Chapter 728 Fu Wenqing, the Schemer
"I was unaware of your sudden visit, and I apologize for not being able to greet you properly."
When Fu Wenqing heard the gatekeeper's report, he was still lecturing the Fu family elders. But when he heard that a number of distinguished guests had suddenly arrived at the gate, he couldn't care less about the Fu family elders anymore and rushed to the gate to greet them.
He didn't dare to act arrogantly when he met people, and quickly bowed to greet them.
Although the most respected people here are the Princess Consort of Chu and the Princess Consort of Qi, the Lady Zheng of the Duke of Jin's Mansion and the Lady Wen of the Marquis of Yongchang's Mansion are both respected and senior.
Therefore, both the Princess of Chu and the Princess of Qi handed over the power of speech to the two of them.
As for Qiao Qinghe, well, she has the seniority, but not the status, so no one takes her seriously.
Qiao Qinghe hadn't intended to argue with them about anything by calling so many people; she just needed to guide the conversation at the appropriate time.
Seeing that she didn't respond, Madam Zheng also remained silent.
Thus, Madam Wen naturally became the representative.
"What? Won't the Prince Consort invite us in for a seat?"
Madam Wen glanced at Fu Wenqing with deep disdain in her eyes. Her tone was anything but friendly.
"This..." Fu Wenqing said with a troubled expression, "Originally, we should invite all the noble guests into the mansion, but the princess is unwell, and the imperial physician said that the princess needs to rest quietly and cannot tolerate noise."
"If you gentlemen have no urgent business here, please return home. Once the princess is fully recovered, we will prepare gifts and visit you all to express our apologies."
As soon as Fu Wenqing finished speaking, Madam Wen beckoned to her, "Come here."
Fu Wenqing was taken aback. Although he didn't understand what she meant, he still stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Does the Grand Madam have any... instructions?"
Before he could finish speaking, Madam Wen slapped him across the face.
Fu Wenqing covered her slapped face and looked at Madam Wen in disbelief.
"Madam, what is the meaning of this?"
"I believe I have not offended Madam in any way!"
Madam Wen took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped her hands, saying in a contemptuous tone as she did so, "Who do you think you are? How dare you stop us from entering the mansion?"
"Don't even mention it, even if it were Li Sanqi herself, she would have to respectfully invite us in!"
After saying that, he disgustedly threw the handkerchief he had used to wipe his hands on the ground and led the people past Fu Wenqing and straight inside.
The steward and several managers who came out with Fu Wenqing all looked at Fu Wenqing with fear on their faces.
The butler leaned close to Fu Wenqing and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, should we have someone stop them?"
The butler wasn't stupid; he had already guessed that these important guests had come with ill intentions.
In particular, this group included Madam Qinghe from the Qiao family in Nancheng.
They wouldn't believe it if it wasn't someone from the Qiao family causing trouble.
However, now is not the time to focus on an old Mrs. Qiao.
Those other important people are the real trouble.
If they were allowed into the mansion, meet the princess, and learn that the princess's mansion is controlled by the prince consort, those of them who follow the prince consort would likely suffer the consequences.
Just as they were filled with panic, they heard Fu Wenqing say coldly, "What are you doing stopping me? Hurry up and go in to prepare tea and serve our distinguished guest!"
Everyone was taken aback, then began to whisper among themselves.
"How can this be done?"
"If these important people were to enter the mansion and notice something amiss, things could get very bad."
"These important people are clearly here to support the princess..."
"This time it's probably all over..."
Seeing that the butler didn't move, and the others also looked uneasy, Fu Wenqing frowned and asked, "What are you all doing?"
"What's wrong with it? What's going to end?"
Seeing that he was still putting on a brave face at this point, the steward quickly leaned in and whispered, "Your Highness, these nobles are obviously here to support the princess and, incidentally, to deal with... us!"
I originally meant to say "I'll deal with you," but I changed my mind before I could finish.
Fu Wenqing narrowed his eyes. "Backing you up? What backing? And why would these important people want to deal with you?"
The steward inwardly cursed Fu Wenqing for being shameless and lacking self-awareness, but outwardly he still carefully smiled ingratiatingly, and after much hesitation, he finally revealed, "The Prince Consort has usurped the Princess's control over the Princess's residence and has even had the Princess imprisoned there..."
Fu Wenqing looked at the butler in disbelief, and seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, she then looked at the others.
"Is that what you all think?"
Everyone nodded in unison.
Isn't it obvious?
Fu Wenqing's mind went completely blank.
When did he start to sideline the princess?
When did they imprison the princess?
How could he not know that himself?
The key question is, why do all these managers think he did these things?
Fu Wenqing was suddenly startled.
Could it be that Li Sanqi is plotting against him?
Yes! It must have been Li Sanqi who plotted against him!
He said, "Why did Li Sanqi suddenly become so devoted to a maid?"
He also fell seriously ill because of the deceased maid, and didn't even leave the house.
They even readily handed over the power in the mansion to him, allowing him to manage all the affairs of the mansion!
She was clearly an ambitious and ruthless woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, but after her daughter died, she suddenly became a completely different person, listless, low-key, and uninterested in anything important.
Is this where he's waiting for her?
But why would Li Sanqi do this to himself?
They are clearly husband and wife, clearly allies, clearly partners who climb mountains together!
Why would she suddenly plot against herself?
Was it simply because he ordered Wenxiu to be shot?
Fu Wenqing suppressed his inner rage, looked at the group with a stern face, and said in an icy tone, "I have not usurped the princess's authority, much less imprisoned her!"
The group exchanged glances and then nodded in unison, "Don't worry, Your Highness, we understand."
"Yes, yes, we all understand."
This is something they can't admit to, of course. They all understand.
They'll keep their mouths shut too. Yes, keep their mouths shut.
Just then, the crowd that had already climbed the stone steps and stepped into the mansion stopped and looked back.
Wenxi scolded impatiently, "How long are you going to dawdle outside, Prince Consort?"
"What? You're not planning to run away, are you?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Wenqing had no time to pay attention to the stewards who were lost in their own thoughts. She quickly stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, you flatter me. I was merely giving a few instructions to my subordinates. How did that become an escape?"
"This is the princess's residence. As long as the princess is here, I will be here too."
“If the princess hadn’t personally told me to leave, I would never have left the princess’s residence or the princess herself.”
Wenxi scoffed, "What a devoted and loyal prince consort!"
"I wonder if the prince consort will still be able to say such things calmly and composed later on."
After making sarcastic remarks, Wenxi ignored Fu Wenqing and turned to help Madam Wen inside.
Others followed suit.
But as she turned around, everyone looked at Fu Wenqing with mocking eyes.
Only Qiao Qinghe, who was at the very back, looked at Fu Wenqing as if he were a dead man.
"Madam, let's go in too."
Yu Huanzhen supported Qiao Qinghe's arm, urging them to go inside.
Qiao Qinghe nodded slightly and replied with a smile, "Okay." Then she turned to turn around.
But halfway through her turn, she suddenly turned back, her gaze fixed directly on Fu Wenqing.
Was it just her imagination?
Just a moment ago, she seemed to see the shadow of another person in Fu Wenqing.
But when she turned around and looked again, that familiar feeling had disappeared.
Was it just her imagination?
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