"The emperor has many experts around him; that's only natural for a sovereign. If the Empress Dowager had no capable people by her side, she wouldn't dare to be so arrogant as to detain me, the eldest daughter of the General's manor," Xiao Man said slowly. "What about other places?"
"Although the Empress's palace doesn't have many experts, the few maids and nannies around her are not weak," Dongfang Wei swallowed the food in his mouth and leaned closer to Xiao Man. "You definitely didn't know the Empress knew martial arts, did you?"
"Indeed, I didn't," Xiao Man stated affirmatively. "As the ruler of the inner palace, she has held the position of Empress for so many years. Aside from the support of her brother's mansion, she herself is quite capable."
"Right, there's something else, something rather strange," Dongfang Wei dragged a plate of osmanthus cakes closer to him, not eating them himself, nor letting Xiao Man eat them. "Consort De."
"Consort De?" Xiao Man was a little confused. "What's the issue with Consort De?"
"It's not that Consort De is the problem, but rather her relationship with the Empress Dowager is problematic," Dongfang Wei thought carefully about what he had seen. "The old eunuch by the Empress Dowager's side actually went to Xingqing Palace to protect Consort De. Don't you find that strange?"
A flicker of subtle confusion crossed Xiao Man's eyes. Why would the Empress Dowager send her top experts to protect Consort De? Was Consort De her trusted subordinate? Even if she favored Consort De greatly, she wouldn't dispatch her life-saving trump cards to protect her, unless there was a compelling reason to do so!
After Dongfang Wei recounted all the information he had gathered last night to Xiao Man, he picked up the plate of osmanthus cakes and took it away. Qiu Tong looked confused, wondering why he ate the food and then took the entire plate with him!
Xiao Man was still pondering the relationship between Consort De and the Empress Dowager. She couldn't figure out for a moment why the Empress Dowager would send her life-saving trump cards to protect Consort De.
"Miss, the Third Concubine and the Second Miss have come to visit you," Qiu Tong reported, entering the room.
"I won't see them. Tell them to go back," Xiao Man picked up a chess piece, thinking intently, but failing to make a move. The Empress Dowager, Consort De, what was the connection between these two? And Nangong Yi, why did he fear the Empress Dowager so much, as if he had feared her since childhood?
On the vast chessboard, only three pieces had been placed. Xiao Man stared at them for a long time, as if trying to see something extraordinary.
Nangong Yu secretly climbed over the wall and saw Xiao Man staring blankly at the chessboard. "What is it? Are there flowers on the chess pieces that are worth staring at for so long?"
Seeing that it was Nangong Yu, Xiao Man's eyes lit up, and she quickly patted the spot beside her, signaling him to sit down.
Nangong Yu was somewhat flattered. When had Xiao Man ever seemed so happy to see him? He couldn't help but feel a little delighted and immediately sat down beside her. "A grand drama unfolded in the palace last night. Was it fun?"
"Fun? My life was almost over, and you call it fun? The women in the inner palace are all lunatics," Xiao Man grumbled. "A'Yu, I have a question for you. Does the Empress Dowager dote on all the princes equally?"
Nangong Yu bared his teeth. So, her apparent happiness was just to extract information? "You look so happy just for this?"
"You've come to see me, how can I not be happy?" Xiao Man's survival instincts were always strong. "Just asking a small question on the side."
Nangong Yu didn't want to bicker with Xiao Man. "The Empress Dowager treats the princes pretty much the same."
"Is it really pretty much the same?" Xiao Man thought carefully. "Why do I feel that the Empress Dowager is particularly strict with Prince Qi?"
Nangong Yu thought for a moment. "Strict isn't the right word. It's just that my thirteenth brother has always behaved rather licentiously, so the Empress Dowager naturally had to be a bit stricter with him."
Xiao Man still felt something was off. The Empress Dowager's attitude towards Prince Qi, while seemingly similar to that towards other princes, was still different when compared closely.
"A'Yu, under what circumstances would you hand over your life-saving trump cards to someone else?"
"When my life is in danger."
"When your life is in danger, would you give your life-saving trump cards to someone else?" Xiao Man asked curiously.
"That depends on who it is. If you were in danger, I would naturally give you my life-saving trump cards without hesitation," Nangong Yu said to Xiao Man, unhurriedly.
Xiao Man's heart skipped a beat. "If the Consort of Chu were in danger, would you go to save her?"
"If anyone should save her, it should be the King of Chu. What business is it of mine? Why would I go to save her? With that spare time, wouldn't it be better to spend it with you?"
Damn it... Xiao Man turned her face away, not looking at Nangong Yu. She realized that Nangong Yu was particularly skilled at charming people now. Knowing that Nangong Yu was just saying these things to make her happy, she actually felt a little moved.
However, Xiao Man found her answer in Nangong Yu's words. If they were not related, why would the Empress Dowager give her life-saving trump cards to Consort De? This meant that the relationship between Consort De and the Empress Dowager must be very close. How close, though? That was something she needed to verify.
"Yesterday was your birthday. Amidst the chaos, I forgot to give you your birthday gift," Nangong Yu took out a box and handed it to Xiao Man.
Xiao Man accepted it, said thank you, and opened it. Inside was a pair of earrings, adorned with fine rubies, vibrant yet not vulgar.
"Do you like them?"
"I do."
"Let me help you put them on." Nangong Yu took out the earrings and helped Xiao Man put them on, feeling very pleased. It was worth all the effort he had put in and making them himself; they indeed suited her.
"I came last night."
"I know. Yin Zhu told me."
"Wen Mohan was also here. Did you talk to him?" Nangong Yu asked softly. Wen Mohan was stubborn and rigid in his ways. No matter if it was threats or setbacks, that man was like a cockroach, becoming stronger the more he was challenged.
"No, I was too tired last night and fell asleep," Xiao Man said with a smile. "It's the same to find another opportunity to explain next time."
"It's just that I'm afraid of delaying him," Nangong Yu said gently. "You know, among the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest."
Xiao Man gave him a glare. "Talking about others, what about you?"
"Well, I'm waiting for you to marry me," Nangong Yu tugged at Xiao Man's sleeve. "Excuse me, my lady, when will you give your husband a proper title?"
Xiao Man smiled brightly, with a hint of slyness. "Is the title that important? Do you love me or the title?"
Nangong Yu choked for a moment. Was the title not important? Of course, he loved Xiao Man, but he couldn't say that, or Xiao Man would definitely say, since you love me, then the title is not important!
"I love both."
"You're being evasive. You can only choose one."
"Loving someone means giving them a title. They are inseparable. If you love someone but are unwilling to give them a title, it means it's not true love, so I'm not being evasive."
Xiao Man's lips curved upward. "If that's the case, prove it to me. I want the lives of the Empress Dowager's two chief eunuchs."
Nangong Yu smiled helplessly. Was this girl afraid that he would side with the Empress Dowager?
"As you wish."