"A dog can't change its nature, so the last sentence is what you truly want to say, isn't it?" Xiao Man sneered, "Don't forget, you're getting married! It's time to settle down!"
Suddenly, a tear landed on Xiao Man's neck, carrying a slight burning warmth. Xiao Man's body stiffened. "Why are you crying again?"
"I'm sad," Nangong Yi choked out. He was sad, unwilling, jealous, and hateful. He had always been by her side, yet he couldn't have her. This was unfair to him!
Xiao Man raised her hand and gently patted Nangong Yi's back, as if comforting a crying child. "Don't be sad. After you marry Miss Du, you'll have children soon. You'll have many children in the future."
Nangong Yi's body trembled slightly. He wasn't sad about losing the child. He had never expected that child, and didn't even care about it. What he wanted, Xiao Man didn't understand.
"Tell me a story," Nangong Yi said, hugging Xiao Man's waist and burying his head in her neck, greedily inhaling her pleasant scent.
"Let me tell you a story from school. In this school, there are ten children. Three of these children are particularly mischievous..." Xiao Man's voice was pleasant, telling the story with cadence and appropriate emotion. While speaking, she gently patted Nangong Yi's back, comforting the big boy. By the time she finished her story, Nangong Yi had fallen asleep.
Xiao Man gently pried Nangong Yi's hands away, laid him down on the soft couch, and carefully covered him with a quilt before tiptoeing out and closing the door. As soon as she turned around, she saw Prince Qin and Miss Du standing under the eaves, looking at her quietly.
"Your Highness Prince Qin, Miss Du."
Nangong Yu cast a deep glance at Xiao Man and turned to leave without a word.
Xiao Man was somewhat baffled and immediately chased after him. "Your Highness Prince Qin..."
As Xiao Man passed Du Yulan, Du Yulan spoke, "Mr. Xiao, please have some self-respect. Don't use others' affection to repeatedly hurt them."
Xiao Man stopped and looked at Du Yulan, puzzled. "Miss Du, I don't understand..."
"Please don't approach His Highness Prince Qi anymore," Du Yulan's voice was kept very low, as if afraid of being overheard. "He is my man!"
Xiao Man immediately understood that Du Yulan might have misunderstood something. "It was my rudeness, please forgive me, Miss Du. I will remember Miss Du's instructions. Xiao bids farewell."
Xiao Man chased all the way out of Prince Qi's mansion but didn't catch up with Nangong Yu, so she had to return to Prince Chu's mansion.
Based on her understanding of Nangong Yu, if he was angry, he would definitely come to find her at night. However, she waited until the lanterns were lit and the night was quiet, but Prince Qin never appeared.
Even by the Mid-Autumn Festival, Nangong Yu had not come to find her. Xiao Man felt uneasy, not understanding why Nangong Yu, who had been fine, was suddenly angry.
"Mr. Xiao, thank you for accompanying us to the palace today." Nangong Yan, supporting the Princess, slowly approached.
"It is my duty. Your Highness, Princess, please go first," Xiao Man said calmly.
Nangong Yan helped Pei Qianyun onto the carriage, while Xiao Man sat in a carriage behind them to go to the palace for the banquet.
After alighting at the palace gate, Nangong Yan continuously supported Pei Qianyun, showing great consideration, which made many young ladies envious. After all, Prince Chu was gentle and handsome, and held a noble status. His mansion currently only had one woman, the Princess Consort. To have such a husband would be without regret.
The group encountered Nangong Yu at the palace gate. They exchanged pleasantries, and Xiao Man immediately bowed. However, Nangong Yu walked away without even glancing at her.
Nangong Yan looked puzzled. "Did Mr. offend my fourth brother?"
Xiao Man gave a wry smile. "Your Highness Prince Qin is temperamental. I don't know when I offended him."
"Fourth brother has always been like this, not enthusiastic towards anyone. Mr. need not take it to heart."
Xiao Man nodded in agreement, her gaze falling on Nangong Yu's retreating back. He was still angry with her. What had she done wrong for Nangong Yu to be angry with her?
Xiao Man thought about the events of that day over and over again, but still couldn't find the reason for Nangong Yu's anger. Unable to figure it out, Xiao Man decided to treat Nangong Yu as being unreasonable and stopped caring. If he didn't care about her, she didn't care about him; she was happy to be free. Su Dan Novel Network
Nangong Yu was enraged. For the past few days, he had been waiting for Xiao Man to come and explain. But he waited day after day, and she acted as if nothing had happened. She didn't show any sign of remorse for her actions. Didn't she know about the principle of men and women not touching? How many people did she intend to provoke before she would stop?
Thirteenth brother had long harbored ill intentions towards her. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager keeping him in check, he would have been crying and begging to marry her. Yet, she had eagerly presented herself to him for his advances!
Nangong Yu grew more and more angry as he thought about it, and he couldn't help but stop. Si Ye, who was following behind, was caught off guard and bumped directly into Nangong Yu's back.
Nangong Yu turned around, startling Si Ye, who quickly retreated a couple of steps, cursing inwardly. That heartless woman had made His Lord angry again. Look at his sullen face, like a jilted shrew.
"My Lord, should I have someone captured?"
Nangong Yu glanced at Si Ye. "Do you have that capability?"
Si Ye choked. The words were not very damaging, but extremely insulting. He indeed lacked the ability to capture Xiao Man. Although Xiao Man's martial arts were not high, she excelled in agility and ruthless strikes. Moreover, she knew how to use poison. Forget him, even if he and Si Chen joined forces, they wouldn't be able to subdue Xiao Man.
"Or, should Your Lord go personally?"
Nangong Yu's gaze fell on Xiao Man, who was not far away, laughing and joking with some other young ladies. His anger intensified. He flicked his sleeve and left.
Si Ye glared at the laughing and chatting Xiao Man, grinding his teeth fiercely. He knew it. This woman was heartless. She had angered His Lord, and yet she was in the mood to joke with others!
Nangong Yu exuded an aura of displeasure, and those around him kept their distance. Just then, Nangong Yi's voice came from behind.
"Mr. Xiao."
Nangong Yi almost ran to catch up, hooked his arm around Xiao Man's neck, and said, "Mr. Xiao, your medical skills are excellent. This prince has been sleeping very soundly these past two days."
Xiao Man's gaze fell on Nangong Yi's hand resting on her shoulder. Nangong Yi seemed not to notice and continued to walk, hooking Xiao Man's arm. "Mr., I miss your craftsmanship. When will you... Ow..."
Nangong Yi quickly withdrew his hand and looked at it, then at Xiao Man. Although Xiao Man hadn't moved, he felt something pierce his arm, causing him such pain that he had to pull his hand back.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Nangong Yi rubbed his wrist, but found no trace of any injury. He couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Xiao Man's gaze shifted forward. Nangong Yu subtly hid his hand under his long sleeve. Xiao Man felt puzzled. Had these two brothers fallen out?