When Li Man'er emerged from Xiao Xiang's room, she couldn't quite pinpoint her mood.
If you said she was angry, it wasn't quite that, but if you said she wasn't, she didn't feel magnanimous enough to let it go. In short, she was displeased!
Qi Yihan knew she was being difficult and was about to explain a few things when Xiao Qiniang hurried over, curtsying slightly. "Your Highness, Sister Man'er."
"If you have something, then I'll be going now," Li Man'er said, immediately regretting it. She sounded petty, as if she cared too much.
Qi Yihan leaned closer, a hint of happiness in his voice. "What are you upset about? I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
"Never mind, I'm not interested in knowing."
The two were speaking intimately, and Xiao Qiniang watched, feeling as though her eyes and heart had been sliced by a knife. Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, she asked cautiously, "Sister Man'er, how is my grandfather's health? Your medical skills are so superb, you can definitely cure him, right?"
Li Man'er looked at her with some surprise. She had thought Xiao Qiniang's target was Qi Yihan! It seemed she had underestimated her. Xiao Qiniang had lived her life treading on thin ice in the Xiao family and knew too well what she could and couldn't touch.
She knew what she wanted and what she could get, so she had a boundary in her heart.
Just by the fact that she hadn't fixed her eyes on Qi Yihan and had inquired about her grandfather's condition first, Li Man'er held her in higher regard.
"Old General Xiao is suffering from chronic poisoning, and the toxins have entered his internal organs," Li Man'er shook her head. "I'm afraid there isn't much time left."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiniang's eyes immediately turned red. She held back tears with all her might. "Even you have no solution, is there really no hope at all?"
Li Man'er hadn't heard Xiao Rudí's cries and found it strange!
"Seventh Miss, may I trouble you to ask, isn't Xiao Rudí in pain anymore? Why is there no sound?" She hoped he hadn't died of pain!
"He's probably fainted," Xiao Qiniang said. "Sister Man'er, can you think of a way? My grandfather... the Xiao family cannot be without him."
Even if it was just to extend his life for a while!
Li Man'er simply said, "I think Old General Xiao himself is quite accepting of his fate. Moreover, in his current condition, living without quality of life is purely suffering. Why force him to endure more pain in this world?"
Xiao Qiniang's eyes lit up. "You have a way, don't you?"
Just as Li Man'er was about to say something, a sharp cry suddenly rang out from nearby. It was clear that Xiao Rudí had woken up and his leg was hurting again.
Xiao Qiniang frowned. "Sister Man'er, how about you check on him first?"
"Do you want to cure him?"
Xiao Qiniang snorted, "There are no outsiders here, and I won't hide it from you. I hate him to the bone." It wasn't just hate to the bone; she wished she could tear him into a million pieces.
"But for now, he cannot die. Perhaps you can temporarily alleviate his suffering."
"Alright, I understand," Li Man'er said. "You people are playing a big game, with so many informants. Aren't you afraid those people outside will cause trouble?"
Xiao Rudí still had many followers. Nominally, he was no longer in the military, but under the guise of business, he had maintained contact with many military personnel. To this day, he still had a large number of loyal supporters and many skilled generals under him.
Before Old General Xiao disappeared, Xiao Rudí's influence might not have extended so far. However, during the days of Old General Xiao's disappearance, Xiao Rudí had made several significant moves.
"You don't need to worry about that," Li Man'er said. "Now that my grandfather has returned, all the camps naturally know who to take orders from. This is also why I asked you to save my grandfather. Moreover, the situation in this city is not as complicated as you think." Xiao Qiniang wanted to discuss it with Li Man'er, but as soon as she thought that these were all arranged by Qi Yihan, she stopped.
It was better to let the Prince tell her himself. Otherwise, she might be accused of meddling.
Xiao Rudí's screams were too piercing. Li Man'er couldn't stand it and said, "Let's go see him first."
"Alright!" Xiao Qiniang looked at Qi Yihan. "Does Your Highness want to come along, or should we find a place to rest first?"
"This Prince is currently Miss Li's escort, so of course, I must accompany her." The hint of flattery in his words was very obvious. Li Man'er rolled her eyes, thinking this man seemed to have taken the wrong medicine lately.
He was acting like a lapdog.
Xiao Qiniang only said, "Then, please this way." She genuinely didn't know how to remain composed in front of Qi Yihan.
The first time she saw Qi Yihan, she had already fallen for him. When she learned of his identity and his intention to make arrangements in Mobei, she immediately offered to help him.
Given Qi Yihan's status, for him to approach her meant he already knew all her secrets and that she could betray Xiao Rudí.
Xiao Qiniang agreed almost without hesitation. Her own power was too weak. Even though she was Xiao Rudí's biological daughter, it was impossible to overthrow him.
Furthermore, at that time, she truly harbored an unrealistic desire. She thought that as long as she was excellent enough, worked hard enough, and completed all the tasks he assigned, she would be qualified to stand by his side. As for Li Man'er's appearance, it wasn't until she personally witnessed everything Qi Yihan did for Li Man'er that she finally woke up.
She didn't have that qualification.
Xiao Qiniang walked and thought, her heart shattering into pieces, yet she still had her reason.
The group soon arrived at Xiao Rudí's residence.
The old man had been found and was being housed in the main room. It was truly unjust!
However, Xiao Rudí had long lost his bargaining chip. The moment Xiao Xiang was found, the truth was revealed, and he had lost everything.
"General Xiao, long time no see." As soon as Li Man'er entered the room, she saw Xiao Rudí writhing on the bed. He was probably tired, as his movements weren't very vigorous. He was covered in sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of water.
Xiao Rudí's legs were deformed, both swollen, and his body was disproportionate, making him look like a monster.
"Li~Man~Er~" Xiao Rudí's eyes were bloodshot. Seeing Li Man'er, he looked at her as if she were an enemy. Even if he were stupid, he knew Li Man'er was behind his leg injury, because no one else had the ability or the opportunity.
"It's me! I hope you're well... Ah, no, you're like this, how can I say you're well."
"It's you..." Xiao Rudí said fiercely, "Was it you?"
Li Man'er nodded, "It was."
"Why?"
Li Man'er pretended to ponder, as if thinking very seriously. After a long while, she said, "Probably because I don't like you?"
"Are you playing with me?"
"I, this person, hate it most when people scheme against me," Li Man'er said with a smile. "Did you really think you were so cautious, leaving no room for error?"
Xiao Rudí stared at her fiercely. "Then why are you here, to watch my suffering?"