Jing Shiyu's attempt to ambush Xiao Man resulted in her and her group not returning overnight. Those waiting for them grew suspicious and headed to the inn where Xiao Man and her people were lodged. However, dawn had broken, yet the inn door remained tightly shut, as if its occupants were still fast asleep.
The woman in the lead signaled to the guards behind her to knock.
A guard stepped forward, raised her hand, and knocked on the door. The door creaked open. The guard glanced inside and immediately turned away, retching.
"What is it?" the woman in the lead asked, surprised.
The guard pointed to the scene within the inn, her face pale, unable to stop vomiting, as if the sight had deeply disturbed her.
The woman stepped forward and pushed the door open. The scene inside was like hell compared to the world outside. Inside, corpses littered the ground, and blood flowed like a river. Outside, the sun shone brightly, and the world seemed peaceful. Jing Shiyu's head sat precisely on a table facing the door. Her once pretty face bore a wound so deep it exposed bone, and her clear eyes were wide with terror, as if she had endured something horrific.
The woman in the lead stood stunned for a long time before she recovered. "See if there are any survivors."
"Yes, my lady."
The woman stared at Jing Shiyu's severed head, her expression grim, her teeth clenched. She roared, "Who, who could have treated you so cruelly?"
"My lady, there isn't a single living soul in the entire inn. Furthermore, besides our people, no other bodies were found."
The guard's words drained the last of the color from the woman's face. This meant that everyone Jing Shiyu had brought with her had been slaughtered, while the enemy had suffered no casualties. Could it have been an ambush?
"Investigate. Investigate thoroughly. Find the slightest clue and bring the murderer to justice!"
"Yes, my lady."
Xiao Man and her entourage had left the inn in the middle of the night, heading for the next city. They disguised themselves as ordinary merchants, traveling without fanfare. Yao Ran watched Xiao Man, who was calmly discussing chess strategies with Wen Mohan, a chill creeping into her heart. Xiao Man might be even more terrifying than the Empress. After killing Jing Shiyu and her group, she had even displayed their bodies in the hall and placed Jing Shiyu's head at the entrance. Did she know someone would come looking for them at the inn?
Xiao Man casually looked up and met Yao Ran's gaze. Yao Ran feigned nonchalance and looked away. Xiao Man gave a mocking smile. She understood Yao Ran's subtle machinations. However, she was no longer the Blue Moon Empress, content to be deceived. No matter how cunning Yao Ran was, if Xiao Man didn't take the bait, Yao Ran would be helpless.
"This person is deeply cunning; we must be wary of her," Wen Mohan said in a low voice. He had been drugged the previous night and slept through it. When he woke, the group was already on the road. He knew something had happened last night, but seeing Xiao Man unharmed, he asked nothing.
"She has no retreat now," Xiao Man said slowly. "The assassins who came last night must have been of high status."
"There were assassins last night. We had casualties?" Wen Mohan asked, understanding dawning on his face.
"A few were injured, but no fatalities," Xiao Man replied. "However, the other side was annihilated. You were drugged and asleep. You didn't see Prime Minister Yao's expression when she saw that woman's head. Her face turned ashen."
"You did it on purpose."
"She wanted to secure a fallback for herself and tried to withdraw when the situation turned unfavorable. Is it that easy?" Xiao Man glanced at Yao Ran. "Once you're on my ship, it's not easy to disembark."
"So, it seems I have no hope of getting off this ship."
Xiao Man rested her chin on her hands and looked at Wen Mohan, smiling. "If you want to get off, you can do so at any time."
"Does that mean I'm not even as good as Yao Ran?"
"No, this is special treatment for you. Only you can come and go freely." Xiao Man said earnestly. "This offer has always been valid."
Wen Mohan reached out and tapped Xiao Man's nose. "It took me great effort to get on your ship, why would I get off? Even if you tried to push me off, I wouldn't go."
"The situation in Blue Moon is quite volatile. Men have limited space to survive here. Mohan, you need to think carefully." Xiao Man didn't want Wen Mohan to suffer too much. He should have had a brilliant future, married a virtuous woman, and lived a life of harmony. Instead, because of her, he was displaced and living precariously.
"As long as you are here, there is space for me to survive." Wen Mohan put down the chess book and took Xiao Man's hand. "I don't want to hear you ask this question again. Every decision I make is after careful consideration, never on impulse."
Xiao Man's brow unfurrowed into a smile. "If that's the case, then let us join forces and change the face of this Blue Moon."
"Agreed."
Before Xiao Man's group could reach Bianjing, the news of Jing Shiyu's death had already reached the imperial capital. The faction supporting General Jing was backing the Eldest Princess. Although the Eldest Princess did not hold the title of Crown Prince, she performed the duties of one. The Empress was gravely ill, and all state affairs were handled by the Eldest Princess.
The reason for Jing Shiyu's demise was her mission to ambush Xiao Man. However, Xiao Man had disappeared, and Jing Shiyu met her end at the inn. Although the killer was not apprehended, everyone understood that Xiao Man was the one who killed Jing Shiyu.
"Your Highness, you must seek justice for this humble general," Jing Yujun said with deep grief. She could not accept the tragic death of her beloved youngest daughter in a remote inn. "The killer must be that Xiao Man."
The Eldest Princess's expression was grave. "General, without evidence, Mother Empress will not believe it."
"But Xiao Yu was attacked while trying to ambush Xiao Man, so who else could it be if not her?"
"Yes, Xiao Yu was attacked while trying to ambush Xiao Man, but this is a secret that cannot be spoken." The Eldest Princess said slowly. "If Mother Empress learns that Xiao Yu led people to ambush Xiao Man, then not only you, General, but even I will be in trouble."
General Jing gritted her teeth. "Is my daughter to die for nothing?"
"General, there will be time. Once Xiao Man enters Bianjing, she will be walking into a tiger's den. Bianjing is our territory. Even if she is a dragon, she will have to coil up like a snake! Then, General, will you still not be able to avenge your daughter's death?" The Eldest Princess placed the freshly brewed tea before General Jing. "Xiao Yu died so miserably. Wouldn't killing her with a single blow be too easy for her?"
"Yes, killing her with one blow is too easy for her. I want to flay her alive, to have her drawn and quartered!"
The Eldest Princess nodded with satisfaction. "Currently, the only cause for concern is Prime Minister Yao."
Upon hearing Prime Minister Yao's name, General Jing's brows furrowed. She and Prime Minister Yao had been friends for many years. Although they sometimes disagreed, they stood on the same side in matters of great importance.
However, this time, her daughter went to ambush Xiao Man, and Prime Minister Yao was escorting Xiao Man back to Bianjing. It was said that Xiao Man had little ability and relied on her father's influence to cause trouble. Could it be that Yao Ran was the one who truly killed Xiao Yu?
"Has Yao Ran defected to Xiao Man?"
"It's not impossible," the Eldest Princess's eyes were deep. "Otherwise, Xiao Yu wouldn't have died so tragically!"