Li Man'er had already wasted a considerable amount of time. After clarifying matters, she and Liu Ya went downstairs.
Xiao Si had been waiting impatiently downstairs, intending to ask the shopkeeper for someone. However, as he looked up, he saw Li Man'er, who had changed back into women's attire, slowly descending the stairs.
Xiao Si was stunned. His gaze involuntarily followed Li Man'er's figure until she reached him and called out, "Commander Xiao." Only then did Xiao Si snap back to reality.
"Sister Man'er, you..." Xiao Si didn't understand why she had changed back into women's clothes.
"I was with Sister Xiao earlier, and I was afraid of trouble, so I wore men's clothes for convenience. But with Commander Xiao here, I shouldn't have to worry, right?"
Xiao Si was delighted by this trust and immediately replied, "Naturally." No wonder she took so long; she had changed back into her women's attire.
A girl's attire was always more troublesome, and given the suddenness of the situation, she hadn't expected the young waiter to spill the food. Buying clothes had also taken considerable time.
Xiao Si's doubts vanished. "Sister Man'er, the dishes have been remade. Shall we sit down and eat something?"
"Alright!" Li Man'er gracefully sat back in her original seat, showing no signs of displeasure or awkwardness.
Xiao Si's eyebrows relaxed, and he seemed to be in a good mood. He sat opposite Li Man'er and introduced the dishes on the table. "This is the 'Boiled Water White Cabbage' from Shangpin Tower and 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.' These are dishes that require time and effort, using substantial and meticulous ingredients. They take quite a while, but the taste is truly excellent. Sister Man'er, please try them and see how they compare to the delicacies in the capital."
Li Man'er replied coolly, "Commander Xiao is too polite. You eat too."
The two ate a meal at the inn, each with their own thoughts, and then returned to the prefectural yamen.
Originally, according to Xiao Si's wishes, they should have gone out again. He wanted to take Li Man'er to the racecourse, where there would be many people, and perhaps use this opportunity to publicize his relationship with Li Man'er to the world.
However, Li Man'er said she was tired and wanted to rest. Xiao Si couldn't say much more and could only escort her back.
Fortunately, they had some time alone together, so it wasn't a complete loss.
When Xiao Si was about to patrol the streets, he encountered Xiao Qiniang, who was just about to leave.
"Brother, why did you come back so soon?"
"After lunch, I brought her back."
Xiao Qiniang smiled slightly. "Sister Man'er is a free-spirited person, unlike ordinary ladies who are dull. I imagine you two got along very well."
"Do you really hope she and I get along well?"
Xiao Qiniang nodded. "Of course. I also hope that Brother can marry someone capable like Sister Man'er. It would be the best for you and for our Xiao family."
Xiao Si looked at her deeply for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I hope what you say is true. Seventh Sister, Man'er is different from you. She is straightforward and innocent, not skilled in scheming. I hope you will treat her sincerely in the future." After speaking, Xiao Si left the prefectural yamen without even looking at Xiao Qiniang's expression.
Li Man'er, straightforward and innocent? Not skilled in scheming?
Then what was with her sarcastic remarks as soon as she entered the mansion, nearly driving him to death?
How long had Xiao Si known Li Man'er? He already thought he understood her so well that he was starting to protect her?
Xiao Qiniang was quite angered. She flicked her sleeve and entered the prefectural yamen.
Zhu Yu quickly followed her, saying as they walked, "Miss, don't be angry. Li Man'er is very good at manipulating people. The eldest young master has always been in the military camp and hasn't seen her true colors, which is why she deceived him."
"I'm not angry." What was there to be angry about? Was she angry that Xiao Si was talking nonsense with his eyes open?
She wished that Xiao Si would be deceived by Li Man'er and suffer a great fall. She hoped he would die, preferably at Li Man'er's hands, causing the Xiao and Li families to turn against each other. Only then could she make significant gains.
Li Man'er had already changed into another set of clothes, unbound her hair, and was leaning against a bolster, drowsy.
When the weather turned cold, she wanted to curl up in bed and not come out. She had wandered the streets for half the morning and was indeed a bit chilled. Fortunately, her constitution was excellent; otherwise, with the cold-weather clothing worn in ancient times, it would have been easy to fall ill.
"Miss, the sky is getting very dark; it looks like it's going to snow again."
Li Man'er grunted in response. It seemed she wouldn't be able to go up the mountain anytime soon. Going into the mountains would likely have to wait until after the New Year.
Liu Ya, however, worried, "The weather is cold, and the snow will be heavy. The barbarians' cattle and sheep will not be able to survive, and they might come to our borders."
Li Man'er's spirits lifted at this. Wrapped in a blanket, she asked, "Have you ever seen barbarians knock on the border?"
"No, I only heard others say. The barbarians are much more ferocious than rebels. They burn, kill, and loot, attacking cities and villages. They kill all men and abduct all women. All the prefectures that have been plundered by barbarians are filled with corpses, like a living hell," Liu Ya said worriedly. "Our country hasn't fought such a large-scale war in many years. I don't know if we can handle it, but if the barbarians invade, we will have to fight to the death, and the common people will suffer in the end."
Li Man'er asked, "Isn't it said that there are 200,000 troops stationed in Mobei? Dealing with barbarians should not be a problem!"
"Miss, you have lived in the marquis's mansion since you were young, living a life of luxury. You probably don't know what life on the border is like. 200,000 troops is just to bluff outsiders. If there were really that many, how could the Emperor possibly entrust all of them to the command of the Xiao family?"
Li Man'er had never considered this. Upon careful thought, Liu Ya's words made sense! The Emperor was so suspicious; how could he allow the Xiao family to command 200,000 troops?
The court's military payroll could explain a lot. To support 200,000 men, including weapons, equipment, food, clothing, and lodging, would cost a fortune!
Therefore, the Xiao family's 200,000 troops were merely a bluff by the court. Li Shu's tens of thousands of men couldn't possibly be sent to be cannon fodder by the Emperor, could they?
It seemed that the situation in Mobei was more complicated than she had imagined.
Li Man'er perked up, loosely tied her hair with a hairpin, and said, "Liu Ya, prepare the brush and ink. I need to draw."
Draw?
Although Liu Ya didn't understand, she still went to prepare the writing tools for Li Man'er, setting them on the small table where Li Man'er usually wrote prescriptions and medical cases.
Li Man'er first picked up her brush and began to write a proposal. Every word she wrote seemed to be carefully considered.
Liu Ya watched from the side, finding it strange. Wasn't she supposed to be drawing? Why was she writing now?
"Miss, what are you writing?"
"Writing a proposal," Li Man'er replied without looking up, continuously pondering the ancient siege and defense battle cases she knew and recording her thoughts.
Liu Ya ground ink for Li Man'er, not daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing Li Man'er's train of thought.
Li Man'er unconsciously held her pen in her mouth, and one large siege defense war chariot after another flashed through her mind. She suddenly had an idea.