Wen Mohan originally intended to slowly infiltrate Xiao Man's heart, waiting for her to discover his feelings for her on her own. However, after this incident, he realized that if he didn't confess his feelings now, he might never have the chance again.
Xiao Man subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but Wen Mohan held it tightly. "Man'er, don't rush to make a choice, and don't rush to reject me. I'm not asking for an answer now, I just hope you understand my feelings and give me a chance, okay?"
"Even if I have to kill Wen Moyu?"
"Wen Moyu's matter will be handled by me. The Prime Minister's mansion raised her for sixteen years. We don't expect her to be grateful, but we cannot tolerate her running rampant."
"What do you mean?"
"She was born to a famous courtesan in the capital, abandoned by her mother to fend for herself. By chance, my younger sister died shortly after birth, and my father, fearing my mother couldn't bear the truth, brought her back to accompany my mother, pretending she was her substitute. I am not related to her by blood."
"But she was still your sister for sixteen years. You... I'll handle this myself."
"Man'er, are you really going to hold me responsible for her actions?" Wen Mohan's eyes were filled with vulnerability, as if Xiao Man's nod would shatter him.
"I am not," Xiao Man said calmly. "Mohan, you don't understand me at all. Perhaps one day, you'll find that I'm not the person you desire, and you'll be disappointed."
Wen Mohan placed the bracelet back on Xiao Man's wrist. The jade bangle accentuated her fair wrist, making it appear even more delicate and alluring.
"I know Man'er has many secrets, and I won't pry. I like you for who you are, not for your secrets or your identity. No matter what you become or what identity you adopt, my feelings will not change."
"Even if I'm no longer Xiao Man?"
Wen Mohan looked at Xiao Man seriously, word by word, "I love the you before me, regardless of your identity, simply because it is you."
"I and Prince Qin..."
"I don't want to know about the past, and I don't care," Wen Mohan interrupted Xiao Man. He knew what she was about to say, but he didn't want to hear it. He couldn't change the past; what he needed to do was change the future.
"I just hope Man'er can give me a chance. Before you are moved, before you fall in love with anyone, give me a chance, give me a chance to love you. If, in the end, I still can't move you..." Wen Mohan smiled forcedly, yet maintained his pride. "You can return this bracelet to me, how about that?"
"Mohan, loving someone too much can be a disadvantage," Xiao Man cautioned him. "It's better to leave some room for maneuver in everything."
"Man'er, to give your all in everything is to have no regrets. To love someone, you must give your all, so as not to betray a lifetime of deep affection."
Xiao Man lowered her gaze and fell silent. To give her all to love someone? Perhaps, in this lifetime, she wouldn't be able to do it. Xiao Man suddenly envied Wen Mohan, who could give his all to love someone.
"I can't give my all to love someone, but I want to try to feel what it's like to love someone. Let's set a time limit of three years. If you can move me within three years, I will agree to you."
"It's a deal!" Wen Mohan was overjoyed. As long as Xiao Man was willing to give him a chance, he would seize it with all his might and never give up!
Xiao Man left Zhang County quietly, without alerting anyone, and headed straight for Yunzhong City.
Before dawn, while the sun was still immersed in the darkness before the break of day, Wen Mohan stood on the city wall, watching the few galloping horses disappear into the horizon.
"Oh, missing her already after just parting?" a teasing voice came. "How does it feel to wait for the clouds to part and see the moon?"
"See the moon?" Wen Mohan's voice sounded very gentle. "It's too soon to say. This is just the beginning. I cannot afford to relax even a little, or I will lose the chance to compete forever."
"Although I don't like Xiao Man, she's right about one thing," Cen Yu walked over, looking at the streak of white appearing in the east. "Loving someone too much will lead to hurt."
"I'm not afraid of getting hurt," Wen Mohan gazed into the distance, still unable to see the figure he wished to see. "I'm afraid of not even having the chance to get hurt."
"The Jin family has sent people to Jiang Province, it seems they also want a piece of the pie. The vast Jiang Province will eventually be divided into three forces," Cen Yu changed the subject. "The Shangguan family, the Jin family, and the Cen family. What are your plans?"
"Business is your forte, I'll leave it to you. What I need to do is make the officialdom of Jiang Province a weapon in my hands, to be used for my purposes," Wen Mohan said softly. "I have a feeling that one day, she will need my help."
"Nangong Yu will also get a share of the spoils."
"He wants the West District Barracks, that doesn't conflict," Wen Mohan turned and walked down the city wall. His face was calm and gentle, his mind full of strategy, a stark contrast to how he was in front of Xiao Man.
Cen Yu shook his head. When he became serious, even Nangong Yu would have a prolonged headache. It's just that Nangong Yu, who left a step ahead, probably doesn't know that Mohan has secretly stabbed him in the back.
Yunzhong City had suffered several defeats. The generals leading the troops and the soldiers under their command were all filled with anger, wanting to fight a good battle to vent the frustration of successive losses.
"Young General, when did Xiahou Ying become so insidious?" the vanguard general asked doubtfully. Xiahou Ying always preferred direct confrontation in battles, but recently he had become much more circuitous, leaving them unable to figure out his intentions.
"It's likely not Xiahou Ying commanding the operations now," Xiao Luo said, frowning as he looked at the sand table. "The successive defeats are all because we were too familiar with Xiahou Ying and forgot that Yunqi might have changed commanders." Su Dan Fiction Network
"Does Yunqi have other formidable generals? Who could it be?"
"I heard the Zhao family of Yunqi is also an esteemed lineage. Could it be someone from the Zhao family?"
"It's not from the Zhao family," Dugumingyu said with a solemn expression. "Xiahou Ying is the emperor's companion and has military merits. If someone from the Zhao family came, they wouldn't be able to suppress him. It should be someone of higher status."
"In Yunqi, how many people have a higher status than Xiahou Ying?" Xiao Luo asked.
"When my sister was still here, besides her, those who could suppress Xiahou Ying were Old General Xiahou, Old General Zhao, and General Zhan." Dugumingyu listed them one by one. "Now that my sister is gone and General Zhan has left with the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry, only the two old generals are left who can suppress him."
"Do you think it's one of Yunqi's old generals who has come?" Xiao Luo had a faint suspicion. If it were an old general from Yunqi, their fighting style wouldn't be so varied; instead, it felt like a young man, full of youthful impetuosity.