Chapter 79 Without a word, he lowered his head and kissed her...
The wedding was set for the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which was the Lantern Festival.
As soon as the wedding date was set, the Ministry of Rites began to get busy. Female officials from the Imperial Household Department, along with embroiderers, went in and out of the courtyard for more than ten days in a row to take measurements and make the wedding dress for the bride. In addition, they received and saw off guests. Even the female relatives of court officials, whom they had never heard of before, sent their visiting cards.
Biezhi truly hadn't expected that the trivial matters in the lead-up to the wedding would be so complicated. "I thought it was just a matter of choosing an auspicious date, putting on the wedding attire, and then performing the wedding ceremony at the auspicious time." Now, the entire courtyard was filled with female officials working with the Ministry of Rites on various matters, making her want to run away.
Having finally found some free time, Fu Huaiqing slightly raised his eyes and looked at the girl by the window who was sighing from time to time. He put down his pen and said, "Don't run away."
A soft voice came from behind, its calm tone laced with danger. Biezhi couldn't help but shudder, as if she would dig three feet into the ground to find her if she really ran away.
Feeling that her thoughts had been read, she stuck out her tongue and muttered, "You're clearly busier than me, so why don't you say a word?"
His rambling words were tinged with doubt, and his expression was particularly vivid. Fu Huaiqing's thin lips parted slightly: "You..." Before he could finish speaking, the girl's almond-shaped eyes suddenly lit up, and she ran over, lifting her skirt.
She braced her palms on the table, her bright eyes blinking, "Let's elope!"
Fu Huaiqing: "...?"
Seeing his bewildered expression, Biezhi patted the back of his hand, her dark eyes sparkling: "Leave them behind, let's run away."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing paused for a moment, then slowly raised the corners of his mouth, looking at her with a smile, "When do you plan to escape? I'll make preparations in advance."
Biezhi opened her mouth, not expecting him to agree so readily. It wasn't funny at all. She pouted, "Logically speaking, you should have questioned me or refused me without hesitation."
“Then you can have a legitimate argument with me,” Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow and slowly stated her thoughts, “so that I don’t come to see you for a while and have some free time.”
Facing the man's piercing gaze, Biezhi silently turned her eyes away for a moment, then felt that she was not in the wrong either, and glared at him, "Living a life of debauchery every night is not acceptable."
On the night when the sky was filled with Kongming lanterns, he wouldn't let her go. Coincidentally, she was in a good mood that day, so she let him do as he pleased. As a result, she couldn't get out of bed the next day, and in the following days, she resolutely refused his suggestions.
Three days ago, he found an opportunity and for three days in a row, even her well-trained body couldn't withstand his 'acting'. "If it were someone else, I would have kicked you away long ago."
The implication was clear: 'Give me another day, and I'll definitely kick you away.' Fu Huaiqing clenched his fist, covered his mouth, and coughed softly, 'I promise I won't today.'
“Your promise is worthless.” Biezhi didn’t believe him at all. She snorted softly, crossed her arms, and turned her head away from him. “You made the same promise to me the night before last, and then you did the same thing yesterday.”
Fu Huaiqing chuckled, circled her wrist in his palm, and pulled her into his arms. The unsuspecting girl fell into his embrace.
Coming to her senses, Biezhi looked up and her gaze fell upon the man's deep eyes. A slightly teasing look caught her eye. She patted his hand and discussed with him, "Seven days."
Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"
"You are not allowed to lay a hand on me for seven days." Bie Zhi said, observing his expression. Seeing that he nodded without the slightest hesitation, she immediately felt that she hadn't said enough and quickly corrected herself: "Half a month." After thinking for a moment, she felt that half a month was too short. "Wait a minute, let me count."
Without waiting for Fu Huaiqing's reply, he started counting on his fingers. He lowered his eyes slightly, staring at the bright-eyed girl. He tightened his grip on her waist by half an inch, pinching her chin with his fingertips, giving her no chance to react, and then lowered his head to kiss her.
Before she could finish speaking, she was kissed again.
