5 – You don’t want me to come, but I’ll come anyway
This was clearly a blatant display of disdain for him? He hadn’t even disliked her yet.
“If you don’t want me to come, I’ll make a point of coming.” Yin Zhen sneered, then with a flick of his robe, he strode away.
Fu Qingzi: “…”
Fu Qingzi shook her head with a helpless smile. She wouldn’t stoop to bickering with a childish fool from the year 1678.
Only after Fourth Master had left did Qiao An swagger over to Fu Qingzi’s side, teasing, “Oh my, our Azi is smiling so sweetly. Has love blossomed in your heart?”
Fu Qingzi glanced at her, her expression relaxed. “Don’t make fun of me.”
Fu Qingzi’s gaze was drawn to a jade pendant on the ground. She gestured to Qiao An, who then picked it up and handed it to her.
Fu Qingzi ran her fingertip over the pendant. Why did this jade pendant give off such a petty, unrefined feeling? It didn’t seem like something a prince would wear.
Qiao An hinted, “Azi, maybe Fourth Master is looking for this pendant. Why don’t you take it to him at the front courtyard?”
Fu Qingzi handed the pendant back to Qiao An, her eyes drifting to the book in her hand as she said casually, “You go.”
Qiao An looked exasperated, gritting her teeth. “How can you bear to make me face Fourth Master alone? Do I look like someone who’s seen the world?”
Fu Qingzi’s brow twitched. Could someone who served as her secretary really be inexperienced?
Meanwhile, on the other side.
As usual, Yin Zhen instinctively reached for the jade pendant at his waist. Sensing something amiss, he looked down and found nothing there.
His expression darkened. “Su Peisheng, go search along the path for my jade pendant.”
At that moment, it never crossed his mind that the pendant might have been left behind in the Main Courtyard with Fu Qingzi.
Fu Qingzi had already been worn down by Qiao An’s persistence. Rubbing her temples with her fingertips, she finally relented. “Fine, fine, I’ll go.”
A young eunuch entered, bowing respectfully. “Fourth Master, the Mistress is here.”
Had she finally come to her senses?
A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in Yin Zhen’s dark eyes as he replied in a low, resonant voice, “Let her in.”
As soon as Yin Zhen looked up, he saw Fu Qingzi walking in with graceful, light steps, her movements elegant and naturally alluring. She said leisurely, “My Lord, you left your jade pendant with me.”
Fu Qingzi placed the pendant on the table, her peach-blossom cheeks smiling, her delicate hands as pure as jade. With a slight curl of her lips, she breathed softly, “If you lose it again, I won’t pick it up or bring it to you.”
Yin Zhen caught the faint, delicate fragrance from her and was momentarily stunned, but he quickly regained his composure, uttering two words softly, “Thank you.”
Suddenly, a large dog burst into the room, its target clear. It leaped into Yin Zhen’s arms and nuzzled against him.
Fu Qingzi dodged in disgust. So dirty.
Yin Zhen patted its head, a pleasant smile curling at the corners of his lips.
The dog’s attention then shifted to Fu Qingzi. It jumped out of Yin Zhen’s arms and wagged its tail eagerly at her, gazing at her with longing eyes. When Fu Qingzi ignored it, it opened its mouth and tugged at the hem of her robe.
Fu Qingzi was utterly fed up but kept her voice as calm and controlled as possible. “Get it away.”
Yin Zhen beckoned to the dog, his smile deepening. “Qianjin, come here.”
This ugly dog was named Qianjin?! Just how peculiar were Yin Zhen’s tastes?
Qianjin seemed stubborn, its big eyes fixed intently on Fu Qingzi, its tail wagging enthusiastically.
A glimmer of mischief danced in Yin Zhen’s eyes. “It likes you. Give it a pat.”
Fu Qingzi’s delicate brows knitted together as she refused without hesitation, “No.”
She lifted the hem of her robe and hid behind Yin Zhen, while Qianjin kept following her.
Yin Zhen’s thin lips pressed together lightly—so Fu Qingzi was afraid of dogs.
“Yin Zhen! Get your dog away from me!” Fu Qingzi, who had a cleanliness obsession, was genuinely disgusted. The dog had actually bitten the hem of her robe, drool dripping all over.
Yin Zhen was startled by Fu Qingzi’s loud voice. Not only did this woman address him by his name directly, but she even dared to shout at him.
Forget it. Considering she personally brought the jade pendant over, he wouldn’t bother arguing with her.
Yin Zhen picked up Qianjin in one motion, stroking the dog’s shiny black head meaningfully. “Qianjin, if someone doesn’t welcome you, don’t force your affection where it’s not wanted and embarrass your lord.”
Fu Qingzi: “…”
She wiped the glistening sweat from her temple, placed her delicate hands at her waist, and curtsied. “This concubine will take her leave now.”
Yin Zhen glanced up at Fu Qingzi and responded indifferently with a hum.
The first thing Fu Qingzi did upon returning to the Main Courtyard was change her clothes. Sitting on the heated kang, she gently massaged her forehead, her mind involuntarily recalling Qianjin. How could there be such an unsightly dog?
When Yin Zhen arrived in the evening, he immediately noticed Fu Qingzi had changed into a jade-green qipao. No matter how fresh and elegant the clothing was, when worn by Fu Qingzi, it took on a unique charm.
Her innate grace far surpassed the attire itself.
After the incident during lunch, the two of them behaved much more properly during dinner, each wary of offending the other again. Qiao An specifically asked the kitchen to add two dishes that Fu Qingzi enjoyed.
To maintain her figure, Fu Qingzi had always preferred vegetarian dishes over meat, as if it had become a habit.
After the meal, the two sat on the kang, where a small table held two fruit plates with some fruits inside.
Fu Qingzi picked up a book again. In ancient times, without phones, television, or computers, there was no way to work or entertain oneself. Apart from reading, there was little else to do.
Yin Zhen: Does she treat me as air? She actually treats me as air?!
Fu Qingzi: Why hasn’t he left yet? Could it be he intends to stay in the Main Courtyard? No, she wasn’t prepared for this.
Yin Zhen’s dark eyes were as deep as a pool, his profound gaze unexpectedly meeting Fu Qingzi’s. He spoke unhurriedly, “Fu Qingzi, do I need to teach you about the intimate matters between husband and wife?”
Fu Qingzi’s heart skipped a beat involuntarily, but her expression remained calm. She replied casually, “It’s still far too early.”
Meanwhile, Qiao An watched anxiously from the side. Summoning her courage, she stepped forward and said, “Fourth Master, Mistress, taking a walk after a meal would be better for digestion.”
Fu Qingzi shot a cold glance her way, but Qiao An pretended not to notice, avoiding her gaze.
Yin Zhen responded indifferently, “Hmm, that’s true.”
With that, he stood up, gesturing for Fu Qingzi to follow.
Fu Qingzi had no choice but to put down her book and follow him out. Thinking about it, since arriving here a few days ago, she had never taken a walk to see what the estate looked like.
The farthest she had walked was from the Main Courtyard to outside the estate.
It was almost autumn, yet the flowers in the courtyard were still in full bloom. As they walked, they could smell the faint fragrance of flowers and hear the clear chirping of birds.
Fourth Master hadn’t yet granted her the authority to manage the estate’s affairs. That was just as well—she was content with the freedom.
Back in the company, she had worked tirelessly for so many years, leaving early and returning late, rising before the roosters and sleeping after the dogs. Now that she was dead, her eldest brother was probably overjoyed. After competing with him for years, she had ultimately allowed him to reap the rewards without effort.
To say she was unwilling would be an overstatement, after all, a comfortable life was something she yearned for.