rui the interrogation techniques. Now Murong Sheng Rui was using them on her own people. Was this not karma?
“Murong Sheng Rui’s cruelty is not a matter of one or two days,” Nangong Yu said lazily. “It’s already fortunate that Wulan Na is alive.”
Xiao Man had to admit that Nangong Yu was right. Given Murong Sheng Rui’s nature, Wulan Na being alive was indeed extremely fortunate.
“Your Highness Prince Qin seems to know the Young Emperor Yun Qi quite well.”
“It’s only right that I know him better than you do,” Nangong Yu stood by Xiao Man’s side. “Not only do I know him well, but Man’er also knows Murong Sheng Rui very well, doesn’t she, Man’er?”
Xiao Man rolled her eyes at Nangong Yu. “Murong Sheng Rui has suffered consecutive losses at our hands, and he will likely intensify his pressure on Yun Zhong City. We must send word to my brother as soon as possible to prepare.”