The carriage carrying Xiao Man drove into Bianjing City. The various factions that had been lying in wait at the city gates rushed back to report to their respective masters.
Yao Ran pretended not to see. Xiao Man, under the identity of the Blue Moon Imperial Daughter, had returned to Blue Moon, incurring the envy of many. Moreover, for years, those few princesses had exhausted every effort for the position of Imperial Daughter, never expecting it to fall into the hands of someone they had never considered.
The carriage was stopped on the bustling street. The leader of the group was none other than the Great General Jing Yu Jun. When Yao Ran saw this person appear, her heart skipped a beat, though her expression remained unchanged.
"General Jing."
"Prime Minister Yao, your diplomatic mission to Yusheng must have been arduous. Perhaps you should return home to rest as soon as possible," Jing Yu Jun said languidly, her eyes fixed on the carriage carrying Xiao Man, as if trying to bore a hole through it.
"Thank you for your concern, General. I bear a mission and need to see the Emperor at the palace."
"Then Prime Minister, hurry to the palace to see His Majesty." Jing Yu Jun beckoned, and several soldiers surrounded the carriage, blocking it tightly.
"General Jing, what are you doing?" Yao Ran asked, frowning.
"I heard the Prime Minister brought back a very formidable guest. This general is very curious and wishes to meet her," Jing Yu Jun said coldly. "Perhaps you could have the person inside the carriage come out for a meeting?"
Yao Ran rode to the front of Jing Yu Jun's horse. "General Jing, for the sake of our many years of acquaintance, I advise you not to act rashly."
Jing Yu Jun, filled with resentment towards Yao Ran for the death of her daughter, would not heed Yao Ran's words. "Prime Minister, it would be best if you did not interfere with this matter. This general merely wishes to see the person inside the carriage."
Jing Yu Jun brandished her long saber and spurred her horse towards the carriage. Then, raising her saber, she slashed down at the carriage, intending to split it in two. However, before her saber could strike the carriage, it was blocked by a greatsword. The wielder of the greatsword was a small, delicate young woman. The young woman glanced at Jing Yu Jun with disdain and lightly swung her greatsword. Jing Yu Jun's saber was sent flying, and she herself nearly fell from her horse.
Yao Ran sighed. The years of peace had led these people to believe they were above all else, that they feared no one. It was indeed time for someone to curb their arrogance.
"How dare you attempt to attack this general! Guards, seize her!" Jing Yu Jun, having found an excuse, immediately ordered her men to act.
Xiao Man was in the process of resting with her eyes closed. She had anticipated this situation. If someone appeared out of nowhere to seize what was theirs, how could these people remain idle? She had not expected the Jing family to be the first to act. How could they have achieved their current status with such foolishness?
"General Jing, please refrain from acting rashly."
"Prime Minister Yao, she attacked this general. This general is merely apprehending her for questioning, to prevent her from being a spy from another nation."
Yao Ran understood that she could not persuade Jing Yu Jun today. She simply steered her horse to the side. Since a fight was inevitable, she decided to distance herself to avoid getting splattered with blood.
Seeing Yao Ran obediently retreat to the side, and even those near her moving away, Jing Yu Jun thought, 'She's sensible enough. It seems this Xiao Man is the one who killed Xiao Yu!'
Jing Yu Jun drew her sword from her waist and led her men forward. Ostensibly, they were there to apprehend Du Gu Luo, but in reality, she was aiming for the carriage. If Xiao Man were accidentally killed, it could be dismissed as an unintentional mishap. Even His Majesty would not blame her for the death of someone she had never met.
Jing Yu Jun's plan was well-conceived: have the guards hold Du Gu Luo while she directly attacked Xiao Man inside the carriage. The sword pierced the carriage, but it could not penetrate any further. Jing Yu Jun tried to retract her sword, but it was stuck. Her face turned red with exertion as she struggled with all her might to pull it out.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Man suddenly withdrew her force. Jing Yu Jun, caught off guard, fell to the ground in a most undignified manner. Jing Yu Jun's face turned ashen with rage. She jumped up and roared, "How dare you humiliate this general! I will fight you to the death!"
Two silver needles shot out from the carriage, striking Jing Yu Jun's legs. Jing Yu Jun immediately knelt on both knees. The force of the impact caused her to slide to the front of the carriage.
At that moment, the carriage door opened, and a figure appeared on the carriage shaft. One foot stepped onto Jing Yu Jun's head, forcing the woman, who had been trying to get up, back down to her knees. She was completely immobilized.
Yao Ran mourned for Jing Yu Jun. She had been warned, yet she still charged forward so recklessly. Did she truly believe that her imposing physique and martial prowess made her invincible? The unassuming young woman beside Xiao Man could crush her skull with a single punch!
Xiao Man looked at the soldiers surrounding Du Gu Luo with a composed and indifferent expression. "Tell them to stop."
Jing Yu Jun gritted her teeth, unwilling to yield. However, Xiao Man's foot on her head felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, as if it could crush her into a pulp at any moment.
"All... stop!"
The guards, witnessing their proud general being stepped on, all looked enraged. "Presumptuous! Release our general at once!"
Xiao Man extended her hand to Ying Xue. Ying Xue handed Xiao Man a box. Xiao Man took something out of the box and tossed it up and down playfully. "To roar at this Imperial Daughter is to defy authority. To seize the Phoenix Seal is to plot rebellion, an offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's clan."
"You are spouting nonsense! When did we attempt to seize the Phoenix Seal?"
"This Imperial Daughter is escorting the Phoenix Seal back to Bianjing. Did you not block our path precisely to seize the Phoenix Seal?" Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "What? Are you intending to seize the Phoenix Seal and stage a coup?" Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Man's last sentence sent a tremor of fear through everyone, making their legs go weak. They were merely following orders and had never considered rebellion. However, by obstructing the Imperial Daughter escorting the Phoenix Seal back to the palace, even if their intention wasn't to seize it, they would still be accused of harboring treasonous intent!
"Please, Imperial Daughter, calm your anger. I imagine they did not realize it was the Imperial Daughter's carriage, which is why they disturbed you. We ask for your forgiveness," Yao Ran immediately stepped forward to mediate. Her gaze swept over Jing Yu Jun, who was writhing in pain under Xiao Man's foot, and she continued, "His Majesty is already waiting in the palace. Imperial Daughter, you should enter the palace soon and not keep His Majesty waiting."
Xiao Man played with the Phoenix Seal in her hand, tossing it up and down. The people around her watched with trembling hearts, fearing that if Xiao Man lost her grip, the Phoenix Seal would shatter on the ground. This item was far more important than their own lives. Any scratch or dent would not only bring disaster upon them but might even implicate their families.
"What is the penalty for these individuals who have offended this Imperial Daughter?" Xiao Man asked Yao Ran with a half-smile.
Yao Ran understood that Xiao Man intended to use Jing Yu Jun to establish her authority. Jing Yu Jun, having lost her beloved daughter, had lost her reason and was the first to come forward with trouble. Naturally, she became the chicken for Xiao Man to kill as a warning to the monkeys. If Xiao Man was not given a satisfactory explanation, given her temperament, she might very well chop Jing Yu Jun to pieces, which would lead to an unmanageable situation.