When Fu Yueli followed Xiang Tan to Yicui Tower, the dispute had already subsided.
Yicuilou was a famous brothel in Shangjing, elegantly decorated and tranquil, a popular haunt of scholars and literati. On the way, Fu Yueli learned the general situation from Xiang Tan: a colleague of Shi Mingji had been promoted, and he had originally invited them all for a drink. However, upon arriving at the restaurant, someone suggested going to Yicuilou, and everyone agreed. Unable to resist his friend's kind invitation, Shi Mingji went along.
When they arrived at Yicui Tower, they happened to run into Yuan Daixu and saw the Second Prince's entourage guarding the door. The young men from the Hanlin Academy who were editing and compiling books decided that since the Second Prince was here, if they didn't go and greet him, he would think they were looking down on him if he knew. So they went to the Second Prince's room. Fu Baiheng was trying to persuade a woman to drink, and the group saw that she was none other than the recently famous courtesan Zanxing, who sold her art but not her body, and was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. However, she was extremely arrogant, and few could become her lover.
After all, with so many people watching, Fu Baiheng wanted to show off, so he asked Zanxing to drink, but Zanxing refused to drink, not giving him any face at all. Fu Baiheng got angry and sarcastically said, "Don't you know what kind of person you are? Are you trying to trick me with a rare commodity?"
Zan Xing immediately stood up to leave, but Fu Baiheng grabbed her wrist and scolded her, "How dare you!"
Zan Xing was also a tough person. She waved her hand coldly and still didn't give Fu Baiheng any face, so Fu Baiheng poured a glass of wine directly on her face.
This was the beginning of the dispute. Shi Mingji couldn't stand it any longer and immediately stepped forward to dissuade them: "Your Highness, why do you have to bully a weak woman like this?"
So Fu Baiheng had an argument with him.
Fu Yueli walked into the private room, and saw people from the Hanlin Academy gathered at the door. To his surprise, his third brother Fu Fenglin was also here, sitting around the table with Fu Baiheng and Shi Mingji.
Fu Baiheng and Fu Fenglin stood up when they saw him coming, and shouted in unison, "Big Brother."
Shi Mingji also stood up, but said nothing.
When Fu Yueli came in, he looked around and found that Zan Xing, who had caused the dispute, was not there. He smiled at Fu Fenglin and said, "Are you the third brother? This is the first time I see you like this."
Fu Fenglin nodded and smiled, "I am. Congratulations on regaining your sight, big brother."
Fu Yueli asked, "Third brother, why are you here?"
Fu Fenglin glanced at Shi Mingji and Fu Baiheng and said, "I came here to have some fun, but I happened to see my second brother and Master Shi having a small misunderstanding, so I came to mediate."
Fu Yueli said: "I was worried when I heard what the servant said, but fortunately it was just a small misunderstanding."
"Yes, it's a small misunderstanding. Master, please don't take it to heart." Fu Baiheng looked at Shi Mingji meaningfully.
Although Shi Mingji had a stubborn temper, he was not ignorant. Fu Yueli must have rushed here because she was worried about him. Moreover, Fu Baiheng was Fu Yueli's brother, so he could not be too serious. So he forced a smile and "shake hands and make peace" with Fu Baiheng: "Second Prince, you are joking. Since it is just a small misunderstanding, how could I take it to heart?"
Fu Fenglin suddenly patted Shi Mingji on the shoulder and said, "Speaking of which, Master Shi, you are my eldest brother's brother-in-law, so we can be considered brothers, so let's get along. How about I treat everyone to a drink tonight and have a good time?"
After he said this, the others naturally couldn't help but give him face, and Fu Baiheng also agreed with a smile. The old madam guarding the door was smart and immediately sent someone to invite the most beautiful girl in Yicui Tower. She also opened another larger room and invited everyone to move in.
The people from the Hanlin Academy went to the new room first. Fu Yueli just said that he was not suitable for drinking due to his physical condition. Fu Fenglin did not force him to stay and took Shi Mingji to the banquet.
The incident was over. Late at night, Shi Mingji came home drunk and was helped back by Xiang Tan. Shi Yuanshan and his wife wanted to talk him out of it, but they had to wait until the next day when he sobered up. In short, Shi Mingji was scolded by Shi Yuanshan, who told him not to go to indecent places again or to get into conflicts with others because of his sense of justice. Shi Mingji felt that he had done nothing wrong, but in front of his parents, he could only promise not to do it again.
Shi Mingyue heard what happened from Fu Yueli and thought that Fu Baiheng was indeed not a good person. Although there were still almost three months until the end of the year, she had to take steps to stop Fu Baiheng and Huo Qiuwen's engagement.
A few days later, Fu Yueli was going to visit the Huo Mansion and be taught by Master Huo himself. Shi Mingyue also went with him, but she was going to see Huo Qiuwen to ask about her deepest concerns.
Rockeries flowed, water streamed, petals fluttered. Shi Mingyue quietly listened to the piece "High Mountains and Flowing Water" that Huo Qiuwen played for her. After the piece, she asked Huo Qiuwen, "Have you been feeling uneasy these days?" The melody she played had several twists and turns, and it was clear that her heart was restless.
Huo Qiuwen smiled gently and said, "You heard it."
"Yes, what happened?"
The smile on Huo Qiuwen's face faded, and he sighed softly: "Grandfather said that His Majesty intends to choose a concubine for the Second Prince, and he has chosen me."
If Shi Mingyue from the previous life had heard this, she would have definitely wondered if it would be a good idea to marry the second prince. However, Shi Mingyue in this life already knew the result. She was surprised that the emperor had taken a fancy to Qiuwen so early?
"The Second Prince is indeed not a good match for you. Qiu Wen, tell me honestly, do you have someone you like?"
Huo Qiuwen shook his head and said dejectedly, "I don't have anyone I like, but I don't want to marry the Second Prince either. However, I can't decide my own marriage."
Shi Mingyue also sighed for her. She turned her head inadvertently and found half of a body exposed behind the rockery. When the man saw her looking at him, he immediately hid again.
Huo Qiurong, Shi Mingyue slowly read out her name in her heart. Since she had an affair with Fu Baiheng in her previous life, why not let her marry Fu Baiheng? Thinking of this, Shi Mingyue immediately winked at Huo Qiuwen: "Come closer!"
Huo Qiuwen didn't understand why, but she leaned forward. Shi Mingyue whispered in her ear, "Does your sister want to marry the Second Prince?"
Huo Qiuwen immediately looked at her with complicated eyes and said softly, "I think so." After all, she was an intelligent woman. When her grandfather talked about this, she could feel the envy in Huo Qiurong's eyes.
Shi Mingyue gave her a stupid idea. Although it was a stupid idea, it was actually useful, which was to pretend to be sick.
Huo Qiuwen's illness lasted three months. Finally, at the New Year's Eve banquet at the end of the year, the emperor announced Fu Baiheng's marriage. As Shi Mingyue had predicted, the emperor chose Huo Qiurong, the second daughter of the Huo family. Huo Qiurong was also a legitimate daughter, and possessed both talent and beauty, making her a suitable match for Fu Baiheng.
Everyone in the royal family congratulated Fu Baiheng, and Fu Baiheng responded with a smile. However, for him, getting a wife was not important. What he cared about most now was another matter.
Xu Ziling's research has made new progress.
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