"Young master, shall we snatch her back?" A figure appeared silently beside Wen Mohan and asked.
Wen Mohan shook his head, "No need. If she's mine, no one can take her away."
The shadow guard disappeared. Wen Mohan picked up the cloak that had fallen to the ground, brushed off the dust, and slowly tied it. Xiao Man had not yet fallen for him. Whoever made Xiao Man fall for them first, he or Prince Qin, would win!
In this regard, their chances were equal, but he had an advantage. Xiao Man was proud and could not be coerced. The harder Prince Qin tried, the more it benefited him!
Sometimes, comparison caused harm. The more understanding and considerate he was, the more it would highlight Nangong Yu's cold and rude demeanor.
As Wen Mohan walked out of the garden, he glanced back at the wind-sheltered pavilion, remembering Xiao Man sleeping in his arms, and a smile curved his lips again.
Man'er, please be patient and wait. Soon, very soon, we can be together openly. At that time, I will surely make you the happiest woman in this world.
Yan Wangfu.
The old King Yan cried as if his world had ended, clutching the imperial physician's collar, demanding he cure his son. The imperial physician was both terrified and helpless. It was shattered; how could it be healed?
Many women in Yan Wangfu had suffered harassment from this young lord, daring not to speak out. Now, hearing that the young lord was crippled and beyond help, they wore expressions of sadness while their hearts bloomed with joy.
Especially the King Yan's Consort, who was on the verge of clapping her hands in applause. This illegitimate son, whom they had found, had never even looked her in the eye. She was not angry and had always indulged Nangong Fei's unruly behavior. In the capital, there were too many people their Yan Wangfu could not afford to offend. With that brat's arrogance, he was bound to run into trouble sooner or later. Little did they expect this day to come so quickly.
"Consort, something's wrong, something's wrong."
"I am perfectly fine. What is wrong?" The King Yan's Consort fiddled with her nail polish, her posture graceful.
"The Prince is going to the General's Mansion to demand an explanation!"
The King Yan's Consort almost laughed out loud, "Go to the General's Mansion to demand an explanation? That useless good-for-nothing went to molest General Xiao's daughter, and he still dares to go to his door to demand an explanation? Does he really think General Xiao is like those officials without power or influence, who would kneel and fawn over him?"
The housekeeper, an old woman, lowered her head, "Precisely because we know, that is why I have come to ask the Consort to persuade him. Otherwise, if the Prince goes and confronts General Xiao, who is fiercely protective of his own, won't he be at a disadvantage?"
"He has had a smooth life his entire life. It is time he tasted some hardship. Let him make a scene," the King Yan's Consort snorted coldly and instructed the maid beside her, "The color of this nail polish is not vibrant enough. Change it for me."
"Yes."
Seeing that the King Yan's Consort looked unwilling to intervene, the old housekeeper knew the Consort harbored deep resentment. The young lord had disrespected her, his mother, and had even forced herself upon her personal maid. Now that the young lord was in trouble, she was more than happy and unwilling to clean up this mess.
The old King Yan, along with dozens of retainers from the mansion, headed straight for the General's Mansion. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhen and his son were sorting through the betrothal gifts, preparing to carry baskets of betrothal gifts to the Chu family to propose. Su Dan Novel Network.
When the old King arrived with his men, he happened to see Xiao Zhen and his son leaving with the betrothal gifts to propose. Xiao Luo was handsome and heroic, and had repeatedly achieved military merits, truly a dragon among men. Thinking of his own son, who was always involved in petty theft and bullying, he felt a surge of grief.
"Your Highness, the Great General has already left."
The old King Yan covered his face with his hand, weeping uncontrollably. In the end, he simply sat down at the entrance of the General's Mansion and cried. He cried with such profound grief that it drew countless onlookers pointing and whispering.
The housekeeper was busy with Xiao Luo's wedding and was unaware that Xiao Man had crippled the old King Yan's only son. Seeing the old King Yan sitting at the entrance of the General's Mansion crying as if he had lost a son, he couldn't help but frown. Today was a good day for proposing, and this old King had come to stir up trouble.
"Old King Yan, what is wrong?"
King Yan was truly heartbroken. He finally had an heir, only for him to fall into the hands of General Xiao's daughter. He was certain that Xiao Zhen resented him for sleeping with his fiancée years ago and had deliberately let his daughter take revenge!
"You compensate me for my son..." The old King clutched the collar of Steward Lu, relentlessly demanding that Steward Lu compensate him for his son.
Steward Lu was bewildered and quickly signaled a young servant to find out what had happened. The servant slipped away and returned after only a few minutes, whispering a few words in Steward Lu's ear. Steward Lu's face turned cold as he cautiously smoothed out the wrinkles on his collar, which he had rescued from the old King Yan's grip. "Old King Yan, the ground is cold. You should get up."
"Speak, is it that Xiao Zhen deliberately took revenge, taking revenge for me back then..."
"Old King Yan," Steward Lu interrupted the old King Yan, "My General is upright and honorable. My eldest daughter is righteous and hates evil, and never initiates trouble. If you have any grievances, please go to the Jingzhao Fu. If the Jingzhao Fu cannot resolve it, then go to His Majesty. His Majesty is the true Son of Heaven and will not shield any lawbreakers."
The old King Yan was so choked that he couldn't speak. He pointed at Steward Lu, his hand trembling. Xiao Zhen's daughter was vicious, and his son had only made a few taunting remarks, yet she had crippled his son. Xiao Zhen was someone he couldn't afford to offend, and now even a steward of the Xiao family dared to retort to him!
"Very good, very good, you wait. I want to see how arrogant the Xiao family, father and daughter, can be!"
The old King Yan had arrived with great fanfare, but left in disgrace, heading directly to the palace. The old King Yan understood that if he attacked the Xiao family with his men, he would not gain any advantage. The Xiao family's guards were all former soldiers, each a skilled fighter. If his men went, they would merely be sending their lives.
As soon as the old King Yan left, Steward Lu entered the mansion, "Where is the eldest lady?"
"She is said to have gone out of the city with Young Master Wen to enjoy the flowers."
"She still has the mood to enjoy flowers? With such a major incident, she doesn't even inform anyone to return and report, so I can arrange for people to handle the aftermath."
The young servant did not dare to respond. Wasn't the steward most aware of the eldest lady's temper?
"Send someone to find the eldest lady. Also, the General... wait, the wedding is important. We cannot disturb the General. You quickly send people to collect evidence of Nangong Fei's crimes and ensure that that scoundrel from Yan Wangfu is thoroughly crushed. I am a bad person for stealing the General's fiancée back then, and the younger generation is even worse, for harassing our young lady. It is good that she crippled him. Even if the young lady didn't cripple him, I would have!"
Steward Lu's ruthless side was evident at this moment. The young servant, upon hearing this, quickly went to make the arrangements.
Now that there was no mistress in charge of the household, Steward Lu took on the heavy responsibility of managing the mansion. He intended to go to Shui Yue Xiao Zhu to inform them not to panic. Upon arriving, he discovered that Shui Yue Xiao Zhu was quiet. The maids were each attending to their duties, with no sign of any commotion.