Chapter 79 "How could that brat Baili be with..."
"He actually dares to divorce you?"
Inside the carriage, Feng Ciyan, dressed in a dark-colored casual robe, leaned against the window, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly displeased. He had spent the last few days cultivating an uncle-niece relationship with Feng Mian, finally managing to pry open the young woman's heart. He learned that the two had discussed divorce on their wedding day, and a surge of anger rose within him; he wished he could immediately hang Baili Xunzhou upside down and give him a good beating.
"We only wanted to divorce at the beginning, but we haven't divorced yet," Feng Mian corrected. Her uncle's words made it sound as if the two of them had already officially divorced.
"Thinking about it is forbidden, even thinking about it is a sin." Feng Ciyan was completely unreasonable. His niece was beautiful, from a good family, had a good temper, was rich, powerful, and popular. Many people would spend several lifetimes trying to find a wife like her. But that brat Baili, on his wedding day, asked for a divorce? It was only because Feng Mian was broad-minded that she was able to do this. If it were a sensitive and delicate young lady, she would probably have committed suicide the next day.
He was still annoyed for a while, then suddenly stared intently at Feng Mian, "What, has he changed his mind now and doesn't want to divorce you anymore?"
Feng Mian's eyes darted around for a moment, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks. Talking about her feelings with an elder of similar age made her a little shy, but she still honestly whispered, "I don't know. He didn't say it directly. I just... I just guessed based on his words and actions."
If he still only wanted a divorce, why would he risk his own safety to stay by her side when she was in danger? If it was only because they were still husband and wife and he had to fulfill his duties as a husband, then if they were in each other's shoes, she would not put herself in danger for a husband who had no feelings for her.
A slight sting on her cheek, Feng Ciyan pinched her cheek with displeasure, and lectured her earnestly: "Men are masters of acting. How much of their affection is genuine and how much is feigned? Have you ever read 'The Peasant Woman'? 'Making solemn vows, never considering their betrayal.' Men are masters of sweet talk and empty promises, but once time passes, they are no longer the same. You are young and haven't seen many people. If you get deceived, you'll have nowhere to cry!"
Feng Mian looked at him with little joy. She had plenty of reasons to cry. Not to mention that there was such a large princess's mansion in the Northern Frontier, her uncle had also reserved the Summer Moon Palace for her in the palace.
But it was difficult to say this aloud. His uncle was petty and disliked the Chu family intensely; he would surely be angry if he heard it. So, he rolled his eyes and threw out a question: "Oh, so you mean I can't believe what you say, Uncle? Was my father like that back then?"
"I..." Feng Ciyan was speechless for a moment, then frowned and retorted, "How can that brat Baili be compared to your father?"
“My brother never mentioned divorce to my sister-in-law. In the tenth year of Tai’an, chaos broke out again in the northern frontier. The late emperor summoned young generals to the palace, and my brother was among them. When he entered the palace that time, he fell in love with your mother at first sight. He risked his life to fight for military merits and spent four years to be named the Grand General of the State before asking the late emperor for this marriage.”
"On his wedding day, he vowed never to take another woman in his life and to be with your mother for life."
“If it weren’t for…” He paused, a complex pain flashing in his eyes. “If it weren’t for… His Majesty urgently dispatching him on a distant expedition, how could he not have been by your mother’s side when she gave birth? His Majesty even had the audacity to use that as a pretext to reprimand my brother and detain you in the palace as well…”
When his gaze fell upon Feng Mian's slightly dazed face, Feng Ciyan ultimately didn't continue. He loathed Emperor Jiayu and the Chu family, but he couldn't deny that they were also Feng Mian's blood relatives, and the people who had accompanied her as she grew up. There was no need for her to choose between them.
All she needs is peace and happiness.
“If Baili Xunzhou can’t be like my brother, he’s not qualified to marry you.” He said firmly, but then realized that they were already married, so he changed his words abruptly: “I’m not qualified to spend the rest of my life with you.”
