Xiao Man felt her breathing was a little tight, and she quickly reached out to push against Nangong Yu's chest, too close to her. "Your Highness..."
"This King said, you addressed me incorrectly." Nangong Yu's face grew closer. Xiao Man felt her heart pounding like a drum. Incorrectly? How so?
Seeing Nangong Yu about to press closer, Xiao Man quickly changed her address. "Brother Yu."
Nangong Yu's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "It's so late, what were you looking for Qin Zeyan for?"
"To break off the engagement." Xiao Man's survival instinct was strong. "I was just joking back then, I didn't really get engaged to him. I just didn't expect him to take it seriously and come to marry into the family."
"So, I misunderstood you?"
Xiao Man nodded profusely. Of course, he had misunderstood. She and Qin Zeyan were completely innocent of any wrongdoing.
"Did you break off the engagement?"
Cold sweat trickled down Xiao Man's cheeks. If it had been broken off, she wouldn't be so troubled.
Seeing her silence, Nangong Yu knew the matter hadn't been handled well. And Xiao Man was worried about it, yet he was here being petty. He then placed a kiss on Xiao Man's lips.
"Leave this to me to handle."
Xiao Man quickly grabbed Nangong Yu's hand. "Don't hurt him. He's just too serious, he has no ill intentions."
"You care about him?"
"He's a good prospect. If we can recruit him, that would be for the best." Xiao Man was still quite satisfied with Qin Zeyan. "Let me handle this matter myself."
"Can you handle it?"
"Are you doubting my abilities?" Xiao Man asked, displeased.
"How dare I," Nangong Yu said with a smile. "I'm just afraid you'll see his good looks and become soft-hearted, falling into his trap."
"You make it sound like I'm blinded by lust." Xiao Man muttered. "If I were to be blinded, it would be by someone like you."
Hearing this, Nangong Yu's mood inexplicably brightened. Indeed, in Xiao Man's heart, he still held some importance. "Alright, leave it to you to handle."
"This is something I brought upon myself, so naturally, I should handle it." Xiao Man said seriously. "It's getting late, Your Highness..."
"Hmm?"
"Brother Yu, it's getting late. You should head back early."
Nangong Yu was both amused and exasperated. Their relationship had grown so intimate, yet Xiao Man's attitude towards him remained distant.
"Are you investigating Prince Chu lately?"
Xiao Man's eyes flickered, contemplating how to answer without making Prince Qin misunderstand. She heard Nangong Yu continue.
"He spent ten years in Jiangnan and wasn't idle. Shangguan Jin is a merchant, he might not be able to gather much information. You... be careful of him. He is far more dangerous than you imagine."
"Among the many princes, which one is easy to deal with?" Xiao Man said slowly. "The first time I met him, I knew he was not simple. He seemed to know my every move and waited for me on the road specifically."
"Yes, I find it strange too. He seems to know you particularly well." Nangong Yu frowned. "And he spent ten years in Jiangnan with no news whatsoever, which is also not normal. My people investigated, but found nothing conclusive."
"If nothing can be found, then there's a problem." Xiao Man sighed. "Is the throne really so good that you all rack your brains and break your heads to get it?"
Hearing this, Nangong Yu lightly flicked Xiao Man's forehead. "Whether the throne is good or not, don't you know in your heart?"
Xiao Man lowered her gaze. Of course, she knew. To avenge her family, power was necessary, especially military power. The General's mansion had strength, but lacked prestige. That was why she needed Nangong Yu.
"Power is a good thing, and the most powerful person is the ruler of a nation." Xiao Man said softly. In the past, she had also been tempted by power, but she had suppressed it in time. However, the consequence of suppressing it was the ruin of her family!
"Then, do you want to be Empress?"
"No!" Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yu and said seriously. If she were to be something, she'd want to be Emperor. Being Empress meant listening to the Emperor.
With the deliberate spreading of rumors, the news that the new top scholar was about to marry into the General's mansion was embellished and spread. Soon, everyone in the capital knew that the General's eldest daughter, Xiao Man, had forced the new top scholar to abandon his official career and marry into the General's mansion. It was even turned into a comedic skit performed in teahouses and taverns.
Xiao Man walked on the street, always feeling that the gazes of the people were strange. When she looked at them, some men even covered their faces with their sleeves, as if afraid she would see them. This left Xiao Man utterly confused, not understanding what was happening.
At this moment, a procession of carriages slowly approached. Xiao Man immediately stood by the roadside to let them pass. The wind blew the curtain, and Xiao Man saw that the person inside the carriage was Wu Lana. She must have just come from the palace. She wondered how the negotiations had gone.
"Xiao Man," Xue Kun reached out to pat Xiao Man's shoulder, but Xiao Man subtly dodged, and he missed. Fortunately, he didn't care and leaned closer. "Xiao Man, you're amazing. I never imagined you were this kind of person."
"What kind of person am I?"
"Using your power to pressure someone, forcing the new top scholar to marry into your family."
Xiao Man almost bit her tongue. "When did I force the top scholar to marry into my family?"
"It's all over the outside world!" Xue Kun said with a lewd grin, rubbing his hands like a fly. "The Ninth Princess even went to His Majesty to make a scene about it. This morning at court, there were quite a few officials impeaching you."
Xiao Man felt deeply wronged. "I didn't!"
"Given our relationship, you shouldn't hide it from me. Quickly tell me, when did you get involved with the top scholar, and even forced him to marry into your family?"
Xiao Man smiled helplessly. She had forced the top scholar to marry into her family. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed her who had forced him, by leveraging the debt of saving his life to make him marry into the family!
"I really didn't."
"You didn't? Come with me." Xue Kun led Xiao Man into a random teahouse. The storyteller was just telling a story, and it happened to be about the General's eldest daughter meeting the top scholar, falling in love at first sight, using her power to force the top scholar to marry into the General's mansion!
The storyteller's narration was so vivid and engaging, with a plot full of twists and turns. Even Xiao Man herself felt like cursing him as worthless. Others were even more incensed. Men loudly cursed the eldest Miss of the General's mansion for bullying others and forcing marriage, while women cheered, vowing to snatch a top scholar for themselves. Men and women argued incessantly.
"Hear that? They're talking about you."
Xiao Man rubbed her temples. Which scoundrel was working so tirelessly to blacken her name?
"I'm going back to the mansion."
"Don't rush back," Xue Kun grabbed her. "Nangong Wu is at the General's mansion looking for trouble with you. If you go back now, aren't you asking for bad luck?"
"Why is she looking for trouble with me?" Xiao Man asked, confused.
"Qin Zeyan was the consort she had chosen. You snatched her consort, so how could she not look for trouble with you?"