"General, you had best make plans early," Butler Lu said with concern. "I see His Majesty is considering the young lady's marriage. He intends for her to be the Crown Prince's consort."
"I know," Xiao Zhen said, a knot of worry in his heart. The Crown Prince was weak, yet favored by His Majesty. To restrain the other princes, His Majesty would certainly need to support the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince had the support of the Duke's mansion, Prince Qin held military power, Prince Qi had the Jin family behind him, and while Prince Han was not as strong as the others, he had his own influence in the capital after years of presence.
Only the Crown Prince, due to his frail health and years of recuperation in Jiangnan, had no foundation in the capital. Furthermore, he lacked the support of a maternal clan. His Majesty, while suppressing the Crown Prince and Prince Qin, would prop up Prince Han and the Crown Prince to control them. He did not want his own daughter to become a pawn.
"Thinking this way, Prince Qin doesn't seem so bad."
"Minister Wen is also a good choice."
"Wen Chang, the son of that old fox, how bad can he be? If Man'er likes him, I will naturally not object. I'm just afraid of unrequited love. We'll see."
The carriage stopped at the gates of the National Master's mansion. Xiao Man alighted, a trademark smile on her face, and entered the mansion with composure. The old butler greeted her.
"Young lady has arrived. The National Master is in the training room."
"I know, I'll go find him myself." The words had barely left her lips before Xiao Man had vanished.
It was the National Master's habit to meditate and cultivate daily. Xiao Man went straight into the training room, sat down beside him, and began to meditate. When the National Master finished his cultivation and opened his eyes, he saw Xiao Man meditating beside him.
"You still know how to cultivate," the National Master said with a smile, a hint of indulgence in it. "Man'er."
Xiao Man did not reply. The National Master frowned and reached out to pat Xiao Man. Unexpectedly, Xiao Man slumped to the ground, fast asleep.
Feng Tianlan's expression shifted drastically. This brat, she truly hadn't improved at all, still finding ways to slack off and almost deceiving him.
"Get up," Feng Tianlan pinched Xiao Man's arm fiercely. Xiao Man cried out in pain and woke up. "Master, you've finished cultivating."
"Hmph, you're getting better and better at slacking off!"
Xiao Man got up from the ground and tugged at Feng Tianlan's sleeve. "Master, you wanted to see me, what is it?"
"Do you know that your master worries about you?" Feng Tianlan's tone was stern.
"Your disciple naturally knows Master worries about your disciple. See, as soon as your disciple returned, she immediately bathed and changed to come see Master. Master, please don't be angry with me anymore." Xiao Man tugged at Feng Tianlan's hem, pouting. "Master loves me the most."
"How did you get rid of your poison?"
"I don't know either. I woke up, and it was gone."
"After the poison was gone, why didn't you inform me immediately? And you ran around everywhere?"
"Father would have definitely notified Master, so I went to investigate the culprit!" Xiao Man lied without batting an eye. "I found traces of several medicinal properties in my body, so I went to investigate who poisoned me."
"Did you find out?"
Xiao Man shrugged. "No, the enemy was too cunning."
Feng Tianlan ruffled Xiao Man's hair. "Where have you been these past few days?"
"Wuyue Kingdom," Xiao Man said frankly. Even if she concealed it, Feng Tianlan would find out. Lying would only arouse his suspicion.
"What were you doing in Wuyue Kingdom?"
"The residual medicine in my body mainly originated from Wuyue Kingdom, so your disciple went there to verify this matter."
"Our country is at war with Wuyue Kingdom. Didn't you know it was dangerous?"
"But Master, a powerful enemy hiding in the shadows, poisoning your disciple repeatedly. If your disciple cannot find this mastermind, how can she rest easy?" Xiao Man sat beside Feng Tianlan and leaned against him. "Your disciple can't always hide under Father and Master's protection, can she?"
Feng Tianlan sighed when he heard this. "Are you blaming me for not being able to protect you?"
"I want to protect the people I care about, not always rely on Master to protect me." Xiao Man said sincerely, her dark eyes full of filial affection, yet her heart seethed with hatred.
Feng Tianlan looked at the slightly immature face before him, feeling a touch of emotion. It was the first time in many years someone had said they wanted to protect him. "Silly girl, it's my duty to protect you."
"It's also my duty to protect Master." Xiao Man hooked her arm around Feng Tianlan's. "Master, your disciple has grown up. I'm no longer that mischievous little girl. One day, your disciple will become as powerful as Master."
"Becoming as powerful as Master won't allow you to protect me."
"Then I'll become even more powerful than Master. That way, I can protect the people I want to protect." Xiao Man's smile was more genuine than gold, but in her heart, she added, "At that time, I will surely make you pay blood with blood!"
Feng Tianlan merely smiled, not replying. Become more powerful than him? That was a necessary goal. Without becoming strong, how could she face so many powerful enemies?
As Xiao Man left the National Master's mansion, she saw Nangong Yi waiting at the entrance. He looked at her guiltily. "Xiao Man, you're back. Have your injuries fully healed?"
"They have fully healed." Xiao Man's voice was devoid of emotion. Nangong Yi shuffled closer to her.
"Regarding the annulment of the engagement, it wasn't me who wanted to break it off. It was Xiao Ling who came to our door and insisted on it. This is not my fault." Nangong Yi had gone to the General's mansion as soon as he heard Xiao Man had returned to the capital. When he learned she had gone to the National Master's mansion, he followed her there.
"Mmm, I know."
"You're not angry with me, are you?" Nangong Yi asked cautiously.
"Why would I be angry with you? If Third Sister didn't want to marry, that's her business. You granted her wish, I should thank you. Why would I be angry with you?"
"I knew it. You wouldn't be angry with me over such a small matter." Nangong Yi seemed to come alive. "Xiao Man, let's go to Meiren Zhuang and gamble a few rounds. I haven't been to a casino in a long time, my hands are itching."
"I just returned to the capital, I'm very tired."
"You can just sit and watch." Nangong Yi, without waiting for her reply, grabbed Xiao Man's arm and pulled her into the carriage, heading straight for Meiren Zhuang.
This was Xiao Man's first time at Meiren Zhuang. It truly lived up to its name. All sorts of beauties made one linger and forget to leave. Ah Jin always knew how to seize human weaknesses and exploit them. In terms of business, he was a true genius.
Nangong Yi pulled Xiao Man to a dice table and had chairs brought over for them. They sat down. The dealer was a charming young beauty dressed in Hu attire, adorned with many bells on her wrists and body. Every time she shook the dice cup, the bells on her person would jingle incessantly.