Zhou Kang hurried forward upon seeing his master emerge, looking utterly distraught. "Your Highness, the carriage..."
Nangong Yi pushed open the carriage door and saw a woman seated inside. She was dressed sumptuously and looked at him with shy eyes. "Your Highness, Empress Dowager has ordered this humble daughter to attend to Your Highness."
Nangong Yi felt a surge of blood to his head, his eyes glinting with chilling cold. "My Imperial Grandmother sent you to attend to me?"
Prince Qi was known for his amiability and kindness towards women. He had never displayed such a demeanor before. The woman hesitated slightly, but remembering her mission, gritted her teeth and nodded.
A bloodthirsty smile curved Nangong Yi's lips. "Since that is the case, I shall not be polite!"
Nangong Yi grabbed the woman's collar and with a twist of his wrist, the sound of tearing fabric filled the air. Accompanied by the woman's screams, Nangong Yi entered the carriage.
"Why are you screaming? Weren't you sent to attend to me? You're already screaming. Where will you find the strength to attend to me later!"
Zhou Kang shivered as he heard the screams emanating from the carriage. The Prince was furious. The woman inside was the daughter of the Minister of War. If the Prince went too far, it might displease the Empress Dowager. However, as Prince Qi's attendant, he understood that his master was only Prince Qi, and he could only obey Prince Qi's orders.
The woman's screams from the carriage turned into cries of pain, laced with sobs, and then pleas for mercy. Zhou Kang steadied his nerves and drove the carriage out of the palace and back to the mansion.
On the road, people heard the sounds from the carriage and averted their gazes, pretending not to hear. Prince Qi was known for his dissolute ways, and nothing he did was surprising. The palace attendants would merely treat it as gossip. No one would delve into the matter.
Zhou Kang drove the carriage directly into the Prince Qi's mansion and stopped in the backyard. Nangong Yi's low growls and the woman's sobs could be heard from within. Zhou Kang had intended to wait for Nangong Yi to vent his frustrations before ordering someone to clean up the mess. However, upon seeing the woman standing by the corridor, he gasped.
"Miss... Miss Du."
Du Yulan walked out from under the corridor and her gaze fell upon the carriage. She could guess what had happened inside, after all, with the wedding approaching, her family had already hired an experienced governess to teach her about such matters.
Du Yulan took a deep breath. "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
"He's... not in a good mood."
Hearing the woman's faint cries and pleas from inside the carriage, Du Yulan asked, "Is His Highness always like this?"
"No, Your Highness... Your Highness has always been gentle and considerate towards women."
"What happened?"
Zhou Kang lowered his head, remaining silent. Du Yulan was unaware of what had transpired in the palace, nor did she know that Xiao Man was being detained by the Empress Dowager. She also didn't know that Nangong Yi had flown into such a rage over it. She quietly waited by the carriage until the door opened and Nangong Yi emerged, his clothes disheveled.
"Your Highness."
Upon seeing Du Yulan, Nangong Yi's lips curved into a mocking smile. He reached out and pinched Du Yulan's chin. "What, were you also sent by my Imperial Grandmother to attend to me?"
Du Yulan's face turned pale, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Your Highness, are you alright?"
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Nangong Yi sneered. "If you were sent to attend to me, stay. If not, then get out."
Nangong Yi released Du Yulan and walked away directly. Du Yulan glanced into the carriage, her brows furrowing. She took the cloak from a nearby maid and threw it into the carriage to cover the woman inside. She then turned and chased after Prince Qi.
Zhou Kang stopped her. "Miss Du, do not provoke His Highness at this moment. He is on the verge of a furious outburst. It would be best for you to return to the Grand Tutor's mansion. If you were to be accidentally injured, the Prince Qi's mansion would have difficulty explaining it to the Grand Tutor's mansion."
Du Yulan stopped, biting her lip. "What exactly happened to His Highness?"
Zhou Kang remained silent. Xiao Man was a secret hidden deep in the Prince's heart, but the Empress Dowager did not approve. The Prince had lived a difficult life over the years. He had the person he loved by his side, yet he could not show the slightest affection.
Du Yulan thought carefully. "Is it related to her?"
"Miss Du, be cautious with your words."
Du Yulan suddenly understood. It was indeed related to Xiao Man. The only person who could influence Prince Qi's emotions so profoundly, up until now, was Xiao Man.
"Let's return to the mansion," Du Yulan said and turned to leave. Her accompanying maid immediately followed.
As soon as she got into the carriage of the Grand Tutor's mansion, Du Yulan instructed, "Go and investigate if anything has happened at the General's mansion, especially regarding Xiao Man."
"Miss, the Grand Tutor has instructed you not to meddle in the affairs of the General's mansion."
"Xiao Yu, I have a bad feeling in my heart," Du Yulan said, clutching her chest. "I feel as though something is about to happen. I know Prince Qi quite well, and this is the first time I've seen him like this."
Xiao Yu frowned. She had seen the woman in the carriage earlier; she was clearly abused. Prince Qi, despite his reputation for being promiscuous and dissolute, had always been gentle and considerate towards women. What could have happened to make him treat a woman in such a manner?
"It is likely that the lady from the General's mansion has met with misfortune."
"I will go and inquire. If something has happened to the lady from the General's mansion, it will surely not be a minor incident."
"Alright."
Upon returning to the Grand Tutor's mansion, Du Yulan saw an attendant by the Grand Tutor waiting at the entrance. "Miss, the Grand Tutor is waiting for you in his study."
Du Yulan nodded and went to the study. Inside, the Grand Tutor was practicing calligraphy. Seeing her enter, he said, "You're back."
"Grandfather, you were looking for me?"
Grand Tutor Du continued practicing his calligraphy as he spoke. "You went to Prince Qi's mansion?"
Du Yulan nodded. "Yes, our wedding is fast approaching, and I wanted to discuss some details with Prince Qi."
"Prince Qi's mood is not good, is it?"
Du Yulan's expression changed. "Why does Grandfather say that?"
"The lady from the General's mansion has been detained by the Empress Dowager in the palace. Prince Qi received the news and immediately stormed into Ci'an Palace, but to no avail. How could his mood be good?"
"Princess Yongning has been detained by the Empress Dowager in the palace? Why?" Du Yulan was greatly surprised. Why would the Empress Dowager detain Xiao Man in the palace? Was she trying to use Xiao Man as leverage to control the General's mansion?
"Your wedding cannot be disrupted by others."
"Grandfather, Princess Yongning and Prince Qi are innocent of any wrongdoing." Su Dan Novel Network
"A daughter raised by Xiao Zhen. Blood is cold," Grand Tutor Du said slowly. "She has no romantic feelings for Prince Qi, I know that. But what about Prince Qi's feelings for her?"
"Grandfather, Prince Qi and I are on the verge of marriage, so naturally, he has no romantic feelings for her either."
Grand Tutor Du glanced at Du Yulan. "You are not even married yet, and you are already defending him. I watched him grow up. His feelings for Xiao Man have never changed over the years. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's pressure, he would have married Xiao Man long ago."
Du Yulan's face turned pale. "Grandfather, I don't understand."
"Yulan, the matter of love can inflict deep wounds. Remember this: guard your heart. If your heart does not move, it will not be hurt. The young lady from the General's mansion does better than you in this regard!"
"Your granddaughter understands Grandfather's teachings."