"You believe whatever I say? Since when have you been so obedient?" Xie Yan sat on his horse, tugging at the reins and turning a few circles.
"I wouldn't dare not listen to Your Highness the Second Prince's words," Chen Tingfeng retorted coolly, dusting off his sleeves.
Xie Yan got angry at his sarcastic tone. In his fury, he lashed the whip, and the horse galloped away like an arrow. "I'm wasting my breath on you!"
Chen Tingfeng watched his back for a while, then let out a laugh. He bowed to Lady Bai, led a horse over, and spurred it forward with a flick of the whip.
It didn't look like they were arguing; rather, it seemed like Xie Yan was just throwing a tantrum and didn't know how to back down.
Fu Zhen watched the street where they disappeared, thinking to herself.
Although spring had arrived, it was still cold. Cui Huan wrapped a cloak around Fu Zhen. "Miss, let's go back."
Fu Zhen nodded and turned back to the mansion.
The time she could spend with Xie Yan was limited, but she thought she had left a good impression on him during their previous meetings.
She looked up at the deep blue sky and slowly exhaled.
There's no rush.
Outside the city, a man in a black robe with his face covered by a hood led his horse and waited at the long pavilion.
After a while, a carriage rolled out of the city. A servant in livery handed him a letter and bowed. "My master said he can only help you this far. You'll have to make your own way from now on. Walk it well."
The man's hand paused as he reached for the letter. His eyes under the hood were dark. After a long silence, he finally took the letter and said hoarsely, "I don't need your reminder. You'd better think about how to kill that old bastard as soon as possible."
With that, he ignored the servant's wide - eyed shock, mounted his horse, and disappeared into the rolling green mountains in a few breaths.
The servant scratched his head, trying hard to forget the blasphemous words, then turned around and drove the carriage away.
Inside the carriage, a man was rolling two walnuts in his hand. The walnuts were smooth and shiny, clearly well - cared - for by their owner.
A gentle breeze blew, making the curtain of the carriage flutter. After a few breaths, it fell still again.
Spring had come, and the weather was getting warmer day by day. But these days, it had been raining non - stop, as if winter had returned. People didn't want to take off their warm, heavy cotton - padded clothes.
The Spring Imperial Examinations began on this rainy day.
The academy gave the students a three - day break in advance so they could rest well and prepare for the exams.
Chen Tingfeng still looked confident, as if everything was under his control.
Lady Bai was having someone prepare the things he needed for the exams. She packed two parcels. "Don't think it's a hassle. It's wet and cold outside these days. You'll have to stay in the examination hall for three days before you can come out. If you don't bring enough things, you'll suffer."
Chen Tingfeng didn't argue. He rarely disobeyed his elders. He just nodded. "Don't worry, Mother."
When Fu Zhen came, the servants were bringing in writing brushes, ink, and oiled paper. The oiled paper was for sheltering from the wind and rain. The cubicles in the examination hall had no doors. If it rained or blew, the rain might get in and wet the exam papers, so the oiled paper was essential.
She bowed to them. "Greetings, Aunt. Greetings, Cousin."
"Zhenzhen, you came just in time. Come and help me choose. Which ink is better?" Lady Bai looked up quickly.
Fu Zhen had been reading and writing these days and had learned something about writing tools. The ink bought by the marquis's mansion was of high quality.
She stepped forward, picked up a stick of ink, and said, "This one looks good. The smell is just right. It's perfect for the exam."
"Then this one," Lady Bai decided with a clap of her hands.
Chen Tingfeng sat silently on one side, sipping his tea.
Fu Zhen turned her gaze to Chen Tingfeng, wearing an impeccable smile. "Cousin, your exam is approaching. I don't have much to give you. I've just sewn two knee pads by hand. It's been raining for days, and the cold wind is biting. You'll have to take the exam for three consecutive days. With these knee pads, you can keep warm and won't suffer too much."
Hearing this, Lady Bai immediately replied on Chen Tingfeng's behalf. "Our Zhenzhen is so thoughtful. I was only thinking about packing thick clothes for him. I forgot about this."
Then she looked at Chen Tingfeng, threatening him with her eyes. "Shao Chuan, hurry up and thank your cousin."
Chen Tingfeng stared at Fu Zhen's smiling face for a few seconds, then stood up. "Thank you for your kindness, Cousin."
"Cousin, you don't need to be so polite," she said.
She made these knee pads when she was bored. It was just a coincidence that his exam was coming up, so he was the lucky one.
But she didn't give them for free. She had chosen the right timing. This way, she could show her concern for her relatives in front of Lady Bai and also annoy Chen Tingfeng. It was a win - win situation.
Chen Tingfeng took the knee pads, stared at the embroidered pattern for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze to Fu Zhen's fair and smiling face.
Fu Zhen's smile became even brighter. "What's wrong, Cousin? Don't you like the pattern?"
Chen Tingfeng hated chrysanthemums the most, but she had embroidered two golden, blooming chrysanthemums on them.
His eyes gradually darkened. He gently stroked the pattern on the knee pads and slowly curled his lips into a smile. "Thank you, Cousin. I like them very much."
He emphasized the word "like" as if he were chewing and swallowing it.
How dare she provoke him?
Good for her.
"I just remembered that Ruogu will also take the exam," Chen Tingfeng sat back down, picked up his tea, and said casually, successfully seeing the smile on Fu Zhen's face freeze.
Xie Yan was also taking the exam? Could a prince take the imperial examinations?
All the words she said when she gave Xie Yan the sachet during the New Year were made up. She pretended not to know his identity so she could sincerely wish him success in the exams.
No.
Fu Zhen reacted the next second. She pursed her lips as if in regret. "It's my fault for only thinking about Cousin. I forgot about Brother Xie. It's easy to make knee pads. Three days will be enough for me. Thank you for reminding me, Cousin."
"However, Brother Xie... Does a prince need to take the imperial examinations?" she asked Chen Tingfeng innocently.
Chen Tingfeng was testing her!
Xie Yan, as a prince, didn't need to take the exam. Chen Tingfeng knew this better than anyone. So what he said just now must be a test to see if she knew Xie Yan's identity as a prince.
But... Fu Zhen remembered what Chen Tingfeng said that day when they went to the academy, "Your Highness the Second Prince," and Xie Yan's blurted - out words, "This prince." It was so obvious. If she still couldn't figure it out, it would be even more suspicious.
Sure enough, Chen Tingfeng raised his eyebrows meaningfully. "Oh, right. He's a prince. He doesn't need to take the exam. I must have remembered wrong."
"Cousin is really smart," he said.
No wonder Xie Yan was so angry that day. Anyone would be angry listening to his tone. Only a saint could keep calm!
Fu Zhen gritted her teeth secretly, but on the surface, she looked a bit shy and said softly, "Cousin and Brother Xie never tried to hide it from me. If they really wanted to, I wouldn't have guessed it no matter what."
"Since you know his identity, you should also know that some people are not for you to covet," Chen Tingfeng's smile faded, and he said calmly.
Not for me to covet?
Fu Zhen looked up and met his eyes directly, thinking to herself.
In my previous life, I even managed to get you. What am I afraid of coveting?