After a brief moment of indecision between being stabbed by assassins and being chopped up by the old madam, Xiao Man decisively jumped over the wall into the Protector General's mansion with Wen Mohan!
The Protector General's mansion was heavily guarded. If these assassins dared to barge in, they would never escape!
The assassins had not expected Wen Mohan to be brought into the Protector General's mansion.
The guards of the Protector General's mansion were notoriously strict. Entering was tantamount to seeking death. If they alerted the Protector General's mansion, their assassination attempt would be impossible to resolve. Thus, they decisively lurked around the mansion, waiting for an opportunity.
Xiao Man, as if stealing, quietly brought Wen Mohan back to her room.
Wen Mohan, who typically adhered to etiquette, felt his face burn. It was the first time he had ever entered a woman's boudoir, and in the middle of the night at that!
"Thank you, but you... you..." Wen Mohan stammered.
"What 'you'? What were you doing wandering the streets in the middle of the night instead of sleeping at home?" Xiao Man took out her medical kit and began to treat Wen Mohan's wounds.
The Protector General's mansion and the Prime Minister's mansion had always been at odds. Xiao Man and Wen Mohan usually exchanged sharp words. Who would have thought that by a twist of fate, she would end up saving her enemy!
As Wen Mohan watched Xiao Man tend to his wounds, he initially wanted to retort, but it turned into a mumble: "Weren't you wandering around outside in the middle of the night too?"
"If I hadn't been out wandering, Prime Minister Wen would be collecting your corpse tomorrow." Xiao Man's movements were not gentle, and Wen Mohan winced in pain but dared not utter a sound.
After all, Xiao Man was speaking the truth. If she hadn't encountered Xiao Man, he would have certainly met his end at the hands of the assassins tonight.
"Thank you for saving me."
"Oh, what a rare sight, young master Wen can also say thank you." Xiao Man teased. Over the years, Wen Mohan had not spared her harsh words. However, he was a scholar who never used vulgar language when he insulted people, and Xiao Man had often suffered at his hands before. Moreover, Wen Mohan was a frail scholar, so Xiao Man did not dare to deal with him using the methods she employed against scoundrels, and could only endure.
"One thing at a time. It's a fact that you were arrogant and publicly assaulted someone. It's also a fact that you saved my life. It's only right that I thank you. So, tell me, what do you want?"
Xiao Man looked at Wen Mohan's righteous demeanor and felt a desire to tease him. "I'm currently lacking a husband. Are you going to offer yourself in marriage?"
Wen Mohan frowned, seemingly considering the matter with a shifting expression, as if struggling intensely.
Seeing him like this, Xiao Man couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Just kidding, you actually believed me!"
"Xiao Man!" Wen Mohan was furious. He had thought Xiao Man was serious and was already contemplating how to persuade his father and mother to agree to let him marry Xiao Man, given her arrogant and overbearing nature. To think she was just toying with him!
"Who told you to always insult me before?" Xiao Man finished treating Wen Mohan's wounds. "You can make do with the couch tonight. Tomorrow, I'll find a way to get you out of the mansion. It's probably impossible to leave now, those assassins might still be waiting outside, just waiting for you to walk into their trap."
"A man and a woman should not have intimate contact. A single man and a single woman alone in a room..."
"What, do you want to do something?" Xiao Man inquired playfully.
"Xiao Man, you are insulting me!"
"That's it then. Don't worry, I'm not interested in you. If it weren't for the fact that we grew up bickering, I wouldn't have saved you. From now on, when you see me, just refrain from siding with others to scold me."
"Also, what happened tonight, you and I will know." Xiao Man said seriously.
Wen Mohan was silent for a long time before saying softly, "Alright."
The candlelight extinguished, and the room plunged into darkness. Wen Mohan slept on the couch by the door, while Xiao Man slept on the bed inside, separated by a gauze curtain.
"I heard that Nanny Sheng was very strict. You must have suffered a lot when she was your governess, right?" Wen Mohan was not sleepy at all.
Xiao Man rolled over and looked at Wen Mohan: "If you can't sleep, shall I knock you out?"
Wen Mohan angrily turned over. He must have been out of his mind to care about Xiao Man. If this person had the energy to wander around in the middle of the night, how could anything happen to her? It would only be others who were in trouble!
Xiao Man glanced at Wen Mohan's back, then rolled over, turning her back to him.
In her memory, the two of them had always disliked each other.
After all, the Prime Minister's mansion was composed of civil officials, while the Protector General's mansion was composed of military officials. The two mansions often clashed due to their differing stances. It wasn't just between their elders; Xiao Man also had a bad relationship with Wen Mohan's sister, Wen Moyu. And as her elder brother, Wen Mohan doted on his sister, so the siblings had often mocked her together.
Tonight's incident, she would consider it a good deed.
Early the next morning, Xiao Man hid Wen Mohan in the mansion's procurement carriage and sent him out without arousing any suspicion. Su Dan Novel Network.
Today was Nanny Sheng's last day of instruction. Nanny Sheng arrived at the Protector General's mansion early to give the young ladies her final lesson.
The Old Madam also came to observe. Ostensibly to observe, but actually to see if Xiao Man had truly learned her lesson.
To her surprise, Xiao Man behaved impeccably from beginning to end. This time, even she had to believe that Xiao Man had truly turned over a new leaf.
"May Buddha bless us, this girl has finally become sensible." The Old Madam said with relief after Nanny Sheng left.
"Surely it is Buddha who heard the Old Madam's prayers, which is why the eldest young lady has turned her heart to goodness." Nanny Xu said with a smile, consoling her. "The Old Madam can rest assured now, can't she?"
"Yes, Mother. Eldest young lady is so outstanding, even Nanny Sheng praised her without reservation. Let's see who dares to say that our General's mansion's eldest young lady is uneducated in the future!" Madam Yan chimed in. "Speaking of which, I wonder who spread the rumor that our mansion's eldest young lady is uneducated. Clearly, the eldest young lady is very intelligent and eager to learn, and picks up everything quickly."
The Old Madam's expression shifted slightly, but she did not refute. "It is always by Buddha's grace. How about this, you go and prepare. The young ladies of the mansion have all finished their lessons and have been praised by Nanny Sheng. Tomorrow, we will go to Gan Ye Temple to hold a Buddhist service, praying for the peace and prosperity of the Protector General's mansion."
"Yes, Mother." Madam Yan complied.
Madam Yan immediately had someone notify Gan Ye Temple in advance and prepared all the necessary items.
The next morning, the Protector General's mansion, like a long dragon, set off majestically for Gan Ye Temple.
The journey was uneventful. After settling down, the monks of Gan Ye Temple had already prepared a separate courtyard for the madams and young ladies of the General's mansion.
The Old Madam, weary from the carriage ride, rested in a side room early on. Xiao Man, however, went to the Hall of Longevity to light the everlasting lamps for her family.
However, as soon as she entered the Hall of Longevity, she found Prince Qin, Nangong Yu, also in the hall. Xiao Man hesitated and intended to withdraw.
Unexpectedly, Prince Qin, Nangong Yu, had already stepped out. Xiao Man lowered her head and quickly bowed. They acted as if they had never met.
The Buddhist hall was solemn and magnificent. Xiao Man lit the everlasting lamp and looked at the benevolent Buddha statue, her heart stirred. If she hadn't trusted the wrong person and been too soft-hearted, would she have ended up with the annihilation of her entire clan?
Fortunately, Ming Yu was still alive, and the Duguo family still had descendants. That was some consolation.