Xiao Man, to avoid suspicion, would buy a lot of things each time she visited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to give to the concubines and young ladies in her manor. Just as she finished selecting items and was about to pay, she noticed Prince Chu, Nangong Yan, was also there.
"Yong Ning, you're here too."
"Third Royal Brother also came to buy things."
"Yes, Yong Ning, what did you buy?"
"I bought a few bottles of rose dew to give to my sisters, and also picked out some items for Mother and the concubines. What did Third Royal Brother choose?" Xiao Man asked, gesturing to the box in her hand.
"I haven't been resting well lately, so I chose a box of Calming Incense."
"Third Royal Brother isn't resting well?" Xiao Man naturally reached out and placed her hand on Nangong Yan's wrist. Nangong Yan's hand trembled for a moment before he quickly restrained himself. His pulse point was located on his wrist. Xiao Man's sudden touch almost made him lash out, but thankfully, he held back.
After taking his pulse, Xiao Man said, "Your pulse is weak and floating, indicating a deficiency in your body. Have you been eating regularly lately?"
"Young Master has been eating little these days and his appetite isn't very good," Zhu Yun said first.
Xiao Man asked the shopkeeper for paper and brush, wrote a prescription, and handed it to Zhu Yun. "Go to the apothecary later and get two doses of this prescription. After taking it twice, it should relieve your symptoms."
"Yong Ning knows medicine?" Nangong Yan asked softly.
"Mother has been teaching us medicine recently, but my skills are not very refined, so I can only handle minor ailments and common illnesses. I'm not capable of dealing with complicated cases," Xiao Man explained. "I hope Third Royal Brother doesn't mind my poor medical skills."
"Not at all. You're concerned about me, and I'm grateful," Nangong Yan said warmly. "By the way, I haven't congratulated you yet on getting second place in the spring hunt."
"Speaking of which, I heard from Zhu Yun that Third Royal Brother was unwell at the time and couldn't visit. Please forgive me, Third Royal Brother."
"It's an old ailment, it doesn't matter. It acts up every few days, and I'm quite used to it."
"Third Royal Brother should still pay more attention to his health. Yong Ning will take her leave now."
"Let's go together," Nangong Yan said warmly. "I need to head back anyway."
Xiao Man nodded, and they walked out of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion side by side. As they exited, they encountered someone head-on. The person was emaciated, with a sinister gaze. If not for the person speaking, Xiao Man would have barely recognized him.
"Third Royal Brother." The newcomer was none other than Nangong Cheng. Nangong Cheng had led a hundred thousand troops to attack the Wu Yue Kingdom, resulting in the annihilation of the entire army. He had been captured and had only recently returned to the capital.
"Tenth Royal Brother."
Nangong Cheng's cold gaze fell on Xiao Man. He had suffered greatly during this time, lost his father's trust, and his assassins sent out had all disappeared. Yet, Xiao Man glowed with health and was even more beautiful and captivating. Nangong Yu could only imagine his current predicament and felt an overwhelming urge to tear Xiao Man to pieces!
Killing intent! Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged. Nangong Cheng still wanted to kill her!
Nangong Yan also noticed and subtly stepped in front of Xiao Man. "Tenth Royal Brother has just returned to the capital. You suffered greatly during your campaign against the Wu Yue Kingdom."
Nangong Cheng's already unpleasant expression turned even uglier at Nangong Yan's words. Everyone knew about his army's annihilation and his capture. Nangong Yan was clearly mocking him, but his target wasn't Nangong Yan.
"What, you lost Wen Mo Han and now you're clinging to Third Royal Brother?" Nangong Cheng made no attempt to hide his animosity towards Xiao Man. Wen Mo Yu had told him that the person who helped the Wu Yue Kingdom ambush him was Xiao Man!
"Tenth Royal Brother, please mind your words. We merely met by chance."
"By chance? What a coincidence."
Xiao Man indifferently picked at her nails, her expression composed, a mocking smile on her lips. "A stray dog."
"What did you say?" Nangong Cheng raised his voice, asking furiously.
Xiao Man grinned. "I said you're a stray dog."
Nangong Yan quickly blocked Nangong Cheng. He had never expected Xiao Man to provoke him like this, but given Xiao Man's nature, it wasn't entirely surprising!
"You bitch!"
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged, as if Nangong Cheng wasn't insulting her. "For your own selfish desires, you caused the deaths of a hundred thousand soldiers, leaving ten thousand families ruined. If I were you, I would have hanged myself long ago. How dare I show my face in public."
"Xiao Man, I'll kill you!"
"Come on, I'm not afraid of you!" Xiao Man beckoned Nangong Cheng to fight. Nangong Yan had always known the two of them were at odds, but he never imagined they would resort to a physical altercation at the slightest disagreement!
Nangong Cheng shoved Nangong Yan aside. Nangong Yan lost his balance and fell to the ground. Nangong Cheng, disregarding everything, lunged at Xiao Man. Xiao Man watched him charge forward, completely still, showing no intention of resisting.
Nangong Cheng's hatred was immense, and his fist swung towards Xiao Man without hesitation. Just as Xiao Man was about to be hit, she suddenly leaned back and kicked Nangong Cheng in the stomach, sending him sprawling on his back.
Nangong Yan watched this scene in astonishment. Nangong Cheng's martial arts were not weak; how could he be so easily defeated by Xiao Man's kick? Xiao Man stood up straight, looking down at Nangong Cheng on the ground with disdain. "Useless!"
"Xiao Man!" Nangong Cheng desperately wanted everyone to know that Xiao Man had ambushed him, but he had no evidence. Now, he didn't even have a single capable subordinate. What was even more infuriating was that that bitch Wu Lan Na had crippled his martial arts. His men sent to assassinate Wu Lan Na had all been captured by Nangong Yu!
"You will face retribution!"
"Whether I face retribution is not for you to worry about. However, I do know that those who do evil deeds will surely face retribution." Xiao Man flicked some imaginary dust from her clothes. "His Royal Highness the Prince of Han led a hundred thousand troops to attack the Wu Yue Kingdom, which only had twenty thousand citizens, yet they were annihilated. Prince of Han, did you collude with the Wu Yue Kingdom? What benefits did they give you?"
Nangong Cheng glared at Xiao Man, a mouthful of blood caught in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out. This was a classic case of blaming the victim. The person who colluded with the Wu Yue Kingdom to ambush him was Xiao Man, yet Xiao Man accused him of colluding with the Wu Yue Kingdom!
Unfortunately, Xiao Man had covered her tracks too cleanly, leaving him with no evidence. Everyone knew that during his campaign against Wu Yue, Xiao Man had been injured while saving the emperor and was recuperating outside, making it impossible for her to have gone to Wu Yue. But that was just a facade; the real Xiao Man had followed him to Wu Yue long ago!
Nangong Cheng looked at the onlookers around him. He got up from the ground and glared fiercely at Xiao Man, but now, he was no match for her.
As Nangong Cheng walked past Xiao Man, he lowered his voice and said, "This prince will find evidence of your betrayal of Yu Sheng!"
Xiao Man's lips curved upwards. "This princess awaits."
Nangong Cheng stumbled outwards. Suddenly, a clump of mud flew from somewhere and hit him, emitting a foul odor.