"I heard from your father that you withdrew the secret guards you assigned to Yu'er back then?"
"Yes."
"Although the Han King's mansion has no concubines, it is still a royal mansion. If she has no people of her own, many things will be difficult for her..."
"Mother, I will not give her secret guards again," Wen Mohan said softly. "She is now the noble Princess of Han, with many capable people under her command, so she lacks no one to use. As for daily care, aren't the many maids and servants in the Han King's mansion enough for her to command?"
Seeing her son's firm stance, Madam Wen felt hesitant. "Are you treating your sister like this because of Xiao Man?"
Wen Mohan's hand involuntarily tightened around the teacup he was holding. The movement was small, but Madam Wen noticed it. After all, he was her own son, and she understood what he was thinking with just a glance.
"Do you truly like her?"
Wen Mohan looked at Madam Wen and nodded resolutely. "I do."
Madam Wen sighed. "I have also met the eldest daughter of the Xiao family. She is not as arrogant and domineering as rumored. Instead, she is gentle and serene, and it is natural for her to be liked. However, you should also understand that the General's mansion and the Prime Minister's mansion have always been at odds, and the Great General may not be willing to marry his daughter to you."
"If the General's mansion does not wish to be involved in the struggle for the throne, then the Great General will be willing to marry Man'er to me," Wen Mohan said slowly. "I am not worried about the General's mansion. I am only worried about someone in the Prime Minister's mansion causing trouble."
Madam Wen understood that her son, though seemingly polite, kind, and gentle, was in fact most stubborn. Once he set his mind on something, he would never change it. If he said he liked someone, it must be a deep affection.
"I will not interfere with whom you like, but I do not wish for any rift between you and your sister. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Mother, rest assured, your son understands what you mean," Wen Mohan said softly. "I withdrew the secret guards for the Princess of Han simply to make her understand that she is not just the young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion, but also the Princess of Han. Her every move is being watched by many. A slight misstep could lead to eternal damnation."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wen sighed. "Alas, Yu'er has been spoiled by us. Whatever she wanted since she was a child, we gave her. She has always had her way. It is normal for her to feel resentful when she encounters setbacks. Be more understanding."
"Your son understands," Wen Mohan's voice remained unhurried, showing no hint of emotion. Madam Wen understood that the conversation had reached its end.
"You should rest well."
"I bid my mother farewell."
After Madam Wen left, a person emerged from behind the screen. "Your wound has reopened. Why didn't you call the estate physician to treat it?"
"If I called the estate physician, it would cause a commotion among the household. It's nothing. I can apply medicine and re-bandage it myself." As Wen Mohan spoke, he untied his belt and pulled open his robe. The inner garment was stained with blood, but he paid it no mind. He removed the bandages and reached for the hemostatic powder.
Cen Yu took the hemostatic powder and applied it to Wen Mohan, then picked up a bandage and began to dress his wound. "Your injury is not healed, yet you insisted on going to the horse race. Why put yourself through such torment?"
"I had made plans with her to go to the horse race. How could I break my promise?" Wen Mohan said gently. "I thought that if I didn't compete, and only watched, it would be fine, but I still aggravated the wound."
After Cen Yu finished bandaging him, he poured himself a cup of tea and sat to the side. "What do you think of today's events?"
"You came to find me, so you must have discovered something," Wen Mohan said as he dressed. "Tell me about it."
"Xiao Ling had private contact with your sister."
Wen Mohan's eyes narrowed, and an aura of displeasure emanated from him. "Anything else?"
"Today, Xiao Man's dagger was not on her person. It was in the changing room. The changing room at the General's mansion is private, and only three people could have entered."
"Xiao Ling stole her dagger."
"Did you guess that?"
"After Man'er returned to the mansion, she directly beat up Xiao Ling."
Cen Yu raised an eyebrow. "Her temperament is as arrogant as ever. Xiao Ling is very favored by Old Madam Xiao. If she beat her like that, aren't you afraid that old madam will find trouble with her?"
"Xiao Ling will not let Old Madam find trouble with her," Wen Mohan's gaze fell on the box on the table. No wonder Ying Xue refused her entry. It must be that Man'er learned from Xiao Ling that Wen Moyu was the one who told her to steal the dagger. "After all, if things escalate, she will be the one to suffer."
"How do you plan to handle this matter?" Cen Yu looked at Wen Mohan. Even though all the secret guards were withdrawn and assistance to Prince Han was cut off, Wen Moyu showed no signs of restraint. Instead, she became more reckless, even resorting to killing a princess to frame Xiao Man. What would she do next, no one knew.
"I have done all I could for her," Wen Mohan sighed. She had ultimately disappointed him.
"It's not entirely her fault. You withdrew all the secret guards from the Prime Minister's mansion and cut off aid to Prince Han. Her life in the Han King's mansion is not easy now. Prince Han, Nangong Cheng, has never been an easy person to deal with. He married your sister for the support of the Prime Minister's mansion. Now that the support is gone, Wen Moyu is of no use to him."
"He wouldn't dare to take her life. She's just living a difficult life," Wen Mohan said gently. "If she behaves herself, the Prime Minister's mansion will protect her life. If she crosses my bottom line again, I will surely kill her."
The weather grew increasingly cold. Fortunately, the Water Moon Cottage where Xiao Man resided had underfloor heating and thick carpets, so it did not feel cold.
Xiao Man sat barefoot on the carpet, flipping through a collection of miscellaneous notes. She had read most of the books that Xiao Zhen had given her as birthday gifts.
Just then, the window opened, and a gust of cold wind blew in. Xiao Man shivered and saw a figure leap in through the window, bringing a chill with him.
"Your Highness Prince Qin." Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yu, who had arrived late at night, with some shock. "Why have you come at this hour?"
Nangong Yu took off his cloak and placed it on a chair nearby. "I've come to your place for a cup of hot wine. It's snowing outside."
"Is it snowing?" Xiao Man stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open. Indeed, it was snowing outside, though not heavily. The snowflakes landed on the ground and turned to water. Xiao Man shivered and quickly closed the window.
"Your room is quite warm," Nangong Yu sat by the red clay brazier, using its warmth to dispel the chill from his body.
Xiao Man opened the lid of the small brazier and took out a pot of wine, placing it on the brazier to warm it. "The weather is cold, indeed suitable for drinking. However, I don't have any strong spirits here, so I hope Your Highness will not mind."
Xiao Man brought over a small table, placed it on the ground, and they sat on the floor. The snacks to accompany the wine were candied fruits. Xiao Man's room was always stocked with these snack boxes.