"Xiao Man doesn't love him." Nangong Yu's reliance was that Xiao Man had feelings for him, but he didn't know if these feelings could withstand Xiao Zhen's death.
"But Xiao Man doesn't love you either," Ye Qing said, striking to the heart. "What's more, Xiao Man is sentimental. Wen Mohan abandoned everything for her. Given her temperament, she would have already fallen into Wen Mohan's gentle trap before you could find her in Blue Moon."
Nangong Yu panicked. He sat up abruptly, tearing his wound. Blood seeped out, staining the bandages red. Ye Qing's face changed, "Don't be reckless. Do you not want to live?"
"While the Imperial Advisor hasn't figured out the problem with him yet, give the order. Have Tianji Pavilion do its utmost to eliminate the forces of Yaoyue Tower. Additionally, have our people thoroughly investigate everyone in the manor and ensure that all spies planted by the Imperial Advisor are identified one by one."
"Oh, alright." Ye Qing was a little dazed. He had expected Nangong Yu to be eager to find Xiao Man, but he hadn't expected this man's first thought to be dealing with the Imperial Advisor.
"Is there any news from the palace?"
"News from the palace says the Empress Dowager is ill. No one is allowed to enter Cining Palace except for the imperial physicians appointed by His Majesty. Even Consort De is not permitted to enter Cining Palace now." Ye Qing was a little confused. "What did Xiao Man mean by those words before she left?"
"She wants to use a borrowed knife to kill," Nangong Yu said slowly. "The Empress Dowager knows too many of the Emperor's secrets, secrets that cannot see the light of day, even secrets related to the deaths of the consorts. Nangong Yan must be eager to know how Consort Rong died, but His Majesty cannot let him know. Let the father and son fight it out for now. I always feel Xiao Man has a backup plan."
"I'm really worried Xiao Man will destroy Yusheng in a fit of rage."
"She won't, at least not now," Nangong Yu said slowly. "Issue an order. Instruct our spies in Blue Moon to relay Xiao Man's every move back. Report everything, no matter how small."
"Is that appropriate?" Ye Qing hesitated. He had seen how shrewd Xiao Man was. If their spies in Blue Moon were exposed, Xiao Man would likely follow the clues and uproot all of them, just as she had uprooted the spies from Yunqi and Blue Moon.
"Don't get too close to her. Have our people be careful, and do not involve anyone around Xiao Man." Nangong Yu understood that if anyone around Xiao Man was involved, it would surely alert her. Yin Zhu, by Xiao Man's side, was truly not to be underestimated, and even Ying Xue was no easy person to deal with.
"Alright."
"Also, Xiao Man has gone to Blue Moon. Given Mu Rong Sheng Rui's personality, he will definitely pursue her. While Mu Rong Sheng Rui's attention is focused on Xiao Man, quickly stabilize Yunzhong City. As for the court, we will respond to any changes with stability. What is mine, no one will take!"
"Alright," Ye Qing nodded, and a moment later asked, "What about Wen Mohan?"
Nangong Yu had a headache. He closed his eyes and thought for a moment, "Let him be. If I move against him, Xiao Man will truly be my sworn enemy."
Nangong Yu was greatly troubled. Wen Mohan was someone who was immune to both soft and hard tactics, and dared to risk his life. For so many years, he had never found his weakness. Just as he finally discovered his weakness, Wen Mohan's weakness was also his weakness. No one dared to act rashly!
"Have Wuxiang investigate the relationship between Wen Mohan and Xiao Man. I feel I've overlooked something," Nangong Yu said with a frown. In his memory, Wen Mohan and Xiao Man were not close. In the Imperial Academy, Wen Mohan was a diligent student, and he was worlds apart from Xiao Man, a perpetual bad student at the bottom. Yet, under these circumstances, Wen Mohan had subtly set him up and successfully infiltrated Xiao Man's side. This made him uneasy.
"Alright, then you rest and recover. We will handle matters outside."
"I want to know Xiao Man's every move."
"Understood."
"We must not let our guard down regarding the Imperial Advisor's manor. Xiao Man's tactic of 'pulling the rug from under' not only caught the Emperor off guard but also caught him off guard. He will definitely try to find a way to remedy it. And the poison in his body, he will definitely try to contact Xiao Man."
"If the Imperial Advisor contacts Xiao Man, what should I do?"
Nangong Yu sneered, "If he contacts Xiao Man, he is willingly handing his life into her hands. Given Xiao Man's hatred for him, she won't let him off without flaying him alive."
"Does Xiao Man truly hate the Imperial Advisor that much?" Ye Qing was highly doubtful. When he learned that Xiao Man was the only one who could get within three feet of Feng Tian Lan, he had considered using Xiao Man against Feng Tian Lan to avenge his master. However, he later gave up. Feng Tian Lan was cunning and might not trust Xiao Man. If he acted rashly, not only would he fail to avenge his master, but he might also harm Xiao Man.
"The hatred between Xiao Man and the Imperial Advisor is far deeper than you imagine," Nangong Yu said slowly. "The revenge for her father's death is only one part of it. Xiao Man has not exposed his true face from beginning to end, probably because she feared that if her first strike failed, she would have no further opportunity. Yusheng and Yunqi have both been infiltrated by the Imperial Advisor's forces. If she stayed in Yusheng, she would only be constrained everywhere. Only by leaving was the way to break the deadlock."
"Wouldn't Blue Moon also be infiltrated?"
"If Blue Moon were so easy to infiltrate, no one would know the situation in Blue Moon even now!" Nangong Yu looked out the window. "I'm a little worried about Xiao Man, running alone into the perilous Blue Moon. Zhan Tian Que and the others cannot be by her side. Facing the pack of wolves and jackals eyeing Blue Moon, can she manage alone?"
"Instead of worrying about her, you should worry about yourself," Ye Qing said, standing up and walking out. "Rumors are running wild outside, saying you're dying. Some people have even set up betting pools, betting on how many more days you can cling to life. If you don't show yourself soon, even the morale of the Silver Armor Army will waver!"
Because of Xiao Man's defection, the old emperor was in a frantic state. The Imperial Capital Guard, originally the emperor's personal guard, were now all in a state of panic due to this incident. Coupled with the deserted General's manor, those who had had close ties with the Xiao family were now keeping their heads down.
"Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from Yunzhong City, traveling eight hundred li."
"Announce it." The old emperor feared most that something would happen in Yunzhong City. He had ordered the news from the capital to be kept secret, but had the news still gotten out?
The messenger ran in and presented the urgent dispatch. The old emperor opened it, his expression becoming incredibly complex. He angrily threw the dispatch on the ground, "Xiao Man, Xiao Luo!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." The attendants serving in the Imperial Study all knelt.
The old emperor was furious, "Immediately summon the King of Chu to the palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The old emperor was full of headaches. Just when he was in need of capable people, Prince Qi had gone to Landu, and Nangong Yu was lying in bed with severe injuries, surviving was already a blessing from heaven. At this time, besides the King of Chu, he had no one usable around him.