After Concubine De left, Xiao Man went directly to Xiao Ling's courtyard. Xiao Ling was lying on her bed, feigning sleep.
Xiao Man stood by the bed, looking down at Xiao Ling: "Concubine De has been here."
Xiao Ling's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she didn't open her eyes.
"Do you know why she came?" Xiao Man's lips curved into a mocking smile. "To discuss your marriage. However, it's to find a secondary consort for Prince Qi."
"What?" Xiao Ling could no longer lie still. She sat up immediately. "Xiao Man, was it you? Do you want to humiliate me that much? I am the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion, and you want me to become a concubine!"
Xiao Man looked at Xiao Ling, who was no longer pretending, and sneered: "You're not pretending to sleep anymore, continue then."
"Xiao Man!" Xiao Ling grabbed a pillow beside her and hurled it at Xiao Man. "Are you even human? I'm your own sister!"
"I'm sorry, my mother only gave birth to one brother for me." Xiao Man dodged, and the pillow fell to the ground. "Also, it wasn't me who made you a concubine, it was you who eagerly sought to become one!"
"I did not!"
"You did not?" Xiao Man's eyes were cold. "If you didn't, why would your maid deliver wine? And why was Prince Qi's wine drugged?"
"I... I... I just asked Yun Shang to see which guests were there?"
"Your maid has already confessed, why are you still being stubborn?" Xiao Man sat down beside her. "Concubine De came today for only one thing. You can enter Prince Qi's mansion, but not as the main consort. At most, you can be a secondary consort. Marry if you want, or don't!"
"What if I don't marry?"
"Then Concubine De will likely clap her hands in joy!" Xiao Man said coldly. "Exactly, she doesn't want Prince Qi to marry a woman like you, not even as a secondary consort."
"Xiao Man, what good does it do you to humiliate me like this? If you hadn't gossiped to Concubine De, how would she have gone back on her word and wanted me to be a concubine?"
"You should ask the Yan family about this." Xiao Man's voice was devoid of emotion. "No one in the General's Mansion would leak information about Madam Yan. So where did Concubine De learn about Madam Yan's affairs?"
Xiao Ling's face turned ashen, her fingers clenching the quilt tightly. She was unwilling. She had schemed and strived, only to end up as a concubine.
"I want to see Father. I believe Father won't let me become a concubine."
"There is no room for negotiation on this matter." Xiao Man sighed. "Concubine De's intention is very clear. You don't have to marry, but Prince Qi will never marry you as his main consort. If you threaten to die, Concubine De will spread the news about you and your mother."
"Fine, let her spread it." Xiao Ling said, as if driven mad. "I don't care. I'm already like this. But you're different. Even for your sake, Father will ensure I become Prince Qi's main consort."
Xiao Man slowly shook her head. Xiao Ling had always been shrewd. Why couldn't she see it now? "Don't you know there's another way to deal with this?"
"What other way?" Xiao Ling asked instinctively.
"Execute you."
Xiao Ling froze. Execute her! Xiao Man actually said the words "execute her." Indeed, she had dared to harm their grandmother, so why would she show mercy to her?
"Haha, how could I forget? You, Xiao Man, have always been ruthless. You must be hoping I won't marry so you can find an excuse to execute me?" Xiao Ling cried and laughed. "We are both Father's daughters. Since childhood, he only held you, only doted on you, showing extreme favoritism. Now, when I am being bullied, he doesn't stand up for me and lets you trample on me!"
Xiao Man was very disappointed in Xiao Ling. In the mansion, her background was the best, supported by the Minister's Mansion and loved by the Old Madam. Xiao Man, despite her seeming glory, walked on thin ice. Yet, she and her mother had ruined such a good hand.
"If you are willing to be a secondary consort, I will send someone to inform Prince Qi's mansion. If you are not willing..." Xiao Man examined her nails. "I will call two wet nurses to strangle you."
The color completely drained from Xiao Ling's face. She truly hadn't expected Xiao Man to be so arrogant, saying she would have her strangled right in front of her. Wasn't she afraid of being held accountable?
That's right, her mother was dead, her grandmother had been sent away. No one in this mansion cared about her anymore. Even if Xiao Man killed her, no one would stand up for her. It seemed that marrying into Prince Qi's mansion as a secondary consort was her only way out.
"I'll marry!"
An expected answer. Xiao Man stood up. "Since that's the case, prepare for your wedding. Once the two families have decided on the wedding date, you can enter Prince Qi's mansion."
"Xiao Man, don't get smug." Xiao Ling stopped Xiao Man. "You won't be smug forever. One day, you will fall from the clouds into the mud, and everyone will despise you."
Xiao Man turned back and smiled. "Then you'd better live well, or you won't see me fall into the mud."
"I will live well. When you fall into the dust, I will definitely mock you."
Xiao Man smiled indifferently and walked out. Falling into the dust. She had already fallen once. Could any subsequent misery or disgrace be worse than that?
As she came out of the courtyard, Xiao Man saw the Third Concubine lingering outside. After a moment's thought, she understood what the Third Concubine wanted.
"Aunty is here, are you waiting for me?"
"Eldest Miss." The Third Concubine said with a smile, "Has the Third Miss's marriage been decided?"
"Yes, a secondary consort to Prince Qi. Once a propitious date is set, she will enter the household."
The Third Concubine twisted her handkerchief. Xiao Ling was Madam Yan's daughter. Madam Yan had harmed Xiao Man multiple times, yet Xiao Man had chosen a good marriage for Xiao Ling. No, it should be said that Xiao Ling had schemed well and planned a good marriage for herself. Pitifully, her own daughter disdained the son of a minor official!
"Aunty, Prince Qi's mansion is a complex place. It may seem glorious, but have you not had enough of the bitterness within?"
The Third Concubine's face turned pale. She understood that Xiao Man was warning her. But she couldn't let her daughter remain unmarried.
"Eldest Miss, Xiang'er is also your sister. Although she made mistakes, she has mended her ways. Eldest Miss surely doesn't want her to remain unmarried, does she? I just want her to have a good outcome."
Xiao Man reached out and patted the Third Concubine's shoulder. "Aunty, I have Second Miss's matters in mind. You don't need to worry. She will have a good outcome."
The Third Concubine's heart rejoiced. Did Eldest Miss mean that she already had plans and would find a good marriage for Second Miss? As long as Second Miss could have a good marriage, she would be willing even if it meant becoming a concubine.
"I knew it. Eldest Miss cares about Second Miss. Your maidservant thanks Eldest Miss in advance."
"Before I leave the General's Mansion, I must make arrangements for her." Xiao Man's gaze swept towards the distance. This General's Mansion also needed a mistress.
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