Madam Jin looked at Xiao Man in surprise as she entered. The Jin and Xiao families were not close. Even though Xiao Man was friendly with the Prince of Qi, she rarely interacted with the Jin family. Madam Jin wondered why Xiao Man was here, but upon seeing Jin Rong standing beside Xiao Man, her thoughts shifted. Was it possible that Rong'er had a good relationship with her?
"Xiao Man!"
A figure flashed out from behind Xiao Man and quickly reached Second Master Jin. With a loud slap, he sent Second Master Jin flying, overturning a chair: "How dare you, a lowly person, call our princess by name?"
Second Master Jin clutched his rapidly swelling face and looked at Xiao Man, who stood there with an air of disdain, in terror. Why had this living devil come to the Jin family at this time?
Jin Rong immediately stepped forward, lit a stick of incense, and handed it to Xiao Man. Xiao Man walked to the memorial tablet, bowed, and inserted the incense into the censer.
"Madam Jin, please accept my condolences."
Madam Jin was somewhat flattered and quickly returned the bow: "Thank you, Princess Yongning."
Xiao Man's gaze turned to the onlookers from the Jin family's collateral branches, who were eyeing the situation with ill intent: "Are you also here to pay your respects?"
The crowd swallowed hard. They couldn't afford to offend this living devil. When her father, the Great General, was still alive, she was a troublemaker. Now that the General was gone, she had taken over the position of the Divine Capital Camp, becoming even more arrogant. How could they dare to confront this living devil?
"Yes... we are here to pay our respects."
"You've paid your respects, why aren't you leaving? What, are you waiting to divide the family inheritance?"
"Not at all, not at all, we'll leave right away, right away." The members of the Jin family's collateral branches practically scrambled away from the Jin residence. Madam Jin found the scene laughable. She had been prepared to fight those people, who were still eyeing the Jin family's fortune, but Xiao Man's arrival and a single sentence had them fleeing in terror!
"This subject thanks Princess Yongning." Madam Jin said sincerely. If Xiao Man hadn't visited unexpectedly, the Jin family would have become a laughingstock of the entire imperial capital tomorrow.
"You are too kind, Madam. I haven't done anything." Xiao Man said softly. "When my father passed away, your young master came to pay his respects and helped me a lot with the procurement. I should be thanking you. My father was unfortunately murdered, and my mother is alone at home, inevitably feeling lonely. If you are not busy, Madam, perhaps you could visit my mother more often."
Madam Jin was somewhat flattered. Was Xiao Man intending to help her, to support her and her son?
"Very well. Once the matters in the household are settled, I will definitely host a tea party and invite Madam Xiao. I hope you won't find it lacking."
"Thank you, Madam. I still have matters in the military, so I will take my leave now."
"I'll see you out." Jin Rong said quickly. After bowing to Madam Jin, he escorted Xiao Man out.
Madam Jin watched the two leave side by side. She quickly clasped the wet nurse's hand: "Wet nurse, could it be that Rong'er likes..."
"Hush!" The wet nurse gestured for Madam Jin to be quiet. "Madam, you are overthinking. Don't you remember, Princess Yongning is engaged to the young master of the Wen family, Wen Mohan."
Madam Jin froze. That was right, Xiao Man was already engaged. What if her son liked Xiao Man?
"Wet nurse, what if Rong'er only likes Princess Yongning? What then?" Madam Jin became anxious. If her son liked Xiao Man, and Xiao Man liked her son, it would be a happy ending for all. But it was well known that Xiao Man and that Master Wen were deeply in love. Her son would likely only experience unrequited love!
The wet nurse also felt a bit troubled. Xiao Man was not an ordinary young lady. Their young master couldn't handle her. Moreover, that young master Wen was not easy to deal with. Even though Prime Minister Wen had retired, his network of influence was still present!
"Madam, perhaps things are not as we think." The wet nurse comforted her. "Perhaps, the young master and Princess Yongning are just friends."
Madam Jin patted her chest. "Perhaps. Once the matters in the household are dealt with, we'll prepare a tea party and invite Madam Xiao over for tea."
"Your maidservant has noted it."
The news of Xiao Man's visit to the Jin family to pay her respects and drive away the collateral branches spread like wildfire, igniting rumors and gossip.
Ran Sheng looked at Xiao Man, who sat calmly and unfazed, with a hint of helplessness: "Commander, everyone is spreading rumors that you have rebellious intentions. Why did you go to meddle in the Jin family's affairs?"
"My father was murdered. How many people came to pay their respects sincerely?" Xiao Man asked softly. "Most of them came to watch the spectacle, to see if I, having lost my support, would still dare to be arrogant. But Jin Rong was not like that. He came with sincerity to pay his respects and helped me stabilize the Xiao family's business. He never kicked me when I was down. Ran Sheng, it's easy to add flowers to the brocade, but difficult to send charcoal in the snow. Those who can send you charcoal in the snow are worth befriending."
Ran Sheng opened his mouth, unable to refute Xiao Man's words: "But this will make His Majesty suspicious of you!"
"His Majesty has always been suspicious. Do you think that if I do nothing, His Majesty won't be suspicious of me?" Xiao Man looked up at the sky. "We should not fear suspicion. As long as we do our duty, it is enough."
Ran Sheng fell silent. He admired Xiao Man's abilities. Xiao Man's methods of training soldiers were also different from others, yet they yielded considerable results. Many who had looked down on Xiao Man in the army were now convinced by her prowess.
"Commander, who did you learn your soldier training methods from?" Ran Sheng asked the question that had been bothering him for a long time.
Xiao Man looked at Ran Sheng: "You've wanted to ask this question for a long time, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"I learned from my senior sister." Xiao Man said slowly. "I have a senior sister, who is very capable and excels at training soldiers."
"You have a senior sister?" Ran Sheng was full of questions. In the imperial capital, it was common knowledge that Xiao Man's master was the National Preceptor Feng Tianlan, but the National Preceptor only had Xiao Man as his beloved disciple. Where did she get a senior sister from?
"Yes, I have a senior sister, but she is dead." Xiao Man said slowly. "She died tragically."
Ran Sheng's expression changed slightly. He dared not ask any more questions, fearing that he might stir up Xiao Man's painful memories.
"I apologize, Commander. This subordinate did not mean to."
Xiao Man waved her hand dismissively. "It's alright. It's not a secret that cannot be spoken. We train soldiers with only one purpose, and that is to let them survive on the battlefield! That's why I demand strictness from every soldier. I don't fear them resenting me or hating me. I just want to do everything I can to let more people survive on the battlefield."
"The brothers know of the Commander's good intentions."
"Ran Sheng, don't lie to me. I know that in private, they call me the living devil!" Xiao Man teased. "But isn't that Prince Qin's title? How did it become mine?"
Ran Sheng's lips twitched, and he suddenly smiled. "Those scoundrels said you are even more terrifying than Prince Qin. The title 'living devil' suits you better than Prince Qin."