"Your Highness, have I done something wrong?" Si Yue asked fearfully, wondering why she was suddenly being dismissed.
"Si Yue, go to her side on my behalf. Take good care of her for me," Nangong Yu said softly. "From now on, you are free. Your movements are yours to decide. Even if she and I were to clash, you need not worry, for you have already made your choice."
Si Yue looked at Nangong Yu in shock. "Your Highness, I... I wish to be by Miss's side."
It was the answer he expected. Years ago, he had also wanted to stay by her side. But they were both goal-oriented and self-restrained individuals. He chose power, and she chose her people.
Years later, when they met again, she was no longer the aloof, proud Empress Dowager, and he was no longer the trembling, exiled prince. They both had a chance to choose again. But would their choices change?
Nangong Yu knew that Xiao Man was clear-headed and rational. The few times she had indulged herself were all for him. He should be grateful, yet every night when he dreamt, he felt a lingering regret.
"Go, fly to her side," Nangong Yu said as he headed towards the palace. It was time to see his good father. As for Prince Zhao, Ran Sheng would not let him go.
In Chengqian Palace, the guards had been changed. Fu An trembled like a startled bird. Upon seeing Eunuch Wan return, he hurried to greet him. Seeing Prince Qin following behind, he flinched and quickly bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin."
"Rise," Nangong Yu responded coldly, then walked to the bedside and sat down, looking at the unconscious emperor on the bed, his thoughts unknown.
Eunuch Wan watched Nangong Yu uneasily. Now that Prince Chu's rebellion had failed and Prince Qi was an illegitimate child, Prince Qin was the only prince of Yusheng eligible to ascend the throne. He worried that Prince Qin would harm the emperor to ascend the throne sooner. After all, Prince Chu's rebellion could be blamed on him, and no one would be the wiser.
"Qingti, save him."
Ye Qing stepped forward to examine the emperor. Although he knew Nangong Yan was ruthless, Ye Qing was still somewhat shocked after taking the emperor's pulse and looked at Nangong Yu.
"Your Highness, this poison is potent. His Majesty's body is already weak, and I fear it cannot withstand the medicinal effects," Ye Qing said diplomatically.
"Can he be saved?"
"He can, but His Majesty's body cannot tolerate overly strong stimulation. If the medicinal effects are too weak, however, they cannot counteract the poison within His Majesty."
"Doctor Ye, can the Emperor be saved or not?"
"Yes!" Ye Qing looked at Nangong Yu. "However, after he is saved, his time will be short. Your Highness, do you wish to administer the medicine?"
Nangong Yu was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Administer the medicine."
At the Princess's Mansion, Xiao Man sat alone before a chessboard, playing chess. Her cannon had captured the opponent's advisor, and the opposite side immediately showed signs of defeat.
Xiao Man picked up a chess piece, a smile curving her lips. "The path ahead has been cleared for you. It depends on whether you can understand it."
"Man'er," Xiao Man looked up towards the doorway, her face bearing a gentle and serene smile.
"Mo Han, today is the fifteenth. There's a lantern festival tonight, let's go. I haven't been to a Blue Moon lantern festival before," Xiao Man said softly.
"Okay." Wen Mo Han placed the tray he was holding in front of Xiao Man. "I've made wontons. Try them and see if you like them."
Xiao Man put down her chess piece. The wontons emitted a misty heat. Each plump meat filling was wrapped in a thin wonton skin. Green scallions floated on the surface of the water, looking particularly appetizing.
Xiao Man picked up a spoon, scooped up a wonton, blew on it carefully to cool it, and then put it in her mouth. As she ate, she nodded in praise. "These are almost as good as Uncle Wonton's wontons."
"It seems I can graduate," Wen Mo Han said with a smile. "I still remember when you were at the Imperial Academy, you always skipped class. Your hands inexplicably had many blisters, and I was very curious what you were doing to get them so injured. So, after classes at the Imperial Academy, I secretly followed you and saw you at the street learning to make wontons."
"You must have cursed me in your heart then, calling me undisciplined and ignorant!"
Wen Mo Han smiled and nodded. "I thought it was a waste of talent on frivolous pursuits! I had felt sorry for your injured hands at first, but when I discovered you were skipping school just for food, I immediately felt you deserved it."
"Then why did you go and learn too?" Xiao Man asked, scooping up a wonton and blowing on it to cool it before feeding it to Wen Mo Han.
"Because, I saw you make a bowl of steaming wontons for Miss Dan, just to cheer her up a little. It was then that I understood that although your mind was not on your studies, your heart cared for every classmate at the Imperial Academy."
"Nonsense, I didn't care about everyone."
"Yes, you didn't care about everyone. You only cared about the people you were fond of," Wen Mo Han said with a playful smile. "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. If only I am with you, will it feel a little lonely?"
Xiao Man put down her spoon and held Wen Mo Han's hand. "Those are words I should be saying. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and you have left your homeland and separated from your family because of me. Do you blame me?"
"Silly girl, this was my own choice," Wen Mo Han said softly. "I'm very happy to be able to spend this Mid-Autumn Festival with you."
"If you are happy, then I am relieved," Xiao Man said softly. "Although unmarried men and women should not meet, I feel uneasy if I don't see you for a day. So, we can forgo this rule. After dinner, we'll go to the lantern festival together. Tonight, we'll spend it together."
"Okay, what do you want to eat tonight? I'll cook it for you," Wen Mo Han volunteered.
"Let the kitchens handle it. Don't steal their work. If you're bored, help me review official documents."
"Alright."
Wen Mo Han immediately sat down at the desk and began reviewing official documents for Xiao Man. Xiao Man, holding the wontons, sat beside him eating them, occasionally feeding him one. It was truly a tranquil and harmonious scene, one of mutual respect.
Wen Mo Han saw an official document requesting the enfeoffment of the Imperial Consort and immediately showed it to Xiao Man. "This is a request for the Grand Tutor to have a title."
Xiao Man glanced at it. "It's only right. My Master is a man of pure character. He cannot follow the Empress without a proper title. Even if he lives in Tantai Palace and enjoys the Empress's sole favor, he still needs a title."
Wen Mo Han's eyes crinkled into a smile. "If the Grand Tutor knew, he might be angry."
"He's been quite angry lately," Xiao Man said with a chuckle. "Both his left and right arms have died inexplicably, and he hasn't even found the killer."
"Man'er, please don't let your guard down. I always feel that the Grand Tutor is too obedient, which makes me uneasy," Wen Mo Han said with concern. Based on his understanding of Feng Mo Ran, Feng Mo Ran seemed too passive. Even if he was poisoned, there was no need for him to be so submissive, to endure humiliation. He must be planning something by acting this way.