"Ah," the youth let out a scream and fell from the window. Upon landing on the ground, his first instinct was to scramble up and bow. "Yan Yao pays his respects to the Imperial Princess."
"Whose child are you, and why are you here?" Xiao Man inquired, knowing that anyone appearing at this moment could not be ordinary.
Yan Yao tilted his head up, smiling at Xiao Man. "Imperial Princess, Yan Yao is a male attendant chosen by His Majesty for you, specifically to serve you."
"Male attendant?" Xiao Man looked puzzled. "How old are you to be serving as a guard?"
Yan Yao blushed slightly. "Answering the Imperial Princess, I am fourteen this year. A male attendant is not a guard, but a concubine."
Xiao Man's lips parted slightly in shock. She had never expected the Empress to arrange a male concubine for her.
"Imperial Princess, would you like me to serve you to bed?"
"It's already dawn, what need is there to go to bed?" Xiao Man regained her composure. "Who let you in?"
"His Majesty issued a decree, ordering me to come to the Imperial Princess's mansion to serve. The gatekeepers dared not stop me, so I entered," Yan Yao said shyly. "Though I am young, I have learned all that I should."
Hearing this, Xiao Man chuckled and sat down. "Then tell me, what have you learned?"
"Culinary arts, needlework, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing. I've learned it all," Yan Yao said proudly. "I am the youngest and most outstanding student at Hong Xiu Academy."
"So, you have something to be proud of. Why come to my mansion?"
"Hong Xiu Academy cultivates consorts or royal consorts. As the most outstanding scholar of this cohort, I was naturally assigned to the Imperial Princess." Su Dan Novel Network.
"If you weren't assigned to me, would you still not have come here?"
Yan Yao smiled. "Whether you are the Imperial Princess or not, His Majesty has already bestowed me to Your Highness. Your Highness is now my wife."
"You are still young. You don't need to do these things. Books are not just dry rules and regulations; there are other interesting books too. While you are still young, you can learn and read more," Xiao Man said with a smile. "Alright, go back where you came from."
"Imperial Princess, from the moment I entered the Imperial Princess's mansion, I belonged to you. If you do not want me, I have no other path but death," Yan Yao's expression turned serene as he calmly bowed. "If the Imperial Princess insists on driving me away, please grant me death."
Xiao Man couldn't help but get a headache. It seemed Lan Ruoyu didn't want her to have a single peaceful day.
"Since that is the case, you may stay for now. Someone will show you to your room later."
"I thank the Imperial Princess."
At breakfast, Wen Mohan watched the youth attentively serving dishes to Xiao Man by her side, a barely perceptible hint of repulsion flashing in his eyes.
"Man'er, who is this person..."
"Sent by Lan Ruoyu."
Yan Yao, hearing Xiao Man address the Empress by name directly, was startled and quickly whispered a reminder. "Imperial Princess, you must not address His Majesty by name directly. It is great disrespect."
Xiao Man glanced at Yan Yao indifferently. "Did Lan Ruoyu say anything to you before sending you to the Imperial Princess's mansion?"
Yan Yao thought back carefully. "His Majesty instructed me to serve Your Highness well, to obey Your Highness, and to prioritize Your Highness in all matters."
Xiao Man smiled. "Then that's right. Since you are in the Imperial Princess's mansion, you must obey my commands. If I say one, it is one. If I say two, it is definitely not three. Do you understand?"
Yan Yao immediately knelt. "This servant admits fault."
"Get up. Sit down and eat with us. There are not so many rules in the mansion. This is not Hong Xiu Academy, where every action must be measured with a ruler."
"This servant thanks the Imperial Princess for her kindness." Yan Yao rose, pulled out a stool, and slowly sat down. He was still a youth, meant to be unrestrained, yet Yan Yao exuded a maturity and composure beyond his years.
"What a pity, such fine potential," Wen Mohan said, glancing at Yan Yao and serving Xiao Man a dish. "Are you attending court today?"
"No. Today I will visit the Third Princess's mansion."
Wen Mohan nodded. "That is good. In Bianjing, besides the Third Princess, there is no one else I am familiar with."
"Master, Fudan is here to see you outside."
Xiao Man heard this, put down her chopsticks. "Tell her to wait in the reception hall."
"Yes."
Fudan stood in the reception hall, her back ramrod straight, like a javelin. Even within the Imperial Princess's mansion, she was neither servile nor overbearing, possessing an innate dignity.
"I thought you wouldn't come."
"A person without credibility cannot stand. Since I lost the wager to you, I must fulfill my promise and recognize you as my master," Fudan said, kneeling on one knee. "This servant pays respects to my master."
"Rise," Xiao Man said with a smile. "I know you are not convinced by me in your heart, thinking I used underhanded means to win against you, is that right?"
"Yes."
"How about this? I'll give you a chance. Fight me one more time," Xiao Man said slowly. "I'll spar with you in hand-to-hand combat. If you win, our bet is null and void. If you lose..."
"I will willingly be your servant."
"Good." Xiao Man, greatly appreciating Fudan's character, immediately took her to the mansion's training grounds.
Upon hearing that Xiao Man was going to spar with someone, the people in the mansion gathered to watch. Yan Yao, a native of Bianjing, was quite familiar with Fudan.
"Oh my, the Imperial Princess is actually going to spar with Fudan! Fudan is one of Bianjing's foremost warriors. Few can match her. Won't the Imperial Princess get hurt?"
Ying Xue glanced at him. "Little brat, open your eyes and watch carefully. Dealing with a mere Fudan is like playing around for our Master."
Yan Yao's eyes were full of disbelief. After all, Fudan was renowned, and even military generals might not be her match. Moreover, the Imperial Princess, who had lived abroad since childhood. He had heard that women from outside were all delicate. The Imperial Princess grew up outside; looking at her frail appearance, how could she possibly be Fudan's opponent!
Xiao Man and Fudan sparred in hand-to-hand combat, which suited Fudan just fine. After all, Xiao Man was an Imperial Princess with noble status. If she used weapons, accidentally injuring Xiao Man would cause her great trouble. But with hand-to-hand combat, she didn't have to worry too much; she only needed to control her strength.
Fudan was a cautious person. Even though she believed Xiao Man's hand-to-hand combat skills were poor, Xiao Man's ability to dissipate force was quite formidable and required careful handling. Before Fudan could even think about how to attack, Xiao Man had already launched her offensive.
Her fists moved with fierce wind, powerful and swift. Fudan thought, I must dodge. She retreated repeatedly. However, Xiao Man pressed her advantage, stepping forward and launching a "Dragon's Tail Sweep" kick towards Fudan's abdomen.
Fudan curled her body like a shrimp, intending to use Xiao Man's force against her and send her flying. To her surprise, Xiao Man turned the situation to her advantage, flipped into the air, and kicked Fudan fiercely with her other leg.
Fudan had to raise her hand to block, but she was still propelled several steps sideways by Xiao Man's force before she could stabilize herself. Her arm throbbed faintly.
"I didn't expect your hard skills to be this good either."
Xiao Man smiled. "Fudan, never underestimate anyone, or you will suffer greatly."