First kiss

After Zuo Murui left, Fu Zhiqiao remained tense, sitting alone in the main hall for a long time. On the surface, she appeared calm and collected, but in reality, she felt very uncomfortable. Being looked down upon for her family background was truly embarrassing.

Before transmigrating, she was groomed to be the heir of her family and was always flattered wherever she went. In this new life, she was forced to live under someone else's roof, was rejected by her fiancé, and was looked down upon for her family background. She truly experienced all sorts of hardships.

The princess must have failed to persuade Xie Zhuo, so she resorted to seeking her out. What was Xie Zhuo's attitude? Did he tell the princess he wanted to marry her? Or did he agree to let her be his concubine?

Fu Zhi Qiao had absolutely no interest in Zuo Murui's offer to make her a concubine. She couldn't bring herself to share her husband with other women, nor could she bring herself to become a concubine in the Prince's mansion!

Isn't it good to be a free person?

Fu Zhiqiao twirled the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, having made up her mind.

In any case, no one is worth her sacrificing her dignity, and the word "concubine" should never appear in her life.

She traveled through a thousand years of time, not to become someone's concubine.

Xie Zhuo is very good, she likes him very much, but that's all. He's not worth her putting down her pride and everything to become a concubine in his backyard.

She has worked so hard to build her career, she can't just give up like this. She has a mother, maids to serve her, land and shops, she can still live a fulfilling life as an ordinary person.

Xie Zhuo only found out after returning to the Prince's Mansion that Zuo Murui had gone to see Fu Zhiqiao. He was stunned. With the expedition imminent, why would his mother cause him trouble?

It was already late when he left the Prince's mansion. He hurried to Fu Zhi Qiao's small courtyard, where a cold wind swept into the room through the crack in the door.

Fu Zhiqiao was sitting at the table reading a book when she heard the noise. She put down her book and said, "You've come."

At this moment, she was unsure how to face him.

"Hmm!" Before coming here, Xie Zhuo had a million things to say, but after seeing the person, he couldn't say them.

After a moment of silence, Xie Zhuo reached out and hooked his finger with hers, his gesture carrying a hint of probing and ingratiation.

Fu Zhi Qiao did not reject his advances, and Xie Zhuo's heart gradually calmed down. When he spoke, his tone was somewhat resentful: "My mother's opinion does not represent mine."

Xie Zhuo didn't know what Zuo Murui would say to her, but she knew without a doubt that it wouldn't be anything nice.

Fu Zhi Qiao tightened her grip on his slightly cool hand, and their fingers intertwined intimately.

"I know," she said softly. "You told the princess you wanted to marry me?"

"Yes!" Xie Zhuo's expression was frank, showing no intention of hiding anything.

Xie Zhuo's eyes were full of seriousness, which touched Fu Zhi Qiao slightly. She knew that it would be very difficult for Xie Zhuo to marry her. In her previous life, she was born into a wealthy family, and her family had a very strict control over her marriage. It didn't matter how many boyfriends she had, and no one would stop her, but her marriage partner would definitely be one in a million.

Putting herself in Zuo Murui's shoes, she wouldn't allow her son to marry a woman from a family with a significantly different social standing.

Xie Zhuo's claim that he wants to marry her is probably just wishful thinking on his part.

"I will not become someone's concubine."

"Not a concubine, but a wife!" Xie Zhuo exclaimed anxiously, "I swear, I, Xie Zhuo, only want to marry Fu Zhi Qiao in this lifetime!"

Upon hearing this, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Meeting Xie Zhuo's deep, dark eyes, Fu Zhi Qiao remained in a daze for a long time.

To be honest, Xie Zhuo's idea was really beyond her expectations. Did she really hear correctly? In this era of polygamy, are there really men who pursue a lifelong monogamous relationship?

She paused for a moment before saying, "Although I don't want to admit it, our family backgrounds are too different, and we can't go the distance."

"Just because we can't now doesn't mean we can't in the future!" Xie Zhuo said firmly, as if he were making a vow.

Fu Zhi Qiao didn't respond. She looked at Xie Zhuo's face, unsure of how to respond. The love in his eyes was genuine, but the difference in their social status was also undeniable.

Can she trust his promises?

Fu Zhi Qiao felt as if she had been torn in two. Her reason told her not to trust him, but a voice in her heart kept saying, "Believe him! Believe him!"

Seeing that Fu Zhi Qiao did not respond for a long time, Xie Zhuo carefully observed her expression: "You don't want to?"

Fu Zhi Qiao looked up: "How long is 'later'?"

This question stumped Xie Zhuo, as he couldn't give a precise date. It was true that the emperor was suppressing the aristocratic families, but their foundations were too strong to be resolved overnight.

The difference in social status cannot be resolved in a short time, and Xie Zhuo could not give a precise answer.

Fu Zhi Qiao's eyelashes trembled, her clear eyes seeming to peer into Xie Zhuo's heart: "How can you expect me to believe you? Even the young master isn't sure, is he?"

She wouldn't even call him by his name anymore; she was clearly resentful. Xie Zhuo pulled Fu Zhi Qiao into his arms, his voice slightly downcast, "Don't call me Prince, don't be so distant with me!"

Fu Zhi Qiao had no time to pay attention to his tone; she was lost in her own thoughts.

Xie Zhuo is now the crown prince, and it will be several years before he inherits the throne. Before that, should she be with him without any status or title? In any case, he will not be her future wife, so she might as well let go early. She is not sure if she can be heartless enough to refuse his request when their feelings for each other deepen in the future.

