Nangong Yi pressed closer, "Xiao Man, do you have someone you're fond of?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I want to see what kind of man could be someone you're fond of," Nangong Yi replied perfunctorily. Do you still like Fourth Brother as you always have? Now that Fourth Brother also loves you, Xiao Man, have you achieved what you desired?"
Xiao Man pondered, then picked up a white Go stone and showed it to Nangong Yi. "The suitable piece for black is naturally white. With both black and white, it's a complete set."
"How can I become the white piece in your eyes?" Nangong Yi asked earnestly.
Xiao Man chuckled at his expression and lightly tapped his head with her book. "Everyone has their corresponding piece. One day, you will meet the piece that suits you. There's no need to deliberately try to become another piece."
"Xiao Man, if, and I say if, I wanted to be the white piece in your eyes, what should I do?" Nangong Yi asked, gathering his courage.
Xiao Man glanced at him and said without mercy, "Give up. You're not my type."
"Why?"
"Who would like their own brother? We grew up wearing the same pants! No matter how depraved or desperate I am, I wouldn't touch my own brother!"
The carriage stopped at the imperial hunting grounds. Nangong Yi, dejected like a frost-bitten eggplant, disembarked from Xiao Man's ornate carriage. He had thought their childhood bond and camaraderie would mean something, only to realize she saw him as just a brother.
"Why is Thirteenth Brother alighting from Yongning's carriage?" The Crown Prince, with sharp eyes, noticed Nangong Yi descending from Xiao Man's carriage, his dejected demeanor suggesting he had been greatly disappointed.
"It's not surprising."
"Thirteenth Brother and Yongning have always been close. It's not strange for them to travel together."
"Nothing Thirteenth Brother does is surprising." Nangong Yu's eyes held a smile. Seeing his crestfallen appearance, he must have been rebuffed by Xiao Man.
"Man'er." Nangong Wu spotted Xiao Man descending from the carriage and immediately trotted over.
"I didn't see you at the palace gates to meet up earlier. I thought you weren't coming," Nangong Wu linked arms with Xiao Man. "We'll go hunting together later and win first place."
"Is there a prize?"
"An imperial pardon." Nangong Wu whispered. "Father Emperor is offering an imperial pardon as the prize for first place. Don't you think that's something?"
"What do you need an imperial pardon for?"
"You never know when it might be needed. Better safe than sorry." Nangong Wu got along well with Xiao Man. "Besides, the Wu Yue Kingdom has also offered a prize: five years of tax exemption. If we win first place, not only will we get the imperial pardon, but we can also trade in Wu Yue Kingdom for five years without paying taxes!"
"As a major trading hub, five years of tax exemption for the Wu Yue Kingdom is a considerable income."
"Precisely! Many are eager to compete. Since it involves trade, the Jin, Cen, and Shangguan families, the three great merchant clans, are all here. It's likely they'll all be participating in the hunt."
Nangong Wu gestured towards a spot not far away. Xiao Man looked over and saw the members of the three families gathered together. The current head of the Jin family, Jin Hong, was the biological brother of the current Virtuous Consort. However, it was the young master of the Jin family, Jin Rong, who was present today.
The Jin family had its own method of selecting a young master. Upon turning sixteen, all Jin family disciples, regardless of their birth status, had to participate in the Young Master Selection Examination. The one who achieved first place would become the Jin family's young master and heir apparent. All the young masters selected through this method had proven to be formidable individuals.
"Cen Yu and Shangguan Jin – you know them without my introduction."
"Since Jin Rong is the Jin family's young master, why has he appeared so rarely in public? I've known Prince Qi for many years, and I've never met him."
"It's quite normal that you haven't met him," Nangong Wu said in a low voice. "After all, he's the son of a slave. His mother was a lowly female slave in the Jin mansion. I heard the Jin family head detested his birth mother. He was like a transparent figure in the Jin family, and only after unexpectedly achieving first place in the Young Master Selection Examination did he become the young master and appear in public."
Xiao Man nodded in understanding. The Jin family was a powerful entity. For Jin Rong to ascend to the position of young master was no easy feat; the hardships involved were imaginable.
"Is Yongning participating today?" The Crown Prince's voice could be heard.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Xiao Man stopped. "Since I'm here, I'll participate for fun, to pass the time."
"You are the daughter of a military family, skilled in archery and horsemanship. It's a good opportunity to show the princess of Wu Yue Kingdom that our Yusheng Dynasty also has women who excel in archery, horsemanship, and martial arts."
"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Don't feel pressured. It's about participation," Prince Chu said gently.
"When hunting, aim carefully after observing. Don't be like last time and shoot people instead of the prey," Nangong Yu teased.
Xiao Man's lips twitched, and she suppressed her retort. This man had been asking her life-threatening questions all night. She had eventually passed out, and she wasn't sure if Nangong Yu had asked anything he shouldn't have, or if she had said anything she shouldn't have. Judging by Nangong Yu's demeanor, she probably hadn't said anything inappropriate.
"Yes, this humble subject remembers."
"Senior Brother." A clear voice called out, and a charming young girl bounced towards Nangong Yu, naturally linking her arm with his. Her gaze fell on Xiao Man, and she shot Xiao Man a fierce glare.
Xiao Man's gaze landed on Nangong Yu's arm, linked by Luo Bingqing. Although it was just a glance, Nangong Yu, being perceptive, immediately withdrew his arm.
"A man and a woman should not touch," Su Dan Novel Network
"We are fellow disciples."
"Even biological siblings do not share the same seat after the age of seven." With that, he strode towards the hunting grounds.
Luo Bingqing ignored everyone else and immediately followed Nangong Yu.
"This woman is so ill-mannered," Nangong Wu said softly. "Her desire for my Fourth Brother is written all over her face."
Xiao Man covered her mouth and laughed. "Prince Qin is handsome and holds a high position. In this imperial capital, there are at least eight hundred women who desire him. If you get angry every time someone desires Prince Qin, wouldn't you die of anger?"
"I'm just angry at her smug look. She's nothing but a lowly江湖 woman, yet she acts so superior. I really can't stand her."
"You know she's a江湖 woman and doesn't have many rules. Why bother with her?" Xiao Man advised. "Besides, her desire for Prince Qin only shows how excellent Prince Qin is."
"Many women desire this Prince too." Nangong Yi recovered from his setback. "The women who like this Prince are as numerous as the fish in the river. Xiao Man, would you consider liking this Prince?"
Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yu with disdain and pulled Nangong Wu away. Pei Qianyun secretly smiled and followed, and the group headed towards the hunting grounds.