As Xiao Luo was the eldest son and had a betrothal arranged early, Xiao Ling's marriage had to wait.
Fortunately, the Chu and Xiao families had long agreed on the wedding date, and as soon as Xiao Luo returned, preparations for the wedding could begin.
The Prime Minister's mansion currently had no mistress, and all matters were being handled by Xiao Man. Xiao Man, holding a gift list, discussed with Xiao Luo whether anything needed to be added.
"You decide everything; I don't know what to prepare," Xiao Luo said, looking at the densely written gift list, feeling uncertain. After all, it was his first marriage, and he didn't know what to prepare.
"The wedding date is set for the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month; there isn't much time left. Everything must be prepared in advance. Your room also needs to be renovated, so that Sister Chu doesn't feel wronged when she marries into the family."
Xiao Luo looked puzzled. "Will I be wronged if I marry you?"
Xiao Man quickly smiled. "Brother is such a distinguished person; marrying you is naturally not a hardship. I'm just afraid that if the preparations are not thorough enough, Sister Chu might feel wronged."
"You've always been thorough in your work. I trust you to handle this matter," Xiao Luo said gently. "Brother is getting married soon. Do you have anyone you like, Man'er?"
Xiao Man, while sketching on the gift list, replied, "I'm still young; there's no rush."
"Sixteen is indeed young," Xiao Luo said with a smile. "There's no need to rush. If you meet a young man you like, remember to tell your brother."
"Don't worry, brother. If I meet a young man I like, I'll definitely find a way to trick him into coming home."
"You," Xiao Luo affectionately tapped Xiao Man's forehead. He was still worried. "Man'er, what do you think of Prince Qin?"
"He's quite good. Brave and skilled in battle, and handsome. Which young lady in the capital wouldn't want to marry him? Yet, none dare to."
"Do you want to marry him, Man'er?"
"No," Xiao Man replied without hesitation.
"Why?"
"It's troublesome," Xiao Man said without looking up. "Prince Qin is a royal descendant and holds military power. If I were to marry him, it would surely arouse the Emperor's suspicion, especially at this sensitive time. The Emperor is in his prime, and the princes are all grown. If the Emperor suspects the General's mansion of colluding with a prince, it would be detrimental to the General's mansion."
Xiao Luo was a little surprised. "Prince Qin is so outstanding, don't you like him?"
Hearing this, Xiao Man put down her pen, turned to look at Xiao Luo, and asked seriously, "Brother, what does it mean to like someone?"
Xiao Luo thought carefully and then scratched his head. What was liking? "I... I don't know either."
"Then why do you want to marry Sister Chu?"
"I... I..." Xiao Luo blushed, stammering and unable to speak. At this moment, Dugu Mingyu walked in, and Xiao Man quickly beckoned him over.
"Mingyu, do you know what liking is?"
Dugu Mingyu looked at the siblings in surprise. "Like what?"
"What does it mean to like someone, the kind of liking that's different from how I like Father and Brother."
Dugu Mingyu looked away. "Ask your own heart, and wouldn't you know?"
Xiao Man touched her chest, asking her heart? Who did she like?
Unfortunately, her heart beat steadily, without any extra fluctuations. Xiao Man was very helpless. "My heart gives no answer."
Dugu Mingyu found it amusing. "Liking someone is probably a feeling. When you see them, it's like a little deer is running wild in your heart. When you don't see them, you're restless and uncomfortable, their image always appearing in your mind, and you always want to see them."
Xiao Man thought carefully. "Brother, I've never had this feeling."
Xiao Luo was both amused and helpless. Others always said he was slow-witted and unawakened, but now it seemed his sister was even more so. However, being unawakened wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Xiao Man.
"It's alright. It just means your destined one hasn't arrived yet. One day, you will meet that person who makes you worry incessantly and dream about them."
"Just like Brother's mind is always filled with Sister Chu?"
"You little brat!" Xiao Luo lightly hit Xiao Man. "You're teasing me now."
Xiao Man threw the gift list at Xiao Luo. "The gift list is confirmed. Brother, discuss with Father about when to propose. I'll take Mingyu to explore the capital city."
Before Xiao Luo could utter any words of caution, Xiao Man had already dragged Dugu Mingyu away and disappeared. He inexplicably felt a pang of sourness. Man'er was being excessively good to Dugu Mingyu, seemingly even better than she was to him.
Thinking of this, Xiao Luo shook his head. Why was he getting jealous of his own subordinate? His gaze then fell on the gift list, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. Proposing, when would Father return? Perhaps, he would propose today.
Xiao Man took Dugu Mingyu to the streets, walking side by side. The man was handsome, and the woman was beautiful, attracting much attention. "This street is the main street of the capital, the most prosperous. Do you remember it when you returned to the city?"
"Yes," Dugu Mingyu said softly. "For some reason, even though I feel very unfamiliar with this place, it gives me an illusion, as if this is my home."
Hearing this, Xiao Man turned her head and smiled. "Should I be happy then?"
Seeing Dugu Mingyu not answer, Xiao Man's gaze fell on a hawker selling candied haws. She bought two skewers and handed one to Dugu Mingyu. Dugu Mingyu looked at the candied haw in his hand, his eyes turning red.
"My sister loved candied haws the most. Whenever she was unhappy, Big Brother would buy her candied haws. Later, when she entered the palace and became Empress, and then Empress Dowager, she stopped eating candied haws. But every time I visited her in the palace, I would secretly bring her candied haws, until I joined the army and guarded the border, and my entire clan was wiped out. I didn't even get to see her one last time." Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Man silently chewed on the candied haw. Your sister is standing in front of you, but unfortunately, you don't recognize her.
"For some reason, every time I see the eldest miss, I feel a sense of closeness, as if..." As if she were my sister. He knew this thought was absurd, but he always had such an illusion.
"From now on, I am your family," Xiao Man said abruptly. "Don't worry, I will protect you and not let anyone bully you."
"Miss is joking. How can the eldest miss protect me? It should be me protecting the eldest miss."
Xiao Man agreed with a nod. "In that case, you must protect me, your family member, from now on."
"Mingyu obeys," Dugu Mingyu replied immediately. After all, from the day Xiao Man saved him, he had sworn to repay her. However, Xiao Man was the eldest daughter of the General's mansion, residing in the capital, while he was far away in Yuncheng on the frontier. Though willing, he was powerless. But no matter when, if she needed him, he would go through fire and water for her without hesitation.