Xiao Man felt a headache coming on. Because of Qin Zeyan, Nangong Yu was causing her trouble, and Nangong Wu was also causing her trouble. Was she destined to clash with the Nangong family? Every single one of them wanted to cause her trouble!
"I have nothing to do with Qin Zeyan."
"Still claiming you have nothing to do with him? You heard the storyteller, didn't you? Everyone outside knows you're using the General's Mansion's influence to force the Imperial Scholar to marry into the General's Mansion." Xue Kun clearly didn't believe her. In his eyes, stealing a man was exactly something Xiao Man would do.
"I really didn't..."
"Oh, isn't this Miss Xiao?" A sudden shout from the crowd silenced the bickering onlookers. Everyone turned to look in Xiao Man's direction.
Xiao Man calmly surveyed her surroundings. This was awkward. Even with a hundred mouths, she couldn't explain herself now. Moreover, some things only get worse the more you try to clarify them. She immediately got up, intending to pretend she hadn't heard anything and go home.
As if by chance, Qin Zeyan walked in, and the two met head-on!
The tea-drinking commoners' eyes lit up. The storyteller even scurried over, carefully observing their expressions. He had already decided what to tell in his next story: Miss Xiao and the Imperial Scholar, meeting head-on, the Imperial Scholar brutally tormented!
"Miss Xiao." Qin Zeyan stepped forward and bowed, his demeanor remarkably humble. "Miss Xiao, we truly are fated to meet. I just happened to be passing by and encountered Miss Xiao."
Stop talking! Xiao Man blinked incessantly, signaling Qin Zeyan to stop. Didn't he see the gossiping faces around them? If you come running up like this, what if people who come to defend your honor rush forward and beat me up?
Qin Zeyan didn't understand the reason for Xiao Man's blinking. He just thought that Xiao Man kept blinking, perhaps because there was sand in her eyes.
"Miss Xiao, do you have sand in your eyes?"
Xiao Man felt her embarrassment reaching celestial heights. "Young Master Qin, what a coincidence, you're here for tea too."
"Yes, I had an appointment here with someone. I didn't expect Miss Xiao to be here as well." Qin Zeyan looked inside and only then noticed that everyone was staring at them, as if trying to bore holes through them. A faint blush spread across his fair cheeks as he sheepishly scratched his head.
"I reported to the Ministry of Personnel today. I'll officially be taking up my post at the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow."
"That's truly congratulations to you."
Watching the two interact so amicably, everyone felt something was amiss. Especially the men, their faces full of frustration. Someone was forcing you to become a son-in-law who lives with the wife's family, yet you look so happy? Shouldn't you be berating her for being unworthy and dissolute?
"See? The Imperial Scholar isn't angry at all."
"Indeed. Marrying Miss Xiao means one has ascended to heaven in a single step. If it were me, I'd be happy too!" A man gritted his teeth fiercely. Why didn't Miss Xiao choose him? Was he not good-looking?
"The key is that Miss Xiao looks like a celestial fairy. The Imperial Scholar got the better deal."
Qin Zeyan could also hear the hushed whispers around him. The blush on his face deepened, a mixture of innocence and shyness that made those around him gasp.
"Xiao Man, you shameless wretch!" A beautiful figure appeared at the entrance, her whip lashing directly towards Xiao Man.
Xiao Man leaned slightly to the side, dodging the attack. "Ninth Princess."
The newcomer was none other than the Ninth Princess, Nangong Wu.
Nangong Wu had fallen in love with Qin Zeyan at first sight and intended to make him her consort. However, Qin Zeyan had family matters to attend to and returned to his hometown. After finally waiting for his return, she found out he had been taken by Xiao Man. Upon hearing the news, the Ninth Princess had come directly to confront Xiao Man!
"Shameless! You dare to force the Imperial Scholar to marry into the General's Mansion!"
Xiao Man felt utterly wronged. "Ninth Princess, this matter doesn't seem to concern you, does it?"
"How does it not concern me? Qin Zeyan is the consort I, this Princess, have set my sights on. How dare you snatch my consort!"
The storyteller, holding his book in one hand and a brush in the other, quickly scribbled. Two women fighting over one man, and the newly minted Imperial Scholar faces the fate of marrying into the wife's family? One is the heavenly favored Ninth Princess, the other the overbearing Miss Xiao. In this battle, who will win the Imperial Scholar?
"When did I snatch him?"
"What? You dare to do it but not admit it? I thought the Great General's daughter would at least have some spirit, but I didn't expect her to be a coward who dares to do but not admit. You truly disgrace the Great General!"
"I am me, and my father is my father. Don't confuse the two!"
"If that's the case, Xiao Man, do you dare to fight me?" Nangong Wu pointed at Xiao Man. "We are both princesses. Whoever wins will take the Imperial Scholar as her consort, and the loser will never pester him again!"
Xiao Man didn't want to bother with Nangong Wu. She had no interest in fighting over a man!
"Agree to it, agree to it!"
The surrounding commoners began to egg them on. As the protagonist being fought over, Qin Zeyan was relegated to the sidelines, everyone's attention drawn to Xiao Man and the Ninth Princess.
"I can't be bothered with you!"
"Coward! When you go out in the future, don't you dare say you're the Great General's daughter. I look down on you!"
Xiao Man took a couple of steps away, then turned back. "I said, don't bring up my father!"
"The Great General is a renowned victorious general, yet he gave birth to a weakling like you, who doesn't even dare to accept my challenge. Do you still have the face to call the Great General father?"
Xiao Man gritted her teeth. This Ninth Princess was truly infuriating. "Fine, let's fight, but don't you regret it!"
"Whoever regrets it is a grandson!" Nangong Wu immediately retreated from the tea house and stood on the street. "If I win, you are forbidden to pester the Imperial Scholar ever again. If you win..."
"If I win, you will apologize to me for what you just said!"
"Deal!" Nangong Wu's whip moved like a spirit snake, a blur of impenetrable strikes. Xiao Man's footwork was strange, always managing to dodge Nangong Wu's whip perfectly.
The two began a fierce fight on the street, attracting a large crowd. Some who were unaware of the situation asked those in the know, "Why are these two fighting?"
"Don't you know? The Ninth Princess and Princess Yongning are fighting over the Imperial Scholar. Whoever wins, the Imperial Scholar will become her consort!"
"We can't miss such a grand spectacle."
On the street, the crowd was immense. Xiao Man and Nangong Wu fought fiercely. Xue Kun, with his attendant, weaved through the crowd. "Place your bets, place your bets! Bet on the Ninth Princess to win, odds are two to one. Bet on Princess Yongning to win, odds are one to one."
"Why are Princess Yongning's odds lower?"
"Princess Yongning comes from a martial family and has always been good at fighting. The Ninth Princess was taught by a master, but lacks combat experience. Although both have their strengths, Princess Yongning has the advantage. Hurry and place your bets, or you'll miss the outcome."
The onlookers placed their bets. The number of people betting on Xiao Man to win and the Ninth Princess to win was almost equal. Xue Kun put all his personal savings on Xiao Man. Having known Xiao Man for so long, he had never seen her lose a fight!