"...... That harsh?" Fu Zhen looked at him, her eyes veiled in an indecipherable light. "A man with greater power? Who do you mean? Xie Yan?"
Among the powerful officials, if there was anyone more powerful than Chen Tingfeng, it could only be the one on the throne.
The arm around her tightened as if he were suppressing something, but he nodded in admission. "Yes."
"But you and Xie Yan are close friends," Fu Zhen lowered her eyes. "Would he really kill you for my sake?"
"I am both his close friend and his subject," he said in a low voice.
As a subject, suspicion was inevitable. And once suspicion took root, would there be any shortage of opportunities to strike?
She was no fool. Moreover, it was he who had intervened when she broke off her relationship with Xie Yan. Xie Yan still felt guilty towards her. If that day ever came and she went to seek refuge with Xie Yan, a combination of guilt and genuine affection would be enough for her to gain a foothold by his side.
Chen Tingfeng closed his eyes tightly, trying to suppress the surging dark thoughts in his chest.
This was the way out he had left for Fu Zhen.
He knew Fu Zhen's personality, as well as her inner doubts and insecurities. Although he hated it, he still told her this way out clearly.
Only with this way out could she finally feel at ease.
And when she was at ease, at this moment, he would be happy too.
Sharing in her sorrows and joys.
Love was truly torturous.
Fu Zhen was silent for a long while. "You..."
Chen Tingfeng stroked her face and slowly showed her a smile. "Now, can you trust me?"
With things said to this extent, what else could Fu Zhen do?
She buried her face in his chest, suddenly feeling a bit teary.
Such a sincere affection was like he had cut out his heart and shown it to her. Clearly so reluctant, yet still willing to make concession after concession for her.
By now, she finally realized that in this lifetime, Chen Tingfeng truly loved her.
Everything had changed.
"Don't change," she said in a muffled voice. "Love me like this for a lifetime."
No one had ever given so much for her. If time could stand still, she even hoped it would stop at this moment forever.
At the moment when love was at its strongest.
"Okay," he said. "I love you."
Outside, the fireworks finally reached their last moment. After a loud explosion, the world fell silent.
She gradually fell asleep in his arms, like a wanderer who had drifted for half a lifetime finally finding a place of peace.
Chen Tingfeng patted her back gently again and again, staring at her with his eyes open until dawn.
They didn't tell the outside world about their relationship, but it was impossible to hide it in the mansion.
After all, on New Year's Eve, the two of them had hugged each other openly in front of everyone at the entrance of Zhuqing Courtyard.
Fortunately, the mansion was full of Chen Tingfeng's informants. After ordering them to keep their mouths shut, no matter how curious the servants were, they could only keep their lips tightly sealed.
There were no elders or children in the Marquis Mansion. And since Chen Xuan was not a rigid and etiquette - bound person, on the first day of the New Year, the people in the main courtyard slept until late in the morning.
When the news reached their ears, Chen Xuan was still drowsy. "What do you mean they hugged each other?"
Lady Bai took a cold wet towel and slapped it on his face. "It was your stupid son who went crazy on New Year's Eve and wouldn't let go of Zhenzhen! Now the news has almost spread all over the mansion. We're the last ones to know."
Chen Xuan shivered from the cold. Hearing such explosive news, all his drowsiness instantly vanished. He couldn't believe it. "He hugged Zhenzhen? At night?"
He immediately flew into a rage. "You good - for - nothing!"
Saying that, he got up and was about to go and settle the score with Chen Tingfeng. Lady Bai had a splitting headache. She stopped him and said irritably, "They've already hugged, and the news has spread. What's the use of settling the score later? Instead, think about whether your son forced her or she also agreed."
Chen Xuan fell silent. Remembering the news from the ancestral hall before, he said quietly, "That stupid son of mine is quite capable. Zhenzhen is simple - minded. She must have been deceived by him."
"No way," Chen Xuan paced back and forth in the room for a while. He still felt itchy to teach his son a lesson. "On the first day of the New Year, it'll be a relief to beat my son up." "I'm going to find him!"
Before he could walk out of the door, Nanny Li walked in. She pursed her lips and said, "Greetings to the master and mistress. The heir has come to pay his respects."
Chen Xuan glared. "Just in time!"
Saying that, he was about to walk towards the main hall. Lady Bai shouted coldly from behind. "Come back!"
Chen Xuan immediately stopped in his tracks. Lady Bai looked at him coldly. "You haven't even washed your face and you want to go out. You're such a mess. Don't come to my bed tonight."
Before Chen Xuan could react, Lady Bai quickly walked out of the door.
It would be a laughingstock if people found out that he beat his son on the first day of the New Year.
Moreover, as she walked, she frowned and thought. Judging from Zhenzhen's performance when she met her last time, it didn't seem like she had no feelings for that good - for - nothing Chen Tingfeng.
She really had to ask that stupid son of hers to clarify things.
Chen Tingfeng was sitting on a chair sipping tea. After he had coaxed Fu Zhen to sleep last night, he left the room. After all, almost all the servants in Zhuqing Courtyard had seen him enter the room. If he didn't come out, it would really affect Fu Zhen's reputation.
However, even after he returned to Baiqu Courtyard, he didn't sleep all night.
After all the hardships to solve his biggest worry, his heart was still pounding. The image of Fu Zhen's sleepy eyes kept appearing in his mind. No matter how calm he usually was, he just couldn't fall asleep at this moment.
Fortunately, he was no stranger to staying up late. One night without sleep wouldn't do him any harm.
It was just that he couldn't avoid giving his parents an explanation about his relationship with Fu Zhen.
When Lady Bai walked in, she saw him looking calm, but couldn't hide a hint of joy. She couldn't help but snort in her heart. "Tell me, what's going on?"
Chen Tingfeng smiled faintly. "It's just as you guessed, Mother."
Lady Bai stared at him for a long while. "Zhenzhen actually agreed?"
"Of course," when it came to this, Chen Tingfeng couldn't help but show a proud smile. "She has feelings for me."
Lady Bai saw him smiling so foolishly for the first time. She was a bit disdainful. Then she thought of something else and asked, "Since that's the case, should the two of you set the engagement first?"
Chen Tingfeng raised his eyebrows. "I thought Mother would try to stop us."
"Would my opposition be useful?" Lady Bai glanced at him. "I'm afraid that as soon as I say no, the next moment you'll go crazy."
A mother knows her son best. In other matters, Chen Tingfeng could always remain calm and self - controlled. But when it came to Fu Zhen, he could never be calm to the end.
"Since Mother has agreed, could you answer a question of mine?" He put down the teacup and suddenly said.
Lady Bai looked at him and more or less guessed what he was going to ask. She couldn't help but sigh. "Are you asking about Zhenzhen's background?"
Chen Tingfeng's eyes were deep. He nodded. "Yes."
When he had staged the act of feigning injury before, he had investigated Chen Peizhu's life thoroughly. But as he delved deeper, he always felt that something was off.
Was the man Chen Peizhu eloped with really Fu Mingde?