25 – Yinzhen Takes an Interest in Fu Qingzi
Today was Qiao An’s day off, so another maidservant came to serve.
Seeing the maidservant standing there dumbfounded, showing no intention to move, Fu Qingzi sighed softly, “What are you standing there for? Do I need to teach you how to serve tea?”
After the maidservant served the tea, Fu Qingzi waved her hand, signaling her to leave.
Then she saw Lady Geng looking aggrieved, as if she might burst into tears at any moment. Fu Qingzi frowned, slightly annoyed.
“Madam, you know I’ve been in the mansion for several months now, and I still haven’t even caught a glimpse of Fourth Master.” After saying this, Lady Geng dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, her grievances seemingly endless.
Fu Qingzi picked up her tea and took a small sip, her eyes turning slightly cold. “Coming to me is useless. You need to direct your efforts toward Fourth Master.”
Lady Geng was taken aback, clearly not understanding Fu Qingzi’s meaning. Or was it that the Madam had already given up on her? Did she think she was useless?
Fu Qingzi’s brow furrowed. It seemed all the cleverness had gone to others, hadn’t it?
“Fourth Master often works on official business in the front courtyard during the day and frequently misses his mealtimes.” Fu Qingzi’s hint was already quite obvious.
Lady Geng’s eyes widened as she tentatively asked, “Does the Madam mean I should take some food to Fourth Master in the front courtyard?”
Fu Qingzi leaned back lazily, speaking nonchalantly, “I didn’t say anything.”
Lady Geng pressed her lips together in thanks and was just about to leave when Yin Zhen arrived.
This was the first time Lady Geng had truly taken a good look at Yin Zhen. Seeing his handsome features, she suddenly felt her heart flutter, and an unnatural ripple appeared in her eyes.
Lady Geng softened her voice and said sweetly, “Lord…”
Better to arrive at the right moment than too early—this was the only phrase that came to Fu Qingzi’s mind.
When Yin Zhen saw Lady Geng, his eyes instantly revealed displeasure. He looked at Fu Qingzi questioningly, only to see her turn her head away as if she hadn’t noticed. Yin Zhen was instantly itching with frustration!
“If there’s nothing else, leave this place.” After uttering these words, Yin Zhen walked straight toward Fu Qingzi, ignoring Lady Geng.
Lady Geng’s face flushed with embarrassment. Why couldn’t he spare me another glance? Though she wasn’t as charming as Fu Qingzi, she wasn’t bad-looking either.
After Lady Geng left, Yin Zhen looked at Fu Qingzi with a resentful gaze for the first time, demanding, “You ignored me just now? Didn’t you see her eyes practically glued to me?”
Fu Qingzi wore an expression that said, “What does that have to do with me?”
Yin Zhen grew increasingly dissatisfied with Fu Qingzi.
After waking up, Shaoye was full of energy, jumping up and down restlessly and emitting sharp, piercing squeaks.
Fu Qingzi was amused by Shaoye’s cries. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were a weasel.”
Yin Zhen pulled Fu Qingzi into his arms, leaning in closer bit by bit. He drew out his words meaningfully, “Are you saying the little fox I gave you is a weasel? Come on, tell me, who exactly are you insulting?”
Fu Qingzi gently pushed away Yin Zhen, who was getting closer, and said calmly, “Lord, I wouldn’t recommend taking this personally.”
Yin Zhen: “…”
Fu Qingzi placed her fingertip on Yin Zhen’s chest and poked it lightly. “Tomorrow is the first day of the month. We have to go to the palace again.”
Yin Zhen responded, “Mm.”
Fu Qingzi leaned against Yin Zhen’s shoulder, reading a book, while Yin Zhen held her in his arms—an inexplicable warmth filled the air.
After an unknown amount of time, Yin Zhen finally spoke. “What Tatara said is true.”
Yin Zhen stared intently at Fu Qingzi’s face, as if trying to discern something.
Fu Qingzi merely offered a faint smile and a slight nod, using subtle expressions to convey her understanding to Yin Zhen.
Without saying or asking anything, Fu Qingzi shifted her gaze to the book. Yin Zhen’s words were heard but not dwelled upon—after all, his marriage to Ulanara was a historical inevitability.
Yin Zhen’s dark eyes remained fixed on her, seemingly unwilling to accept that Fu Qingzi truly didn’t care in the slightest. After what felt like an eternity, he finally conceded defeat. He shouldn’t have expected any extra emotion to show on Fu Qingzi’s face.
A rare, suppressed anger simmered within Yin Zhen.
Even someone as slow to react as Fu Qingzi felt her heart skip a beat. Why was Yin Zhen telling her this?
Fu Qingzi subtly shifted her posture, discreetly observing Yin Zhen’s mood. She was adept at reading emotions—provided she had the inclination to do so.
A moment later, a faint glint of insight flashed in Fu Qingzi’s phoenix-like eyes. Had Yin Zhen developed feelings for her without even realizing it himself? How unconsciously it had happened.
A mischievous smile curled at the corner of Fu Qingzi’s lips. Since Yin Zhen had unwittingly grown attached, why shouldn’t she make good use of it?
What Fu Qingzi wanted was precisely this suppressed budding affection within Yin Zhen. If she could truly grasp it well…
With a seductive, enigmatic smile, Fu Qingzi said, “Lord, I once read a line in a storybook that I’m now quite curious to ask you about.”
Yin Zhen gave a soft hum, signaling her to continue.
Fu Qingzi’s eyes flickered with a hint of seriousness, as if eagerly anticipating his answer. “If I and Ulanara Gege were to fall into the water at the same time, who would you save?”
Hearing this, the heaviness in Yin Zhen’s heart dissipated considerably. He promptly wrapped an arm around Fu Qingzi’s waist, raised an eyebrow, and countered, “Feeling jealous?”
Fu Qingzi turned her head away, adopting the demeanor of a petty woman, her eyelashes lowered slightly. Yes, she wanted to let Yin Zhen know she was jealous.
A chuckle escaped Yin Zhen’s lips, his expression softening noticeably. A sense of pleasure slowly rose within him before he replied, “I’d save you.”
Just as Fu Qingzi was about to break into a smile, Yin Zhen added with utmost seriousness, “She knows how to swim.”
Fu Qingzi’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by a barely perceptible cold smirk.
Although Fu Qingzi had clearly responded to Yin Zhen more often these past few days, there were still moments of aloofness and indifference. After all, she genuinely didn’t want to put on too much of an act—it was exhausting.
Yin Zhen’s feelings for her were merely budding, while his affection for Ulanara was truly heartfelt. If she overplayed her hand, Yin Zhen’s attentiveness might see right through her. After all, even she felt her behavior was unusually out of character.
Upon hearing Fu Qingzi’s words, Qiao An’s face immediately fell, brimming with resentment. She was utterly exasperated and complained, “Fu Qingzi, it’s only three months until you two have been married for a year! Fourth Master, that clueless man, has finally started to develop a bit of affection for you, and you’re actually thinking of slowly wearing it down. It seems to me you and Fourth Master are two of a kind—at least his feelings for you are pure, unlike yours, always scheming to use this and that. If I were you, I’d have settled down and lived happily with Fourth Master long ago.”
Qiao An was on the verge of tears, utterly exasperated. So clueless, so utterly clueless!! If things really went the way Fu Qingzi was handling them, the couple she was rooting for would have long since broken up—no, wait, they were about to break up.