After Nangong Yu left, Ying Xue brought in freshly prepared bird's nest soup.
"Miss, freshly brewed bird's nest."
Xiao Man took it and ate two spoonfuls. "Not bad, Autumn Tong made it, right?"
"You can even taste that?" Ying Xue looked impressed. "Miss is truly amazing."
"Send a message to Qin Xue to investigate Consort De's background, and then investigate the Empress Dowager's life. Do not miss any detail, no matter how small," Xiao Man said slowly. Consort De was from the Jin family, and the Empress Dowager was from the Liu family. These were two completely different families. What was the connection between them would depend on what they could uncover.
"Yes, Miss."
"By the way, Miss, the Empress Dowager is forcing Prince Qin to marry. Prince Qin is using you as an excuse. Although you are out of the palace now, will the Empress Dowager cause more trouble?" Ying Xue asked worriedly.
"I am in this state now. No matter how many schemes she has, she cannot possibly involve me. Otherwise, it would truly solidify the accusation of holding a high-ranking official's daughter hostage to threaten the official," Xiao Man said as she drank.
"Then the Empress Dowager must be targeting Prince Qin?"
"She has already made her move against Prince Qin."
"Made her move? How? Did she knock Prince Qin unconscious and throw him into another woman's bed?" Ying Xue asked in shock.
Xiao Man chuckled. "Knocking Prince Qin unconscious is not an easy feat. He is quite ruthless. If anyone dared to knock him out and throw him into a woman's bed, he would surely retaliate a hundredfold."
Ying Xue quickly looked around, afraid that Prince Qin might suddenly appear. If he heard Xiao Man speaking ill of him behind his back, calling him ruthless, wouldn't he find ways to torment their Miss?
"Miss, be careful of walls having ears."
"I am speaking the truth."
"This servant knows it's the truth, but didn't you also say that Prince Qin is ruthless? We shouldn't let him hear us speaking ill of him behind his back."
Xiao Man was amused. "I would say the same thing to his face. This man is wicked. He seems approachable on the surface, but he schemes in secret. The Crown Prince and Prince Chu are both played by him, yet they remain oblivious."
"Miss, will Prince Qin become Miss's enemy?" Ying Xue asked with deep concern. Prince Qin is ruthless and meticulous. If Miss's true identity were exposed one day, would Prince Qin become her enemy? If Prince Qin became her enemy, combined with the fierce and heartless Murong Sheng Rui, would Miss be able to defeat them?
Xiao Man did not answer, because she too didn't know if Nangong Yu would become her enemy. Nangong Yu had long seen through her identity but had not exposed her. Instead, he indulged her recklessness. This was partly due to Nangong Yu's old affection for her, and also because Nangong Yu was very confident.
It seemed she needed to prepare an escape route quickly, otherwise, if Xiao Man's true identity was exposed, she would be attacked from all sides and would also implicate the Wu Yue Kingdom.
"Ying Xue, activate Project Nirvana." Xiao Man pondered for a moment. She didn't know when Murong Sheng Rui would trace back to her. It was always better to have a fallback plan.
"Do we need to activate it now?"
"It's always safer to prepare early. It will be too late if we wait until the situation arises," Xiao Man said softly. "Nangong Yu is very cunning. He has influence in both the imperial court and the martial arts world. Escaping from his grasp will not be easy."
"This servant feels that even leaving the imperial capital will not be easy for you," Ying Xue sighed. "Speaking of which, the last time we went to Jiang Zhou was the best opportunity to escape."
Xiao Man looked at Ying Xue with a half-smile. "Escape? Every move I made then was under his surveillance. If I had shown any sign of wanting to escape, he would have definitely apprehended me without hesitation. Before I have absolute certainty, I must not challenge Nangong Yu's bottom line."
"Miss, what is Prince Qin's bottom line?"
"His bottom line..." Xiao Man's eyes grew distant. "His bottom line is that I cannot escape his control."
"What would happen if Miss escaped Prince Qin's control?" Ying Xue asked worriedly. Their mistress is not an ordinary young lady; how could she be content to be Prince Qin's caged bird?
"He would likely use every means to capture me, break my wings, and imprison me for life," Xiao Man said with some uncertainty.
"Wouldn't that make him an enemy?"
Xiao Man did not answer. They had been enemies from the very beginning. She was once the Empress Dowager of Yun Qi, and he was a prince of Yu Sheng. Back then, she was attracted to his immature yet stubborn face and developed a desire to possess him. However, she had always been rational and knew when to withdraw.
She could retreat unscathed back then because Nangong Yu did not have the strength to contend with her. The current Nangong Yu had long since grown into a capable schemer. Even she at her peak, facing the current Nangong Yu, it was uncertain who would win or lose.
"I don't want to be his enemy, but we have been on opposing sides from the very beginning," Xiao Man said softly. "If it truly comes to a point where we must be enemies, I will be helpless."
"Will Miss be reluctant to part?"
"Reluctant?" Xiao Man looked at Ying Xue. "Is it I who is reluctant, or are you reluctant?"
"What is there for this servant to be reluctant about?" Ying Xue asked eagerly. She had no romantic feelings for Prince Qin. Although Prince Qin was handsome, the more handsome a man was, the more dangerous he was!
"The Young Master of the Jin family." Xiao Man said the words with a smile. Ying Xue's expression changed successfully. She bit her lip, unable to refute for a long time.
"Miss is bullying me!" Ying Xue finally managed to blurt out. She then ran out, afraid of being teased by Xiao Man again.
As Ying Xue left, Du Gu Luo appeared in Xiao Man's room. "A Man."
Xiao Man handed a letter to Du Gu Luo. "Take this letter to Qin Xue. From now on, you will obey Qin Xue."
Du Gu Luo took the letter and looked at it. He took out a packet of pastries from his robes, tucked the letter inside, then opened the oil paper packet and popped a pastry into his mouth. Xiao Man's eyes flickered. Osmanthus cake. Judging by the scent, it must have been made by Autumn Tong.
"Did Autumn Tong make these pastries for you?"
Du Gu Luo shook his head. "Dongfang Wei gave them to me."
Xiao Man nodded in understanding. "Does Dongfang Wei often give you pastries?"
Du Gu Luo nodded vigorously. "Yes, he often buys me pastries."
"Has he asked you any questions?"
"He used to ask about matters related to you. Now he only asks if they are delicious," Du Gu Luo replied while eating.
Xiao Man smiled. "Alright, go find Qin Xue. Do you remember what I told you?"
"I remember. If you can beat them, fight. If you can't, run. Survival first!"
"Yes, it's good that you remember. Not only remember, but also act according to what I said, understand?"
"I understand. I'm leaving."