Wen Mohan frowned, "I had people investigate the princesses of Lanyue. Lanyue has five princesses. The strongest is the eldest, followed by the fourth princess. The weakest is the third princess, Lan Qin, who has been lurking in Yusheng."
Xiao Man took a sip of tea, "Let's go for a stroll around Bianjing City later and see what differences there are between the capital of Lanyue and the capital of Yusheng."
Wen Mohan's heart stirred, and she understood instantly, "The Lanyue Empress will not see you."
"Of course, she won't see me. The moment I entered the imperial city, I struck down her great general. If she were to see me, wouldn't the court officials revolt?" Xiao Man said faintly. "However, we still need to make a show of courtesy."
"I wonder if they sell wontons in the capital here," Wen Mohan said with a smile. "If they do, let's try them and see if they taste the same as the wontons in Shengjing City."
"Here, I'm afraid no one can make wontons like Uncle Wonton," Xiao Man rested her chin in her hand, her face full of reminiscence. "I won't be able to eat their wontons for a long time."
"If Man'er wants to eat them, I'll make them for you," Wen Mohan said softly. "I also learned to make wontons from them."
Xiao Man looked at Wen Mohan with some confusion. Why did he learn to make wontons? Was it for someone?
Upon entering the inner palace, everyone was required to dismount their carriages. Xiao Man did not make things difficult and immediately alighted from the carriage, switching to a sedan chair.
The sedan chair was carried all the way to the Empress's sleeping quarters. Yao Ran knocked on the sedan chair, "Imperial Daughter, we have arrived."
"Announce our arrival first," Xiao Man's voice came from the sedan chair, but she showed no sign of getting out.
Yao Ran felt this was inappropriate. Then, as if she had thought of something, she immediately had someone go and report.
Inside the sleeping quarters, the Empress was reclining on a soft couch, with two men kneeling beside her, one massaging her legs and the other fanning her.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Yao has returned."
The Empress turned a page of her book and remained silent. As soon as Xiao Man arrived in Bianjing, she struck down her great general. This was not just an insult to her general, but also to her dignity.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Yao is waiting outside, and he has brought that Yusheng woman with him."
The Empress raised her eyes and looked at the speaker, "Drag him away and beat him to death."
"Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me." Guards immediately stepped forward and dragged away the pleading man. Moments later, the sounds of beating and pleading could be heard from outside.
Prime Minister Yao glanced at the man being dragged out and then looked towards the sedan chair. Xiao Man had remained silent. These two were truly like family, both fond of beatings!
The male attendant was beaten to death at the entrance of the hall, his blood-drenched body lying on the ground, looking desolate and terrifying. Xiao Man did not even glance at him and yawned indifferently, "Prime Minister Yao, let's leave the palace."
Yao Ran stared at the sedan chair in astonishment. "Great Aunt, can we not be so arrogant? If you leave the palace like this, and His Majesty finds out, you will not fare well!"
"She will not see me today, and waiting here is a waste of time. Let's leave the palace."
"But your residence has not yet been determined..."
"My people have already prepared a place for us to stay. Prime Minister Yao need not worry. If Prime Minister Yao fears His Majesty's displeasure, you can continue to wait here." Xiao Man tapped the sedan chair, "Leave the palace."
The sedan chair bearers exchanged glances, unsure what to do, and looked to Yao Ran for help. Yao Ran dared not make a decision and pretended not to see.
The sedan chair bearers refused to move. At this moment, the two people Xiao Man brought into the palace came into play. One in front and one behind, they lifted the sedan chair and turned around to leave. A sedan chair carried by four people was lifted by these two as if it were weightless, and they disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Yao Ran looked at Lan Qin, who was pretending to sleep beside her, "Third Princess."
Lan Qin shrugged, "Don't look at me. It's already giving you a lot of face that she could enter the palace. You know her personality. When she was in Yusheng, she didn't even kneel to the Emperor, and beating imperial princes was like playing. She grew up doted on by my father and has seen no one's face. It would be good enough if she didn't disrespect others."
Yao Ran choked, "This is Lanyue, not Yusheng."
"In Yusheng, she was just the daughter of a general, and she dared to be so arrogant. Now she is the Imperial Daughter of Lanyue, her status even more noble, and the Imperial Seal is in her hands. If you anger her, be careful she smashes the Imperial Seal and sends it to His Majesty."
Yao Ran felt extremely aggrieved. Having been a prime minister for so many years, she had never felt so wronged. Ever since she met Xiao Man, it was as if she had experienced all the hardships and grievances she had never suffered in her life.
"Third Princess, the Imperial Daughter can be arrogant, but we cannot. You should think about how to deal with His Majesty's wrath."
Lan Qin chuckled and turned to leave. She left very calmly, as if she had just come to visit and didn't care whether she saw the Empress or not. After all, she was the least favored, and having been in hiding for many years, her feelings for the Empress were not as deep as those for Xiao Zhen.
Yao Ran stood alone outside the Empress's sleeping quarters, her face contorted with anger. Fortunately, the Empress did not make things difficult for her and soon sent someone to inform her to return to her residence to rest.
The man massaging her legs glanced at the Empress who was still reading, took a piece of candied fruit, and offered it to the Empress's mouth, "Your Majesty, aren't you very curious about Xiao Man? Why is she here, and you don't see her?"
The Empress turned a page of her book and then slowly said, "Her personality is too proud. She needs to be tempered properly. If I were to see her immediately, she might cause chaos in Bianjing."
"Xiao Man's personality is truly overbearing. She dared to punish General Jing in broad daylight as soon as she arrived. Isn't she afraid of making an enemy of the general?"
The Empress smiled, "If she were afraid, she wouldn't have so conspicuously beaten Jing Yu Jun. Jing Yu Jun is usually quite arrogant herself. She was unlucky to meet Xiao Man."
"Are you not angry that Xiao Man beat General Jing?" the man asked tentatively. Living in the inner court, they had long learned to observe words and expressions and fathom the Empress's thoughts. Otherwise, one wrong step could lead to a tragic end in the inner court.
"It's good that she has the ability. I'm afraid she's only good at being overbearing but lacks the ability to protect herself. Let's watch for now, and let me see if she has the ability to sit in the position of Imperial Daughter." The Empress said as if it didn't matter.
"I heard that Xiao Man resembles Your Majesty somewhat. I wonder if it's true," the man fanning her said with a smile.
The Empress heard this, put down her book, and looked towards the door. Resemble her? It was only natural to resemble her, as they were sisters and looked very alike when they were young. Many people couldn't tell them apart, but only one person could always recognize her at a glance.
The Empress sat up and waved her hands, signaling the two men to withdraw.
The two men immediately got off the soft couch, "Your servants take their leave."
"Wan'er."
"Your servant is here," a female official stepped forward.
"Send someone to watch Xiao Man. As long as her life is not in danger, you don't need to interfere. Let her suffer a little and learn to bow her head."
"Your servant obeys."