Chapter 78 The Substitute Chapter: Spreading Rumors
The news of the upcoming wedding in the palace spread quickly, and within three days, everyone in the capital knew that General Fu was going to become the Empress.
The palace acted swiftly, and the wedding date was already set and revealed; their wedding would take place in three months.
Xie Changyu sat in Fu Jing's room, with the room's owner sitting beside him. The two stared intently at the chess pieces on the table.
After an unknown amount of time, Xie Changyu finally yawned wearily. He slammed his hand on the table and protested, "I'm not playing anymore! I haven't won a single game all afternoon. It's not fair at all."
So boring!
“You’re a novice, you definitely can’t beat me.” Fu Jing put down the chess piece in his hand, rested his chin on his hand, and looked at the displeased face. He thought to himself that he had just been caught letting the opponent win and had been scolded.
Xie Changyu spread his hands and pushed the chessboard over, then lay down on it. Because there was a stove under the table, the whole table was very hot, and he pressed his face against it, which felt comfortable.
His face was turned to the side, making his voice a little unclear, "Why aren't you in a hurry at all?"
"What?" Fu Jing asked in confusion, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, revealing a different kind of charm.
"You'll be a member of the royal family in two months, so don't forget to look after me then."
Xie Changyu said, becoming smug, "That Pei Zilie is always arrogant because he's the heir apparent. After your brother enters the palace, I don't think that guy will dare to mess with you."
In his mind, Fu Jing's rise to power was equivalent to his own rise to power, which would give him more confidence to beat people up in the future. He would then see how smug those idiots who usually relied on their elders' higher positions than his father could still be so arrogant.
Just thinking about that scene made Xie Changyu laugh.
Fu Jing looked at it, and he couldn't help but reach out and pinch that face, then quickly withdrew his hand. Hmm, it's soft.
He thought to himself that, in fact, only Pei Zilie in the entire capital city dared to openly tolerate him.
Whether that person was genuinely arguing or not, haha.
Fu Jing sneered, "What a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"I'm asking you, what are you laughing at?"
Seeing that no one answered for a long time, Xie Changyu simply looked up and saw that the person was staring at his hand in a daze, with a slight smile on their lips.
He was dissatisfied and slapped it directly.
Fu Jing caught the hand just in time, preventing it from touching his handsome face. He thought to himself, "That was close; I almost got a mark."
He exclaimed loudly, "You shouldn't hit someone in the face!"
Although he said that, the smile on his face did not diminish.
Xie Changyu withdrew his hand, "My hands are itching."
Fu Jing withdrew his hand, the smile still lingering in his eyes. "You're thinking about this now that my brother is getting married?"
He was answering the question he had just asked.
The temperature inside the room gradually rose, and Xie Changyu took off another outer garment. He tossed his hair behind his back with an indifferent expression, "What else can I do?"
“You did tell me about the marriage back then, so why should I care? Besides, I can’t control it anyway.”
After a month of time, the initial disappointment, anger, and other emotions had long since disappeared. He had calmed down and thought things through. The imperial decree had been issued, and this matter was no longer something he could control.
Besides, what does it matter to him if Fu Shuqing gets married? In everyone's eyes, they are just childhood acquaintances.
No one knew about his previous slight affection for him.
Xie Changyu's lips were flat, and he seemed unaffected, but Fu Jing, who was very familiar with his emotions, could see the dissatisfaction in his eyes at a glance.
They were dissatisfied with the fact that the couple had kept their marriage a secret.
Fu Jing lowered his eyes slightly, feeling uncomfortable. Was he upset that they hadn't told him or that his brother was getting married?
With only two months until the wedding, Xie Changyu has been visiting the Fu residence almost every day this month. Of course, because of the marriage with someone from the palace, the Fu residence has been receiving congratulations from officials almost every day, including some who want to curry favor.
Because apart from the Cangwang Mansion, Wei Yuehua had already slaughtered all the princes and princesses on the day he ascended to the throne, almost wiping out the entire royal bloodline. In the end, only one family supported him when he was insignificant. As for the court officials, there were no fewer than those.
No one had ever entered the harem before, so when they saw Fu Shuqing enter the harem, besides the initial shock and dissatisfaction, they now only felt an urgent desire to exploit the tyrant's weaknesses.
After all, if one didn't truly love someone, why would one promise them the position of queen?
As his thoughts shifted, Fu Jing skillfully apologized, "It was our fault for not telling you this beforehand, but I must defend myself. It was something my brother and His Majesty discussed, so I only knew about it a day earlier than you."
So blame those two people.
