Madam Zhou's face turned pale. This was her deepest pain, as her husband doted on his childhood sweetheart concubine and her children, and it was no secret. It was not surprising that Xiao Man knew about it. She immediately stopped talking, fearing that if she continued, Xiao Man might say more things to embarrass her.
"Eldest Miss, why must you speak so..."
"Madam Chen, I heard your son frequented brothels at the age of six, and that he overexerted himself at a young age, and is now unwell?"
Madam Chen slammed the table. Her son was currently being considered for marriage, and if this news spread, it would be detrimental to their family!
"It's just a rumor, not to be believed. My son is not ill!" Madam Chen met Xiao Man's half-smiling gaze, wishing she could smash the teacup onto Xiao Man's face. But she dared not. This was the General's mansion. If there was a scene, she would be the one to suffer!
After all, Xiao Man had even dared to slap Duke Qi's favored concubine to his face. If she were to hit Xiao Man, her own suffering would be in vain!
"It is rumored that Miss Xiao is arrogant. Seeing you today, the rumors are indeed true."
"It is rumored that Lord He has unique preferences, keeping young male companions in his household as his playthings. I wonder if this rumor is true?"
The entire hall fell silent. Lord He's preferences were a taboo subject, and this news was quite serious. Lord He was, after all, an official of the court. If it were true, his career would be in jeopardy!
"This is fabricated nonsense!"
"Rumors are all fabricated nonsense. I believe all the madams here would not believe rumors. After all, I have heard many other rumors, scandalous, interesting, and astonishing, all sorts of them. If all the madams and young ladies wish to hear, I don't mind saying a bit more."
At this, the assembled madams and young ladies fell silent. Which family didn't have some embarrassing secrets they wished to keep hidden? If Xiao Man were to expose them publicly like this, what would become of their reputation? How could they face anyone in the future?
The old emperor almost fell off his chair laughing. "Hu Wan, see that? This Xiao Man is far more sharp-tongued than her father. If Xiao Zhen were as wicked as her, how would those civil officials dare to slander him?"
Hu Wan chuckled obsequiously. "As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a man in the face, nor expose his shortcomings. Yet, Miss Xiao does the opposite. Isn't she afraid of offending people?"
"Her temperament is like her father's. She's not someone who fears offending people," the old emperor said with a smile. "Whoever marries her in the future will surely have a very exciting life."
"Your Majesty, General Xiao said that whoever marries the eldest miss cannot take concubines. Coupled with Miss Xiao's formidable martial arts..." Hu Wan did not finish his sentence, but the old emperor understood. The reason Xiao Man had not yet been betrothed was precisely this.
It was customary for men to have three wives and four concubines. But Xiao Zhen demanded that no concubines be taken. Marrying a wife was about marrying virtue, and Xiao Man seemed to have no connection to virtue. It was likely not difficult for her to defeat her husband in a few moves.
"What do you think of the third prince marrying Xiao Man as his consort?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Chu is frail and may not be able to withstand Miss Xiao's spirited nature."
The old emperor's expression shifted. Indeed, if the third prince were to marry Xiao Man, with her spirited and troublemaking nature, the third prince's lifespan would surely be shortened!
"Then Prince Han..."
"General Xiao said he would rather his daughter cut off her hair and become a nun than allow her to enter Prince Han's mansion."
"Alas, the tenth prince is truly disappointing."
A thought flashed through the old emperor's mind. What would happen if the fourth prince married Xiao Man? The fourth prince had a cold temperament, a stubborn personality, and was skilled in martial arts, resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement. Xiao Man, with her wild nature and not-so-bad martial arts, would choose action over words. If these two were brought together, the old emperor could almost see a scene of chaos and fought a shiver.
"Which man from the He family could be Xiao Man's husband?"
This stumped Hu Wan. If Xiao Man were a delicate young lady without any martial arts ability, this would not be difficult. But she was not. When Xiao Man beat up the thirteenth prince, she did not treat him as a prince at all, beating him into a pulp. And Duke Xue, who complained every other day that Xiao Man had beaten his precious son.
"Lord Xiao truly has it tough," the old emperor sighed. It was truly difficult to have a daughter who caused more trouble than her son.
"Yes, it is indeed difficult." Hu Wan carefully recalled Xiao Man's impressive feats from childhood to adulthood. "This servant still remembers when Miss Xiao first entered the palace, she was only five years old, lively and adorable, accompanying the General. She was not afraid of strangers at all."
"Speaking of which, I seem to recall that the Crown Prince and the fourth prince got into a fight for some reason. The other children were trying to break them up, while she stood by clapping her hands and cheering."
The old emperor's tone had a hint of gritting his teeth. Xiao Man's talent for causing trouble from childhood to adulthood was unmatched. Every time she entered the palace, she would cause trouble. It was only later, when the third prince went south to recuperate and the fourth prince went to the battlefield, that Xiao Man gradually stopped entering the palace. In recent years, apart from being close to the thirteenth prince, she had become distant from the others.
The General's mansion's New Year's banquet did not separate men and women. As the atmosphere on the ladies' side was awkward, the steward came to invite all the madams and young ladies to the front courtyard for the meal.
Xiao Man led everyone over. The men had already taken their seats. The madams and young ladies found their families and took their seats. Xiao Zhen, as the host, naturally sat at the head of the table, followed by several princes, then Xiao Luo and Xiao Man, with other ministers seated in order.
Wen Mo Han happened to be seated below Xiao Man. "I heard the back chambers were quite lively. Did you show off your skills?"
Xiao Man leaned slightly. "I learned from you. You debated scholars, and I debated women, the 'women' being from 'madams'."
Wen Mo Han covered her mouth and smiled. "I imagine Man'er must have won decisively."
"Since you won, how could I lose?"
Wen Mo Han smiled even more happily, attracting the attention of many young ladies. Seeing the two of them so close and whispering, the madams who wanted Wen Mo Han as their son-in-law were displeased, but recalling Xiao Man's earlier threat, they dared not speak.
The New Year's banquet began. The singers and dancers from Xianle Pavilion were the best in the capital. For this New Year's banquet, Xiao Man had invited performers from Xianle Pavilion early.
The fourth concubine sat quietly in a corner, her gaze occasionally falling on Xiao Man, with a hint of doubt in her eyes. She had only recently learned that the governess from Xianle Pavilion the other day was an old hand from Xianle Pavilion, and she had mistaken her. She wondered if the eldest miss had done it intentionally or unintentionally.
If it was unintentional, then it was fine. But if it was intentional, the fourth concubine felt a pang of worry. Had the eldest miss begun to suspect her?
Xiao Man's gaze suddenly swept over, meeting the fourth concubine's probing look. The fourth concubine calmly smiled at Xiao Man, then lowered her head to eat.
Xiao Man retracted her gaze and looked at Xiao Ling, who was sitting with her. Seeing Xiao Ling looking listless, she served her some food. "You should be happier at the New Year's banquet today."
Xiao Ling raised her head and looked at Prince Qi, who was diagonally opposite. Prince Qi was constantly flirting with the young maid beside him, never once glancing at her, even though she was his betrothed consort. She could not even get an extra glance from him.