Xiao Man followed behind Xiao Zhen. "Father, did you really consider Miss Tan?"
Xiao Zhen glanced at Xiao Man. "Don't you like it?"
"That's not it. It's just that given Grandmother's attitude, she probably won't let it go and might bring trouble to Miss Tan." Xiao Man said gently, "Your daughter thinks Miss He is also good."
Xiao Zhen stopped, and Xiao Man almost bumped into him. She quickly steadied herself, and Xiao Zhen had already turned around. "Do you want Father to marry He Qingyi?"
Xiao Man smiled brightly. "No, I want Father to marry the person he likes. The rest of his life is still long. Being with someone you like is called living; otherwise, it's just getting by."
"Father only likes your mother," Xiao Zhen said softly.
Xiao Man took Xiao Zhen's arm. "Father, don't be sad. Mother is gone, but Father still has me."
Xiao Zhen smiled, his smile filled with contentment and some other emotions. He was coming back, wasn't he!
"Man'er, he, is coming back."
Xiao Man's body stiffened. She knew very well who Xiao Zhen was referring to when he said "he."
Xiao Man's respected teacher, Feng Tianlan, who was also related to her death!
Xiao Man's emotions were complicated. She couldn't fathom the connection. Her master had no past grudges against her. Why would such a person use marrow cleansing to kill her?
"When is he coming back?"
"Probably soon, by the end of the year at the latest," Xiao Zhen said slowly. "Father knows you have your own ideas, but Father also hopes you won't act rashly."
Xiao Man fell silent. She didn't want to act rashly, but she had to. After all, she was no longer just Xiao Man. The deep-seated hatred and unforgettable pain were indelible.
"Father, don't worry, your daughter knows what she's doing."
"Prince Qin is not suitable for you," Xiao Zhen hesitated for a moment before saying this. Prince Qin was not suitable for Xiao Man. This man was cunning and held military power, growing to a point where even he was wary in such a short time. He didn't want Xiao Man to take risks.
Xiao Man looked up at Xiao Zhen. "Father, what are you talking about?"
"Father knows you have a good impression of Prince Qin, but he is not suitable for you. If you had to choose between Prince Qin and Wen Mohan, Father would rather you choose Wen Mohan," Xiao Zhen said softly. "Prince Qin is too dangerous."
Xiao Man smiled. "Father thinks too much. Your daughter never thought of being with Prince Qin, nor with Mohan. I do have contact with Prince Qin, but it's not related to romance. With Mohan, we are just friends. Your daughter wants to stay with Father for a lifetime."
"Silly girl," Xiao Zhen rubbed Xiao Man's head. As a father, he was not a qualified one, but as a man, how could he not understand? Both Prince Qin and Wen Mohan fancied his daughter. Honestly, he was gratified. Prince Qin was outstanding, and Wen Mohan was also a proud son of heaven. It showed their discernment to fall for his daughter, but no matter how much he favored Prince Qin, he didn't want Xiao Man to be with him!
For the next few days, Xiao Man confined herself to her room, researching methods of detoxification. When she discovered that her blood could counteract the่ poison from Wuyue country, she wondered if her blood might be the key to the cure.
"Miss, the required medicinal herbs are all prepared. Is Miss refining an antidote pill?"
"Go fetch Bai Ling," Xiao Man said while tinkering with the herbs in her hands.
"Yes."
Bai Ling, having left Wuyue country, was very curious about the outside world. Ye Qing was patient, accompanying her all the way. Only after entering the imperial capital and Bai Ling was taken away did they part.
"Xiao Man, you sent for me." Bai Ling's true nature was revealed, like a young girl seeing the world for the first time, she asked with a clear voice.
"I sent for you because I need your help," Xiao Man said without looking up. "The Life and Death Gu in your body is ultimately a hidden danger. We need to find a way to remove it."
Bai Ling's eyes flickered with confusion at this. "Once the Life and Death Gu is planted, it shares life and death with the host. There is no way to remove it. If the Life and Death Gu dies, the host will also die."
Xiao Man turned to look at Bai Ling. "If the Gu worm dies, you will also die?"
"Yes, the Life and Death Gu resides in the heart. I've already told you the method of removing the Gu: it can only be transferred. Either through intimacy with a loved one, or someone is willing to become the host and draw the Life and Death Gu out."
Xiao Man thought carefully. "Can I draw the Life and Death Gu from you onto myself?"
"No!" Bai Ling shook her head. "The person who draws the Gu must be a blood relative of the person infected. There is no blood relation between us. The Saintesses of Wuyue country are all orphans, born without parents, to prevent anyone from helping the Saintess remove the Gu."
Xiao Man frowned. Nangong Yu was a prince, and the royal family was known for their coldness. No one would sacrifice their life for Nangong Yu. "If the Life and Death Gu can be taken out alive, will the host be alright?"
"This... can that be done? Without another host, the Life and Death Gu will not move. If it senses danger, it will self-destruct."
Xiao Man gasped. This Life and Death Gu was so terrifying. This meant she couldn't just try anything casually. However, Nangong Yu's time was running out. If she couldn't find a cure, Nangong Yu would be headed to the underworld. Su Dan Novel Network.
"There will always be a way. Tell me more about the Life and Death Gu."
Xiao Man worked tirelessly all night, without sleep, yet showing no signs of fatigue. After paying her respects to the old madam, she returned to Shuiyue Cottage and continued her research on detoxification.
Nangong Yu stealthily infiltrated Shuiyue Cottage, but was discovered as soon as he entered. Dongfang Wei glanced at Nangong Yu and ignored him. This wasn't the first time this person had sneaked in, so he pretended not to see.
Nangong Yu was somewhat helpless. Since Dongfang Wei became Xiao Man's hidden guard, it was no longer easy to sneak into Shuiyue Cottage unnoticed. "Where is Xiao Man?"
Dongfang Wei remained silent and hidden in the shadows. Nangong Yu, not angered by the cold shoulder, searched the bedroom, then the study, and finally found Xiao Man in the most secluded room, tinkering with herbs.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing Nangong Yu's voice, Xiao Man didn't turn around. "Looking for a cure."
Nangong Yu sat down beside her and casually picked up a herb. "Sky Star Grass. This thing is poisonous, isn't it?"
"Yes. What I need to solve now is how to extract the Life and Death Gu from your body alive. Then, I also need to find a way to balance the toxins in your body. The toxins of the Life and Death Gu have already permeated your body and are being held at bay by the Gu itself. Once the Life and Death Gu is removed, the toxins in your body will become imbalanced, and you are very likely to die from poisoning."
Nangong Yu listened without speaking, his gaze fixed on Xiao Man's face. Xiao Man's focused expression was very attractive, but he had come here for another reason.