4 – Fu Qingzi, do you disdain me?
Fu Qingzi gazed straight ahead, her slender fingers toying with the jade bracelet on her wrist. A faint, elusive smile played at the corners of her lips as she spoke in a calm, measured tone, “Consort De was simply trying to put me in my place just now—or, more accurately, to put Yin Zhen in his.”
Her smile did not reach her eyes. With a low chuckle, she turned her head to look at Qiao An. “A few days ago, you mentioned that since Yin Zhen and I married, he hasn’t laid a finger on me. Consort De couldn’t possibly be unaware of that. She’s gloating over it. If the Fourth Prince and his primary consort are at odds, who stands to benefit?”
Qiao An thought for a moment before replying, “The Fourteenth Prince.”
Fu Qingzi gave her an approving look. “Exactly. She’s deliberately driving a wedge between the Fourteenth Prince and the Fourth Prince. Consort De’s heart is so biased it knows no bounds. And the Fourth Prince’s heart has always leaned toward Empress Tongjia. A birth mother can’t compare to a foster mother, and a son raised by your side from childhood is always better than one sent back to you after being raised by others.”
Fu Qingzi clicked her tongue twice. “What a pity. It’ll be some time before the Fourteenth Prince comes into his own. Some detours are inevitable, and he’s still just a child in swaddling clothes. Consort De is merely wasting her efforts.”
Then, with an indifferent sigh, as if merely making casual conversation, she added, “These matters don’t affect me, so there’s no need for us to worry about them.”
Qiao An’s expression grew troubled. She paused her steps, drawing closer to Fu Qingzi, and deliberately lowered her voice, afraid others might overhear. “But Azi, even though the Fourth Master may become emperor, you could still smooth his path and make things easier for him.”
Clearly unwilling to continue the topic, Fu Qingzi brushed it off. “We’ll see.”
Not long after leaving Yonghe Palace, Fu Qingzi found herself face-to-face with Yin Zhen.
She stopped in her tracks, lowered her gaze, and curtsied. “Fourth Master.”
“Let’s go,” Yin Zhen replied tersely with just two words before turning and striding ahead.
His steps were steady and firm. Fu Qingzi stared at his resolute back, momentarily taken aback. Had he come to fetch her?
Noticing no movement behind him, Yin Zhen turned back. His dark eyes met Fu Qingzi’s shimmering, beautiful gaze, his brow slightly furrowed as he studied her. “What are you standing there for?”
If he hadn’t been worried that this fool might get lost and embarrass him in front of others, he wouldn’t have come back for her.
Only then did Fu Qingzi step forward to walk beside him.
From behind, Qiao An watched their retreating figures with a knowing, almost motherly smile. “Tsk, tsk, what a perfect match.”
Su Peisheng eyed her suspiciously. Was this woman also a fool?
Inside the carriage, Fu Qingzi covered her mouth as she sneezed. Yin Zhen’s gaze finally settled on her face, and he asked casually, “Cold?”
Fu Qingzi shook her head slightly. “Not cold.” Then she closed her eyes.
She had risen too early that day, and her eyelids kept drooping. Combined with the rocking of the carriage, she felt even drowsier.
Upon returning to the residence, Fu Qingzi went back to the Main Courtyard, while Yin Zhen left a message before heading to the front courtyard.
He said he would have lunch in the Main Courtyard.
Qiao An helped her remove the heavy headdress, styled her hair into a simple two-bun coiffure, and changed her into a pink qipao with gold-thread embroidery at the cuffs.
Leaning her chin on her hand and squinting slightly as she read, Fu Qingzi appeared even more aloof and untouchable.
Qiao An couldn’t help but stare. This was the first time Fu Qingzi had worn such light makeup. Her usually sharp eyes had softened slightly, perhaps because the change in surroundings had put her more at ease.
Such a version of her seemed to have shed the burdens and necessary responsibilities of a strong woman. Qiao An shook her head with a light sigh—this was much better.
The Fu family’s spicy cabbage was ultimately going to be devoured by Aisin Gioro Yin Zhen.
