Xiao Man was somewhat surprised. Was Wen Mo Han mocking her because she was not good enough?
"Then when did your attitude towards me change?"
"Later, I was assassinated. If I hadn't met you, I would have long since turned into a pile of loess. It was then I realized that being a wastrel was just your disguise. The General's Estate was at its peak, and if there were no flaws, His Majesty would have been unable to sleep or eat."
Xiao Man could not deny it. It was true. The Xiao Man back then was not truly a wastrel but protected the General's Estate and the people in it in her own way. Little did she know that the very family she protected with all her heart would be the one to take her life.
"If I were truly just a young lady of leisure, would Mo Han still treat me this way?"
"No," Wen Mo Han stated with certainty. "I would not fall in love with a wastrel. The woman I love is gentle yet strong, resilient yet kind, capable of fighting on the battlefield and participating in court affairs, able to grace any hall and manage any household. For such a lover, I would spare no effort. But for a wastrel, I wouldn't even spare a second glance. If I speak so frankly, will Man'er be disappointed?"
Xiao Man slowly shook her head. If it were her, it would be the same. People, in general, like those who can fight alongside them, not those who only drag them down.
"Then does Mo Han love the former Xiao Man?"
"I love the you who touched my heart, gentle with strength, kind with boundaries, resourceful, and a skilled warrior, clear about grudges and calm and rational." Wen Mo Han's voice grew increasingly tender. He pointed to Xiao Man's chest, "I don't know if I can enter your heart, but I will strive tirelessly to have a place there."
Xiao Man frowned. She had intended to use this opportunity to dissolve the three-year pact with Wen Mo Han, but after hearing his words, she found herself unable to speak.
"If, one day, I fall in love with someone else, what will Mo Han do?"
Wen Mo Han seemed to want to smile but couldn't. He tugged at the corners of his mouth, his eyes reddening, "I will... bless you."
"Won't you hate me?"
Wen Mo Han shook his head. "No. If Man'er doesn't love me, it can only mean I am not good enough."
"Nonsense. Go out and ask anyone. Ask them if Wen Mo Han is a good man. I guarantee that out of ten people, nine will say you are a good man."
"Then, in Man'er's heart, am I also a good man?"
"Naturally," Xiao Man said with certainty. "After all, you are the dream husband for countless young ladies in the Imperial Capital."
Wen Mo Han lowered his gaze and said softly, "I only want to be your dream husband."
However, his voice was too soft. Before Xiao Man could hear clearly, it dissipated into the air. Xiao Man turned to look at the fish in the lake. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. How could she not understand that if Yu Sheng chose to ally with Yun Qi through marriage, Murong Sheng Rui would move heaven and earth to find her location?
At that time, to make the Emperor betray her, he would offer incredibly generous benefits that the Emperor could not refuse, leaving her with no right to refuse.
To gain the right to refuse, she had to drag the Blue Moon Kingdom into it. Could the Empress of the Blue Moon refuse such a massive bait as the Imperial Seal? Su Dan Novel Network.
Xiao Man had long made her plans, but she dared not tell Wen Mo Han. Wen Mo Han and Cen Yu were old friends and trusted Cen Yu greatly. Yet, Cen Yu harbored immense hostility towards her. She still did not understand the source of this hostility, but she was certain that Cen Yu wanted her dead.
For her own safety, Xiao Man could only keep it from Wen Mo Han. Even though with Wen Mo Han's assistance, this matter might be easier, she did not want to expose herself to danger prematurely.
"Man'er, I actually came today to ask you about something else." Wen Mo Han picked up fish food and threw it into the lake. "Do you have any grievances with Cen Yu?"
Xiao Man was surprised inwardly but showed no outward reaction. "Why do you ask?"
"I always feel that Cen Yu is particularly harsh towards you."
"I am not familiar with him, and his harshness is useless to me. After all, he is not someone I care about, and whatever he does will not affect me."
"But I fear he will hurt you," Wen Mo Han interjected. "If even he hurts you, I truly don't know how I will face you. It was Wen Mo Yu before, and now it's him. I will be too ashamed to face you."
"I told you, you are you, and he is him. I remember your kindness to me and acknowledge you as a friend. As for others, whether they are enemies or passersby, whatever they do will not affect the friendship between us."
"Man'er is always so understanding," Wen Mo Han sighed. "Sometimes, I really wish you would scold me. That would make me feel better."
Xiao Man chuckled playfully. "That's a strange request. You actually like others to scold you."
"How can you be 'others'?" Wen Mo Han said softly. "You are different from others. Moreover, I promised the General that I would protect you well."
"My father!" Xiao Man's head ached. She wasn't a fragile porcelain doll. Besides, looking at the two of them, it was clearly Wen Mo Han who needed protection, not her!
"Rest assured, I will not reveal anything about you to anyone, including Cen Yu, or even my parents." Wen Mo Han understood Xiao Man's concerns. "I also worry that the incident at Gan Ye Temple will happen again."
Xiao Man fell silent. Subconsciously, she did not want to drag Wen Mo Han into this. After all, the Wen family was deeply rooted in Yu Sheng. If they were uprooted because of her, she would feel guilty.
"Mo Han, I..."
"Man'er, I hope you believe me." Wen Mo Han's voice seemed to possess a magical quality, making it irresistible to believe. "When I learned that Yun Qi was going to form a marriage alliance with Yu Sheng, I was filled with anxiety every day, worrying that the young emperor of Yun Qi might make things difficult for you, worrying that if he asked for you in marriage, how would you cope, and how could I prevent you from being troubled."
"Rest assured, no matter what he intends to do, it will not come to pass."
Wen Mo Han understood that Xiao Man would not tell him. It was fine; he would act according to his own will.
Wen Mo Han placed a token in Xiao Man's hand. "This token can command the Wen family's hidden guards. The Wen family's hidden guards may not be as outstanding as the General's Estate's, but it's better than nothing."
"I already have many hidden guards around me. You keep this. I also have many capable people at my disposal, so I am not worried about my own safety. Instead, I am quite worried about you. If you encounter an assassination attempt again, I might not be able to appear in time. I hope you can protect yourself. If something happens to you, I will be very sad."
A flicker of warmth flashed in Wen Mo Han's eyes. "Finally, I have a place in your heart. Though it's not much, there's no need to rush. A single spark can start a prairie fire. One day, I will occupy your entire heart!"