Chapter 39. Fu Huaiqing's heart was clearly in turmoil...
After that day, Biezhi did not go to the Prince's Mansion for seven or eight days.
It wasn't that she didn't want to go, but she had received a message from the Prince's residence in advance that there were important matters in the court that needed to be discussed with the ministers, and that Prince Su would be in the palace for the next few days and would not be staying at the Prince's residence.
Cheng Jin added that if the prince had the time, he would come to inform him in advance.
Upon hearing the news, Biezhi felt particularly pleased.
She was truly afraid that Prince Su would utter some chilling words in his voice that silenced all others, and that Biezhi would not be able to bear it.
Not long after Cheng Jin left, she heard that her master, out of consideration for her senior brother's health, had specially arranged for someone else from Youxu Pavilion to take over the tasks in her senior brother's hands.
Receiving two pieces of good news in one day gave Biezhi a boost of motivation.
Qin Xiao also became busy, staying overnight at the Dali Temple one after another. When he returned to his residence, it was already late at night, and he would leave the residence just as the sun was peeking out.
Without any other concerns, Bi Zhi felt refreshed and invigorated.
During the seven or eight days she didn't go to the Prince's Mansion, she mostly left the Xu family at dawn and dusk, and returned to the Qin family every day in complete silence.
Biezhi had calculated the exact time when Huachao would wake her up. She went back to her bedroom, closed the covers, and went to sleep. However, she was awakened by Huachao in just over half an hour.
Last night, I heard that Xu Wenche planned to go to Chaohui Pavilion on Yongwan Road in the north of the city today, apparently to meet someone. Biezhi was worried that the situation when he met Zhang Yan would happen again, so she planned to appear by his side as the second daughter of the Qin family.
In a daze, she heard Hua Chao's gentle voice. Bie Zhi opened her eyes and got up. She had only rested for half an hour for several days. She sat cross-legged on the couch with a confused expression and took the wet cloth that Hua Chao handed her to wash her face.
Warm water splashed on her face, bringing her back to her senses.
Since she was appearing as the second daughter of the Qin family, Biezhi specially brought Huachao with her when she went out. In order to avoid unnecessary suspicion, she chose to go to Wangchuntai, which is across the street from Chaohuiting.
By opening the windows of the side rooms along the street from Wangchuntai, one can catch a glimpse of the scenery at Chaohuiting.
Biezhi arrived at Wangchun Terrace at the exact time, half an hour before the time Xu Wenche had agreed upon with the others.
She glanced at the servant in front of the Wangchuntai shop, her eyes quickly scanning him, her brow furrowing slightly without her noticing.
What is Fang Tingzhi doing here?
She even dressed up as a man...
Just as Biezhi was about to step forward, she saw Fang Tingzhi suddenly turn her back to her and look at the two figures coming through the backyard.
Upon seeing the man walking ahead, Biezhi's eyes twitched a few times.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, Su Ci's voice rang in her ears. He called out to her, "What are you doing here?"
Bie Zhi stiffened for a moment, then turned around to look at the two figures who had somehow walked up to her, and Fang Tingzhi behind them who looked astonished. She forced a smile and said, "I came to check on things. I was just about to leave."
Upon entering Wangchun Terrace, Fu Huaiqing had already spotted her.
His deep gaze subtly observed her expression, noticing that she was intentionally avoiding his gaze. He slightly tightened his fist behind his back and gave Su Ci a look.
Su Ci understood immediately upon seeing this. He couldn't understand why Fu Huaiqing didn't speak up himself, but he still managed to stop Biezhi, who seemed determined to escape: "Since we've met, and it's been a while since we last met, why don't we get together?"
Their familiar conversation suggested they had a very good relationship and had gathered together countless times.
Bie Zhi caught a glimpse of Fang Tingzhi standing behind Su Ci out of the corner of his eye. His slightly parted lips slowly closed, and he swallowed the words that were already on the tip of his tongue, saying, "Then I'll trouble Your Highness and Young Master Su."
The deliberate politeness was evident in his words, as if he was intentionally pushing the distance between them. Su Ci raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Politeness for a moment was normal, but if it continued like this for a long time, there would be no future.
Seeing that Fu Huaiqing remained silent, Su Ci clicked her tongue, feeling very sorry for him: "Your brother and sister are all old acquaintances of the prince and me, so you don't need to be so polite."
