"Your Highness."
"Yongning, you are now a princess, you should call me Imperial Brother."
Xiao Man smiled gently, "His Majesty's great kindness has bestowed the title of Princess upon Yongning. How could Yongning presume to be presumptuous with His Majesty's grace? Etiquette must not be abandoned. Yongning pays her respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"You are indeed more polite now," the Crown Prince said, reaching out to support her. "You took an assassin's attack for our father and were severely injured. I should have visited you, but the General sent you out of the imperial city to recuperate. Fortunately, you have returned. How about today, I will host a banquet to specifically thank Imperial Sister?"
"Yongning is unworthy."
"You girl, you are too polite," the Crown Prince insisted. "Imperial Sister has never visited my Eastern Palace. Coincidentally, let's tour my Eastern Palace today and try the food prepared here."
"Your Highness..."
"Lord Wen, please join us as well."
"This subordinate obeys."
The Crown Prince led Xiao Man towards the Eastern Palace. The attending eunuchs swiftly returned to the Eastern Palace to report, ordering meals to be prepared. Coincidentally, Xue Kun had come to visit Crown Princess Xue Ning'er. Upon hearing that Xiao Man was coming to the Eastern Palace, both siblings were somewhat surprised.
"What did His Highness the Crown Prince say?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince ordered a meal to be prepared to entertain Princess Yongning."
"In that case, instruct the kitchen to prepare it. Do not neglect Princess Yongning. Kun'er, you go first..."
"Sister, Xiao Man and I are old acquaintances. Let me stay as well," Xue Kun said, sitting down beside them. "She used to be the one who stirred up trouble. Now, she's learned to be well-behaved, which makes me feel uneasy."
"You," the Crown Princess poked Xue Kun's forehead. "Princess Yongning's status is different now. She is a princess of the royal family. How can she still be as unruly as before? You should also settle down and get married soon to continue the Xue family's lineage."
"Sister, I do want to get married soon, but Father won't let me marry Xiao Man."
"Marry her, are you not afraid of death!" Xue Ning'er saw clearly that in the imperial city, countless people sought to gain without effort and rise to prominence. Marrying Xiao Man was a shortcut, but none who had attempted it had succeeded. Instead, those who had harbored designs on Xiao Man had all met with misfortune.
When the Crown Prince arrived at the Eastern Palace with Xiao Man, the Crown Princess immediately came to greet them.
"Your humble concubine pays her respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Crown Princess, peace be with you."
"Imperial Sister Yongning, you are finally here. His Highness always worries about you. Today, he has finally had you visit," Xue Ning'er linked arms with Xiao Man. "I specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare dishes you love. Come and try them."
"Thank you, Crown Princess."
"You, you are truly polite. You are now a princess, the Crown Prince's sister. You should call me Imperial Sister-in-law, right, Your Highness?" Xue Ning'er turned to ask.
"Yes, we are all family. Yongning, there's no need to be so formal."
They all took their seats. Xue Kun was the first to sit next to Xiao Man and whispered, "Xiao Man, I heard your father is looking for a husband for you?"
"Are you crazy? I am now a princess personally enfeoffed by His Majesty. How can my father still have the final say?" Xiao Man lowered her voice. "My marriage, I fear, can only be decided by His Majesty."
"Xiao Man, do you want to become the young madam of the State Uncle's mansion?" Xue Kun winked.
"Are your skin itching?" Xiao Man asked slowly.
Xue Kun quickly sat up straight. "Our childhood bond, forged through countless fights, is incomparable to anyone else's. We are a match made in heaven."
"I also fought with Prince Qi since childhood. I fought him no less than I fought you, and I've known him since I was a child. Doesn't that mean I'm also a match made in heaven with him?"
Xue Kun frowned and thought for a moment. It seemed to be the case. "That... is different. You are siblings now. How can siblings be together? So, we are the most suitable."
"Xue Kun, what are you whispering about with Yongning?" the Crown Prince asked with a smile, seeing the two of them murmuring.
"Imperial Cousin, I was just asking about Xiao Man's marriage. Isn't the Great General always looking for a match for her? I was just curious."
"Princess Yongning is now highly esteemed, she will not lack suitors."
"Imperial Cousin, I was just thinking, I don't dislike her..."
"Xue Kun, you probably don't know, but I like women."
*Pfft.* The Crown Prince immediately sputtered. Xiao Man liked women? Impossible!
The Crown Princess, Xue Ning'er, was also shocked. Xue Kun's jaw almost dislocated. Xiao Man liked women!
Wen Mohan watched Xiao Man's serious and deceptive demeanor, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He suppressed his laughter and acted as if he heard nothing, lowering his head to eat.
"Xiao Man, what... what is so good about liking women?"
"Don't you like women?" Xiao Man asked with a smile.
Xue Kun choked. "I do."
"Then it's right. You like women, and I like women. It means we are like-minded, you know? The Xianle Pavilion has reopened. The new girls, their waists are incredibly slender, their legs are long and fair, tsk, just looking at them makes me drool."
Xue Kun licked his lips. He also found the new girls at Xianle Pavilion exceptionally beautiful. "Not only that, but their singing and dancing are also superb."
"Cough, cough." The Crown Princess immediately coughed. Her brother was truly witless, easily fooled by Xiao Man in a few words without realizing it.
"Yongning loves to joke."
"Crown Princess, Yongning is not joking. Yongning has always loved beautiful women, this is widely known," Xiao Man said with a beaming smile. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is delicious, better than my family's chef. As expected of Your Highness's imperial chefs."
"Go, reward the chefs who prepared the meal today handsomely."
"I heard Imperial Brother the Crown Prince is hosting Princess Yongning. Imperial Brother, you are not being fair, not inviting me to share good food." Nangong Yi strode in from outside, directly grabbed a stool, and sat between Xue Kun and Xiao Man. "Xiao Man, this prince was injured for you, and you didn't even come to visit me!"
"It was just a superficial wound, it will heal in a few days. You've become so delicate now," Xiao Man said disdainfully. "Are you taking your medicine on time?"
"If I didn't take it, could I be out here?" Nangong Yi snatched the chopsticks from Xiao Man's hand and fed himself a piece of meat. "Imperial Brother the Crown Prince, you favor one over the other, inviting her to eat but not me!"
"When have I ever not fed you when you came to the Eastern Palace?" the Crown Prince said irritably. "It's rare for Yongning to eat at the Eastern Palace, and you're teasing her. As an Imperial Brother, aren't you too petty?"
"That's true," Nangong Yi nodded with a smile. "Xiao Man, come to my mansion for dinner tonight. I've hired a chef from Jiangnan who is skilled in Jiangnan cuisine."
"No."
"You favor one over the other!"
"I know," Xiao Man took the chopsticks and bowls from the palace maid and continued eating. "Your mansion is filled with the scent of rouge and powder, it's suffocating. If I go, my father will suspect me of frequenting brothels."