Fu Huaiqing's gaze was fixed on her face, his fingertips gently caressing her delicate chin. "But I really want to kiss her, what should I do?"
The man's hoarse voice was filled with lingering distress, as if not being able to kiss her was truly a difficult thing for him. In a daze, Biezhi vaguely heard a hint of grievance in his voice, and she felt a little soft-hearted.
It's just a kiss, nothing serious.
Even a couple of kisses wouldn't be a problem.
After a moment of hazy thoughts, she said with a righteous air, "Alright, a kiss or two is fine."
"And the third time?" Fu Huaiqing pressed.
Biezhi strongly suspected that he was pushing his luck and had evidence, saying, "A third time won't do."
"Why not?" Fu Huaiqing's gaze lingered on the girl's bright, joyful eyes. He slightly raised the fingertips that were pinching her chin, placing them on her delicate lips, slowly caressing them. "You clearly like it, don't you?" Biezhi blinked: "..."
That's absolutely true; she does like it.
However, they don't have to kiss every day. A kiss or two is fine, but Sheng Ge, who comes after every kiss, is really too much for her. "I don't like it anymore, is that not okay?"
Fu Huaiqing frowned slightly, his expression serious: "No, you like it." Without waiting for a reply, he lowered his head and kissed her a third time.
Biezhi: "..."
She gently raised her hand and placed her palm on his cheek, patting it away.
Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow, cupped her hand which was resting on his face in his palm, and then lowered his head to kiss her.
After being kissed four times, Biezhi pursed her lips, looked at him with a pout, and then kissed him back. The moment her lips landed on the corner of the man's mouth, a deep laugh rang in her ears, like a feather gently brushing across clear water, stirring ripples in her heart.
Finally, the date was set for seven days.
Seven days is seven days, not a day more or less.
By the eighth day, Biezhi realized that she was still too naive and shouldn't have set a time limit. Fu Huaiqing, who had been celibate for seven days, was more difficult to deal with than ever before.
Especially when he pulled out the books that Fu Shuning had secretly given her earlier, she was so shocked that her eyes widened several times. Fu Huaiqing didn't say anything, but just carried her to the table. Only then did she realize why he had brought the Four Treasures of the Study to the bedroom.
Unable to withstand the jolting, she tried to climb up, but before she could reach a suitable position, his palm, which was clasped around her waist, pressed her down a few inches. Startled, Biezhi stared wide-eyed, completely bewildered.
Fu Huaiqing put the girl down from his arms, turned her body slightly so that her back was to him, wrapped one arm around the girl's slender waist so that she could not escape, and took out a pen with the other hand, calmly dipped it in ink, and handed it to her fingertips.
Biezhi looked down at the pen in her hand with a confused expression, her voice trembling: "What am I supposed to do...?"
"Draw a picture." Fu Huaiqing leaned down slightly, a mixture of desire and possessiveness flashing in his dark, deep eyes, and tightly encircled her in his arms. "From now on, you can only look at me. You are not allowed to look at anyone else but me."
Her body suddenly lurched, and Biezhi barely managed to keep herself from falling forward by bracing herself against the table with one hand. Her wet almond-shaped eyes were filled with endless confusion, and her hoarse words escaped from her throat: "They are all fake."
Fu Huaiqing, his chin resting on the girl's neck, glanced at her and then, as she lifted the brush from her palm, which trembled slightly with the girl's body, a crooked ink mark appeared on the large sheet of Xuan paper. "That's why you need to draw some real ones, so you can look at them when you have nothing to do."
A hot breath sprayed against her neck, and Biezhi couldn't help but shrink back. Suddenly, a hoarse groan rang in her ears, surging towards her like a tidal wave, turning her whole body bright red.
The ink marks that fell on the Xuan paper came one after another, and without exception, each one was crooked and irregular.
She had discarded nearly ten sheets of Xuan paper, yet she still hadn't managed to create a painting that satisfied Fu Huaiqing. When the tenth clean sheet of Xuan paper came into view, Biezhi even suspected that he was doing it on purpose.
Often, he would make a move as soon as he had left even the slightest trace of a good sign.
