The deer Chen Tingfeng hunted was still fresh. After some thought, Lady Bai told the cook to cut off the deer legs and roast them. She also had the remaining meat used to make soup, and paired it with the fresh wild vegetables that had just sprouted in the mountains. The meal was sumptuous and refreshing.
Since there was Xie Yan, an unmarried man, Lady Bai and Fu Zhen set up another table separated by a curtain. This way, it was neither impolite nor did it prevent them from talking.
Xie Yan was still savoring what had happened in the peach orchard. He couldn't help but peek at Fu Zhen through the curtain. The next second, Chen Tingfeng walked up to him, gently flicked his robe and sat down, steadily blocking his view.
Xie Yan's face immediately fell. "You don't need to guard against me like I'm a wolf, do you?"
"You're no different from a wolf right now," Chen Tingfeng said calmly.
Xie Yan was left speechless. The mood to reminisce was gone. "Fine, fine. You win. I won't look anymore."
A maid carefully placed the dishes on the table. Next door, Lady Bai was gently urging Fu Zhen to eat more. Looking at the immovable Chen Tingfeng in front of him, Xie Yan couldn't help but sigh.
"Auntie is so gentle. How did she give birth to a cold - faced Hades like you?" he muttered.
He had been saying this since childhood. Whenever Chen Tingfeng looked cold, he would always say this.
The steam from the food rose. Chen Tingfeng picked up a chopstick of wild vegetables. "If you don't eat, get out."
Xie Yan immediately stood up to get a bowl of soup. He wasn't arrogant and wasn't used to being served by others while eating.
The table fell silent for a moment. With the curtain in between, people's faces were blurred. Fu Zhen sipped her soup and quietly glanced in Xie Yan's direction.
She was convinced that Xie Yan wasn't completely unmoved. Being attracted by beauty was also a form of attraction, but being only fascinated by appearance wasn't enough.
Fu Zhen withdrew her gaze and lowered her eyelids.
Time flew by and youth was fleeting. If she wanted people to keep their eyes on her for a long time, she needed to plan carefully and lead him to discover that there was more to her than just beauty.
Although today's encounter was an accident, it had an unexpected effect. Xie Yan had already taken an interest in her. Maybe the road ahead would be much easier.
Of course, the premise was that no one would come to spoil things.
Xie Yan finished his soup in silence and suddenly said, "Why don't you agree?"
During his several interactions with Fu Zhen, Chen Tingfeng had always shown a strongly opposing attitude. He either reminded Xie Yan to stay away from Fu Zhen or secretly watched them closely.
If it were an ordinary family, it wouldn't be surprising for a cousin to strongly oppose someone who had designs on his cousin. But on Chen Tingfeng, it was a bit too strange.
Chen Tingfeng didn't respond immediately. The piercing look in Fu Zhen's eyes in the peach orchard and her accusing words suddenly flashed through his mind. His eyebrows twitched slightly.
He rarely reflected on himself. Had he done anything that was so heinous to her?
He couldn't remember.
Chen Tingfeng couldn't tell whether he was afraid that Xie Yan would be bewitched by Fu Zhen and do something wrong, or that Fu Zhen would fall from a great height and get hurt.
But the only thing he was sure of was that he didn't want these two people to get involved with each other.
Not at all.
He had always been a person who followed his heart and was stubborn. Once he made up his mind, he would go all the way. He wouldn't turn back until he hit a dead end.
He slowly looked up at Xie Yan. "There's no reason. I just wanted to do it, so I did."
Xie Yan knew Chen Tingfeng so well. Hearing this, he couldn't help but put his hand on his forehead and showed a bitter smile. "What if I insist on pestering her?"
"You can try," he said.
Xie Yan closed his eyes and suddenly sighed heavily. He threw down his chopsticks. "I'm full. I won't eat anymore."
She was just a beauty. He thought indifferently with lowered eyes. It wasn't worth offending his right - hand man for a beauty he only had a little affection for.
His sudden departure caught Lady Bai's attention. She said, "Shao Chuan? What's wrong with you two?"
"Nothing," he said. It was just that someone was unhappy because his good deed had been blocked. He also stood up. "Mother, enjoy your meal slowly. I'll leave first."
The room was suddenly left with only her and Fu Zhen. She wondered, "What are these two people up to? They've only taken a few bites and they're all gone."
"What a waste of this delicious meal," she couldn't help but say.
Watching them leave, Fu Zhen suddenly had a bad feeling.
*
On this day, Lady Bai got up early. She told Nanny Li to take out her cyan dress. "Hurry up. Do my makeup. Has the servant who went to check the exam results left?"
Today was the day when the exam results were released. Lady Bai got up early. At her age, wearing bright red or green would only make people laugh. This cyan dress was just right, symbolizing a smooth rise to success.
Nanny Li smiled. "I sent someone a long time ago. They're probably waiting in front of the notice board by now."
"Has Shao Chuan gotten up?"
A maid beside her immediately bowed and said, "The young master got up early and is practicing martial arts in the corner of the garden."
"What's the use of practicing martial arts at this time? Hurry up and tell him to come here!" Lady Bai rushed out of the room. "The emperor is not in a hurry, but the eunuchs are!"
"Madam, Second Miss is here," a young maid ran in and happened to meet Lady Bai who was in a hurry.
Lady Bai was overjoyed. "Quickly invite her to the room and have a seat."
Then she turned around and walked towards the main hall.
Fu Zhen had just arrived when Lady Bai came. Fu Zhen quickly turned around to greet her. "Greetings, auntie."
"Good child, get up quickly," Lady Bai supported her and led her to a chair. "It's so hard for you, a young girl, to get up early and come here."
Fu Zhen had long known that today was the day when the exam results were released. She always did things comprehensively and naturally wouldn't give others a chance to gossip at this time. She smiled. "Today is cousin's big day. I can't be absent!"
It was as if she was saying that Chen Tingfeng would surely achieve good results. Lady Bai couldn't stop smiling. "You're so sweet - tongued!"
While they were chatting, Chen Tingfeng came in from the door. He might have just taken a shower and his hair ends were still a bit damp. He bowed and said, "Mother."
Lady Bai lifted her chin and told him to sit down. "Sit down quickly."
As soon as he came, Fu Zhen lowered her eyes, looking straight ahead, not looking at him at all.
Chen Tingfeng glanced at her several times but got no response. He also coldly looked away.
The atmosphere in the room was a bit silent. These two people had their own thoughts, while only Lady Bai was truly anxious about Chen Tingfeng's yet - to - be - announced results.
As the sun rose bit by bit, she became more and more restless. Chen Tingfeng comforted her. "Mother, don't worry."
Lady Bai gave him a sideways look. "You're calm, but I don't have your self - control."
Although she never asked her children to achieve great things, this was the result of Chen Tingfeng's hard work day and night. Even if Chen Tingfeng didn't care, she couldn't help but worry.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. A teenage boy in a servant's clothes ran in a hurry. He bypassed the maids around him and shouted loudly, "Madam! The results are out! The results are out!"
Lady Bai's eyes lit up. She immediately stood up and walked outside. "Quick, let him in. What's the young master's ranking?"
The servant was out of breath from running, but his eyes were bright. "It's, it's..."
Lady Bai was so anxious that she stamped her feet. "What is it? Just say it!"
"He's the top scorer!"
"The young master has become the provincial champion!"