"How is there still a child?"
"Never mind her, let's go!"
The assassins also saw Xiao Man but paid her no mind. Their priority now was to escape.
Xiao Man patted the dust off her pants and blocked the path.
"Gentlemen, I have some homework I'd like to ask you about." Xiao Man took out books from her bag, walked forward, and prepared to flip through them.
"Get lost!"
The man in front swung his saber at Xiao Man.
Xiao Man's face showed a flash of panic. She stumbled backward, and the saber cut through the air.
Seeing this, the man raised his foot to stomp on Xiao Man.
Xiao Man rolled to the side. The man's foot landed heavily on the ground, but his leg suddenly felt weak, and he fell uncontrollably.
"Ling?"
The man's companions behind him cried out in alarm. Before their cries could spread, they all fell to the ground.
Xiao Man stood up, tidied her small bag, walked forward, picked up the saber from the man's hand, and held it near his neck. Then, finding it boring, she threw the saber aside. She crouched down again, pried open the man's mouth, and reached in to retrieve the poison hidden in his back molars.
Then, she followed suit and retrieved the poison from everyone's mouths.
Xiao Man shook her hands with a hint of disgust. She heard hurried footsteps again and quickly hid in the outhouse, throwing all the poison into the privy.
Nan Chaoyin looked grimly at the people lying on the ground. He walked forward, grabbed one of them by the hair, and lifted him up.
Their eyes met, but the man averted his gaze and looked towards the outhouse.
Nan Chaoyin threw the man to the ground and walked towards the outhouse.
Hearing the movement, Xiao Man pushed open the outhouse door first.
Nan Chaoyin never expected that the person in the outhouse would be a child.
"Hello, do you need to use the restroom?" Xiao Man obediently moved aside. Nan Chaoyin's gaze fell upon her, and he asked kindly, "Little one, are you a student at this private school? Where are your family members? Why haven't they come to get you?"
Xiao Man took a step back cautiously, looking at Nan Chaoyin and then at those behind him. She asked, "Who are you? Why are you arresting the teachers? Are you a bad person? You..."
Xiao Man's eyes widened instantly. She crouched down, grabbed a handful of dirt, and threw it at Nan Chaoyin, then turned and ran.
Nan Chaoyin blocked the dirt with his sleeve and signaled to the Imperial Guards.
The Imperial Guards chased after Xiao Man.
Xuan Wu was about to intervene when his peripheral vision caught sight of the Wangfei rushing over.
"Wangfei!"
Nan Shiying was slightly taken aback when she saw Xuan Wu.
Xuan Wu was here too?
Just as she was about to speak, she noticed the Imperial Guards about to catch Xiao Man.
Nan Shiying flicked out a silver needle. The needle shot through the gaps in the Imperial Guard's armor and into his body. The poison on the needle instantly spread throughout his body. His steps faltered, and he collapsed.
Nan Chaoyin's pupils contracted in shock at the scene. Then he saw Feng Luan walking towards them.
Why was he here?
Nan Chaoyin frowned.
"Come here!" Nan Chaoyin beckoned Xiao Man.
Xiao Man ran over, grabbed Nan Shiying's hand, and then made a face at Nan Chaoyin.
"May I ask why Prime Minister Nan ordered the arrest of my sister?" Feng Luan asked, his worry fading as he held Xiao Man's hand. However, when he faced Nan Chaoyin, his face wore a cold smile.
Nan Chaoyin looked at Xiao Man, then at Nan Shiying, and said with a smile, "I merely saw this child alone here and was worried she might encounter bad people."
"Then I should thank you for your kindness, Prime Minister."
"Young Master Feng, you jest. I had no idea that Young Master Feng had a sister."
"Prime Minister, if you knew everything under the heavens, wouldn't you become a living deity? Then His Majesty would have to build a temple for you to be worshipped, wasting state resources. Some might mistake this realm for one governed by divine power rather than imperial authority." Nan Shiying's smiling words, however, sent a shockwave through everyone present. Her words implied that Nan Chaoyin harbored ambitions of usurping the throne!
Nan Chaoyin's pupils constricted. He replied with a smile, "Young Master Feng is truly fond of jokes. It's getting late. Young Master Feng should take better care of his sister. You must not let her wander the streets alone. If something were to happen to such a young child, what would be done?"
Facing Nan Chaoyin's veiled threat, Nan Shiying smiled.
"Thank you for your concern, Prime Minister. I doubt any foolish person would dare harm my sister. If they did, beware of their entire family meeting an unclear end."
To threaten someone who dealt with poison, Nan Chaoyin was truly senile.
Nan Chaoyin had no doubt that Feng Luan would do such a thing. Based on his investigation of Feng Luan in recent days, this person was a complete lunatic.
To sacrifice an entire family, even one's own life, for the sake of one person's life seemed like a terrible bargain. Nan Chaoyin decided not to argue further. He finally cautioned, "I hope Young Master Feng will keep his mouth shut about today's events. If news leaks and the culprits escape, do not blame me for being unforgiving."
Hearing this, Nan Shiying let out a cold laugh. "Why do I feel like you're so certain the culprits will escape, Prime Minister? Could it be that you are..." Nan Shiying left the sentence unfinished and then pointed to the remnants of the Xiliang rebels at Nan Chaoyin's feet. "If I'm not mistaken, these people are all afflicted by the poison I concocted."
Nan Shiying said this and glared down at Xiao Man. Xiao Man pouted aggrievedly, "Brother, if it weren't for the poison you made, you wouldn't be seeing me today."
Nan Shiying flicked her forehead with annoyance and then looked at Nan Chaoyin. "Prime Minister Nan, did you hear that? If it weren't for my sister, you would be held responsible for letting the Xiliang remnants escape. Today, you should be thanking us siblings. I will also inform the Prince of this matter truthfully."
"Prime Minister, rather than admonishing me, you should admonish yourself. Although you hold a high position and power, you don't seem like a Xiliang remnant at first glance. However, if you botch this matter, don't blame the Prince and His Majesty for becoming suspicious. After all, it seems you and General Lin Yinyin are working separately. If there's a problem here, it will all be your responsibility."
"I've said all I can. I hope the Prime Minister will conduct himself wisely."
With that said, Nan Shiying, holding Xiao Man's hand, turned to leave. As she took a step forward, she suddenly patted her head, turned back to the Imperial Guard, pulled out the silver needle lodged in his body, and gave him an antidote. She said, "Rest assured, General, the poison you received was not lethal. The toxicity has now been resolved, so even if certain people want to frame me, they cannot use your life to threaten me."
"Rest assured!"