The strokes that followed were naturally crooked and messy, and some even floated off the Xuan paper and landed on the desk. Biezhi wanted to throw the pen away many times, but the man behind her refused to give up.
She had lost count of how many times she had been pulled back from the brink of madness. Her trembling almond-shaped eyes looked back at the man, "You did it on purpose, deliberately making me unable to draw. Otherwise, why would you do it every time..."
Fu Huaiqing denied it, saying, "It's a reward."
As he spoke, he guided her palm to pick up the brush and begin writing. The brush had just touched the Xuan paper when it suddenly trembled violently. In an instant, the black ink splattered upwards, and the ink overflowing from the brushstrokes flew into the sky, drawing a graceful arc.
The chaotic attack left the branch unable to defend itself at all, forcing it to confront the attack head-on.
She hadn't finished painting when she fainted. She vaguely heard Fu Huaiqing's regretful voice saying that she could only continue painting next time.
The next morning, while Fu Huaiqing was holding court, Biezhi carried her luggage and ran to Fu Shuning's palace to stay with her, just to see how he would tease her again.
Fu Shuning was quite confused about her future sister-in-law suddenly moving into her palace. Looking at the female officials coming and going, she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Did you two have a fight?"
Bie Zhi, sipping her tea to soothe her throat, shook her head. "No."
"If the argument hadn't been so intense, why would your voice be so hoarse?" Fu Shuning didn't believe it.
Biezhi: "..."
She cursed Fu Huaiqing in her heart, but seeing Fu Shuning's worried expression, a hint of anger flashed in her eyes as she remained silent. After a moment's thought, she said, "He found that book."
Fu Shuning, who had been fuming, immediately calmed down.
"Don't worry, I didn't give an inch. I didn't let him take it." Biezhi's eyelashes trembled slightly with guilt. The books hadn't been taken; Fu Huaiqing had even placed them by the bedside, which she saw as soon as she got up. "I'll keep them safe."
"How about I keep it?" Fu Shuning was a little worried, after all, it was already a rare copy. But once a book is given away, it's like spilled water, and she was in a dilemma. "I'll keep it for you for a while, and return it to you when you forget about it."
"No, I think so..." Bessa said hesitantly.
The thought of the marks that had somehow ended up on the pages of the book brought a blush to her earlobes, and her fair face was flushed with pink. "The most dangerous place is the safest place."
Based on her understanding of Fu Huaiqing, she knew that he wouldn't destroy the booklet until it was finished, since it was meant to be something that would allow her to understand his thoughts at a glance.
Moreover, since yesterday's battle, Biezhi has a strong suspicion that the books Fu Huaiqing had taken away are still in his possession.
Thinking of this, her thoughts trembled.
"I'd better stay here with you for a while and avoid the limelight."
Fu Shuning is confused. Has it gotten to the point where she needs to lay low?
"You can stay as long as you want, sister."
"On the eve of the wedding, is that alright?"
Fu Shuning: "...?"
She looked completely confused, her eyes widening. "Brother won't be angry, will he?"
"No, he won't." Biezhi patted her chest. "If he gets angry, I'll stand up for you."
Fu Shuning was skeptical. She looked at her, then at herself, and said, "How miserable."
Biezhi asked in confusion, "Hmm?"
"We're so miserable!" Fu Shuning pouted. "There are millions of men in the world, aren't they just born to be seen? If others can be seen, why can't we? How can it be so unfair!"
“Exactly,” Biezhi chimed in, her eyes resolute: “Why can’t we see it?”
But when she thought of her brother, Fu Shuning's hard-won determination wavered a little. She could be fooling around by herself, but if she dragged her future sister-in-law into it, he might skin her alive.
Thinking of this, Fu Shuning felt a little humiliated. "We'll watch it secretly from now on."
Betsugi readily agreed with her suggestion.
It's better to watch secretly than to do that.
If we look at it openly, we don't know how long Fu Huaiqing will be jealous.
“Right now there’s a perfect opportunity to peek secretly,” Fu Shuning said.
The two looked at each other, and Biezhi understood.
Hunting.
