"You haven't prepared a gift for this king?"
"I have, I have!" Xiao Man's mind raced, and she took off the blood jade pendant from her neck, handing it to Nangong Yu. It was the only thing she could offer at the moment. "This is for Your Highness."
Nangong Yu's eyes brightened slightly, but he didn't reach out to take it. Instead, he leaned forward slightly. "Put it on for me."
Xiao Man complied, moving closer and fastening the pendant around Nangong Yu's neck. This pendant had been with her for many years and held extraordinary significance.
Nangong Yu, of course, knew what the pendant represented, and he was inwardly delighted when Xiao Man gave it to him. The pendant still held Xiao Man's warmth. Nangong Yu tucked it close to his body. He then took out a bracelet from his robe. It was a phoenix bracelet, with the phoenix head and tail mirroring each other, exceptionally exquisite.
"A New Year's gift." Nangong Yu took Xiao Man's hand and effortlessly removed the jade bracelet from her wrist, replacing it with the phoenix bracelet. The bracelet seemed tailor-made for Xiao Man, as if they were one.
"Your Highness, isn't this a bit too valuable?"
"I accepted your gift, so naturally I must give you one in return. Are you refusing because you dislike it?"
"No, thank you for Your Highness's gift." Xiao Man quickly expressed her gratitude, her gaze falling on the jade bracelet in Nangong Yu's hand. It was a birthday gift from Wen Mohan; she couldn't let it be damaged.
Seeing Xiao Man's attention on the bracelet in his hand, Nangong Yu's expression remained calm. "This jade bracelet, I'll return it to Wen Mohan for you."
"This... seems improper."
Nangong Yu's eyes turned slightly cold. "Do you really want this bracelet?"
"After all, it was from a friend, representing his feelings..."
"Do you know what this jade bracelet signifies?" Nangong Yu fiddled with the jade bracelet in his hand. "This is the Wen family's heirloom warm jade bracelet, signifying the status of the future mistress of the Wen family. Are you sure you want to keep it?"
Xiao Man's outstretched hand immediately retracted. "I didn't know it had this meaning. Mohan said it was just a worthless trinket..."
"Worthless? The Wen family's heirloom is priceless! Wen Moyu desperately wants to kill you. He sent this to resolve your animosity, forced to give up an heirloom, hoping you would spare Wen Moyu. You're heartless to accept it. If the person Wen Mohan truly loves finds out, won't they try to kill you?"
Xiao Man quickly said, "Then Your Highness, please return it to Mohan for me. I can't accept something so valuable. As for Wen Moyu, I will kill her no matter what!"
A triumphant smile flickered in Nangong Yu's eyes. "Don't casually accept gifts from other men in the future, lest you be sold and still help them count the money."
Xiao Man nodded repeatedly. "I won't. I won't casually accept gifts from others again."
"Cook me another bowl of noodles. I haven't eaten enough." Nangong Yu was in a good mood, and his appetite had improved.
"Okay, Your Highness, please help me pick the vegetables, and I'll cook another bowl right away."
"Fry an extra egg, make it golden brown on both sides."
"No problem."
Amidst the misty steam, Xiao Man was busy cooking noodles. A warm curve formed on Nangong Yu's lips. He didn't ask for much, only for this one person to be by his side forever.
The next morning, He Ye arrived at Shuiyue Small Dwelling.
He expected Xiao Man to still be asleep, but as soon as he entered, he saw that Xiao Man had already washed up and was having breakfast.
"Eat your breakfast before we depart." Xiao Man gestured to the seat next to her, inviting He Ye to sit.
He Ye felt a little constrained. He could be casual with the young general because the young general was a man. But the young lady was a delicate girl. Then he remembered that he had been defeated by this delicate girl, and felt a sense of frustration.
Qiu Tong prepared a bowl and chopsticks for him. He didn't hesitate and sat down, burying his head in his meal. After they finished breakfast, He Ye looked at the items Qiu Tong stuffed into his arms, a look of confusion on his face.
"Young lady, this is..."
"Since I'm going to visit your parents, I naturally can't go empty-handed. Shall we ride horses or take a carriage?"
He Ye thought of Xiao Man's luxurious Eight Treasures Fragrant Carriage. If it appeared outside Guangyang Village, it would surely attract bandits. He immediately said, "Let's ride horses. Horses are faster."
The two rode out of the city. Along the way, He Ye seemed to have something to say but hesitated, ultimately saying nothing.
The two dismounted outside Guangyang Village, led their horses, and entered the village. The villagers, seeing outsiders, stared at them curiously.
"Isn't that He Ye?" a voice called out from the crowd. "He Ye, you're back."
Several young men immediately surrounded him. "We heard you've become an official in the army. How is it in the army?"
"Just a minor leader, nothing special." He Ye scratched his head sheepishly.
"Still an official, better than an ordinary citizen. When the autumn conscription comes, we plan to join the army too. Do you think we can join with you?"
"Of course, if we're assigned to the same unit, we can fight together."
The young men surrounded He Ye, stealing glances at Xiao Man, and whispered, "Who is this beautiful young lady? Is she your sweetheart?"
"Don't talk nonsense." He Ye quickly rebuked. "This is the eldest young lady of the General's Mansion."
The young men immediately straightened up. Especially when they saw Xiao Man turn her head and smile at them, their hands and feet felt clumsy, and they walked stiffly.
"What ambition!" He Ye laughed and cursed, then led his horse and followed Xiao Man towards his home.
"Where is your home?"
"The one in the furthest corner, that's my home." He Ye pointed it out to Xiao Man. Following his direction, Xiao Man saw a somewhat dilapidated tile-roofed house.
As they walked towards He Ye's home, but before they got close, they saw the tightly shut door suddenly open. A man was dragging a woman out of the house by her hair, smashing her head against the wall twice.
"Where's the money? Get the money out!"
"No money, we really have no money at home."
"No money? Your son sends money back every month. You old hag must have hidden it again! Get it out, or I'll beat you to death today."
The man slapped the woman to the ground and rode on top of her, his fists raining down on her head and body.
"Stupid woman, give me the money or I'll beat you to death!"
He Ye's face turned pale, his eyes reddened, and he clenched his fists, striding towards the two.
Xiao Man glanced around, picked up a stick, and just as He Ye was about to swing his fist at the man, Xiao Man grabbed his collar and pulled him back. She then stepped forward and swung the stick fiercely at the man.