Murong Shengrui took two steps forward, his gaze locked onto the person standing beside Xiao Luo. Although that person was dressed as a man, with just one glance, he knew it was her. She had truly returned!
Murong Shengrui moved with lightning speed, his eyes filled with surprise, and rushed towards Xiao Man.
"Your Majesty!" Wei Wuji's expression changed drastically, but he was too late to stop Murong Shengrui.
Murong Shengrui lunged at Xiao Man, disregarding everything. Xiao Luo was about to block him, but Xiao Man stopped him. Xiao Man looked at the young emperor rushing towards her, just like when he was little, always running to her with such joy, throwing himself into her arms, and happily calling her "Mother Empress." But the more she thought about it, the colder Xiao Man's heart became, and all the emotions in her eyes froze into ice.
"Aman." Murong Shengrui was filled with joy. The happiness of having found her again made him forget that even if the person before him was Du Gu Man, she would no longer open her arms to embrace him.
A cold dagger pierced his body. Murong Shengrui looked in surprise at the dagger lodged in him, his gaze shifting to Xiao Man's face. He reached out to remove her mask.
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged. She swiftly pulled out the dagger and thrust it out again, showing no mercy. Wei Wuji rushed forward, pulling Murong Shengrui back rapidly. Xiao Man's second strike missed, and Murong Shengrui did not manage to touch her mask.
"Aman..." Murong Shengrui reached out his hand towards Xiao Man, but Xiao Man gave no response. In her clear, autumn-like eyes, there was only boundless coldness and disgust.
"Retreat." Wei Wuji led Murong Shengrui away. He couldn't help but look back at Xiao Man. Who was this person? Why did His Majesty lose his composure so upon seeing her, even being wounded by her without reacting?
"Return to Yangguan." Seeing Murong Shengrui retreat, Xiao Luo also led his men back to Yangguan.
Upon returning to Yangguan, Xiao Luo pulled Xiao Man into a room and closed the door. "My dear aunt, how did you end up here?"
Xiao Man removed her mask. "If I hadn't come, I would only be visiting brother's grave this time next year."
Xiao Luo choked. "How did you know something happened to me?"
"He Ye sent me the news, and I happened to be not far from Yangguan, so I rushed over with my people." Xiao Man reached for a cup of tea, only to find her hands stained with blood. She put down the teacup, picked up a handkerchief, and meticulously wiped the bloodstains clean.
"So it was that brat," Xiao Luo nodded in understanding. "Did you take in the Red Feather Iron Cavalry?"
"Yes, I did."
"And the news of your serious injuries spreading from the Imperial Capital was also false?"
"It was true, but I wasn't as heavily injured as the rumors claimed," Xiao Man said gently. "Brother, don't worry. There's still an injured and unconscious me in the Imperial Capital, so no one will know I came here."
"You are truly audacious." Xiao Luo sat down beside her. "Did... did your sister-in-law come?"
"If sister-in-law hadn't come, Yangguan would have run out of supplies long ago." Xiao Man smiled. "Hasn't sister-in-law visited brother?"
Xiao Luo's expression darkened. "No, she hasn't visited me, nor has she written a single word... Man'er, is your sister-in-law alright?"
"Brother, give her some more time. Some things require time to heal."
Xiao Luo nodded in silence. He knew Chu Qingge couldn't forget what happened in the past, but it was alright. He would wait until she resolved her inner conflict.
"Right, you should leave Yangguan immediately. Go anywhere, just don't stay at the border." Xiao Luo recalled what Xiahou Ying had said. "Yun Qi, for some reason, has taken an interest in you. The reason they besieged us was to lure you to the border."
"I know who it is," Xiao Man picked up her tea and took a small sip. "Wen Moyu. She has defected to the Yun Qi Emperor."
Xiao Luo's expression tensed, and a faint killing aura emanated from him. "I will not let her go."
"I will not let her go either," Xiao Man said gently. "I came to Yangguan with the sole purpose of killing her."
Xiao Luo frowned. "You were good friends with Wen Mohan. If you kill Wen Moyu, I fear it will create a rift between you two. Leave Wen Moyu to me."
"Brother, Wen Moyu is not Prime Minister Wen's biological daughter. Mohan said that Wen Moyu is mine to deal with." Xiao Man's tone was somewhat strange. "It just so happens that the two people I want to kill have gathered together."
Xiao Luo thought of Xiao Man's unhesitating stab at the Yun Qi Emperor. "You injured the Yun Qi Emperor..."
"Yusheng will eventually annex Yun Qi and unify the world." Xiao Man said nonchalantly. "I've merely offended him in advance. Without Du Gu Man, I don't even place Yun Qi in my eyes anymore."
Xiao Luo frowned in disagreement at her words. Yusheng was not necessarily the one who could unify the world, but he ultimately did not voice his thoughts. Instead, he mentioned Xiao Man's birth mother.
"If I remember correctly, it's almost mother's death anniversary, isn't it?" Xiao Luo hesitated, wondering whether to tell Xiao Man the truth beforehand or wait for her to discover it herself.
"Brother, is mother's surname really Qin?" Xiao Man asked, her eyes shining brightly. "Or is mother's maiden name Lan?"
Pingxi City. Imperial physicians bustled in and out. Xiao Man's stab was merciless and extremely deep, compounded by the poison on the blade. Before Murong Shengrui could even return to Pingxi City, he fell into a coma.
Wei Wuji guarded the room, looking at the pale, unconscious young emperor with deep worry in his eyes. The emperor's abnormal behavior today was truly perplexing.
"Eunuch, His Majesty's injuries have been treated, and the poison has been neutralized. However, the wound is very deep and requires rest," the imperial physician reported cautiously. Fortunately, it was the Blood Fiend Poison, and they had the antidote. Otherwise, the emperor would have been sent to the netherworld.
"Thank you, Imperial Physician."
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Wei Wuji glanced at the young emperor lying on the bed, then turned and left the room. His gaze fell upon the two people guarding outside the door: Xiahou Ying and Qu Yang.
"Have you identified the person who injured His Majesty?"
"No." Xiahou Ying's expression was calm.
"You don't recognize her?" Wei Wuji subconsciously assumed Xiahou Ying knew the person.
"That person wore a mask and never showed their face. Moreover, as a general who has fought on the battlefield, how could I possibly know a skulking individual?"
"She harbors great animosity towards His Majesty," Wei Wuji's voice was somewhat cold. "General Xiahou, this eunuch hopes you can ascertain that person's identity."
"Gathering information is not something this general excels at." Xiahou Ying was blunt. He was not good at lying, but he could refuse to do something.
"I heard that the one leading the charge was the leader of the Demonic Cult, Yu Qianmo," Qu Yang said, his delicate eyebrows furrowed. "This person always acts on whim. He was once under the Empress Dowager's command. Perhaps we can start by investigating him."