Lianyi dutifully poured wine for Nangong Yu, speaking little, always at the right moment to refill his cup or serve him food. Xiao Man’s gaze fell upon Lianyi, a glint in her eyes. This girl was exceptionally clever.
Indeed, someone favored and valued by the Empress Dowager could never be simple. Xiao Man looked up at the Empress Dowager seated above. She smiled benevolently, conversing with the Empress, appearing to be in harmonious bliss. Yet, who knew what undercurrents churned beneath this calm and serene facade?
Just then, numerous fireworks ascended into the night sky, blooming into magnificent flowers. Amidst the fireworks, a single red flare stood out. Xiao Man abruptly stood up. A red mandala – an emergency signal! Something had happened at Gan Ye Temple!
Nangong Yu also noticed the unusual firework. Seeing Xiao Man rise, his expression shifted slightly. After a moment’s thought, he understood. Something had occurred at Gan Ye Temple.
“These fireworks are truly beautiful.”
Just as Xiao Man was about to find an excuse to leave, the Crown Princess of Chu cried out, clutching her abdomen, her face pale and contorted in pain.
“What is wrong with the Crown Princess of Chu? Summon the imperial physicians at once!” the old Emperor commanded, ordering physicians to be summoned and the Crown Princess to be taken to a side chamber.
“Sir, you should accompany us to the side chamber as well,” Nangong Yan instructed immediately.
Xiao Man’s stepping foot had to be retracted. She didn’t know what had happened at Gan Ye Temple, but she couldn’t simply abandon her post now.
At that moment, Nangong Yu stood up. “I am tired. I shall return to my manor.”
Nangong Yu glanced at Xiao Man and then departed. Xiao Man steadied her emotions and turned to follow the Prince of Chu to the side chamber.
As soon as Nangong Yu left the imperial garden, the maid named Lianyi followed him. However, the moment she stepped outside, Nangong Yu vanished. After a moment’s hesitation, she headed towards the palace gates. The Empress Dowager had assigned her to Prince Qin; therefore, Prince Qin’s manor was where she belonged.
Nangong Yu exited the palace and sped towards Gan Ye Temple. As he entered, a strong scent of blood assailed him, filling him with unease. He then moved towards the rear mountain.
In the forbidden area of the rear mountain, dark guards concealed themselves. Upon seeing that it was Prince Qin, they did not obstruct him. Ying Xue, seeing Prince Qin approach, immediately stepped forward.
“Your Highness, Prince Qin.”
“What happened?”
“Someone attacked Gan Ye Temple. Master Wu You was injured. Because of the array and mechanisms outside, there was no significant loss here. A team has already been dispatched for support. Where is our mistress?”
“She cannot leave her current location. She will arrive shortly. You all remain here and do not leave.”
“Yes.”
Nangong Yu turned and headed towards Master Wu You’s meditation chamber. Wu You’s cultivation was unfathomably deep; few could injure him. Who could have possibly wounded him?
As he neared Wu You’s chamber, Nangong Yu smelled the thick scent of blood. Was the focus of the attack Wu You’s chamber? Was the assailant targeting Wu You?
Nangong Yu’s heart sank. He pushed open the door and saw numerous bodies lying scattered across the courtyard – monks, assassins, and even Xiao family’s dark guards.
“Old monk, are you unharmed?” Nangong Yu moved towards Wu You’s meditation room. The room had been ransacked. Wu You sat cross-legged on a cushion inside, his head bowed. Hearing Nangong Yu’s voice, he did not look up. The temple’s guardian monks recognized Prince Qin and did not stop him. The temple’s medicinal monks clasped their hands together and recited a Buddhist phrase.
Nangong Yu stepped forward and reached out to check Wu You’s injuries. At this moment, Wu You opened his eyes. “Little fox… has she arrived?”
Nangong Yu was shocked by Wu You’s injuries but did not forget to reply, “She is almost here.”
Upon hearing this, Wu You closed his eyes again, as if to conserve strength until Xiao Man arrived.
The Crown Princess of Chu had experienced a premature labor scare. If Xiao Man had not been tending to her pregnancy during this period, the fetus would have been in danger. Fortunately, Xiao Man had prepared some prenatal pills. After the Crown Princess of Chu took two, her condition finally stabilized.
After the imperial physicians’ examination, they diagnosed it as a scare of premature labor and prescribed a prenatal care regimen for the Prince of Chu. They advised the Crown Princess of Chu to rest in bed, avoid emotional extremes, and be extremely cautious with her diet. The Prince of Chu, concerned for his wife’s health, and they both withdrew from the Mid-Autumn Banquet and returned to their manor.
Upon returning home and settling the Crown Princess of Chu, Xiao Man checked the time. It was very late. She wondered what had happened at Gan Ye Temple. She immediately arranged for someone to impersonate her at the Prince of Chu’s manor and, under the cover of night, headed directly for Gan Ye Temple.
Xiao Man rushed towards Gan Ye Temple without delay. What could have happened for the old monk to send her an emergency signal?
The closer she got to Gan Ye Temple, the more uneasy Xiao Man felt. Upon seeing Nangong Yu waiting at the entrance, she quickly approached him.
“Did something happen in the forbidden area?”
“The forbidden area is fine. The old monk is in trouble. He is severely injured.”
Xiao Man’s face turned pale. Wu You was gravely injured?
“His cultivation is profound. Who could have severely injured him?” Xiao Man asked as she walked inside.
“I don’t know. He is waiting for you. You should hurry,” Nangong Yu said with a grim expression. The attackers had clearly spared no expense. The Gan Ye Temple’s guardian Arhats had suffered heavy casualties, and Wu You was also severely wounded. Was the target Wu You himself, or was it Xiao Man?
Xiao Man looked at the usually serene courtyard, now littered with corpses, the smell of blood filling her nostrils. Her unease grew, and she quickened her pace towards Wu You’s meditation chamber.
“Amitabha,” a senior monk recited, “The benefactor has arrived. My senior brother has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Xiao Man steadied her nerves and pushed open the door to the meditation chamber. She saw Wu You sitting on the ground, his head slumped, appearing unresponsive. Xiao Man slowly approached and reached out to check the old monk’s pulse. But the moment her fingers touched his wrist, Xiao Man’s fingers trembled. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Old monk.”
“Cough, cough.” Wu You, who had been in meditation, coughed twice and slowly raised his head. A trickle of blood escaped his lips, and he smiled affectionately at Xiao Man. “You’ve arrived.”
“Who, who injured you so severely?” Xiao Man asked, suppressing her rage.
Wu You merely smiled, then suddenly struck Xiao Man’s acupoints, rendering her immobile. “Old monk, what are you doing?”
“Prince Qin, I trouble you to act as my Dharma protector.”
“Certainly.” Nangong Yu closed the door and stepped aside. Wu You had Xiao Man sit cross-legged, her back facing him. “Old monk, my time is short. It would be a waste for all this cultivation to dissipate, so I will give it to you.”
“Old monk, don’t be reckless. There will be a way. You won’t die.”
Wu You’s expression was serene. He placed his hands on Xiao Man’s back, transferring all his cultivation to her. “ My internal organs have all been shattered. To hold on until now is solely thanks to a single breath. Girl, do not seek revenge for me. I have lived to this age; it can be considered a life fulfilled.”