Xiao Man and He Qingyi waited under an evergreen tree. Yin Zhu had gone back to the carriage to fetch an umbrella. They had initially thought the snow wouldn't be heavy, but it began to fall softly and then grew heavier, quickly frosting the tree.
He Qingyi was about to say something when she saw a person walking towards them with an umbrella. The person chuckled and slipped away. Xiao Man stared blankly at the falling snow. Suddenly, an umbrella was held over her head. She assumed Yin Zhu had returned with the umbrella.
"The snow is falling harder and harder. It probably won't stop anytime soon." Xiao Man extended her hand, catching a snowflake. The warmth of her palm quickly melted it. "Let's go, we'll be late."
Xiao Man turned around and found Wen Mohan holding the umbrella beside her. He Qingyi and the others had already disappeared.
"When did you get here?"
"I've been here for a while. I saw you enjoying the snow, so I didn't disturb you." Wen Mohan's voice was indescribably gentle, his eyes full of warmth. He reached out and brushed the snowflakes off Xiao Man's shoulder. "You are frail. If the melted snow wets your clothes and you catch a cold, it won't be good."
"You say that to me, but look at yourself. Half of your body is exposed." Xiao Man gestured for Wen Mohan to move the umbrella more over his head. However, Wen Mohan took a step forward, almost brushing against Xiao Man.
"I am strong, it doesn't matter. Let's go, we'll be late if we linger."
"Alright."
Wen Mohan held the umbrella, shielding Xiao Man as they walked towards the main hall. His careful and affectionate demeanor envied many onlookers.
"I wish Lord Wen would hold an umbrella for me too."
"Are you still dreaming? Lord Wen is already engaged."
"Alas, why isn't it me who is engaged to Lord Wen? Such a fine man, why isn't he mine?"
"Wake up, stop daydreaming. I don't aspire to marry a man as excellent as Lord Wen. I just hope I don't become a candidate for a political marriage!"
"That's true, I don't want to be married off to a distant land either."
"To have you hold an umbrella for me is the envy of many." Xiao Man heard the hushed whispers and teased Wen Mohan.
"Holding an umbrella for my fiancée is only proper and natural. Others cannot envy it." Wen Mohan shifted the umbrella further towards Xiao Man, leaving himself almost completely exposed to the snow.
Seeing this, Xiao Man helplessly grabbed the umbrella handle and moved it over Wen Mohan's head. "You should take care of yourself too, lest your clothes get wet."
"It's nothing. I can't let you get wet." Wen Mohan continued to hold the umbrella over Xiao Man's head. Xiao Man glared at him with a hint of helplessness. "Are you trying to make me get rained on?"
Wen Mohan smiled indulgently and moved closer to Xiao Man again. Now, half of Xiao Man's body was within his embrace. "This should be fine. You won't get wet, and neither will I."
Looking at Wen Mohan's warm smile, Xiao Man's face felt hot. She wanted to step back, to distance herself from him, but her foot slipped, and she almost fell. Wen Mohan quickly pulled her into his arms.
"Careful."
Xiao Man quickly straightened herself and continued forward. She could feel her face flushing and cursed herself for being so easily flustered. How could she be so easily moved by a child, acting like this with Nan Gong Yu and now with Wen Mohan? It was too embarrassing!
Wen Mohan's eyes were full of laughter, the corners of his mouth curving into a happy arc. This was just right. Close enough, but not too close. Not so close that he felt distant, nor so close that Xiao Man felt overwhelmed. The distance between them was like this, narrowing little by little, gradually encroaching on her space, and eventually occupying her entire heart.
Xiao Man's heart was in turmoil. She knew Murong Sheng Rui was ruthless in achieving his goals, and she knew Nan Gong Yu was resolute and would not give up easily. She also understood Wen Mohan's feelings for her and his kindness, yet she had still exploited his kindness.
When she met Wen Mohan's affectionate gaze, Xiao Man felt a pang of guilt. She couldn't even look him in the eye. By exploiting someone who genuinely cared for her, what difference was there between her and someone like Murong Sheng Rui?
"Mo Han."
"I'm here." Wen Mohan's voice, deep and magnetic, sounded beside her ear.
"I'm sorry."
Wen Mohan's smile deepened. "Do whatever you want to do. If it is useful to you, it is my honor. You don't need to worry about me, nor feel sorry for me. All of this is my willing sacrifice."
Nan Gong Yu stood under the eaves of the corridor, watching the two gaze at each other with affection. His chest felt heavy, as if he had been punched hard, making it difficult to breathe.
"Your Highness, it is time to go in." Si Chen reminded him softly, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Man. Resentment flickered in his eyes. That young lady from the Protectorate General's mansion, he didn't know whether to call her heartless or affectionate. She always found a way to hurt His Highness.
Nan Gong Yu took a deep breath and turned to enter the main hall.
Qu Yang also saw them. Xiao Man had always given him the impression of being cold and heartless. This was the first time he had seen her so gentle and obedient. Especially the way Wen Mohan looked at Xiao Man, he understood perfectly. Their engagement could not be fake; the affection in Wen Mohan's eyes was genuine.
"My lord, is that Princess Yongning?" someone beside him asked softly.
Qu Yang nodded slowly. "Yes, she is the cherished daughter of Xiao Zhen, the Protectorate General of Yusheng, Xiao Man."
"She is the one the Emperor has designated." The envoy carefully appraised Xiao Man. "Such beauty, worthy of the Emperor. Pity she is a noble lady of Yusheng. If she were a noble lady of our Yun Qi, she would be the sole candidate for Empress."
"Even though she is a noble lady of Yusheng, she is still the sole candidate for Empress." Qu Yang sighed. "Let's go, it's time to enter."
"Yes."
Xiao Man and Wen Mohan entered the main hall simultaneously, immediately drawing many gazes. The news of Prime Minister Wen's resignation had already spread among the court officials. Many lamented the influence of a beautiful woman.
A young man from the Wen family, such a promising individual, was giving up his family's bright future for a woman. If he were their son, they would have beaten him to death with a stick. They wouldn't be like Prime Minister Wen, sacrificing his own future just to fulfill his son's wishes!
Then, their gazes fell upon Xiao Man. A military family, yet they had raised such a delicate and lovely young lady. It was truly enviable. If their own daughters could win the favor of the Wen family's young master, they would light incense sticks to their ancestors three times a day.
Xiao Man, being a princess granted by the Emperor as a non-kin title, was seated below Nan Gong Wu. Seeing her approach, Nan Gong Wu leaned forward and said, "Tsk tsk, you and Young Master Wen have such a good relationship, thick as thieves. It's truly enviable."
Xiao Man slightly inclined her body. "I can't compare to you. Lord Qin braved the heavy rain to find you; that is what true affection looks like."
Nan Gong Wu's face flushed, and she glared at Xiao Man. "You know it's impossible between him and me, yet you still poke at my wound. Be careful, Yun Qi might send you off for a political marriage!"