"Qin Xue, marriage is a momentous occasion, it happens only once in a lifetime. I don't want to wrong you," Xiao Man said, holding Qin Xue's hand. "You've been with me for so many years, how could I possibly let you suffer?"
"With you presiding over our wedding, I feel no hardship at all. On the contrary, I feel immensely honored," Qin Xue replied sincerely. "If not for you, I would have starved to death on the streets long ago, and A Jin would have been murdered by his own brothers. How could I be here with him today? Miss, thank you, thank you for saving us."
"It is I who should be thanking you. If you hadn't been supporting me from the shadows, I wouldn't know if I could have persevered this long," Xiao Man said softly. She and Qin Xue could be said to have supported each other. Qin Xue had been secretly gathering information and planning for her all these years; they could be considered like-minded, close friends.
"You could. Because my mistress is a powerful and omnipotent person."
Xiao Man was amused. "Omnipotent? You think too highly of me."
"In my heart, my mistress is omnipotent," Qin Xue stated with conviction. "In my eyes, there is nothing you cannot do."
"There are countless things I cannot do," Xiao Man said, setting down her teacup. "Your wedding can be simple, but your dowry cannot be lacking. I have been preparing your dowry all along."
Xiao Man took out a box and handed it to Qin Xue. "Your dowry."
Qin Xue took it and, upon opening it, was filled with shock. "This... Mistress, how can this be?"
"This is what you deserve. Keep it well. If A Jin dares to bully you in the future, I will be the first one to deal with him."
"Thank you, Mistress," Qin Xue's eyes welled up. She never imagined that Xiao Man would give her the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. It wasn't just the Hundred Flowers Pavilion; it was also Xiao Man's clandestine intelligence network. Even one of its branches was priceless, yet Xiao Man had given it to her so easily.
Xiao Man held Qin Xue's hand. "For this period, you will remain in Bianjing and await your wedding with peace of mind. Delegate your current tasks to others. Take some time to embroider your own wedding dress. When A Jin arrives, I will personally see you off."
"Mistress, the Prince of Qin has appeared in Bianjing." Qin Xue hesitated whether to tell Xiao Man, but ultimately decided to inform her about the Prince of Qin's presence in Bianjing.
"I know. I have already met him," Xiao Man replied calmly. "Try to avoid any conflict with him. He is not our target."
"Doesn't Mistress hate him? He killed the Grand General." Qin Xue asked tentatively. Of the vast Xiao family, Xiao Man cared most about the Grand General. Yet, he had died tragically, and the Prince of Qin was involved. Could Miss not hate him?
Xiao Man shook her head. "He's not foolish. Why would he kill my father?"
"But he himself admitted it."
"Sometimes, what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears may not be the truth. The truth requires us to investigate with our hearts and judge with our minds. I have always believed in one thing."
"Which is?"
"The one who benefits the most is the real culprit."
"The General's demise. The one who benefited the most..." Qin Xue looked at Xiao Man strangely.
"Precisely. I am the one who benefited the most on the surface. The Divine Capital Guard was taken over by me, and I manage the Grand General's estate. But is that truly the case?" Xiao Man asked softly. "Although I requested the Divine Capital Guard myself, someone deliberately guided me. As for the Grand General's estate, the old are old, and the weak are weak. I can only bear the responsibility of managing the household. I am merely a pawn in someone else's game."
Qin Xue understood that Xiao Man was playing a grand game, with multiple players vying for victory. The relationships between these players were intricate. One person could be a player or a pawn for another. A single misstep could lead to a complete loss.
"Miss, we've received news that the National Preceptor has left Yusheng."
"I know," Xiao Man said, fiddling with the tea pet on the tea table. Her eyes gleamed, and a faint smile played on her lips. "It's not just me who knows. I've also had someone leak the news to Lan Ruoyu."
"The Empress?" Qin Xue was puzzled. "Does the Empress have a grudge against the National Preceptor?"
Xiao Man playfully tapped Qin Xue's head. "Between a woman and a man, besides enmity, there can also be affection."
"The Empress and the National Preceptor?" Qin Xue's eyes widened. Although Feng Tianlan was a hypocrite with a gilded exterior, she couldn't connect him with the Empress at all.
"The National Preceptor's real name is Feng Moran, and he is the sole bloodline of the Feng family of Lan Yue," Xiao Man said slowly. "And the Empress, despite having countless male consorts in her harem, her empress position remains vacant. Why?"
"The Empress has someone in her heart!"
"Yes, the Empress has someone in her heart," Xiao Man said softly. "Then, who is this person?"
"It must be someone related to the Empress..." Qin Xue paused. "Feng Moran... I think I've heard that name somewhere before." Su Dan Novel Network
"He was originally meant to be my mother's Imperial Husband," Xiao Man said slowly. "Who knew my mother and father would fall in love at first sight, their affections blossoming, and my mother broke off the engagement."
Qin Xue's mouth remained agape for a long time. She found the relationships too complicated. The National Preceptor loved Empress Yue Xian, Empress Yue Xian loved the Grand General, the current Empress loved the National Preceptor, yet the National Preceptor fled Lan Yue and raised his fiancée's child with the man who stole his beloved. This was too convoluted, and her mind struggled to keep up.
"What is the National Preceptor seeking?"
"Indeed, what is he seeking?" Xiao Man retorted. If he sought power, wouldn't using Lan Ruoyu achieve his goals faster? If he sought wealth... the National Preceptor was not short of money! Could it be that he sought affection?
"If not for power, then for love."
"Love..." Xiao Man savored the word. She had investigated extensively, and her mother had indeed passed away. Then, whose affection was the National Preceptor seeking?
"Qin Xue, did the National Preceptor ever have any women?"
"Mistress, as his disciple, don't you know him? He eschews women, remains untainted, and by the words of outsiders, he is a Buddha of purity and detachment."
"He has always stayed by my side, so he must want to use me for something. He won't kill me until he achieves his goal. But what exactly does he want to use me for?"
Qin Xue also looked troubled. The National Preceptor's thoughts were unconventional, and his actions were unpredictable. If the National Preceptor sought someone's affection, he would undoubtedly try to get close to that person. But what was the use of getting close to Mistress?
A flash of lightning struck Qin Xue's mind. Her gaze became vacant as she looked at Xiao Man, her lips trembling, and she stammered, "Mis... Mistress, the Na... National Preceptor... he's not after... you, is he?"
"After me? What can he do with me?" Xiao Man shook her head. "I must have overlooked something. What is it?"