"Do you want me to call Man'er out?" Xiao Luo asked, seeing Wen Mohan's infatuated gaze, he hesitated for a moment.
Wen Mohan shook his head, "No need. Seeing that she is well, I am relieved."
"Then I will escort you out."
Wen Mohan cast a deep glance at Xiao Man, turned, and followed Xiao Luo out. Xiao Luo was not a man of many words; if others didn't speak to him, he could remain silent all day. They walked in silence, neither speaking.
"Young General, you will be returning to Yunzhong City after the New Year, won't you?" Wen Mohan took the initiative to ask.
"Yes," Xiao Luo replied indifferently.
"The Great General is busy with military affairs. Even if he is transferred back to the Imperial Capital Camp, he is rarely home," Wen Mohan said gently.
"Father is indeed very busy." Xiao Luo stopped. "Minister Wen, if you have something to say, please say it directly."
"I only feel sorry for Man'er," Wen Mohan said softly. "Man'er's birth mother passed away early. Madam Yan, though outwardly affectionate, secretly plotted against her. Your family's Old Madam is also heartless. On the surface, she is the infinitely glorious eldest daughter of the General's mansion, but in reality, you know very well how much she has suffered in the General's mansion."
Xiao Luo frowned. He knew Xiao Man had suffered greatly in the General's mansion. However, he was in Yunzhong City, far away, and powerless. His father was a man and did not understand the affairs of the inner chambers. No one expected the Old Madam to try to kill Xiao Man.
"From now on, she will not suffer any grievances in the General's mansion."
"I hope so," Wen Mohan said in a deep voice. "If you cannot do it, then I will protect her. I will never allow anyone to harm her in the slightest."
As the eve of the Lunar New Year approached, the Imperial Capital became increasingly lively. Families replaced their old door charms with new ones, and everywhere exuded a festive atmosphere. Groups of three to five children played with firecrackers.
Xiao Ling's marriage was also finalized for the eighth day of the second lunar month. Chu Qingge rallied and took charge of the household affairs, helping to manage the daily chores.
It happened to be Chu Qingge's day to visit her parents. Xiao Man had people prepare generous gifts for the visit. Xiao Luo was meticulously checking the return gifts early in the morning to avoid any mistakes. Su Dan Novel Network.
Xiao Man, wrapped in a bright red fox fur cloak and holding a hand warmer, prepared to accompany Chu Qingge on her visit. Chu Qingge wore a honey-colored ruqun and a white cloak, looking quite spirited.
A maid handed the hand warmer to Chu Qingge. Chu Qingge accepted it, "It's so cold, you don't need to accompany me."
"My father told me to go along and also to foster goodwill with Big Brother Chu," Xiao Man said helplessly. "He truly wishes for me to become your sister-in-law. Father is really something. If I were to marry Big Brother Chu, would I call you little sister-in-law, or sister-in-law?"
Chu Qingge listened and said, "This is difficult for me. If you marry my brother, I would call you sister-in-law. But if I marry your brother, I am also your sister-in-law..."
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter. Xiao Luo saw them laughing happily and a smile appeared on his lips as he helped them into the carriage.
The carriage stopped at the Chu family's entrance. Minister Chu and his wife had been eagerly waiting. Upon hearing that the General's mansion's carriage had arrived, they hurried out to greet them, "Ge'er, son-in-law, Man'er is also here. Please come in quickly."
Madam Chu held Chu Qingge's hand, asking about her well-being. Xiao Luo went to the study to talk with Minister Chu, while Chu Jingyu took Xiao Man to tour the garden.
"My sister, thank you for looking after her," Chu Jingyu, with his fair complexion and rosy lips, was also a distinguished young gentleman. However, his fame paled in comparison to that of Prince Qin, Wen Mohan, making Chu Jingyu's reputation more subdued.
"What are you saying, Big Brother Chu? Sister-in-law has joined the Xiao family, she is one of us. It is only natural for family members to look after each other."
Chu Jingyu paused for a moment upon hearing this, "What exactly happened on your wedding day?"
Xiao Man stopped and turned to face Chu Jingyu, "Big Brother Chu, it's still early, are you drunk? Nothing happened on the wedding day."
Chu Jingyu's expression shifted slightly, "Yes, nothing happened on the wedding day."
Xiao Man listened and then continued walking, "The arrangements in the Minister's mansion are exceptionally elegant. I wonder who designed them?"
"Mother and Qingge arranged them together," Chu Jingyu said gently, his voice like a clear spring flowing over stones, very soothing to the ear.
"No wonder, it feels exceptionally warm," Xiao Man praised. "I heard Big Brother Chu was also involved in the compilation of the chronicles. Is it going smoothly?"
"Speaking of which, it has something to do with you."
"It has something to do with me?" Xiao Man was surprised. How could it have anything to do with her?
"Someone said that the current chronicles are a book of boastful nonsense, with nothing for future generations to learn from or improve upon. Those who compiled the chronicles should be dragged out and beaten."
Xiao Man's face flushed, "My father!"
"Isn't that the General?" Chu Jingyu said with a smile. "You should have seen the faces of those civil officials in the court that day; they all turned green. Yet, Minister Wen wholeheartedly agreed, requesting His Majesty to order the chronicles to be recompiled. His Majesty appointed Minister Wen as the person in charge, with me assisting him. The officials in the Hanlin Academy received quite a few reprimands."
"Then don't they hate me to death?"
"Not at all. On the contrary, the officials in the Hanlin Academy admire you for being able to say such things at such a young age."
"Are they that magnanimous?"
"Naturally not. In the beginning, those old scholars said that women were speaking out of turn and disrupting the court. You should have seen Minister Wen debating with the scholars, scolding them until they were ashamed and had nowhere to hide, winning thunderous applause."
"I always knew Mohan was very capable, but I never imagined he was this capable. Debating with scholars, how interesting! It's a pity I wasn't there, otherwise, I could have witnessed his magnificent display of power." Xiao Man said joyfully.
"Normally, Minister Wen is a very approachable person, gentle as jade, humble, and courteous. To suddenly display such power that day surprised many." Jun Jingyu's voice rose and fell as he described the scene of Wen Mohan debating with the scholars. Xiao Man clapped incessantly at the exciting parts.
When Madam Chu and her daughter came out, they saw the two sitting on a bench in the corridor. Chu Jingyu was animatedly talking about something, and Xiao Man applauded from time to time. The mother and daughter exchanged glances, seeing smiles in each other's eyes.
"Let's go, let's go. Don't disturb them; let them chat."
They chatted until the sun was high in the sky, still engrossed. Minister Chu saw them and said, "I was worried they wouldn't get along. Jingyu has always preferred literature over martial arts, while your sister advocates martial virtue. I never expected them to get along so well."
"To be honest, this son-in-law is also quite surprised." Xiao Luo had initially thought they would just glare at each other and be unable to say a complete sentence. Instead, they talked animatedly, completely forgetting the time.