You still think about her
During the banquet, Madam Zhao was absent-minded.
Faced with a table full of delicious food, she had no appetite at all. It wasn't until she heard the people at the table discussing Fu Zhi Qiao that she perked up a little. Words like "Crown Princess," "alcohol," and "His Majesty's reward" entered her ears.
The person sitting next to her noticed her pale face and asked, "Madam Zhao, you look pale. Are you feeling unwell?"
Madam Zhao smiled awkwardly: "It's nothing, it's just a bit hot."
"Drink more tea to clear away heat."
"Okay..." She mechanically picked up her teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Just now I heard you talking about the Crown Princess?"
"Yes! The Crown Princess is here today too. I heard she comes from a merchant family, but the way she carries herself doesn't seem like she comes from a humble background."
Madam Zhao's face stiffened slightly, and she didn't know how to respond for a moment. She forced a smile and said, "Is...is that so?"
"Yes! Seeing is believing. I had long heard that the Crown Princess was beautiful, but after seeing her in person, I know that the rumors are indeed true!"
All the ladies met Fu Zhi Qiao today. They found her to have clear and upright eyes, dignified bearing, and to be no different from a noble lady. Her manners were also impeccable. When they met her gaze, she wore a gentle smile, giving them a feeling of warmth and comfort.
The ladies who were discussing nearby, seeing that Mrs. Zhao was also interested in Fu Zhi Qiao, became even more enthusiastic and began to tell her about Fu Zhi Qiao's deeds.
Madam Zhao was stunned. It turned out that Fu Zhi Qiao had not only married into the royal family, but she had also become popular among the people for her meritorious service in disaster relief and had even received an award from His Majesty...
Madam Zhao couldn't quite remember how the banquet ended, but she didn't need to bother asking. The other ladies around her had already told her everything about Fu Zhi Qiao's experiences over the years.
She returned home dejectedly and locked herself in her room. When the servants came in to serve her tea, she didn't react at all. She stared blankly at the tea on the table, the billowing steam from the teacup like smoke and mist, just like her fluctuating emotions.
Zhao Junhui had just stepped into the house, taking off his outer robe and handing it to his servant Laibao to put away. Before he could even catch his breath, he heard Madam Zhao sigh softly, "You've already met Fu Zhiqiao, haven't you?"
"Mother?" Zhao Jun asked, bewildered.
"I saw her today at the old lady's birthday celebration at the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. She is Fu Zhiqiao, the heir apparent of the Duan Prince's Mansion."
Zhao Jun suddenly looked up.
A sudden silence fell between mother and son. After a moment, Zhao Jun waved his hand, signaling all the maids and servants in the room to leave.
"What does Mother want to say?"
"Fu Zhi Qiao is now the Crown Princess of Prince Duan, and from now on we will have to bow to her when we see her."
Zhao Jun frowned. "Mother, please speak frankly."
Having achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations at a young age and being highly regarded by the people, Zhao Junhui is considered an outstanding young talent in the capital and even the entire Great Wei Dynasty for his remarkable achievements at such a young age.
With Zhao Junhui's success, Madam Zhao felt more and more that her decision to break off the engagement with the Fu family was the right one. Without the Fu family holding her back, Zhao Junhui was able to focus wholeheartedly and pass the exam on his first try.
Unexpectedly, their glorious days were shattered in a few years. Fu Zhi Qiao married into the powerful Prince Duan's mansion, becoming someone above the Zhao family, someone they couldn't even look directly at.
The thought that the person she had once abandoned was now someone she couldn't reach made Madam Zhao feel incredibly suffocated, unable to swallow her anger. Especially after meeting Fu Zhi Qiao today, who clearly still harbored resentment about what happened back then, she feared that Fu Zhi Qiao might persuade the young master to target Zhao Jun Hui.
"Does Your Highness know the history between our Zhao family and the Fu family?"
