"Things are not what you think..." Nan Gong Yu wanted to explain, but didn't know how, especially seeing Xiao Man's utterly disappointed look. He felt as if he had been stripped bare and displayed in front of everyone, wanting nothing more than to hide himself.
"Didn't you heavily injure my father?" Xiao Man asked.
Nan Gong Yu wanted to shake his head and deny it, but he couldn't. Regardless of whether he was being framed, he couldn't change the fact that he had severely injured Xiao Zhen, nor that he had abandoned Xiao Zhen and fled alone. Even worse, he had concealed everything afterward, not wanting Xiao Man to know the truth!
"I..."
"I thought you were different from Murong Sheng Rui," Xiao Man said with a bitter smile. "You are indeed different. You are far more heartless than him. He at least burned the bridge after crossing the river; you're dismantling it before even reaching the shore! Nan Gong Yu, you are truly ruthless."
"No, it's not like that. I am very sorry about your father. I never intended to hurt him. I still can't understand why that person turned out to be your father!"
"What do you mean?"
"The person I was supposed to meet was an elder by my mother's side. He said he knew the truth about my mother's death. But when I went to Nan Luo Mountain Villa, I was attacked. I only fought back in self-defense, and I never imagined that person would be your father?"
"Fabricate, keep fabricating," Xiao Man said with a cold laugh. "Don't tell me you don't even recognize my father!"
"The situation was chaotic, and my eyes were irritated by the incense ash. I couldn't tell who the person in front of me was, which is why I accidentally injured your father!"
"You seriously injured my father before realizing he was my father?"
"Yes!"
"So, you abandoned my severely injured father and fled alone?"
Xiao Man asked softly, her eyes filled with resentment. If he hadn't realized it, it would have been one thing, but after discovering he had accidentally injured her father, he fled alone, leaving her father to the ruthless killers. Did Nan Gong Yu truly have a heart?
"I wanted to save him..."
"But you didn't save him, and you didn't even tell me everything you knew," Xiao Man's voice was sharp. While she appeared calm, she was on the verge of exploding.
Nan Gong Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "This is my fault for being incompetent. If you want to kill me or torture me, I will accept it without resistance."
Xiao Man held her teacup, silent for a long time. Just as Nan Gong Yu thought she wouldn't speak, Xiao Man finally did.
"I don't want to see you. Leave."
"Xiao Man, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter," Nan Gong Yu vowed. "Your father's death is not simple. I was truly just going to meet the elder by my mother's side at the time. This whole thing is a..."
"Get out!" Xiao Man's cold voice commanded. "Before I change my mind, get out immediately!"
Nan Gong Yu froze for a moment, then said, "I will find out the truth and catch the killer. At that time, I will definitely give you an explanation!"
Nan Gong Yu turned and left. Xiao Man sat motionlessly on the chair. In the end, she had been too naive, falling into the hands of the very person she had trained.
"Miss."
Xiao Man's eyes flickered. "How are the arrangements?"
"They are all in place."
Xiao Man nodded, indicating she understood. "Tell them to be careful and not to expose their whereabouts."
"Yes, Miss."
After Chu Xue left, Xiao Man put down her teacup and lay down on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. She hadn't rested well these past few days and needed to conserve her energy before the spring hunt.
Xiao Man slept until midnight, waking only when hunger pangs struck. Yin Zhu was by her bedside when she awoke.
"Yin Zhu."
Yin Zhu was startled awake and quickly poured a cup of hot water for Xiao Man. "Miss, you're awake. The kitchen has been simmering soup all along. I'll fetch some for you."
Xiao Man drank the hot water in one gulp, got out of bed, and freshened herself up. Yin Zhu had already returned with food.
"Miss, have some chicken soup first," Yin Zhu eagerly served Xiao Man. "This is an old hen, simmered with ginseng for a day. The flavor has come out perfectly. The others are all drooling at the smell."
Xiao Man took the bowl and tasted it. "Not bad. The soup is fresh and delicious, with the right amount of salt. Your cooking skills are getting better and better."
Yin Zhu beamed and quickly served Xiao Man dishes. Xiao Man ate while commenting. When she had eaten half, Xiao Man slowly asked, "Did someone cause trouble in the courtyard?"
Yin Zhu's expression stiffened. "How did Miss know?"
"You are always considerate, but you are not one to talk unnecessarily," Xiao Man looked at Yin Zhu. "Today, you've been talking a bit too much."
Yin Zhu scratched her head sheepishly and looked outside. Xiao Man followed Yin Zhu's gaze and saw Dong Fang Wei shrinking back outside, looking like he wanted to come in but dared not.
"You can go rest now," Xiao Man said gently. "Next time, don't cover for them. Those who make mistakes and lack the courage to admit them are not worth your help."
"Your servant understands. Your servant takes her leave." Yin Zhu left, casting an apologetic glance at Dong Fang Wei. It's not that I'm not helping you, Miss, but that you are too sharp, and I can't deceive you.
Dong Fang Wei walked in dejectedly, his first words being, "This is not my fault!"
"If it's not your fault, then what are you afraid of?" Xiao Man put down her chopsticks and looked at Dong Fang Wei.
"This really isn't my fault, it's Nan Gong Yu's fault!" Dong Fang Wei immediately retorted.
"So, you sold me out to Nan Gong Yu?" Xiao Man asked, confused. "What information did you sell to Nan Gong Yu?"
"No... Cen Yu escaped!"
Xiao Man's expression changed slightly. "Escaped? Wasn't he under your watch? How did he escape?"
Dong Fang Wei timidly glanced at Xiao Man. "He was under my watch, but for some reason, Prince Qin heard some rumors and sent people to capture me. Cen Yu took advantage of the chaos and escaped."
"Nan Gong Yu again!" Xiao Man slammed the table in anger. "Is he tired of not dying fast enough?"
Seeing Xiao Man's face darken whenever Nan Gong Yu was mentioned, Dong Fang Wei felt even more uncertain. He had originally thought that given their close relationship, involving Nan Gong Yu would result in lighter punishment. Now, it seemed his wishful thinking had been too optimistic.
"This matter is strange."
"How so?"
"It's too coincidental. Prince Qin just happened to learn about the Nan Luo Mountain Villa incident, sent people to capture me for questioning, and then Cen Yu was rescued."
Xiao Man suddenly calmed down. Yes, it was too coincidental. But where were there so many coincidences in the world? It was merely a deliberate arrangement by someone. Wait, Nan Gong Yu knew about the Nan Luo Mountain Villa incident? What incident?