Those participating in this hunt included not only military generals from the court, but also many well-known court officials who brought their families. Among them were scions of prominent families, as well as many women.
While Fu Huaiqing was still discussing matters with the court officials, Biezhi had already followed Fu Shuning to the hunting grounds in the forest garden.
When they arrived at the hunting grounds, most of the court officials were already waiting with their families on the outskirts. As soon as she stepped off the palanquin, she heard Fu Shuning whisper in her ear, "The tallest man in the southwest direction is also very handsome, but it's a pity that he's a womanizer. He can pass through a sea of flowers without getting attached to anyone. He's a well-known womanizer in the capital."
After hearing her words, Biezhi held back for four or five breaths, and while walking forward, she glanced at the man not far away. The man was indeed exceptionally handsome, and in terms of appearance, he was a standout among the scions of noble families.
"I feel like I've seen this before."
Fu Shuning nodded, "His image is in the books my sister gave me."
As soon as she reminded her, Biezhi remembered.
I have indeed seen this person's figure in books.
Fu Shuning glanced around, then whispered in her ear, pointing to another man not far away. The young men from prominent families who came today were all of excellent appearance, but the ones she pointed out were particularly outstanding among them, unbelievably handsome.
When Fu Huaiqing arrived, the two were discussing which of the scions of prominent families present today had the best appearance.
The two, who were engaged in a heated discussion, caught a glimpse of the newcomer out of the corner of their eye. They simultaneously shut their mouths, exchanged glances, and silently looked away.
Hearing some conversation outside, Fu Huaiqing's eyes casually swept over the two people, finally settling on the girl with bright, almond-shaped eyes. She looked at him innocently, as if the voices just now were nothing but her imagination.
Is it pretty?
As soon as the man finished speaking, Biezhi blinked and nodded.
Fu Shuning looked at her in astonishment, shaking her head vigorously, "Of course it doesn't look good."
“It looks good.” Biezhi retorted, her gaze fixed on the tall figure leaning in. It was the first time she had ever seen Fu Huaiqing dressed in riding attire, walking in with the light and shadow behind him.
She was graceful and charming.
It's unbelievably beautiful.
Ningluo's gaze lingered undisguisedly, passing over him inch by inch, and Fu Huaiqing's thin lips curved slightly.
After watching quietly for a while, Fu Shuning instantly understood. Sensing the undercurrents swirling around her, she quietly stood up, sneaked out the door, and thoughtfully closed the door behind her as she left.
She bumped into Su Ci, who was on his way to report on state affairs. She clicked her tongue, stepped down the stairs, and stretched out her arms to block his path.
Fu Shuning felt that she had truly done a lot for them.
"I'll ask my brother for a reward later; I can't let this opportunity go to waste."
The door closed, and Biezhi unconsciously stood up.
Her gaze lingered intently on the man's figure, the surrounding air slowly gathering into a stream of satisfaction. For a moment, the man she had just been discussing was forgotten.
Compared to them, the man in front of her was the most handsome.
He withdrew after a single kiss, without the slightest hesitation.
Fu Huaiqing reached out and pulled her back around the waist, saying, "Ten days."
Biezhi knew what he meant.
Since he moved into Fu Shuning's palace, they have never been alone together. Today marks the eleventh day.
but……
"I plan to stay in her palace until our wedding."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing's brow twitched slightly. "A grand wedding?"
Sensing the dangerous undertone in the man's hoarse voice, Biezhi patted his chest reassuringly, "I'll come find you."
Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow, not quite believing it. "They moved there to avoid me, and got so caught up in having fun that they forgot I existed. Yet they still remembered to come looking for me?"
Caught off guard, Biezhi pursed her lips guiltily. "As long as you behave yourself, I will naturally come to find you."
"Where are you being restless?" Fu Huaiqing tilted his head slightly, leaned close to her ear, and spoke slowly, watching her cheeks flush red, his smile widening.
Biezhi cleared her throat, ignoring his subsequent words, and said, "He's restless all over."
Fu Huaiqing looked at her, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
With about a quarter of an hour to go before the archery competition began, the two did not linger in the hall for long, and soon pushed open the door and went out.
