Xiao Rudeng seemed to have a difficulty on his face, "The eldest young lady is here for the Marquis. By all rights, she should travel with her father. However, the conditions in the old city are harsh and it is right next to Xiashi Beach, which is extremely dangerous. She is a young lady, and the Marquis has doted on her since she was young, so I fear she won't be able to adapt. If the eldest young lady were to stay in the prefectural city, our Xiao family would naturally welcome her. It's just that the eldest young lady might feel lonely all by herself and be unaccustomed to it!"
Li Shu glanced at Xiao Rudeng with a knowing look and said nothing.
"Of course, if the Marquis trusts me, why not let the eldest young lady stay at the prefectural yamen for the New Year? My daughter and your esteemed daughter became fast friends at first sight. Two girls together, they won't feel lonely." Xiao Rudeng slapped his chest and guaranteed, "If the eldest young lady loses even a single hair, the Marquis can hold me accountable."
Several thoughts flashed through Li Shu's mind. In the end, he decided resolutely that he must take Li Man'er to the old city.
Danger was good!
That wolf cub had the blood of the Ning family flowing in her veins; she was as cunning and treacherous as she was stubborn and rebellious. She was already suspecting the cause of Ning Shi's death. If she truly managed to uncover something, the entire Marquis's mansion would be implicated by her in the future.
The foundation of the Li family must not be destroyed by his hands. Losing one daughter was no big deal. Once Li Man'er was dead, all the things in her possession could be transferred to his private account, making everything convenient and painless to use in the future.
With this thought, Li Shu said righteously, "Thank you for your kind offer, General. However, as the daughter of a military general, what is she afraid of when it comes to enduring hardship? To tell you the truth, General, Man'er has been practicing martial arts since childhood and her skills are not bad. Even your subordinate generals might not be her match."
"Yes, yes, yes, the Marquis is absolutely right. The eldest young lady is indeed extraordinary, worthy of being called a descendant of a military general, and also a testament to the Marquis's excellent upbringing." Xiao Rudeng, having achieved his goal, felt delighted and did not mind saying a few pleasant words.
Thus, the two men, with their own hidden intentions, probed each other, laid traps, and in the end, both were satisfied.
Li Shu instructed Qin Si to pack up the belongings in the room and ordered Old Sun to deliver the message to Li Man'er, telling her to pack her things immediately and accompany him to the old city.
To display his authority, Li Shu also grumbled, "If she refuses to go, tie her up. I don't believe I can't control her temper."
Old Sun thought to himself, was this Marquis foolish? Could he possibly defeat Li Man'er? They had a ten-year agreement, and not even half a year had passed.
Old Sun scurried off to deliver the message to Li Man'er. Li Man'er listened, dumbfounded.
Liu Ya thought she was scared silly and said, "Young lady, if you don't want to go, you should discuss it properly with the Marquis..." Before she could finish speaking, she immediately remembered how Li Man'er had reprimanded Li Shu as if he were her grandson, and immediately changed her tune, "The military camp is all men. Is the Marquis confused to send you to such a place?"
Li Man'er merely glanced at her and said lightly, "Pack your things."
Liu Ya asked, "You are going?"
"Naturally, I must go." Li Man'er suppressed the excitement in her heart, "The prefectural city is full of Xiao family people; it's truly boring and not safe. I'm going to the old city; everyone there is our own people. Do you understand? Hurry up."
Liu Ya didn't quite understand, but she knew she had no room to object. In any case, the Third Madam had assigned her to the eldest young lady, so wherever the eldest young lady went, she would go.
As Liu Ya packed her things, Li Man'er instructed Old Sun, "Take him a message, tell him I will pack up shortly and will leave with him. Also, my third uncle and the others are still outside the inn; we should see them."
Old Sun nodded and added, "Young lady, Xiao Rudeng came to see the Marquis earlier, and they talked in the room for a long time. I didn't hear a single word. However, as soon as Xiao Rudeng left, the Marquis said he was going to the old city to celebrate the New Year and share hardships with the soldiers. I suspect something is going on here, and you should be careful."
The father and daughter had fallen out so badly that they could be considered enemies. When Li Shu was at the prefectural yamen, he had no one else to use and could tolerate her to some extent. But if they went to the old city, with tens of thousands of soldiers, wouldn't they flay Li Man'er alive in minutes?
Military orders could not be defied. As the commander-in-chief, who would dare disobey Li Shu's orders?
Li Man'er sneered inwardly, thinking these were two old foxes, each trying to dig a pit for the other!
Xiao Rudeng knew that the barbarians were going to attack the pass, so he let Li Shu go at this crucial moment. Regardless of whether the old city could be defended, the men Li Shu brought would definitely suffer losses, which was a result Xiao Rudeng was happy to see. It would be best if Li Shu made a major strategic error, and then the Xiao family could step in to save the day. This way, Li Shu would be no threat, and the Emperor would also blame him, thus solidifying the Xiao family's position in Mobei.
Li Shu, seizing this opportunity to regain military power, might even be able to resolve this unfilial daughter in that chaotic region. Once she was dead, Li Shu would have no cause for concern and would gain a large sum of money. It seemed like a profitable deal no matter how you looked at it.
To dare to scheme against this grandmother, you probably wouldn't even know how you died.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Li Man'er nodded, "I know what I'm doing. You don't need to go back to report. We'll leave together later."
Old Sun understood. He didn't have much to pack anyway. He just needed to follow Li Man'er.
Li Man'er's state of mind was calm now, her eyes unruffled, showing no panic.
She had seen major scenes before; the more so at such times, the calmer she needed to be. Moreover, she had been worrying about how to instigate Li Shu to quarrel with Xiao Rudeng, and how to get to the old city. Now, these problems were all solved.
It was truly a case of "when you're sleepy, someone brings you a pillow." The fortunate don't need to worry about chores.
"Old Sun, you should go back and keep an eye on things. We'll be leaving soon. If you have a chance, try to ask someone where we can buy a large quantity of wine jars, or ceramic pots. Any size will do, and the more the better."
Wine jars, ceramic pots?
Old Sun looked perplexed, "Young lady, what do you need those things for?" And the more the better!
"They have a great use for me," Li Man'er said mysteriously, "Just go and ask. One is not too few, and a thousand is not too many." She also took out two bank notes from her pocket and handed them over, "Just buy them directly."
Old Sun took the bank notes, still dazed, and stood there without moving.
Li Man'er immediately kicked his leg, "Go."
Old Sun hastily stuffed the bank notes into his pocket, "Oh, well, young lady, after buying the jars and pots, where should we put them?"
Those things were fragile and inconvenient to carry on the road.
"I have my own clever uses for them. Just go and buy them, and be sure to buy more before we leave." Li Man'er thought for a moment, "If all else fails, send them to third uncle."
Old Sun was confused, but he still took the order and left.
The eldest young lady was so impulsive! Buying so many jars to take on the road, wasn't that just bringing a cartload of burdens?