Liu Han completely hid herself in the kitchen and refused to come out. Aunt Jing Shu seemed extremely angry. If she went to Madam to badmouth Junior Brother Xiao Qin, telling Madam that the Young Sect Master had personally cooked for Junior Brother Xiao and was completely obedient to him, Madam would surely swallow Junior Brother Xiao whole!
After Jing Shu returned, she exaggerated what she saw and heard to Madam Yue. Madam Yue felt something was amiss. Her son being so obedient to a young man felt strange no matter how she thought about it.
"Tomorrow, I'll have the Sect Master send Ran'er away. You invite Xiao Qin over."
Early in the morning, just as Yue Ran finished preparing breakfast, someone from Sect Master Yue's side arrived to summon Yue Ran away.
"Junior Brother Xiao, the Young Sect Master has gone out on some business. Breakfast is ready, come down quickly to eat." Liu Han looked up at Xiao Man who was meditating on the rooftop. "Hurry down."
Xiao Man opened her eyes, glanced into the distance, then jumped down from the rooftop. She took the towel handed by Liu Han and wiped her face. "We do need to eat breakfast quickly."
"I've saved some for the Young Sect Master in the pot, we'll eat first."
Xiao Man nodded as she drank the porridge, eating very quickly.
"Eat slower, I'm not snatching it from you," Liu Han teased. "Junior Brother Xiao, you and the Young Sect Master have a really good relationship."
"Really good?"
"Yes, the Young Sect Master treats you very well. Someone like him, a Sect Master's son with such a noble status, is like the moon in the sky, yet he's willing to cook for you. If you were a girl, you would have found an ideal husband. It's a pity you're a man," Liu Han said, shaking her head with regret.
Xiao Man glanced at Liu Han and said nothing.
At this moment, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Jing Shu entered with two disciples.
"Aunt Jing Shu, why have you come? Is something wrong?" Liu Han quickly got up to greet her.
Xiao Man, without even looking up, quickly finished the porridge in her bowl and took a pancake, taking a bite.
Jing Shu frowned, clearly displeased, but suppressed her anger. "Xiao Qin, Madam wishes to see you."
Xiao Man stood up, without putting down the pancake in her hand, and followed Jing Shu without any resistance. Liu Han watched this scene with some worry, thinking Madam was truly going to deal with Junior Brother Xiao.
"Aunt Jing Shu, did Xiao Qin do something wrong?"
"No, Madam just wants to see her," Jing Shu said coldly. "Let's go."
Xiao Man couldn't speak, her mouth was full of food. She couldn't eat, but fortunately, Jing Shu didn't want to hear any excuses from Xiao Man; as long as Xiao Man followed her, it was fine.
The courtyard where Madam Yue resided was quiet and elegant. Although there were many servants, they were all in the outer courtyard. There were very few servants in the inner courtyard, but each one was an elite.
Xiao Man stuffed the last bite of the pancake into her mouth, wiped her hands and mouth, and completely ignored Jing Shu's murderous glare.
Jing Shu glared at Xiao Man and pushed open the door. "Madam, Xiao Qin is here."
"Please invite her in."
Jing Shu made an inviting gesture, asking Xiao Man to enter the room.
Xiao Man walked into the room and saw a screen. Behind the screen sat a person, who, judging by their build, was a slender woman.
"Greetings, Madam."
"Sit. I asked you here so early, you probably haven't had breakfast yet..."
"Yes, Madam, I have already eaten." Xiao Man looked at the food on the small table in front of her. Just by the smell, she knew it was made by Zheng Sanniang.
Madam Yue chuckled lightly. "I heard you and Ran'er are very good friends. When did you meet?"
"We met during the training in the East Yue Forest," Xiao Man answered every question.
"Why does Ran'er call you Second Brother?"
"During the East Yue Forest training, the Young Sect Master, Senior Brother Bai Chen, and I hit it off immediately and became sworn brothers." Xiao Man's tone was devoid of any fluctuation.
"How is your master?"
"When I went out for training, my master was well. I haven't returned to the Hundred Herbs Hall for a while, so I'm not aware of my master's current situation." Xiao Man's reply was perfect, leaving no room for criticism.
"What tea would you like to drink?"
"Madam can decide."
"Someone, serve a pot of good tea."
Jing Shu brewed the tea and served it, placing it in front of Xiao Man. Xiao Man thanked her, picked up the teacup, opened the lid, and saw that the tea was clear and exuded a faint fragrance. It was indeed a superior spiritual tea.
"Ran'er has few friends, and even fewer who enter his heart. I am very grateful that you are friends with Ran'er," Madam Yue said. "But I hope you can understand a mother's heart. I wish for my son to make true friends, and I hope the friends he likes treat him in the same way. Do you understand?"
Xiao Man looked up at the person behind the screen. She knew the person behind the screen was also looking at her.
"Yes, Madam. I have a principle: if others treat me with one part of kindness, I will repay them with three parts. If others treat me with three parts of malice, I will repay them with ten parts of malice."
Madam Yue couldn't help but smile upon hearing this. "Children nowadays are so clear about love and hate. My Ran'er is also like this. He likes what he likes, and dislikes what he dislikes. Towards those he favors, he gives his whole heart."
"Madam, the Young Sect Master is only seventeen..."
"Next month, on the ninth, A'Ran will be eighteen."
Xiao Man was slightly stunned. Yue Ran's birthday was on the same day as hers. What a coincidence.
"What a coincidence. My birthday is also on the ninth of next month. It seems the Young Sect Master and I are indeed destined," Xiao Man took a sip of tea. "The tea is excellent. Thank you for your hospitality, Madam."
"Xiao Qin, you come from the Land of No Law. Besides you, do you have any other family?"
"No. I am alone now," Xiao Man said calmly. "However, it is said I have a mother who was taken away by wicked people shortly after I was born and has been out of contact ever since. I don't know if she's alive or dead."
"You are indeed a pitiful child," Madam Yue sighed. "Ran'er is very close to you. Since you have no family, why don't you stay at the Heavenly Sword Sect, by Ran'er's side? What do you think?"
Xiao Man did not answer immediately. She used the tea lid to scrape the tea leaves on the surface of the water, her expression calm and composed, showing no hint of joy at Madam Yue's offer.
Madam Yue was not in a hurry. She had extended the olive branch to test Xiao Man, to see what Xiao Man's true intentions were.
After a moment of silence, just as Xiao Man was about to answer, Jing Shu stumbled into the room, her expression one of shock as she looked outside. Xiao Man followed Jing Shu's gaze and saw a fiery red figure burst in.
"Yue Ran, you're audacious!" Madam Yue, seeing that Yue Ran had knocked Jing Shu to the ground, slammed the table in anger. This was truly outrageous!