The old madam’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Xiao Zhen.
She knew Xiao Zhen doted on his daughter, but she hadn’t expected it to be to such an extent.
“Fine, fine, fine. I won’t interfere with your darling anymore, nor can I. When she causes a catastrophic disaster and implicates the entire General’s Manor, let’s see how you clean up this mess!”
The old madam hurried to Water Moon Pavilion and just as quickly emerged. Shortly after, however, she fainted.
Nanny Xu quickly had people carry the old madam back to the main courtyard and sent for Physician Ye. Only after confirming that the old madam had fainted from extreme anger and was otherwise unharmed did she breathe a sigh of relief.
What startled Nanny Xu, however, was that the General hadn’t set foot in the main courtyard even though the old madam had fainted.
Upon hearing the servants’ reports, Madam Yan’s expression grew grave. “Does the General know about the old madam fainting?”
“He knows. Physician Ye was at Water Moon Pavilion, and the General was present when Nanny Xu went to fetch him, but he didn’t utter a single word from beginning to end,” Nanny Luo whispered. “It seems the old madam nearly beating the eldest young lady to death has angered the General greatly.”
Madam Yan continued embroidering the shoe upper. “Wouldn’t he be angry? Since she was a child, he has cherished the eldest young lady like the apple of his eye. Let alone hitting her, he’d never even spoken harshly to her. Now, after being beaten half to death by the old madam, if he weren’t angry, he wouldn’t be himself.”
“Madam, the General has shifted his anger to you and taken away your authority to manage the household. When will you try to placate him?” Nanny Luo asked with some concern. If Madam couldn’t regain her authority, it wouldn’t be beneficial for Madam or the third young lady.
“No rush. Madam Yu has always been lazy and incompetent. In a few days, she’ll return the authority to manage the household. Then, when the General can’t find anyone to manage it, it will have to be returned to me. Just wait and see.”
Madam Yan said with full confidence.
The fourth concubine, Madam Yu, was passive in the manor, neither vying for power nor having any children to support her. Handing over the management of the household to her would only give her a headache, and she’d obediently return it within a few days.
Nanny Luo furrowed her brow slightly. She felt the situation wouldn’t be so simple.
Even if the fourth concubine disliked managing the household, the General was present in the manor. If the authority was taken away and then eagerly returned, wouldn’t that be slapping the General’s face?
Nanny Luo didn’t voice her concerns. She worried not only that the General wouldn’t let the matter rest but also that the eldest young lady might seek revenge. Moreover, the third young lady’s coming-of-age ceremony was approaching, and with this incident, who knew what complications might arise.
“Oh, right, Nanny Luo, go to the Minister’s Manor and bring Ling’er back. It’s time for her to return,” Madam Yan said slowly. Xiao Ling had actually returned the day Xiao Man was beaten, but because the old madam had confined Xiao Man, she was worried Xiao Ling might be implicated and had arranged for her to return later.
“Yes, Madam.”
***
Xiao Man glanced furtively at Xiao Zhen, who was calmly making a move on the chessboard, and tentatively asked, “Father, why don’t you go see Grandmother? Grandmother has fainted.”
“Physician Ye said there’s nothing serious,” Xiao Zhen replied after studying the chessboard for a long time, then carefully placed a piece. “Be careful, don’t split your wound.”
Xiao Man placed a piece next to him. It seemed her father’s chess skills weren’t that great. Prince Qin’s skills were decent, but she wondered if he could handle losing. She distinctly remembered him turning green when he lost to her last time.
“Father, you’re almost out of moves. Do you want your daughter to let you win?” Xiao Man asked playfully.
Xiao Zhen glanced at Xiao Man. “Why would a man need to be let? If you lose, you lose. At worst, you start over.”
“That’s a good attitude!” Xiao Man said with a smile, blocking all of Xiao Zhen’s moves. “Father, you lost.”
“Perhaps you should still give me three moves,” Xiao Zhen said as he tidied up the chessboard, lest his loss be too embarrassing.
“Fine, are three moves enough? Or should I give Father two more moves?”
Xiao Zhen laughed heartily. “That would be excellent. Don’t regret it.”
“General, the Crown Prince has arrived.”
Steward Lu reported from outside the door.
The smile vanished from Xiao Zhen’s face. “Recover from your injuries well in the courtyard.”
Xiao Man nodded slowly and watched Xiao Zhen leave Water Moon Pavilion.
“Miss, why is the Crown Prince here?”
“What else? He’s here to offer comfort after hitting you,” Xiao Man said coldly. “How are things in the manor?”
“The fourth concubine is managing the household. Madam is confined to her chambers. Concubine Lin and the fourth young lady have been sent to Purple Cloud Nunnery by the General to pray for blessings. The third young lady has a lingering cold and hasn’t recovered. The third concubine is by her side, taking care of her, and hasn’t left her courtyard.”
Xiao Man’s eyes flickered. “The fourth concubine has a gentle nature, doesn’t argue with anyone, and doesn’t help anyone. The fact that she’s been in this manor for so many years without being resented by Madam Yan shows some skill.”
“The fourth concubine has no children, but her good nature, her unwillingness to compete, and her lack of ambition have earned her particular leniency from both the General and the old madam,” Ying Xue whispered. “My subordinate investigated and found that this fourth concubine was a gift from the current Emperor to the General.”
Xiao Man’s gaze shifted. A favorite concubine gifted by the Emperor, even her father would have to treat her well. In that case, it seemed the third concubine was indeed the most innocent.
“Miss, the third concubine and the third young lady have come to visit Miss.”
A smile curved Xiao Man’s lips. “Let them in.” Su Dan Novel Network
The third concubine and the third young lady entered and saw Xiao Man lying on a soft couch, playing chess with Qiu Tong. Qiu Tong’s delicate face was scrunched up like a bitter melon, unsure whether to move or not.
“Eldest young lady.”
The third concubine quickly stepped forward to greet her.
“Eldest sister, are you feeling better?”
Xiao Xiang’s voice was a little hoarse. She had just recovered from her cold and, upon hearing that Xiao Zhen had left Water Moon Pavilion, had rushed over.
“Much better,” Xiao Man said as she played chess, teaching Qiu Tong. “This move isn’t right. You should play this one, and it will trap all my other pieces.”
A maid brought stools for them to sit.
The third concubine wasn’t interested in chess, and Xiao Xiang knew Xiao Man was a skilled player, but she had never played against Xiao Man before.
“Eldest sister, why don’t I play a game with you?” Xiao Xiang said tentatively, glancing at Qiu Tong, who was fumbling and didn’t know what to do.
Xiao Man heard her and looked at Xiao Xiang. “Alright.”
Qiu Tong quickly got up and offered her seat to Xiao Xiang.
Xiao Xiang looked at the chessboard. It was still evenly matched. She immediately picked up a chess piece and placed it. Xiao Man followed suit without thinking, her movements astonishingly fast.
Xiao Xiang looked up at Xiao Man and also quickened her pace of placing pieces. However, her speed of thought couldn’t keep up with her speed of play. As her speed increased, she made mistakes in her moves, and soon Xiao Man had thoroughly defeated her, forcing her to surrender.
“Eldest sister’s chess skills are superb. Younger sister admires you,” Xiao Xiang said softly.
Xiao Man played with a chess piece in her hand. “Second sister’s chess skills have also improved.”
Xiao Xiang smiled shyly. “Madam sent someone to fetch the third sister back to the manor. The third sister’s coming-of-age ceremony is also approaching. Does Eldest sister have any thoughts?”