Cen Yu seemed to recall something, her hands clutching her hair in terror. "It wasn't her, it wasn't her, it couldn't have been her!"
"The one who annihilated the Zhou family was General Xiao," Wen Mohan said slowly, looking at Cen Yu's pained expression. "And the reason he destroyed the Zhou family was because his beloved daughter, while chasing a small dog, inadvertently stumbled into the Zhou residence and was severely injured by the Zhou family, her life hanging by a thread."
"The one who saved me was a boy!"
"Xiao Man has always enjoyed dressing as a boy. It made it easier for her to accompany General Xiao in and out of the military camp."
"You knew all along?" Cen Yu asked excitedly. "You knew all along that the one who saved me was Xiao Man?"
Wen Mohan nodded slowly. "I did. I warned you long ago not to hurt her, or you would regret it. Unfortunately, you didn't listen."
"Why didn't Xiao Man tell me she saved me? Why didn't you tell me?"
"She suffered a severe blow to the head that day and forgot about it. And you, due to your fear, chose to forget. Since both of you have forgotten, why should I bring up such an unpleasant memory?" Wen Mohan turned to leave. "You may go. This is the last time. If there is a next time, I will kill you."
When Xiao Man received the news that Wen Mohan had let Cen Yu go, she merely nodded, asking nothing.
Yan Yao stood by her side, carefully observing Xiao Man's expression. For some reason, the Imperial Princess was angry with him, and he still didn't understand what he had done wrong.
"Imperial Princess."
"Did you finish the books I asked you to read?" Xiao Man asked unhurriedly.
"I have."
"What does Chapter Eighty-Two talk about?"
"Befriend the noble, distance yourself from the villainous."
"What is a villainous person?"
"A treacherous and flattering individual who flatters superiors and bullies inferiors, with a malicious heart."
Xiao Man nodded slowly. "Do you know your mistake?"
Yan Yao immediately knelt. "Please forgive me, Imperial Princess. I know I was wrong."
"Where was your mistake?"
"I..." Yan Yao was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "I shouldn't have tried to sow discord between you and Gentleman Wen."
Xiao Man continued to review the memorials in her hand and did not ask Yan Yao to rise. Her relationship with Wen Mohan was not something that anyone could tamper with. She had always trusted him.
Seeing that Xiao Man remained silent, Yan Yao understood that she was not satisfied with his answer. "I... I just wanted the Imperial Princess to look at me more. You are always with Gentleman Wen, and you always have endless conversations. I, who am the most outstanding disciple of Hongxiu Academy, cannot even speak with you. I am jealous. I am jealous that Gentleman Wen can discuss state affairs and the welfare of the people with the Imperial Princess. But in Lan Yue, men are not allowed to enter officialdom. Even if I learn from the books you have me read, they will be of no use."
Xiao Man sighed. "Do you know how to write the character for 'ren' (person)?"
"I do." Yan Yao immediately crawled forward and wrote the character 'ren' on the Xuan paper.
Xiao Man picked up her brush and wrote a few more 'ren' characters next to it, some lying down, some upside down, some crooked. "Are these the same character?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"A person stands upright."
Xiao Man smiled knowingly. "Yes, a person stands upright. If you want to lie down, no one can help you. Some things may seem useless, but learning them is beneficial and harmless to you. Moreover, who says men can only stay in the inner quarters?"
"The regulations of Lan Yue."
"Rules are made by people, and they can be changed," Xiao Man said slowly. "Whether it is a woman or a man, everyone has the right to pursue the life they want, not to be confined to a certain place by others. The key is that you yourself must dare to stand up and say no."
"Do I have the right to say no?" Yan Yao asked dazedly. Everything he had learned since childhood was about obedience, but Xiao Man was telling him to say no. This contradicted everything he had been taught.
"Of course," Xiao Man affirmed. "As long as you are unwilling, you can say no."
"Imperial Princess, I want to be your consort!"
"That is not possible," Xiao Man refused without hesitation.
"Why? Is it because I am not outstanding enough?"
"It is not that you are not outstanding enough, but my consort has already been decided," Xiao Man's voice was unhurried, like a gentle breeze, making one want to stop and listen to her continue.
"Is that person Gentleman Wen?"
"Yes," Xiao Man did not hide it, giving a firm answer.
"Does the Imperial Princess love Gentleman Wen?"
"This has nothing to do with love," Xiao Man continued to review the memorials. "You only need to know that my consort will undoubtedly be him."
Yan Yao scratched his head, not quite understanding Xiao Man's words. "Then may I be your male attendant?"
"No."
"If I can't be your consort, can't I even be a male attendant?"
"Why would you want to be a male attendant to someone? Isn't a lifelong monogamous relationship better?" Xiao Man retorted. "If you truly love someone, can you tolerate her having other men around?"
Yan Yao was stumped. After a long pause, he said, "It is normal for a female ruler to have multiple male attendants. My mother, besides my father, had several other male attendants."
"Then was your father happy?"
Yan Yao fell silent. His father was not happy. He had devoted all his energy to him, diligently teaching him, all to make him superior to others, to make him a legitimate husband.
"So, the Imperial Princess only wants Gentleman Wen, to make him happy?"
"It's not just that," Xiao Man looked up at Yan Yao. "I am a very lazy person and cannot spare that much energy to deal with other men."
"You don't need to deal with them, just distribute your favor evenly."
"Too tiring."
"It won't tire you, we will serve you well," Yan Yao quickly said. "Imperial Princess, please let me be your male attendant. I will do a very good job."
Xiao Man smiled and shook her head. "The first thing you need to change is not to be a servant to others."
"Why?"
"That is self-degradation. Do you think a person who degrades himself has any future?" Xiao Man dipped her brush in ink and continued to review the memorials. "On the bookshelf, the books on the third row are miscellaneous records from various countries. Take some time to read them. They are all about the customs and traditions of the four kingdoms, which may be helpful to you."
"Imperial Princess, you really can't let me be a male attendant?"
"No."
"But the Empress will not allow an outsider to be the Imperial Princess's consort."
"My consort, I decide," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "Even the Empress cannot change my mind."
"The Empress has already announced to the world that she will select a consort for you. When the time comes, the one who stands out will become your consort. What will you do then?"
"Did I say I would attend?"
Yan Yao looked at her in shock. You dare to defy the Empress's orders? Aren't you afraid the Empress will kill you in anger?
"Imperial Princess, the Empress is the ruler of a nation. The Emperor's commands cannot be disobeyed!"