After a game of ball that left her in a sweat, Xiao Man returned to Shui Yue Xiao Zhu to bathe and change. Upon emerging, dressed anew, she found He Ye waiting outside.
"He Ye pays his respects to the Eldest Miss. From today onwards, He Ye will be your personal guard, at your command," He Ye said, cupping his fist in a salute. Though his ambition lay in achieving military glory on the battlefield, a man must keep his word. Having lost, he had to accept it with grace.
Xiao Man’s eyes crinkled into a smile, “Are you not afraid of regretting following me?”
“A true man of integrity keeps his word. Losing is losing, and one cannot go back on his promise,” He Ye stated loudly. “Eldest Miss, please feel free to give any order. I have already informed General Xiao about my departure from the unit. I will submit my resignation later.”
“No rush,” Xiao Man said calmly. “There’s no urgency about leaving the unit.”
He Ye looked at Xiao Man with confusion, “If I do not leave the unit, in a few days’ time, I will have to return to Yun Zhong City with the Young General.”
“We’ll discuss it then,” Xiao Man asked gently, “Do you have anyone at home?”
“My parents are both well, living in Guang Yang Village, on the outskirts of the capital,” He Ye replied truthfully. However, as he spoke of his parents, a flicker of indescribable emotion crossed his eyes.
“Do you have any siblings?”
“I originally had a younger sister, but she passed away from illness,” He Ye’s tone betrayed no emotion, yet Xiao Man knew him to be an ambitious man. He would not be content to remain in the Imperial Capital, but making him entirely her own would be no easy feat.
However, she most relished challenges, the difficult and the impossible!
“Have you visited home?”
“Not yet,” He Ye answered. “I plan to go back tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Alright, how about this, I’ll accompany you to visit your parents tomorrow.”
He Ye’s expression changed slightly, showing hesitation, as if unwilling. But seeing Xiao Man’s unyielding demeanor, he finally nodded.
“Let me clarify beforehand, Eldest Miss, Guang Yang Village is not a prosperous place. If you go, please do not be offended.”
“I understand. Come fetch me first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Yes.” After He Ye left, Ying Xue appeared perplexed, “Eldest Miss, why did you want He Ye? Is there something special about him?”
Xiao Man replied softly, “Ying Xue, in a battle between two armies, do you know what determines victory?”
“The commander.”
Xiao Man shook her head, “Guess again.”
“The number of soldiers?” Ying Xue exclaimed, her eyes shining. If one army vastly outnumbered the other, victory would be effortless.
Xiao Man shook her head and denied it again, “It’s the scouts.”
“Scouts?” Ying Xue was confused. “Aren’t scouts usually thankless and difficult positions?”
“You are mistaken. Scouts are very important, especially an excellent scout. They can detect the enemy’s movements in advance, inferring their intentions and strategies from scarce clues, which can greatly help our army minimize losses and achieve victory.”
“He Ye is a scout?”
“He could be said to be the most outstanding scout I’ve ever met,” Xiao Man said slowly. She had only met He Ye once in Yun Zhong City but had remembered him. “My brother’s successful capture of Ping Xi City was greatly attributed to him.”
“Are you bringing him back to keep him by your side?”
“No. The battlefield is where he can truly showcase his skills,” Xiao Man’s gaze was distant. “I want him to be my eyes on the battlefield.”
As night fell, Xiao Man sat by the window, playing chess, while Qiu Tong brewed tea beside her. The occasional sound of firecrackers could be heard from outside. The first day of the New Year was always exceptionally lively. Xiao Zhen and his son had been dragged out for drinks by colleagues and had not yet returned.
A sound came from outside the window. Xiao Man reached out and pushed the window open, only to see Nangong Yu standing there. “Your Highness usually enters unannounced. Why are you knocking today?”
Nangong Yu leaped in. “I was afraid that if I suddenly burst the window open, I might hurt you.”
Xiao Man smiled gently, “It’s New Year’s Day, Your Highness, aren’t you going to the palace?”
“My birth mother passed away early, and my imperial grandmother has not returned. There is no one in the palace I care about,” Nangong Yu sat down beside Xiao Man. He took the tea offered by Qiu Tong and took a sip. “My manor is also cold and desolate. After much thought, I decided to come here to ask for a cup of tea.”
“Have you had dinner yet?”
“No,” Nangong Yu picked up a chess piece and continued the game Xiao Man had started. “I thought I’d eat here.”
Xiao Man raised an eyebrow and looked at Nangong Yu. “What would Your Highness like to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it.”
“Make it yourself. Anything you cook, I’ll eat,” Nangong Yu’s voice was gentle, different from his usual tone. Today, he was exceptionally mild.
Qiu Tong, seeing the bewildered look on Xiao Man’s face, thought for a moment and suddenly realized something. She quickly whispered in Xiao Man’s ear, causing Xiao Man’s expression to change slightly.
“Today is Your Highness’s birthday?”
Nangong Yu glanced at Qiu Tong. Qiu Tong covered her face and retreated. Miss, your servant reminded you, but she didn’t mean for you to say it out loud like this! You’ve plainly told His Highness Prince Qin that you don’t care about him!
“Yes.”
Xiao Man immediately put down her chess piece and got up to leave. Nangong Yu followed, seeing Xiao Man heading directly to the kitchen. A smile flickered in his eyes as he leaned against the doorframe, watching Xiao Man methodically knead dough and prepare vegetables. The tenderness in his eyes overflowed.
Xiao Man made longevity noodles all evening and then fried a golden sunny-side-up egg, sprinkling it with chopped scallions. She placed it before Nangong Yu. “Longevity noodles. I wish Your Highness good health and all the best.”
Nangong Yu took the chopsticks Xiao Man offered, picked up the fried egg on top of the noodles, and took a bite. Then he tasted the noodles, “It’s tasteless.”
“How can that be?”
Nangong Yu handed the chopsticks to Xiao Man. “Don’t believe me, try it yourself.”
Xiao Man immediately took them and took a bite of the fried egg that Nangong Yu had already bitten. It tasted good! She then tasted the noodles again. They were firm and elastic, and the broth was rich, fragrant, and delicious. “The saltiness is just right. Does Your Highness have a heavier palate?”
Nangong Yu’s eyes were full of laughter. He took the chopsticks back from Xiao Man and continued eating his noodles. “Perhaps my mouth is too bland. I’ll eat a few more bites to test it.”
Xiao Man watched Nangong Yu finish the bowl of longevity noodles cleanly. Her expression was one of hesitant speech, finally resolving into, “How was the taste?”
“It was very good. Perhaps I didn’t taste the flavor with the first bite. After eating a few more bites, I could taste it,” Nangong Yu’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he reached out to Xiao Man. “Do you have a gift for me?”
A gift? Xiao Man felt embarrassed. She had forgotten it was Prince Qin’s birthday, let alone prepared a gift. But seeing Prince Qin’s expression, she feared she might not be able to withstand his anger if she had no gift for him.
Xiao Man quickly patted herself down, but after searching for a long time, she couldn’t find anything presentable. Glancing at Prince Qin’s increasingly displeased face, Xiao Man became angry with her habit of not carrying things with her.