Chapter 68. Fu Huaiqing was neither silent, nor...
Upon hearing this, Biezhi's expression became slightly complicated.
Her clear, bright eyes followed Huyan Daji's figure. It was hard to describe her feelings at that moment. Thoughts that had been deliberately sealed away surged up like a tidal wave, making it difficult for her to move.
Fu Huaiqing is not Ji Ran, nor does she belong to her alone.
He is the ruler of the world.
Throughout history, emperors and royal relatives have often had numerous wives and concubines.
There are couples who are devoted to each other for life, but this never happens to emperors. Their hearts are like pomelos that are split open, with one segment given to one palace and another to another. Even getting one segment is difficult enough.
This applies not only to emperors, but also to noble families.
She is greedy.
She didn't just want one petal; she wanted the whole thing.
If it's not a whole piece, then it's better not to have it at all.
A chaotic and disordered feeling condensed and pounded in her heart, making Biezhi's breathing heavy. She watched as Huyan Daji followed Jiang Yue into the study, pursed her lips slightly, and glanced down at the girl in her arms: "I want to go and listen, do you want to come?"
"Mmm." Fu Shuning had the same idea. Huyan Daji's private visit must have a purpose, so she quickly wrapped her arms around her neck and asked, "Shall we go secretly?"
Biezhi's gaze swept over the surrounding walls and the patrolling guards who looked up in astonishment. He made a gesture to them, and his nimble figure flashed past like an arrow piercing the sky, disappearing into a corner of the study courtyard in no time.
The guards on duty in the courtyard of the study were stunned for a moment, looking at the two figures who seemed to be sneaking around but were actually being very brazen, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.
In the end, they pretended not to see it.
Bie Zhi and Fu Shuning crouched down at the same time, pressing their ears against the wall, as they cautiously moved to the window.
"I have come here to ask Your Highness Prince Su if you have heard of our country's intention to establish a marriage alliance with the Li Dynasty." Huyan Daji got straight to the point, without any ambiguity.
He glanced up at the indifferent-looking Regent of the Li Dynasty behind the desk. He had heard of him many years ago. Although he was a prince who grew up in the capital, he was no less brave and skilled in battle than the soldiers of the grasslands. He was brave and good at fighting. During the nearly one year that he led the troops, even Helan Daisong had to worry about him for a while.
The next news Huyan Daji heard about him was about how he had killed all the relatives of the empress and seized control of the government.
This was exactly what Huyan Daji had expected.
If his younger sister could marry him, it would be entirely beneficial to the Xilan Kingdom, his sister, and himself.
only……
Fu Huaiqing, who had been staring at him for a long time, said indifferently, "I've heard of it, so what?"
Huyan Daji, who still held a glimmer of hope, understood upon hearing this.
He had absolutely no interest in it.
"I guessed before I came that Your Highness wouldn't be interested in this."
A man who can climb to the highest peak and wield immense power would not do things he does not like. To outsiders, a marriage alliance is a beautiful story, but for the person involved, it is a different story.
A glint of light flashed in Fu Huaiqing's eyes as he looked at him with interest. "I've heard that the power struggles within Xilan are fierce, but seeing is believing. It seems that's indeed the case. Otherwise, the prince wouldn't have thought of entrusting his son to someone else."
In an instant, Huyan Daji's fingertips, which were hidden in his sleeve, trembled.
His expression remained unchanged. "I didn't expect Your Highness to also be paying attention to the Xilan Imperial Court."
Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
“I firmly believe that others may not understand, but Your Highness will surely be the one in the world who understands my actions the most.” Huyan Daji thought of the dissent in the court and his eyes were deep. “I don’t trust anyone else except her in Li Dynasty. She is only fourteen years old, the age when spring flowers are in full bloom. My mother and I both hope that she will live a carefree life.”
Fu Huaiqing's gaze softened slightly. "How could the prince possibly believe that I would necessarily obey your wishes and protect her?"
“If Your Highness is willing to lend a helping hand, I will certainly repay you with a generous gift.” Huyan Daji crossed his arms, bowed, and performed the grandest ceremony of the Xilan Kingdom, promising, “Your Highness can rest assured, I will treat you with the utmost respect.”
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing looked at the man in front of him thoughtfully.
After a brief moment of eye contact, he leaned back slightly, his posture composed as he swayed in his armchair. "Since this is a transaction, what the prince gives me is not important; what is important is what I need."
Huyan Daji's eyes remained fixed for a moment.
“I have no other needs,” Fu Huaiqing said, his gaze sweeping over his face. “What I need is someone.”
Huyan Daji's expression hardened slightly upon hearing the implication in his words, and his face changed several times in an instant.
