Doctor Ye hurried into the Shui Yue Small Residence with his medicine box. Upon hearing that Xiao Man had been injured, he couldn't help but sigh, wondering how many enemies she had to be hurt so frequently. He intended to make a jest, but seeing Xiao Zhen by her side, he swallowed the words back.
"What happened?"
"She was injured in the eyes with poison powder and is now blind," Xiao Man explained softly.
Doctor Ye immediately examined Xiao Man's eyes, which were severely congested and had a faint purple hue. "What a malicious intent! The assailant clearly meant to cripple your eyes."
"Doctor Ye, Man'er's eyes..." Xiao Zhen asked worriedly.
"This poison is called Yan Ri, quite venomous. Eldest Miss's eyes... General, rest assured, I will do my utmost to treat Eldest Miss." A flicker of anger crossed Ye Qing's mind. Who could be so malicious as to use such a potent poison as Yan Ri to ruin Xiao Man's eyesight? What was Nan Gong Yu doing, allowing Xiao Man to be injured repeatedly?
"I'm going to the palace," Xiao Zhen stated and turned to leave.
Even if he couldn't kill the mastermind behind today's events, he would sow a seed of suspicion in His Majesty's heart.
Ye Qing comforted Xiao Man, "I'll apply medicine to alleviate the pain. Don't worry, I will definitely cure your eyes, I certainly will!"
"Thank you, Doctor Ye."
After applying the medicine, Ye Qing rushed back to pore over books, searching for an antidote to Yan Ri. Curing the poison while healing Xiao Man's eyes was no easy task.
After everyone had left, Xiao Man's expression turned cold. Dong Fang Wei descended from the rooftop. "When that maid jumped out the window, I pursued her. Seeing she couldn't escape, she took poison and committed suicide."
"This servant deserves death," Ying Xue knelt on the ground. "Someone attacked, and this servant fell for their diversionary tactic."
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged. The other party knew she had protectors. They had hidden in the Azure Cloud Pavilion beforehand, then lured Nan Gong Qin to find Wen Mo Han, instigating conflict between her and Nan Gong Qin, pushing her into the lake, and then legitimizing her need to change clothes in the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
Although it was Nan Gong Qin who was pushed into the water, Nan Gong Qin was prone to tantrums, so she accompanied her. If she hadn't gone, the mastermind would have found a way to lure her to the Azure Cloud Pavilion anyway. Here, Li Zhao Yao became the key player!
As for Xue Kun, someone deliberately got him drunk and took him to a side room to rest. Then, they locked Xue Kun in a secret chamber and drugged both of them. The intention was to ruin her reputation and cause her a miserable death. This must be a significant vendetta.
"Miss, who exactly is plotting against you?"
"I don't know, but I'm certain this person harbors extreme hostility towards me. If this person isn't apprehended, I fear I won't be able to sleep soundly," Xiao Man said slowly.
Qiu Tong scratched her head. There were too many people who had grudges against her, making it impossible to discern who was targeting Xiao Man. "You usually just bicker and skirmish with them. Why would they be so ruthless as to directly damage your eyes?"
"They don't just want to blind me; they also want to ruin my reputation and take my life," Xiao Man said slowly. "Ying Xue, arrest Li Zhao Yao. Li Zhao Yao should know who the person behind this is."
"Yes, Miss."
Dong Fang Wei stood in the room, hesitating to leave. If he hadn't pursued that maid today and had stayed by Xiao Man's side, she wouldn't have been ambushed.
"I apologize; it was my dereliction of duty."
Xiao Man touched her eyes. Ye Qing's medicine was very effective, and her eyes no longer hurt much. "The opponent is meticulous and cunning; it's impossible to guard against. Even if you were by my side, I might not have escaped their scheme. You don't need to dwell on it."
Dong Fang Wei was silent for a moment, then turned to leave. He happened to encounter Xiao Xiang, who had come to visit Xiao Man. Seeing him emerge, Xiao Xiang nodded at him. Dong Fang Wei nodded unnaturally and quickly retreated. Xiao Xiang was somewhat puzzled, but her concern for Xiao Man was greater.
"Eldest Sister, I heard you had an accident. Is it serious?"
"It's nothing serious, just injured my eyes," Xiao Man said slowly.
Xiao Xiang covered her mouth in astonishment. "What can be done about this? Can it be cured?"
"I don't know," Xiao Man's voice was devoid of emotion. "You don't need to worry too much. Now that Third Sister is back, be more cautious in your daily actions. Also, pay more attention to the inner court. If I'm not mistaken, our dear grandmother is probably plotting to bring a lady of status into the family as a daughter-in-law."
"Will Father agree?"
A mocking smile played on Xiao Man's lips. "Father didn't want to marry Madam Yan back then, yet under Grandmother's machinations, he still married Madam Yan into the household. If she sets her mind to it, with Father's temperament, he'll easily fall into her trap."
"Grandmother, she..."
"Our grandmother is heartless. You and I are as one. If she ever catches your slip, it will only be me and you who suffer. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand, Eldest Sister, don't worry. I will think thrice before acting and not cause trouble for Eldest Sister."
"Alright, you can go back now."
Li Zhao Yao was dead. Her body was found in the moat, mutilated beyond recognition.
She lay naked in the moat, her hands severed, her eyes gouged out, her tongue cut off. It was evident she had suffered immense torture before her death.
Xiao Man was somewhat surprised upon hearing the news. "She's dead?"
Ying Xue shivered. "Miss, you haven't seen Li Zhao Yao's corpse; it's too tragic. After enduring torture, Li Zhao Yao was killed and thrown into the moat. The Prince Zhao's estate is actively searching for the murderer."
Xiao Man frowned. She had intended to capture Li Zhao Yao to investigate the mastermind, but Li Zhao Yao was dead, and in such a gruesome manner. Who was the killer? Was it the original assailant or someone else?
"Could it be..." Ying Xue thought of the Prince of Qin. Legend had it that the Prince of Qin was as beautiful as an immortal externally but as wicked as a demon internally. If it were His Highness the Prince of Qin, he was indeed capable of such deeds.
Xiao Man waved her hand, signaling everyone to leave. She needed to think carefully.
The people from the Dark Department should be arriving in Yu Sheng soon. Before then, she couldn't act rashly, nor could she let Nan Gong Yu detect her intentions. Her current injury served as an excellent excuse. However, the hidden individual still made her uneasy.
"Alas," Xiao Man sighed. "Who on earth killed Li Zhao Yao?"
A gust of wind blew, lifting Xiao Man's long hair. Her expression shifted slightly, and she looked in a certain direction. "Who is it?"
"Me." Nan Gong Yu's voice rang out.
"Why has Your Highness come at this time?" Xiao Man asked, tilting her head. Although her eyes were covered with a white bandage due to the medicine, she showed no anxiety or frustration at being unable to see, appearing remarkably calm.