Ying Xue and Chu Xue began to dig with shovels in hand. Xiao Man intended to unearth Xiao Xiang's remains and bring them back for reburial. Since Xiao Xiang had died an unnatural death, according to custom, she could not be interred in the ancestral tomb. Xiao Man could only find another auspicious location for reburial and then visit Gan Ye Temple to light a lamp for Xiao Xiang, as a prayer for her soul.
However, as she reached the entrance of the Longevity Hall, she collided with Wen Mo Han, who was just coming out. Wen Mo Han quickly reached out to steady her, his face lighting up with joy. "Man'er, are you here to offer incense too?"
"Are you accompanying your mother to offer incense?" Xiao Man steadied herself and looked into the Longevity Hall, but saw no one else.
"Yes, my mother has gone to the side room to rest." Wen Mo Han stepped aside, allowing Xiao Man to enter. He saw her light a lamp with Xiao Xiang's name on it, confirming that the second young lady of the Xiao family had indeed passed away. Yet, he still couldn't comprehend why the princess of Lan Yue Kingdom would personally conceal herself within the General's mansion.
"Don't be too sad. Second Miss will rest in peace if she knows you are uneasy."
Xiao Man gazed at the array of long-burning lamps, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, a shadow clouding her eyes. "May you be reborn into a good family in your next life. Rest assured, I will avenge you."
As she finished speaking, a breeze seemed to sweep through, causing the lamp for Xiao Xiang to flicker as if in response to Xiao Man's words.
Upon Xiao Man's return to the General's mansion, she saw Granny Xu waiting by the entrance of Shui Yue Xiao Zhu. Upon seeing her return, the granny hurried to greet her.
"Eldest Miss."
"Granny Xu is waiting here. Does the Old Madam have any instructions?" Xiao Man asked coolly.
Granny Xu's expression shifted slightly when Xiao Man addressed the Old Madam so directly. She then recalled the Old Madam's actions and conceded that they were indeed not worthy of the Eldest Miss's respect. "This morning, Third Concubine went to see the Old Madam and spoke about Second Miss. The Old Madam requests the Eldest Miss to come to the Upper Court."
Xiao Man scoffed. "What, is the Old Madam prepared with the family rules to discipline me?"
Granny Xu appeared somewhat embarrassed. It was understandable why Xiao Man would think that. In the past, when Xiao Man made mistakes, the Old Madam had often resorted to beatings and scoldings, frequently administering the family rules.
"Eldest Miss misunderstands. The Old Madam merely wishes to know what exactly transpired."
Xiao Man cast a meaningful glance at Granny Xu. "Let's go. We mustn't keep the Old Madam waiting, lest she find another excuse to punish me."
Granny Xu cautiously led Xiao Man towards the Upper Court. As soon as they entered, Third Concubine lunged forward, intending to confront Xiao Man, but the maidservants held her back firmly.
"Xiao Man, just what..."
"Insolent!" the Old Madam berated sternly. "How dare you address a young lady by her given name?"
Third Concubine faltered, then lowered her head. Indeed, regardless of her status, Xiao Man was the Eldest Miss of the General's mansion, the legitimate eldest daughter. For her to address the Eldest Miss by her name was a clear act of insubordination.
"Please, Old Madam, seek justice for your humble servant."
The Old Madam glanced at Third Concubine, finding her quite distasteful. Among the concubines in the household, only Third Concubine's petty schemes were so openly displayed, making her rather unlikable.
"Eldest Daughter, where has Second Daughter gone?"
"She has hands and feet, where she goes is not for me to know?" Xiao Man's voice was gentle. She could not employ the same tactics against the Old Madam as she did with Third Concubine. She had no desire to see the General's mansion descend into chaos. Even though the Old Madam was not close to her, she could not act recklessly and give anyone leverage.
"Yesterday, you clearly told me that she would never return."
Xiao Man looked at Third Concubine. "Third Concubine must have misheard. I said that I didn't know."
"You clearly said she would never return! You said you killed her!"
The Old Madam, seeing them present conflicting accounts, was unsure who was telling the truth. Her gaze fell upon Xiao Man. She realized that she no longer understood what her eldest granddaughter was thinking. Back then, when the Empress Dowager had detained Xiao Man in the palace, she had worried that Xiao Man would perish there. Who knew that after staying in the palace for a while, she had caused such a ruckus that the Emperor sent her back to the General's mansion.
"Eldest Daughter, do you truly not know where Second Daughter has gone?"
"I do not know." Xiao Man appeared genuinely sincere. She truly didn't know where Lan Qin had gone, but no matter where she had gone, she would eventually be seen again, and when that time came, Xiao Man would not let her off easily!
"Does your father know?" the Old Madam asked gently. She did not want to strain her relationship with Xiao Man too much. For years, she had always thought of Xiao Man as a mere troublemaker who would only bring disaster to the General's mansion. All she could do was protect her life and marry her off early. Yet, Xiao Man had never followed her path.
"That would depend on whether Third Concubine has informed Father." Sudan Novel Network
The Old Madam looked at Third Concubine. Third Concubine paused and shook her head.
"Let someone search for her first. If she is not found, then we can report her missing to the Jingzhao Prefecture."
"We cannot report her missing," Xiao Man countered. "If word gets out that the second young lady of the General's mansion is missing, it would inevitably damage the reputation and affect the other young ladies in the household."
"Do the young ladies in this household have any reputation worth mentioning?" Third Concubine retorted sarcastically.
Xiao Man's gaze turned to Third Concubine. "When the master is speaking, is it for a lowly concubine like you to interject?"
Third Concubine gritted her teeth and fell silent. The Old Madam had said that without seeing a body, it meant she was still alive. Did the Eldest Miss intend to use this to subtly warn her and make her compliant?
"How do you think we should proceed appropriately?"
"We will publicly announce that she is ill and will not be receiving visitors," Xiao Man said to the Old Madam, her voice trailing off. "As for what happens next, the Old Madam might as well ask Father."
Old Madam Xiao, being a shrewd individual, immediately understood that the second young lady had likely met with misfortune, and her own son would have a clear understanding of what had happened.
Old Madam Xiao sighed. After a moment, she continued, "After the Winter Solstice, I plan to take Fourth Daughter back to our ancestral home in Cangzhou to live. Do you... have anything to say?"
Only then did Xiao Man look directly at Old Madam Xiao. In her eyes, the Old Madam was nothing more than an unreasonable old woman. The Old Madam's sudden, serious inquiry about her opinion made Xiao Man wary.
"Does the Old Madam wish to hear the truth?"
"You may speak frankly."
"It would be best to return to Cangzhou sooner rather than later. After the Winter Solstice, you may not be able to leave," Xiao Man said slowly. "The Winter Solstice is a time of great upheaval."
A flicker of shock crossed Old Madam Xiao's eyes. She then gestured for everyone else to leave, leaving only the two of them in the room. Old Madam Xiao lowered her voice. "Something will happen on the Winter Solstice?"
Xiao Man simply stared at Old Madam Xiao, offering no reply.
"I know you have many grievances against me," Old Madam Xiao sighed. "If you had not been so disappointing, I would not have treated you that way. Now, I have come to terms with it. Children and grandchildren have their own destinies. I am old, and returning to Cangzhou to live out my days in peace is for the best."