The crowd almost let out a scoff. Prince Qi, having been publicly embarrassed by Xiao Man, had let it slide with a magnanimous gesture. It was as if his years of uninhibited behavior had stripped him of all dignity.
Xiao Man, with a smile that curved her eyes, quickly peeled the orange and offered it to Nangong Yi’s mouth. "Your Highness Prince Qi, please have some orange."
Nangong Yi opened his mouth and accepted. "Since you're so sensible, this prince forgives you."
Xiao Man seized the opportunity. "Have your concubine sent back to your manor. Come properly to my family's New Year banquet, and don't let her cause trouble here."
"Your Highness," Nian Nujiao said, a little surprised. Xiao Man was clearly pushing her luck.
"Come, send her back to the manor."
Nian Nujiao gritted her teeth but dared not defy. Glaring at Xiao Man resentfully, she rose and left with the guards from Prince Qi's manor.
Seeing the matter resolved, the Crown Prince and his entourage returned to the male guests' seating area. Nangong Yu, walking behind, felt a flicker of displeasure seeing Nangong Yi lingering and speaking with Xiao Man.
"Thirteenth Brother, let's go."
Nangong Yi was still persistent. "Remember, make time to accompany me to Meiren Zhuang."
Xiao Man waved her hand dismissively, urging Nangong Yi to leave. Nangong Yu's eyes flashed with a hint of a smile. He reached out, pulled Nangong Yi along, and followed the Crown Prince and the others.
Xiao Man quickly turned to the ladies. "Please forgive me for any lack of hospitality."
Xiao Ling had felt wronged earlier. Seeing Xiao Man stand up for her, she thought Xiao Man had overreacted. "Big Sister, why did you have to make me apologize and then hit her?"
Xiao Man glanced at Xiao Ling. "You are a young lady of the General's manor. Are the numerous maids and guards here for show? She's just a singer. Was it worth you lowering yourself to chase and hit her? I told you to apologize because you lost the face of the General's young lady and demeaned yourself, making yourself a laughingstock."
Xiao Ling retorted, "I was just angry at her smug demeanor."
"If you're angry, there are plenty of ways to deal with her, but you chose the most foolish one," Xiao Man said gently. "Even if you had ordered someone to seize her and give her a good beating, I wouldn't have blamed you. Usually, you're so sharp-tongued with your sisters, but you cowered when faced with an outsider."
"I didn't cower," Xiao Ling said unconvincingly.
"Just remember this: within the General's manor, sisters can squabble all they want, but in front of outsiders, sisters are united. No matter how much enmity there is, you must stand by your own sisters. If anyone dares to bully you, hit them back hard. I'll take responsibility for any consequences. If I can't handle it, then Father and your brothers will. If you can't even deal with a singer, I don't think you should marry into Prince Qi's manor, lest you be swallowed whole by the numerous women there!"
"I understand," Xiao Ling said softly. Since Yan Shi's dismissal, she had lived cautiously in the General's manor. Even though the Old Madam doted on her, she was forbidden to cause trouble. If someone else had handled this matter today, she would have been the one punished. But Xiao Man had protected her.
Xiao Ling felt she couldn't quite understand Xiao Man, or rather, she had never truly understood her. From childhood, Xiao Man had lived life with such abandon, laughing when happy, crying when unhappy, and never hesitating to fight back when bullied, even if it was a prince. As a child, she had greatly envied Xiao Man's freedom to live so unrestrainedly.
After Xiao Man came of age, her temperament became even more unrestrained, yet she had never laid a hand on them. It was only when they attempted to ruin Xiao Man's purity and take her life that she fought back.
Xiao Ling recalled their four sisters. Xiao Man was the most flamboyant. If anyone bullied them, Xiao Man had always been the one to protect and stand up for them. When did she begin to hate this sister so much, wishing for her death?
Perhaps it was from the moment Yan Shi told her that Xiao Man was here to steal her father and her status. She began to hate her eldest sister's existence, turning a blind eye to whatever good Xiao Man did for her.
Xiao Xiang, while greeting guests alongside Chu Qingge, glanced at Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling had her head bowed, lost in thought, her expression inscrutable.
A faint smile touched Xiao Xiang's lips. Even before entering Prince Qi's manor, a concubine had dared to provoke them. Even if she married into Prince Qi's manor as a secondary consort, Xiao Ling's life might not be smooth sailing.
Xiao Xiang smiled and continued to entertain guests. In her opinion, Xiao Ling's future happiness was of little consequence to her. After all, she would likely remain in the General's manor for the rest of her life.
Before the New Year banquet could even begin, His Majesty arrived in disguise. Xiao Zhen hurried out to greet him.
"Your Majesty, how could you leave the palace so carelessly? What if you encountered danger?"
The Emperor sipped his tea. "I brought imperial guards, what is there to fear? You didn't even invite me to the General's manor's New Year banquet. I am displeased."
Xiao Zhen was helpless. "If Your Majesty wished to dine, this humble general would have had the household chefs prepare the meal and deliver it to the palace yourself. Why did you have to come in person? If Your Majesty were to encounter danger, this humble general would deserve a thousand deaths."
"Enough, I'm not in any danger, am I?" the Emperor said gently. "To prevent the younger generation from feeling constrained, I shall not dine with them. Remember to prepare some of my favorite dishes for me later."
"This humble general obeys."
The General's manor had invited performers from Xianle Workshop and a troupe of opera singers. The old Emperor, inside, watched the scene outside through a crack in the window.
"This New Year banquet at the General's manor is truly lively."
"Does Your Majesty wish to take a walk outside?" Hu Wan asked cautiously.
"No, it would disturb others, and the liveliness would change its flavor," the old Emperor said softly. "Of my five sons, all except the tenth have come."
"I presume the General's manor sent invitations to all Your Highnesses," Hu Wan ventured.
"Currently, apart from the Crown Prince and Prince Han, none of my other sons have an official consort. Third and Fourth Prince are quite old and should have consorts by now." The Emperor worried, "At their age, I already had children running all over the place."
"Why doesn't Your Majesty observe the ladies' side?" Hu Wan suggested.
"A good idea." The two of them immediately moved to the other side. A stage had been set up for the ladies, and they were performing "Yu Tang Chun." The ladies and young ladies cheered enthusiastically at the happy parts, tossing strings of coins onto the stage to reward the opera singers.
The old Emperor's gaze fell upon Xiao Man. She was sitting next to Chu Qingge, chatting with her with a smile, the sisters-in-law conversing happily.
On the other side, the Duchess of Chen and Madame Chu sat together, chatting about family matters. He Qingyi was also present, interjecting occasionally. It was a harmonious scene.