"Miss," Bi Yu stepped forward worriedly and supported Fu Zhen.
The sudden change in Lady Fang's attitude was so obvious that even Bi Yu could sense the condescension in it, let alone Fu Zhen who had faced it directly.
Fu Zhen replied with a faint smile, "It's okay."
Lady Fang was not the only one who looked down on her. If she got angry at everyone like this, she would have been infuriated long ago.
Although Bi Yu kept silent, she felt indignant towards Lady Fang in her heart.
The decline of the Fang family was closely related to its current power - holders, especially Lady Fang.
Her two sons were both disappointing. The elder one was weak and incompetent, while the younger one was a dissolute playboy. Neither of them was well - educated. Only the bastard son seemed to have some ambition, but under the strict control of Lady Fang, he was reduced to an ordinary person.
Such a useless family, claiming to be noble while actually being rotten to the core, where did Lady Fang get the nerve to look down on the niece of the Marquis Mansion?
Before getting into the carriage, Bi Yu glanced back at Lady Fang's luxurious carriage moving away in the distance. A hint of solemnity flashed across her eyes.
*
Inside a house in Baiyin Alley.
Chen Huanyun was lying in Fang Junhua's arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and asked coquettishly, "Can't you marry me this month?"
Fang Junhua hooked her chin and teased, "Are you really that eager to enter my family?"
"Isn't it because I like you?" Chen Huanyun gave him a sidelong glance with her amorous eyes, which made Fang Junhua couldn't help but lean in and kiss her.
"Don't be so impatient. It will take at least half a month to prepare the betrothal gifts. Just wait patiently." He kissed her passionately, looking like a lecherous man in a hurry.
But Chen Huanyun pushed him away and snorted, "Don't tell me you're not going to marry me?"
"How could that be?" Fang Junhua kissed her cheek reluctantly. "I'm so infatuated with you that I can't bear to leave you."
She was softened by his words and lay back in his arms. She rubbed his hand gently against her fair and tender face. "Then you have to hurry. You know I'm living a life of dependence in the Marquis Mansion. How could you bear to see me suffer there?"
Fang Junhua tightly clasped her waist, pinched her chin and kissed her while coaxing, "My dear sister, brother is here to give you sweetness."
The room was filled with a lascivious atmosphere.
Outside the house, a servant yawned while leaning against the corridor. He looked lazily at Qing'er, who was looking nervous, and said, "Miss Qing'er, why are you so panicked? We've come here several times and no one has ever found out. Why don't you come and rest with me?"
Qing'er gave him a cold look, took a few steps aside and remained silent.
The servant felt embarrassed and murmured, "I don't know what she's being so high - and - mighty about..."
A look of embarrassment flashed across Qing'er's face. She glanced at the house but quickly averted her eyes as if her eyes had been stung.
She understood the implication in the servant's words. If the mistress was not reserved, how could she, a maid, be so high - and - mighty? It was just a false pretense.
She felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown onto the street, with people pointing and gossiping about her everywhere. She couldn't help covering her face and crying.
No matter how capable she was, she was only twenty years old. Her mistress had done something absurd, and all her exhortations were in vain. She could only watch her mistress sink deeper and deeper into the mire.
An hour later, Chen Huanyun opened the door. Her eyes and eyebrows were full of amorous feelings.
Fang Junhua was tying his belt inside the room. Seeing that she was about to leave, he pulled her back and kissed her. Chen Huanyun put her hand on his forehead and pushed him away, saying coquettishly, "I have to go back. You must remember to come and marry me next month."
"Okay, I'll remember. Just stay in the Marquis Mansion obediently for now." His enthusiasm seemed to be dampened a bit by her words. He patted her waist and told her to put on her veil hat before going out.
Qing'er showed no emotion on her face, but she was feeling gloomy inside. "Miss, it's getting late. Let's go back quickly."
The Marquis Mansion didn't keep a strict eye on Chen Huanyun, and Lady Bai rarely inquired about her. They had come out under the pretext of buying jewelry and rouge these times. If they stayed out for too long, they might arouse suspicion.
Chen Huanyun knew she couldn't delay any longer, so she didn't say much. She put on her veil hat and walked out.
After they left, Fang Junhua stretched lazily.
The servant came up obsequiously and said, "Master, you're so powerful. I saw that the lady could hardly walk properly."
Fang Junhua grinned. His originally handsome face showed a hint of frivolity. "Nonsense. Don't you know who your master is?"
The servant quickly flattered him with a smile and then asked, "Master, where shall we go next? The Red Chamber or the Jewelry Pavilion?"
"Not going anywhere," Fang Junhua waved his hand. "Mother went to the Buddhist temple today. I think it's about time for her to come back. If she sees I'm not at home, she'll scold me again."
The servant also remembered Lady Fang's angry look and shuddered. "Going home is a good idea, Master. I'll help you go home right away!"
Fang Junhua patted the servant's head and sneered, "Coward!"
Chen Huanyun's carriage drove all the way to the Marquis Mansion. She had left through the back door and planned to come back quietly the same way so as not to attract too much attention. It had been smooth the previous times, but today she unexpectedly saw another carriage.
Qing'er had sharp eyes and immediately recognized Bi Yu, who was reaching out to help someone out of the carriage in front. She leaned close to the window and whispered to Chen Huanyun, "Miss, it's Miss Fu."
Chen Huanyun stopped her movement of getting off the carriage and frowned. "Why is it so coincidental that I meet her?"
Fu Zhen got off the carriage and looked back to see Qing'er standing beside the carriage, looking a bit nervous.
She smiled and walked over, saying in surprise, "What a coincidence. I just happen to meet you, sister."
Chen Huanyun suddenly lifted the curtain and looked down at Fu Zhen haughtily. "Sister seems to be in a good mood today. Did you encounter something good?"
As she said this, she got off the carriage with Qing'er's support.
Qing'er was worried about something. After Chen Huanyun got off the carriage, her eyes involuntarily observed Chen Huanyun's clothes, afraid that Fu Zhen would notice something.
"Nothing special. I just felt that things had been going badly recently, so I went to the temple to get my fortune told. The young novice said that my luck would turn for the better and everything would go smoothly, so I'm a bit happy. I didn't expect you to notice. I'm a bit embarrassed," Fu Zhen said with a gentle smile. After finishing her words, she took a few steps forward and reached out her hand to touch Chen Huanyun's belt, but Chen Huanyun dodged it as if she was facing a fierce beast.
Fu Zhen was surprised. "What's wrong, sister? Don't misunderstand. I just saw that your belt was a bit crooked and wanted to help you adjust it."
Chen Huanyun looked vigilant, but the next second she realized that she had overreacted. She said unnaturally, "Maybe I accidentally knocked it crooked in the carriage. There's no need to trouble you, sister."
Saying this, she quickly pulled at her belt. "I'm a bit tired today. I can't talk to you much. Next time we meet, I'll have a good chat with you, sister."
After saying that, she quickly entered the mansion with Qing'er's support.
Fu Zhen stared at her back and slowly narrowed her eyes.