Waiting outside were not only Fu Shuning, but also Zhu Shi'an, with whom they had previously agreed to team up.
The man standing in front of Zhu Shi'an was dressed in ordinary clothes, but even so, he could not hide the aura of a military general. Moreover, his eyebrows and eyes were similar to Zhu Shi'an's. Even though he had never seen this person before, Biezhi knew that he was Zhu Xu, who had guarded the frontier for many years.
Zhu Xu performed a kneeling bow, saying, "Your subject greets Your Highness."
Fu Huaiqing nodded and gave Jiang Yue a look. Jiang Yue stepped forward and helped him up.
Biezhi could tell they still had things to discuss, so she gave him a wink and then led Fu Shuning and the other woman away at a jog.
Before returning to the capital, Zhu Xu had already heard rumors about Prince Su and the young girl from earlier. On his first day back in the capital, he learned that the wedding date had been set and they were just waiting for the auspicious day to hold the ceremony.
He looked away and said, "I've heard she's a very lively woman."
Fu Huaiqing nodded.
"Like the sunlight today, brilliant and bright."
Zhu Xu paused for a moment upon hearing this, then laughed out loud, "It seems Your Highness likes it very much."
Fu Huaiqing neither agreed nor disagreed.
Half a month ago, Biezhi had already chosen the best horses to compete in. Their team was not only participating in today's main event, but also in the archery competition before the hunt began.
The participants ride horses and shoot arrows at a rapidly moving target in the center of the field. After all the participants have shot their arrows, the arrows on the target are counted. There are four rounds in total, and the final three are selected to enter the final round. The winner is the first-class winner.
Before mounting his horse, Biezhi pulled on the bow in his hand, which was no different from the one he usually used.
However, when Fu Shuning asked if she could win first place, she smiled modestly. Although her archery skills were not as good as those of her senior brothers and sisters in Youxu Pavilion, they were in no way inferior to those of others in Xianyun Tower. She just didn't know if there were any people present today whose skills were better than hers.
The moment she mounted her horse, all around suddenly fell silent. Biezhi looked up in confusion, her gaze suddenly meeting that of the man who was coming through the shadows of the trees. She had heard Fu Shuning mention that in previous years, Fu Huaiqing would only be present during the final hunt, and she had assumed that he wouldn't be coming today.
So when she saw him now, she couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly.
It was precisely because she hadn't expected him to come at this time that Biezhi hadn't told him beforehand not to treat her well in front of everyone. However, Fu Huaiqing seemed to have seen through her thoughts. He paused at the bottom of the steps for a moment before climbing up.
Biezhi breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his eyes to arrange his bow and arrows.
Zhu Xu and Su Ci, who came with Fu Huaiqing, also saw this scene. They looked at each other. Compared to Su Ci, who already knew Biezhi, Zhu Xu was more interested in this, especially since it was related to riding and archery. "I have heard that Miss Biezhi is skilled in riding and archery, and her swordsmanship is no less than that of the generals in the court."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing turned around, his gaze lingering on the man's face for a moment before he glanced down at the spirited young woman on horseback and said, "If it were a real competition, none of the people on the field would be her match."
Since it involves risking one's life, one must learn enough skills to avoid losing one's life at the slightest carelessness.
Most of the young men from noble families on the field had learned archery and horsemanship because these were essential skills for them; whether they were truly proficient was another matter.
Zhu Xu was unsure of the girl's skill level, but he knew that most of the people on the field had only learned some fancy moves and superficial skills. Nearly nine out of ten men were no match for his youngest daughter, Zhu Shi'an.
However, upon seeing the girl's deft bow and arrow, he couldn't help but be stunned. Of the nearly one hundred targets on the field, nearly fifty had arrows driven into the very center of each target.
After the first three rounds, in every single one, nearly 80% of the targets were marked with the image of a young girl.
Zhu Xu glanced in astonishment at His Highness Prince Su, who was smiling silently in the main seat. His eyes were filled with pride. As if he had noticed Zhu Xu's gaze, he glanced at him briefly before returning to the field.
