Xiao Man's mind became even more confused, "Wait, you mean you don't blame me for scheming against Wen Mo Yu?"
"She brought it upon herself, and deserves her fate!"
"You don't hate me either?"
Wen Mo Han found Xiao Man's words both amusing and frustrating. "Silly girl, how could I hate you? I only hate my own incompetence for letting you face danger time and again."
Xiao Man felt a bit uncomfortable with Wen Mo Han's doting tone. "Uh, Mo Han, can you let go of me first? I can barely breathe."
Upon hearing this, Wen Mo Han quickly released her. However, being weak, he stumbled and started to fall to the ground. Xiao Man quickly caught him. "You're always making me worry. I'll help you."
Xiao Man helped him onto the bed and nervously twisted her sleeves. "Uh, are you really not angry with me about Wen Mo Yu?"
Wen Mo Han shook his head, his gaze fixed on Xiao Man, a smile on his face.
Xiao Man felt puzzled. "Then why were you so stimulated that you fell unconscious?"
"Because of something else." Wen Mo Han's expression dimmed slightly, but then he perked up, taking Xiao Man's hand and placing it on his chest. "Man'er, I swear, from now on, I will protect you well."
"No, no, I can protect myself. And even if I can't, I still have my father and brother." Xiao Man quickly refused. She couldn't handle Wen Mo Han's warmth. After all, she had schemed against his own sister. She couldn't believe there wouldn't be any lingering resentment.
"Man'er doesn't trust me?"
"It's not about not trusting you, it's that I don't need it." As soon as Xiao Man finished speaking, Wen Mo Han's already pale face turned ashen, as if he were a ghost. Terrified, Xiao Man quickly explained, "No, I mean, how can you, a frail scholar with no strength to even tie a chicken, protect me? I'd be more likely to protect you."
"I can protect you!" Wen Mo Han insisted stubbornly. "Man'er, let me protect you from now on. Don't refuse me, okay?"
Seeing Wen Mo Han swaying precariously, looking as if he might faint again at any moment, Xiao Man quickly nodded. She needed to stabilize him first. If he fainted again, all her efforts would be in vain.
Wen Mo Han finally relaxed. He had figured it out. Regardless of what happened in the past, all he wanted was to protect her well from now on and make her happy and carefree. As for those who wanted to harm her, he would eliminate them!
When Xiao Man left the Prime Minister's residence, she was still somewhat dazed. She felt that Wen Mo Han must have slept for two days and was still not fully awake. She was the perpetrator who had schemed against Wen Mo Yu, yet he apologized to the culprit and even wanted to protect her. How bizarre!
If Wen Mo Han knew that Xiao Man had labeled him as bizarre, he would likely fall asleep for another few days.
Xiao Man hadn't walked far when she saw a figure standing in the shadows. Instinctively, she tightened her grip on her dagger, fearing the person meant harm.
The figure emerged from the shadows. It was Prince Qin, Nangong Yu.
"Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
"Wen Mo Han has been unconscious for two days. Given your personality, you were bound to check on him." Nangong Yu's tone was unreadable, as if he were merely stating a fact.
Xiao Man immediately put her dagger away and walked alongside Nangong Yu. "His condition is rather strange."
"He's awake already?"
"He is awake, but I feel like something is off." Xiao Man muttered. "You said he was stimulated by Wen Mo Yu's matter and fell unconscious. When he woke up, instead of shouting for me to be punished as the culprit, he cried and apologized. Doesn't that seem odd to you?"
The corner of Nangong Yu's mouth curved upwards. The unease in his heart instantly vanished. He replied to Xiao Man with a serious expression, "It is indeed odd."
"It's more than odd. I feel like he was quite stimulated this time. He actually said he wanted to protect me!" Xiao Man rambled on. "You know, he's a weak scholar. Any ruffian could take him down. How can he protect me?"
"Feigning weakness to make the enemy lower their guard, then striking when they least expect it. This is a common tactic for scholars!" Nangong Yu said immediately. He was absolutely not going to tell Xiao Man that Wen Mo Han was like this because he liked her!
"He's not that kind of despicable person."
"This isn't despicable, it's strategy!" Nangong Yu said, coaxing her. "Look at those strategists. Aren't most of them weak and frail, yet they can strategize and defeat enemies from miles away?"
"Mo Han does possess such abilities."
Nangong Yu felt a pang of displeasure. "This King also possesses them."
"Your Highness is skilled in both civil and military arts, so your abilities are naturally great," Xiao Man agreed.
"It's good that you know that. If anyone should be protecting you, it should be this King. After all, we are allies. It's not his place to worry about you," Nangong Yu said meaningfully, wanting to gradually infiltrate, but there was no way. He would root out any competition one by one.
Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yu suddenly. "Your Highness, tomorrow night..."
"Tomorrow night, I will wait for you," Nangong Yu finished her sentence. "You should try to trust me."
"I trust Your Highness, but I..."
"You need to trust yourself. You have a forty percent chance, right? That's better than no hope at all," Nangong Yu said casually. "I'm not worried, so why should you be? Don't worry, I've made arrangements. If I happen to die, my people will not trouble you. They will continue to cooperate with you and help you achieve your goals."
On the night of the fifteenth, Prince Qin's manor was brightly lit and heavily guarded. Nangong Yu bathed and changed, sitting in silent anticipation, as he didn't know if he would see the next sunrise.
A faint sound was heard. Nangong Yu's gaze shifted. "I thought you wouldn't come."
Xiao Man walked over slowly and sat down in front of Nangong Yu. "Since I promised Your Highness I would come, I will definitely come."
"Give me the medicine," Nangong Yu said, extending his hand.
Xiao Man took out a box and opened it. Inside were two pills, one red and one white. Nangong Yu looked confused. "Which one should I take first?"
"The white one. Taking the white one will make the 'Life and Death Gu' fall into a dormant state, preventing it from sensing danger and choosing to self-destruct," Xiao Man said calmly. Nangong Yu immediately picked up the pill and put it into his mouth.
Xiao Man grabbed Nangong Yu's hand. "Your Highness, would you reconsider? This method is too risky."
Nangong Yu looked at Xiao Man's anxious expression and couldn't help but smile. "I trust you."
"This isn't about trust. While this medicine can indeed cure the Life and Death Gu, but... there's a sixty percent chance you could die during the detoxification process. After all, the pain is unbearable for ordinary people."
"I am not an ordinary person either." Nangong Yu unhesitatingly threw the pill into his mouth and swallowed it, then reached for the other one.
"Take the other pill in fifteen minutes," Xiao Man stopped him. "We need to wait for the medicinal properties to spread."