"General, to indulge your son is to kill him. By tolerating Xiao Man like this, you are harming her!" Cen Yu gritted his teeth, thinking how many parents' doting on their children ultimately led them to a dead end. Xiao Man's arrogance and petulance were all due to Xiao Zhen's indulgence!
"Do you think my daughter is like you, black-hearted and unscrupulous?" Xiao Zhen's expression turned cold. He didn't show any mercy as he grabbed Cen Yu's arm and twisted it forcefully. With a crack, Cen Yu let out a piercing scream, his face contorted in pain. He collapsed onto the ground, covered in a cold sweat.
Xiao Zhen stepped on Cen Yu's face, grinding down with his heel. "She was very intelligent from a young age, discerning right from wrong, with a heart of justice and courage. She wanted to punish evil and promote good, but her abilities were insufficient. As her father, I had to act as her enforcer, righting the wrongs for her. Anyone who disagrees can come challenge me. As for those who dare to harm my daughter in secret, even being torn to a thousand pieces would not quench the hatred in my heart!"
Cen Yu's face was filled with panic. He suddenly remembered many things. When Xiao Man first returned to the imperial capital, many people mocked her for being motherless, and many bullied her. Every time someone bullied her, Xiao Man fought back with all her might. In the beginning, Xiao Man would get hurt, she would lose. But not long after, no one dared to mock her for being motherless, nor did they dare to bully her. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but they were threatened by Xiao Zhen, and they were afraid! Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Zhen had been in the military for many years, but it was all a facade. He created an illusion of being in the military, operating in the open while protecting Xiao Man from the shadows, eliminating anyone who was detrimental to her. Even if some people suspected him, his long service in the military left them with no evidence!
"Madman!" Cen Yu spat hatefully, yet he felt an overwhelming envy in his heart. Why did Xiao Man have a father who cherished her above all else, willing to do anything for her? While his own father treated him like a plaything, offering him to nobles for their amusement. Both were fathers, so why did he have to suffer such inhuman treatment!
Xiao Zhen lifted his foot, gathering his internal energy, and stomped towards Cen Yu's head with what seemed like a thousand pounds of force!
Cen Yu had never imagined that death would be so close to him, nor that Xiao Zhen would be such an unprincipled protector of his daughter. Was he destined to die in the General's mansion today?
"Father!" a familiar voice called out. Xiao Zhen's foot swerved, missing Cen Yu's head and striking the ground. The floor collapsed with a bang, a pit formed where Xiao Zhen's foot had landed!
As Xiao Zhen shattered the floor, debris flew out, slashing Cen Yu's face. Yet, Cen Yu dared not cry out in pain, his gaze fixed on the foot dangerously close to his nose. This foot had almost sent him to the King of Hell. Xiao Zhen truly intended to kill him.
Xiao Zhen, who had worn a terrifying grimace moments ago, turned around, a smile now gracing his face. "My dear daughter, why have you come?"
"You were making such a racket over here, I thought a thief had broken into the mansion," Xiao Man glanced towards Cen Yu. "What happened?"
"Young people nowadays are too arrogant. They have little ability but insist on challenging their father," Xiao Zhen said innocently. "See, he's already on the ground without me even exerting much force."
Cen Yu spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling nauseous. Xiao Zhen had clearly intended to kill him. If Xiao Man hadn't appeared, that kick might have crushed his skull!
"Father, why bother with such petty characters?" Xiao Man looked at Cen Yu and said coldly, "Why don't you scram? Dare to cause trouble in the General's mansion, do you think your head is too firmly attached to your neck?"
Cen Yu staggered to his feet, clutching his broken arm, and stumbled his way out. Madmen, both of them. Father and daughter were both madmen!
Xiao Zhen's face was smiling, but his eyes were cold. However, when Xiao Man looked at him, his eyes instantly filled with affection. As if presenting a treasure, he pulled out a small porcelain jar from his embrace. "This is a healing ointment for flesh and scars that I obtained for you. Apply it morning and night, and the scars on your face will disappear soon."
"It's just a scar, it doesn't matter."
"Nonsense! If your mother were to visit you in your dreams and see the scars on your face and body, wouldn't she be heartbroken? She would surely blame me for not taking good care of you," Xiao Zhen said with feigned anger. "Remember to apply it morning and night, no scars are allowed."
"Yes, daughter obeys." Xiao Man took the jar. "Father, when is the selection banquet scheduled?"
"The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month," Xiao Zhen said as he escorted Xiao Man back to Shui Yue Xiao Zhu. "You don't need to attend."
"Yes, daughter understands." Xiao Man nodded.
"Prime Minister Wen… has submitted his resignation."
Xiao Man's footsteps faltered. She understood instantly. The alliance of powerful officials was a great taboo. Prime Minister Wen, to appease the Emperor's suspicions, chose to step down from his high position. Only by doing so could he dispel the Emperor's distrust.
"I seem to have implicated them."
"Silly child," Xiao Zhen rubbed Xiao Man's head. "To serve a ruler is like accompanying a tiger. That old fox doesn't want to be involved in the princes' struggle and end up with a bad end, which is why he seized this opportunity to make a timely retreat."
"But if it weren't for me…"
"He did it for himself!" Xiao Zhen comforted Xiao Man. "You don't need to blame yourself."
"If only I hadn't agreed to Mo Han's proposal…"
"This matter, I agreed to it," Xiao Zhen interrupted Xiao Man. "The Wen family's young man is very good. You ultimately won't be confined to this small General's mansion, and I won't be able to accompany you forever. With the Wen family's young man around, I can rest easier."
"Father, Mo Han and I are only engaged in name. Once the peace negotiations are over, we will break off the engagement."
Xiao Zhen shook his head, lost in his own thoughts. If it were truly a pretense for engagement, why would the Wen family father and son risk their own futures? It was a pity his daughter was as dense as a block of wood, unperceptive. The young master Wen's path to marriage was still a long one.
Cen Yu was carried back to the Cen family by servants. The Cen family was in a state of panic due to the sharp decline of their business. Seeing their patriarch carried back, severely injured and unconscious, they lost all sense of direction. The few esteemed members of the family secretly discussed how to divide the family assets and leave the imperial capital to find new opportunities.
Due to the Cen family's misfortune, the mansion was strapped for cash. Furthermore, Cen Yu's ruthless methods in the past had made him unpopular. This time, with him severely injured, not a single person cared about his life or death. The people in the mansion took the opportunity to abscond with the valuables and went their separate ways.
Zi Xia, Cen Yu's personal attendant, invited a physician. The physician, seeing the severity of the injuries, dared not proceed. Zi Xia became anxious and had no choice but to seek help from the Prime Minister's mansion.
Wen Mo Han ultimately couldn't bear it and sent someone to invite an imperial physician and a bone-setting specialist to treat Cen Yu.
"How did your master get injured?"
Zi Xia lowered his head, not daring to reply. It was common knowledge that Master Wen fancied the eldest daughter of the General's mansion. Now that they were engaged, it seemed like fate had brought lovers together. However, having served his master for many years, he clearly understood his master's feelings. But what was his master to do?