"A tall tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind." After a long silence, Qu Yang sighed, "Xiao Man is too sharp. The Emperor already harbored suspicions towards the Xiao family. Xiao Zhen's death provided them an opportunity to lie low, yet she stubbornly acted against it. Her temperament will inevitably lead to her downfall."
"How can a woman understand such power struggles? It's merely childish vanity, disregarding consequences," Lord Zhou said. "In my humble opinion, this Xiao Man will not amount to much."
"Childish vanity?" Qu Yang shook his head. "This Xiao Man is not to be underestimated. To this day, I still cannot see through her!"
"Isn't she just a little girl who acts recklessly, relying on her father and brother's backing?"
"Little girl?" Qu Yang snorted coldly. "Do you regard our Yun Qi's Empress Dowager as a reckless young girl as well?"
"Hush!" Lord Zhou quickly looked around, fearing their words might be overheard. "My lord, this is sensitive. It cannot be spoken of. Moreover, how can Xiao Man compare to Her Ladyship? Furthermore, when hens crow at dawn, the nation is doomed. It is not a good omen!"
Qu Yang let out a cold sneer. Hens crowing at dawn. When Yun Qi was weak, Her Ladyship the Empress Dowager single-handedly turned the tide, supported His Majesty's ascension, personally led troops to battle, killed countless enemies, and spared no effort to stabilize Yun Qi. Those who mocked and attacked her, in times of crisis, cowered like mice, not even as good as a woman's little toe!
"When Beirong attacked Yun Qi, I recall you and a host of ministers kneeling outside Shou Kang Palace, begging the Empress Dowager to save Yun Qi from peril. Once the Empress Dowager pacified the land, you then spoke of hens crowing at dawn, of a nation doomed. How ironic."
Lord Zhou's face flushed red. "That was... that was all in the past. Why do you bring it up, my lord?"
"I am merely telling you not to underestimate women. Xiao Man is not someone to trifle with. Her father was brutally murdered, and within a short time, she regained her composure, secured the position of Commander of the Divine Capital Camp, and is secretly investigating the murderer. Do you think this is something a young lady from a noble household can achieve?"
"This... could her arrogance and domineering behavior be intentional?"
"What did you say?" Qu Yang asked in confusion.
"My lord, your subordinate said nothing."
"What did you mean by that sentence just now, what do you mean by 'intentional'?" Qu Yang asked, perplexed.
"I meant that her arrogant and domineering behavior is a deliberate display."
Qu Yang did not respond. Intentional. Was Xiao Man deliberately taking on the position of Commander of the Divine Capital Camp? What was her purpose in doing so? To provoke the murderer, so they would reveal themselves? Or was Xiao Zhen's death related to the position of Commander of the Divine Capital Camp? Then wouldn't her primary suspect be the Emperor, considering the Divine Capital Camp is the Emperor's personal guard! Su Dan Novel Network
"Lord Zhou, if your father were murdered, what would you do?"
"My lord, your subordinate's father has already passed away."
Qu Yang felt a surge of breath trapped in his chest, almost choking him. "Forget it. Asking you such a question, I must be out of my mind!"
Xiao Man sat on the rooftop, her expression remarkably calm. Was no one from Yun Qi involved? She had expected Qu Yang, given his nature, to meddle in it. To her surprise, he remained composed. She wondered if Qu Yang had received the Grand Tutor's painting, and what his expression would be when he saw the Grand Tutor.
Xiao Man leaped away. The Beirong warhorses, with their snow-white hooves, ran as if soaring through the clouds. Such fine horses, across the entire Imperial Capital, there was only one. It was the gift her father had given her on her fourteenth birthday, the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, Treading Snow. And this horse, she had later gifted to Nangong Yi!
Xiao Man rubbed her head in annoyance, pushing away possibilities from her mind. Nangong Yi would not kill her father. But only someone from Prince Qi's mansion could have used Treading Snow. A woman? Could it be Princess Consort Qi, Du Yulan? It seemed necessary to investigate Prince Qi's mansion and the Du family.
Xiao Man headed towards Bai Hua Pavilion. As she infiltrated Bai Hua Pavilion, she sensed something was amiss. Bai Hua Pavilion was heavily guarded. In the past, when she infiltrated, she could always detect the location of the hidden guards. Tonight, Bai Hua Pavilion was unexpectedly quiet, eerily so.
Xiao Man concealed herself in the darkness and quickly moved towards Qin Xue's pavilion. Qin Xue's small building was located behind Bai Hua Pavilion. As soon as she entered the backyard, she smelled a strong scent of blood. Several corpses lay scattered around the courtyard. Xiao Man's brows furrowed. Gripping her dagger, she stealthily approached Qin Xue's room.
Qin Xue's room was lit. Xiao Man tiptoed closer and opened the door a crack. Only then did she see Qin Xue. She immediately pushed the door open.
"Are you injured?"
"Mistress, why have you come?" Qin Xue quickly put on her clothes. "Do you have any instructions?"
"What happened outside? Do you know who did this?"
Qin Xue's face was pale, and she hesitated. "Mistress, your subordinate is incompetent. I do not know who injured me."
"Someone you didn't recognize?"
"Yes. I was about to rest when someone suddenly broke into Bai Hua Pavilion and lured the hidden guards away. Then, several assassins broke in and attempted to assassinate me." Qin Xue calmly analyzed, "The target was me. They attacked with lethal intent from the start."
Xiao Man took the medicine. "Turn around, I'll apply the medicine for you."
"Absolutely not. How can I let you..."
"So much nonsense, hurry up." Xiao Man had Qin Xue remove her clothes and applied medicine to bandage her. "Recently, have you offended anyone or any faction?"
"No. These days, we have primarily been investigating the general's murder." Qin Xue gasped. "Could it be that the matter I was investigating inadvertently exposed the murderer?"
Xiao Man's expression shifted. "Tell me about what you've been investigating recently."
Qin Xue thought carefully about what she had been investigating and then slowly said, "Didn't you give your subordinate a fragment, Mistress? After investigation, I discovered that item came from the Treasure Pavilion."
"Treasure Pavilion? The Jin family's Treasure Pavilion?"
"Yes, it is the Jin family's Treasure Pavilion. I took the item and asked the shopkeeper of Treasure Pavilion. It is a petal of a seven-colored lotus, a newly popular ornament."
"Items from Treasure Pavilion are not cheap, and it's a newly popular ornament. The person who possesses it must be of noble status." Xiao Man finished bandaging Qin Xue. "Did you find the list of people who purchased the seven-colored lotus?"
"I found it. Jin Rong had the list sent over. There are only thirteen people in the entire Imperial Capital who purchased the seven-colored lotus." Qin Xue took out the list she kept close and showed it to Xiao Man.
Xiao Man washed her hands, dried them, and then took the list. After carefully examining it, her gaze fell on one name. "Princess Consort Qi also bought a seven-colored lotus?"
"Yes, Princess Consort Qi bought one as well."
Xiao Man's brows furrowed. She immediately recalled what Princess Consort Qi had said to her when she came to offer condolences at the mansion. Princess Consort Qi had asked her, "Does it hurt? You deserve it!"
Treading Snow, seven-colored lotus. Could this be a coincidence?