Xie Changyu was fed up with those words. He raised his hand and said, "Alright, it's all Fu Shuqing's fault. Anyway, I'm not going to talk to him."
He naturally ignored the Gymboree gift he received that day and angrily declared that he didn't want to see Fu Shuqing's face for the rest of the month.
Fu Jing laughed when he heard this. His eyebrows curved into a smile, but he clenched his fist to cover his upturned lips, afraid that he would be too obvious. "Well done."
Xie Changyu glanced at him. "I'm hungry."
"I'll have someone make it for you."
"No, I have to go back home, otherwise my mother will start nagging again."
As Xie Changyu said this, he stood up and began to put on the clothes he had taken off one by one until he was completely covered up again.
The only thing visible was her face, flushed red from the heat.
"Then I'll see you off." Fu Jing also stood up, feeling quite reluctant to part; time had passed rather quickly.
Xie Changyu sighed, "Alright, let's go then. My mother and the others should be waiting for me."
"Um."
The two quickly walked into the courtyard, where it started snowing again. Their boots made a soft rustling sound as they stepped on the snow, leaving a trail of footprints.
Before Xie Changyu even reached the gate, he saw a tall, slender figure slowly walking towards him, holding a paper umbrella.
As he approached, his face emerged from behind the umbrella. He was dressed in snow-white clothes with black hair, his features were delicate, and his eyes and brows appeared very gentle in the snow and mist.
Are we going back?
Fu Shuqing's voice came through.
Suddenly seeing someone she hadn't seen for a month, Xie Changyu felt that the face had inexplicably become somewhat unfamiliar.
Fu Jing slightly turned his body to block the view, his expression calm. "Brother, I'm going to take Xie Changyu back now, don't block my way."
Fu Shuqing frowned, her gaze unchanged. "Is this how you talk to your brother?"
Fu Jing was taken aback, seemingly not expecting him to suddenly use his elder brother's authority to intimidate him, but Xie Changyu spoke up, "He's right, Brother Shuqing, I'm hungry now and need to go back. The ground is too slippery with snow, so Fu Jing has to take me."
"Is that so?" Fu Shuqing's gaze fell on him, her expression cold and aloof. "Then you may go."
Xie Changyu felt inexplicably awkward. He replied with an "okay" and then pulled the person away.
...
When Fu Jing returned after seeing the person off, it was already dark. A smile still lingered on his face as he walked easily towards his room.
He had just pushed open the door when he saw a familiar figure.
Fu Jing was stunned. "Brother?"
The first thing you see is Fu Shuqing sitting there, his expression indistinct in the darkness. Soon after, the servants filed in, and the whole room suddenly became bright.
After everyone left, Fu Jing went over and sat down. He drank a cup of hot tea, then looked up at the person opposite him. "It's so late, why aren't you resting, brother? Is there something you need in my room?"
The room fell silent for a moment.
A clear, gentle voice rang out, "Have you told Changyu about the marriage?"
Fu Jing's eyes flickered slightly. He looked at the other person with a half-smile, "You sat in my room late at night waiting for me just for this?"
“Although Changyu has been coming to the Fu residence all month, he has been avoiding me.” Fu Shuqing took a sip of hot tea. “I’m afraid he will misunderstand me.”
"So, bro, you deliberately blocked that spot today?"
“Yes.” Fu Shuqing’s eyes darkened slightly. “I watched Changyu grow up since he was a child, and I’m afraid this matter will create a rift between us.”
"Just because of this?" Fu Jing asked in return.
"certainly."
Fu Shuqing sat there, his long hair loose, his handsome face expressionless. After a long while, he looked at his closest relative and asked softly, "And you?"
"What?" Fu Jing looked up.
...
What Xie Changyu discussed in secret with the Fu brothers remains unknown. After returning to his residence, he ate a meal and went to his room.
After eating and drinking to your heart's content, it's time to go to sleep.
But it's a bit early for Xie Changyu to go to sleep now; he's still very energetic.
The entire Xie residence was very quiet. Xie Changyu, dressed in white, sat quietly on the bed. He sensed the heat in the air, then patted his face, feeling a bit stuffy.
I'm so bored.
I rolled over again. I'm so bored.
Xie Changyu sighed inwardly, then suddenly sat up. No, he had to go out and play!
Because he is prone to illness in winter, Madam Xie has been keeping him from going out to play. Only when Fu Jing himself comes to the mansion to call him will he be allowed to go out. This is why he has been going to the Fu mansion every day this month. Otherwise, it would be too boring to stay at home all the time.
