Xiao Man changed into men's clothing and went out with Ying Xue.
Inside the casino, they watched the betting on her, their expressions priceless. The bets were on who would become her husband, with the Prince of Qin being the hot favorite, holding the top spot!
It was likely around the Qixi Festival, when Xiao Man and the Prince of Qin offered flowers together. The common folk had deemed them a match made in heaven. These busybodies had started this gambling, but why was the debauched Nangong Yi also on the list!
"Bookie, why is His Highness the Prince of Qi also on the list?" Xiao Man asked in confusion.
"Young master, you wouldn't know this, but His Highness the Prince of Qi and Miss Xiao have always been close. Although the Prince of Qi is amorous and capricious, don't women like a philandering rake? Therefore, His Highness the Prince of Qi is also a hot favorite."
Xiao Man's lips twitched. She continued to read, and to her surprise, Xue Kun was ranked third!
"What's the deal with Xue Kun? Aren't those two sworn enemies who fight every time they meet?"
"Young master, there's a saying: 'Fighting is affection, scolding is love. No fighting or scolding, no affection.' Moreover, Xue Kun, as the son of the imperial uncle, has a high status. He also vowed he would only marry Miss Xiao, so he's on the list!"
Xiao Man's expression changed rapidly. If Xue Kun were in front of her, she would definitely chop him up!
"And why is Wen Mohan on the list?" Xiao Man asked with despair. She had no connection with Wen Mohan. They could be considered friends, and she didn't have the courage to mess with Old Fox Wen's precious son!
"There are clues regarding Young Master Wen," the bookie said mysteriously. "According to reliable sources, Young Master Wen and Miss Xiao had a clandestine meeting one night, seeming to be in love. Although no one has seen it firsthand, the more candidates, the better. The son of the Minister of Revenue's family should also be on the list, but unfortunately, he's already married."
Xiao Man's face did not improve at all. She pointed furiously at the names below Wen Mohan, her face contorted, and asked, "And what's the connection with Cen Yu?"
The bookie's smile became more lewd. He leaned closer to Xiao Man and whispered.
"Young master, you don't know, but Miss Xiao has been lusting after the master of the Cen family for a long time!"
Xiao Man felt a surge of blood choke in her throat, almost spitting it onto the bookie's face. She had been lusting after Cen Yu's beauty for a long time? Which scoundrel said that?
"Is that possible?" Xiao Man took a deep breath, trying to control her anger, and listened to the bookie's explanation.
"On such and such a date, Miss Xiao told someone that Master Cen Yu was beautiful and charming, and that even all the male courtesans in Lanxiao Pavilion combined couldn't match the charm in his eyes."
Xiao Man blinked. It seemed like she might have said something like that, but it didn't mean she was lusting after Cen Yu's beauty. Cen Yu was so insidious and terrifying. That person was still plotting to kill her. If he saw this betting board, wouldn't he want to kill her?
"This doesn't mean I'm lusting after Master Cen's beauty, does it?" Xiao Man struggled in desperation.
"You only heard the first part and don't know the second. The second part is that every time she sees Master Cen, she wishes she could pull him into her arms and cherish him dearly. Because the Cens are merchants, their status is lower, which is why he's ranked fifth."
"You added that last sentence yourself!" Xiao Man said with certainty. She absolutely had not said she wanted to pull Cen Yu into her arms and cherish him dearly. Absolutely not!
The bookie gave a mysterious smile. "Young master, do you want to place a bet? Who are you planning to back? The Prince of Qin is the hot favorite. On the Qixi Festival, they offered flowers together as the golden couple. They were truly a match made in heaven!"
"Would someone as abstemious as the Prince of Qin like women?"
Although the Prince of Qin offered flowers with Xiao Man, he was known for his asceticism. For over twenty years, he had no women around him, not even a female companion. The Prince of Qin was the least likely candidate. But for the bookie to make the Prince of Qin the top favorite, they could make money!
"You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me who you're betting on!"
"I'm not betting on anyone!" Xiao Man turned and left angrily. This betting board was clearly putting her on the spot. The Prince of Qin already had someone in his heart. If his beloved saw this and misunderstood him, wouldn't the Prince of Qin chop her up?
As Xiao Man left the casino, she didn't know that after she left, people placed bets of one thousand gold each on the Prince of Qin and Wen Mohan.
Ying Xue watched the dejected and disheartened Xiao Man, secretly smiling. Wen Moyu was getting married, so everyone was now focusing on Xiao Man. Xiao Man was the legitimate daughter of the Protector General's mansion and was deeply favored by the General. Marrying her would mean gaining the support of the entire Protector General's mansion. Anyone with ambitions would want to marry her.
"Master, don't be angry. It's just a betting board, don't take it seriously."
Xiao Man glared resentfully at Ying Xue. Ying Xue's face was full of schadenfreude. How could she not see it? However, Ying Xue's smile quickly disappeared, and she stared eerily behind Xiao Man.
Xiao Man felt a sense of unease and turned around. She saw across from her a handsome young man in a lake-blue robe, holding a golden lotus. His androgynous face was flushed with affection as he walked slowly towards her and stopped in front of her.
Xiao Man narrowed her eyes. Yu Qianmo, had this scoundrel been released so quickly?
It shouldn't be. He had caused so much trouble. How could Yu Nantian have released him so easily?
Yu Qianmo winked at Xiao Man, scaring her so much that goosebumps erupted all over her. She took a step back and asked defensively, "What do you want?"
Yu Qianmo handed her the golden lotus. "I spent countless efforts to find this golden lotus specifically for you. Do you like it?"
Xiao Man quickly rubbed her arms. It was a hot day, and she was sweating from Yu Qianmo's words. "Dongfang Wei, beat him for me!"
Yu Qianmo was startled. Dongfang Wei was here too? He quickly looked around, but couldn't see any trace of Dongfang Wei, and relaxed. He was now terrified whenever he saw Dongfang Wei. This brat had tormented him quite a bit on the way back to the Martial Arts Alliance. It was a miracle he had made it back alive!
"Manman, this is wrong of you. I am devoted to you, you..." Yu Qianmo's subsequent words were choked in his throat because Dongfang Wei punched him in the face, sending him flying. The golden lotus floated into the air and then fell, caught by a burly beauty.
The beauty's face lit up with joy. Shaking her three hundred pounds of robust body, she ecstatically lunged towards Yu Qianmo. The ground even trembled from her running. Yu Qianmo was terrified by this scene and screamed, slapping the ground and sliding away as the beauty missed.
"Green hills remain, and the flowing water continues. We will meet again!" Yu Qianmo didn't care about bothering Xiao Man anymore. He fled as if escaping, and Dongfang Wei naturally wouldn't let him go, immediately giving chase.