"What is the future? Is it as important as my son's life? As long as he lives well, the future can be forgone. Are we, the Wen family, useless beyond being officials?" Madam Wen, the Prime Minister's wife, said calmly. She disliked Xiao Man before, fearing she would affect her son's future. But seeing her son in such a state of madness, she feared that refusing would mean losing him entirely.
"How much effort have I put into cultivating Han'er? How can I abandon everything for a woman?"
"Foolishness. If Han'er dies, then nothing will remain. People, only by living, have hope. Wen Chang, I tell you, if something happens to my son, I will hang myself with a rope and join my poor children in death!"
"Don't be angry, don't be angry. I'll agree, won't I? But the rumors outside… that ill-fated star…" Seeing his wife's face change, the Prime Minister quickly corrected himself, "Xiao Man is nearing her end."
"Please, don't let anything happen. Otherwise, I fear our son won't be able to bear the shock."
Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister's expression grew grave. He knew his son liked Xiao Man. He had thought it was merely a fleeting infatuation, but could he not understand his own son? If Xiao Man were to truly pass away, he genuinely feared his son would not be able to cope and would choose to die with her!
"Damn it! I've fought with Xiao Zhen my entire life, and in the end, that old scoundrel still got the better of me. He raised a vixen of a daughter who bewitched my son!"
"Think of it differently. His daughter, painstakingly raised by Xiao Zhen, marrying into our Wen family and calling you father – that means you've won!" Madam Wen persuaded him earnestly.
"That's right, haha! Good. If that girl from the Xiao family can wake up, I'll shed my pride and go to their door myself to beg for her hand for my son!"
The Prime Minister's perspective shifted, and he became increasingly happy. However, the thought of Xiao Man barely clinging to life brought him unease again.
"Someone."
"Your Excellency."
"Go, fetch the thousand-year-old ginseng from the treasury, the one I've been reluctant to consume. Have the young master take it to Xiao Man to recuperate."
The steward looked at the Prime Minister in horror. What blow had he suffered to be giving away a treasure he was so reluctant to use to the daughter of his enemy? Sudan Fiction Network. He should be clapping his hands in joy that the enemy's daughter was dying, why was he sending her gifts?
"Why are you standing there? Go and do it!"
"Yes!"
The steward scurried out, not seeing the Prime Minister's conflicted expression. What could he do? He had only this one son. If he treated that girl a little better, perhaps she would treat his son well in return!
Not long after the steward left, he came running back, "Your Excellency, something bad has happened."
"What? Has that girl from the Xiao family passed away?" The Prime Minister broke out in a cold sweat.
"No, it's the young master. He's taken guards and gone to Prince Qin's mansion!"
The Prime Minister stumbled, almost falling to the ground. "Why has the young master gone to Prince Qin's mansion?"
"He said he was going to retrieve what rightfully belongs to him."
"Quick, quick, send more hidden guards to follow. If a fight breaks out, protect the young master well!" The Prime Minister was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. His son was good in all aspects, except for his stubborn temper. What could possibly be so important that he had to go to Prince Qin's mansion to get it back?
"Your Highness, Minister Wen has arrived."
Nangong Yu was still weak. Hearing that Wen Mohan had arrived, he couldn't help but wonder, "What does he want?"
"He said he wants to see Your Highness, and if he cannot, he will not leave."
Nangong Yu sneered, "Let him in."
Wen Mohan entered Prince Qin's chambers and looked at Nangong Yu, who was leaning against the headboard. His complexion was pale, yet he was still breathtakingly beautiful. A sense of inferiority arose within him. If he possessed Prince Qin's appearance, would Man'er still cast a second glance at Prince Qin?
Immediately, Wen Mohan shook his head. Man'er was not such a superficial woman. While good looks might attract attention, Man'er was certainly not someone who would only love a handsome facade.
"Your Highness Prince Qin."
"Minister Wen sought an audience with this King. Is there something you require?"
"I have misplaced a treasured item. If my suspicions are correct, it should be in Your Highness Prince Qin's possession. I would trouble Your Highness to return it." Wen Mohan stated, neither subservient nor arrogant.
"Treasured item?"
"A jade bracelet."
Nangong Yu instantly realized. Wen Mohan was referring to the jade bracelet he had given to Xiao Man. It was indeed in his possession. He had originally planned to find an opportunity to return it to Wen Mohan, but he hadn't had the chance. Now, Wen Mohan had come to his doorstep.
"You lost something, how did you find your way to Prince Qin's mansion?"
"Is Your Highness Prince Qin denying that you took the jade bracelet I gave to Man'er?" Wen Mohan asked aggressively.
Nangong Yu raised an eyebrow, gazing at Wen Mohan with amusement. "What if this King says he didn't take it?"
"You are a beautiful woman, why must you act like a thief." Wen Mohan said word by word. "If Your Highness likes my bracelet, then keep it as a memento. After all, a single bracelet does not represent anything."
With that, Wen Mohan turned to leave.
"Stop."
Wen Mohan halted. Nangong Yu looked at Si Chen, who immediately took a box from a drawer and presented it to Wen Mohan.
"Here is the item, returned in its original state. Henceforth, please do not carelessly discard things, Lord Wen. My woman is not a scavenger."
Wen Mohan gritted his teeth and turned to face Prince Qin, but Prince Qin did not even glance at him. "Please, Your Highness Prince Qin, take good care of your fiancée. Do not bark in front of my Man'er. And please, Your Highness, conduct yourself with dignity and refrain from acts of seduction."
"Your Man'er?" Nangong Yu's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Wen Mohan, do you wish to meet your Wen family's ancestors?"
"That would require Your Highness Prince Qin to have the ability!"
"It seems you have truly grown weary of this mortal world!" Nangong Yu sat up straight, like an extremely aggressive leopard, ready to pounce and break the enemy's neck at any moment.
"This humble official believes, on the contrary, that Your Highness Prince Qin has no lingering attachments to this world."
Nangong Yu clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. Wen Mohan's visit today to demand the bracelet was a pretense; the true purpose was to declare war. He wished he could snap Wen Mohan's slender neck, but he couldn't!
Si Chen, witnessing the thick gunpowder smoke between the two, began to sweat profusely. He truly feared they would come to blows. He wished someone would arrive at this moment to separate them!
Just then, Wen Ruyu, idly fanning himself, walked in cheerfully. "Oh, Lord Wen, are you also here to visit Your Highness Prince Qin?"
Wen Mohan retracted his gaze and turned. "Yes, I came to see if Prince Qin is dead yet. Is Aide Minister Wen here for the same reason?"
The smile on Wen Ruyu's face froze. He looked at Prince Qin, whose expression was extremely grim, not due to his injuries. He then glanced at Si Chen, who was feigning ignorance.
"Lord Wen jokes."
Wen Mohan snorted. "This humble official takes his leave. Your Highness Prince Qin, you should rest well. Of course, if you are unwilling to rest well, this humble official will be even happier."
Wen Ruyu watched Wen Mohan depart with elegant strides, utterly bewildered. The usually refined Wen Mohan seemed to have eaten gunpowder today, starting arguments from the moment he spoke.