That's natural, Feng Mian nodded vigorously in her heart. She didn't keep male lovers, so her husband naturally couldn't keep concubines either, but...
"There's no point in us talking here. We don't even know what he's thinking. What if he still wants a divorce?"
Hearing Feng Mian say this, Feng Ciyan understood that the girl had probably already taken a liking to that boy. He gritted his teeth inwardly and couldn't help but mentally beat up the brat Baili again and again, determined not to let him succeed too easily.
"That's easy." Feng Ciyan's lips curled into a slightly sly smile as he beckoned to Feng Mian with his finger. Feng Mian leaned in to listen to his whispered words, her eyes widening in surprise.
The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Prince's Mansion. Feng Mian was still pondering what Feng Ciyan had just told her. She had just stepped off the carriage in a daze when suddenly a figure shouted and rushed in front of her, opening his arms to hug her.
"Little cousin! It's so good to see you alive!" Chu Jingqi was moved to tears as he watched Feng Mian walk down from the carriage, completely healthy and unharmed.
With a snap, just as Chu Jingqi was about to hug Feng Mian, both hands simultaneously and precisely grabbed his arms, pulling him away from Feng Mian without any room for argument.
As Chu Jingqi's vision gradually cleared, a somewhat familiar face appeared. He blinked, recalling for a moment, "You are...you are that Fu..."
With a forced smile, Feng Ciyan released his hands from Chu Jingqi's arms and reminded him, "Fu Ciyan."
"I remember now, I saw him in Black Stone Gully." Chu Jingqi nodded haphazardly, but his gaze lingered on Feng Ciyan and the carriage behind him. Wasn't this the man who got off his little cousin's carriage just now?
He waited at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion and clearly saw that Liu Ying and Wu Liu were both outside the carriage. In other words, the only people in the carriage along the way were his little cousin and this young master Fu.
This scene seemed familiar... Chu Jingqi recalled the misunderstanding he had caused with his little cousin and the young master Yuan next door last time, and decided to be more cautious, asking, "Young Master Fu, why are you riding in the same car with my little cousin? Is there something important you need to discuss?"
"What's it to you?" Feng Ciyan gave the Chu family members no friendly look and walked straight past them after saying this.
Chu Jingqi was taken aback by his attitude, then looked on in even greater shock as he swaggered into the Prince's mansion, his mouth agape in surprise, "He... he's already inside?"
"The Prince and Young Master Fu hit it off immediately and became close friends despite their age difference, so the Prince invited him to stay at the Prince's residence for a while." Feng Mian used the excuse she had prepared earlier to appease Chu Jingqi, and asked as she walked with him inside, "Did your aunt allow you to run around like this?"
Upon hearing of the epidemic in Baishui County, Princess Qin immediately sent men to arrest Chu Jingqi, who refused to leave, and ordered him to stay home. Because Princess Qin was also busy procuring supplies for Feng Mian, Chu Jingqi stopped causing trouble and obediently waited for news at the palace.
Upon hearing that Fengmian was safe and the epidemic was under control, he was eager to visit her, but Princess Qin was still worried and detained him for several more days. Only after the turmoil outside had completely subsided did she finally agree to let him go.
"You're not angry with me, are you?" Chu Jingqi leaned closer, cautiously peeking at Feng Mian's expression.
Feng Mian chuckled: "In Ninth Brother's heart, am I such a petty person? Then I'm really going to get angry."
"Not at all!" Chu Jingqi quickly waved his hand, "My little cousin is the most generous, intelligent, and extraordinary girl I know!"
"Is Saintess Mitu included?"
“She…she is a different story.” Mentioning Mi Tu, Chu Jingqi’s ears burned slightly. He scratched his head sheepishly, then became excited again. “By the way, Mother Consort agreed. She said that as long as I can get Mi Tu to agree to marry me through my own abilities, she will definitely not stop me.”