Zhao Junhui frowned, vaguely guessing what his mother wanted to say: "Our Zhao family has no relation to the Crown Princess. Even if the Crown Prince knew about what happened in the past, what could he do?"
"So what? Fu Zhi Qiao is now the Crown Prince's wife, and the Prince Duan's heir holds a high position and great power. What if he targets you in court..."
Zhao Junhui immediately interrupted, "The Crown Prince is a military general, and I am a civil official. Why is he targeting me?"
"You're still young, you don't know the power of a woman's pillow talk..."
“Mother!” Zhao Jun interrupted her, raising his voice, almost instinctively retorting, “She’s not that kind of person!”
The room suddenly fell silent.
Hearing Zhao Junhui defend Fu Zhiqiao, Madam Zhao was stunned for a moment. Then, she tentatively asked in a low voice, "You...you haven't let go of her yet, have you?"
Zhao Junhui frowned deeply, his expression slightly grave: "Mother, please be careful with your words!"
"You still refuse to get married, is it because you still have feelings for her? Do you still resent me for breaking off the engagement against your wishes back then?" Madam Zhao's voice gradually rose.
The sharp sound entered his ears, and Zhao Junhui felt a surge of irritation.
The mother and son looked into each other's eyes.
This past event was almost gone from his memory, but hearing his mother bring it up now, Zhao Junhui felt a surge of sorrow. He was silent for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing, before he spoke: "Mother, what kind of answer do you want to hear? If your son says yes, will you be satisfied?"
His tone had already taken on a coldness.
Madam Zhao's eyes widened in disbelief, and she collapsed as if struck by lightning.
She knew! She just knew!
Seeing his mother's distraught appearance, Zhao Jun sighed inwardly, his eyes filled with helplessness and disappointment. "Why must Mother blame her for my unwillingness to get married? Can't I have my own ambitions?"
He and Fu Zhi Qiao were destined to be apart, and he has accepted this outcome.
Life is unpredictable; how many people in this world can always have everything they desire?
Zhao Junhui wanted to say something more, but seeing Madam Zhao's blank stare, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He lowered his eyelids, hiding the fleeting emotion in his eyes.
After returning from disaster relief in Qingzhou, he felt more and more that the ways of saving the world that he had learned from books were really superficial. Now he no longer thought about matters between men and women, but only wanted to serve the country and let all people live in peace and prosperity.
As for marriage?
He hasn't considered it yet; he has more important things to do right now. Perhaps one day in the future, he will meet his true love. He will let things take their natural course and won't force anything.
*
After returning from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, Fu Zhiqiao got busy. The batch of rouge and face powder she made last time was very popular in Fuyun Pavilion and sold out in just one day.
This good news gave Fu Zhiqiao the determination to start mass production.
Now that the decision has been made to mass-produce rouge, we can no longer continue with small-scale operations in the Prince's mansion. We need to find a new shop to build a professional production workshop. One craftsman is not enough to handle the work, so we need to find a few more helpers.
As the rouge production phase begins, the rouge shop also needs to start selecting a location. The preliminary preparations are very important, and Fu Zhi Qiao is not comfortable entrusting them to others, so she does everything herself.
The osmanthus season is just around the corner, and it's time to start preparing osmanthus wine.
She had to prepare for a new makeup line, brew osmanthus wine, and the caravan needed to buy beef and mutton in the fall so that they could be sold in restaurants before winter... All of these things required her to handle personally, and Fu Zhi Qiao was so busy that she barely had time to breathe.
Xie Zhuo was naturally ignored by her.
"You finally decided to come back." The man's tone was tinged with resentment.
Feeling a little guilty, Fu Zhiqiao quickly stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek.
Xie Zhuo didn't say anything, he just turned his face to the side.
Fu Zhiqiao understood what he meant and quickly added a bite to his other cheek.
Xie Zhuo must have just taken a bath, as the ends of his hair were still damp.
