Li Man'er had a whole speech prepared, but not a single word of it was used.
Others always tried to pry into your past, wanting to know who taught you your skills, if you had done anything taboo that they could use to your disadvantage, or to try and extract some favors from you.
Only Li Nian and his wife, Yu Shi, genuinely cared for Li Man'er. They were afraid she wouldn't be able to keep her secrets, and they repeatedly warned her not to tell anyone.
Li Man'er appreciated their kindness. "I understand, Third Uncle, Third Aunt. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul."
The solemn expression on Yu Shi's face faded, and even Li Nian's demeanor relaxed.
"We're thinking of you, and this matter is not trivial. Man'er, please don't think your Third Uncle is being too meddlesome."
"I know how good my Third Uncle is to me. Since I was little, besides Grandpa and my uncles, no one has cared for me like this," Li Man'er said, a hint of joy in her eyes. "I'm not ungrateful."
Li Nian and Yu Shi couldn't help but sigh. She was the legitimate daughter of a marquis, yet her life had turned out this way. It was truly...
Li Nian secretly let out a bitter laugh. What did this prove? It only proved that the Li family were all ungrateful wretches.
Her birth mother had passed away, and her father remarried while still in mourning. It was too much.
A new stepmother meant a distant father. Ever since Guo Shi entered the household, Li Shu's concern for Li Man'er had waned day by day. If her own father was like this, could she expect anything from others in the marquis's mansion?
Her stepmother prioritized the reputation and future of the marquis's mansion above all else. Guo Shi was her niece, and with the two of them working together, could Li Man'er have a good life?
Just hearing the common people in the capital's evaluation of Li Man'er was enough to tell what kind of life she was living. Guo Shi had intentionally tried to corrupt her. Otherwise, why would a young lady, who hadn't done anything unforgivable, be rumored to be that way?
"Man'er, what exactly happened with your engagement to the Young Duke? How did it get called off?"
Li Man'er glanced at Li Qingyan. The child was clever and immediately said, "I'm full. Father, Mother, Eldest Sister, you all chat slowly. I'm going back."
"Go ahead!"
As Li Qingyan left, she winked at Li Man'er, looking rather cheeky.
Once Li Qingyan was gone, Li Man'er said, "This is a long story, but the version you two heard from outside must be different from my version."
"Everyone outside says the Young Duke was desperate to call off the engagement..." Li Nian's words trailed off as Yu Shi kicked him under the table.
Li Man'er chuckled inwardly. "What did Grandmother say?"
"We didn't ask," Yu Shi said. She knew her mother-in-law's ways and had come to Li Man'er for the truth.
"The Young Duke didn't fancy me, and I didn't fancy him either," Li Man'er said. "The Empress Dowager was kind, but Princess Consort Chang didn't think highly of me. She proposed breaking the engagement to the Empress Dowager, who disagreed, feeling it was unfair to a meritorious official. In her haste, the Princess Consort had to find another way..."
Li Man'er recounted how the Princess Consort and Li Zhao'er colluded to harm her. Finally, she summarized, "Fortunately, I was clever and didn't fall into their trap. Otherwise, I would have had to marry into the Geng family, or die."
Yu Shi slammed her palm on the table, making the bowls and plates rattle. "This is too much! I knew things wouldn't be this simple. Li Zhao'er could conspire with the Princess Consort? This is clearly Guo Shi's doing behind the scenes. That wicked woman!"
At this point, Yu Shi no longer cared about the saying about respecting the deceased and cursed Guo Shi again.
The meal was ruined.
The maids cleared the dishes and replaced them with hot tea and pastries.
"Third Aunt, there's no need to be angry. I didn't let them succeed. You have no idea how much I angered the Princess Consort that day, and I even disciplined her precious son. They didn't gain any advantage at all."
Yu Shi felt a little better and said helplessly, "It's a pity your Third Uncle's official position is too low to speak up for you."
"If Third Aunt puts it that way, Man'er truly has nowhere to hide. Third Uncle can't protect me forever. Besides, I was willing to break off the engagement myself."
"So how did the engagement finally get broken off?"
It was a long story, and it inevitably led to the mention of the Ninth Prince and Princess Wuyou.
Upon hearing the end, Yu Shi also sighed, "What a good person the Princess was, to suffer such a tragic death."
Yu Shi had been away from the capital for a long time and naturally didn't know Princess Wuyou's character. Besides, Princess Wuyou was indeed a good person, but she fell in love with someone she shouldn't have and made a grave mistake, which cost her her life.
This showed that one shouldn't have vain desires; it was most important to know one's place.
"Man'er, after the New Year, you'll be eighteen. Your marriage prospects might have to wait another two years." Yu Shi was anxious at the thought of Li Man'er not being married by twenty.
"Third Aunt, you don't need to worry. Marriage isn't necessarily a good thing for me. I'm happy to stay a maiden indefinitely."
"Nonsense, what maiden doesn't get married?"
Li Nian most disliked hearing this. "Can't you two ladies talk about something I can participate in?"
"You're a coarse fellow, what do you know?"
"It's precisely because I don't know that I don't want to listen to you babbling."
Yu Shi glared. "You are Man'er's Third Uncle. Do you have any semblance of an elder's demeanor? Man'er will be twenty after mourning, and it might be difficult to find a husband."
"What's the problem?" Li Nian said, "There are countless outstanding younger generation members in the army, many of whom marry late. It's not the same as the ways of noble families. If Man'er dislikes the capital, she can choose someone from the army. Moreover, the Ning family won't stand by idly. You're worrying for nothing."
There was some truth to his words. Yu Shi couldn't argue and simply hit him hard.
Li Man'er lowered her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips.
Of the entire marquis's mansion, only the third branch truly pleased her.
"Man'er, the journey to the Northern Desert is fraught with difficulties. Are you prepared?" Yu Shi was still worried about this.
"Don't worry, Third Aunt. Third Uncle will protect me. Besides, I'm not one of those delicate young ladies who can't endure any hardship. Please rest assured."
Li Man'er's words struck a chord with Li Nian. "I told you you're worrying needlessly, and you didn't believe me. Man'er has martial arts skills. Can't you see that?"
Yu Shi was slightly taken aback. She looked at Li Man'er again and noticed some clues. "If that's the case, it's even more fitting."
"Third Aunt, don't worry. I will listen to Third Uncle and will absolutely not put myself in danger."
Yu Shi was about to speak, thinking that going to the Northern Desert was in itself great danger, but then she seemed to think of something and swallowed her words.
"Your Third Uncle will risk his life to protect you."