"Are we going or not, Miss?" Ah Si asked, seeing Li Man'er hadn't moved.
"Of course we are," Li Man'er said, rising. "Let's go, right now."
Zhang Jingfeng hesitated, "General..."
"If you have something to say, say it. If you have something to fart, fart it out," Li Man'er retorted.
Ah Si coughed lightly. The young lady's words were too crude, but they made so much sense. What kind of man hesitates and stutters?
"Well, the Marquis threw a huge tantrum. Commander Ji's intention is that General Feng's disappearance is inextricably linked to you. The Marquis was furious upon hearing this and wants you to come over." wap.kanshu伍.net
Ah Si grew anxious and quickly asked, "The Marquis can't just listen to one side, can he? He should at least ask for clarification and investigate first."
Zhang Jingfeng lowered his head, remaining silent. He could see from the Marquis's demeanor that he was convinced the General had abducted the man, not only hurling abuses but also hinting at disowning her.
"Miss, let's ask Third Master Li to come along!" After all, he could be a helper.
"That's fine too." Li Man'er wasn't foolish; having someone to back her up was best. "Then I'll trouble General Zhang to make another trip and deliver a message to my Third Uncle, asking him to come over."
However, Zhang Jingfeng gave a bitter smile. "General, I'm afraid it's too late. Third Master Li has already been sent away. Apparently, there's a shortage of personnel in logistics and transportation, so Third Master has been assigned to the transport team to fetch a batch of supplies from the new city."
Li Man'er felt a sense of foreboding. "Are Third Master's personal guards accompanying him?"
Zhang Jingfeng shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
Li Man'er pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "This is quite interesting. Let's go then."
Ah Si could only follow, and they went to Li Shu's residence together.
Zhang Jingfeng was caught in a dilemma. As if struck by inspiration, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly had an idea, taking off at a run.
Just as Li Man'er reached the entrance, she was stopped by Li Shu's personal guards. "Young lady, weapons are not allowed when seeing the Marquis. Please hand over your weapons and do not make things difficult for us."
Ah Si was about to step forward, but Li Man'er stopped her. She handed over a pair of Emei刺 (dagger-like weapons) from behind her to the guards and said clearly, "Watch them carefully, and don't lose them."
"Yes!" The guard dared not look up at Li Man'er, feeling as though his life was in danger, and thus kept his head bowed.
Ah Si also wanted to hand over her long staff, but they wouldn't accept it. They said, "You don't need to go in. The Marquis only wants the young lady to enter alone."
"You..." Ah Si thought to herself, this is clearly a trap for her young lady.
Li Man'er, however, felt indifferent. Not only were they not necessarily trying to kill her, but even if they wanted to act, they would need the ability to do so.
"You stay here and don't cause trouble."
Ah Si could only respond with a muffled assent, but her gaze towards the guards was venomous, as if she wanted to devour them.
Li Man'er merely smiled upon seeing this and pushed open the door to enter.
Inside, Li Shu sat listlessly on the main seat. Below him sat Supervisor Ji. There were a few other people in the room, who appeared to be guards. Although they weren't carrying weapons, it was evident they were skilled.
After Li Man'er entered, the door behind her closed heavily. She didn't even glance at it, nor did she perform any courtesies upon entering.
"May I know why the Marquis has summoned me?" Li Man'er stood there, her posture like a pine tree. Though a beautiful young woman, her face was defiant. Her eyes were bright, preventing anyone from looking directly at them, yet the hint of a mocking smile on her lips was blatant, as if saying she had seen through all their tricks.
Seeing her like this, Li Shu's anger flared even more. He tried to speak but was choked, bursting into a violent coughing fit.
Li Man'er stood there, watching him coldly, her eyes filled with disdain and no other emotion, as if he were a fool in her eyes.
The truth!
Li Shu coughed a couple more times, his eyes fixed on Li Man'er, as if poisoned, red and sinister. Through this gaze, he seemed to see Consort Ning again, and how she had looked at him with disdain when she was alive.
"Kneel."
Li Man'er let out a cold laugh. "What wrong have I committed? Why should I kneel?"
Supervisor Ji fanned the flames from the side. "My word, this is truly eye-opening! Publicly, you are the acting general of the Iron Blood Camp and under the Marquis's command. Privately, you are the Marquis's daughter. A woman at home must obey her father; how can you be so disobedient?"
When it came to retorts, Li Man'er had never lost. She glanced at Supervisor Ji with disdain and said indifferently, "Supervisor Ji, you shouldn't be meddling in other people's affairs. Be careful not to sprain your tongue by talking too much nonsense."
"You..." Supervisor Ji's face immediately turned grim. In just a short while, he had forgotten how sharp-tongued Li Man'er was, and now he had to suffer the consequences.
"Marquis, since the young lady has arrived, why not clarify things quickly?" Supervisor Ji, being somewhat shrewd, quickly changed the subject, letting the father and daughter have their spat.
"You are simply a scoundrel! How dare you speak to Supervisor Ji like that?"
Li Man'er sneered. "The only one in the entire Sovereign Kingdom who calls his own daughter a scoundrel is likely the Marquis. You can see him fanning the flames over there, but you don't like it when I say a few words. What, you're allowed to set fires, but I'm not allowed to light a lamp?"
Li Shu stomped his foot in anger. "How dare you! Do you know the consequences of disobedience?"
"Disobedience?" Li Man'er raised her eyebrows and laughed heartily. "Father thinks my actions are disobedience? Then go ahead and report me."
Her nonchalant demeanor deeply provoked Li Shu. His eyes turned red, and another voice seemed to echo in his ears, "Then divorce me."
Then divorce me.
"You scoundrel!" Li Shu roared, reaching for the water pitcher on the nearby table and hurling it at Li Man'er. Li Man'er didn't move, letting the pitcher shatter at her feet. Water splashed onto her boots, and shards of porcelain lay scattered around her feet.
Li Man'er raised her head, her eyes icy. "Marquis, you should focus on your own health. You were poisoned twice, on the brink of death. I risked coming all the way to the Mobei Desert and saved you twice. You were absurd and muddle-headed, indulging in women even before you fully recovered, nearly dying of a stroke, and I saved you again. I told you, having saved you several times, I have repaid your life's grace. If you continue to get so agitated, and have another stroke, no one will save you."
Supervisor Ji's eyes widened abruptly. He was astonished by Li Shu's foolishness, surprised that despite his poor health, his heart was quite lustful.
Li Shu was almost angered to death by Li Man'er's words. "Presumptuous! How dare a mere slip of a girl bellow in front of the Marquis and Supervisor Ji. Tell me, was General Feng abducted by you?"
Li Man'er simply said, "Do you have proof? Marquis, if you have proof, then come and arrest me. Why bother asking so hypocritically? It's like taking off your pants to fart – utterly redundant."
Supervisor Ji, who was drinking tea, sprayed it out directly upon hearing Li Man'er's words. She was far too unrestrained.