Return to Qingzhou
I don't know what triggered Yu Yadan to come here and act like the wife. Doesn't she know that I have already broken up with Xie Zhuo?
"Miss Yu, there must be some misunderstanding. I have no connection with the young master."
"Really?" Yu Yadan stared intently at Fu Zhiqiao. "You'd better be telling the truth!"
She could have ignored an ordinary concubine, but the prince had already said he could only give her a title, which Yu Yadan could not tolerate. She was determined to marry into the royal family in a grand and glorious manner, and she could not let anyone affect her marriage to the prince.
Before coming, she wanted to see what kind of person Fu Zhi Qiao was, to know where she was inferior to her, and why the prince liked her instead of herself. After meeting her, Yu Ya Dan felt a strong sense of crisis.
Her skin was as clear and flawless as jade, like a bright pearl. A look of jealousy flashed in Yu Yadan's eyes. Even though Fu Zhi Qiao's clothes were not particularly gorgeous, under Fu Zhi Qiao's radiance, her own luxurious brocade seemed dull.
In just a moment, Yu Yadan came to her senses.
In her opinion, Fu Zhi Qiao had no background and only won the prince's favor because of her good looks. This kind of tactic of using her looks to please men was something that noble ladies despised the most.
She couldn't help but mock, "A woman of your lowly status doesn't even have the right to enter the Prince's mansion."
"Miss Yu is right."
Yu Yadan was stunned for a moment, her expression somewhat taken aback. The next second, she glared at Fu Zhiqiao fiercely: "As expected, you come from a humble background and have never seen the world."
"Yes, yes, Miss Yu is right."
Yu Yadan was speechless. No matter what she said, Fu Zhiqiao agreed with her, which made her feel embarrassed.
Such disregard is more painful than being insulted.
Taking a few deep breaths, Yu Yadan calmed down: "Miss Fu, you come from a merchant family, you should understand that everything comes at a price. Why do you crave things you can't have?"
"What is something that cannot be obtained?" Fu Zhiqiao asked rhetorically.
"You only managed to bewitch the prince with your looks..."
Fu Zhi Qiao immediately interrupted her: "Being born with a beautiful appearance is a blessing that others can only envy."
The atmosphere inside the room suddenly became a little awkward.
Ginkgo, who was standing aside as a bystander, was stunned. Her daughter was usually very kind, and this was the first time she had ever seen her daughter so aggressive.
Who is Fu Zhi Qiao? She won't let herself be bullied. As the saying goes, "You can't hit someone who's smiling." Yu Ya Dan is up to no good, so she will naturally deal with her moves accordingly.
“I am the wife betrothed to the Crown Prince through the three letters and six rites. Without my consent, you can only be a mistress without any title or status.”
"Since Miss Yu is so confident, why does she need to come to me, an insignificant person, to show off her power?"
"If you hadn't been so persistent, how could the young master have been bewitched by you?"
After a brief moment of surprise, Fu Zhi Qiao's smile returned. She put her index finger to her lips, gestured for Yu Ya Dan to be quiet, took two steps closer, and whispered in Yu Ya Dan's ear, "How do you know it was me who was pestering the young master? Maybe he was the one pestering me!"
"You...you shameless!"
As the saying goes, "Strike the snake at its vital spot." For a young girl like Yu Yadan, whose mind is full of love, a few casual words can throw her into a state of utter confusion.
Fu Zhiqiao feigned surprise, clutching her chest: "You're not angry, are you?" She turned to Yinxing and said, "Quickly serve some tea to calm Miss Yu down, lest she get sick from anger."
Yu Yadan was furious. She glared at Fu Zhiqiao and immediately abandoned all pretense of ladylike image, blurting out, "You lowly thing who uses your looks to please others, I'd like to see how long you can be so smug. Will the prince still like you once your looks have faded?"
Since she got together with Xie Zhuo, she had heard the word "lowly" from several people, but Fu Zhi Qiao did not choose to retort immediately.
Yu Yadan thought she had scared her, so she looked up and gave her a smug look.
Fu Zhi Qiao still had the same faint smile as before, but the coldness emanating from her sent a chill down Yu Ya Dan's spine.
"Miss Yu, I'd like to say the same thing to you: instead of attacking me here, you should spend more time improving yourself!" Yu Yadan's appearance only strengthened Fu Zhiqiao's resolve. She absolutely refused to enter the inner quarters and become someone who revolved around men all day long!
"Who do you think you are, daring to lecture me?" Yu Yadan was furious and raised her hand to slap Fu Zhiqiao.
Fu Zhi Qiao swiftly grabbed her wrist, stopping the slap in mid-air. She curled her red lips into a disdainful smile: "Miss Yu, besides your background, what do you have that I can compare to?"
Yu Yadan was furious, her wrist was still being held, she forcefully shook off Fu Zhiqiao's hand, "Let go of me!"
Fu Zhiqiao was too lazy to argue with Yu Yadan. Her voice was a little hoarse from giving a long lecture. She sincerely suggested, "Although I am a merchant, I am also the daughter of a respectable family. I would never become someone's concubine. Miss Yu, you don't need to waste your time on me."
Yu Yadan looked up abruptly, seemingly in disbelief.
"Also, it's your business who you like. Don't throw mud at me. Leave some room for maneuver in the future, Miss Yu, don't you agree?"
