"Are you here to mock this king?" Nangong Yu asked Shan Yuyan dangerously.
"Yuyan dares not," Shan Yuyan stepped forward and poured Nangong Yu a cup of tea. "I am merely very impressed with Young Master Wen."
Nangong Yu's expression grew colder. Wen Ruyu swallowed nervously, both of them fearing that Nangong Yu might lash out in anger and kill Shan Yuyan with a single blow.
"Impressed?"
"Yes, impressed," Shan Yuyan said softly. "To resolve the crisis of Princess Yongning's marriage alliance, Young Master Wen gambled the future of the Wen family."
"How do you know he is not taking advantage of the situation?" Nangong Yu asked, his voice full of malevolence.
"Whether he is taking advantage or acting righteously, his actions are all for the good of Princess Yongning," Shan Yuyan said softly. "If it were Your Highness, would you dare to propose at the General's mansion at this time?"
Nangong Yu's face was already clouded with gloom. He dared not. It was precisely because he dared not that he was enraged. He was not angry that Wen Mohan was taking advantage of the situation and betrothing himself to Xiao Man, but angry at his own incompetence. He knew full well that Murong Shengrui was targeting Xiao Man, and the most urgent task was to disqualify Xiao Man from the selection of consorts to avoid Murong Shengrui. The best way was to get engaged, but he dared not go to the General's mansion to propose!
If he were to propose to Xiao Man at this critical juncture, the Emperor would do everything in his power to suppress him, and all his previous efforts would be in vain. But if he gave up power, he wouldn't even have the chance to choose Xiao Man!
"So, you are here to mock me!"
Shan Yuyan smiled. "Your Highness, Yuyan is not. Yuyan is merely telling Your Highness that this matter is beneficial and harmless to Princess Yongning. No matter how many grievances or unwillingness Your Highness has, please bear with it for now."
"You want me to pretend to know nothing?"
"I hope Your Highness will endure for now. After the peace negotiations are settled, the Empress candidate is decided, and the envoys from Yun Qi have departed, then you can pursue this matter," Shan Yuyan said earnestly. "Does Your Highness want to ruin this favorable situation and force Xiao Man to marry into the alliance?"
"Scram!"
Nangong Yu's reprimand was cold. Of course, he knew all this. If it weren't for Xiao Man, he would have rushed to the General's mansion long ago to disrupt this matter. He wanted to stop it, yet he couldn't. Who could understand the frustration in his heart?
As soon as the study door closed, the sound of things being smashed could be heard from inside. Wen Ruyu breathed a sigh of relief. "Miss Shan, you are too bold to speak to His Highness like that."
"I am also doing this for His Highness's own good," Shan Yuyan said calmly. "After all, you have endured for so many years. How can you give up all your efforts because of a moment of anger?"
"Miss Shan's righteousness is admirable."
"Moreover, it is just an engagement, not a marriage," Shan Yuyan said with a bright smile. "Hasn't the Xiao family broken off enough engagements? Endure this for now, and when the Yun Qi matter is over, you can win her back."
Cen Yu only learned of Wen Mohan and Xiao Man's engagement the next day.
He rushed to the Prime Minister's mansion. He had been secretly targeting Xiao Man, not just out of jealousy, but also because he believed Xiao Man would ruin Wen Mohan's future. Yet, Wen Mohan was stubbornly persistent. The only thing he could do was to make Xiao Man disappear from this world!
The carriage reached the entrance of the Prime Minister's mansion. Cen Yu then had the driver turn the horse around and head for the General's mansion. Wen Mohan was stubborn and set in his ways. Once he made a decision, even ten cows couldn't pull him back. To change the situation, he had to find Xiao Man!
"Steward Lu, you say you want to see Miss?" Yin Zhu asked in surprise.
"The head of the Cen family wishes to see Miss," Steward Lu's smile was very gentle, but he was grumbling inwardly. Why was this person so hard of hearing? He had said it three times, and this person was still asking!
Yin Zhu suddenly understood and walked inside. "The head of the Cen family wishes to see Miss? He must be up to no good."
Steward Lu looked bewildered. "Is Miss seeing him or not?"
"Steward Lu, please wait a moment. I'll ask Miss and come back to you." Yin Zhu entered the room and came out a moment later. "Steward Lu, Miss says you may invite him in."
Steward Lu immediately called for someone to lead Cen Yu to the reception hall of the Shuiyue Xiaozhu to wait.
It was Cen Yu's first time entering the Shuiyue Xiaozhu. In his subconscious, Xiao Man was an illiterate, spoiled young lady who was all show and no substance. She lacked knowledge and couldn't even compare to Wen Mohan's little finger, let alone be worthy of him.
However, as soon as he entered the Shuiyue Xiaozhu, Cen Yu felt several gazes sweep over him. The furnishings in the courtyard were also quite elegant, surpassing even Wen Mohan's own courtyard.
Cen Yu sat down in the reception hall and examined the furnishings. He was a businessman, and after a brief glance, he realized that these ornaments were all rare treasures. Any one of them would be enough for an ordinary person to live comfortably for a lifetime.
"Please have some tea." Yin Zhu brought hot tea and then stood by the side, waiting.
Cen Yu's gaze fell on Yin Zhu. He had investigated Xiao Man. Xiao Man only had six maids, two of the first rank and four of the second rank. The rest had been dismissed. Given Xiao Man's status, having only six maids to serve her was considered very thrifty.
Cen Yu withdrew his gaze, picked up the teacup, and lifted the lid to smell it. A faint fragrance filled his nostrils, but he dared not drink it. Who knew if Xiao Man had put something in the tea.
"Drink it with confidence. Although I am not a gentleman, I am not someone who resorts to dirty tricks like poisoning," Xiao Man said as she entered from outside, her figure graceful and her steps leisurely, as if she were a born ruler looking down upon everything.
Cen Yu put down his teacup and stood up. "Why did you agree to Mohan's proposal?"
Xiao Man sat down at the main seat. "Are you here to reprimand me?"
"Do you know you are ruining his future!"
Xiao Man looked at Cen Yu with amusement. "Patriarch Cen, in what capacity are you standing here speaking to me today? Are you here as the head of the Cen family, or as someone from the Prime Minister's mansion?"
"I am not from the Prime Minister's mansion."
"So you are not from the Prime Minister's mansion." Xiao Man said sarcastically. "Patriarch Cen, coming here in such a hurry is exactly like a jilted woman. If I didn't know Mohan's character, I would have thought you had an unusual relationship with him."
"Mohan and I are brothers!"
"Brothers?" Xiao Man let out a light laugh. "If I remember correctly, Madam Wen only gave birth to one son, Mohan. I wonder how you came to be her son? Could it be that Prime Minister Wen has an illegitimate son outside?"
"Xiao Man, do not speak nonsense!" Cen Yu gritted his teeth. As expected, he and Xiao Man were incompatible. Every time he saw Xiao Man, a surge of malevolence rose in his heart, making him wish he could devour her completely. "We are not biological brothers, but we are as close as brothers!" Su Dan Novel Network
"As close as brothers?" Xiao Man said dismissively. "With a brother like you, Mohan is truly cursed for eight lifetimes."