"It fits well, it fits well," Madam Wen exclaimed, pulling Xiao Man. "You truly are a darling. I was blind back then, not as discerning as Han'er. I almost let such a good daughter-in-law slip away."
"You flatter me," Xiao Man replied modestly. "It's so late, why haven't you rested yet?"
Madam Wen pulled Xiao Man to sit down. "I'm so happy, I can't sleep, so I came to see you. I had a son and a daughter. My daughter passed away right after birth. Your father, fearing I would be heartbroken, brought back an abandoned infant to be my daughter. But as a mother, how could I not recognize my own child? To avoid troubling them, I pretended not to know and raised Yu'er as my own daughter. It's a pity she was so ill-fated."
Xiao Man was a little surprised. So Madam Wen knew Wen Moyu was not her biological daughter, yet she had still given all her motherly love to Wen Moyu. It was Wen Moyu who had failed her.
"Father's initial intention was good. He feared you couldn't handle the shock and was worried about your health."
"I know, he did it for my own good, so I didn't expose him. Besides, Han'er was always alone, and I hoped he'd have a sister to keep him company. It's just that Yu'er later went down the wrong path. But no one can be blamed; paths are chosen by oneself." Su Dan Novel Network
"Mother, you don't blame me?"
Madam Wen patted Xiao Man's hand. "Why would I blame you? In the past, I made things difficult for you, and even tried my best to break you and Han'er apart. Please don't take it to heart. At that time..."
"Mother, I understand. Back then, let alone you, even ordinary officials wouldn't have thought much of me. After all, I spent my days idle, gambling, and getting into trouble. Even my father was troubled by me. It was good enough that you didn't kick me out."
Madam Wen immediately laughed. "You are quite good at hiding. Even we didn't realize you were deliberately concealing your abilities. It was Han'er's sharp eyes that saw through it; otherwise, he would have missed you."
"Mother, because of me, Father had to step down from his position as Prime Minister. Mo Han's health suffered because I came to Lan Yue. I brought shame upon the Wen family. You still don't blame me?" Xiao Man asked cautiously. Because of her, Prime Minister Wen had to resign. The heir he had meticulously cultivated had his promising future ruined because of her, even defecting with her to Lan Yue and bringing disgrace to the Wen family. Anyone else would surely blame her.
Hearing this, Madam Wen laughed. "If I said I never blamed you, it would be a lie. But seeing how happy Han'er is, I feel that as long as you two are happy, everything else is fine. My son has a stubborn nature. Once he makes a decision, ten oxen can't drag him back. Dealing with him must be quite a headache for you, right?"
"No, Mo Han is very good. He's considerate and meticulous. In political matters, he's also helped me a lot. I can't imagine what I would do without him by my side," Xiao Man said gently. "With him here, I always feel at ease."
Madam Wen's smile became even more affectionate. "Seeing you love each other dearly, I am at ease."
Xiao Man understood Madam Wen's concerns. After all, they saw all of Wen Mohan's sacrifices, while she had always been willful and forged ahead, with Wen Mohan painstakingly following in her footsteps. Madam Wen's worries were natural.
"Mother, please don't worry. Mo Han and I will love each other dearly forever."
Madam Wen patted Xiao Man's hand and nodded repeatedly, tears welling up in her eyes. Xiao Man was now a princess, of noble status, while they were merely commoners. Yet Xiao Man's attitude towards them remained unchanged, always gentle, polite, and respectful, never showing any contempt due to the Wen family's decline.
"Good child, with your words, I am at ease."
"You should rest early. We still need your help with the wedding arrangements tomorrow."
"Alright, alright. It's getting late, you should rest early too. Don't stay up too late. After all, tomorrow is your wedding day, and you'll be exhausted." Madam Wen reminded her with concern.
"Okay, I'll finish reading the last few memorials and then rest. You go back and rest first." Xiao Man personally escorted Madam Wen out. After watching Madam Wen walk away until her figure could no longer be seen, she withdrew her gaze. Qin Xue appeared behind Xiao Man. "Mistress, everything is prepared."
"Where is Tian Que?"
"Awaiting orders outside the city."
Xiao Man's lips curved slightly. "Tomorrow, when Mo Han and I get married, we will go to the ancestral temple for a sacrifice. The Empress also needs to go for a sacrifice at the ancestral temple. The ancestral temple might not be easy to navigate. Everything has been arranged."
"Mistress, rest assured, everything at the ancestral temple has been arranged."
Xiao Man let out a long sigh, a faint unease lingering in her heart. "I don't know why, but I feel a sense of unease."
"Could it be because you're getting married and feel nervous?" Qin Xue asked playfully. "When I married A Jin, I was also very nervous. My heart was pounding non-stop, as if it would leap out of my chest."
Xiao Man couldn't help but laugh. "Does it still beat like that now?"
Qin Xue blushed and couldn't help but retort, "Mistress, you're becoming more and more improper!"
"Nonsense, I am the most proper person. How am I improper?" Xiao Man walked back inside. "Tomorrow, no matter what happens at the ancestral temple, you must ensure Mo Han and the two elders of the Wen family are safe."
"Mistress, will that person really make a move against you tomorrow?"
Xiao Man didn't answer immediately. She walked to the table and sat down, picking up the memorial on the desk and continuing to review it. "He's nearing his limit. A person as intelligent as him, how could he not understand that I've meddled in things? How could his temperament not understand that I've developed other intentions?"
"Indeed, this person has always been ruthless. I fear he won't let the Mistress go easily," Qin Xue frowned. "Perhaps we should mobilize more people? I'm worried the Empress might side with him and make a move against you too."
"The Empress and I inherently share a mother-killing feud. She brought me back merely to control Feng Moran. If Feng Moran were to sever ties with me, the Empress would be the first to clap her hands in approval, and then she would deal me a fatal blow." Xiao Man understood clearly that the Empress disliked anyone whom Feng Moran liked. She would do everything in her power to destroy them. The reason she kept Xiao Man alive was not because of her royal blood, but because as long as Xiao Man lived, Feng Moran would remain in Bianjing, by her side.
"Qin Xue, if A Jin asked you to kill me, would you kill me?"
Qin Xue replied without hesitation, "No!"
"So certain?"
"Because A Jin wouldn't let me kill you, nor would he kill you!" Qin Xue replied with certainty. "If anyone tried to harm you, we would be the first to stand in your way. Even if we die, we would never lay a hand on you."