"We will meet again soon," Yao Ran said with a laugh, "and when we do, I will take away everything you cherish."
"Delusional talk!" Xiao Zhen threw the knife in his hand at Yao Ran, but she escaped with her men through the window, vanishing into the cold night.
Dugu Mingyu sheathed his sword. "Why are you here alone?"
Xiao Man's face showed embarrassment. Did Dugu Mingyu recognize him?
"You've mistaken me for someone else."
"Then who were they, and were they intending harm to the young lady?" Dugu Mingyu asked again.
Xiao Zhen suddenly understood he couldn't hide it. "They are my enemies. The leader has a vicious mind and a long-standing grudge against me. He vowed to take everything I hold dear. You heard him just now. I feared he might target Man'er, so I came tonight to ambush them. You must not tell anyone about this."
"Rest assured, I will keep it a secret."
"If that's the case, I shall take my leave."
"It's late. Perhaps you should wait until dawn to return to the city."
"No, I have matters to attend to. I must go. Farewell." Xiao Zhen and his men quickly withdrew from the inn. Dugu Mingyu glanced at the broken tables and chairs. "Put it all on my tab."
"Certainly, honored guest."
The innkeeper nimbly cleared away the broken furniture, cleaned up, and brought out new tables and chairs from the storeroom, as if such occurrences were commonplace.
Yan Yuqing leaned closer. "Was that General Xiao?"
Dugu Mingyu nodded.
"It's so cold. Why would he be here late at night to ambush envoys from Lan Yue?"
"You know their identities?" Dugu Mingyu asked, surprised.
"I am the master of the Demonic Palace, after all. I have my sources," Yan Yuqing said disdainfully. "I know far more than you imagine."
"Such as?"
"For instance, Xiao Man is engaged to Wen Mohan."
Dugu Mingyu spat out his tea. "What did you say?"
"I said Xiao Man is engaged to Wen Mohan," Yan Yuqing whispered, leaning in. "And I just received news that Yun Qi's young emperor has specifically requested Xiao Man for a political marriage, offering ten border cities as a dowry. The old emperor is likely tempted."
Dugu Mingyu's brow furrowed. "Has it already escalated to the worst-case scenario?"
"This isn't the worst-case scenario yet," Yan Yuqing said slowly. "The worst-case scenario is Murong Shengrui marching his army to force Yusheng to hand over Xiao Man."
"Murong Shengrui!" Dugu Mingyu gritted out the name, his teeth clenched. He had annihilated his family and killed his loved ones, and now he wouldn't rest until he had completely eradicated them.
"We should return to the imperial capital as soon as possible," Dugu Mingyu said after a moment. "I must see her quickly. She absolutely cannot be married off to Yun Qi."
"I actually think a marriage alliance with Yun Qi isn't a bad thing," Yan Yuqing said slowly. "It's the quickest path to revenge, isn't it?"
"If we are to seek revenge, it will be righteous revenge!" Dugu Mingyu said proudly. "If it requires her to sacrifice herself for revenge, I would rather abandon that hatred."
Yan Yuqing smiled. "At least you have a conscience, young man. We'll head back to the imperial capital first thing tomorrow morning."
Xiao Zhen returned to the General's mansion just before dawn, hastily changing into his court attire. It was almost time for the morning court, and he had to attend.
"Father, you've finally deigned to return."
A voice suddenly rang out from the room, startling Xiao Zhen. He then noticed Xiao Man sitting in a chair in the corner, looking at him with a resentful expression, which made him uneasy.
"Daughter, why are you in my room?"
Xiao Man crossed her arms. "Father, if I weren't in your room, I wouldn't know you were such a person!"
"What kind of person do you think your father is?"
"Staying out all night!" Xiao Man said, emphasizing each word. "What bad deeds were you up to?"
"Look what you're saying. Your father was out on official business!"
"You use the same excuse as my master!" Xiao Man snorted coldly. "Could it be you've taken a fancy to some girl? Tell your daughter, and I'll ask Mother to escort her back, so Father doesn't have to pine for her and stay out all night."
Xiao Zhen felt a headache coming on. "I was really handling matters."
"Handling what matters?" Xiao Man's lips curved slightly upward. "On such a dark and windy night, were you out killing people?"
Xiao Zhen almost let his guard down. This girl was becoming harder to fool!
"Nonsense. Father was meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in many years." Xiao Zhen adjusted his court attire. He wasn't lying. "It's time for court. I'm going now."
Xiao Man watched Xiao Zhen's almost panicked retreat, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "Dongfang Wei, have you found out my father's whereabouts?"
Dongfang Wei said with exasperation, "It's not that quick. Your father has always been skilled at concealing his movements. It's not easy to track him. Besides, I'm not an information broker!"
"Isn't the Tianji Pavilion an information broker? Why don't you ask them?" Xiao Man asked, puzzled.
"You can ask Tianji Pavilion?" Dongfang Wei asked slowly. "Aren't you afraid that what your father is doing might inadvertently expose your own affairs?"
Xiao Man frowned. "Forget it. Let's not worry about that for now. Help me investigate the whereabouts of the Lan Yue envoys first. I need to meet them!"
Murong Shengrui visited the General's mansion early in the morning but was told Xiao Man was not at home.
"A'man isn't here?" Murong Shengrui asked He Qingyi, his voice low.
"Replying to Emperor Yun, Princess Yongning is out on an errand and is indeed not at the mansion," He Qingyi said calmly. Even if the young emperor of Yun Qi was cruel and bloodthirsty, he couldn't just kill people in the General's mansion, could he?
"Then I shall wait for A'man in her courtyard." Murong Shengrui took a few steps toward the exit. Seeing that He Qingyi wasn't following, he frowned. "Madam Xiao, please lead the way."
"Emperor Yun, please."
He Qingyi led Murong Shengrui to the entrance of Shuiyue Cottage. The door to Shuiyue Cottage was tightly shut. "Emperor Yun, this is Princess Yongning's residence."
Murong Shengrui glanced at the closed door. "Madam Xiao, please knock."
He Qingyi cursed inwardly. Shuiyue Cottage being closed and sealed clearly meant Xiao Man didn't welcome visitors, yet this man was shamelessly trying to curry favor!
He Qingyi reluctantly stepped forward and knocked. After knocking for a long time, there was no response. She turned to look at Murong Shengrui. "Your Majesty Emperor Yun, no one is answering."
Murong Shengrui understood. Xiao Man did not wish to see him. However, since he had found her, he would take her back by any means necessary!
Murong Shengrui took two steps back, intending to climb over the wall. As soon as he climbed over, he found himself in another world. Before him stretched an endless grassland, where a gentle breeze rustled the swaying grass.