The two watched Nangong Yi busily working under the sun, sweat trickling down his cheeks. If one were to overlook Nangong Yi's disposition, it would indeed be a pleasing sight of a handsome man.
Xiao Man, resting her chin on one hand and lightly tapping the table with the other, mused that after all these years, Nangong Yi remained as stubbornly unreasonable as ever. How could such a person survive the competition among princes for the throne?
If Nangong Yi had no support from his maternal clan and was merely a carefree prince, he might have lived a peaceful life. However, the influential Consort De and the Jin family behind him were no pushovers, determined to push him to that position. Even if he did not wish it, he would ultimately have to fight and scramble for it. Failure would mean utter ruin.
Nangong Yi's movements were swift. As the guards brought over the fish, he instructed others to fetch firewood and start a fire to roast them. Everything was done in an orderly fashion, as if he had done it many times before. This left Nangong Yan deeply puzzled. Nangong Yi was unlike them; he was genuinely pampered, doted on by the Emperor since childhood, cherished by Consort De, and fully supported by the Jin family. Nangong Yi was arguably the only prince who had never suffered hardship.
"Thirteenth Brother, do you often roast fish?"
Nangong Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I used to steal fish from the imperial garden with Xiao Man and roast them. The more I did it, the better I got."
Xiao Man searched her memory and indeed found recollections of them stealing fish in the past. She even remembered their first attempt at roasting fish, which had resulted in them setting a palace ablaze and earning a severe scolding.
Nangong Yi wrapped the roasted fish in lotus leaves and brought it in, presenting it to Xiao Man like a treasure. "Sir, please try the fish I roasted."
Under Nangong Yi's expectant gaze, Xiao Man took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish, and put it in her mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and with the added seasoning, it tasted quite good.
"Third Brother, this one is for you." Nangong Yi handed another fish to Nangong Yan. Nangong Yan looked at the dark, roasted fish and accepted it, but did not eat. Although he had lived a life of luxury and comfort in Jiangnan since childhood, he had never eaten anything like this.
Nangong Yi leaned on the table, watching Xiao Man leisurely eat the fish with a brilliant smile. "Is it delicious?"
"It's alright."
"The steamed fish you make, Sir, must be exceptionally delicious." Nangong Yi still harbored thoughts of the lotus leaf steamed fish, but Xiao Man remained unresponsive. Despite his hints and suggestions, she showed no inclination.
In the end, it was Nangong Yan who forcibly dragged Nangong Yi away, thus averting a major confrontation!
As Nangong Yi was being pulled out, he still shouted, "Sir, I will come to see you again tomorrow. Sir, please remember to make lotus leaf steamed fish, and I will be responsible for bringing good wine..."
"Noisy!" Xiao Man put down her chopsticks and looked at the half-eaten roasted fish. A hint of an unreadable light flickered in her eyes. Nangong Yi was testing her. What was he suspecting?
Thinking this, Xiao Man felt a surge of annoyance. No matter how she disguised herself, Wen Mo Han could always recognize her at a glance. No matter where she was, Nangong Yu would always find her. And now, Nangong Yi was to be added to that list?
This thought unsettled Xiao Man. If Nangong Yi exposed her identity, it would be extremely disadvantageous to her. She had initially thought of fleeing, but feared it would appear as though she was guilty. Thus, she could only endure and continue to masquerade as a competent retainer.
As expected, the next morning, while Xiao Man was still asleep, she heard Nangong Yi knocking at the door. "Sir, Sir, are you awake? I've come to have breakfast with you!"
"Scram!" Xiao Man, both angry and annoyed, found Nangong Yi to be like a persistent demon, knocking on her door at the crack of dawn and refusing to give up until he got his way!
Xiao Man, unable to bear it any longer, scrambled out of bed and got into a physical altercation with Nangong Yi, which finally quieted him down. However, his silence was short-lived. After tending to his wounds, he returned to pester her!
The Chu King and his consort watched Nangong Yi, who was clinging to the door like an octopus, desperately trying to get inside, and exchanged glances. "Your Highness, if Prince Qi continues to harass Sir, and Sir becomes angry, what will we do?"
"I find it strange as well. My Thirteenth Brother is not usually so persistent. Why has he suddenly become so attached to Mr. Xiao?"
"We should send someone to invite Miss Du over. If Prince Qi is allowed to continue like this, and Sir, in anger, leaves, the Chu King's mansion will suffer the greater loss."
"Listen to the Princess Consort." Nangong Yan summoned a young servant. "Go to the Grand Tutor's mansion and invite Miss Du over."
Nangong Yi clung to the door, peeking inside. He wanted to climb over the wall, but it was too dangerous. Xiao Man had set up formations to prevent him from entering, and after suffering twice, he no longer dared to climb the wall.
"Sir, shall we go boating?"
"Sir, the new girls at Feihua Tower are very delicate. Shall I accompany you to Feihua Tower to listen to music?"
Nangong Yi spoke until his throat was dry, but there was still no response from inside. After careful consideration, he lowered his voice. "Sir, then let's go to Lanxiao Pavilion. Lanxiao Pavilion is also quite good. Those male escorts, with their rosy lips and white teeth, slender waists, long legs, and supple bodies, I guarantee you'll like them!"
"Oh, is that so?" A gentle voice came from behind him, causing Nangong Yi to freeze. He desperately tried to squeeze through the crack in the door, as if to hide himself.
"Greetings to His Highness Prince Qi!" Miss Du said with a gentle smile and a mild tone. "Your Highness is going to Lanxiao Pavilion?"
Nangong Yi again desperately pulled at the door, but it remained firmly shut. He had no choice but to turn around and shake his head innocently. "No... I wasn't planning to go."
"But Your Highness just said you were going..."
"It's Sir who wants to go, and he asked me to accompany him!" Nangong Yi unhesitatingly shifted the blame onto Xiao Man.
"Didn't you also say you wanted to go to Feihua Tower to listen to music?"
Nangong Yi shivered. He was not afraid of anything, except for those scholars who could speak so calmly yet make you wish you were dead. And this Miss Du was exceptionally sharp-tongued, no less than Grand Tutor Du himself.
"No, I haven't frequented places of debauchery for a long time."
"Why is Your Highness clinging to the door? Could it be that there are hands on the door pulling Your Highness, not letting go?"
Nangong Yi quickly removed his feet from the door and straightened his clothes. "I was practicing martial arts."
Miss Du's smile disappeared, and Nangong Yi immediately shivered. He quickly took out two balls of cotton from his怀 and stuffed them into his ears, clearly unwilling to listen to Miss Du's lecture.
Miss Du did not get angry. She stepped forward and knocked on the door. "This humble woman, Du Yulan, requests an audience with Sir."
A moment later, the door creaked open. Du Yulan looked at the young man in green robes and jade crown before her, somewhat surprised. She had expected another unruly companion, but this person's demeanor was clear and his bearing calm. Even if his appearance was not striking, he possessed a certain dignity that commanded respect.
"I am Xiao Qin. Greetings, Miss." Xiao Man bowed, neither servile nor arrogant, her demeanor composed.