"Who is willing to take charge of Cloud City?" the Emperor asked his court. As his gaze swept across the assembled officials, everyone recoiled. Cloud City was the frontline, where conflict could erupt at any moment. Most officials were keen on preserving their lives and were unwilling to endure the hardships of the front lines!
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go," Wen Ruyu stepped forward from the ranks. "I am willing to sign a military order, and I guarantee to defend Cloud City well."
"Ruyu, cease this foolishness!" Lord Wen immediately bellowed. "What business does a civil official like you have in the army?"
"Your Majesty, I have followed His Highness Prince Qin into battle before. Xiao Man severely wounded the Prince and defected from Yusheng. I can never let her go!" Wen Ruyu's expression turned cold, his words resounding with conviction. "One day, I will surely take the rebel's head and present it to Your Majesty!"
"Excellent, Minister Wen. You are blessed with such a son of iron will. I grant your request. I decree Wen Ruyu as the commander of Cloud City, overseeing its ten cities. No one shall disobey his orders. Depart on an auspicious day for Cloud City."
"The situation is urgent. I shall depart immediately for Cloud City to prevent any changes from Yun Qi and to guard against their opportunistic attack on our Yusheng."
"Granted."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wen Ruyu received the military seal and letters of appointment, and immediately set off for Cloud City. Meanwhile, Prince Qin was still in critical condition. Ye Qing could never have imagined things would escalate to such a point, reaching a level of irreconcilable enmity, even leading Xiao Man to defect from Yusheng.
Xiao Man led her people westward towards Blue Moon. However, outside Jiangping City, she was intercepted. Her interceptors were only two, a master and a servant, who seemed to have been waiting for a long time.
"Man'er, I have waited for you for a long time."
Seeing Wen Mohan, Xiao Man was momentarily surprised. "You... why are you here?"
"I have been waiting for you here for three days," Wen Mohan said softly. "This is the only path to Blue Moon. I knew you would pass this way, so I came here early to wait. Fortunately, I have finally found you."
"Do you know what I have done?" Xiao Man asked, her voice tinged with melancholy.
Wen Mohan stepped forward and took hold of Xiao Man's reins. "I told you, no matter when, I will be by your side. Even if the entire world is against you, I will stand by your side and be an enemy to the world."
"Is it worth it?" Xiao Man's eyes welled up with tears. Wen Mohan was supposed to be a noble gentleman, as pure as the moon, destined to command and guide the nation in the imperial court. Yet, because of her, he found himself in this predicament. Despite it all, he remained steadfast.
"For you, it is worth it."
"You shouldn't have come," Xiao Man took a deep breath, holding back her tears. "I have become a traitor. Following me will lead to a bad end."
Wen Mohan tilted his head, looking at Xiao Man and smiling. "Through the highest heavens and deepest underworld, if you live, I live; if you die, I die. No matter what you do, I will follow you to the death."
"It's not too late to turn back. Prime Minister Wen served with lifelong loyalty. If you follow me, it will tarnish his reputation..."
"My father would approve of my choice." Wen Mohan extended his hand to Xiao Man. "Man'er, take me with you."
Xiao Man did not reach out. The reason she had kept everything from Wen Mohan was precisely to avoid burdening him. She never expected this discerning man to have already sensed her intentions and to have come here to wait for her.
Wen Mohan seemed to read Xiao Man's thoughts. "If you don't take me, I will still chase you to Blue Moon. The journey to Blue Moon is thousands of miles. Along the way, there will surely be pursuit and ambushes. Can you truly let me go alone?"
Xiao Man sighed. "I fear you will regret it."
Wen Mohan smiled, his smile gentle and resolute. "The thing I regret least in this life is meeting you and falling in love with you. While other couples follow the husband's lead, we will have the wife lead, and the husband follow. Wherever you go, I will follow."
Yao Ran, upon hearing this, playfully teased Xiao Man, "Your Highness, rare treasures are easily found, but a devoted lover is hard to come by. Such a loyal and righteous young man, how can Your Highness bear to leave him behind? Take him with you."
Xiao Man hesitated for a moment, then asked again, "Mohan, do you truly wish to accompany me to Blue Moon?"
"Yes," Wen Mohan replied without a hint of hesitation. "I will not regret it. I am merely doing my utmost to love someone, without shame to myself or my conscience. I will never regret my choice."
Wen Mohan gazed at Xiao Man steadily and asked with composure, "Xiao Man, will you regret choosing me?"
Xiao Man blinked in surprise, somewhat bewildered. Following Wen Mohan's gaze, she finally noticed the bracelet on her wrist. She was now only wearing the jade bracelet that Wen Mohan had given her.
"You've risked your life to accompany me on this venture, how could I regret it?" Xiao Man reached out and took Wen Mohan's hand, pulling him onto the horse. They rode together, side by side, and galloped away. "I only fear that one day, Mohan, you will complain to me that you shouldn't have abandoned everything to follow me."
Wen Mohan held Xiao Man tightly around the waist, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from her. He said softly, "I told you, you are my everything. No matter when, I will never regret it. And I hope, Man'er, that you will never regret your choice."
Nangong Yu remained unconscious for seven full days before waking. The imperial physicians had repeatedly worried that he wouldn't survive, as the wound was too close to his heart. Another inch, and it could have claimed Nangong Yu's life. His survival was a matter of sheer luck!
When Nangong Yu awoke, the imperial physicians were on the verge of tears. After all, the Emperor had issued a death order: if Prince Qin died, they would have to accompany him in death.
"Your Highness, you are finally awake."
"Gentlemen, His Highness has just woken and needs rest. You have also been here for many days. Go home and rest well." Ye Qing sent them away, leaving only the two of them in the room.
"Where is she?" Nangong Yu's first words upon waking were to inquire about Xiao Man's whereabouts.
"What exactly happened between you two? Do you know how dangerous that sword thrust was? Another inch, and it would have taken your life!"
"But I am still alive, am I not?"
"You don't always have such good luck!" Ye Qing was exasperated. At the time, Du Gu Man's sword strike hadn't killed him because Du Gu Man had intentionally spared his life. But Xiao Man had truly intended to kill him. That thrust was even more dangerous than Du Gu Man's; he had almost believed he was finished!
"She wouldn't kill me."
"She wouldn't kill you? Go ask everyone who was there. If it weren't for your good fortune, you would be lying in the imperial mausoleum right now!"
"Qing Ti, you are a physician. How is Xiao Man's medical skill?"
"No worse than mine."
"If she truly wanted to kill me, would she have given you the chance to save me?"
Ye Qing was speechless. Indeed, if Xiao Man had truly intended to kill Nangong Yu, he would have had no opportunity to save him. Moreover, Xiao Man had taken him to the hunting grounds. If she had truly wanted to kill Nangong Yu, she would have had countless ways to trap him. "She showed mercy?"
"You could say that."