"Does Qin Zeyan have any weaknesses?" Nangong Yu asked calmly after a moment of silence.
"No, Qin Zeyan's mother passed away some days ago. Now he is all alone with no exploitable weaknesses."
Nangong Yu frowned. No weaknesses made things difficult. "Does he have no friends?"
"He has a few schoolmates, but their friendships are not deep. I've also investigated his character and conduct. Qin Zeyan is a man who keeps himself clean. He doesn't gamble, frequent brothels, drink, or get into fights. He's as pure as a blank sheet of paper." Wen Ruyu sighed, amazed that someone could be found without a single flaw. A formidable opponent, definitely a formidable opponent. Soodan Novel Network
"Does he not even have a confidante?"
"Speaking of that, it's even more astonishing. I heard that no matter how beautiful a woman is, he never gives her a second glance. If a woman were to fall in front of him, he would use his clothes to cover his hands before helping her up." Wen Ruyu clicked his tongue in amazement. Perhaps the saying about Liu Xiahui referred to people like him.
"Does he have mysophobia?"
"I'm not sure."
Nangong Yu's brow furrowed in annoyance. He hadn't even dealt with Wen Mohan yet, and now Qin Zeyan appeared. The critical issue was that not only could this man not be found to have any weaknesses, but he also shamelessly agreed to marry into the General's mansion. How shameless!
"By the way, I seem to recall a princess in the palace who fancied the third-ranked scholar." Nangong Yu suddenly remembered this matter. "Are you aware of this?"
"It's the Ninth Princess, Nangong Wu." Wen Ruyu took a step forward. "However, at that time, the third-ranked scholar's family had an urgent matter, and he had to rush back to his hometown before the results were announced. Otherwise, he would be the Ninth Princess's consort now."
"Now, he can also become the Ninth Princess's consort." Nangong Yu took out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped the remnants from his hands. "Leak Qin Zeyan's whereabouts and movements to Nangong Wu."
"Your Highness, are you planning to use the Ninth Princess to restrain the third-ranked scholar?" Wen Ruyu asked with a knowing smile. It was a good idea, but he feared it wouldn't work. After all, the engagement between the third-ranked scholar and Xiao Man had already been exposed. Even the Ninth Princess couldn't openly snatch the fiancé of a prominent official's daughter.
"Although Nangong Wu is under the Empress, she was raised by the Empress Dowager. Now that the Empress has lost her biological daughter, she will pour all her love into Nangong Wu. Nangong Wu is also of marriageable age. Furthermore, the death of Shiqi is somewhat related to Xiao Man. The Empress will likely do everything she can to sabotage this marriage."
"Perhaps not. After all, Qin Zeyan marrying into the General's mansion is beneficial to the Crown Prince and the other princes. Her Majesty the Empress would probably prefer Miss Xiao to marry Qin Zeyan rather than one of the other princes."
"Ruyu, you underestimate women's malice." Nangong Yu said gently. "Even if Shiqi wasn't killed by Xiao Man, the Empress still hates her. If the Empress seizes an opportunity, she will spare no effort to bring down Xiao Man. Moreover, Xiao Man is now trying to snatch the man her adopted daughter likes."
Wen Ruyu fanned himself, contemplating the feasibility of this plan. "Your Highness, if Miss Xiao insists on marrying, even if the Empress intervenes, it might not be effective, right?"
Nangong Yu stiffened. That was right. He was aware of Xiao Man's capabilities. This woman, though seemingly constantly plotted against, planned every step meticulously and left no trace.
If Xiao Man insisted on marrying Qin Zeyan, it would indeed be difficult for him to handle. After all, he knew Xiao Man, and Xiao Man knew him. A confrontation between the two would inevitably lead to a lose-lose situation. However, he couldn't bear to watch Xiao Man marry someone else!
"As long as this Prince is alive, she can only be the Consort of Prince Qin!" Nangong Yu said softly. It seemed he needed to see Xiao Man. This girl was truly heartless, never actively seeking him out!
As night fell, the second watch sounded, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the street.
The night wind carried a chill, making one involuntarily shiver.
Qin Zeyan, having just bathed, sat under the lamp, reading.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Qin Zeyan couldn't quite make out the sound. He listened carefully, and when he heard no more knocking, he returned his attention to his book.
A moment later, another knock came from outside. Qin Zeyan frowned slightly. He had just arrived in the capital and had no relatives or friends there. He assumed it must be someone knocking on the wrong door and ignored it.
Xiao Man stood outside the door, knocking for a long time without an answer. She felt puzzled. Was the person not home?
Looking through the crack in the door, she could see a faint light. Someone was inside. Perhaps her knocking was too soft, and Qin Zeyan hadn't heard her. So, Xiao Man increased the force of her knocks, but after a long time, there was still no response.
Xiao Man's face darkened. She took two steps back, looked at the courtyard wall, and leaped over it into the yard.
Qin Zeyan's silhouette was reflected on the paper window, appearing to be reading. Xiao Man thought that visiting late at night was rather abrupt. It wouldn't be good to startle him by barging in.
After careful consideration, Xiao Man knocked on the window.
Qin Zeyan's hands paused. He looked towards the window. He seemed to hear something tapping against it and frowned slightly. However, after listening for a long time, he heard no other sound and reassured himself that he had misheard.
Seeing Qin Zeyan's shadow move, Xiao Man thought he would open the window for her. To her surprise, after waiting for a while, Qin Zeyan didn't open it. Feeling somewhat annoyed, she slammed her palm against the window, breaking it open.
The sudden noise startled Qin Zeyan. The window opened, and a cold gust of wind blew in, instantly extinguishing the candlelight. Qin Zeyan stood up and looked out the window. A figure stood outside, clad in white with long flowing hair. Qin Zeyan felt his throat tighten and immediately closed his eyes. An illusion, it must be an illusion. There were no ghosts in this world; the ghosts were in people's hearts!
Qin Zeyan thought that if he opened his eyes, the illusion would disappear. To his dismay, when he opened his eyes, he saw the white-clad female ghost attempting to climb through the window.
"A ghost!" Qin Zeyan let out a piercing, desperate scream and grabbed the book beside him, hurling it at the white-clad female ghost.
"Ah." A pained cry came out. Qin Zeyan's hand, holding the candlestick, ultimately did not smash it down.
"Are you human or ghost?"
"Qin Zeyan, who are you calling a ghost?" The woman's angry voice echoed.
Qin Zeyan was taken aback. It was a girl, but what proper lady would climb into a man's window in the middle of the night? "Who exactly are you?"
Xiao Man took out a tinderbox, lit it, and glared at Qin Zeyan with resentment. "Qin Zeyan, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You didn't answer when I knocked, you didn't answer when I tapped on the window, and when I came in myself, you threw things at me!"