Nan Gongyan's brow furrowed. Recently, things had not gone smoothly, as if everything had suddenly surged towards him. "Zhu Yun, if you were Wu You, where would you hide the Phoenix Pearl?"
"Your subordinate..." Zhu Yun shook his head. "I would hide it in a place only I know, or entrust it to someone I trust for safekeeping."
"Someone trusted..." A thought flashed through Nan Gongyan's mind. If it were him, where would he place the Phoenix Pearl to ensure its safety, and yet ensure no one would suspect it?
Nan Gongyan's eyes lit up. "It's her!"
"Your Highness, you've figured it out?"
"We've overlooked someone."
"Who?"
"Xiao Man."
"Your Highness, Xiao Man only just woke up after being seriously injured. Chan Master Wu You wouldn't have had the chance to entrust the item to Xiao Man for safekeeping, would he?"
"What if he secretly hid it on Xiao Man?" The master and servant exchanged a look. Indeed, Xiao Man was unconscious. Who would have thought that Wu You would hide the Phoenix Pearl on Xiao Man? Xiao Man was guarded by the shadow guards of the General's Mansion. The security was extremely tight. Even if they wanted to break through the shadow guards and search Xiao Man, it wouldn't be easy.
"So the Phoenix Pearl was brought back to the General's Mansion by her?"
"Highly probable."
Nan Gongyan's gaze shifted. If the Phoenix Pearl was brought back to the General's Mansion by Xiao Man, it wouldn't be easy to obtain. And his informants had been crippled. It would be difficult to enter Xiao Man's courtyard to search for something. Wherever Xiao Man was, security would be tight. To get in, unless Xiao Man wasn't there!
"Zhu Yun, tell me, how can we make Xiao Man leave the General's Mansion?"
"Your Highness, that would be as difficult as ascending to heaven." Zhu Yun looked troubled. "Princess Yongning's health is very weak. She rarely leaves her room. The Great General guards her like the apple of his eye. Let alone letting her leave the General's Mansion, she probably can't even leave her own courtyard."
"What if she *had* to leave the General's Mansion?"
"Had to leave?" Zhu Yun scratched his head. "Unless it's an imperial decree. But His Majesty also knows Princess Yongning's condition. She is very weak. The imperial physicians said that although she has woken up, she won't live past three years. His Majesty wouldn't risk offending the Great General."
Nan Gongyan curved his lips into a smile. "Besides my father, there is someone else who can make Xiao Man leave the General's Mansion."
"Who?" Zhu Yun asked, looking bewildered. At this moment, who could make Xiao Man leave the General's Mansion?
"The Empress Dowager."
Old Madam Xiao looked at the prominent figure beside the Empress Dowager, her face adorned with a smile. " Eunuch Li, what brings you to the General's Mansion? Does the Empress Dowager have any instructions?"
Li Lin played with the whisk in his hand and said with a smile, "I heard that Old Madam is ill, so the Empress Dowager specially ordered this humble servant to bring an imperial physician to visit, hoping that Old Madam will recover soon."
"Thank you for the Empress Dowager's concern."
"Imperial Physician Chen, please examine Old Madam."
Imperial Physician Chen quickly stepped forward to take Old Madam's pulse and then respectfully replied, "Eunuch, Old Madam seems to have caught a cold by chance. She is already almost recovered."
Eunuch Li's face was all smiles. "Then this humble servant is relieved. The Empress Dowager and Old Madam have always gotten along well. Recently, Old Madam has been ill, and the Empress Dowager has no one to talk to. I also heard that the Ninth Princess is close to Princess Yongning, and she has been clamoring to visit the mansion. I wonder how Princess Yongning is doing?"
"That child's foundation was damaged. It's a miracle she's alive. Usually, she spends more time lying down than awake."
"The Empress Dowager has a skilled physician by her side. Why doesn't Old Madam bring Princess Yongning to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager? Let the Empress Dowager's physician examine the eldest daughter, perhaps it will help."
Old Madam Xiao's smile remained unchanged, but her heart skipped a beat. The Empress Dowager wanted her to bring Xiao Man to the palace. What did this mean? Xiao Man was currently weak and recuperating in the mansion. Why would the Empress Dowager think of seeing her?
"Eunuch, why does the Empress Dowager wish to see my eldest daughter?"
"Old Madam also knows that the Ninth Princess was raised by the Empress Dowager herself and is her most beloved. The Ninth Princess heard that Princess Yongning's health has not been good, so she pleaded with the Empress Dowager for a favor, asking the Empress Dowager's imperial physician to examine Princess Yongning. It is an opportunity after all. If she can be cured, it will be a happy outcome for everyone, wouldn't you agree?" Su Dan Novel Network
"This humble woman thanks the Empress Dowager for her kindness. When my health improves, I will bring that girl to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Treating illness, the sooner the better. Old Madam's spirits are quite good now. Why not bring the eldest daughter to the palace tomorrow?" Eunuch Li smiled without his eyes, not truly smiling. Although he didn't know why the Empress Dowager wanted to see Xiao Man, he had to complete what the Empress Dowager had instructed.
"This... Xiao Man's body is exceptionally weak..."
"Old Madam, please rest assured. This humble servant will be at the palace gates tomorrow to prepare a soft sedan chair for Old Madam and the eldest daughter. We will certainly not let Old Madam and the eldest daughter get tired."
"This... this humble woman obeys your command."
"In that case, this humble servant shall take his leave."
"Nanny Xu, see Eunuch Li out."
Nanny Xu saw Eunuch Li out of the General's Mansion before she hurried back to the main courtyard. "Old Madam, what does the Empress Dowager intend to do?"
Old Madam Xiao's face darkened. "What can she do? She is trying to warn me, to let me know that whether I obey or not, what she wants to do, she can do."
"Then will Eldest Miss have any trouble when she goes to the palace tomorrow?" Nanny Xu asked anxiously. If anything happened to Eldest Miss, Old Madam and the General would completely fall out.
"With me accompanying her, nothing major will happen. The Empress Dowager wouldn't dare openly attack the daughter of a powerful minister. Go to Shui Yue Xiao Zhu and give her a heads-up. The Empress Dowager wants to see her tomorrow, so let her be mentally prepared." Old Madam Xiao gritted her teeth. "Hopefully, nothing will happen."
After Nanny Xu left, Qiu Tong handed Xiao Man the brewed ginseng tea. "Miss, what is Old Madam planning now?"
Xiao Man took the ginseng tea and took a sip. "One should say, what is the Empress Dowager planning? Knowing that my health is poor, she still insists that Old Madam bring me to the palace."
"Did Miss offend the Empress Dowager?"
"The Empress Dowager rarely stays in the palace. Where would I have offended her?" Xiao Man said as she drank her tea. The Empress Dowager of Yusheng was not someone to be trifled with. She was not the birth mother of the current Emperor, yet she could hold the position of Empress Dowager, and the Emperor treated her with great respect.
"Could it be because of the Mid-Autumn banquet when Prince Qin said he wanted to marry you as his consort?" Yin Zhu reminded Xiao Man. After all, Prince Qin was an outstanding among the princes. Who would want their own child to marry someone who was short-lived?
Xiao Man thought carefully. When she was young, she had met this Empress Dowager. She appeared kind and benevolent, but she remembered that Nan Gongyi was extremely afraid of this Empress Dowager. Nan Gongyi was usually unruly and fearless, but he was afraid of this Empress Dowager. Why?