24 – Fu Qingzi Acts Deliberately, Yongzheng Defends
The Crown Princess also followed Fu Qingzi’s gaze, but since Fu Qingzi said nothing, she naturally found it inappropriate to speak up either.
Fu Qingzi had always eaten little, wiping her mouth shortly after sitting down at the table.
After the meal, everyone sat together chatting for a while longer. Fu Qingzi found it utterly dull, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Tatala then organized a group to stroll in the garden and admire the flowers. Several of them sat in a pavilion playing chess.
Fu Qingzi couldn’t shake the feeling of a malicious gaze fixed upon her. A faint smile curled at the corner of her lips—even without thinking, she knew it was Ulanara.
The Crown Princess, her eyes gentle, leaned in and whispered to Fu Qingzi, “Would you care for a game?”
A warm smile flickered in Fu Qingzi’s eyes as she declined, “No need.”
Tatala snorted coldly, her face full of displeasure. “Is the Fourth Princess Consort refusing to show respect?”
Fu Qingzi’s gaze turned icy, her phoenix eyes faintly exuding a sense of pressure. She reined it in slightly before replying nonchalantly, “What kind of respect do you think you deserve?”
Though her tone was light, a chill seemed to pierce straight to the heart.
Did they truly think she was made of dough, to provoke her again and again?
The Crown Princess gently grasped Fu Qingzi’s hand and shook her head at her. Only when Fu Qingzi saw Tatala purse her lips and fall silent did she let the matter drop.
So much for thinking she was formidable—just a paper tiger who bullied the weak and feared the strong.
At that moment, Ulanara also realized that Fu Qingzi was truly not one to be trifled with. She simply couldn’t be bothered, looking down on such petty games.
Fu Qingzi lightly fanned herself, enjoying the slight coolness brought by the breeze.
After some time, Fu Qingzi’s sharp eyes caught sight of Yin Zhen and the Fifth Prince approaching them.
The others had clearly noticed as well.
Several of them cast suggestive glances at Fu Qingzi, giggling softly. Only the person in question remained exceptionally composed.
Fanning herself, Fu Qingzi also curved her eyes into a smile at Yin Zhen. As he drew near, she extended her hand toward him, feigning surprise as she asked, “Lord, what brings you here?”
Yin Zhen’s brow twitched. Who was it that had repeatedly reminded him not to forget to fetch her just a few days ago? What act was she putting on now?
Lowering his gaze, Yin Zhen met Fu Qingzi’s phoenix eyes directly, his expression half-smiling. “I’m here to take you back to the manor.”
Fu Qingzi blinked, her face a picture of innocent thoughtlessness. “Just now, I heard from the Fifth Prince’s consort that Sister Yijia will be entering our manor. I wonder if it’s true.”
After speaking, she covered her lips with a light laugh, as if she had merely mentioned it in passing.
If he didn’t know Fu Qingzi, he might have truly believed her innocent and harmless act.
But Yin Zhen was willing to play along, adopting an indulgent expression.
Fu Qingzi had always been someone who repaid every slight. Others might treat it as a joke, but since Tatala kept provoking her, she couldn’t blame Fu Qingzi for stirring up trouble for her.
Next time Tatala provoked her, she’d better weigh her own intelligence and see how high it truly stood.
Yin Zhen glanced sideways at the Fifth Prince beside him, his sharp features expressionless, his gaze deepening. “Fifth Brother, you should keep a tighter rein.”
The Fifth Prince had always disliked Tatala, and now he likely despised her even more.
The Fifth Prince looked at Tatala, his face devoid of emotion, speaking unhurriedly, “Come to my study later.”
Tatala’s palms were slick with cold sweat. Trembling, she finally managed to respond.
Gritting her teeth, she thought, That damned Fu Qingzi!
Then, Yin Zhen glanced at Ulanara, his gaze indifferent, carrying a hint of detachment even he himself hadn’t noticed.
Ulanara bit her lower lip tightly, lowering her eyes with a pitiful expression.
Meanwhile, Fu Qingzi wore a look of enjoying the spectacle, thoroughly amused, as such small entertainments were rare in the Qing Dynasty.
Yin Zhen wrapped his large hand tightly around Fu Qingzi’s slender, willow-like waist, raising an eyebrow as he teased, “Do you need this Lord to fetch you some melon seeds?”
Fu Qingzi quickly turned her head away, a faint trace of being caught red-handed appearing on her face.
Yin Zhen enveloped Fu Qingzi’s fair, delicate hand in his palm, and only after she bid farewell to the others did they leave the Fifth Prince’s residence.
Fucha Yeqing grabbed a piece of pastry and hurried after the two, “Fourth Brother, don’t forget about me~”
The two escorted Fucha Yeqing back to the Fucha residence before returning to their own home.
These past few days had been unusually quiet, so much so that she felt somewhat unsettled. However, she wondered about Qiao An… It seemed she had some conflict with Su Peisheng.
She looked sulky, as if she never wanted to speak to him again.
Qiao An grew increasingly puzzled, crossing her arms in both annoyance and confusion, “Azi, can you believe it? A eunuch actually has a childhood sweetheart.”
Hearing this, Fu Qingzi finally lifted her eyelids to glance at Qiao An, her tone flat, “What are you angry about?”
The more Qiao An thought about it, the angrier she became, a surge of fury rushing to her head as her voice grew agitated, “She insulted me! That childhood sweetheart of his insulted me! Damn Su Peisheng didn’t even stand up for me!”
Fu Qingzi looked at Qiao An calmly and asked, “How did you end up meeting Su Peisheng’s childhood sweetheart, and why would she insult you for no reason?”
“She acted like a shrew. As soon as she saw me walking with Su Peisheng, she pounced on me like a dog and started hurling insults.” As she spoke, Qiao An grew more aggrieved; since childhood, Fu Qingzi had never let her be bullied like this.
Qiao An didn’t forget to explain, “That day, running into Su Peisheng was purely accidental. I happened to be picking flowers in the garden to make flower cakes for you when I came across Su Peisheng passing by. Seeing that it was still early and I had nothing else to do, I walked a stretch with him. And that’s how it happened.”
The more Qiao An spoke, the more something felt off, and she muttered, “Has Fourth Master become so understanding? Allowing Su Peisheng to meet his childhood sweetheart?”
A look of helplessness flickered across Fu Qingzi’s exquisite face, “Isn’t it possible that Su Peisheng told Yin Zhen it was a family member?”
Fu Qingzi lightly tapped Qiao An’s forehead with her knuckles, smiling without warmth, “Why are you jumping to conclusions about a childhood sweetheart? Su Peisheng definitely didn’t describe it that way to you.”
Qiao An covered her forehead with both hands, pouting as her voice grew even softer, “If it’s not a childhood sweetheart, then what is it, based on what he said?”
Fu Qingzi chuckled lightly before turning her attention back to the book in her hands, flipping through it casually. After a moment, she said, “With your temperament, I’m sure you’ve given others their fair share of trouble too.”
Qiao An sheepishly turned her head away; those words were indeed true. It had to be said that Fu Qingzi truly knew her best.
Fu Qingzi lazily leaned back on the fox fur blanket, speaking in a languid tone, “Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. If Yin Zhen hears of it, Su Peisheng will be punished again.”
Qiao An fiddled with her fingers, responding in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s, reluctantly agreeing.
That day, Lady Geng came to the Main Courtyard again, and Fu Qingzi truly could not be bothered to deal with her.