During lunch, Fu Qingzi asked Qiao An to inquire with Su Peisheng about Yin Zhen’s usual dishes. It was only then that Qiao An realized there wasn’t a single dish Yin Zhen liked that Fu Qingzi wasn’t picky about.
Difficult indeed.
When Yin Zhen arrived at the Main Courtyard, he happened to see the table laden with dishes, while Fu Qingzi was still sitting to the side reading a book, as if waiting for him.
Noticing Yin Zhen’s gaze, Fu Qingzi finally lifted her eyelids, inadvertently meeting his eyes. She spoke casually, “The Lord has arrived.”
Yin Zhen gave a soft hum and stepped closer to her.
Only then did Fu Qingzi rise and properly curtsy to Yin Zhen.
A flicker of surprise passed through Yin Zhen’s eyes—had she truly learned some manners?
Looking at the dishes on the table, Fu Qingzi felt a headache coming on. Having been pampered and spoiled since childhood, she was naturally picky about food and daily necessities, and her standards for food were exceptionally high.
Reluctantly, Fu Qingzi picked up half a piece of mushroom and put it in her mouth. Since she had come here and taken on a new identity, she had to adapt.
Yin Zhen’s dark eyes discreetly observed Fu Qingzi’s awkward expression. Raising a brow, perhaps out of a playful impulse, he used his chopsticks to place two slices of meat into her bowl.
Fu Qingzi glanced at him with a hint of dissatisfaction before quickly averting her gaze. Suppressing her discomfort, she placed the meat in her mouth and said calmly, “Lord, your concubine does not care for this.”
Wait, did he just not use serving chopsticks? Fu Qingzi disdainfully pushed the remaining slice of meat to the side of her bowl.
Yin Zhen: “…”
Yin Zhen’s dark eyes shot a disbelieving, icy glare. Through gritted teeth, he said, “You disdain me?”
Fu Qingzi instinctively wanted to reply but then reconsidered—was this something she could say? Better not. She shook her head, “I do not disdain you.”
Yin Zhen gave a light snort, his expression immediately relaxing. His playful intent grew stronger as he extended his chopsticks to add more food to Fu Qingzi’s bowl. “Then eat more.”
Fu Qingzi’s delicate brows nearly knitted together as she reminded him, “Lord, you did not use serving chopsticks.”
Qiao An, watching from the side, felt her heart pound with fear, worried that Fu Qingzi might simply set down her chopsticks. She hadn’t expected her Azi to endure so much.
Seeing Yin Zhen pretend not to hear, Fu Qingzi also picked up food and placed it in his bowl. She had heard that Yin Zhen’s fastidiousness was as severe as her own—so let them torment each other.
Yin Zhen glared darkly at the food in his bowl and said sharply, “Fu Qingzi!”
Fu Qingzi’s slightly upturned phoenix eyes glanced at him indifferently. With a composed demeanor, she said, “So you know what disdain feels like too.”
She would not tolerate a situation where officials were allowed to set fires while commoners were forbidden to light lamps.
Fu Qingzi raised a brow with a light laugh, her expression cheerful. “Eat, Lord. Why aren’t you eating? Could it be that you disdain your concubine?”
Yin Zhen glared at Fu Qingzi a few times in secret but still picked up the food and put it in his mouth.
Thus, Fu Qingzi enjoyed this lunch immensely, likely because of Yin Zhen’s stifled frustration and inability to say anything.
Qiao An silently gave a thumbs-up—impressive…
“I have matters to attend to and will return in the evening,” Yin Zhen said before turning to walk out.
Fu Qingzi glanced sideways at Yin Zhen’s retreating figure and blurted out without thinking, “You’re coming back?”
Fu Qingzi’s voice was coldly enchanting yet tinged with astonishment. From Yin Zhen’s attitude toward her, she had assumed that the first and fifteenth of each month were merely occasions for sharing a midday meal.
Yin Zhen turned back, his gaze fixed on Fu Qingzi’s captivating eyes that seemed to bewitch the soul. His voice carried anger as he demanded, “Fu Qingzi, what do you mean by this?!”