When Fu Zhen was young, she used to gaze at the dilapidated house and fantasize that one day she might find an ideal husband. The two of them would be deeply in love, support each other, and spend the rest of their lives together.
However, later on, she no longer thought like that.
What's the use of love? Could it fill her stomach?
How many troubles had poverty brought to her in the first half of her life? Did she still have to live such a life in the second half?
No.
She refused!
Thinking like this, her look at Xie Yan gradually turned profound.
Everything in her life was developing for the better, and the man in front of her was her ladder to success.
She must seize him tightly!
After the fireworks display ended, the common people below began to surge towards home.
Xie Yan looked at the sky and thought it was about time. Then he smiled and said, "It's getting late. Come on, cousin. I'll take you home."
Fu Zhen blinked. Take her home? Did they still have something to do later?
Chen Tingfeng had been looking gloomy because of what had happened just now. If it were midnight and there was a bit of dim light on his face, he would look exactly like the King of Hades in the legend who could stop children from crying at night.
Hearing Xie Yan's words, he finally turned his gaze to Fu Zhen and said in a deep voice, "Let's go."
After saying that, he walked ahead on his own.
Fu Zhen keenly sensed the change in his mood and couldn't help frowning slightly.
Could one get angry just from watching fireworks?
Xie Yan had already noticed that the relationship between Chen Tingfeng and Fu Zhen might not be as harmonious as he had thought. He lowered his eyes and looked at Fu Zhen, who only reached his shoulder. He wondered in his heart if she had done something.
Perhaps he had been looking for too long. Fu Zhen was a bit confused and asked, "Brother Xie, what's wrong?"
She still looked as gentle and delicate as when they first met. Xie Yan couldn't see anything unusual. He smiled and said, "It's nothing. Let's go."
While Xie Yan and Chen Tingfeng were enjoying themselves outside, they didn't know that the palace was in chaos at this moment.
Concubine Li had fallen into the water and was in a coma. Moreover, no one knew that she was pregnant. In the cold winter, she had a miscarriage.
The emperor was furious. "Investigate! All of you go and investigate! I'd like to see who has the audacity to make a move during the palace banquet!"
With such an incident, the banquet naturally couldn't continue.
Chen Xuan frowned tightly and looked in the direction where the emperor had left. Tong Youwei beside him quickly grabbed him, afraid that his hot - tempered friend would rush in front of the angry emperor without thinking. "Let's go. We can't talk about things tonight. With Concubine Li's incident, how could His Majesty still have the mood to discuss court affairs?"
All the ministers knew that Concubine Li was favored by the emperor. A few days ago, anyone who was willing to investigate could easily find out that she was the one behind the incident of Concubine Rou. Even so, His Majesty didn't scold Concubine Li much. He just confined her for a few days.
"His Majesty is becoming more and more muddle - headed," Chen Xuan sighed deeply and left the palace with the crowd.
Xie Yan was sitting in Chen Tingfeng's study, drinking tea. A figure suddenly appeared in front of him. The person knelt on one knee and reported.
After listening, Xie Yan raised his eyebrows. "A miscarriage?"
Then he sneered. "It's an unexpected pleasure."
Chen Tingfeng was practicing calligraphy beside him, unmoved. After finishing the last stroke, he picked up a cup of tea and took a sip.
"Remember to withdraw your men cleanly," he said.
"Don't worry," Xie Yan leaned back on the chair and casually played with the folding fan in his hand. "No matter who comes to investigate tonight's incident, they won't be able to find anything on me."
Because this incident wasn't done by Xie Yan's men.
Chen Tingfeng didn't ask any more questions. He just sat on the rosewood chair, lowering his eyes and quietly drinking tea.
He was really gloomy tonight.
Xie Yan waved his hand to let the man leave. Then he turned his head and sized him up. "What's wrong with you tonight? Didn't the fireworks meet your expectations?"
Not only didn't they meet his expectations, but they also made him extremely angry.
"Stay away from her," Chen Tingfeng said suddenly after a long silence.
"Her? Who?" Xie Yan was confused for a moment. Then he thought of a graceful figure and suddenly let out a strange cry. "I have a clean relationship with her. Don't talk nonsense! It's not good to ruin a girl's reputation!"
Chen Tingfeng just felt an itch in his hands. He really wanted to fight with him.
He frowned impatiently. "Anyway, stay away from her."
His reaction was a bit abnormal. Xie Yan wondered, "Is there something wrong with her?"
He was close to Fu Zhen only because of Chen Tingfeng. If there was really something wrong with Fu Zhen, he would naturally stay away from her without Chen Tingfeng's reminder.
It was precisely because he couldn't see anything wrong that it was so difficult for him.
Chen Tingfeng gently supported his forehead. He always felt that Fu Zhen was hiding a lot of secrets, but he couldn't find out anything when he tried to investigate.
Moreover... Thinking of his absent - mindedness tonight, his face turned ugly again.
What a little white rabbit. She should be a fox.
"Forget it. Just treat my words as nonsense," Chen Tingfeng said. "The palace is in a complete mess. Your mother just had a conflict with Concubine Li. You'd better go back and keep an eye on things earlier."
Judging from the way the old emperor doted on Concubine Li, it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't lose his head and directly think that Concubine Rou was trying to take revenge.
Xie Yan obviously also thought of this. His face darkened. "If he is really that muddle - headed, then don't blame me..."
He didn't finish his sentence and stopped under Chen Tingfeng's cold gaze.
He stood up, stretched, and resumed his lazy appearance. He opened his folding fan and waved it. "Forget it. I'm leaving. I'll come to find you in a few days."
Everyone among the nobles in the capital knew that Xie Yan was half a playboy. He sometimes acted foolishly and often played with Chen Tingfeng. So when they saw him coming out of the Marquis Mansion, they were not surprised.
Fu Zhen happened to come out of the main courtyard and ran into him head - on. With a smile on her face, she saluted and said, "Brother Xie, I was just about to look for you."
Xie Yan raised his eyebrows. "Look for me? I wonder what you want from me, cousin?"
Fu Zhen stepped aside, took an indigo sachet embroidered with a white crane pattern from the maid's hand, and held it out with both hands. "This is a sachet I embroidered. Thank you, Brother Xie, for taking me to watch the fireworks tonight. I don't have much to offer. This embroidery skill is the only thing I'm good at. I hope Brother Xie won't dislike it."
Xie Yan took the sachet, examined it for a while, and pinched it. He found it was bulging, as if some spices had been put inside. It smelled extremely fresh.
"I've put some mint leaves and borneol inside. Brother Xie may get tired while reading. Smelling this sachet can relieve your fatigue," she said.
"Thank you, cousin," Xie Yan looked into her eyes and smiled. His peach - blossom eyes showed a bit of tenderness under the dim yellow lamp and were extremely charming.
A blush spread across Fu Zhen's earlobes. She didn't dare to meet his gaze and lowered her head shyly. "I'm glad Brother Xie likes it. Zhen Zhen wishes Brother Xie a safe and smooth year next year and success in the imperial examination."
She knew that Chen Tingfeng was going to take the metropolitan examination next year. Since Xie Yan was Chen Tingfeng's classmate, she thought he was also going to take the exam.
After hearing Chen Tingfeng's words in the study, Xie Yan couldn't help but be a bit wary of Fu Zhen. However, Fu Zhen's words were so nice and she was so likable that his expression involuntarily softened.
"I like the gift very much. I also wish cousin a peaceful and happy new year and all her wishes come true."