use

When Lu Fengping heard that Cui Shenzhi was looking for him, he put down his unfinished resignation letter and went to the East Palace.

"Your Highness, you summoned me..."

“It’s me,” Ping An skipped over to Lu Fengping. “Young Master Lu, I’m here to see you.”

Lu Fengping was surprised that it was Ping An who was looking for him, and he lowered his eyes, not knowing what to say.

Ping An didn't wait for his answer and continued, "I heard...I heard...I heard that I was kidnapped by the big guy because you were malicious towards me and caused trouble by accident. But I don't think you're the kind of person who would be malicious towards me without a reason. Is there some misunderstanding?"

Looking at Ping An's concerned eyes, Lu Fengping was momentarily puzzled.

Could it be that he really made a mistake? Ping An is just a simple and innocent girl. Is he judging her by his own petty standards?

Lu Fengping recalled what Cui Lingxian had told him about Ping An's background and couldn't help but take a few steps back.

What exactly did he do?! Just because Ping An was born in the Cold Palace, he concluded that Ping An was not a good person and tried every means to test her. But he didn't do this when he suspected Cui Lingxian. When did he become someone who judges people solely by their birth? He has seen many people who are of noble birth but of low character, or of humble birth but of noble character. How could he be so sure that Ping An is bad, and even resort to such methods?

Lu Fengping bowed deeply to Ping An and said from the bottom of his heart, "Ping An, I'm sorry, you heard me right. It was my unwarranted malice towards you that led to what happened today. I looked down on you because of your background and past, and I believed that you couldn't be a simple person. I thought you were deceiving His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Princess, so I harbored malice towards you and did these things."

“No, perhaps I don’t think you’re deceiving the two princes, but rather I’m jealous of you,” Lu Fengping said with a hint of bitterness. “I’m jealous that you’ve gained the Crown Prince’s special attention in just two months, and I’m jealous that the Princess, whom I spent two years trying to get close to, is so kind to you.”

"I'm sorry, it was my despicable nature that made me feel indignant, which led me to harbor malice towards you, an innocent person. I even tried to test you in a way that was almost without any bottom line, trying to force you to admit that you were the despicable one, which is why you suffered this undeserved disaster."

Lu Fengping's sincere attitude left Ping An somewhat bewildered.

Has Lu Fengping gone mad?

He could have said it was a mistake the first time they met, but didn't she openly threaten him the second and third time? How could Lu Fengping have forgotten so quickly? Did studying medicine ruin his brain? Or did he take the wrong medicine like Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs?

Sitting to the side, Choi Shin-ji let out a long sigh of relief.

No wonder, no wonder Feng Ping targeted Ping An like this. It wasn't because he had changed, but because he felt resentful.

Ping An noticed the change in Cui Shenzhi's expression out of the corner of her eye, and her eyes sharpened. She quickly pretended to be flustered and stepped forward to help Lu Fengping up.

“Young Master Lu, it’s alright. Although you were malicious towards me and did bad things to me, you have already apologized to me, so it’s fine now. Shenzhi taught me that it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you sincerely apologize after you realize your mistake.”

Then Ping An lowered his voice and said in an almost inaudible voice, "Lu Fengping, you did not see wrong. I am full of malice. My mother was killed by the Imperial Concubine. I approached Cui Shenzhi to find an opportunity to get rid of Cui Lingxian and avenge the Imperial Concubine's loss of her daughter."

Lu Fengping's expression froze completely.

He suddenly raised his head, stared at Ping An with wide eyes, his eyes filled with disbelief, and couldn't help but tighten his grip on Ping An's hand.

He desperately wanted to tell Cui Shenzhi Ping An the truth, but he had no evidence. Besides, he had just reconciled with Ping An, and if he started making trouble again now, it would only deepen Cui Shenzhi and Cui Lingxian's misunderstanding of him.

Can't.

He cannot let this happen.

Lu Fengping suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and said in a deep voice, "Thank you. I will definitely be careful with my words and actions in the future and will never do anything rashly that would put anyone in danger."

Anyone.

This time, Ping An didn't answer, but instead mouthed the words.

Give it a try.

Then Ping An used some strength to break free from Lu Fengping's hand and ran to Cui Shenzhi's side, tugging at his sleeve and acting coquettishly: "Shenzhi, see, I told you you misunderstood. Young Master Lu is not the kind of person who would harbor ill will towards me without reason, but you didn't believe me."

"Yes, I misunderstood Fengping, and I shouldn't have distrusted you. I was wrong."

Ping An crossed his arms and proudly raised his head.

His adorable appearance made everyone in the study burst into laughter, except for Lu Fengping.

However, he didn't say anything. Instead, he calmly spoke a few words to Cui Shenzhi before returning to the Imperial Hospital, tearing up his resignation letter, and pondering how to adjust Cui Lingxian's prescription.

*****

Because Cui Lingxian was not present when Lu Fengping came to the East Palace, Cui Shenzhi later sent Siwei to Chengqian Palace to tell Cui Lingxian everything that happened that day.

