Li Shu had never seen such a Li Man'er, never.
The Li Man'er he remembered might shout and scream, or cry and curse, throwing things in a fit of temper, but he knew that such a daughter was merely a cat putting on a brave face. She didn't want others to see her dejection, her incompetence.
But the Li Man'er before him was one he had never encountered. She was somewhat wild, her words nonsensical, yet they made him tremble with fear and his heart ache. Because Li Shu knew that every word, every sentence Li Man'er uttered was true.
How long had she been planning this?
She had killed Madam Guo, and in the midst of the mourning period, hastily married Zhao'er. Even after arriving in Mobei, she had no intention of stopping. Li Wenchang was dead, and Jiao Niang was also dead. It seemed her sole aim was to leave him with nothing, to make him live on alone.
What else had she said, telling him to take care, because he no longer had a divine doctor daughter to treat him. But Li Shu felt that these words were a blatant threat, her way of telling him that she could kill him at any time, poisoning him without anyone knowing.
"You, you wicked creature, have you come to collect a debt?"
Li Man'er chuckled, "Marquis, how many times tonight have you called me a wicked creature? I fear the total number of times all the brothers and sisters in this estate combined doesn't match mine. Did you see the attitude of the Xiao family today? Did you see General Xiao's eager gaze to curry favor? Do you think they came for your Iron Heart Estate? Perhaps my reputation as a divine doctor is worthless in your eyes, but to the Xiao family, it's priceless."
Li Shu suddenly seemed to understand something. His gaze towards Li Man'er shifted, from anger to a hint of pity, and more so, to a sense of relief.
"Is that so? Since you believe the Xiao family are discerning patrons, why don't you stay in Mobei from now on and thank them properly."
Li Man'er was suddenly taken aback, "What do you mean?"
"Don't you hate me? Don't you hate the Iron Heart Marquis Estate? Then I will show you what you, Li Man'er, are worth without the Marquis Estate's protection."
Li Man'er seemed flustered, her eyes darting about, "I have my maternal grandfather's protection, and my uncle's."
"The Ning family is merely a merchant household. Haven't you heard the saying, 'The common folk do not contend with officials'? You truly are uneducated." Li Shu's mood seemed to improve greatly, "Without the Marquis Estate's protection, whether the Xiao family is heaven or hell to you, we shall wait and see."
Li Man'er appeared greatly agitated. She turned and left the room, taking Liu Ya with her in a huff.
Li Shu was very happy, very pleased, and even laughed a couple of times. Others might not believe it, but he truly felt a sense of catharsis from entrapping his daughter, picturing Li Man'er suffering oppression in Mobei, as if he had finally vented a great resentment.
Liu Ya followed Li Man'er back to her lodgings, extremely anxious. She couldn't for the life of her figure out why Li Man'er was so enraged.
However, once the door was closed, Liu Ya saw Li Man'er's lips curve into a slight smile.
"Miss, you're not angry?" Liu Ya, well aware of the principle that walls have ears, asked cautiously and in a very low voice.
Li Man'er threw her cloak to Liu Ya and lay down on the large heated couch by the window in the outer room, looking quite relaxed. "Angry about what? I know his character all too well." She had never harbored even a sliver of hope for Li Shu.
"Then just now..."
"It was an act," Li Man'er said with a hint of fatigue. "His Majesty sent the Marquis here to counterbalance the Xiao family, so even if the Xiao family wanted Xiao Si to marry me, the Marquis would never agree. That's why I deliberately put on this show today. My father and I have fallen out, giving the Xiao family an opportunity. Perhaps without the Xiao family needing to act, he himself will want to keep me in Mobei."
"Miss, then you mean..."
"Just wait and watch the show."
Liu Ya was confused. "Watch the show?"
Li Man'er smiled. "Tomorrow, I'll go find Third Uncle first and have Qingyan's illness seen to. This little one is my biggest concern. As for Xiao Si, hmph, he's just a fool."
Liu Ya blinked, not understanding where the word "fool" came from.
"Alright, I'm tired. Have the old women send some water for me to wash up and sleep."
Liu Ya quickly instructed the servant women in the courtyard to bring hot water.
After washing up, Li Man'er went straight to bed.
Liu Ya carefully blew out the lamp and checked the doors and windows before finally leaving with peace of mind. In her opinion, she should have been allowed to stay and stand guard, so she could lend a hand if anything unusual happened.
The news of the Li father and daughter's estrangement could not be hidden from the Xiao family. Not to mention that Li Man'er had deliberately caused this commotion, but there were certainly no lack of people watching them.
The Xiao family was satisfied with this outcome. If Li Shu and Li Man'er had presented a united front, they would have been in a predicament. Now that an irreparable rift had appeared between father and daughter, their chances of success had greatly increased.
On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, Xiao Qiniang, dressed in her finest, intended to take Li Man'er out to pick out gifts. Of course, picking gifts was a pretense; the real intention was to foster affection between Li Man'er and Xiao Si.
She waited for a long time, and instead of the radiant Li Man'er she had expected, a handsome young gentleman appeared. Upon closer inspection, he seemed somewhat familiar.
"Sister Man'er?" Xiao Qiniang called out uncertainly. The young gentleman before her wore a blue hair ribbon, a lake-blue straight robe underneath, a girdle of ochre silk inlaid with cat's eyes around his waist, a purse embroidered with pine and bamboo of the same color hanging on his right, a valuable jade pendant on his left, and a plain black raccoon fur cloak on the outside. He looked refined and elegant, a picture of a dashing young man.
Li Man'er walked up to Xiao Qiniang and cupped his fists in greeting, "Sister Xiao."
Xiao Qiniang burst into laughter, a fleeting look of jealousy flashing in her eyes, "You look so handsome dressed like this, I almost didn't recognize you."
"Hehe, it's more convenient to go out on the street like this."
"That's true," Xiao Qiniang said. "The carriage is ready. How about you, younger brother, ride with me?"
Li Man'er generously made a gesture of invitation, and the two walked towards the gate of the government office together.
A large carriage stood outside, with two horses side by side. The coachman was in place, servant women stood on either side of the carriage, and several guards were present. It was quite an impressive display.
Li Man'er, like a gentleman, helped Xiao Qiniang into the carriage, then lifted the hem of his robe and got in himself. It was true that men's clothing was more convenient. Although it was also quite elaborate to wear, at least he could lift the hem.
Liu Ya stood beside the carriage, thinking that she hadn't seen Xiao Si. Didn't Miss say Xiao Si would definitely appear today? It seemed that Miss was also human, and sometimes her predictions were not accurate.
"Let's go!"