Those who made it to the final round were Biezhi, Zhu Shi'an, and the son of the Minister of War.
The number of targets on the field was reduced from one hundred to ten. The guards holding the targets mounted their horses and galloped across the field. With a slight shift in their gaze, the targets would have moved dozens of feet. The rules also changed accordingly. As long as the arrows were not intercepted at close range, the attack would be effective.
Those who make it to the final round are naturally no ordinary people.
For a moment, the game became tense.
As the arrow, bound with red silk, pierced the sky and struck the center of another arrow, then shot straight into the target as it sped across the field, the arena fell silent. Many people stood up, staring in disbelief at the scene.
Soon after, cheers erupted from the audience.
Even Zhu Xu stood up and, after observing the battle for a moment, hesitated before looking at the man in the main seat. He then whispered to Su Ci beside him, "Our future princess is a very good martial arts prospect."
Upon hearing this, Su Ci knew that Zhu Xu had taken a liking to this promising talent. He raised his eyebrows noncommittally and smiled.
Seeing that he remained silent, Zhu Xu added, "With more practice, it wouldn't be impossible for her to go to the battlefield." He glanced at the girl riding her horse and whipping her whip on the field, and seeing that he remained silent, he continued, "Look at the skill with which she draws the bow. The bow in her hand is like a light tool to her. She can draw the bow without breaking a sweat, which shows that her strength is also superb."
His incessant words echoed in her ears, and Su Ci naturally understood his intention. However, "General Zhu, are you planning to snatch someone away from His Highness Prince Su?"
Preface: "..."
He glanced sideways, met Prince Su's deep gaze for a moment, and then looked away.
After a while, she still couldn't give up, "Is it really impossible to have both?"
Su Ci: "Are you planning to have our future princess stationed here?"
“Of course not.” Zhu Xu was still quite clear-headed. “I just think she’s a promising talent and I don’t want to waste her. Even if it’s just training, it would be enough if she and Shi An stood there and gave those generals in the camp who thought they were already quite good.”
Hearing that he had such an idea, Su Ci did not refute it. After thinking for a while, he said, "If General Zhu really has this intention, he can first ask Miss Biezhi for her opinion. If she agrees, His Highness will not stop him."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Xu's eyes lit up. "I'll go ask about it later."
The outcome was still uncertain during the conversation.
Holding the reins, Biezhi's gaze quickly swept around. All ten targets on the field had been hit by arrows, and she still had one arrow left in her hand, as did the son of the Minister of War, while Zhu Shi'an had no arrows left.
Although neither of them had used up all their arrows, the arrows that landed on the target did not lie.
There are five branches, five paths to Zhu Shi'an, and four paths to the son of the Minister of War.
If all three players can hit the target with their remaining arrows, it will be a draw. Until the very last moment, anything is possible.
Gazing at the two figures pulling the reins, Biezhi locked her eyes on the guards galloping from fifty feet away. Unhurriedly, she drew her bow. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the Minister of War's son also drawing his bow at the same time, and her eyes narrowed for a moment.
The moment his arrow came flying, the girl's strong waist bent back half an inch, her back almost touching the horse's back. She stared intently at the horse galloping out from behind the man, quickly calculated the distance the arrow would be to the target after it passed through, and then released the arrow.
The sharp arrow pierced the sky and suddenly embedded itself in the speeding target.
The target, having withstood the immense force, tilted backward; had the guard holding it not adjusted it in time, it would likely have fallen to the ground.
The long-standing stalemate was suddenly resolved.
Biezhi glanced at the red silk on the target, then looked up at the man on the platform. The moment their eyes met, her eyes curved into a smile, and she silently said, "I won."
On the high platform, Fu Huaiqing raised his eyebrows slightly and took a step forward. Out of the corner of his eye, he met Zhu Xu's eyes, which were filled with excitement and ecstasy. He knew what Zhu Xu was thinking without even having to say a word.
Fu Huaiqing thoughtfully withdrew his gaze and looked down at the girl whose eyes sparkled with starlight, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes.
If she has this intention, he is willing.
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