Ling Xuan’s face flushed red with urgency. He was never one for eloquent speeches, and Xiao Man was not easily fooled. He could only tell her the truth, hoping she might help him. However, Xiao Man’s protectiveness was legendary, and he truly feared she would shield her own regardless of the circumstances.
Xiao Man continued to study the chess manual, not answering Ling Xuan. Ling Xuan grew anxious but dared not rush her. “Previously, I sought out Prime Minister Wen, and both he and Minister Wen believed this was likely a stratagem by the Blue Moon royal family to sow discord – a ploy by either the Blue Moon Empress or the Princess. Whichever it is, it bodes extremely ill for us. Princess Yongning, for the sake of the greater good, I implore you to lend me your assistance.”
“Do you have any proof that this matter is connected to the Blue Moon royal family?”
“Yes, it is with me, in this brocade pouch.”
Ying Xue stepped forward and retrieved a brocade pouch from Ling Xuan. Upon opening it, they found a replica of the Phoenix Seal. “This is a counterfeit Phoenix Seal, and the Phoenix Seal symbolizes the identity of the Blue Moon Empress, much like our own Imperial Seal. Few would know the true appearance of such an item.”
Xiao Man took it and examined it. “I have seen this before. My maid even bought quite a few.”
Ling Xuan’s lips twitched. “Has no one told you that such things are best not kept?”
“Why should they not be kept?”
“This item first surfaced from Long Sheng Merchant House, and shortly after, its owners were killed. Long Sheng Merchant House belonged to the Cen family, who have recently been plagued by thieves. The Cen family has been ransacked top to bottom, as if they were searching for something.”
“Are you suggesting they are looking for this?”
“They are looking for the real Phoenix Seal!” Ling Xuan recounted what he had heard from Prime Minister Wen to Xiao Man. Xiao Man’s expression remained calm, but her eyes harbored unspoken emotions.
“You say the Phoenix Seal was taken by the Blue Moon Princess.”
“To be precise, it was likely taken by a trusted confidant of the former Blue Moon Empress. If my guess is correct, the Blue Moon Princess has likely been sent to her birth father. However, the identity of the Blue Moon Princess’s birth father has always been a mystery.”
“What does this have to do with my second sister?”
“The second young lady’s presence at the scene of the crime was already highly unusual. A few days ago, I visited your manor to probe and discovered that your second young lady knows martial arts.”
“The daughters of my Xiao family know some form of martial arts to varying degrees.”
“It’s different. Her reactions were incredibly swift. Although she concealed it well, I could still tell that your esteemed second young lady is likely a master.”
Xiao Man fell silent. She too had suspected Xiao Xiang knew martial arts, but she had tested her many times, even personally, and Xiao Xiang possessed no inner energy. Even if she knew martial arts, it would only be for show. But was Xiao Xiang truly just putting on a show?
“She knows martial arts, so what does that prove?”
“Xiao Man, are you playing dumb?” Ling Xuan roared in frustration. “There are so many suspicious circumstances surrounding Second Young Lady Xiao, and you intend to turn a blind eye to all of them? If she is being manipulated by someone with ulterior motives, that would be one thing, but if she has defected, the General’s Manor will face annihilation!”
Xiao Man lowered her gaze, remaining silent for a long time, as if contemplating Ling Xuan’s words. Seeing her silence, Ling Xuan pressed his advantage. “Before things escalate beyond control, we must expose the person manipulating Second Young Lady Xiao. I cannot do this alone; I need your help.” Su Dan Xiaoshuo Wang
After a considerable pause, Xiao Man slowly asked, “How can I help you?”
“The person behind this only wants the Phoenix Seal. I need you to leak the news that the Phoenix Seal has fallen into my hands to Second Young Lady Xiao. Together, we can spring a trap.” Ling Xuan whispered. If Second Young Lady Xiao came looking for him then, she would not escape suspicion.
“This plan is not feasible,” Xiao Man sighed, exhaling slowly. “If the person manipulating her is truly from the Blue Moon royal family, she will undoubtedly have many experts behind her. The guards of the Capital Prefecture alone cannot protect you! I will handle this matter; you are to cooperate.”
“I couldn’t ask for more.”
“Don’t celebrate too soon,” Xiao Man said softly. “If my second sister is innocent, I will flay you alive.”
Ling Xuan quietly exited the General’s Manor through the back door. Not far after leaving, he saw the carriage of the Duke of Lu’s Manor parked at the corner. Seeing him approach, Xiang Huan’er poked her head out of the carriage and laughed ungenerously.
“Ling Xuan, did Princess Yongning keep you for a late-night snack? Was it good?”
Ling Xuan gritted his teeth fiercely. “Xiang Huan’er, you truly are unkind. You just abandoned me and ran off. What if she chops me up?”
Xiang Huan’er’s eyes narrowed into slits as she laughed. “She won’t. Xiao Man is not someone who would kill indiscriminately.”
Ling Xuan choked. “What if she intends to silence me to protect her sister?”
“Then consider yourself unlucky.”
Ling Xuan felt he had made a poor choice in friends. This woman was truly heartless. Xiao Man had always been fiercely protective. If this matter were not of such grave importance, Xiao Man might very well have silenced him!
“Get in, I’ll take you back to the Capital Prefecture,” Xiang Huan’er beckoned, gesturing for Ling Xuan to board. Ling Xuan did not stand on ceremony and climbed into the carriage. As soon as he was seated, he heard Xiang Huan’er ask, “How did it go? Did Xiao Man agree?”
Ling Xuan nodded. “She agreed, but I must find evidence linking Xiao Xiang to the murderer, otherwise… that woman will skin me alive!”
“That sounds like something Xiao Man would do,” Xiang Huan’er said, patting Ling Xuan’s shoulder vigorously. “I like her a lot; she suits my taste.”
“The people you like are never normal!”
Xiang Huan’er scoffed. “The people I like are extraordinary. Though ‘ordinary’ and ‘normal’ differ by just one word, they are worlds apart. The eldest young lady of the Protector General’s Manor is no simple person.”
“If she were a simple person, she would have died long ago,” Ling Xuan muttered, biting his lip. He had once been beaten and thrown out of the General’s Manor by Xiao Man, and out of spite, he had secretly investigated Xiao Man’s shady dealings, hoping to find something illegal to cause her trouble. In the end, he found nothing detrimental to her. Her assaults on the Imperial Capital’s dandies and her antics with the Thirteenth Prince were all harmless indiscretions, never leading to any deaths. Yet, she had faced countless assassination attempts since childhood, escaping each one without serious harm.
“Ling Xuan, do you think Xiao Man is merely a noble young lady?” Xiang Huan’er asked, arms crossed, her brow furrowed with confusion. “A young lady of the General’s Manor, favored by her lord, such a person – what blind fool would dare to assassinate her? Yet look at her, wounded multiple times, teetering on the brink of death repeatedly. Even the Crown Prince has likely faced fewer assassination attempts than she has.”
“Her sharp tongue has offended many people,” Ling Xuan chimed in. “From the princes to the common folk, do you think she speaks idly? The noble houses of the Imperial Capital, with the exception of General Xiao’s subordinates, have all been offended by her. If any one of them were to harbor ill intentions, it would be enough for her to suffer.”