After Nangong Yu left, Xiao Man finally called someone in.
"Yingxue, open the box and see what's inside," Xiao Man handed the box given by the Prince of Qin to Yingxue.
Yingxue took it and opened it. "Miss, there is a flower inside, a purple flower, blooming brilliantly. The surface of this flower has a layer of frost, which is very beautiful."
"Purple Frost Flower." Xiao Man's expression was solemn. This Purple Frost Flower grew in poisonous miasma lands, making it quite difficult to find. It had to be picked within fifteen minutes of blooming and preserved in an ice box. Otherwise, once the flower wilted, its medicinal properties would be lost. If not preserved properly and the frost dissipated, its efficacy would be greatly reduced.
However, the Purple Frost Flower sent by the Prince of Qin was in full bloom with its frost intact. This indicated it was picked and sealed the moment it bloomed. But for the Prince of Qin to venture into poisonous miasma lands to find the Purple Frost Flower, given the accumulation of toxins in his body, was a suicidal act!
However, Xiao Man immediately thought of the many capable individuals around the Prince of Qin. Even if he didn't find it himself, she felt a vague worry and couldn't help but curse herself for not insisting on taking his pulse earlier.
"I wonder what his intentions are?"
"His intention is for you to use this to treat your eyes. Isn't this Purple Frost Flower exactly what was missing from your prescription, Miss?" Yingxue closed the box to prevent the medicinal properties from dissipating. "But how did His Highness, the Prince of Qin, know that this Purple Frost Flower was missing from your prescription?"
Xiao Man's lips curved slightly. "There is probably nothing that happens in my courtyard that he doesn't know. Tell Qin Xue to be more careful and try to avoid exposure."
"Yes, Miss."
"Are there any updates from Yunzhong City?"
"The Eldest Young Master and Yun Qi have had many frictions. There haven't been any major battles, but minor skirmishes are constant. Pingxi City has now become a battlefield. If it were only the Young General alone, it might be a bit difficult. Fortunately, Young Master Mingyu is also there. With the two of them working together, even Xiahou Ying, despite his genius, would not be their match!" Yingxue reassured her.
"I'm not worried about my brother. I'm worried about Sister Chu. She is, after all, a delicate girl. I don't know where she is suffering now, or if my brother is protecting her," Xiao Man said with deep concern. She didn't know how Sister Chu had explained things to her family, and Lord Chu wasn't worried about his precious daughter either, even recalling the people sent to find her.
"Miss Chu..." Yingxue hesitated.
"What is it? Why are you speaking hesitantly?"
"Miss Chu disguised herself as a man and joined the army, charging into battle with the Young General and killing countless enemies. She is very brave."
Xiao Man was greatly surprised. "Sister Chu actually joined the army?"
"Indeed." Yingxue handed the teacup to Xiao Man. "If it weren't for her conspicuous performance in the army, charging into battle and fighting valiantly, and if she hadn't been injured taking a stab for the Young General, the Young General wouldn't have discovered it!"
"Sister Chu is injured?"
"Yes, she sustained a minor injury, thankfully not serious. The Young General is now keeping her by his side, perhaps out of fear that she would do something reckless."
"Then, Sister Chu will likely return to the capital." Xiao Man nodded thoughtfully. Since her brother had discovered it, he certainly wouldn't allow her to continue to risk her life in the military camp.
"That's not necessarily true!" Yingxue said with a smile. "Our Young General is probably no match for Miss Chu."
"That's true. Given Sister Chu's personality, my brother might really not be able to do anything about her. However, I still hope she returns soon, as the border is not peaceful," Xiao Man sighed. "Also, please help me prepare medicinal herbs. The fifteenth is approaching, and I need to prepare some medicine for him."
"Does Miss mean His Highness, the Prince of Qin?"
"Yes, go and prepare them."
"Yes, Miss."
When Nangong Yu returned to the Prince of Qin's mansion, he saw Ye Qing sitting in his study, looking displeased. "Why have you come?"
"I was kicked out," Ye Qing said coldly. "The Old Madam of the General's Mansion is truly ruthless. The same granddaughter, yet she always wishes for her death."
"Old Madam Xiao kicked you out?"
"Yes, but before I left, I gave her a small gift to teach her a lesson." Ye Qing continued, "By the way, Xiao Man's eyes..."
"The Purple Frost Flower has been found. I gave it to her. With her skills, her eyes should recover soon."
"You went to find the Purple Frost Flower?" Ye Qing was quite shocked. He quickly stepped forward to check Nangong Yu's pulse. "I think you don't want to live anymore. Do you know that acting so recklessly could cost you your life?"
Nangong Yu coughed twice, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Ye Qing quickly fed him a pill. "I think you truly don't want to live."
"No, I want to live, to live for a long, long time," Nangong Yu said, gasping for breath. "The person who murdered my imperial concubine is still alive, and I still have to protect the person I love. How can I die so easily?"
Ye Qing sat down beside him. "Xiao Man, what are your plans?"
Nangong Yu's lips curled into a smile of determination. "Since she took the initiative to get involved with this prince, she has no other choice."
"Nangong, do you truly like Xiao Man, or do you intend to use her to detoxify yourself, or perhaps to gain the support of the General's Mansion?" Ye Qing asked abruptly.
Nangong Yu looked up at Ye Qing. "If it were at the beginning, it was only about using her, wanting only to find her and remove the蛊毒 from my body. Although I, Nangong Yu, don't have many great abilities, I am not so cowardly as to need to use women to achieve my ambitions. Qing Ti, I have set my heart on her. I will marry no one else in this life!"
"Not using her?"
"No," Nangong Yu stated with certainty. "I know she has many secrets, and I don't know what she is plotting. But no matter what happens, I will protect her. This is my promise."
Ye Qing remained silent, sitting there quietly. "If that's the case, then be honest with Xiao Man. Tell her that she can suppress your 蛊毒, so she doesn't take detours and not know how to cure your 蛊毒. I will cooperate with her."
"The time is not right. I cannot be honest with her yet," Nangong Yu refused. If he were to be honest with Xiao Man now, given her personality, she would only keep her distance from him.
"Xiao Man will not like someone who deceives her."
How could Nangong Yu not know that Xiao Man would not like someone who deceived her? But he dared not take the risk. At least, before Xiao Man developed feelings for him, he dared not be honest, because honesty would mean loss.
"When the time is ripe, I will tell her everything," Nangong Yu said slowly. "The urgent matter is to heal her eyes. How are her eyes?"
Ye Qing shook his head. "I don't know either. I've been looking for a way to treat them these past few days and haven't examined her. Now that I've been driven out by Old Madam Xiao, I will find an opportunity to examine her."
Nangong Yu nodded. "Good, I'll trouble you with her."
"Rest assured, I will definitely cure her eyes and give you a healthy Miss Xiao!"
"Thank you."