Seeing this, Fu Huaiqing smiled and said, "Since the prince knows who I am referring to, he might as well go back and think it over carefully and give me an answer before leaving the capital."
The moment the words were spoken, the study door opened from the outside.
Huyan Daji remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands in greeting and withdrew.
Watching him leave, Fu Huaiqing stood up.
He walked to the window, glanced at the empty space outside, and casually asked, "Aren't you two tired of squatting like that?"
A clear, crisp voice suddenly rang out, startling Fu Shuning so much that her eyes widened instantly. She couldn't help but pat Biezhi, who was also looking equally bewildered, and silently asked, "What should we do? What should we do?"
Biezhi: "Run."
If you don't run, you'll just get caught.
The two looked at each other and stood up at the same time.
Just as she stood up, she heard a sound behind her. Biezhi subconsciously turned around and saw Fu Huaiqing nimbly climbing over the wall.
He reached out and grabbed the back of their collars, one in each hand.
Fu Huaiqing glanced at the two of them and asked, "What are you doing sneaking around like this?"
“We are definitely not here to see Huyendaji,” Fu Shuning quickly denied.
Biezhi: "..."
She looked at the girl who had confessed without being asked with a shocked expression. Fu Shuning also realized what she had said in her panic. She raised her hand to cover her mouth and shook her head like a rattle drum, looking at her for help.
Forced to become a patron, Biezhi cleared her throat, her round almond-shaped eyes widening slightly as she mustered her courage: "What, are we not allowed to look at other handsome men?"
“That’s right, that’s right.” Fu Shuning nodded in agreement.
Fu Huaiqing glanced at her indifferently.
Noticing his gaze, Fu Shuning felt a chill run down her spine. She shrank back, secretly took a half step to the side, and bent down to hide behind a girl who was slightly shorter than her.
She whispered, "He's so fierce, sister, you should find someone else."
Biezhi chuckled.
After laughing, he remembered the scene before him and put on a serious face: "If you want to go look at other pretty women, I won't stop you."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing's face turned ashen.
He looked at the stern-faced girl with deep, unfathomable eyes. "You want me to go?"
Biezhi stared at him, silent.
Fu Shuning peeked out, looking at the radiant Biezhi with a hesitant expression. Seeing that Biezhi's face seemed to say, "If you dare to try, just wait and see," she silently withdrew her head, hid herself properly, and glared at her brother in the same manner.
Fu Huaiqing: "..."
The expressions on their faces were practically identical.
Seeing through her insincerity, and realizing that she looked like she would bite him if he dared to take even half a step, Fu Huaiqing raised the corners of his mouth slightly and asked, "Should I call him back so you can see him in person?"
The voice, though slightly amused, was actually filled with chill. Biezhi felt that if she nodded, she would never see the prince of Xilan again in this lifetime. She swallowed hard and said, "No, thank you."
Fu Huaiqing nodded in satisfaction. "Does it look good?"
“He’s handsome.” Biezhi still couldn’t lie about this. He was handsome, and she recalled it seriously. “He’s quite different from the men in the capital. His pupils seem to be a few shades lighter than ordinary people, with a hint of gray.”
In an instant, the gentle expression on Fu Huaiqing's face vanished.
He stared silently at the girl whose thoughts were filled with Huyan Daji, his breathing becoming heavier. "She's quite observant."
Seeing his increasingly somber expression, Biezhi felt much better. She nodded sincerely, her eyes clear and bright, looking at him innocently, "How can you know he's not as handsome as His Highness Prince Su if you don't observe carefully?"
Fu Huaiqing was stunned for a moment.
Seeing her brother's suddenly relaxed expression, Fu Shuning blinked and sincerely admired the branch that had stood in front of her.
What Biezhi said was neither false nor flattering.
She still felt that among all the men she had ever met, Fu Huaiqing was the most handsome.
Aside from being a bit sharp-tongued at times, she has no flaws.
If I had known, I should have poisoned him to make him mute the moment I heard his buffalo-like voice, so that I wouldn't have had the chance to choke him.
Otherwise, it's better to pretend to be silent and just listen without saying anything.
Seeing that her thoughts were drifting elsewhere, Fu Huaiqing asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Lost in her memories, Bie Zhi said crisply, "If I had known, I would have just poisoned you to make you mute."
Fu Shuning, who had been listening with great interest, exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this, and couldn't help but defend her brother's voice, "No, let's not. Brother's voice is still very nice."
“Back then he also—” Seeing Cheng Jin approaching quickly with a solemn expression, Bie Zhi stopped speaking, and the smile on her face also faded a little. She said, “Cheng Jin seems to have something to talk to you about.”
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing turned around slightly.
