"Are there any other anomalies?" Xiao Man asked meticulously.
"Anomalies?" Xiao Liu thought carefully. "No, no anomalies."
"Think carefully, no matter what it is, down to the smallest detail, don't let anything slip."
Xiao Liu frowned, concentrating. "After we were beaten out by the Great General, we retreated. The Princess ordered us to just put on a show, so we didn't engage further... Oh, I remember. On our way back to the city, we encountered a carriage. It was a very ordinary carriage, covered with blue cloth. The driver wore a bamboo hat and a mask, so his face was unclear, like a secret guard. However, there was a woman sitting inside the carriage."
"Why are you sure it was a woman?"
"We passed the carriage and heard a woman speaking inside."
"What did she say?"
"Something about, 'How much longer until we reach Nanluo Mountain Villa.'"
Xiao Man narrowed her eyes. "Did that carriage have any markings?"
"No, it was just a very common blue cloth carriage, without any markings. However, the horse pulling it was a fine horse, its coat shiny and sleek. I even remarked to the boss at the time, what a waste of a good horse to pull a carriage like that." Xiao Liu secretly glanced at Lan Qin, wondering if he had said something wrong.
"Was that horse special?"
"Of course, it was special. It looked like it came from the Beirong Pastures, very strong and fast. It pulled a carriage, and its speed was not at all slow!"
Xiao Man's expression shifted slightly. Horses from the Beirong Pastures were registered in Yusheng. Most were warhorses. In the cavalry, only a few were in the hands of powerful ministers. As far as he knew, only the Emperor, the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Qi, and the General's Mansion had them. Even the horse in Nangong Yi's hand was a gift from her.
"Did the horse have any peculiar features?"
"Yes, its four hooves were snow-white. When it ran, it looked like it was treading on clouds. It must be a prized horse treasured by nobles."
"Alright, I understand." Xiao Man stood up and walked out. "However, this does not mean your suspicion is cleared. If I find out you were involved in my father's death, you know the consequences!"
"I can swear to the heavens that this has nothing to do with me. However, you can investigate Yao Ran. After all, the order to assassinate the General was given by the Empress to Yao Ran, perhaps he acted on his own initiative." Lan Qin said immediately. What she needed to do now was to return to Blue Moon alive; she absolutely could not die here.
"I will investigate this matter thoroughly."
After leaving Lan Qin's courtyard, Xiao Man did not exit the envoy's residence. Instead, she went to the courtyard of the Yunqi envoys.
The Yunqi envoy insisted on Xiao Man being the candidate for the marriage alliance. The old Emperor always found various excuses to refuse. Qu Yang was worried about the domestic situation but could not leave. He was burning with anxiety, wishing someone would snatch Xiao Man and return to Jinling immediately.
"Lord Qu, the Emperor of Yu is unlikely to allow Princess Yongning to marry into our kingdom. Otherwise, he would not have appointed Princess Yongning as the commander of the Imperial Guard. You know, the Imperial Guard is the personal guard of the Emperor of Yu."
"I know," Qu Yang said irritably. "But His Majesty's command is that Xiao Man must marry into our kingdom!"
"Why must it be Xiao Man?"
"To control Xiao Luo," Qu Yang said without blinking. Heaven knows that His Majesty did not mean this, but he could not tell his subordinates His Majesty's true intentions, otherwise, his subordinates would revolt. Su Dan novel network.
"I heard that the Xiao siblings have a deep affection for each other. Is the rumor true?"
"Look at Xiao Man's arrogant demeanor, and you'll know how favored she is in the Xiao family. When Xiao Zhen was murdered, did you see anyone go to the Xiao family to cause trouble?"
The envoy shook his head. Even though Xiao Zhen was dead, Xiao Man still held the title of princess and was now the commander of the Imperial Guard. Who would dare to go to her door to cause trouble? Moreover, her fiancé was from the Wen family. Although Prime Minister Wen had retired, the Wen family's connections remained. If someone went to find trouble with Xiao Man, wouldn't that be like a birthday star hanging himself, tired of living!
"Sir, there are so many princes and ministers in Yu, and they dare not go to her door to cause trouble. Why should we seek trouble with her?"
Qu Yang was choked and didn't know how to answer for a moment. After a pause, he slowly said, "We are not seeking trouble; we are forging an alliance between our two countries. Xiao Man is the most suitable person. Her brother guards the border and holds military power. If she becomes the Empress of Yunqi, even if friction arises between the two countries, the Xiao family will do their best to mediate for her sake, rather than advocating for war."
The envoy thought carefully and seemed to agree.
"Then how can we get the Emperor of Yu to agree to this marriage alliance?"
Qu Yang was already troubled by this matter. If she were an ordinary woman, a word of reason would make her willingly step forward for the marriage alliance. But Xiao Man was not ordinary. Her conduct was unusual, and she always acted unexpectedly. If they were not fully prepared, they might even be tricked by her!
"Sir, if we find the murderer of Xiao Zhen, will Princess Yongning agree to the marriage alliance?"
Qu Yang looked at his subordinate as if he were an idiot. Did this person have mush in his head? Xiao Zhen, as the Great General who protected the nation, was already a formidable force. Yet, he inexplicably died in a mountain villa outside the city. There were too many involved in this matter for them to touch.
Even if they found the truth, they would have to pretend not to know. Otherwise, it would not be a matter of a marriage alliance, but whether they could leave Yusheng alive!
"Sir, what do you think?" The envoy, unaware of Qu Yang's strangeness, said joyfully, "We capture the murderer of Princess Yongning's father for her and avenge her. Princess Yongning, grateful, willingly marries into Yunqi. Perfect!"
"Do you have mush in your head?" Qu Yang rebuked angrily. "Do you think any stray cat or dog could kill the Great General of Yu who protected the nation?"
The envoy flinched. "I was just suggesting, sir."
"I think you are stupid!" Qu Yang snorted coldly. "Xiao Zhen was murdered. The Emperor ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Jingzhao Prefecture to investigate. Those who were once eager to associate with the General, and now everyone avoids him, do you know why?"
"Familiarity breeds contempt?"
"It's not just familiarity breeding contempt, but they all understand that Xiao Zhen's death is definitely not simple, and it might even be related to the person sitting at the top!"
The envoy suddenly felt confused. "Sir, are you implying that Xiao Zhen's death is highly likely related to the Emperor of Yu?"
"Otherwise, who do you think could kill a nation's Great General without a sound and leave no trace?" Qu Yang rubbed his temples. Whenever it concerned Xiao Man, he felt a headache. This Xiao Man was not a fuel-efficient lamp. After her father's death, she decisively took on the responsibility and, as a woman, took charge of the Imperial Guard, presumably to see if the murderer was hidden among those coveting the military power of the Imperial Guard.