In fact, the Queen Consort of Qin's original words were, "Let's see if you can catch up," her tone full of distrust towards her son.
"Then you..." Feng Mian hadn't finished speaking when she saw him staring at her expectantly, "What's wrong?"
"Do you have any other lively events like the border market that you could invite Mi Tu to attend?"
Feng Mian shook his head regretfully. Chu Jingqi was slightly disappointed, but quickly rallied: "It's alright, I have plenty of ways!"
His words abruptly stopped when he stepped into the Hidden Bow Courtyard and saw a figure leisurely reclining on a deck chair in the courtyard. Even if this Young Master Fu was a close friend of the Prince of Dingbei, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to so openly recline in the courtyard of a couple while Baili was away, would it?
Does this person have no sense of self-awareness as an adult male customer?
Chu Jingqi crossed his arms and strolled to the recliner, leaning down to stare at the languid face: "Young Master Fu, His Highness the Crown Prince isn't here, is it... not appropriate for you to act like this?"
"In broad daylight, under everyone's watchful eyes, what's wrong with that?" Feng Ciyan lazily opened one eye and glanced at him. "Only people with a heart see everything as dirty."
After saying that, he waved his hand impatiently, "Excuse me, you're blocking my sun."
Chu Jingqi was so angry he almost fainted.
Just then, a slender figure silently entered the courtyard. The woman, dressed in light clothing, bowed her head and asked, "Is the Crown Princess here?"
Feng Mian had just changed his clothes when he saw Qingyi, and his heart tightened. Qingyi was extremely skilled, her whereabouts were unpredictable, and she was very calm. She would only show herself when delivering important military reports.
Her heart skipped a beat: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Qingyi said succinctly, "His Highness said he would return early tonight to take you to Fengyang Tower for dinner."
"Just for this?"
Qingyi nodded, and after Fengmian replied with "I understand," she left quietly, just as she had come.
Jing Qi immediately became smug, crossed his arms and glanced sideways at the person on the recliner: Just wait, my real brother-in-law is coming back to deal with you soon!
But then Feng Ciyan, who had been languid just moments before, suddenly sat up and said seriously, "Shouldn't we go to Lord Cheng's place today to take a look at the seeds?"
After leaving Baishui County, Feng Mian handed over the precious seeds he had obtained from the trade market to Cheng Lixu. Fortunately, they had been stored separately in the cellar and were not destroyed due to the epidemic. Otherwise, Feng Mian would have been heartbroken.
After establishing the Void, he and his men settled in the manor specially prepared by Feng Mian, studying and experimenting with planting day and night. Feng Mian would check on the progress every two or three days.
It's time to go again, but it's dinner...
Feng Ciyan raised an eyebrow at her: "Do you remember what I said?"
Feng Mian hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay."
Chu Jingqi: ? ? ? What's going on?
The sun had barely dipped westward when he eagerly returned to the Hidden Bow Courtyard. He was looking forward to having dinner with Feng Mian, and for the first time, he had left the Swift Feather Camp early. As a result, he stopped in his tracks as soon as he stepped into the courtyard.
The courtyard was empty, not like anyone was there. Just as I was hesitating, a figure rushed over from the side corridor, howling and wailing.
Chu Jingqi: "Little Baili! You're finally back!"
"What happened?" Baili Xunzhou's heart sank, fearing that something had happened to Feng Mian.
Chu Jingqi, both angry and aggrieved, embellished the story of Feng Mian being taken away by Fu Ciyan: "I swear! He must have heard that you were coming back for dinner before he took my little cousin out! He wouldn't even let me come along! He said they had important business to attend to and there was no point in me going! This Fu Ciyan is really too much!"
He patted Baili Xunzhou's shoulder forcefully: "Little Baili, you have to pull yourself together! Gu Chunwen and Lu Mingzhu are one thing, but this Young Master Fu who appeared out of nowhere dares to put on airs in front of you?!"
Bai Lixunzhou: "..."
Don't say anything more, I'm suffering inside.
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