Yinzhu went to prepare some water for rinsing her mouth, only to discover that the teapot contained She Lan tea. She immediately frowned, wondering which careless maid had brewed She Lan tea, which would only sadden her young lady.
She was about to take the teapot away to get a fresh pot.
"Yinzhu."
"My lady, this tea has gone cold. This servant will fetch a new pot."
"This tea was brewed not long ago. I just tasted it, and it's not cold." Wen Mohan was puzzled. She felt a little sleepy and went to the cabinet to get some tea to brew. She never expected to have picked up the She Lan tea that Xiao Zhen loved the most.
Yinzhu cast a resentful glance at Wen Mohan, then realized that Wen Mohan didn't know the general's favorite tea was She Lan.
"My lady, this servant will fetch a new pot, one with the Yuqian Longjing that you like."
"No, pour a cup of this."
"My lady!" Yinzhu explained, "My lady had a fever last night. This tea is not good for your body. Let's change to another kind of tea."
"Pour a cup."
Yinzhu, helpless, could only pour a cup of tea for Xiao Man. Xiao Man took it and sniffed it carefully. The aroma of She Lan tea was very distinctive, very similar to Shi Li Xiang. Xiao Man's eyes instantly turned cold.
"Bring the incense burner."
Yinzhu, unsure why, quickly brought the incense burner from the bedside table.
"Not this one, the incense burner from the crime scene."
Wen Mohan immediately understood. She opened the cabinet and took out the package inside. It contained all the evidence found at the crime scene. It should have been handed over to the Ministry of Justice for safekeeping, but Xiao Man had kept it.
Xiao Man took the incense burner and carefully sniffed the lingering fragrance. It was very similar to Shi Li Xiang, but with a familiar scent mixed in: "Haha, it's the scent of Yin Shuang Hua, haha, it's actually the scent of Yin Shuang Hua!"
"Man'er, what's wrong?" Wen Mohan was startled by Xiao Man's sudden fits of crying and laughing.
Yinzhu quickly took the incense burner from Xiao Man's hand: "My lady, don't scare this servant. The general has passed away. Torturing yourself like this will not bring the general back."
Dugu Mingyu heard that Xiao Man had woken up and rushed to visit. As soon as he reached the doorway, he heard Xiao Man mention Yin Shuang Hua and didn't understand what was wrong with it.
Yinzhu quickly stood up: "General Dugu, please try to persuade my lady. My lady wants She Lan tea one moment and an incense burner the next, and then she becomes like this."
Yan Yuqing took the incense burner from Yinzhu and sniffed it, then understood.
"Shi Li Xiang has been mixed with Yin Shuang Hua."
"So what?"
"This is Dugu Man's mark."
Dugu Mingyu looked at Xiao Man in shock. The one who poisoned the general was his sister. Impossible, his sister's poisons should have all been burned to ashes.
Yan Yuqing stepped forward, looking at the grief-stricken Xiao Man: "Why are you crying? Shouldn't you be laughing? Shi Li Xiang has been mixed with Yin Shuang Hua. You should know very well who has this stuff, right? At least, you know who poisoned the general, don't you?"
Xiao Man covered her face with her hands, but tears still flowed from between her fingers. After a long while, Xiao Man suppressed all her emotions and wiped the tears from her face fiercely: "I will make him pay with blood!"
Wen Mohan had never seen Xiao Man with such a killing intent: "Who is he?"
Xiao Man did not answer him, but looked at Yan Yuqing: "Return to the Demon Palace immediately and be ready to support me at any time."
"Alright."
"Mingyu, we set off for Yunzhong City tomorrow. Tell my brother, the east wind is rising."
"Yes."
"Ying Xue."
"Your subordinate is here."
"Issue an order, the plan is advanced." Xiao Man's expression was cold, as if she were a completely different person from the one who had been crying in regret just moments ago. However, Wen Mohan understood that Xiao Man was about to take action.
Yinzhu felt a sense of unease, but she didn't know what to do. She could only look at Xiao Man.
"Yinzhu, go invite the old madam."
"Yes, my lady."
Old Madam Xiao was heartbroken by the death of her only son. It was as if her spirit had vanished overnight. When Yinzhu came to invite her, she did not refuse and came with Xu Mom.
Xiao Man dismissed everyone, leaving only Old Madam Xiao: "Old Madam, will you return to Cangzhou next, or remain in the Imperial Capital?"
In Old Madam Xiao's cloudy eyes, all fighting spirit was gone: "What do you want to do?"
"I want to avenge my father. I want everyone who hurt my father to pay the price. I want the whole world to tremble!" Xiao Man said word by word.
Old Madam Xiao's expression trembled: "You know who the killer is?"
"There is more than one killer, but I already know who the mastermind is." Xiao Man stopped Old Madam Xiao and continued, "What I am about to do will be very dangerous. If you stay in the Imperial Capital, you are very likely to be implicated."
Old Madam Xiao was silent for a moment: "Send your two younger sisters away. I will stay in the Imperial Capital."
"Alright." Xiao Man said without hesitation, "Old Madam, do you understand the consequences of staying in the Imperial Capital?"
"I have lived long enough. I am not afraid of death. They killed my son, how can I let it go!" Old Madam Xiao looked at Xiao Man's pale face, "That day you hit me, you..."
"It was my fault for breaking my promise to the old madam first. It is only right that you hit me." Xiao Man interrupted her. "Since you have made your decision, then gather your spirits. Our enemy is very powerful."
"Alright, this old woman will accompany you in this chaotic endeavor and show those people the spirit of our Xiao family!"
The next morning, Xiao Man took her guards to the Shen Du Camp.
The Shen Du Camp was the emperor's guard, responsible for guarding the imperial city and supporting the emperor. Xiao Zhen had requested to be transferred to the Shen Du Camp because it would be more convenient for him to protect his daughter there.
The people in the Shen Du Camp were all carefully selected, each one sufficiently loyal and also sufficiently rebellious. Many of the guards came from noble families. Xiao Zhen's distinguished military achievements and low profile were enough to awe the proud elites in the Shen Du Camp. But Xiao Man was different.
When Xiao Man appeared at the Shen Du Camp, no one came out to greet her.
Xiao Man ignored them and went directly to the training grounds. The deputy commander was directing soldiers in their drills. Even though he saw Xiao Man arrive, he pretended not to see her.
They respected Xiao Zhen. As for Xiao Man, her reputation preceded her. Everyone knew she was a prodigal, and as a woman, she was reckless. Now she was extending her influence to the Shen Du Camp. How could they tolerate it?
"Eldest Miss!" Xue Meng saw Xiao Man and ran over like a bolt of lightning, "Greetings, Eldest Miss... Oh no, Xue Meng greets the Commander."
The deputy commander, Ran Sheng, frowned, extremely displeased with Xue Meng's behavior: "Leaving your post without authorization during training. Guards, drag him away and give him thirty military strokes!"
Xiao Man waved her hand. The guards behind her immediately blocked the Shen Du Camp's guards. Xiao Man stepped forward, standing in front of Ran Sheng, and suddenly lifted her leg, kicking Ran Sheng flying. Ran Sheng, caught off guard, was kicked flying into the midst of the guards, knocking many of them down.