"Han'er, you've finally arrived," Madam Wen said with a mock scolding. "I asked you to fetch something, and you took so long. Don't you care about my feelings?"
As she spoke, she took the white cloak with red trim from Wen Mohan. "This is a cloak Han'er had specially made from fire fox fur. It's very warm, put it on quickly."
Xiao Man looked at Wen Mohan. Wen Mohan stepped forward to pay respects, "Madam Xiao, Third Miss."
"Master Wen," Wen Mohan went directly forward, removed the cloak Xiao Man was wearing, and handed it to Yingxue. She then draped the cloak she had made for Xiao Man.
"This color makes Xiao Man look even more beautiful. Han'er, stay with her." Madam Wen immediately pulled He Qingyi away. He Qingyi understood and took Xiao Ling with them.
Yingxue followed the two from a distance. Wen Mohan's face was always filled with a gentle smile. "Did my mother give you any trouble?"
"I distinctly remember how your mother treated me on your birthday last year. Today's attitude is completely different, one is like heaven, the other is like earth. I'm almost overwhelmed with flattery," Xiao Man showed Wen Mohan the hand warmer she was holding. "As soon as she saw me, she said my hands were cold and insisted on giving me her hand warmer. Then, she thought I couldn't bear the cold, so she even gave me a scarf."
Wen Mohan smiled, her eyes crinkling. "If you feel it's too much, I'll speak to her later."
"Please don't. It's Auntie's good intentions. If I don't accept, wouldn't that hurt her feelings?" Xiao Man said repeatedly. "I heard that at today's imperial banquet, the officials and their wives are seated separately."
"The officials will naturally be with His Majesty, and the wives with the Empress," Wen Mohan's voice was unhurried. "The guards at the palace gate have been changed, and there are guards patrolling everywhere in the palace. The scale of this event is not small." Sudian Novel Network
"Indeed," Xiao Man chimed in. "With such a large deployment, those who don't know might think something has happened in the palace. The guards are so strict..."
Wen Mohan saw Xiao Man suddenly fall silent and felt a little confused. She followed Xiao Man's gaze but saw nothing.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just saw a figure pass by, someone familiar, but upon closer inspection, it seemed I was mistaken," Xiao Man explained. "When we get to the front, we'll have to separate."
"I'll escort you to the entrance," Wen Mohan said gently. "I won't be at ease if I don't see you enter."
Xiao Man covered her mouth and smiled. "What, are you afraid I'll get lost?"
"It doesn't matter if you get lost, I'll always find you and bring you home," Wen Mohan whispered. "As long as you don't forget that I'm waiting for you."
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged as she walked forward. She couldn't help but feel that Wen Mohan seemed to have discovered her secret, but she couldn't ask directly, so she pretended not to know.
When Xiao Man entered the main hall of Xingqing Palace, she saw that many people were already seated, gathered in small groups, chatting about trivial matters.
Some ladies and young ladies of lower rank rose to salute as Xiao Man entered.
"Aman, over here!" Nangong Wu called out to her when she saw Xiao Man enter.
Xiao Man nodded at He Qingyi and went to Nangong Wu's side. "You look so happy, is good news approaching?"
Nangong Wu lowered her eyes and smiled, her joy evident.
Xiao Man understood and leaned closer to her ear. "What, has the Empress Dowager agreed to your matter with A'ze?"
Nangong Wu glanced at her. "You... are you a fortune teller?"
"Don't I know what's on your mind?" Xiao Man said slowly. "It's nothing more than because of A'ze."
"A'ze, A'ze, you call him so affectionately," Nangong Wu said with a hint of jealousy.
"Then should I call him Ze Yan instead of A'ze?" Xiao Man asked with amusement.
"You... you'd better call him A'ze," Nangong Wu shivered at Xiao Man's pronunciation of Ze Yan. Such a seductive and gentle tone made her bones feel weak.
Xiao Man laughed, rubbing her stomach. Nangong Wu blushed but leaned in. "Could it be that you usually call Wen Mohan like this?"
"Guess?"
"I'm sure you do!" Nangong Wu said without hesitation. "Otherwise, how would someone as refined as Wen Mohan fall for you?"
"What's wrong with me? Am I missing an arm or a leg?" Xiao Man said with composure.
"You are rude, and uneducated?"
"His Royal Highness Qin can vouch for me, I am a talented woman, skilled in both literature and martial arts!"
Nangong Wu looked disgusted. "Skilled in both literature and martial arts, I agree with the martial arts part, but for literature, can you compose a seven-character regulated verse right now?"
Xiao Man covered her mouth and laughed. "No, no, our Ninth Princess is the truly accomplished one, proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
"Don't mock me!" Nangong Wu huffed. "We are two of a kind."
Xiao Man laughed, her golden hair ornaments trembling. "Yes, we are two of a kind, that's why we became friends."
Nangong Wu smiled and playfully punched Xiao Man. "When can your body recover? I haven't sparred with you in a long time."
"When spring arrives, I'll spar with you." As they were talking, the main gate of Xingqing Palace suddenly closed with a bang, and the sound of guards' footsteps could be heard from outside.
"What's going on?" Everyone looked at each other, not understanding why the palace doors were closed. Someone immediately went to knock. "Open the door, open it quickly!"
"Ladies and young ladies, please remain calm," a voice came from behind. Everyone looked back and saw the Empress, dressed in phoenix crown and elaborate robes, smiling down at them from her high seat. "First, I thank you all for attending this year's banquet. Secondly, please wait quietly."
"What is Her Majesty the Empress asking us to wait for?"
"Naturally, you are waiting for your husbands, or your fathers and brothers, to buy your lives." The Empress's smile remained. "His Majesty's health is deteriorating, and he is currently in a coma. The court cannot be without a ruler for a day. I believe the Crown Prince should ascend the throne as soon as possible. I imagine the families of all the ladies here are willing to support the Crown Prince, correct?"
"What will be the consequences if we don't support the Crown Prince?" someone asked in a low voice.
The Empress's smile vanished, and she said coldly, "Then I will have to be ungracious to you and send you to meet your ancestors prematurely."
He Qingyi's brow furrowed, and she remained silent. Her gaze swept through the crowd, only to find that Xiao Man had disappeared. She frantically looked around but still couldn't find Xiao Man.
"Third Miss, have you seen the Eldest Miss?"
"Big sister was sitting next to the Ninth Princess..." Xiao Ling looked at the Ninth Princess, only to find her sitting alone. Xiao Man had already disappeared.
"Mother, Big Sister is gone."
He Qingyi composed herself, her gaze landing on Yingxue. She took the cloak Xiao Man had worn when entering the palace from Yingxue and draped it over her. She then subtly altered Yingxue's hairstyle, making Yingxue impersonate Xiao Man to conceal their connection.