The thought came suddenly and naturally, like a grass sprout breaking through the soil. People's experiences may differ greatly, but don't we all enter this world the same way? Why is our fate determined at birth? He pondered for a long time, until the sun shone through and the sky was bright.
He had breakfast with Shi Mingyue. Seeing that he hadn't returned home for several nights in a row, Shi Mingyue couldn't help but worry. She asked, "How have you been these past few days?"
Fu Yueli stirred the red bean porridge with a spoon. The porridge was still hot. He raised his head and smiled slightly, "I'm fine, don't worry."
Seeing that he didn't want to talk, Shi Mingyue didn't ask any more questions. Husband and wife should have their own privacy and there is no need to report every detail to each other.
After breakfast, Shi Mingyue took some nuts to feed the parrot. The parrot had become so familiar with her over the past few days that it wouldn't run away when she let it out, and would even come straight to her hands. Shi Mingyue then let the cockatoo out and placed a delicate little plate of nuts and a small bowl filled with water on the stone table.
The parrot happily pecked at the nuts and drank some water when it was thirsty.
Shi Mingyue was sitting on the side watching the parrot eat and drink, when suddenly Hongyin came over and said with a worried look on her face, "Princess."
"What's wrong?" Shi Mingyue asked.
Hong Yin said with difficulty, "I heard from others that His Highness brought back a man last night."
"What's wrong with bringing someone back?" Shi Mingyue was puzzled. Maybe it was his friend, so it was normal to bring friends back.
"I heard that the man was wearing a lot of makeup and dressed very indecently."
Shi Mingyue was speechless. If what Hongyin said was true, then who was this man? Why did Fu Yueli bring him back?
Not long after, Lu Lingjing also came to find her, also about this mysterious man.
"Cousin, let's go check on that guy." After spending some time with Shi Mingyue, Lu Lingjing had already accepted from the bottom of her heart that she was her cousin's wife, and that she was the perfect match for her cousin. Her own ambiguous feelings for Fu Yueli had long since faded, and she now only considered him her cousin. So, when she heard that her cousin had brought home a strange man at night, she immediately sought out Shi Mingyue.
Shi Mingyue didn't really want to go. She didn't suspect that Fu Yueli had anything to do with that man; she was just curious about who that man was. And if she went, wouldn't the situation be awkward?
"He should be Yueli's friend, so let's not disturb him." Shi Mingyue politely declined Lu Lingjing.
Lu Lingjing and Hongyin were both very puzzled, but since the owner was not in a hurry, there was no point for them to be anxious. They could only accompany her to play with the parrot.
Lu Lingyan rushed to the study and asked directly as soon as he entered the room, "What do you want to do? You actually brought Yan Jiajie back."
Fu Yueli raised his head indifferently and said, "We just temporarily placed him in the mansion."
"Place it in the palace? Don't you know that the news spread throughout the palace this morning? You brought a rabbit doll back. Does it mean you have that tendency?" Lu Lingyan said unhappily.
Fu Yueli frowned slightly. He didn't think too much about it. He just wanted to bring the other party back to settle him down. How could such outrageous rumors spread?
"Who told you that?"
Lu Lingyan had never expected that he would ask him this question after being silent for such a long time. He was both angry and amused. "Well, those servants in your house are so bold that they even dare to make up stories about their master. Or maybe you've been too kind to them. If you don't make an example of them, they won't learn their lesson."
At noon, Fu Yueli gathered everyone in the mansion, even Yan Jiajie. Shi Mingyue stood aside and saw the man who had caused trouble so early in the morning. He looked very familiar, but she had no idea what to do.
Fu Yueli first looked at the guards who had been guarding the gate last night, then at the maid who had been serving Yan Jiajie, and said, "I also heard what you were discussing this morning. But I don't understand how you could spread such rumors with such confidence. I didn't believe that three people can make a tiger, but now I have no choice but to believe it. Now I'm telling you, this person is Yan Jiajie, a friend of my highness. I won't pursue who was making up stories and spreading rumors this morning. But now, listen carefully to me. If I hear rumors again, I will punish you severely!"
After he said this, the servants in the mansion nodded their heads in agreement. Those who had been squinted by him and were sweating profusely, now breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had escaped death, and dared not gossip anymore.
"Today, everyone should remember 'Always reflect on your own mistakes when sitting quietly, and don't criticize others when chatting'. Everyone, please leave." Fu Yueli said coldly.
After the servants left, Shi Mingyue felt a sense of emotion and glanced at Yan Jiajie. When she heard his name, she finally remembered that she had seen him before. Yan Jiajie was a classmate and friend of her brother's. She had not interacted with him much, having only met him a few times. When she heard about the Yan family's affairs, she couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
The Lu brothers and sisters were also standing by. Yan Jiajie had never thought that he would be able to escape from a prison-like place one day, and even meet a noble person in his life who was willing to consider him a friend. He suddenly knelt down in front of Fu Yueli and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. Your kindness is so great, I will repay you with my life!"
Fu Yueli helped him up: "No need to be so polite, get up."
The others saw this scene and roughly understood what had happened, and then dispersed. Fu Yueli pulled Shi Mingyue aside and told her about Yan Jiajie, which made Shi Mingyue even more sad about the fickleness of fate.
A few days later, the two were invited to the eldest princess's wedding. The current emperor had four sons and two daughters. Both princesses were younger than Fu Yueli. The eldest, Fu Jinyao, was seventeen years old and had been betrothed to Sheng Jing, the top scorer in the imperial examination the previous year.
For Fu Yueli, attending this wedding was no different from attending a stranger's wedding. He hadn't lived with his siblings since childhood, and even after being brought back home, he had only seen his two sisters a few times. To be honest, he couldn't even remember what Fu Jinyao looked like.
At this wedding banquet, they also had to put on a show. Everyone in the palace had arrived, and Emperor Fu Xingkai had also come to the Sheng Mansion in person. He doted on his eldest daughter and held Shengjing in high esteem, so the wedding was also a grand affair.
Men and women were seated separately at the banquet, and Shi Mingyue happened to sit at the same table with Huo Qiurong. After all, Huo Qiurong was Fu Baiheng's princess, so she had no choice but to greet him with a smile and could not avoid socializing.
After the couple exchanged greetings, the princess was escorted back to her room, while Shengjing remained to socialize with the others. He first toasted the emperor and his concubines, then moved to the next table. This table was occupied by the princess's four brothers, and the rest were cousins. Therefore, Shengjing felt a great deal of pressure, yet he remained smiling throughout the table.
Fu Baiheng was good at socializing, and to liven up the atmosphere, he said with a smile, "Shengjing, how about this? You toast to Big Brother first, then toast to the three of us one by one. For the rest, just one toast each. Is that not too much trouble for you?"
Sheng Jing nodded and said with a smile: "It's not difficult." Then he raised his glass to Fu Yueli: "Brother, please drink."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