Cheng Jin stopped, lowered his eyes, and cupped his hands, saying, "Master, we have found Jing Qing."
In an instant, Biezhi straightened her back slightly. "Where is he?"
“He’s being escorted to the Dali Temple,” Cheng Jin said, pausing briefly before adding, “Ling Feng brought him back.”
Biezhi's eyelashes trembled slightly.
She didn't have time to think about anything else and quickly ran towards the side gate of the Prince Su's mansion, which was relatively the closest to the Dali Temple.
Cheng Jin quickly followed his prince's steps and said, "Ling Feng only said that he found his figure in the back mountain of the Xu family, and didn't say anything else."
Fu Huaiqing glanced at him sideways and gave a cold "hmm".
Biezhi ran very fast, so fast that the guards around her couldn't see her clearly, only a dark shadow flashing by.
As she rushed out the door and bumped into the woman who suddenly darted out, gasps of surprise rang out from all around. She quickly stopped and went forward to help the woman who had been knocked to the ground, looking her up and down. "Are you alright? Is anything bothering you?"
The woman who was knocked down shook her head.
Her expression betrayed her discomfort. Biezhi frowned and summoned a guard: "Please go and find a doctor to examine this lady."
"Girl, I—"
The woman looked up and saw the girl's face clearly; the moment she did, her voice stopped.
After seeking help from the guards, Biezhi lowered her eyes and paused when she noticed the scars on both sides of the woman's face. The marks on the scars didn't look like the marks left by someone else; the direction of the marks seemed more like the scars she had made on her own face.
The woman stared at her blankly, unable to come to her senses for a long time.
Biezhi had other important matters to attend to. Seeing that she was indeed not feeling unwell, she whispered a few words to the guard and then rushed off towards the Dali Temple.
The moment she left, the woman, who had been supporting herself on the ground with her hands, instinctively got up, as if trying to catch up with her.
Suddenly, a tear slid down her cheek.
Fu Huaiqing followed closely behind, and the guard immediately stepped forward to report what had just happened. His gaze swept over her and he saw the tear stains under the woman's dazed eyes. He turned to Jiang Yue and ordered him to find the imperial physician to examine her.
Jiang Yue accepted the order and gestured to the guards behind him to go to the Imperial Physician's Office.
However, the side gate of Prince Su's mansion soon returned to tranquility.
The guards stepped forward to help the woman up and said to the man who had come with her to deliver the harvested rice from the mountain village, who was also the woman's husband, "The imperial physician will be here shortly. Please come with me to the courtyard and wait for a moment."
Upon hearing this, the man expressed his deepest gratitude.
He helped his wife up from the ground and immediately noticed something was wrong with her. Thinking she had injured something she couldn't see, he quickly asked, "Where did you bump into something?"
"No, it's really nothing." The woman patted her husband's hand reassuringly, then looked at the guards standing by, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating. She followed him into the courtyard and finally couldn't help but ask, "Who was that young lady just now?"
The moment the trembling, slightly sore voice fell, the guard who had led the two inside lowered his expression slightly and said, "It's best not to ask about things you shouldn't know."
Seeing his solemn expression, and fearing that he might misunderstand his wife and cause unnecessary trouble, the man explained, "This is also the first time she has seen a woman in the Prince Su's residence, so she can't help but be curious."
The guard hummed in response, saying nothing more.
The couple in front of him were servants of the Prince Su's manor in the suburbs of Beijing. For more than ten years, they had been the ones who came to the Prince Su's manor to deliver the harvested crops, so he naturally did not suspect them too much.
The imperial physician arrived shortly afterward.
The woman was indeed unharmed, except that her palm was accidentally cut by a small pebble when she braced herself on the ground, leaving a minor wound on her hand.
The imperial physician was still removing the pebbles from her palm when everyone saw Jiang Yue suddenly turn back.
When the guards saw him return, they stepped forward and whispered a few words to him.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yue glanced at the woman's face, seemingly casually, and nodded to indicate that he understood. He didn't linger and went back to his study before heading to the Dali Temple.
He hurried as fast as he could and caught up with his prince and the other prince.
"Your Highness." Jiang Yue took out the memorial he had been carrying in his bosom and handed it to the carriage through the window.
Fu Huaiqing took the memorial and handed it to the girl who couldn't help but bite her lip. Her usually clear and bright almond eyes were now filled with irritability, impulsiveness, and confusion.
Biezhi, who had been silently pursing her lips, caught a glimpse of the memorial out of the corner of her eye and frowned slightly.
"This is the memorial Qin Xiao submitted after the morning court session," Fu Huaiqing explained to her. "It concerns the case in Hezhou."
After staring at him for a long time, Biezhi took the memorial and opened it.
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