Old Madam Xiao cried for a while. Her gaze swept to Xiao Man, who was standing by, and she pushed Xiao Ling aside before rushing up to slap Xiao Man hard. Xiao Man's lips bled from the blow, but the old madam did not stop, and slapped her again.
"Old Madam!" He Qingyi quickly blocked, pulling Xiao Man away. The old madam's slap landed on He Qingyi's back. He Qingyi flinched, "Old Madam, Eldest Miss is also very sad. Why must you torment her further."
"Xiao Man, what did you promise me before I left?" Old Madam Xiao's eyes were bloodshot, wishing she could eat Xiao Man, "Why wasn't it you who died?"
"Old Madam Xiao, please watch your words!" Wen Mohan rushed in, shielding Xiao Man in his arms, "The Great General has been murdered, and Man'er is also deeply saddened. You have lost a son, and she has lost a father. Why must you make things difficult for your own family? Must you force Man'er to death because the General was murdered?"
"Stop talking," Xiao Man interrupted, "I broke my promise. It is only right that the old madam is angry."
Old Madam Xiao stared at Xiao Man for a long time, then finally slumped onto the coffin and wept bitterly. Xiao Ling helped the old madam, trying to console her, weeping repeatedly. The mourners were also moved to tears.
"The Great General always doted on Princess Yongning. Now that the Great General has been murdered, Princess Yongning hasn't shed a single tear. The Great General truly doted on her in vain," someone whispered.
"Indeed. We've been here for quite a while, and it's always Third Miss who's guarding the mourning hall. Who knows where she is. If you ask me, the Great General's murder might be due to her usual arrogance and high-handedness, making too many enemies and implicating the Great General."
"Hush, don't talk nonsense."
"Who's talking nonsense? The Great General fought on the battlefield and offended only the enemy. Where could he have deep-seated enemies? It's Princess Yongning, on the other hand, who has countless enemies, too many to count."
While everyone was whispering, Prince Qin arrived with his men. The moment he entered, everyone fell silent.
Nan Gong Yu's icy gaze swept across the hall, "Si Chen, Si Ye."
"Your subordinate is here."
"If you hear anyone gossiping and slandering Princess Yongning, pull out their tongues."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Everyone quickly covered their mouths, looking at Prince Qin in fear. Prince Qin had always disliked gossip and had pulled out many people's tongues before. They did not want to lose their tongues for gossiping.
"Old Madam Xiao, please accept my condolences," Nan Gong Yu said slowly, looking at the sobbing Old Madam Xiao, "No matter how sad or pained you are, you cannot beat a princess of the royal family. Xiao Man is a princess of the imperial family, granted by the Emperor. She is this king's sworn sister. Her status is no longer that of a general's mansion's young lady, but a member of the royal family. Beating a princess of the royal family is to show contempt for the imperial family, to slander a princess, and even more so, to show contempt for the law. I hope everyone present will consider the consequences before acting or speaking."
Old Madam Xiao felt a surge of blood rise to her throat. She was so angry she rolled her eyes. Coupled with grief and rage, she fainted.
The maids and servants rushed to carry her inside, calling for a doctor and massaging her, a flurry of activity.
The guests who had come to offer condolences originally thought that with General Xiao dead and Xiao Man having lost her protector, they could come and seek revenge. Little did they know that Prince Qin would jump out and protect Xiao Man.
Xiao Man looked at Nan Gong Yu without speaking. Nan Gong Yu reached out and pinched her chin, looking at her swollen face, his brow furrowing even deeper, "You are a princess of the royal family, backed by the Son of Heaven. Your support has never been the Great General, but the Emperor. If anyone thinks that because the Great General is gone, they can bully you, you don't need to be polite. Kill them all. Whatever happens, I will take responsibility."
Gasps of admiration echoed, and the guests began to take their leave. They had not come to offer sincere condolences but to watch a spectacle. Even though Xiao Man was protected by the former subordinates of the Xiao family, their status was ultimately too low. But Prince Qin was different!
Prince Qin was of noble birth and held military power. If they opposed Prince Qin, even with ten lives, they wouldn't be enough for him to kill.
"Thank you, Your Highness Prince Qin," Wen Mohan said on behalf of Xiao Man.
Nan Gong Yu snorted, "Useless. Without Prime Minister Wen, you're nothing? You can't even protect your fiancée. What good are you?"
Wen Mohan clenched his fists, not retorting. He was just a scholar. His methods of dealing with enemies were not as direct as those of a military general. He did not possess Nan Gong Yu's awe-inspiring might, but he would still do his utmost to protect the one he loved.
When Old Madam Xiao returned for the funeral, she also brought Xiao Ting back. Seeing her daughter return, Concubine Lin's mind became active again. Now that the Great General had been murdered, the Xiao family was in decline. Even with Xiao Luo holding on, he was too far away to help. She had to find a way out for herself and her son. Before, when the General was alive, Xiao Man had offended too many people. Now that the General was gone, those people would surely seek revenge. She did not want to be implicated by Xiao Man.
"Aunt, what is it you want me for?" The Fourth Miss was in mourning attire, which made her look as elegant as a chrysanthemum, with a hint of charm added compared to her usual self.
"Now that your father has been murdered, you should make plans for yourself," Concubine Lin lowered her voice, "While your Eldest Sister is in deep grief and preoccupied with other matters, this is your opportunity." Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Ting stared at Concubine Lin, "What do you want me to do, Aunt?"
"Since your brother is far away at the border, and Lord Wen is your Eldest Sister's fiancé, he is handling all the affairs of the mansion. For convenience, he is currently staying in the guest courtyard of the mansion. This is our opportunity." Although Concubine Lin was a little scared in her heart, for the sake of her future, she had no choice. Given Xiao Man's uncompromising nature, if Wen Mohan wronged her, she would surely break up with him. Although Prime Minister Wen had retired, Wen Mohan was still an official in the court. With his talent and ability, he would surely have a bright future.
"Aunt wants me to seduce Elder Sister's fiancé?" Xiao Ting asked in disbelief.
"What do you mean seduce? Don't put it so harshly. This is mutual consent. As long as you win him over..."
"Enough, Aunt!" Xiao Ting reprimanded, "I am your daughter, a respectable young lady of the General's Mansion, not a prostitute from a brothel who has to do such lowly and dirty things to survive!"
Concubine Lin was struck speechless by the Fourth Miss's words. After a long while, she asked with teary eyes, "Are you disgusted with my background from the brothel? Are you disgusted that my body is dirty?"
"Aunt, I don't like Eldest Sister because Father always favored her. I deliberately stirred up trouble between her and Grandmother because I was afraid of losing Grandmother as a pillar of support, but I still have basic decency! My father's body is barely cold, and you are here instigating me to seduce my sister's fiancé. Is this something a human being would do?"