Bie Zhi smiled outwardly, but it didn't really take it to heart.
She watched Fu Huaiqing and Su Ci ascend the steps, deliberately lagging behind by half a step. She glanced at her friend, who looked like a servant, her eyes filled with doubt as she silently asked, "What's going on?"
Fang Tingzhi hadn't expected the two to meet here either. She tilted her chin slightly towards Su Ci and said, "Someone is buying his information."
Biezhi discerned her friend's lip movements, frowned, and silently watched the man ascend the steps.
Somewhat unexpected.
Previously, some people had offered high prices to Shanju in hopes that they could find information about important officials in the court. However, before the information could even reach their master, Su Tao had already decided to refuse or suppress it. At the same time, he made it clear to the outside world that Shanju would not, before or after, pass on any information about court officials.
Putting aside the fact that Su Ci is a cabinet minister with far-reaching implications, just considering his status as a friend of Prince Su, how could Shanju dare to accept this task?
Strangely enough, the master also nodded.
Bie Zhi lowered her gaze and said calmly, "Anything unusual must be suspicious. Be careful in everything you do."
"I know." Fang Tingzhi had already realized something was wrong when she received the task assigned by Su Tao, but her parents did not object, which proved that they were aware of the situation: "They agreed."
Upon hearing this, Biezhi remembered that her senior brother and sister-in-law were there to oversee her, and her worries were put to rest.
As the head of the Bright Moon Pavilion, her senior master naturally knew more about the inside story than they did. Moreover, Fang Tingzhi had been seriously injured and unconscious for half a month due to a mission. Since then, her senior master and mistress would review any missions assigned to her in advance to ensure there was no danger before allowing her to take them on.
Thinking about it this way, there shouldn't be any risk in inquiring about Su Ci's whereabouts.
As they approached the second-floor room, Biezhi gave Fang Tingzhi a look, then followed Su Ci across the threshold and entered.
Fang Tingzhi stood by the door, her palm on the doorknob, pulling it back. She had barely exerted any force when she heard Su Ci call her to come inside and follow.
Without hesitation, she went inside immediately.
Biezhi glanced at the man sitting in the main seat, counted the round stools beside the table, and chose the seat furthest away from him before sitting down.
Su Ci was standing between the two.
Fu Huaiqing did not miss her series of movements. His gaze was fixed on the back of her hand that was about to touch the man beside her. He turned his gaze slightly away from her and looked at Su Ci beside her with a faint expression.
He was uneasy. One or two of the men who were involved with other women were interested in her, and it was hard to say whether Su Ci had other thoughts in mind.
Su Ci was taken aback.
He followed Fu Huaiqing's seemingly casual gaze downwards, "..."
Su Ci raised his head, their eyes met for a moment, and then he fell silent.
If there weren't other people around, Su Ci would have raised his hands and sworn to the heavens that he had absolutely no feelings for Bie Zhi, and that if he broke his vow, he would be alone for the rest of his life.
The hand that was almost touching stopped as Su Ci withdrew, and Fu Huaiqing’s gaze also turned away, falling on the girl’s fingertips as she idly rolled up her handkerchief.
Fu Huaiqing watched for as long as Biezhi played.
Apart from the noise coming through the windows, the huge tea room was eerily quiet. Su Ci couldn't understand what Fu Huaiqing was thinking. He clearly had feelings for the girl, but he kept his mouth shut and refused to say anything. Did he think that being mute would attract other girls' attention?
He shifted his foot slightly under the table, his fingertips holding the teacup were incredibly steady.
Fu Huaiqing, who was sipping his tea and unable to speak, was suddenly kicked. He put down his teacup and glanced at Su Ci indifferently.
Su Ci raised an eyebrow sharply in the direction of the other branch, silently saying, "If you don't take the initiative, are you waiting for the girl to take the initiative?"
So quiet and silent, one might think he didn't want to see Biezhi at all. But when he gave her a meaningful look, he clearly realized that if he didn't try to stop her, she wouldn't hesitate to leave.
I have important business to attend to at Yong'an Street.
Before the shadow guards could report, Fu Huaiqing had not expected to meet her at Wangchun Terrace, so he had not prepared any medicine to change her voice.
He glanced at the wide-open window, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
If he were to speak now, he would immediately see the girl's horrified expression, and he would avoid her like the plague in the future.