Fu Zhiqiao was a head shorter than him. From her perspective, Xie Zhuo had striking eyebrows and bright eyes, a high nose, and his whole face looked like a meticulously sculpted work of art.
That figure, that face—she's truly a femme fatale! Fu Zhi Qiao couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Seeing Fu Zhi Qiao's bright eyes, Xie Zhuo was delighted, but he didn't show it on his face and continued to put on a cold expression.
It was worth it; he immediately took a bath and changed his clothes, putting on her favorite moon-white brocade robe. He even tightened his belt a little, making his posture appear even more upright.
Fu Zhi Qiao found it amusing, so she leaned closer to him, took his hand, and whispered in his ear, "Smile, I love seeing you smile."
Her voice was soft and delicate, with a rising tone at the end, as if a feather had brushed against his heart.
The resentment that was surging just a second ago has completely vanished in the next second.
Seeing Fu Zhi Qiao completely captivated by him, Xie Zhuo tried hard to suppress the corners of his upturned lips, his gaze remaining fixed on her face, unmoved.
Something's not right! Xie Zhuo is aloof in front of others, but he's never like this in front of her. She tried to coax him twice but still couldn't get him to behave. Something's definitely not right!
Fu Zhiqiao blinked, trying to find a topic to talk about.
"Huaiyan, do you like osmanthus flowers?"
Xie Zhuo remained silent, while Fu Zhi Qiao continued, "The osmanthus flowers will bloom next month. I'd like to use them to make wine. Would you like osmanthus wine?"
Xie Zhuo ignored her words, withdrew his gaze from her face, looked directly into her eyes, and expressionlessly untied the belt of her coat.
Soon, he tore open Fu Zhi Qiao's outer garment, revealing half of her fair shoulder. Her fair skin was smooth and translucent, and Xie Zhuo couldn't help but kiss the exposed skin.
His warm breath brushed against her neck and collarbone, sending shivers down her spine.
"What are you doing? Stop it!" Fu Zhi Qiao twisted her body to try and dodge to the side.
Xie Zhuo's hands didn't stop moving. He gently sniffed, smelling the faint, refreshing plum blossom scent on Fu Zhi Qiao's body. His gaze swept over her lips, and his eyes immediately became deep.
Fu Zhiqiao pressed down on the mischievous hand and pushed the person away. "You haven't answered my question yet. Do you like osmanthus wine?"
Xie Zhuo pulled her back, not allowing her to back away.
He lowered his head, his throat bobbing, his voice slightly hoarse: "I like it, I like anything you brew!"
As he spoke, he lifted Fu Zhi Qiao into the air, held her waist and made her straddle his lap, took her hand and guided it to his waist.
Xie Zhuo's thin lips were slightly pursed, his face cold, but his increasingly unsteady breathing betrayed his true emotions.
Fu Zhi Qiao's heart stirred, and her gaze fell on Xie Zhuo's long eyelashes. Just thinking about how his eyes were filled with tears, a sight only she knew, she couldn't help but reach out and touch his face. Her warm fingertips touched his cool skin, and after stroking it around, she lifted Xie Zhuo's chin: "You're so childish!"
In the dim candlelight, Xie Zhuo's eyes appeared exceptionally deep.
"I'm naive?"
Xie Zhuo snorted coldly, then leaned in and bit her lip, pulling her into his arms and kissing her repeatedly.
"Xie Zhuo..." Fu Zhi Qiao called out to him in a muffled voice.
Xie Zhuo hugged her even tighter, whispering in her ear as if bewitched, "Ah Qiao, Ah Qiao..."
Fu Zhi Qiao felt a chill run down her spine and quickly covered his lips with her hand: "Okay, okay, stop reading."
Xie Zhuo's breathing was heavy. He kissed her fingers vaguely and then lowered his head to bite her shoulder.
"Be gentle...be gentle!"
She was so soft that she seemed to melt into a puddle of water.
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