"Regarding Nangong Yu's sarcastic remarks, Murong Shengrui was not angry: "Nangong Yu, we have no choice now but to cooperate, otherwise, we will lose her again."
Nangong Yu sneered. He didn't trust a single word Murong Shengrui said, but he was also very curious about what Murong Shengrui wanted to say.
"Who is the 'her' you are referring to?"
"You know the answer." Murong Shengrui's expression turned slightly cold. "Feng Moran is not someone to be trifled with. If he senses even a hint, do you think she will be alright?"
"There is one thing, this King needs to remind Emperor Yun," Nangong Yu said calmly. "Xiao Man is Xiao Man, and Dugu Man is Dugu Man. Do not confuse the two!"
"Is that so?" Murong Shengrui chuckled upon hearing this. He picked up his tea cup and took a slow sip before continuing, "Then, do you love Xiao Man or Dugu Man? Or is it that you love the power behind her and the benefits she can bring you?"
"Emperor Yun rose to power with the help of Empress Dowager Dugu back then. You acted pitiful and weak before Empress Dowager Dugu for her influence and for her to obtain things you desired for you?"
The two men exchanged barbs, neither willing to yield. Both suspected the other of ill intentions and believed the other intended to harm Xiao Man, yet neither could provide proof of their own innocence.
"Back then, how could you bear to hurt her?" Nangong Yu asked abruptly after a long silence. Xiao Man was ruthless towards her enemies, but she was wholeheartedly good to her own people. Towards Murong Shengrui, she was like a biological son. How could he bear to do it?"
"I did not intend to hurt her. I only wanted her to stay by my side," Murong Shengrui said slowly. "Unfortunately, she was unwilling."
"So, you destroyed the Dugu family and poisoned her, all to keep her?"
"Yes." Murong Shengrui did not deny it, as it was the truth. "She is very guarded. Taking down the Dugu family without her awareness was not easy. Fortunately, I did not have to do it myself, which is why she remained unaware."
"Do you really think she was unaware?"
Murong Shengrui did not rush to answer. His mother should have suspected something, but she simply didn't believe it. In the end, he had still disappointed her.
"I am not here to discuss the past. I am here to tell you that Xiao Man is in danger."
"She is now the Imperial Princess of Blue Moon, the sole bloodline of the Blue Moon royal family, holding a high position and power. How can she be in danger?"
"Once Feng Moran knows she is alive, she will be in danger." Murong Shengrui looked at Nangong Yu. "Feng Moran is a survivor of the Qin Dynasty."
Nangong Yu was not surprised. Xiao Man had long suspected Feng Moran was connected to the Qin Dynasty survivors and that he intended to restore Qin. However, he couldn't figure out why Feng Moran was so fixated on Xiao Man.
"So, Empress Dowager Dugu was silenced by Feng Moran because she discovered his connection to the Qin Dynasty survivors?"
"Yes."
Nangong Yu sneered. He did not believe this excuse. "Does Emperor Yun think this King will believe it?"
"The pendant you wear around your neck belonged to my mother. It is an artifact of the Qin Dynasty that my mother obtained by chance." Murong Shengrui said slowly. "After my mother was captured, Feng Moran took this item."
Murong Shengrui touched the pendant around his neck. This item was given to him by Xiao Man. Xiao Man had a fit of rage once, and it seemed that seeing this item brought her back to her senses. Did this item have any special use?
"Does this item have any special significance?"
"I don't know its special significance, but I do know that this item is very important to Feng Moran."
"Since it is so important to him, why did he give this item to Xiao Man?" Nangong Yu asked casually. "Could it be that this item has some special effect?"
Murong Shengrui shook his head. "I don't know. I rarely interacted with this item. When Feng Moran proposed to ask me for three items, this was one of them."
"What were the other two?"
"The Phoenix Pearl and the Mechanism Box." Murong Shengrui said slowly. "My mother had a Mechanism Box, but I searched the entire Yun Qi imperial palace and could not find its whereabouts. I only found the Phoenix Pearl."
Nangong Yu suddenly understood. Feng Moran likely sent the Phoenix Pearl to Yueyao Tower for auction to lure out the person behind Xiao Man, thereby obtaining the Mechanism Box. By chance, Xiao Man ended up with the Phoenix Pearl.
Nangong Yu's mind raced. The Mechanism Box in Dugu Man's possession was with the old monk, then Xiao Man took it from him, and later gave it to Wen Mohan. Xiao Man returned to Blue Moon... was it forced or voluntary? Was her goal the Mechanism Box held by the Blue Moon Empress?
No, the Mechanism Box in the Blue Moon Empress's hands was also with her! Nangong Yu then remembered that Xiao Man was the daughter of Empress Yuexian of Blue Moon. When Empress Yuexian fled Blue Moon with Xiao Man, she took many items with her. This Mechanism Box must have been one of them. Feng Moran must have known about it, and that was the reason he killed Xiao Zhen!
"Emperor Yun, is the Mechanism Box from the Qin Dynasty?"
"Yes." Murong Shengrui nodded. "The Mechanism Box was made by the Mo family, and the Mo family was a prominent clan of the Qin Dynasty, specializing in creating all sorts of ingenious items for the Qin imperial family. This Mechanism Box is just one of them. There has always been a legend that the Qin Dynasty had a secret treasury containing countless treasures, enough to rebuild a new empire for the Qin."
"Feng Moran is after the secret treasury?"
"He is a survivor of the Qin Dynasty, so of course, he is after the secret treasury. Only by finding the secret treasury can he restore Qin." Murong Shengrui put down his teacup. "King Qin, you don't want to see Xiao Man in trouble, do you?"
"If Feng Moran wants the secret treasury, why does he need Xiao Man?" Nangong Yu vaguely felt that something was not right. If Feng Moran was a survivor of the Qin Dynasty, why must he have Xiao Man? Wouldn't it be smoother to choose the Blue Moon Empress? Sudan Novel Network
"The key."
Nangong Yu felt something flash in his mind but couldn't grasp it. "The key?"
"Yes, the key." Murong Shengrui repeated. "The Lan clan were guardians of the secret treasury. Only the direct bloodline of Blue Moon knew the location of the secret treasury. Although Lan Ruoyu was also a direct bloodline, she was not the official heir, so she couldn't possibly know the location. Xiao Man is now the only clue."
"Why is Emperor Yun telling me all this?" Nangong Yu's face was calm, but his heart was pounding. If Xiao Man was the key, once she lost her value, with Feng Moran's ruthless nature, Xiao Man would surely die!
Nangong Yu became uneasy, hesitating whether to forcefully take Xiao Man away. Allowing Xiao Man to continue to deal with Feng Moran might put her life in danger!"