Everyone looked at Xiao Man with strange expressions, comparing the Prince of Qi's mansion to a brothel. Only you would dare. Their gazes then shifted to Nangong Yi. Would the Prince of Qi, in a fit of anger, start a fight with Xiao Man in the East Palace?
"Why are you sitting so close, you're crowding me!" To everyone's surprise, Nangong Yi turned and took his anger out on Xue Kun.
Xue Kun shuffled back, his face full of disdain. "I knew you'd bully me. If you're so brave, why don't you confront Xiao Man? She called your Prince of Qi's mansion a brothel and your concubines courtesans, and you didn't dare retort. You're just like that!"
After lunch, everyone bid farewell to the Crown Prince and headed out of the palace. The weather in late February was gradually warming, but Xiao Man, still sensitive to the cold, was wearing a warm cloak.
"Man'er, if you're tired, take a rest," Wen Mohan said solicitously.
"I'm not tired. I ate too much at lunch, so I need to walk more to digest," Xiao Man replied, maintaining her unhurried pace towards the palace gate. Nangong Yi, meanwhile, chattered incessantly by her side.
"Xiao Man, I've decided to dismiss all the concubines in my mansion," Nangong Yi suddenly declared. "What do you think?"
"That's your business. Whether it's good or bad is your concern," Xiao Man said indifferently.
"Don't you dislike having so many women in my mansion? If I dismiss them all, you can come over often," Nangong Yi said as if he had discovered a new continent. "Good or not?"
"I told you, it's your business." Xiao Man suddenly stopped. Two people were approaching, and it was Nangong Yu.
Wen Mohan and Nangong Yi looked at Nangong Yu simultaneously. "Fourth Brother, you're going into the palace too."
Nangong Yu nodded, his gaze falling on Xiao Man. Xiao Man curtsied. "Yongning greets His Highness Prince Qin."
Nangong Yu glanced at Xiao Man. "No need for formalities."
"Yongning takes her leave."
Xiao Man rose and left, her pace still unhurried. She didn't even spare Nangong Yu an extra glance. As Xiao Man passed him, Nangong Yu reached out as if to grab her, but she dodged him and quickly departed.
Nangong Yu turned around and watched Xiao Man's resolute retreating figure, frowning slightly. Wen Mohan immediately followed, and Nangong Yi looked from Xiao Man to Nangong Yu. These two were having a spat!
"Fourth Brother, I'm leaving too. I'll come find you to play another day." Nangong Yi, inwardly delighted, chased after Xiao Man.
Nangong Yu's expression grew colder as he walked back into the palace. Stubborn girl, she was still angry with him. Fine, he would explain later.
When Xiao Man returned to the General's mansion, she felt the atmosphere was a bit off. She looked at the guards at the gate. "Is anything happening in the mansion?"
The guards glanced at Nangong Yi and Wen Mohan, who were following Xiao Man, and hesitated to speak.
Xiao Man's heart filled with doubt. "Where is Steward Lu?"
"In the main hall. The General is also there."
"Do we have guests?" Xiao Man wondered, but if there were guests, they shouldn't be so hesitant.
"We do have guests, and not ordinary ones," the guard said cautiously. "They've come looking for the eldest young lady."
"Looking for me?" Xiao Man was puzzled. If someone was looking for her, why would her father be the one to entertain them?
"Yes, looking for you. Eldest Young Lady, when you go in, please be careful what you say. The General seems unhappy." The guard reminded Xiao Man that the General didn't just seem unhappy, he was very unhappy!
"Xiao Man, did you stir up trouble outside again? And they've come to the door?" Nangong Yi asked curiously.
"Do you think Man'er is like you?" Wen Mohan retorted without hesitation. Xiao Man used to cause trouble only to hide her abilities. Now that she no longer needed to hide, why would she create trouble for herself?
"Wen Mohan, do you know Xiao Man as well as I do? I've known her since we were children. The number of troubles she's caused is countless."
Wen Mohan snorted. Hadn't he also been deceived by the false image Xiao Man created before? Fortunately, he had discovered her true worth in time, otherwise, he would have missed out.
Xiao Man, filled with questions, entered the main hall under the sympathetic gaze of the guards. In the hall, Xiao Zhen's face was dark, Steward Lu looked shocked, and a man was standing there.
"Father, I'm back."
Hearing Xiao Man's voice, the man turned around to face her. His delicate face was lit with a joyous smile. He quickly walked up to Xiao Man, his smile bright with a hint of shyness, his clear eyes full of sincerity.
"Miss Xiao, I've come to fulfill my promise."
"You are..."
"Miss Xiao, you've forgotten, I am Qin Zeyan." The man's smile was pure, and his eyes were full of sincerity.
A scene flashed through Xiao Man's mind. It was something the former Xiao Man had caused. This young man was someone she had saved from mountain bandits. The young man had said that his mother had taught him that one must be grateful, and asked how he could repay her life-saving grace.
At that moment, Xiao Man, on a whim, had replied, "To repay a life-saving grace, one must naturally pledge oneself in marriage. If you want to repay my life-saving grace, then you should marry into my family and be my husband."
It was meant to be a joke. The young man had blushed, stammered that his mother was old and he needed to stay by her side to care for her until her end, but he would definitely repay her life-saving grace, and had even asked for her jade pendant as an excuse!
And that jade pendant was not an ordinary jade pendant; it was a jade pendant symbolizing her status as the eldest young lady of the General's mansion. This matter was going to be difficult to handle!
Seeing Xiao Man's solemn expression, Qin Zeyan asked cautiously, "Have I caused you any trouble?"
Xiao Man desperately wanted to nod, but seeing Qin Zeyan's anxious look, fearing he might cause trouble, she couldn't help but shake her head. "No."
"That's good. I was worried that my abrupt arrival would cause you trouble." Qin Zeyan's gaze then fell on the two people beside Xiao Man. "You two are Miss Xiao's friends, aren't you? I am Qin Zeyan."
"Wen Mohan."
"Nangong Yi."
"So it's the new top scholar and His Highness Prince Qi. This humble one offers his respects."
"Qin Zeyan, the new third-place scholar," Wen Mohan said, cupping his fist. "I heard that the third-place scholar had urgent family matters and could not take up his post as scheduled. Now that you have returned, why have you not reported to the Ministry of Personnel?"
"I just returned today and plan to report to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow," Qin Zeyan replied calmly. He then looked at Xiao Man. "I originally intended to seek you out on the day the rankings were announced, but unexpected family matters prevented me. I ask for your understanding."
"Is your mother well?" Xiao Man asked with a smile.
"My mother has passed away, so Zeyan has come to fulfill the promise made to Miss and marry into your family," Qin Zeyan said shyly, unaware that his words had stunned Wen Mohan and the others.