Li Maner ignored Li Shu's shouts, waving her hand for them to carry the man away.
The dignified Iron Gallant Marquis was carried into the bedroom like mere cargo.
Jia Er and Xi Kaiyuan exchanged glances, both stunned by Li Maner's ruthless and unforgiving demeanor.
"General Xi, General Jia," Li Maner cupped her hands towards them. "I must thank you both for your assistance today and for speaking up for me."
"Uh..." Xi Kaiyuan instinctively glanced at Jia Er. He was a man of principle, valuing filial piety and filial respect. His family was simple and lived in harmony, so he couldn't quite understand why Li Maner would treat Li Shu with such disrespect and lack of filial piety.
Although the Marquis's actions were indeed rather extreme, he was Li Maner's father, and that was an undeniable fact. Throughout history, it was always fathers who chastised their sons, never sons who dared to retort to their fathers like this. Wasn't this defiance?
As this thought crossed his mind, Xi Kaiyuan was about to offer some counsel when he suddenly felt a pinch on his waist. While he was momentarily dazed, he heard Jia Er say, "My dear niece, you must be busy. We'll be taking our leave. There are many matters to attend to in the camp!"
Though Xi Kaiyuan didn't understand why Jia Er had pinched him, he wasn't foolish. He immediately fell silent and turned to leave with Jia Er.
"You fatty have quite a strong grip. Tell me, why did you pinch me?"
Jia Er chuckled, the flesh on his face obscuring his eyes.
"Does the old general not know?"
Xi Kaiyuan replied, "I understand. You're telling me to mind my own business. But she's going too far. Speaking to the Marquis like that is truly defiant and unfilial. It's wrong." He sighed, as if the savior of his son's life had a flaw, no longer perfect.
Originally, he had considered matchmaking Li Maner with his own younger son, but it seemed that was no longer an option.
"It's not as simple as a family matter," Jia Er whispered. "Miss Li has always had a bad reputation in the capital. Do you know what people in the capital say about her?"
A bad reputation? Could it be that her argument with her father had spread?
Xi Kaiyuan felt a touch of curiosity. "What do they say about her?"
"Heh heh, they say she's crude, impulsive, brainless, and acts without regard for propriety, like a lovesick fool."
"Hiss~" Xi Kaiyuan inhaled sharply. "That's utter nonsense! While I don't condone young General Li's attitude towards the Marquis, she is certainly not that kind of brainless person. Crude? Lovesick fool? That's pure hogwash!"
Jia Er then said, "Old General, although we haven't known young General Li for long, we can both see that she is brave and intelligent, not destined for obscurity. She's just a woman; if she were a man, her rise to prominence would be imminent, and even enfeoffment as a marquis would be within reach."
How old is she? She's barely eighteen after the New Year.
Xi Kaiyuan nodded, fully agreeing with Jia Er's assessment.
"Young General Li is beautiful and possesses remarkable medical skills. Anyone with eyes can see her worth, yet why do such rumors circulate about her in the capital?"
"This... perhaps it's because young General Li doesn't often socialize, and people don't know her well?" Xi Kaiyuan speculated that with Li Maner's personality and abilities, she might also be proud and lack friends in the capital.
Jia Er smiled unhurriedly. "Old General, perhaps you've forgotten. Young General Li is betrothed to Duke Tong, the son of the Crown Prince."
"I know that. Back then, Ning Liancheng donated his entire fortune to the court for disaster relief and to quell rebellions. He also led the southern merchants in donating funds and goods to the nation. After the Great Stability, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager were deeply grateful for the Ning family's contributions and bestowed numerous rewards. It seems the engagement was arranged by the Empress Dowager, who wanted young General Li to have support."
"Indeed!" Jia Er said. "That's because young General Li lost her mother at a young age. I heard that not long after the Ning family's only daughter passed away, the Marquis married a second wife. This second wife was distantly related to the late Marquis's first wife..."
At this point, what else could Old General Xi fail to understand?
"Alas, the Marquis is foolish!" The eldest daughter, whose mother was from the Ning family and was recognized by His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, how could she not be good enough for you?
"So, young General Li's actions are not without reason. This matter has nothing to do with us." Jia Er looked around, and seeing no one nearby, he whispered again, "Moreover, the Marquis's talent in leading troops is mediocre. If he can't even defend this city, why would young General Li be unable to?"
That Luo person is a mere figurehead, and the Feng person has disappeared. In this situation, only they have any say in the camp.
Li Maner saved both him and Xi Hu's lives. Furthermore, her performance during the camp raid was outstanding. Many in the army owed her their gratitude. She has both ability and popularity; if she doesn't take charge, who will?
It's just the Xiao family...
A peculiar glint flashed in Jia Er's small, round eyes.
Xi Kaiyuan didn't notice Jia Er's expression at all and said, "What you say has some truth to it."
"Doesn't it? Alas, so you shouldn't be offering any advice. Do you think young General Li is someone without a plan?"
"She's without a plan?" Xi Kaiyuan's voice rose several octaves. "Forty-odd people daring to raid the enemy camp, and she's without a plan?"
"Heh heh, old general, don't shout, don't shout."
The two walked away, chatting and laughing, as if Li Shu's incident had nothing to do with them.
Meanwhile, Li Maner had already gathered Li Shu's guards. She then uttered the famous movie line, "Any of you who wish to avenge the Marquis, to step forward, you may challenge me now. Let us decide the victor, and end the contest with death."
They looked at each other, none of them making a move.
Li Maner scanned them one by one, noticing only one person's expression was somewhat unusual. She pretended not to see it and continued to list Li Shu's faults. "As you can all see, my father has a bad temper and is excessively irritable. Minister Ji also has his faults; knowing that the Marquis had just recovered from a serious illness and couldn't tolerate fatigue or stimulation, he still insisted on pestering my father with provocative words, preventing him from resting, causing his temper to flare up, truly..."
Before she could finish speaking, there was a flash of silver light from her left. A man, holding a drawn sword, lunged directly at Li Maner.
His plan was too simple. He knew Li Maner was unarmed and thought he could take advantage of her by surprise while she was rambling, defenseless, and kill her. Even if the Marquis found out, he probably wouldn't blame him.
But he had underestimated Li Maner's abilities. As the sword arrived, Li Maner moved. She extended her hand...
No, to be precise, she extended two fingers and caught the opponent's sword, just as she had dealt with Tong Qiao before.