As for Fu Jing, although he always listened to him, he was still very strict about his health. When he went to the Fu residence, he would just wander around the various rooms. The only good thing was that he had someone to play with.
No, the more I think about it, the harder my heart becomes. He wants to go out and play!
Xie Changyu changed his clothes and then called Xiaohe in.
Xiaohe leaned closer, looking puzzled. "Young Master, is there something you need from me?"
Xie Changyu raised an eyebrow. "Of course there is. Go to the Cangwang Mansion now and call their young master over for me."
"Your Highness?!" Xiaohe hesitated, knowing the feud between His Highness and his young master.
"Go quickly and tell them..."
Xie Changyu whispered a few words into Xiaohe's ear, then watched with a satisfied expression as Xiaohe left his room.
He refused to believe that the person wouldn't come. As long as the person came, he could get that guy to take him out of the mansion. As for why he didn't call Fu Jing...
Haha, this guy is just like his mother, keeping him confined and not letting him go out. He won't call him anyway.
He has to go out and play today!
His plan was very successful. Before long, Xiaohe summoned him and successfully had him taken out of the mansion.
Having finally gotten out of the house, Xie Changyu noticed that Xiaohe was getting in the way. As soon as he stepped out of the mansion, he turned around and instructed, "Xiaohe, you don't need to follow. This guy will escort me back later."
"Huh? Young Master?" Xiaohe was surprised. He looked at Pei Zilie, who was sitting next to his young master, with suspicion.
Heh, Pei Zilie was already annoyed by the threat, but this look made him even more annoyed. He clenched his fists, suppressing his anger, "What are you looking at? I'm not going to eat your young master."
Xiaohe trembled, even more worried about her young master. In the end, Xie Changyu assured her that she would be fine before she took the man away.
After the person left, Xie Changyu turned around, his whole body wrapped up tightly. "Let's go."
Pei Zilie snorted coldly and asked irritably, "Where are you going?"
This guy used the incident of them fooling around in the room last time to blackmail him into coming here, saying that if he couldn't keep it to himself, he would tell everyone. Ha, this guy is shameless, but he can't do that. He is, after all, a prince of a country.
Of course, Xie Changyu didn't say the exact words when he sent the message; instead, he told Xiaohe to tell people, "If you don't come, I'll spread the word about what happened last time."
Pei Zilie immediately understood what he was saying, but others would only be confused.
Xie Changyu raised an eyebrow. "Let's go to that famous tavern."
Pei Zilie gave him a suspicious look. "With your constitution, you still dare to go to the tavern to drink?"
Could it be that he gets knocked out after just one drink?
Xie Changyu snorted, "Can't I just go there to have fun?"
He still remembered the gossip he had heard in that place last time. He hadn't believed it at all when he heard it, but it actually happened later. If he couldn't go to that place, then he had no choice but to go there in this cold weather, at least there would be gossip to listen to.
That's right, Xie Changyu went out this time with the intention of listening to gossip.
However, the person next to them is a bit too conspicuous, and it would be too awkward if they heard something they shouldn't hear together at that time.
So as soon as they arrived at the tavern, Xie Changyu started chasing people away.
"Go play somewhere else, just remember to pick me up and take me back in an hour."
"What do you mean, Xie Changyu? I braved the snow to bring you out late at night, and this is how you treat me??" Pei Zilie exploded.
Xie Changyu said coldly, "Do you really want to drink with me?"
The soul asked a question, and Xie Changyu thought he would see a rejection from this person, but instead he only saw a bashful face. His heart skipped a beat, and a disgusted expression appeared on his face. "No way, Pei Zilie, what's with that expression?"
Pei Zilie wiped his face and sneered, "I don't care. If you dare to leave me alone today, then you can wait for your mother to find out about this!"
Xie Changyu got angry, Xie Changyu was speechless, Xie Changyu compromised.
He chuckled, "Well done, Pei Zilie."
Xie Changyu refused to admit that he had been threatened. He first glared at the guy, then walked into the tavern on his own.
Pei Zilie only put on a smug expression after seeing his tacit agreement.
He told the guards who were with him to find a place to wait, then straightened his clothes and swaggered in.
As they passed through the main hall, they suddenly overheard someone say, "You don't know, do you? The young master of the Cangwang Mansion has been secretly in love with the young master of the Xie Mansion for a long time."
Pei Zilie suddenly slipped. He glared fiercely at the platform, wanting to see which villain was spreading rumors about him!
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Author's note: This story will be finished once I finish writing about this world. If I were to write something in the future, I would not write about quick transmigration, but rather single stories, because finishing a world makes it easy to lose enthusiasm, and quick transmigration is not suitable for me.
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