After learning why Lu Fengping was targeting Ping An, Cui Lingxian felt both angry and amused.

Ping An and Lu Fengping are simply incomparable!

For her and Shenzhi, Lu Fengping was a close friend they had known for many years, and Ping'an was a younger sister who needed to be carefully protected. They really didn't know what kind of jealousy Lu Fengping was feeling.

However, Cui Lingxian didn't go to find Lu Fengping right away. She didn't think she had made a mistake by slapping him, but she felt that she had said some harsh words in anger that day, and she didn't know how to start the conversation when they met again.

However, it wasn't long before Cui Lingxian lost the will to think about this problem, because she fell ill. It wasn't serious, but she felt drowsy and listless. Let alone going to the East Palace to teach Ping An to read and write, she even had difficulty stepping out of Chengqian Palace.

After learning the news from Cui Shenzhi, Ping An appeared extremely anxious on the surface, but inwardly she was overjoyed.

She knew that once Lu Fengping, that idiot, heard that her target was Cui Lingxian, he would do everything he could to separate her from Cui Lingxian. It seemed that she wouldn't have to worry about Cui Lingxian getting in the way anymore.

*****

Despite the unpleasant incident the day before, the Eastern Palace was still bustling with activity the next day, as it was the birthday of Crown Prince Choi Shin-ji.

—It is also a peaceful birthday.

Just like Cui Lingxian's birthday banquet, Ping An was still not allowed to attend. She could only stay in her and Siwei's place, leaning against the window and gazing at the lively scene in the distance that had nothing to do with her.

Ping An didn't feel resentful about this. After all, people are born into different classes. Cui Shenzhi was of the first class, born into wealth and power, while she was of the lowest class, unnoticed and with a bleak future. The difference in treatment was quite normal.

But it doesn't matter. Heaven doesn't help everyone, so people should help themselves. Since Heaven won't give her what she wants, she'll find a way to get it. One day, this sludge of hers will take root in Cui Shenzhi's body, and with Cui Shenzhi's heart as nourishment, she will blossom into a flower of wealth and honor in the world.

Ping An looked at the "Fortune Before Your Eyes" knot in her hand, a combination of bat knot and coin knot, which she had prepared for Cui Shenzhi, and smiled with confidence.

*****

Although this birthday banquet was meant to celebrate Choi Shin-ji's birthday, he, as the main character, wasn't very happy.

To be precise, he has never been happy on his birthday, because ever since he can remember, everyone around him has been telling him to remember Fu Yunjin, who died for him.

Cui Sugong wanted him to remember, Shen Meiwu wanted him to remember, the Fu family wanted him to remember, and even his wet nurse who had long since retired from the palace wanted him to remember.

But on the day Fu Yunjin passed away, everyone seemed to forget about him, only remembering that it was his birthday and celebrating with laughter and joy, completely unaware that it was also the day he lost his mother forever.

Therefore, Cui Shenzhi's birthday banquets each year never lasted long. After the performances arranged by the Imperial Household Department were over, he would eagerly get up to see the guests off and then rush to Kunning Palace to speak to Fu Yunjin's memorial tablet.

After speaking to Fu Yunjin's memorial tablet, Cui Shenzhi always felt downcast. After returning to the East Palace, he would often go to his study to copy the Ksitigarbha Sutra until late at night, both to pray for Fu Yunjin and to seek peace of mind. This day was no exception.

However, after returning from Kunning Palace, Choi Shin-ji saw an unexpected person at the door of his study.

—She sat on the steps outside the study, hugging her knees, waiting for his safe return.

He frowned and walked up to her, somewhat puzzled, and said, "Ping An, why aren't you resting so late? Why are you in the study all alone?"

"Because I haven't given you your birthday present yet!"

Ping An was about to take out the prepared net from her bosom when she noticed that Cui Shenzhi's expression was not quite right. Not only was there little joy, but there was also a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

A thought struck her, and she remembered why Fu Yunjin had died. So she changed her actions from picking up something to standing up by supporting herself on the steps. She even used the height of the steps to pull Cui Shenzhi, who was taller than her, into her arms and softly hummed the children's song that Fu Yunjin had written.

Cui Shenzhi wanted to push Ping An away because this was outside the study, and there were many palace servants coming and going. Although the palace servants in the East Palace were his people, if word got out, Ping An's reputation would be ruined.

But no matter how clearly Cui Shenzhi thought, his heart and hands were out of control. After lifting up, he did not push Ping An away, but gently landed on Ping An's back. He nestled into Ping An's arms like a child nestled against his mother.

Seeing Cui Shenzhi's actions, Ping An couldn't help but think to himself, "That was close!"

She had completely forgotten that Cui Shenzhi's birthday was Fu Yunjin's death anniversary, and that Cui Shenzhi was a truly filial son. Fortunately, she reacted quickly. If she had only realized this after taking out the "Fortune is Before Your Eyes" tassel, it wouldn't have been fortune before her eyes, but misfortune.