"You don't recognize him?" Xiao Man asked in surprise, "But I heard him say that Feng Tianlan and my mother were childhood sweethearts, that they grew up together."
"Childhood sweethearts, grew up together…" The expressions on their faces became even more perplexed. After all, Lan Ruo Xian was an Imperial Princess, she had companions who studied with her, and many people grew up alongside her.
"He was incredibly handsome, like an immortal from the heavens, and he always wore white…" As Xiao Man said this, she recalled a portrait she had once painted of Feng Tianlan. She immediately had paper and brush brought and drew Feng Tianlan's likeness for the two of them to see.
When Xiao Man finished drawing, they looked at it and suddenly realized, "This is the Phoenix Imperial Consort."
"Imperial Consort?" Xiao Man was shocked, "Consort to whom?"
"Naturally, to His Majesty."
The expression on Xiao Man's face was exceptionally complex: "He is my mother's husband, so what is my father?"
"The Phoenix Imperial Consort is the Empress's fiancé. They are not yet married. It was just that when the Empress went out to travel, she returned already pregnant. The marriage that should have taken place was delayed, so he is not officially the Imperial Consort."
Xiao Man immediately felt the relationship was too tangled. Her master was her birth mother's fiancé, and after her mother was harmed, her birth father and her mother's fiancé raised her… Xiao Man seemed to detect a different flavor from this. Could this be the reason he killed her father?
No, if Feng Tianlan truly wanted to kill her father, he had many opportunities over the years. Why would he target her father at this time?
"What is this Imperial Consort's full name?"
"Feng Mo Ran."
Xiao Man's gaze deepened. So, he had reservations about everyone. He had told Du Gu Man his real name but concealed his true identity. He doted on Xiao Man immensely but told her nothing, not even his name was real. Su Dan Novel Network
Wait… Xiao Man suddenly remembered that Feng Tianlan had once told her that he had no one left at home, only his fiancée was still alive. Did this mean her mother was still alive?
"Is anyone left in the Feng family?"
"No. The Feng family went through a calamity. No one survived except the Phoenix Imperial Consort."
"Meaning, only he is left in the Feng family."
Granny Fang nodded. Steward Tan pondered, "Strictly speaking, Your Majesty and you are also his relatives."
A flicker of hope appeared in Xiao Man's heart. Perhaps her mother was still alive!
Granny Fang took Xiao Man to the courtyard where Empress Yue Xian had previously resided.
"Not a blade of grass or a tree here has been moved. The furnishings in the room are still as they were," Granny Fang opened the door, letting Xiao Man see. The room was furnished simply and elegantly, exuding a refined yet capable atmosphere.
Xiao Man walked into the room, looking at the furnishings, her fingers tracing each item. There was a faint warmth in her eyes. So, this was her mother's former room. When she was little, she never dared to ask about her mother because whenever she did, her father would look as if he were about to cry. So, she didn't ask, and dared not ask.
Later, when she grew up, she concealed the word "mother" in her heart, rarely mentioning it. If Xiao Zhen hadn't brought it up, Xiao Man wouldn't have dared to ask.
Granny Fang quietly withdrew, leaving Xiao Man to be alone. At this moment, she needed to be by herself.
When Ying Xue entered, Xiao Man was browsing the books on the bookshelf.
"Mistress."
"Speak."
"News has arrived from Yusheng that the Empress Dowager has passed away. The Emperor has bestowed Princess He An upon Prince Chu as his consort."
Xiao Man heard this and let out a cold laugh, "It's a miracle she lasted this long. I imagine the Emperor must be curious why she hasn't died sooner."
"Mistress, Yusheng is in chaos now. Should we…"
"Hold our position. Let them cause trouble. The more they make a fuss, the better. It will also show me if he will shift his battlefield given how chaotic Yusheng has become."
Ying Xue did not understand Xiao Man's words. What did she mean by shifting the battlefield?
"Your subordinate does not understand."
"His ambitions are not small; he won't be confined to one country. Only by making him step out voluntarily can we know what he is truly plotting," Xiao Man said softly. "By the way, once things are settled here, bring Yin Zhu over. Otherwise, that girl will start overthinking again."
"Yes, Mistress." Ying Xue agreed, "And how should Old Madam Xiao and the others be dealt with?"
"The Third Concubine is currently at Lan Qin's residence, isn't she?" Xiao Man seemed to know everything.
"Yes. Before the incident, the Third Princess quietly took the Third Concubine away. She is currently at the Third Princess's mansion."
Xiao Man nodded. "The Old Madam is elderly. It is time for her to enjoy her grandchildren. Let the Fourth Miss accompany her and spend her remaining years. Be careful not to let anyone discover any clues."
"Your subordinate understands." Ying Xue was actually most worried about Prince Qin. The young lady and Prince Qin had turned into enemies. At the spring hunt, she had spared no effort to kill Prince Qin, yet Prince Qin was still alive. She worried Prince Qin would retaliate.
Xiao Man saw Ying Xue still lingering in the room and turned to ask, "Is there anything else?"
"Mistress, Prince Qin is not dead."
"If he's not dead, he's not dead. What's there to care about?" Xiao Man said indifferently, "Am I supposed to draw a circle and curse him to death just because he's alive?"
Ying Xue was dumbfounded. How was she supposed to respond? She had been worried that her mistress would be upset upon learning Prince Qin was alive, but here you are, completely unbothered!
"Then let him be?"
"Otherwise? Should we let Lan Yue fight Yusheng, and have Yusheng hand over Prince Qin to die? Would they agree? Would Lan Ruo Yu agree?"
Ying Xue pursed her lips, "Mistress, he killed the General…"
"He severely injured my father, and I stabbed him once. He was lucky not to die, so we are even. From now on, we are strangers if we meet. Why dwell on it?" Xiao Man looked at Ying Xue, "Do you still want to fight him to the bitter end? Is it worth it? He's not the mastermind behind it all."
Ying Xue rubbed her head. It seemed so, but why did she always feel something was not quite right? Ying Xue left in confusion.
Xiao Man glanced, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She continued flipping through the book in her hands. It was a book on statecraft, but the blank spaces were filled with notes written by its owner. They were full of unique insights and complaints about the Grand Tutor, making it very amusing.
Xiao Man thought, her mother must have been a very interesting person. How did someone as reserved as her father attract her mother's attention?
Xiao Man studied by candlelight, meticulously reading Lan Ruo Xian's notes in the book on statecraft. She finished reading only at the fourth watch, as dawn broke. Xiao Man yawned, unknowingly having stayed up all night.
At this moment, a shifty little head poked through the half-open window. Seeing that the room was empty, the boy looked confused.
"Strange, wasn't it said that the Imperial Princess lived here?" The youth pushed the window open further, intending to climb in. He had only gotten halfway when he found someone standing by the window, arms crossed, staring at him with a smile.