Chapter 020

Ruyang opened his lips and said casually, "I noticed that you usually prefer to wear a white agate hairpin. Why did you change it to a gold hairpin today?"

She looked at it and asked, "Is it new?"

Jiashan said, “Yes.”

She didn't plan to tell Princess Ruyang that it was Zhan Yue who gave it to her, thinking that it was better to have less trouble than more. Although Jiashan felt that Zhan Yue gave her the hairpin, she was afraid that Princess Ruyang would think too much and cause unnecessary trouble. So Jiashan didn't mention it.

When Ruyang heard her answer, his mind went elsewhere and he didn't ask any more questions.

After finishing the meal, Jiashan returned to his own courtyard, and Zhao Youze stayed in Princess Ruyang's courtyard to keep her company. While Zhao Youze was taking a nap, Ruyang told the female attendant beside her, "Pay attention to the movements of Master Zhan today. If he returns to the palace, ask him to come see me immediately."

The female view said yes.

Princess Ruyang has a far-sighted gaze.

She rubbed her forehead gently.

If she had not seen it wrong just now, the hairpin worn by Jiashan in her hair was a personal item of the wife of Marquis Yongding and Fu Shiyu's mother.

After the wife of the Marquis of Yongding passed away, this hairpin was left to Fu Shiyu. It is not a family heirloom, but it is definitely an extremely important token for Zhan Yue.

No gift will be given except to the wife.

What does Zhan Yue mean?

Does Jiashan know the inside story?

With the scattered sunlight in the afternoon, Princess Ruyang fell into deep thought.

Zhan Yue did not return to the temple until the evening, when Princess Ruyang was about to go to bed. Hearing that it was Ruyang who was looking for him, Zhan Yue specially summoned Wu Yingtong for questioning.

Upon learning that Jiashan had had lunch at Princess Ruyang's house at noon, he was silent for a moment, changed into new clothes, and then went to Princess Ruyang's courtyard.

At this time, Princess Ruyang had just finished telling Zhao Youze a bedtime story. Hearing that Zhan Yue had arrived, Princess Ruyang helped Zhao Youze tuck in his bedding and said, "Yuankang should go to bed first, and your aunt will be back soon."

Zhao Youze's entire body, with only his pale face exposed, nodded obediently: "Okay. I'll wait for my aunt."

Seeing that he was obedient and sensible, Ruyang couldn't help but smile and gently stroked his forehead.

Princess Ruyang went to the outer hall.

Zhan Yue was sitting at the table, holding a teacup in his hand. He had a fair face and a handsome profile. He seemed to be thinking about something, with his eyebrows half-knitted.

Ruyang walked forward and, in the dim light of the room, looked carefully at Zhan Yue.

Zhan Yue took the initiative to call, "Aunt."

Ruyang nodded, and she signaled Zhan Yue not to be so polite: "I haven't seen you often recently, what have you been busy with?"

Zhan Yue's expression remained unchanged as he talked about the official matters he was busy with. Ru Yang also listened patiently until Zhan Yue finished. Ru Yang glanced at him with a half-smile and said, "It's all official matters. Aren't you busy with any personal matters at all?"

Zhan Yue raised his head and looked at Princess Ruyang quietly. He said gently, "I heard that the princess had lunch at her aunt's place today."

Seeing that Zhan Yue had taken the initiative to bring up the topic, Ruyang did not beat around the bush. She looked at him, her eyes paused slightly: "It seems that the hairpin is indeed your grandmother's."

Zhan Yue did not comment.

He nodded and admitted honestly: "Yes."

Princess Ruyang fixed her eyes on him. Seeing that he remained calm and composed, she felt helpless. She asked in a low voice, "Does Jiashan know?"

"I don't know yet." Zhan Yue said.

Ruyang smiled bitterly. After a moment, she half-closed her eyes and sighed, "Master Zhan is so calculating."

There was a certain seriousness in her words that was not usually there, and Zhan Yue pursed his lips slightly.

Princess Ruyang was filled with emotions. She looked at Zhan Yue and said in a deep voice, "Since you call me aunt, I will treat you as my own child. These words are probably only said to you by your aunt."

Zhan Yue straightened his back and lowered his head to listen to the instructions.

Ruyang's eyes were reflected by the candle, dimly, she stared at Zhan Yue: "What are you thinking about?"

"You can't let go of the Fu family, right?" Princess Ruyang's eyes were clear and even a little aggressive. She raised her voice and asked, "You want to use Jiashan's power to vindicate the Fu family?"

Zhan Yue's heart was tense, and he said in a clear voice, "Auntie misunderstood."

"The Fu family is the Fu family, and Jiashan is Jiashan." Zhan Yue looked at Ruyang calmly, without blinking, "No matter how despicable I am, I will never use a woman to achieve my goals by any means. Aunt, don't worry about this."

How could Princess Ruyang feel at ease? Instead, she felt that the situation was even more difficult.

She sighed heavily: "So, you like Jiashan?"

Zhan Yue drooped his eyelashes slightly, and Jiashan's beautiful face with red makeup slowly appeared in his mind.

She once said that she hoped he would get what he wanted.

Zhan Yue's expression was pale and tough under the light of the fire. He nodded: "Yes."

"I have a special liking for her." Zhan Yue opened his mouth slightly, his throat moved slightly, and the tips of his moist ears were slightly hot.

Lord Zhan, who is so cold and aloof, probably said such words for the first time.

Princess Ruyang saw that his nervousness was not fake, so she took a sip of tea and asked him, "What if you can't marry me?"

Zhan Yue placed his fingertips on the teacup. His fingertips were icy cold. He said hoarsely, "In my heart, there is no such thing as if."

Ruyang stared at him, his thoughts seeming to go back to a night many years ago. At that time, the Marquis of Yongding had just been stripped of his title, and the Fu family, which had been passed down for a hundred years, fell overnight. Many treacherous people took advantage of the fact that the Fu family was left with only orphans and widows, and stepped on them to make matters worse.

At that time, Ruyang had not yet been named the eldest princess, she was just a princess born out of wedlock.

Although her mother was somewhat pretty, her family background was not particularly prominent. Also, because her mother was on good terms with Empress Fu, she was also implicated in the incident at the Yongding Marquis' Mansion and lost the favor of her father.

Even if Ruyang wanted to protect the Fu family, he was powerless.

Also in a lonely late night, Ruyang asked his sister-in-law Fu Shiyu: "What if Fu Xiao doesn't survive? What if the Fu family is extinct?"

Fu Shiyu had just turned sixteen that year, not even as old as Ruyang, but she said exactly the same thing that Zhan Yue says today—"There won't be these ifs."

Later, the Duke of Anguo came to ask for help, and Fu Shiyu married into the Duke of Anguo's mansion as a concubine. With the Duke of Anguo's mansion's care, the villains finally gave up their thoughts.

The remaining members of the Fu family were able to survive, and Fu Xiao was able to grow up safely until now.

Decades later, Fu Shiyu's son grew up.

He seemed to be like all the people in the Fu family, patient and stubborn. Once he got something he wanted, he would never let it go.

Now, he wants Jiashan.

Princess Ruyang let out a long sigh.