"You were in my courtyard that night?" Wen Mohan asked softly.
"Yes, it was cool behind the rock garden, I was resting there," Shishu said, biting on his brush, recalling that night. "After Young Master left, I remember the Cen family head said something to that girl, and she cursed him out, calling him a dirty, vulgar bastard."
"She really wouldn't rest her mouth even in death."
"Was she very bad?" Shishu asked curiously. "When she died, she said the Cen family head harmed her, and that Duke Xiao would kill him sooner or later."
"What did you say?" Wen Mohan asked, shocked.
"I asked if that girl was very bad?"
"No, what about the latter part, why would Man'er want to kill Cen Yu?"
Shishu thought carefully. "I was far away then, and couldn't hear very clearly. I vaguely heard the girl say you harmed me, something about the Fire Charm Poison, about my purity, about blinding someone, and she said she would kill him. Will Duke Xiao kill the Cen family head?"
Wen Mohan felt his hands and feet go cold. From Shishu's words, he vaguely sensed something he had overlooked. There was likely a grievance between Cen Yu and Xiao Man that he didn't know about!
After Shishu left, Wen Mohan summoned Wei Feng.
"Young Master, you sent for me?"
"If I remember correctly, Wen Moyu's personal maid has not been found yet, is that right?"
"Reporting to Young Master, yes."
"Find her. Don't make a fuss after finding her, I have something to ask her."
"Yes."
Wen Mohan sat quietly at his desk, his face a picture of gloom. The news of Xiao Man's recovery had spread. It was unlikely to be from Prince Qin or Xiao Man's own people. The only weak link was him. He trusted his subordinates implicitly, and he had also trusted Cen Yu completely. But now, his trust in Cen Yu had a crack, and once trust was broken, it quickly crumbled and disappeared.
"Fire Charm Poison..." Wen Mohan murmured softly. On the Qixi Festival, was the Fire Charm Poison in Wen Moyu's hand given by Cen Yu? Was that why Wen Moyu said Cen Yu harmed her?
No, that was not right. Cen Yu giving Wen Moyu the Fire Charm Poison was likely out of pity for her pleas, wanting to help her, not harm her. If it was Xiao Man who had her purity ruined... A thought flashed through Wen Mohan's mind. Xiao Man's purity had indeed been ruined. He hadn't investigated the specifics because he didn't want to dredge up bad memories for Xiao Man. Now, it seemed that the relationship between Xiao Man and Prince Qin was not necessarily one of mutual affection, but very likely a misunderstanding!
"Shadow."
"Your subordinate is here."
"Go and investigate matters concerning the General's mansion, I want to know everything, no matter how small."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Also, investigate Cen Yu again, discreetly, so as not to be discovered."
After Shadow left, Wen Mohan's mood remained unsettled. The words Prince Qin had spoken at Ganye Temple echoed in his mind. The answer he sought was with Prince Qin, but he was unwilling to seek out Prince Qin, because he understood that the truth Prince Qin told him might not be the truth.
Restless, Wen Mohan went out for a walk, and before he knew it, he had arrived outside the General's mansion. Looking at the imposing stone Pixiu outside the mansion, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Other families had stone lions, but Xiao Man insisted on a pair of Pixiu to guard the residence.
Wen Mohan hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and knocked on the door. He wanted to see Xiao Man, he really wanted to see her at this moment. His own people had repeatedly hurt her behind his back, and he didn't know what kind of mood Xiao Man was facing it with.
When Wen Mohan entered, Xiao Man was holding fish food and feeding the fish by the pond. Wen Mohan stopped the maid and walked forward on his own, watching Xiao Man toss the fish food into the pond, attracting a swarm of fish scrambling for it.
"You've raised the fish in this pond very well."
Xiao Man turned her head and glanced at him. "They are all greedy fish. Seeing the bait, they don't guard against any traps."
"They are all thinking of getting benefits, where would they think of danger." Wen Mohan leaned his hands on the railing, watching the fish in the pond, but suddenly noticed a fish hiding in the distance, as if observing, and not coming forward. "That one is quite cautious."
"Perhaps it's new, and its guard is up." Xiao Man handed the fish food to Wen Mohan. Wen Mohan took some in his hand and played with the fish in the pond.
"Recently, many small items imitating the Blue Moon Phoenix Seal have appeared on the market. Have you heard of it, Man'er?"
Xiao Man nodded. "I've even bought quite a few for my room. They look quite nice."
"Dispose of all you have. This matter involves more than you can imagine. Yu Sheng is currently facing internal and external troubles. If they provoke the Blue Moon again, Yu Sheng will be in a precarious situation."
"The Blue Moon court is also unstable, I'm afraid they're too preoccupied to worry about themselves," Xiao Man said slowly. "The Empress of a nation has no heirs, yet she is tyrannical. How can the officials not have other thoughts."
Wen Mohan nodded in agreement. "Yu Sheng does have many heirs, but with many heirs, there are also troubles. There is only one position, and everyone wants it. Disputes are inevitable, and disputes lead to losses. Do you have any plans, Man'er?"
Xiao Man turned and smiled at Wen Mohan. "What plans can I have? I'll take it one step at a time."
"Are you guarding against me, Man'er?" Wen Mohan asked, his voice trembling.
"I really don't have any plans yet," Xiao Man explained. "The situation is unclear now. Making plans too early is prone to change, but making plans too late will lead to a quagmire. It's truly vexing. Su Dan Novel Network."
"Yun Qi has declared a truce with Yu Sheng. I received news that Yun Qi intends to form a marital alliance with Yu Sheng," Wen Mohan's voice was exceptionally gentle. "The Young Emperor of Yun Qi wants to choose a noble lady from Yu Sheng as his Empress."
For some reason, Wen Mohan had a hunch that the Young Emperor of Yun Qi was coming for Xiao Man. If Yun Qi offered sufficient terms, His Majesty would likely sell her without hesitation.
Xiao Man sneered upon hearing this. It was indeed a tactic he would employ. It was a pity that even though he was an emperor, he couldn't have everything he wanted.
"Some people are spoiled children who think they can get whatever they want," Xiao Man said softly. "They always think women are canaries kept in cages, fed and cared for, and they will be obedient and submissive to them."
"I believe that women are no less capable than men," Wen Mohan said gently. "In my eyes, women can also hold up half the sky."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Man's face showed a smile. "Mohan is the most tolerant person I have ever met towards women."
"I said, I will create the world you envision with you." A gust of wind blew, ruffling Xiao Man's ears and hair. Wen Mohan reached out and tucked the stray strands behind her ear. "No matter what happens, I will stand by your side."
"I remember Mohan used to dislike me the most. Every time he saw me, he would either mock or satirize me. Why has your attitude changed?"
Wen Mohan couldn't help but let out a bitter smile. She remembered his bad deeds but not his good ones?
"How do you know it was mockery and satire, and not disappointment that he wanted you to improve?"