She was already frightened a while ago, so it's better to proceed cautiously step by step.
Su Ci waited for a while but he didn't speak. A slight look of doubt flashed across her face. After a long silence, she felt that she still had to rely on herself: "Yong'an Street is not exactly close to the Qin family. Why did you come here today?"
“I’ve heard my elder sister mention that Yong’an Street is more lively than other places. I just happened to have nothing to do today, so I came to take a look.” What Biezhi said was true; Qin Wan had indeed mentioned it to her. She wouldn’t reveal it if Su Ci asked about it later. “I didn’t expect to meet the Prince and the young master here.”
If she had known earlier, she wouldn't have come.
"Your Highness and I also decided to come at the last minute." Su Ci paused, then smiled and said to her, "Your Highness is more familiar with Yong'an Street. If you need anything—"
“There’s no need to trouble Your Highness.” Biezhi was genuinely worried that Prince Su would agree, after all, he had been able to tell her directly that he liked her. Before Su Ci could finish speaking, she interrupted him: “I’ll just wander around by myself.”
The refusal in words could not be concealed.
Su Ci hadn't expected Bie Zhi to be so resistant to her friend. He subconsciously glanced at Fu Huaiqing, whose eyes were darkening, and it seemed that something had happened that he was unaware of.
I didn't see her being this resistant when we met a few days ago.
Looking at those gazes filled with 'stay away from me,' Fu Huaiqing pursed his thin lips, picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and soothed the vexation churning in his heart.
The refreshing tea flowed down his throat, but it couldn't dispel the restlessness in the man's heart.
Fu Huaiqing was clearly aware of this.
His loss of control pushed her further and further away from him.
After speaking, Biezhi realized that she had been a bit too decisive. It was fine to treat others this way, but to treat Prince Su like this was obviously taking advantage of him. If Prince Su had a worse temper, he might have already ordered her to be dragged away and locked up.
Before she could figure out how to ease the tension, she caught a glimpse of a figure climbing the steps under the eaves of Chaohui Pavilion. Biezhi straightened her back involuntarily and looked up at Xu Wenche.
Fu Huaiqing: "..."
Obviously, everyone is more important than oneself.
His eyes darkened, and the usually calm lake surface rippled. He couldn't help but think that if other branches were to rank them according to their preferences, Xu Wenche would probably be ahead of him. The only thing he could compete for was to see who would be second to last in the rankings with Qin Xiao.
Su Ci naturally noticed Bie Zhi's actions and looked over, asking, "What's going on outside?"
"I saw a friend." Seeing that Xu Wenche had already stepped into Chaohui Pavilion, Biezhi didn't care too much. She stood up abruptly, bowed, and said, "Thank you for taking me in, Your Highness. I'll go over there first."
Without waiting for their reply, he turned and left in a hurry.
Su Ci sensed something was wrong.
He had just followed Biezhi's gaze and saw that the figure she was looking at was clearly Xu Wenche.
Su Ci's expression hardened slightly, and she glanced sideways, gesturing for Fang Tingzhi to step back.
As the door closed, he withdrew his gaze and quickly glanced at the man in the main seat: "Getting too close to Xu Wenche is not good for her."
They knew perfectly well what was going on.
If Xu Wenche's arrival in the capital was merely a matter of the Xu family's business layout, then there would naturally be no distinction between good and bad. For Biezhi, it would be like gaining another good friend, and in the future, they would have another clear path to take in the capital.
However, during his journey to the capital, he was the subject of much scrutiny.
Whether it's high-ranking officials in the court or wealthy merchants in the capital, the figures behind them are eager to make a move, just waiting to tear open a gap and devour them.
Anyone who even slightly appears near Xu Wenche will undoubtedly undergo thorough investigation by more than ten people. If any link in the chain goes wrong, it might not be an absolute disaster, but it could certainly bring trouble upon oneself.
Fu Huaiqing gave a faint "I know".
Then came a long silence.
Su Ci didn't know why Bie Zhi appeared in the Qin family, but it was obvious that she had followed the Qin family's lead and that the Qin family was willing to be her backer, watching her rush into the fire.
He watched the long, slender fingers tapping on the table from time to time; the tapping sounds were chaotic and had no rhythm whatsoever.
Fu Huaiqing's mind was clearly in turmoil.
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