"If I enter the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion, my family has no power or influence and I will have no way to protect myself. Once I enter the Prince's mansion, the only thing I can rely on is your favor. What if you change one day?"

"I won't change!"

"But I dare not gamble!" Fu Zhi Qiao resolutely broke free from his embrace. "Life is too long, I dare not gamble."

"I told the Princess today that I will never be a concubine in this life." Let alone Xie Zhuo not being able to marry her, even if he did, so what? Could he have only her for his entire life? Which noble family doesn't have three wives and four concubines?

She was self-aware enough to know that, given her current status, she was truly unworthy of Xie Zhuo, the heir to the royal family.

The thought of separating from Xie Zhuo sent a sharp pain through her heart, as if pierced by a sharp object. At the same time, she knew that the pain of separation was only temporary; if she were to become a concubine in the inner palace, that pain would follow her for the rest of her life.

It would be wise to withdraw before she becomes too deeply involved.

Fu Zhi Qiao frowned slightly, unable to suppress a certain emotion in her heart. She turned her back to him, unwilling to look at him again.

“Your Highness, although I am of humble birth, I am not someone who can be humiliated. Since you are already engaged, it would be better if we separated sooner rather than later.”

"I disagree!"

Xie Zhuo's mind went blank for a moment. He grabbed Fu Zhi Qiao's shoulders and made her face him. He stared intently at Fu Zhi Qiao's face, as if he couldn't believe she could say such heartless words.

Fu Zhi Qiao dared not look directly at his face. Xie Zhuo's face was incredibly devastating to her; she simply couldn't bring herself to harden her heart when he was face to face with him.

"It's getting late, Your Highness, please return!" With that, Fu Zhiqiao broke free from his hand and walked into the inner room.

Xie Zhuo caught up with her in two strides, staring intently into her eyes, "A Qiao, are you going to give up on me?"

Fu Zhi Qiao remained silent for a long time before replying, "With your noble status, why should you worry about not finding a suitable wife?"

Xie Zhuo's last bit of patience vanished at this moment. He gritted his teeth, swallowed his anger, stared at the red lips so close to his own, and leaned in to press them against his.

Fu Zhi Qiao instinctively took two steps back, but by the time she realized what was happening, she was already pressed against the edge of the table. Xie Zhuo gripped her chin, not allowing her to back down, with an unyielding force, as if he desperately wanted to shut up all those unpleasant words.

Their lips touched, their breaths mingling.

"Let...let go...uh..."

Fu Zhiqiao gave him a vague rejection.

Her breath was taken away, and accompanied by soft moans, Fu Zhi Qiao's body slid uncontrollably, but he caught her in the next moment.

The power imbalance between the man and woman was too great, so Fu Zhi Qiao could only grab his clothes. Subconsciously she was resisting, but her body was uncontrollably yielding to her.

Her body temperature soared, and she completely lost control, unable to escape.

With his large arms around Fu Zhiqiao's waist, Xie Zhuo wished he could meld her into his body, leaving no space between them.

He had practiced martial arts for many years and possessed a profound aura, but Fu Zhiqiao was not. Xie Zhuo only released her when he felt the person in his arms' breathing gradually weaken.

With too much air taken from her chest, Fu Zhi Qiao gasped for breath, her cheeks flushed red from the difficulty breathing.

"Bastard!" The words trailed off unsteadily.

"Okay, I'm an asshole."

He lowered his head and kissed the corner of her mouth, licking her rosy cheeks.

Looking at her lips, which became even more moist and rosy after he touched them, and the deep affection in her dark eyes, Xie Zhuo affectionately stroked Fu Zhi Qiao's hair, tucking the slightly messy strands behind her ears, revealing her fair and delicate neck.

He immediately pressed his lips to hers, his lips brushing against the side of her neck, his voice hoarse: "Ah Qiao, trust me, okay?"

It's intimate and ticklish.

Fu Zhi Qiao glared at him fiercely, but her eyes were filled with tears and had no intimidating power.

Xie Zhuo didn't make any other moves, holding Fu Zhi Qiao to calm his breathing.

Even though she was in his arms, Xie Zhuo felt like he was about to lose her. He tightened his arms around her, pulling her close, and said, "I'm heading north to quell the rebellion tomorrow. Wait for my return..."

Xie Zhuo carefully explained his plans to Fu Zhi Qiao, gently stroking the back of her hand with his fingers, as if caressing a piece of warm, smooth jade.

After saying that, Xie Zhuo lowered his head, forehead to forehead, and whispered in her ear, "A Qiao, I swear, I will never let you down in this life!"

Fearing she wouldn't believe him, he repeated it again.

Fu Zhiqiao remained silent for a while, then suddenly felt a sense of self-loathing.

Xie Zhuo is fighting against his family for her sake, while she only wants to escape. Her eyes are a little sore. When she met Xie Zhuo, she did not know his identity. Now, she is going to give up his love unilaterally because of his identity. Is this fair to Xie Zhuo?

Perhaps she should have persevered a little longer.

Fu Zhiqiao's gaze gradually hardened as she said, "Xie Zhuo, you may not understand, but I can like a man, but if he already has a wife, no matter how much I like him, I will not get entangled with him."

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhuo gripped her hand tightly, his heart tightening: "I didn't..."

"Let me finish speaking first." Fu Zhi Qiao covered his mouth, deliberately softening her voice: "Let's make a promise, okay? I won't leave before you get engaged, and if we can't be together in the end, you won't stop me when I choose to leave..."

At the same time, she silently prayed in her heart: Xie Zhuo, you must not let me down!

She is willing to fight for this relationship again, and if things don't go as planned, she will leave herself a way out.