The Crown Prince's eyelids twitched.
At the time, he was only angry that Xiao Man had stirred up trouble, causing the Prince of Qin to enrage and have Du Qiuruo's tongue removed, but he had forgotten that although Elder Du was an Elder, he held no real power.
And in Xiao Zhen's hands, it was genuine military power. If Xiao Zhen, because of Xiao Man's matter, turned to support his opponent, he would have suffered a great loss!
"It is my son's fault. I merely informed Old Madam Xiao, asking her to remind Xiao Man not to make enemies everywhere, lest she bring trouble upon herself. It was a well-intentioned act, who would have thought Old Madam Xiao misunderstood and dealt such a heavy blow to Xiao Man. Father, your son will immediately go to the General's mansion to explain this matter to the Protector General."
"No rush, Xiao Zhen doesn't have the inclination to bother with you now, get up first." The old emperor, looking at the chessboard which had once again fallen into a stalemate, glared at Nangong Yu, "Can't you let me win a move?"
Nangong Yu's expression was calm, his tone light, "A game of chess is like a battlefield, where is the room for concession?"
The old emperor pointed at Nangong Yu, speechless for a long time, "Crown Prince, look at your younger brother, where is the demeanor of a son? All day long, he only angers me, and angers me."
The Crown Prince listened and leaned forward to look at the chessboard.
His father loved to play chess, but his skills were not good.
Every time he played with him, he had to let him win, and he couldn't let him realize it, which was quite strenuous. "Fourth Brother, why don't you concede a few moves to Father?"
"If I always concede, how will Father's chess skills improve?" Nangong Yu reasoned righteously, "I am merely helping Father improve his chess skills."
"Why be so serious when playing chess with Father? Wouldn't it be better if you conceded a few moves to Father and made him happier?"
If his mood was better, his life would also be much easier.
Nangong Yu knew the Crown Prince's thoughts well and said lightly, "There are no such concessions on the battlefield. Crown Prince should not disturb my concentration. If I lose the game and am in a bad mood, I might find an excuse to remove someone's tongue again..."
The Crown Prince was instantly speechless.
With great difficulty, his father had stopped mentioning this matter, and Nangong Yu brought it up again. If he continued to harp on it, it was inevitable that his father would get angry again and make him kneel.
Nangong Yu accompanied the old emperor for lunch before leaving the palace.
Si Ye waited at the palace gate, "Master, shall we return to the mansion?"
Nangong Yu nodded. After getting into the carriage, he asked in a low voice, "How is Xiao Man?"
"Not good. The weather is starting to get hot, and time has been delayed. Although medicine has been applied, she remains unconscious. Our people went to check and said the situation is not optimistic. The Imperial Physician from the palace has also gone. General Xiao has been guarding Shuiyue Xiaozhu since his return, and no news has come out."
Nangong Yu's brow furrowed slightly.
When he went to visit last night, he had already noticed that Xiao Man was severely injured.
Logically speaking, how could Madam Xiao's beating with a plank have resulted in such grievous wounds?
This was clearly a beating to death. It was just unknown whether it was at the behest of Old Madam Xiao. As a grandmother, she wished to kill her own granddaughter, her methods were too cruel.
If not, then who was targeting Xiao Man so fiercely?
"Have the people in Old Madam Xiao's courtyard been investigated?"
"They have been investigated. However, the entire Protector General's mansion is heavily guarded, especially Old Madam Xiao's upper courtyard, which is filled with Old Madam Xiao's own people."
"So, it's really Old Madam Xiao who wants Xiao Man's life?"
"It doesn't seem likely. I heard that Old Madam Xiao was somewhat flustered upon hearing the news of the Protector General's mansion's return, as if she was afraid the Protector General would hold her accountable. Moreover, her original intention was merely to discipline the eldest young lady of the Xiao family." Si Ye said softly, "When the eldest young lady of the Xiao family was being beaten, there were two other people in the upper courtyard: the concubine, Madam Yan, and the concubine Lin of the mansion. Madam Yan's courtyard is also heavily guarded. Madam Yan's people were all brought from the Minister's mansion; even Old Madam has no right to handle the people in her courtyard."
"What is Concubine Lin's status?"
"Concubine Lin was once the top courtesan in the capital, Lin Wanwan. She was exceptionally beautiful and associated with people from all walks of life. She is an influential figure in the mansion."
"I didn't expect the small Protector General's mansion to be a place where dragons lie hidden and tigers crouch!"
Shuiyue Xiaozhu.
The Imperial Physician was treating Xiao Man's wounds.
She had expected bruises from the beating with a plank, but she never imagined that the flesh and blood would be torn. The Imperial Physician was shocked. Old Madam Xiao was indeed heartless, to beat someone to death.
Ye Qing was responsible for cleaning Xiao Man's wounds, constantly wiping her face. It was not until evening that Xiao Man's fever subsided, but she remained unconscious.
Looking at Xiao Man's condition, Xiao Zhen's expression had not improved.
"General, you should rest. This servant will guard here. I will immediately notify the General as soon as young lady wakes up."
Xiao Zhen shook his head and sat by the bed, unmoving.
His expression was dark and unreadable, no one could fathom what he was thinking.
Ye Qing busied himself with the herbs, while casting sideways glances at Xiao Zhen.
Xiao Zhen had rushed back as soon as he received the news. After returning to the capital, he had rushed to the palace without delay. He had not slept since last night and was still wearing his armor, looking exhausted.
It was widely rumored that Xiao Zhen doted on his legitimate eldest daughter. Now it seemed to be true, but why doted on the legitimate eldest daughter and not his only son?
"General, please go and freshen up. If the eldest young lady wakes up and sees you looking travel-worn and tired, she will worry." Ye Qing said, "We will take care of things here, and the eldest young lady will be fine."
Xiao Zhen raised his eyebrows and looked at Ye Qing. Ye Qing's expression was calm, and she worked methodically.
Xiao Zhen was silent for a moment before getting up and leaving, ordering hot water for bathing and a change of clothes.
Seeing Xiao Zhen leave, Ye Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Zhen had been on the battlefield for a long time, and his aura of killing was terrifying. With him sitting there, the maids were all cautious, not daring to breathe loudly, for fear that Xiao Zhen would suddenly lash out.
Ye Qing tested Xiao Man's forehead temperature; the fever had not returned. To be safe, she had someone brew another dose of medicine and feed it to Xiao Man.
Qiu Tong worried that her young lady would have numb limbs from lying down for so long. The maids took turns massaging Xiao Man's arms and kneading the bruises on her legs.
"Doctor Ye, will my young lady suffer any long-term effects?"
"No. Although her legs are also injured, I have checked them. No bones are broken. Mix the medicine I gave you with wine and rub it on her to disperse the blood stasis and heat toxin, and there will be no problem. The problem lies with those wounds that bled."
Xiao Man's high fever persisted, and Ye Qing suspected there was a problem with the wounds. At his insistence, he examined the wounds on Xiao Man's back and found that something else had been smeared on them. It was likely that the plank used to beat Xiao Man had been tampered with, which was also why Xiao Man was so severely injured.