Xiao Man looked at Chu Wang with some helplessness as Nangong Yi completely passed out, "Your Highness's wine is too strong, Prince Qi is already drunk."
Nangong Yan smiled, "He usually has a good tolerance for alcohol, I didn't expect him to be so poor today."
"Someone, help Prince Qi to rest."
"Don't touch me, I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you, sir!" Nangong Yi babbled, "Sir, do you know when I was first beaten?"
Xiao Man shook her head.
Nangong Yi smiled mysteriously, "The first time I was beaten was by Xiao Man. Mother Consort told me not to play in the water by the water, but I insisted on going, and fell into the pond. She pulled me out of the pond. I almost died then. She saved me ashore, but then beat me up."
Xiao Man's lips twitched, she said nothing. Was this kid holding a grudge? Su Dan Novel Network.
Nangong Yi leaned entirely on Xiao Man, "Everyone else flatters me and tries to please me, but only she, as long as I make a mistake and upset her, she will beat me without hesitation. She doesn't care about my identity as a prince, nor does she care about my money. She only seriously teaches me archery, how to make a fire, how to grill fish, and takes me out to play..."
"Prince Qi is already drunk," Xiao Man said calmly to Nangong Yan.
Nangong Yan's lips curved into a helpless smile, "Please don't mind, sir. Thirteenth brother is just like this. He'll be fine when he wakes up. Someone, help Prince Qi to rest."
The guards took Nangong Yi to a side room to rest. Nangong Yan poured a cup of wine and savored it.
"What do you think of Thirteenth Brother, sir?"
"Prince Qi has an excellent relationship with Your Highness, and I don't think he will refuse."
Nangong Yan shook his head, "Looking at the entire imperial capital, there is only one person who truly has a good relationship with him."
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged, "Could it be Prince Qin?"
Nangong Yan shook his head, "It's Princess Yongning, Xiao Man."
Xiao Man nodded in understanding. They often frequented brothels and casinos together, and in the eyes of outsiders, their relationship was indeed very good.
"It's a pity that Princess Yongning is still in a coma."
"Does sir know why Father Emperor wants to quickly arrange the marriage for Fourth Brother and Thirteenth Brother?"
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness," Xiao Man said calmly.
"Because whether it's Fourth Brother or Thirteenth Brother, marrying Xiao Man will make Father Emperor lose sleep," Nangong Yan picked up a piece of fish maw. The fish was already cold, not as fresh as when it was just out of the pot, but Nangong Yan still ate it with relish. "Father Emperor will not allow any prince to marry Xiao Man."
Xiao Man nodded slowly. She had already known this.
"Thirteenth Brother has a very good relationship with Xiao Man, and he dares not resist if a marriage is decreed. But Fourth Brother is different. He is rebellious and has made great military contributions, and he has the Silver Armor Army as his backing. Even Father Emperor dares not push him too far."
Xiao Man nodded. She had witnessed Nangong Yu's temperament years ago. He was very stubborn and rebellious. Back then, she particularly enjoyed teasing Nangong Yu and then watching his exasperated and helpless aggrieved look.
"Therefore, Your Highness needs to form an alliance with Prince Qi. Once the Crown Prince falls, Prince Qin will be the biggest obstacle on Your Highness's path forward," Xiao Man said slowly. "How does Your Highness plan to win over Prince Qi?"
"It's very simple to win over Thirteenth Brother," Nangong Yan drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. "Xiao Man."
Xiao Man was suspicious, what did it have to do with her?
"As long as Xiao Man is captured, two people can be controlled," a determined glint flashed in Nangong Yan's eyes. "Thirteenth Brother and Wen Mohan."
Xiao Man's expression was calm, "What makes you say that?"
"Wen Mohan is infatuated with Xiao Man, it's known throughout the imperial capital. As for Thirteenth Brother..." Nangong Yan played with his wine glass. "It's likely that very few people know that Thirteenth Brother loves her deeply."
"Perhaps not," Xiao Man said softly. "According to what I know, Prince Qi often spends time with Princess Yongning, frequenting brothels and casinos. Prince Qi's confidantes are spread throughout the imperial capital. If Prince Qi truly loves Princess Yongning, can he do such things?"
Nangong Yan hesitated, he had also had such doubts, "I have also doubted it, but Thirteenth Brother's treatment of Xiao Man is indeed unusual."
Xiao Man smiled, "Your Highness, in your opinion, what kind of relationship is there between the two of them?"
This question stumped Nangong Yan. However, he still tried to argue, "Sir, you don't know, but when Xiao Man said she didn't like the scent of rouge in his mansion, he immediately dismissed the concubines in his mansion and was even willing to marry only one person from then on."
"Your Highness, Thirteenth Prince has known Xiao Man for many years. If he truly liked Xiao Man, why would he have brought one beauty after another into his mansion back then?"
"Does sir mean that Thirteenth Brother is concealing his true intentions?"
"Your Highness, no one dares to marry Xiao Man, especially a prince," Xiao Man said. "If a prince marries Xiao Man, it means he will be forever estranged from the throne and will even be subject to the Emperor's suspicion. If it were Your Highness, would you give up everything to marry Xiao Man?"
"Does sir not think that marrying Xiao Man would bring him closer to the throne?" Nangong Yan disagreed with Xiao Man's view.
Xiao Man smiled, "Your Highness, the bystander is clear. If that were the case, why wouldn't Prince Qin marry Xiao Man?"
Nangong Yan did not answer immediately, but poured Xiao Man another cup of wine. "Sir, Fourth Brother is not unwilling to marry, but he dares not."
Xiao Man picked up the wine cup and swirled the liquid inside. "Does Your Highness dare to marry?"
A complex light flickered in Nangong Yan's eyes, and then he raised the wine cup and drank it down. "I no longer have a chance. I am already married."
Xiao Man drank the wine in her cup, slowly put down the cup, and said, "Now Princess Yongning is seriously injured and in a coma. We don't know when she will wake up, or if she will even survive. Her sleeping like this is beneficial to everyone."
"Indeed," Nangong Yan said with a smile. "Sir, the Crown Prince has always been steady and rarely makes mistakes. Even if we are to join forces against the Crown Prince, where should we begin?"
Xiao Man's eyes moved slightly, "Winter Solstice Day."
Nangong Yan's expression changed. The Winter Solstice Day was a ceremony to heaven. If something went wrong, it would be a grave offense. If this matter was not handled well, they would be the ones to suffer!
"This matter is of great importance..."
"Your Highness, do not forget that this year, Yusheng has been plagued by disasters, and the people's hearts are shaken. Especially Jiangnan and Jiangbei, which have suffered heavy losses. They are the granaries of our Yusheng. The troubles in Jiangnan and Jiangbei mean a poor harvest for the year, and the person responsible for such serious consequences is the Crown Prince."
Nangong Yan understood instantly, and immediately understood Xiao Man's meaning. He smiled knowingly, and poured Xiao Man another drink. "Thank you for your guidance, sir. Little King understands."
The two clinked glasses, smiled at each other, and drank it all down.