The crowd watched with embarrassment as Xiao Zhen's face flushed with excitement. They couldn't bear to look. Their son was about to suffer a great loss, yet he was jumping for joy. Was he their biological son?
"Man'er, go for it! Beat your brother!"
On the field, Xiao Luo almost stumbled when he heard Xiao Zhen cheering for Xiao Man. He couldn't help but let out a wry smile, "Underestimating the enemy is bad enough, but the army behind us is cheering for the enemy."
"Young General, you're mistaken. The army behind us belongs to the Eldest Miss, not ours!" He Ye said, stabbing him without mercy. "The second stick of incense is already halfway burnt, and we're still at zero!"
Xiao Luo maintained a good attitude. No matter how Xiao Man changed formations, he kept his own steady. Under Xiao Man's unpredictable and tricky attacks, he finally managed to score a point. When he scored, Xiao Luo almost cried. It was too difficult!
"Brother, today let your sister teach you a lesson. No matter how weak the enemy is, you must give your all." Xiao Man led her team to rush and seize the ball, once again disrupting Xiao Luo's formation, tripping several people, and scoring another goal. Suduan Novel Network
Xiao Luo felt a burning sensation on his face, but this was the truth. "Then brother will also teach you a lesson. It's not yet the end, and who wins or loses is not yet decided."
Xiao Man's laughter, like a silver bell, scattered. "Brother, there's a saying that fortunes change. After losing for so many years, it's my turn to win once."
The last stick of incense was lit, and the field had entered a white-hot stage. Xiao Man and Xiao Luo were locked in a fierce confrontation, neither giving way. Xiao Luo had originally thought that after such intense exercise, with two sticks of incense gone, Xiao Man's team wouldn't be able to hold on, especially those girls. However, those girls fought with increasing vigor, their movements as fast as ghosts. Instead, his own men began to show signs of fatigue.
"What, you're admitting defeat before the end?" Xiao Luo shouted, "Losing is not shameful. Giving up halfway and surrendering without a fight is shameful!"
He Ye, panting from exhaustion, said, "Young General, don't worry, we won't give up."
"Very good. Pull yourselves together and show our Eldest Miss your spirit. Even if we are destined to lose, they won't win easily!"
"Yes."
The field was like a battlefield. Xiao Luo truly gave his all. Even though he lost in the end, he was still very happy and said frankly, "I lost."
Xiao Man happily jumped onto Xiao Luo's back. "I'll punish you by carrying me around the field for a lap!"
"Be careful, don't fall!" Xiao Luo quickly reached out to steady Xiao Man, who had jumped onto his back, and ran around the field carrying her. He Ye lay on the ground, full of regret.
"The chance for the Eldest Miss to call me brother has slipped away before my eyes. What a pity!"
Xue Meng kicked him. "Still dreaming of the Eldest Miss calling you brother? Don't dream. Just obediently call the Eldest Miss 'Mistress' from now on. Don't forget, you lost, and from now on, you will be subservient to the Eldest Miss and serve her day and night!"
"You brat, if the Eldest Miss hadn't pulled you over, you'd be lying here too!" He Ye said irritably. This Xue Meng was too lucky!
Xue Meng proudly swayed his hips. "The Eldest Miss and I have been playing together since childhood. Naturally, the Eldest Miss protects me. Come on, let's rehearse first. Call me 'Mistress' and let me hear it."
"Get lost!"
The Crown Prince felt a great pang of pain. He had initially thought Xiao Man was sure to lose. With Nangong Yu's thousand taels of gold, he would have made a profit even after paying others. As a result, Xiao Luo lost. Not only did he not make money, but he also lost a lot!
Fortunately, the Crown Prince still maintained his bearing as the heir apparent and readily paid the money. "Xiao Man, I didn't expect you to be so good at cuju. Even your brother is no match for you. When it comes to the spring hunt, I hope to witness your hunting skills. I heard that last time on the polo field, you were evenly matched with my fourth brother."
"Last time, His Highness Prince Qin was just letting me win. If we were to truly compete, I fear I wouldn't last a single round."
"You don't need to be so modest." Nangong Yu said slowly, "Thank you for letting me win two thousand taels of gold."
Xiao Man looked at Prince Qin in confusion. Winning two thousand taels of gold? What did that mean?
"Haha, Man'er, we bet on whether you or your brother would win. His Highness Prince Qin bet one thousand taels of gold on you winning." Xiao Zhen came over, waving a silver note in his hand. "Dad also won two thousand taels."
Xiao Man glanced at Xiao Zhen and instantly acted, snatching the silver note from his hand. "Daddy, half for me, half for you. As for your half, it's the New Year, and we need to buy some things. Consider it as you subsidizing me."
Xiao Zhen smiled and patted her head. "Alright, it's all yours."
"I knew Daddy loved me the most." Xiao Man took the handkerchief from the maidservant and wiped the sweat from her face. At this moment, a blood-red pendant fell out from inside her clothes. Nangong Yu looked at the pendant, his eyes deepening slightly.
"That pendant of yours is quite unique," Nangong Yu said.
"This one?" Xiao Man said with a smile, "I went to the Imperial Tutor's mansion today to wish him a New Year, and I asked him for it."
A hint of surprise flashed across Nangong Yu's face, then he concealed it. He was always meticulous. He still remembered Xiao Man's desperate crying in her room after returning from the Imperial Tutor's mansion. Xiao Man's feelings for the Imperial Tutor were very complicated, filled with hatred and despair. He didn't understand what had happened, but seeing the pendant that Duguman wore close to her person in the Imperial Tutor's hands, he had vaguely guessed part of it. The Imperial Tutor was involved in Duguman's death!
"You even went to wish the Imperial Tutor a New Year. I went to see him, but I was refused entry."
"If they don't open the door, climb over the wall," Xiao Man said as if it were natural.
"The Imperial Tutor's skills are unfathomable. Climbing over the wall is very dangerous." The Crown Prince's expression was subtle.
"It's not dangerous at all. Every time I go there and Butler Fu doesn't open the door for me, I climb over the wall." Xiao Man said earnestly.
"What do you climb over the wall for?" The Crown Prince asked curiously.
"To sneak a peek at the Imperial Tutor bathing... No, to catch a glimpse of the Imperial Tutor's glorious appearance." Xiao Man explained with a smile.
This girl had actually infiltrated the Imperial Tutor's mansion and peeked at him bathing. What audacity!
Xiao Zhen also did not expect Xiao Man to dare to sneak into the Imperial Tutor's mansion to peek at him bathing. However, he was always protective of his own, so he naturally would not expose Xiao Man. The Crown Prince and Prince Chu, however, were very curious about what the Imperial Tutor actually looked like.
"Then did you see the Imperial Tutor's true face?"
"I did." Xiao Man's smile deepened. "The Imperial Tutor looks even more like an immortal than I imagined, especially when he wears white clothes. It's as if he could ascend to immortality at any moment."
Although these words were meant as praise, Nangong Yu heard a chilling undertone. Was Xiao Man trying to send the Imperial Tutor to the netherworld?
The Crown Prince merely smiled. Very few people knew the Imperial Tutor's true face. Even if Xiao Man said she had seen him, he wouldn't believe it. After all, the Imperial Tutor's martial arts skills were rarely matched in the capital. The number of people who could take off his veil was probably very few.