Nangong Wu's heart was filled with doubts. The Empress was acting for her son; for whom was the Empress Dowager acting? She had no heirs herself. Had she reached an agreement with one of the princes? Secretly supporting a prince, but which one?
"Have all the young ladies finished?"
Nangong Wu heard the urgent voice and wrote down her answer. Immediately, a palace maid came to collect the answers and hand them to Qu Yang. Qu Yang flipped through them one by one, remaining silent. He was waiting for Xiao Man's answer. If Xiao Man refused the marriage alliance, she would surely give a wrong answer, falling into his trap.
Two cups of tea later, Xiao Man's answer was delivered to the palace. When Qu Yang saw Xiao Man's answer, his expression was indescribable. Xiao Man had given the same neutral answer as everyone else, two, and had not deliberately answered incorrectly.
The Empress had been watching Qu Yang's expression and noticed his complicated look after he read Xiao Man's answer. "Your Excellency envoy, how are things? Have the young ladies answered correctly?"
"Replying to Your Majesty the Empress, all the young ladies have answered correctly. The future Empress of Yun Qi will surely be one of these young ladies. I implore Your Majesty the Empress to convey to His Majesty that the final results will be announced tomorrow evening, and all participating young ladies must attend the banquet." Qu Yang specifically looked at Xiao Man's seat, his meaning obvious: Xiao Man must also attend.
The Empress nodded. "Very well, I shall report truthfully to His Majesty."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress. This subordinate takes his leave."
As Qu Yang left, the Empress also dismissed the young ladies, asking them to wait patiently for the results tomorrow evening.
"No matter which of you is chosen for the marriage alliance, it is an honor. Your families will greatly benefit from your selection. You are contributing to your country and your families; this is the highest glory."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress."
"You may all return. Dress beautifully for the palace banquet tomorrow evening, lest you be underestimated."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress."
After all the young ladies had left, the Empress called the Ninth Princess to her side. "Was today's question simple?"
Nangong Wu nodded. "It was indeed simple, asking what one plus one equals."
"And what did you answer?"
"Two."
"It shouldn't be this simple. Is there some hidden meaning?" The Empress frowned and thought for a long time without understanding. She held Nangong Wu's hand and said, "Wu'er, though you are nominally under my wing, I have always treated you as my own daughter. Now that your Crown Prince brother has made a mistake and is confined to the Eastern Palace, you will surely help him, won't you?"
"Your humble subject will do her utmost."
"I knew you were a good child." The Empress patted Nangong Wu's hand. "If you become the Empress of Yun Qi, your status will rise. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, you will have a powerful backing, and no one will dare bully you, even in Yun Qi."
"Your humble subject understands."
"It's good that you understand; I haven't doted on you in vain." The Empress said with a smile, bestowing upon Nangong Wu a set of the latest hair ornaments, intending to win her over.
Nangong Wu then paid her respects to the Empress Dowager and repeated what she had told the Empress. The Empress Dowager merely told her to do her best and did not say whom she should support. Nangong Wu couldn't help but wonder who the Empress Dowager was supporting.
"Your Highness, shall we return to Chang Le Palace or the Princess's residence?"
"Return to the Princess's residence. His Majesty granted me the residence long ago, and with the peace talks underway, it is safer to stay at the Princess's residence," Nangong Wu said coolly. She did not wish to stay in the palace or see the faces of the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Since discovering the Empress Dowager's true nature, Nangong Wu found she could no longer look at her as she once did.
Nangong Wu made her way out of the palace. Along the road, she chanced upon Xiang Huan'er and Bai Linglong. These two should not have participated in this selection banquet. However, the Yun Qi envoy insisted that all young ladies who were betrothed but not yet married should participate, so these two had also entered the palace today.
"Ninth Princess."
"Miss Xiang, Miss Bai." Nangong Wu nodded in greeting. "Are you also leaving the palace? It's convenient, I'm leaving too, let's go together."
Xiang Huan'er and Bai Linglong followed Nangong Wu. "Ninth Princess, how did you answer today's question?"
"It was the simplest question, so I naturally gave the simplest answer. Although I don't know why the Yun Qi envoy asked such a question, playing it safe will never be wrong."
The three women exchanged glances, seeing a smile in each other's eyes.
They left the palace together and boarded Xiang Huan'er's carriage, which was spacious and comfortable.
"What do you think Yun Qi is trying to do?" Xiang Huan'er asked first. "I always feel that Yun Qi's proposal of a marriage alliance is ill-intentioned."
"I don't care what they want to do; I just dislike being chosen like a commodity." Bai Linglong chimed in. "Moreover, I was betrothed before the New Year and was to marry as soon as Xue Meng returned, yet I was forced to attend the selection banquet."
"I am also betrothed, and even the wedding date is set," Xiang Huan'er said, offering a box of pastries for them to eat. "Wasn't I also required to attend?"
"Speaking of which, Xiao Man has not attended."
"Her health is poor now, and she often falls ill. His Majesty has granted her special privilege to refuse all audiences except for His Majesty's. This gathering is at the Empress's decree to help the Yun Qi envoy eliminate candidates, so she is excused from attending."
"Will she still be able to be absent from tomorrow night's banquet?" Bai Linglong asked with some worry. Xiao Man was also a princess, and if Yun Qi took a liking to Xiao Man, it would be terrible.
"I'm afraid not," Nangong Wu said softly. "The Yun Qi envoy proposed that all young ladies participating in tomorrow night's banquet must attend, including Xiao Man."
"Why do I feel like Yun Qi is targeting Xiao Man?" Xiang Huan'er said indistinctly while eating pastries.
"Targeting Xiao Man, why?" Nangong Wu asked, puzzled.
"You see, Xiao Man is a princess personally conferred by His Majesty. According to custom, she is naturally one of the candidates for the marriage alliance."
"But her poor health, on this point alone, should disqualify her."
"Have you all forgotten something?"
"What?"
"General Xiao guards Yunzhong City, and Yun Qi has suffered significant losses at General Xiao's hands. The Young Emperor of Yun Qi is a vengeful and ruthless individual. The Xiao family is the shield of Yu Sheng. If Yun Qi has ill intentions, who should they target first?"
"The Xiao family!"
"Where is the Xiao family's weakness?"
"Xiao Man!"
"Isn't that it? To deal with the Xiao family, they must seize the Xiao family's weakness. And everyone in Yu Sheng knows that the weakness of the Xiao family father and son is Xiao Man!"
A secret joy arose in Nangong Wu's heart. If Yun Qi's target was Xiao Man, then perhaps she wouldn't have to participate in the marriage alliance?