Nangong Yu acupunctured Xiao Man, restraining her, before sitting down on the ground beside her.
Xiao Man had already fainted. Even in unconsciousness, her face was filled with unease, as if she harbored an irreconcilable hatred for him.
Nangong Yu carried Xiao Man to the bed and pulled the covers over her to conceal her exposed skin.
He didn't know what had happened to Xiao Man, why she had suddenly gone berserk and fought him desperately. The killing intent she exuded then was not fake; she truly intended to kill him.
Nangong Yu had been in a sorry state while suppressing the raging Xiao Man, with several bloodstains on his neck, a shocking sight.
"What... what in the world is going on?"
Wen Ruyu asked somewhat uncertainly. After all, seeing was believing. Did the Prince of Qin attempt to force himself on her, and Xiao Man fiercely resisted, resulting in injuries for both?
"I don't know. She suddenly went mad. Have the mansion doctor summoned."
Wen Ruyu quickly sent for the mansion doctor, his mind filled with doubts. Xiao Man, though appearing arrogant and thoughtless, was known to be more complex than she let on. How could she suddenly lose control?
After examining Xiao Man, the mansion doctor merely stated that she had been stimulated and was exhausted, sleeping it off. Xiao Man herself was unharmed. He then treated Nangong Yu's neck wounds before taking his leave.
Wen Ruyu's gaze fell on their intertwined hands. "What exactly happened?"
"You talk too much."
Nangong Yu sat by the bedside, looking at Xiao Man's sleeping face. It seemed that even in her dreams, she was still in pain, her brow furrowed in a pained expression.
What terrible events had the eldest daughter of the Protector of the Nation General's mansion endured to develop such a cautious, guarded, and cunning disposition? Su Dan Novel Network.
Wen Ruyu glanced at Xiao Man on the bed and sighed. "I came to tell you something. Dugu Mingyu has disappeared at the border. Yun Qi's assassins have been relentlessly pursuing him. I suspect Dugu Mingyu is in trouble."
"Our men haven't found any trace of him either?"
"No." Wen Ruyu fanned himself. "Speaking of which, there's another strange thing."
"What is it?"
"Consort Lin from the Protector of the Nation General's mansion is from the Cen family. Cen Yu ordered her to poison Xiao Man, intending to take her life." Wen Ruyu had initially hesitated to mention this, but Xiao Man's life was tied to Nangong Yu's, and he couldn't be careless.
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Nangong Yu's eyes. "Cen Yu! He has a grudge against Xiao Man?"
"I investigated. These two have almost no interaction, so it's hard to say they have a grudge. They've never even argued," Wen Ruyu said slowly. "However, after the treasure-snatching convention at Yaoyue Tower that day, this man also sent people to chase after Xiao Man. If she hadn't run fast, she would have been in trouble."
"No grudge, no enmity, why does he want to kill Xiao Man? Investigate him." Nangong Yu suppressed the urge to kill Cen Yu that was roaring in his heart and said slowly, "If Cen Yu has wicked intentions, then give the Cen family a taste of hardship."
"Alright, and there's one more thing." Wen Ruyu hesitated whether to speak, as he found it too unbelievable.
"Speak."
"The Cult Master has returned to Tianji Pavilion, playing with something in his hand that looks very much like your military order..." Seeing Nangong Yu's expression darken instantly, Wen Ruyu quickly added, "It must be a similar item. How could the Cult Master have your military order?"
"That is this king's military order!" Nangong Yu said through gritted teeth. He never imagined that the person who stole his military order would be the Demon Cult Master!
This explained why Xiao Man was indeed framed. After all, the Demon Cult Master had only recently appeared in Yusheng Imperial Capital. Before that, he had been causing trouble in Yun Qi. For Xiao Man, who had never left the Imperial Capital, it was impossible to recognize him.
Wen Ruyu was dumbfounded. "How did he get your military order?"
"He stole it from this king's mansion!" Nangong Yu said through gritted teeth. "Not only did he steal it, but he also framed Xiao Man."
Wen Ruyu instantly understood. This was why he had witnessed the scene of attempted rape earlier. The Prince was indeed mighty!
When Xiao Man woke up again, her head was splitting with pain. She slowly sat up and realized she was lying in her own room.
"Someone."
"Miss, you're awake."
Qiu Tong quickly grabbed a set of clothes and prepared to help Xiao Man dress.
Xiao Man looked at the clothes she was wearing. They were not the ones she had worn when she sneaked out. She distinctly remembered Nangong Yu tearing her clothes!
Her entire outfit, from the inside out, had been replaced. Who had changed her clothes?
"When did I return?"
"Did Miss go out?"
Qiu Tong asked this because everyone in the courtyard, except for her and Yin Zhu, was skilled in martial arts. If Xiao Man had quietly left the mansion, Qiu Tong would definitely have noticed.
"It's nothing, get dressed."
As Xiao Man dressed, she sifted through her memories. She remembered being in Prince Qin's mansion before she lost control. Had she done anything out of line or said anything she shouldn't have after losing control?
Xiao Man thought for a long time but couldn't recall what she had done or said. In the end, she could only shake her head and grit her teeth, muttering the name "Yu Qian Mo." That scoundrel dared to use Prince Qin to trap her! She swore that if he ever fell into her hands, she would make him regret living!
As Xiao Man finished changing, she heard an uproar outside. Xiao Man frowned slightly. Her mood was already bad. Then, she saw Consort Lin burst in and immediately kneel before Xiao Man.
"What is Consort doing?" Xiao Man asked with a cold expression.
"This concubine is wrong. Please forgive this concubine, Eldest Miss." Consort Lin wept as if flowers were being rained upon. "Eldest Miss, this concubine truly knows her mistake."
Xiao Man's expression grew uglier. She knew her mistake? Was this how one showed they knew their mistake? She had openly barged into her Shuiyue Xiaozhu and was now kowtowing incessantly. Those who didn't know would think she had done something to Consort Lin.
"Quickly help Consort up. What's wrong with Consort... *cough cough*... Consort, don't scare me..." Xiao Man's face was as pale as paper. She stood up from her chair, swaying precariously, as if a gust of wind could blow her to the ground.
Consort Lin shook off the hands trying to help her up and rushed to Xiao Man, grabbing her leg. "Eldest Miss, I beg you, it was this concubine who offended you. Fourth Miss is innocent. Please spare Fourth Miss..."
Before Consort Lin could finish speaking, Xiao Man, like a withered leaf in the wind, fainted to the ground.
The maids cried out in alarm, pulling Consort Lin away. Some rushed to lift Xiao Man, others called for a doctor. The entire Shuiyue Xiaozhu was in chaos.
Tears still clung to Consort Lin's face, but now that Xiao Man had fainted, she didn't know if she should continue crying or continue acting. But the main performer had fainted, so who was she performing for?