The autumn hunt arrived as scheduled.
A grand procession set out from the capital, heading toward the imperial hunting grounds two hundred miles away.
To accommodate the womenfolk, the procession moved at a leisurely pace, taking about three days to reach their destination.
The carriage swayed gently.
Before departure, Fu Ci had specifically ordered modifications to the wheels, so the ride was not particularly bumpy.
With nothing else to do, Jiang Wan leaned against the couch padded with soft fur and read a book.
After attending to his duties, Fu Ci returned to the carriage.
He took the book from her hands. “Don’t read in the carriage—it’ll strain your eyes.”
He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. “You can look at the scenery outside instead.”
Jiang Wan didn’t argue with him.
Her gaze drifted out the window, where endless distant mountains and vast stretches of vibrant autumn forests stretched before her eyes.
Gradually, Jiang Wan’s mood lifted. Since her rebirth, she had rarely experienced such moments of relaxation.
Before she could even smile, Fu Ci squeezed onto her soft couch and pulled her into his arms.
Jiang Wan was annoyed. “Let go.”
“No.”
“It’s broad daylight. Can’t you behave?”
Fu Ci chuckled. “Does that mean I can at night?”
His tone was unmistakably hopeful.
Jiang Wan glared at him. “You’re a prime minister, for heaven’s sake. Can’t you have some dignity and act properly?”
“Compared to you, what do those things matter?”
Knowing how shameless he was, Jiang Wan straightened up and leaned against the window to enjoy the scenery, ignoring Fu Ci.
Fu Ci followed closely, burying his face to kiss her earlobe and neck.
“Fu Ci, aren’t you tired of this?”
The man’s arms tightened around her. “Wanwan, you’re not still thinking of leaving, are you?”
Jiang Wan tensed for a moment before regaining her composure.
“Would you let me go?”
“No.”
“Then why ask? If you don’t agree, where could I possibly go?”
Runaway concubines could be reported to the authorities and captured—this was precisely why Jiang Wan had wanted to part ways with Fu Ci amicably when she first regained her memories.
If she hadn’t been left with no other choice, why would she have considered sneaking away in disgrace?
She touched the white jade bracelet on her wrist. With such worldly possessions, she wouldn’t have to worry about survival.
The only thing she needed to carefully consider was how to protect herself while traveling alone.
Noticing Jiang Wan’s distraction, Fu Ci gently bit her earlobe. “You’re resisting me.”
Even during the best times of their relationship, though she would blush, she had never resisted him like this.
This made Fu Ci wonder—did Wanwan still want to leave?
Did she not want a future with him?
Jiang Wan smiled bitterly. “I can’t go anywhere. Am I not even allowed to be upset now?”
Seeing her like this, Fu Ci pushed aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
“As long as you don’t leave me, you can be as upset as you want.”
A man’s words shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
They liked it when women showed jealousy for their sake, but they disliked it when women became too troublesome.
Otherwise, in their eyes, it would seem like unreasonable pestering.
“Let go now.”
“Just one kiss, nothing more.”
Fu Ci felt pitiful—it had been so long since he’d last tasted intimacy.
Holding his soft, fragrant beloved in his arms now, it was hard not to feel stirred.
But he had promised—unless she agreed, he wouldn’t do that sort of thing.
He sighed softly.
Resting his chin on Jiang Wan’s shoulder, he murmured, “If this goes on, you’ll be the death of me.”
Sensing his restlessness, Jiang Wan dared not move.
But her words remained sharp. “I wouldn’t stop you if you wanted to find someone else.”
“Really not going to stop me?”
“Why should I stop you? Just as you said, who in the capital doesn’t have three wives and four concubines—it’s only a matter of time sooner or later. Since it can’t be changed, then accept reality. Don’t make things difficult for yourself, and don’t make things difficult for others either.”
Fu Ci really wanted to slap himself twice. Why did he have to say such angry words back then!
Now Jiang Wan was using them to shut him up—truly lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
Deliberately picking a fight, he said, “Finding someone else is too troublesome. Why bother going far when the solution is close at hand?”
He turned Jiang Wan’s body around and kissed her red lips.
Not giving her a chance to speak, let’s see how she could still infuriate him then!
Yun Yanran and her brothers rode past on horseback, catching a glimpse of the scene inside through the lowered carriage curtain.
They… they were actually engaging in such indecent acts in broad daylight inside the carriage!
Have they no shame at all!
The color instantly drained from her face.
Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed, aching so much she wanted to cry.
Fu Ci so blatantly bringing Jiang Wan out to participate in the autumn hunt showed he cared not at all about leaving any face for the Yun family.
He also completely disregarded whether she, as his fiancée, would be ridiculed by others.
That alone was bad enough, but now, in broad daylight, they were actually kissing.
Disregarding propriety.
Ignoring all rules.
Yun Yanran wished she could rush over and separate them. She was Fu Ci’s fiancée, after all.
Why was he treating her like this?
“Yanran, what’s wrong? Didn’t you say you wanted to invite that Fu fellow to ride horses and enjoy the scenery together?”
Afraid the matter would escalate and bring shame to her family, Yun Yanran forced a smile. “Second Brother, Third Brother, I don’t feel like riding anymore. I’d rather return to the carriage for a short rest.”
“Why? Weren’t you just clamoring to ride a moment ago?” Yun San was baffled.
Yun Yanran stared at the carriage window. “I just don’t want to anymore.”
“Alright, alright, then let’s head back.”
Yet Yun Yanran refused to turn around, maintaining the same pace as the procession, moving forward slowly.
Yun San glanced at Second Brother, his eyes filled with inquiry.
What’s going on with our little sister?
Yun Er looked toward the Fu family carriage.
Fu Ci’s concubine was inside.
Other families’ carriages separated men and women—only theirs was an exception.
Fu Ci’s public explanation was that it was for the convenience of taking care of Jiang Wan.
Just moments ago, the carriage curtain had been open, but in a short while, it had been lowered.
As men, who didn’t understand what that meant?
A lone man and woman inside—who knows what indecent things they might be doing.
Otherwise, why would Yanran react like this?
Yun Er tugged on the reins, approaching the Fu family carriage.
“Lord Fu, the weather is lovely today, and the scenery along the way is beautiful. Why not join us for a ride on horseback?”
Fu Ci was deeply immersed in the moment when his pleasant interlude was interrupted.
A flash of hostility passed through his eyes.
He released Jiang Wan and straightened her collar for her.
“Do you want to ride horses?”
“Get lost!”
“Fine, then we won’t go. You rest for a while. The procession will stop for a break after another hour of travel.”
“You get out.”
“No, I want to watch you sleep.”
Yun Er, sharp-eared and keen-eyed, overheard their conversation.
He had originally thought Jiang Wan would be submissive and obsequious around Fu Ci, constantly trying to please him.
He never expected reality to differ so much from his imagination.
His expression immediately turned grave. If Fu Ci valued Jiang Wan this highly, once Yanran entered the Fu household, wouldn’t she be trampled underfoot by a mere concubine?
Seeing that even after Second Brother personally went to invite Fu Ci, he still refused to leave the carriage, Yun Yanran felt utterly heartbroken.
She had confidence that she could warm Fu Ci’s stone-cold heart, but between them stood Jiang Wan.
Without dealing with Jiang Wan, everything she does is in vain.
Fu Ci would never see her virtues, much less accept her affections.