"Have you been taking your medicine again?" Ye Qing asked with a frown.
Xiao Man shook her head. "No, I've just been too busy lately and haven't rested well."
Ye Qing didn't believe her. "I'm a doctor, and your sworn elder brother. Are you hiding this from me?"
Xiao Man simply smiled gently. "I haven't been taking any medicine. It's just that the lingering effects of consecutive severe injuries have left me weak. I'm doing my best to recover, so please don't worry, elder brother."
"I'll stay at the General's mansion. Your body is too frail. I won't be at ease if I don't personally manage your treatment," Ye Qing said with a smile. "As your dedicated physician, all I need is food and lodging."
Xiao Man chuckled, covering her mouth. "Second brother is also not lightly injured. Have you seen him?"
"I have. He's been in the Imperial Capital for too long and lost his vigilance. This injury should serve as a reminder. The Imperial Capital is far more dangerous than the battlefield," Ye Qing said calmly.
"I also went to see him. He sustained very serious internal injuries," Xiao Man said, her face etched with worry. "When the incident occurred at his mansion, I could feel the tremors even in the palace. I never imagined he would be injured so severely."
"It wasn't just yesterday's injury that made him so bad, but rather that he had pre-existing internal injuries. This latest injury aggravated them, leading to such a severe condition," Ye Qing reassured Xiao Man. "Don't worry. He's endured worse injuries than this before and pulled through. He'll be fine this time too." Su Dan novel network
Xiao Man nodded slightly. "How did second brother get injured internally? I haven't paid enough attention to him. Recently, my father was killed, and I was busy handling household affairs, so I neglected him. Elder brother, do you know how A Yu was injured? With his skills, there are only a handful of people who could have gravely injured him."
"I don't know the specifics," Ye Qing admitted, genuinely unaware of the reasons. "I only returned a couple of days ago and have many things to attend to. I asked him, but he didn't say."
Xiao Man lowered her gaze. "He didn't even tell you?"
"Don't worry, he probably doesn't want us to worry," Ye Qing said gently. "I heard you went to become the commander of the Divine Capital Guard. Your body is already weak, and taking on a military post – won't that be too strenuous?"
"I don't want to be idle at home. When people are too idle, they tend to overthink," a maid brought hot tea, and Xiao Man personally handed it to Ye Qing. "Moreover, the Divine Capital Guard was my father's life's work. I cannot let his efforts be in vain."
"I just hope you're not being too hard on yourself," Ye Qing said softly. "By the way, something else happened at the Qin King's mansion. Have you heard about it?"
"What is it?" Xiao Man inquired. She had been swamped with tasks these past two days and hadn't paid much attention to the Qin King's mansion affairs.
"Luo Bingqing had a fall and gave birth prematurely."
"She was only seven months pregnant, wasn't she? That child must be very weak."
Ye Qing nodded slowly. "That child passed away this morning at dawn."
Xiao Man couldn't help but show pity. "Miss Luo must be heartbroken."
"Her, I don't know about. But Si Feng is truly devastated. His eyes are swollen from crying. He was so looking forward to this child. Little did he know, the baby lived only three days after birth," Ye Qing took a sip of tea. "They've also found out who caused Luo Bingqing's premature labor. It was that maid, Lian Yi, whom the Empress Dowager bestowed upon them."
"They are all women, why must they trouble women?" Xiao Man sighed. "Elder brother, why do women always make things difficult for other women? It is women who are harsh on women, and women who hurt women?"
Ye Qing looked innocent. "I am not a woman, so I don't know what women think."
"Indeed. Men don't understand why women would engage in such internal strife, just as women don't understand why men would fight so desperately for power," Xiao Man said slowly. "Men and women receive different educations from childhood. Girls are taught arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and to be gentle and considerate – all to please men. Men, on the other hand, learn archery, martial arts, and statecraft, being told to achieve great deeds and not to indulge in romantic sentimentality."
"Why are you so contemplative today?" Ye Qing asked, puzzled. The Xiao Man he knew was flamboyant and commanding. Today, she was unusually demure and feminine, which he found a bit unsettling.
"I just suddenly feel that being born a woman seems to be an original sin," Xiao Man said, taking a sip of tea before continuing. "Parents want a son to carry on the family line, and daughters are mere stepping stones for their sons' progress. After marriage, they are expected to be good wives and devoted mothers, virtuous and dignified, and must give birth to sons. Even if they have sons, they must tolerate their husbands taking concubines to maintain a reputation. If they are wronged by their husband's family, it's better if their maiden family offers some support. But if their maiden family adds insult to injury, then the girl's situation becomes truly precarious."
"The Great General has always treated you like a pearl in his palm. Who would dare mistreat you?" Ye Qing retorted. "Even your brothers aren't as doted upon. Your father was quite the exception."
"Yes, my father was an exception. He didn't love his sons, but his daughters."
"Your father didn't not love his sons; he only loved you," Ye Qing saw it clearly. Xiao Zhen truly cherished Xiao Man. Sometimes, he even wondered if Xiao Man was his only daughter, as if the others were not, otherwise, why the blatant favoritism?
If Xiao Man were outstanding, it would be natural for Xiao Zhen to dote on her. But Xiao Man had been a constant source of trouble and fights since childhood, yet Xiao Zhen still loved her alone.
"Yes, a father who loved only me was murdered in such a way. As his only beloved daughter, how can I let him die in vain?" Xiao Man said in a low voice. "Therefore, no matter who the murderer is, I will make them pay!"
Ye Qing always felt there was more to Xiao Man's words, but he didn't know how to ask, so he decided to let it be for now.
Old Madam Xiao had fallen ill. Wet Nurse Xu came to report to Xiao Man.
Xiao Man simply instructed them to call a doctor and paid it no further mind.
Wet Nurse Xu hesitated for a moment but did not leave, wanting to speak but fearing Xiao Man would find her troublesome.
"Wet Nurse Xu, is there anything else?" Xiao Man asked while reviewing official documents. When she was very young, Xiao Zhen used to hold her in one arm while reviewing documents with the other. At that time, she didn't know many characters, so Xiao Zhen would read the content of the documents to her and ask her how she would handle such matters, analyzing her answers. She didn't understand why Xiao Zhen did that when she was young, but by the time she did, he was no longer around.
"The Old Madam is ill," Wet Nurse Xu repeated.
"The Old Madam is ill, then send for a doctor," Xiao Man said without looking up. "If the doctors outside are not adequate, use my token to summon an imperial physician from the palace."
Seeing Xiao Man's indifference, as if the Old Madam were not her grandmother but a stranger, Wet Nurse Xu said, "Eldest Miss, the Old Madam has a heart ailment. Perhaps you could go and see her?"