"The Grand Preceptor hasn't shown his face," He Qingyi said in a low voice.
"Even for such a significant event as the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony, he hasn't returned. Is he held up by something?" Xiao Man's eyes were filled with confusion. She had expected the Grand Preceptor to return to his mansion soon, but he had yet to do so. Xiao Man finally understood the source of her unease.
With the Grand Preceptor still absent, she had overlooked him. What was he doing that kept him away?
"I'm going to the Grand Preceptor's mansion."
"Now?"
"Yes, now." Xiao Man alighted from the carriage, pulled a horse, and galloped straight to the Grand Preceptor's mansion. Such a major incident should have prompted the Grand Preceptor to appear.
The Grand Preceptor's mansion was as deserted as ever, its gates shut tight. The butler was slowly sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard with a broom. As the Grand Preceptor was often away, the mansion only had a few servants, and even the butler had to attend to such menial tasks at times.
Knock, knock, knock. The urgent knocking echoed. The butler leaned his broom against the wall and went to open the door. As soon as he opened it, he saw Xiao Man squeeze through. "Uncle Fu."
"It's Miss. What brings you here today?"
"Looking for someone." Xiao Man spoke and hurried into the inner courtyard. She first went to Feng Tianlan's study, then to the training room, and then to the bedroom. She couldn't find any trace of Feng Tianlan.
Uncle Fu followed behind, his steps trembling. "Miss, what's wrong?"
"Where has Master gone? Such a big event has happened, why hasn't he returned?" Xiao Man said anxiously. "Uncle Fu, something big has happened, where is Master?"
"The Grand Preceptor... the Grand Preceptor hasn't returned."
"He hasn't returned? Could it be that my Master has taken in a host of women outside and had a bunch of children, so he's so happy he can't bear to leave, and stays away from home year-round?"
Uncle Fu was so startled by her brazen words that he nearly fell. "Miss, don't speak nonsense!"
"That's true, my Master is so handsome, what kind of woman wouldn't he have..." Xiao Man's eyes darted. "Could my Master be..."
Uncle Fu nodded repeatedly. Yes, the Grand Preceptor was attending to important matters.
"Gone to be someone's kept man?"
Uncle Fu's face turned red, and his neck bulged. He almost couldn't breathe, and his legs gave out as he knelt. "Miss... you... you are presumptuous!"
Xiao Man put her hands on her hips. "Master, if you don't come out now, I'll burn down your house!"
Uncle Fu's body trembled like a sieve. Seeing Xiao Man light a torch, looking as if she would burn down the Grand Preceptor's study, he couldn't even speak coherently. Miss had been a bit unreliable before, but she was always exceptionally obedient in front of the Grand Preceptor. How had she become so audacious as to come to the Grand Preceptor's mansion?
It was all because she was spoiled, spoiled by the Grand Preceptor, spoiled by the General!
Xiao Man crossed her arms, sitting on the steps with a face full of bitter grief. The torch stuck in the ground was not extinguished. Her voice was hoarse from shouting, but the Grand Preceptor was nowhere to be seen. Could he really not have returned? No, the Grand Preceptor's mansion must be connected to him!
"My Master must have a woman outside!"
"Stop your nonsense. The Grand Preceptor has always been upright and abstained from women!" Uncle Fu, carrying a water bucket, was ready to extinguish any fire Xiao Man might start. "Miss, could you please put out the fire?"
"No, my Master has a woman outside, and I'm unhappy!" Xiao Man said with a spoiled tone. "He must have another woman, that's why he's abandoned me here!"
Uncle Fu's mouth twitched. These words sounded a bit strange. Miss wasn't the Grand Preceptor's woman, yet she acted like a jilted wife. However, he also prayed for the Grand Preceptor to return quickly, otherwise, this little ancestor might really set the Grand Preceptor's mansion on fire.
Winter nights arrived early, and the weather was cold. Uncle Fu persuaded her to go inside and wait, but she refused. She sat on the steps, resting her head on her knees, and fell asleep.
When Feng Tianlan returned after receiving the news, he saw Xiao Man sleeping soundly, her head on her knees. Uncle Fu quickly went to greet him.
"You're finally back. Miss came just after noon, insisting on seeing you. She refused to wait inside, and even threatened to burn down the house..."
Feng Tianlan raised his hand, signaling him to stop. He looked at her curled-up form, like a lazy cat that had retracted all its sharp claws. Indeed, she was only most well-behaved and adorable when she slept.
Feng Tianlan stepped forward and felt how chillingly cold Xiao Man was when he touched her. He quickly carried her inside. "Light more braziers and warm the room thoroughly. Have the kitchen send over some ginger soup."
"Yes, Grand Preceptor."
For some reason, Xiao Man fell into a dream. A cold dream, on a desolate land of ice and snow, she was alone. Snow kept falling, and the cold wind stung her face. No matter how she walked, she couldn't escape this barren wasteland of snow and sea.
What was going on? She clearly remembered waiting for Feng Tianlan to return at the Grand Preceptor's mansion. Why had she fallen into such a dream? No, she had been ambushed. Who, who had set a trap for her?
Xiao Man tried hard to recall her every move after entering the Grand Preceptor's mansion, as well as everyone in the mansion. Who had plotted against her? Or was it Feng Tianlan who had plotted against her?
Xiao Man gazed at the boundless ice plain. Illusion. How could she break free from this illusion? If she couldn't find a way out, given her current physical condition, she would suffer greatly!
"Grand Preceptor, what exactly is wrong?"
"I don't know. The room is already very warm, and even I am starting to sweat, yet she remains ice-cold all over." Feng Tianlan's face showed undisguised worry. "Take my token and invite the imperial physician. Also, send word to the Great General."
"Your humble servant will do it immediately." The butler's footsteps were swift, and he no longer looked stooped, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
The atmosphere in the palace was heavy due to the matter of the Crown Prince. Everyone was discussing how to deal with him. The Crown Prince's faction strongly advocated for severe punishment, but not to depose him. Other factions were in favor of deposing him, as the Crown Prince had committed an unforgivable sin that angered heaven and earth. If he were not deposed, it would not be enough to appease the public.
Those who advocated for deposing the Crown Prince and those who defended him argued fiercely. The neutral faction led by Prime Minister Wen and the royalist faction led by the Great General remained silent.
"Prime Minister Wen, Minister Xiao, what do you think?"
"Your humble subject believes that the most pressing matter is to pacify the hearts of the people. If the hearts of the people are in turmoil, great events may occur." Prime Minister Wen said diplomatically, neither endorsing deposing nor protecting the Crown Prince.
"Minister Xiao, what do you think?" the Emperor looked at Xiao Zhen.
Xiao Zhen frowned. "Your Majesty, I am a rough man and understand none of these matters. I merely think that what the Prime Minister said makes sense!"
The Emperor choked. These two slippery individuals had spoken for so long and said nothing of substance. The Crown Prince had committed such a grave mistake. If he were deposed, at this sensitive time when negotiations with Yun Qi were underway, if it caused upheaval in the court, Yun Qi might very well turn hostile, and then with Lan Yue interfering, Yu Sheng would be in danger.