The old madam sighed for a long time, her gaze falling on Xiao Xiang, who had fainted, and then on Xiao Man. "Fine, let her down. Issue a decree: anyone in the manor who dares to spread rumors about the second young lady will be executed."
"Yes, old madam."
"As for the second young lady, she will reflect on her mistakes in this ancestral hall. She is not allowed to step out without my permission." The old madam rose, and Xiao Man quickly helped her up.
"Man'er thanks Grandmother on behalf of her second sister."
The old madam patted Xiao Man's hand. "She is shameless. Fortunately, you are my good granddaughter. Do not disappoint Grandmother again. The future of the General's Manor rests on you!" The old madam's tone was earnest and affectionate, as if she doted on Xiao Man immensely.
Yan's eyes flickered. What did that mean?
There was more than one legitimate daughter in the manor. Why was it that after a trip to Ganye Temple, the future of the General's Manor now rested on Xiao Man?
"Grandmother, rest assured, Man'er will not disappoint you."
Xiao Man escorted the old madam out and watched her depart.
Yan approached and gently held Xiao Man's hand. "Eldest young lady cherishes sisterly affection and pleaded for the second young lady. I hope the second young lady appreciates your kindness, and it is not in vain that you risked being implicated by her to save her."
"Mother's teachings, I have remembered." Xiao Man's obedient demeanor earned Yan's admiration.
The fourth young lady was too young and had not come to the ancestral hall. Concubine Lin, swaying her hips, emerged. "Eldest young lady is indeed kind to save her."
Xiao Man's expression was indifferent. After everyone had left, she returned to the ancestral hall. The third concubine held the second young lady in her arms, looking helpless. Seeing Xiao Man return, she gnashed her teeth fiercely. "Are you satisfied now?"
Xiao Man flicked a speck of dust that wasn't there from her sleeve and looked down at the third concubine. "Shouldn't this question be for you? Are you satisfied with the current outcome?"
Satisfied?!
She wished she could eat her flesh and drink her blood. If it weren't for Xiao Man, how could they have fallen to this point!
"You harmed the second young lady!"
"Did I harm her, or did your mother and daughter collude with outsiders to harm me? Do you not know yourselves?" Qiu Tong brought a chair for Xiao Man to sit on.
The third concubine's expression shifted several times. She gritted her teeth. "When did we harm you? If we harmed you, would you be here so well?"
"Third concubine, do you know why I pleaded for you?" Xiao Man said slowly.
The third concubine certainly didn't know. Xiao Man had always been arrogant. She did things based on her whims. Who knew if she had a sudden impulse and wanted to make them grateful?
"How could you possibly obtain something like Xue Jialuo?" Xiao Man looked at Xiao Xiang, who was slowly regaining consciousness, her expression unchanged. "Since you're awake, it's perfect. Xiao Xiang, where did you get the Xue Jialuo you sent to my room?"
Xiao Xiang struggled to sit up. "Xiao Man, you are very pleased with yourself now..."
"Slap her." Xiao Man, without waiting for Xiao Xiang to finish, ordered softly. Qiu Tong stepped forward and slapped Xiao Xiang twice in the face.
Xiao Xiang, already weak from her ordeal, received these slaps and immediately fell back to the ground. The third concubine screamed and went to push Qiu Tong.
"Remember, I am the legitimate daughter, and I am the eldest daughter. In this manor, can any of you threaten my position?" Xiao Man asked coldly. "Do you think I have any reason to make things difficult for you? As long as I don't commit a heinous crime, no one in this manor can surpass me."
Xiao Xiang gritted her teeth in hatred. Yes, it was precisely because Xiao Man was flawless and couldn't be surpassed that she wished to destroy Xiao Man. Only by destroying Xiao Man could she have a chance to rise.
"Do you think that by destroying me, you will have a chance to rise?" Xiao Man seemed to read Xiao Xiang's thoughts. "Foolishness."
"Isn't it?"
"Besides me, there is the third sister, a legitimate daughter in this manor. The third sister's birth mother is the mistress of the manor, and her maternal grandfather's family is the Ministry of Rites. If I am removed, you still won't have a chance to rise. Don't forget, the marriages of concubine-born daughters are controlled by the mother. As for Grandmother, she will never pay attention to a concubine-born daughter who has lost her purity."
Xiao Xiang understood that what Xiao Man said was the truth. But as long as Xiao Man was dead, her father would see them.
"If you die, Father will see us."
"Calling you stupid doesn't make you admit it." Xiao Man picked at her fingernails, saying nonchalantly, "Have you perhaps forgotten that I also have a brother? Do you think my brother will not investigate if I die? Will Father not investigate? At that time, you will be the scapegoat, a stepping stone for others."
"You... What do you mean?"
"If I die, my brother will return from Cloud City, and my father will certainly come back. The person behind this will surely distance themselves completely. You think your plan is foolproof, but you don't know you've already been betrayed." Xiao Man's voice was soft, but with each word, Xiao Xiang's heart sank a little further. "Up to now, you have been thoroughly used without even knowing who your enemy is."
Xiao Xiang's eyes reddened. Her enemy was Xiao Man!
Xiao Man took everything from her, and now she ruined her purity. She and Xiao Man were irreconcilable enemies!
"You think I am your enemy, blocking your path, don't you?" Xiao Man's nonchalant demeanor angered Xiao Xiang, but unfortunately, she dared not speak out in anger. "But in this manor, besides me not making a move against you, do you think anyone else in this manor will show you leniency?"
"Why would they deal with me? They will only deal with you. You are the stumbling block in everyone's way," Xiao Xiang said hatefully. In this manor, except for Father and Brother, everyone wanted Xiao Man dead!
"If I die, no one in this manor will benefit. As for why they would deal with you, figure it out yourself." Xiao Man stood up. "If you can't even figure this out, it's better for you to die early, lest you be an eyesore."
Xiao Man, with her attendants, left gracefully. Xiao Xiang stared at Xiao Man's departing back, her face filled with hatred. She hated Xiao Man because Xiao Man possessed everything she craved!
The status of a legitimate daughter, her father's favor, and her brother's protection!
Now, even Grandmother, seeing her father and brother, would tolerate her with concessions!
Both were daughters of the same father, and siblings, yet Xiao Luo never treated others as his sisters.
In Xiao Luo's eyes, only Xiao Man was his sister, his only sister. In their father's eyes, only Xiao Man was his daughter, and his other daughters received no care from him!
So she hated Xiao Man, wishing her dead, and spare no effort in dealing with Xiao Man. Honestly, no matter how she provoked Xiao Man or dealt with her, Xiao Man never took her seriously. But precisely because Xiao Man didn't take her seriously, her hatred for Xiao Man grew!
A moment later, Xiao Xiang collapsed on the ground, weeping. The person she considered her enemy had saved her life. She had always treated her as an opponent, and in the end, Xiao Man had never even considered her. The so-called sorrow was precisely this moment.