Xiao Man's return to the capital attracted considerable attention. Upon hearing that she was frail and needed bed rest, outsiders began to speculate that Xiao Man's days were numbered.
Upon hearing of Xiao Man's return, Bai Linglong was the first to visit. She saw Xiao Man leaning weakly against the headboard, reading a book, clad in a thin inner garment, her long hair cascading behind her like a delicate painting of a beautiful invalid lost in her studies.
"I heard you were back, and I didn't believe it. Seeing you in person today, I finally dared to believe you've truly returned."
"Sister Bai," Xiao Man looked up at Bai Linglong, "It's been a long time. Sister, you've become even more radiant."
Bai Linglong sat beside Xiao Man and took her hand. "Why are your hands so cold? The weather is so hot, and even a slight movement makes one break out in a sweat. Yet, your hands and feet are like ice. Are you feeling any better?"
Xiao Man nodded gently. "Much better. The imperial physicians said it was already very fortunate that I woke up."
Bai Linglong's face showed concern. "Now that you're back, take good care of yourself. You were such a fine person, and to become so weak, it's truly distressing to see."
"Please don't worry, Sister Bai. I will get better."
Bai Linglong wiped away a tear. "I heard my father say that Master Wuyou passed away. He was the one tending to your health. Now that he has departed, is there anyone else to care for you?"
"Sister, have you forgotten? Mother's medical skills are also excellent. Father brought me back not only because Master Wuyou passed away, but also because of Mother's exceptional medical expertise."
Bai Linglong remained uneasy. "At the Mid-Autumn banquet, the Prince of Qin vowed to marry no one but you. Yet you return to the imperial city at this time. I worry someone might use your marriage as leverage. Do you have any plans?"
Xiao Man sighed. "With my current condition, what can I do? Neither His Majesty nor the Empress Dowager would allow the Prince of Qin to marry someone who is dying..."
"Bah, bah, bah!" Bai Linglong immediately spat, "Don't talk nonsense. You will live a long and prosperous life."
Xiao Man covered her mouth and laughed. Seeing this, Bai Linglong immediately reached out to tickle her. "You wicked girl, you only know how to make people worry."
"Haha, good sister, I was wrong, I was wrong... cough, cough..." Xiao Man laughed until she couldn't catch her breath. Bai Linglong quickly stopped and helped her up.
"Little Sister Xiao, how are you?"
"Cough, cough." Xiao Man covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed incessantly. Yingxue came in from outside to help Xiao Man catch her breath. "Miss Bai, Miss's emotions cannot fluctuate too greatly, it is detrimental to her health."
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know..."
Xiao Man caught her breath and held Bai Linglong's hand to comfort her. "It's alright. My body is just so uncooperative these days. I'm feeling very sleepy, so I won't keep you any longer."
"Alright, rest well. I will visit you again another day." Bai Linglong helped Xiao Man lie down, tucked her in, and then left with a heavy heart. She had thought that no matter how frail Xiao Man was, she should have recovered by seventy to eighty percent. But now, it seemed, three parts would be a good estimate.
As Bai Linglong came out, she happened to meet the Old Madam Xiao, and immediately paid her respects.
The Old Madam glanced at her, nodded, and passed by her to enter. The maids of Shuiyue Xiaozhu, upon seeing the Old Madam arrive, became as if facing a formidable enemy.
The Old Madam choked slightly, pretending not to see. She wasn't a flood or a ferocious beast, yet these maids feared her like tigers!
"Greetings to the Old Madam."
"How is the Eldest Miss?"
"The Eldest Miss is weak and has just fallen asleep." Yingxue replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. If the Old Madam dared to cause trouble at this time, she would be the first to confront her.
"I will go in and see her."
Yingxue led the Old Madam into the room. The Old Madam stood by the bed, looking at the pale Xiao Man lying on it. A complex glint flashed in her eyes, and then she sat by the bed.
"What did the doctor say?"
"Her body is weak and requires good recuperation..." Qiu Tong said this, her voice choking, unable to continue. She quickly turned away to wipe her tears.
The Old Madam sighed. It was not easy to be born into royalty, but it was not easy to be born into a general's mansion either. If you weren't so stubborn and had followed my arrangements obediently, how wonderful it would have been. You had to make things turn out like this.
The Old Madam sat by Xiao Man's bed for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, sighing constantly. This left Yingxue bewildered. She had thought the Old Madam had come to cause trouble, but who would have thought she would sit by the young lady's bed and just sigh? Why was she sighing? Shouldn't she be clapping her hands in joy? Her granddaughter, whom she wished dead, had ended up like this; shouldn't she be cheering?
"All of you go down. Let my Eldest Miss have some alone time."
However, no one moved. Yingxue even took a step forward, her challenge evident.
The Old Madam frowned. The maids in Shuiyue Xiaozhu were truly impudent. Her gaze inadvertently fell on Xiao Man. "Have them all leave. I want to speak with you."
Xiao Man slowly opened her eyes. Yingxue quickly stepped forward to help her sit up and placed a bolster behind her back.
"Does the Old Madam have something to say?"
A flicker of surprise, even a hint of panic, appeared in the Old Madam's eyes, then vanished. "Now, you don't even call me Grandmother anymore?"
Xiao Man simply looked calmly at the Old Madam. To her, someone who had repeatedly harmed her was not family!
"Fine. Let them all leave, I have something to say to you."
Xiao Man gestured for Yingxue and the others to leave. Yingxue immediately ushered everyone out of the room, leaving only the two of them.
The Old Madam sighed deeply. "I came today to tell you something."
"I imagine it's nothing good," Xiao Man said coldly.
The Old Madam's expression remained unchanged. "Your health is poor now, so I thought the mansion should have some joyous occasion, perhaps as a way to ward off misfortune. Therefore, I have chosen a marriage for you. The other party is a distant relative of my Liu family."
"Is the Old Madam here to ask for my opinion or to inform me?" Su Dan Xiao Shuo Wang
"You know yourself that with your current physical condition, no prominent aristocratic family would be willing to marry you as their main wife..."
"Old Madam, my marriage is not something for you to decide." Xiao Man's expression grew cold. "If the Old Madam is truly bored, I can ask Father to find you a companion."
"Presumptuous!" the Old Madam rebuked, "What outrageous nonsense are you speaking!"
"The Old Madam knows it's nonsense, then," Xiao Man said nonchalantly. "My matters are my own to decide, and my marriage is also my own to decide. Old Madam, my patience has its limits. I advise you, I am already a person with little time left. If you anger me, I don't mind a mutual destruction."
The Old Madam's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Xiao Man. "You... do you know you are courting death?"
"If I don't court death, will they not kill me?" Xiao Man asked softly. "I also wish to live a peaceful life as the Eldest Miss, to find a soulmate and get married, but did you give me that chance? Since death is inevitable, why should I live so miserably?"