Yu Yadan stared at her for a while, then said, "You'd better keep your word!" With that, she turned and left.
*
Unlike Yu Yadan, who is obsessed with marrying Xie Zhuo, Fu Zhiqiao is focused on her career.
Spring plowing season is almost here again. The spring breeze is blowing across the land, and the new buds on the trees have begun to sprout.
Wenshan wrote to report on the situation at the farm. Because of the plan to expand the planting of peaches and millet, the villagers are tilling the fields, so the winery is busier than in previous years.
This matter concerns a year's worth of food supplies, so Fu Zhiqiao had to personally return to Qingzhou.
The affairs of Taibai Tower and Fuyun Pavilion were temporarily handed over to Defu and Xiaoyue, while Yu Roulan stayed in the capital to oversee them. She herself took Yinxing and Cheng Yexuan back to Qingzhou.
Yu Roulan disagreed, saying she wanted to go back with her, but Fu Zhiqiao eventually persuaded her to stay, arguing that the business in the capital was growing and there was no one to keep order and protect it.
Firstly, the capital city does need someone to supervise it, and Yu Roulan, as her mother, is the best candidate. Secondly, Fu Zhiqiao is going to make a big splash in Qingzhou, and with Yu Roulan by her side, she can't go all out, since she still needs to maintain her "weak" image in front of Yu Roulan.
Inside Taibai Tower, Fu Zhiqiao was adjusting the personnel arrangements during her absence from the capital, taking stock of the existing liquor inventory, and making plans to replenish the remaining stock. Before leaving, she also instructed Defu to find an auspicious wedding gift for Zhou Miaosi's wedding, which was just around the corner.
After explaining everything, Fu Zhiqiao prepared to go home and pack her luggage.
Unexpectedly, he ran into Zhao Junhui just as he reached the door.
Zhao Jun had returned to Taibai Tower several times, but he had never run into Fu Zhiqiao. Fortunately, he finally got to see her today.
Upon seeing Fu Zhiqiao, Zhao Junhui quickly walked to her side, "Miss Fu."
"Lord Zhao." Fu Zhiqiao took a half step back and bowed, keeping a distance from him.
Zhao Junhui didn't notice this detail. When he saw Fu Zhiqiao, his eyes were full of smiles: "Miss Fu, I have a favor to ask of you."
"Lord Zhao, please speak frankly."
Zhao Jun didn't have any ulterior motive; he just wanted to talk to her more. But he was afraid she would refuse, so he used the excuse of asking her to buy him some wine. He glanced at the people in Taibai Tower and said, "There are so many people coming and going in this hall. Why don't we find a quieter place to talk?"
Fu Zhiqiao hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed.
In a private room on the second floor of Taibai Tower, Fu Zhiqiao and Zhao Junhui took their seats.
Zhao Jun bowed and tugged at the corner of his clothes somewhat nervously: "I have come here today to ask if Miss Fu has any premium Taibai wine? I heard that premium Taibai wine is a property of Taibai Tower, so I have to be so shameless as to ask you."
"I do have one jar of premium Taibai liquor here, but this liquor is produced in very limited quantities..."
Zhao Jun understood and said, "Miss Fu, please rest assured, I will pay whatever the market price of the premium Taibai liquor is, and I will definitely not let you suffer a loss."
Fu Zhiqiao nodded and told someone to fetch the wine.
Zhao Junhui's eyes flashed with an unusual light as he smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Miss Fu."
While the waiter went to fetch the wine, Zhao Junhui tried his best to talk to Fu Zhiqiao. Fu Zhiqiao answered his questions, so much so that when Zhao Junhui left with the wine jar, he was practically floating.
The night before she returned to Qingzhou, Yinxing was helping her pack her clothes.
Xie Zhuo somehow found out that she was leaving the capital. He no longer cared about saving face and rushed over. "You're leaving the capital?"
Fu Zhi Qiao was a little surprised. The two hadn't been in contact for a while, and she thought Xie Zhuo had given up. Why was he showing up again now?
Seeing the questioning look in her eyes, Xie Zhuo felt even more aggrieved. "You really don't want to see me that much?"
"yes!"
Xie Zhuo was speechless with anger, glaring at her, but Fu Zhi Qiao didn't care at all. She gestured for Yin Xing to continue tidying up, then walked to the table and poured herself a cup of tea. "Is there something you need today, Your Highness?"
"Zhi Qiao, please don't be so distant with me, okay?" Xie Zhuo's tone suddenly softened, as if he were coaxing a child: "Your business is doing so well, leaving the capital just because you don't want to see me is not a wise decision."
A light drizzle was still falling outside the window. Fu Zhiqiao sighed silently. "Wait, have you misunderstood something? I'm going back to Qingzhou to inspect the agricultural situation."
"I thought..." I thought you were going to leave the capital and never come back.
Xie Zhuo looked on in astonishment, realizing he had misunderstood, and turned away in embarrassment.
The room suddenly fell silent, and neither of them spoke. Xie Zhuo felt uneasy; how had things turned out this way?
Fu Zhi Qiao could see that Xie Zhuo was shrouded in a gloomy mood, but she knew that if she was going to cut ties, she should cut them off cleanly; lingering attachments were not her style.
Seeing her cold attitude, Xie Zhuo gave her a deep look and left helplessly. He wouldn't give up so easily.
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