"Father, calm down, calm down, this is my fault." Xiao Man couldn't possibly let her father go find trouble with the Prince of Qin.
"How can it be your fault? He's despicable and shameless!"
"It's really not his fault. It was me who coveted his beauty. I took advantage of his severe cold poisoning, sneaked into his separate residence, and then took liberties with him when he couldn't move!" Xiao Man found it difficult to say, "So, it's really not his fault."
Xiao Zhen stared at Xiao Man in a daze for a moment, then calmed down and turned to walk back. "Aren't you going to let go?"
Xiao Man quickly released her hand. Xiao Zhen walked a few steps, then turned back. Xiao Man spread her arms to block him. She absolutely couldn't let her father go fight Nangong Yu. The other party was a prince, after all. If the one in the palace caught any excuse, the General's Mansion would be in a lot of trouble.
Xiao Zhen raised his hand. Xiao Man quickly closed her eyes. "Sorry, Dad's going to hit me!"
Who knew that Xiao Zhen's hand patted Xiao Man's shoulder: "Well done!"
Xiao Man stared at her father, who had been furious and ready to fight Nangong Yu with his saber one moment, and was now happily walking back with his saber, humming a little tune, the next. Was he driven mad by the shock?
"Is my dad driven mad by the shock?"
Steward Lu wanted to say that it wasn't just her dad who was crazy, he was going crazy too. How dare she sneak into the Prince of Qin's residence and take liberties with him when he was suffering from his cold poisoning? Wasn't she afraid the Prince of Qin would chop her into pieces in a fit of rage!
He Qingyi heard the commotion in the study and thought something had happened. When she came over, she saw Xiao Man standing alone outside the study. "What's wrong? Why did you come over today?" Su Dan Novel Network
"Mother, my father seems a bit off. Why don't you go in and take a look?" Xiao Man was really worried. Her father's smile was too terrifying. She was truly scared.
"What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything, it's just that my father found out about some past absurdities I committed."
He Qingyi glared at her with mock anger: "You're such a worry. You go back, I'll go persuade him."
Xiao Man nodded repeatedly and turned to leave. Steward Lu really wanted to stop Xiao Man and ask her, "Did you really sneak in to take liberties with the Prince of Qin, or did the Prince of Qin sneak in to take liberties with you?"
But as an elder, he really couldn't bring himself to ask. He could only watch Xiao Man leave. However, just as Xiao Man reached the door, the study door opened.
"Get back here."
Xiao Man hurried back: "Dad, aren't you angry anymore?"
"Come in."
He Qingyi saw this and quickly grabbed his sleeve: "General, the eldest young lady isn't feeling well. Don't scare her. Those absurd things she did in the past are in the past. Now the eldest young lady is sensible."
"I'm not going to eat her!"
He Qingyi smiled awkwardly, then saw Xiao Zhen pull her in and close the door. Just as He Qingyi was about to knock, Steward Lu stopped her. "Madam, don't worry. The General can't bear to hit the young lady."
"What exactly happened?"
"It's nothing. The General is used to it anyway. After all, the eldest young lady caused a lot of trouble since she was young. He'll just scold her, and it'll be fine. Madam, please go back with peace of mind."
"That's true. If he hits this child, he'll be the one hurting in the end." He Qingyi left with peace of mind.
Inside, Xiao Man knelt on the ground. Xiao Zhen sat in a chair, his fierce eyes glaring at her: "Tell me honestly, what exactly happened? Why did you go to bed with the Prince of Qin for no reason?"
"Dad, why are you speaking so crudely? What do you mean I went to bed with him?" Xiao Man retorted.
"Isn't that what happened?"
"Climbing into someone's bed is for them to take responsibility. I wanted to take advantage, but I didn't want to be responsible. How can you call that climbing into someone's bed?"
Xiao Zhen was rendered speechless by Xiao Man's twisted logic. "Did you truly consummate your marriage with him?"
"Yes."
Xiao Zhen took a deep breath. "Fine, since it's come to this, I can't stop it. What are your plans? To marry into the Prince of Qin's Mansion?"
"How could I possibly!" Xiao Man refused. "If I marry into the Prince of Qin's Mansion, His Majesty probably won't be able to sleep peacefully."
"I'll handle His Majesty. Since you like him, I accept it." Xiao Zhen didn't know how to describe his feelings for a moment. His carefully raised pig had gone to nudge the Emperor's prize cabbage. No one would believe it if he said it.
"Dad, I have no intention of marrying him!"
"If you have no intention of marrying him, then why did you sneak in and take liberties with him? That's the Prince of Qin, a prince. Aren't you afraid he'll kill you!"
"Aren't I alive and well?" Xiao Man got up from the ground and sat next to Xiao Zhen. "Dad, don't worry, your daughter has her own plans. If I were to marry into the Prince of Qin's Mansion, that would be absolutely impossible. If the Prince of Qin is willing to marry into the General's Mansion, then I might consider it."
Xiao Zhen immediately thought of the Prince of Qin's words at the Mid-Autumn Banquet about marrying into the General's Mansion. He grinned, then quickly regained his serious demeanor. "Tell me the truth, what exactly are your plans? If the Prince of Qin can control the court, marrying him will give you more security."
"Dad, my mother's death, do you intend to let it go just like that?" Xiao Man said softly. "Your daughter has no intention of letting it go. Those who owe us, I will make them pay a hundredfold!"
Xiao Zhen sighed. "You know about it?"
"I wasn't entirely clear at first, but based on the clues I found, I've guessed some of it." Xiao Man said slowly. "Don't worry, Father. The children of our Xiao family are not to be bullied. Anyone who dares to harm our Xiao family will regret being born into this world."
"I see the Prince of Qin's intentions. He probably won't let this go easily. This man, he looks harmless on the outside, but he's full of wickedness on the inside."
"Only evil people can deal with evil people. If he were a kind little lamb, I wouldn't even fancy him." Xiao Man ingratiatingly massaged Xiao Zhen's shoulders. "Don't worry, Father. Your daughter is just worried that it will bring great trouble to the General's Mansion."
"In a few days, I'll send your grandmother and your sisters to our old home in Cangzhou. Do whatever you want to do."
Xiao Man came out of Shuiyue Cottage and also went to Xiao Zhen's study. The people in the General's Mansion soon received the news.
Xiao Xiang was waiting at the entrance of Shuiyue Cottage. She had been visiting every day for the past few days but couldn't get in, which made her feel vaguely uneasy.
Seeing Xiao Man return from a distance, Xiao Xiang quickly went to greet her. "Eldest Sister."
Xiao Man nodded. "Hello, Second Sister."
Xiao Xiang walked to the other side and helped Xiao Man. "Is Eldest Sister feeling any better?"
"Much better. I just came out for a walk." Xiao Man said softly, acting like a friendly elder sister.
"You should come out more often. Eldest Sister staying cooped up in her courtyard all day would make even a healthy person feel miserable." Xiao Xiang chimed in. "Now that Madam is managing the household, everything is in order. Eldest Sister doesn't need to worry."
Xiao Man smiled at her and led Xiao Xiang back to Shuiyue Cottage. Qiu Tong immediately brewed tea and brought it.