"You're not bad either," Chen Tingfeng glanced at him. "I thought you were going to break with me today."
Although he wasn't really stealing someone's love interest, when you thought about it carefully, this matter was indeed a bit unethical.
Xie Yan was a prince, and the royal family was most averse to being deceived and fooled.
Xie Yan turned his head to look at him, reached out and punched him gently on the chest, then snorted with a laugh. "You should be glad I'm not as petty as Xie Guang."
On countless sleepless nights filled with longing, he had gradually understood what Chen Tingfeng had said before. He and Fu Zhen... were never a good match from the very beginning.
It was an impossible thing, yet he had forced it to the last step. He should be satisfied.
He sighed, and the pent - up feeling in his chest gradually dissipated. He was finally able to let go. "Actually, Zhenzhen didn't like me that much, either. At least during our time together, she never looked at me with the same look as she did at you today."
In fact, he had always vaguely sensed that Fu Zhen had always held back with him. Even though she had a good impression of him and trusted him, she still kept her own secrets close to her heart, like a hedgehog raising its spines.
She was afraid of getting hurt.
But today, when he saw the familiar and intimate interactions between Fu Zhen and Chen Tingfeng, he was a bit dazed and finally understood that there seemed to be no barriers between them.
Or rather, there might have been some before, but now there were none.
To be able to make Fu Zhen let down her high guard and truly accept someone, Xie Yan had to admit that he was a bit in awe of Chen Tingfeng.
"You've won another round," Xie Yan said softly. "It seems I've never won against you since we were kids."
Chen Tingfeng gave him a sidelong glance. "This doesn't count. Fu Zhen has never been an object for you and me to fight over. It can only be said that... I'm indeed more suitable for her."
Xie Yan twitched the corner of his eye and almost instantly detected the barely - hidden show - off in his words.
"Alright, alright," Xie Yan pretended to be impatient. "Go back and accompany her. I'm going back to the palace, too. Out of sight, out of mind."
Chen Tingfeng let out a soft laugh and also punched him on the chest.
Just as they were about to pass each other, Xie Yan paused slightly. "Be good to her."
It was like drawing a full stop for his unrequited love.
Even though there was no chance for him and Fu Zhen anymore, he still hoped that she would be happy.
"Don't worry," Chen Tingfeng said.
He would never go back on his word.
The moment he stepped out from behind the rockery, the sunlight fell on Xie Yan's hair. He turned back and took one last look at the figure in the pavilion, then lowered his eyes and smiled faintly before walking forward slowly.
"The weather is really nice today," he said.
Soon, it was the day of the Second Princess's wedding.
A grand banquet would be held in the palace for the princess's wedding. However, the emperor and the empress were both ill at the moment, and the empress wasn't really in the mood to take care of Xie Lingqiao's wedding. After much pushing and shoving, this matter was finally handed over to the Eldest Princess.
In the harem.
Concubine De frowned. "If the empress can't handle it, there are still other concubines in the harem. Why does it fall on the Eldest Princess? Could it be..."
Concubine Rou on the opposite side took a sip of tea casually. "This is a thankless task. If the Eldest Princess doesn't take it, it will fall on our heads. Do you want to do it?"
Concubine De rubbed her nose awkwardly. "Well, you're right."
They didn't like Xie Lingqiao very much, especially Concubine Rou.
She still remembered how Xie Lingqiao had looked down on Xie Yan before. Even though Xie Yan didn't care, as his mother, she couldn't be completely at ease.
It was good that this task had been given to the Eldest Princess.
"The Eldest Princess is still as shrewd as ever," Concubine De looked at the budding flowers in the imperial garden. "She's been away from the palace for so many years, but now that she's back, she can still order these servants around. I'm really impressed."
Concubine Rou curled her lips and smiled. "Which woman who has left the harem isn't outstanding? Moreover, the Eldest Princess was extremely smart before."
"You say she's smart, which reminds me of an old incident," Concubine De said softly. "Everyone said that Xie Guang had saved the Eldest Princess's life back then, but the more I think about it now, the more something seems off."
- How could such a smart person like the Eldest Princess end up being punished to kneel in the snow by her nominal mother - concubine until she fainted?
Concubine De didn't believe it even if she was told that the Eldest Princess was still young at that time.
People didn't become smart overnight. The Eldest Princess's skills and shrewdness couldn't have been learned in a short time.
Concubine Rou put down her teacup. "Who knows?"
She evaded the question.
Seeing this, Concubine De also shut her mouth.
Walls had ears. Now that the Eldest Princess was in favor, if any rumor reached her ears, they might not get into any good trouble.
Xie Lingyun held a lively banquet. She invited many court officials and promising young men from good families. The old emperor was old and in poor health, and he liked such a festive occasion.
He had a smile on his face all night.
It wasn't until midnight that the music in the palace gradually died down.
Fu Zhen was sitting in the study of Baiqu Courtyard waiting for Chen Tingfeng to come back, flipping through the book in her hand absent - mindedly.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion at the courtyard gate and knew that Chen Tingfeng was back. She immediately put down the book and stood up. As soon as she opened the door, she met Chen Tingfeng's star - like eyes.
It was inevitable to drink at the dinner. At this moment, there was a faint smell of alcohol on him, and even his cheeks were slightly red. He looked like an iceberg that had melted a little.
His eyes locked on her, and he didn't say a word, just stared at her intently.
Fu Zhen couldn't help laughing and reached out to hold his face. "Are you drunk?"
"Um," Chen Tingfeng said. "No."
She had never seen him drunk before, so Fu Zhen found it quite novel.
She widened her eyes slightly and teased him. "Not drunk? Then who am I?"
"Fu Zhen," he replied immediately. "Cousin."
Fu Zhen put down her hand. Seeing that his eyes were clear, she felt a bit disappointed. "You're not drunk."
She turned around and pulled his hand into the study. Yuanbao was very observant and closed the door. The room instantly fell into silence.
Fu Zhen pulled him to sit down and turned around to wring out a wet handkerchief to wipe his face. However, before she could take a single step, Chen Tingfeng suddenly hugged her waist. In a blur, she found herself sitting on his lap.
His eyes seemed to be a bit hazy, not as cold as usual.
He rested his head on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Baby."
"You're my baby."
The baby of only Chen Tingfeng.
Fu Zhen's face turned red instantly. "You, you..."
After stammering for a long time, she scolded him half - heartedly. "Rash!"
Chen Tingfeng let out a soft laugh, rested his head on her shoulder and smelled the fragrance of her hair, then slowly closed his eyes.
How could the little bit of wine at the banquet get him drunk? It was just that after drinking and seeing his sweetheart waiting for him in the room, his whole body felt weak, and his heart was full, like a ripe fruit about to burst with juice.
The sight of all the red at the banquet was still vivid in his mind. As he looked, he thought of him and Fu Zhen.
He thought that he must give her a grand wedding in the future.
A wedding with a ten - mile long red bridal procession and filled with guests.
He would treat her well for the rest of her life.