"A monarch's decree is important, but my lifelong happiness is equally so. She is selecting a consort for the Imperial Princess. By then, if I am no longer the Imperial Princess, then I shall not be." Xiao Man declared with conviction.
"If I am no longer the Imperial Princess, then I shall not be!" Yan Yao's mind repeatedly echoed these words. The position of Imperial Princess was so noble. Several princesses fought tooth and nail for this very position, yet the Imperial Princess spoke of abandoning it for the sake of a man!
"To marry a wife, one should marry an Imperial Princess!" Yan Yao's eyes lit up, filled with power and yearning.
"Imperial Princess, I will work hard. I will definitely make you see me in a new light."
"Mm, I will be watching."
"I must marry you as my husband!"
Xiao Man nearly choked on her saliva. So, all her lengthy explanations had been in vain!
"Even if I am not the Imperial Princess, I still wish to marry a woman like the Imperial Princess. A woman who is willing to give her all for me, to marry only me, to cherish only me, and to be with me forever, as one pair."
Only then did Xiao Man breathe a sigh of relief. This one was teachable.
"However, my primary target is still the Imperial Princess. Imperial Princess, believe me, in a few more years, I will surely be more outstanding than Wen Langjun, and you will definitely like me."
"This servant greets the Imperial Princess." The court ladies' etiquette was impeccable, every movement as if measured by a ruler, even the angle of their bows was uniform.
Xiao Man glanced at the newcomer, "So it's Steward Yue. Is there something?"
"His Majesty has decreed that the Imperial Princess be summoned to the palace for an audience." Steward Yue's posture was humble, and her tone devoid of emotion, as if she were a mere automaton.
"His Majesty summons me?"
"Yes. His Majesty says he hasn't played chess with the Imperial Princess in a long time and is itching to play. He requests the Imperial Princess to enter the palace to accompany him."
"Allow me to change my attire."
Xiao Man changed into a different set of clothes before entering the palace. However, the palace attendants did not lead her to the Phoenix Court where the Empress resided, but to Tantai Palace. Xiao Man knew perfectly well who resided in Tantai Palace, yet her expression remained unchanged.
"Were you not saying His Majesty summoned me? Why are we at Tantai Palace?"
"His Majesty is playing chess with Feng Langjun in Tantai Palace. Feng Langjun's chess skills are exceptionally good, and His Majesty is no match for him, hence the request for the Imperial Princess to come and assist."
A cold smile flickered in Xiao Man's eyes. Assisting was a pretense; the true intention was to test her. Since she wished to test, she would let her test to her heart's content.
The sun was bright and radiant today. Tantai Palace was adorned with exquisite beauty. The garden was filled with flowers of various colors, and a faint floral fragrance wafted through the air, most pleasant.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Princess has arrived."
Lan Ruoyu, upon hearing that Xiao Man had arrived, immediately looked up, "Man'er is here. Come quickly. I've lost several games in a row. Your chess skills are good, quickly come and give me some advice."
"His Majesty's chess skills are not refined, yet he still seeks outside help. You are not even blushing," Xiao Man said gracefully, her tone full of jest.
Feng Moran's spine stiffened upon hearing Xiao Man's voice. He was not yet psychologically prepared to meet Xiao Man, especially in his current state.
"No choice. I've lost so much I'm almost out of patience. I had to ask you for help. Come here quickly." The Empress gestured for her to approach, "Let me introduce you."
Feng Moran's dark eyes gazed quietly at the Empress, revealing no emotion. The Empress, however, knew Feng Moran was displeased. Su Dan Novel Network.
Xiao Man stepped forward.
"This is the sole descendant of the Feng family, named Feng Moran."
Xiao Man followed the Empress's gaze and, upon seeing Feng Moran's face clearly, her expression froze for a moment, seemingly surprised, and then bewildered. She looked at the Empress, then at Feng Moran, and then, with some uncertainty, called out, "Master?"
A gentle smile appeared on Feng Moran's face, "What, you changed your name and don't recognize me anymore?"
"It really is Master..." Xiao Man hesitated for a moment, then knelt beside Feng Moran, "Master, I'm sorry. That day, I didn't..."
"I know, you didn't do it on purpose." Feng Moran reached out and stroked Xiao Man's head, "It's just that your temper needs to be corrected. How can you be so impulsive? Didn't you consider that if you couldn't defeat Prince Qin, you might have ended up dead in his hands?"
"I didn't think that far. I just wanted to kill him to avenge Father."
"Your father wished for you to live a life of peace and joy. Instead, you have gone against his original intention. Oh well, he always doted on you; he surely wouldn't bear to blame you."
"Master, how is your injury?"
Feng Moran withdrew his hand, "It's nothing serious, just a superficial wound. Get up quickly, the ground is cold. Don't hurt your knees."
"Has Master forgiven me?" Xiao Man asked with surprise.
Feng Moran looked at Xiao Man's innocent eyes and suppressed the doubts in his heart. In that situation, how could she have paid him any mind? She didn't even care about her own life.
"No next time."
"Thank you, Master. I knew Master doted on me the most." Xiao Man then threw herself into Feng Moran's embrace, hugging his waist and pouting, "Master, you're truly something. Coming to Lan Yue and not even visiting me."
Feng Moran reached out and circled Xiao Man, gently patting her back with one hand, "Such a big child, and still loves to act spoiled. Get up quickly, don't let people mock us."
Xiao Man quickly emerged from Feng Moran's embrace and bowed to the Empress, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. My Master and I have not seen each other for a long time and have become a little too emotional."
The Empress merely smiled, "It's nothing. I never expected you to be Master and disciple. As the saying goes, a teacher for a day is a father for life. And Ah Ran was once your mother's fiancé. By calculation, you two truly have a destiny."
"What? Master is my mother's fiancé?" Xiao Man exclaimed in surprise, "Master, is this true?"
The smile on Feng Moran's face remained perfect, "I and your mother had long since dissolved our engagement. She and your father were deeply in love. A gentleman helps fulfill others' wishes, so I proactively dissolved the engagement."
"I truly never imagined Master and my mother had such a connection," Xiao Man said with pride, "My father must have saved the world to have attracted my mother to give up someone as excellent as Master to choose my father."
Feng Moran's expression turned somewhat subtle, while a smile appeared in the Empress's eyes. As expected, Xiao Man was the winning stratagem against Feng Moran.
"Quickly come and help me review this chess game. How can I turn the tide?"
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid that won't do." Xiao Man stood beside Feng Moran, "I will not help Your Majesty bully Master, so you should just concede."
The Empress choked, "I asked you to help, and instead, you've defected!"
"Your Majesty, that is not right. Master is not an enemy, so how can it be called defection?" Xiao Man said earnestly, "This is called fighting in common against a common foe!"
"Well said, 'fighting in common against a common foe'!" The Empress decisively put down her chess piece, "Fine, I concede. I was no match for one person, and now with you added, there is definitely no chance of victory."
"The wise know when to adapt," Xiao Man said with a smile, "Your Majesty, since this game is over, may I have some time to catch up with Master?"