By this point, Xie Guang knew full well that this scheme had failed.
Filled with hatred, he downed a cup of wine in one gulp. Then he cast a glance at the Queen before storming out of the banquet.
As the Hundred - Flower Banquet drew to a close, no one knew whom the Queen and Concubine Rou had set their eyes on. They assumed that the two had made their decision privately. Although everyone felt a bit discontented, the banquet finally ended.
Xie Yan finally had the time to figure out what had happened.
He exchanged a look with Concubine Rou, then led Chen Tingfeng and Fu Zhen to his palace.
The maids served them tea. They took a sip to sober up a bit before recounting the whole incident from start to finish.
However, Chen Tingfeng omitted the parts that shouldn't be mentioned. Generally, it was just as Xie Yan had guessed.
Xie Yan rubbed his temples. "Xie Guang is on the verge of desperation. He's been making constant moves recently. I'm afraid chaos is about to break out soon."
Although he knew that the Queen and Xie Guang would surely cause trouble at the Hundred - Flower Banquet, he thought they would target him. He never expected that today's scheme was actually aimed at Chen Tingfeng, and even involved Fu Zhen, trying to ruin the reputation of the Marquis of Wuan's Mansion.
The Marquis of Wuan's Mansion was his greatest ally in ascending to power. He should have realized earlier that the Queen, just like the Emperor, liked to strike at people's weak points.
It was like hitting a snake at its seven - inch point.
If they were allies instead of enemies, such a ruthless tactic might even be praised as decisive.
Fu Zhen had remained silent all this time.
According to the development in her past life, Xie Yan had finally ascended to power, while the other two princes had died during the fight for the throne.
He had held his position firmly.
So Fu Zhen wasn't worried that something would go wrong in the final battle. And today, the root cause of her death in the past life had been completely resolved. Although she wasn't extremely happy at the moment, she did feel a sense of relief.
She sat there sipping tea and even had the leisure to think that the things in the palace were truly good. Even this tea tasted more fragrant.
In fact, after she got together with Chen Tingfeng, he had always brought all kinds of good things to her courtyard. She had also enjoyed quite a bit of top - grade tea. But the fresh summer tea that Xie Yan had served them today was only available in the palace and hadn't been on the market yet.
So it tasted especially delicious.
Seeing that she liked it, Chen Tingfeng poured her another cup and said bluntly, "The tea in your palace tastes good."
Xie Yan's train of thought was interrupted. His mouth spoke faster than his brain. "If you like it, take some. I've got quite a lot."
He was used to being generous, especially to Chen Tingfeng. Whenever there was something good, he would always think of sharing it with him.
Chen Tingfeng nodded in satisfaction. Fu Zhen gave him a sidelong glance, and the corner of her mouth hidden behind the teacup curled up slightly.
Since the Hundred - Flower Banquet had just ended, they couldn't stay in the palace for too long, especially with Fu Zhen there.
What if people thought that Xie Yan had chosen Fu Zhen?
Chen Tingfeng wouldn't allow such a rumor to have any chance of spreading.
The two left the palace and returned to the Marquis's Mansion. All the way, Chen Tingfeng followed Fu Zhen like a puppy afraid of being abandoned by its owner, never leaving her side for a moment.
Fu Zhen looked at him and somehow saw a hint of grievance on his usually cold face.
Her heart softened. She waved at him. Chen Tingfeng immediately walked over and hugged her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder.
Fu Zhen was helpless. She tugged at his hair. "Do you really think you're a puppy?"
"Woof," Chen Tingfeng said shamelessly.
Fu Zhen was both angry and amused. She slapped him on the head. "Alright, be serious. I have something to tell you."
Chen Tingfeng got up reluctantly, his hand still on her waist, pretending not to notice. "Go ahead."
Fu Zhen didn't mind his little trick. She paused for a moment but didn't speak first. Instead, she asked, "Don't you have anything you want to ask me? For example... how I knew that I would die if I got close to you."
This matter had almost become a minefield for Chen Tingfeng. A single touch would set it off. His face gradually darkened.
He forced a smile and comforted her, "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. It's okay."
How could he not want to find out the truth? Ever since Fu Zhen had said that, he had been extremely curious and restless. But he was also afraid of hurting her and making her sad.
He wanted Fu Zhen to be happy forever.
So he suppressed all his uneasiness and anxiety. In front of her, he always wore a smiling face, getting closer to her bit by bit and sticking to her, making her get used to his presence.
Fu Zhen looked at him for a long time before gently lowering her eyes. "I wasn't sure if I should tell you before. I held back because I wanted to leave myself a last resort."
Even though all the barriers between her and Chen Tingfeng in this life had gradually disappeared, she still couldn't completely trust him.
Because the pain of the poison in her past life had been too intense.
Chen Tingfeng frowned, looking a bit anxious. "I won't ask anymore. You don't have to say it either. I'll never force you. It's good that you have a way out. Really."
He... well, he did mind a bit, but he could endure it.
Even if Fu Zhen held back for a lifetime, he could endure it for a lifetime.
Fu Zhen looked at his expression and lowered her head with a soft laugh, just like when she had faced the closed door of the Linyin Pavilion.
For her, not opening the door might have avoided this disaster, but in the end, she had still opened it.
Because of Chen Tingfeng.
Because in this life, she trusted Chen Tingfeng.
So there was actually nothing that couldn't be said. By now, there was only a thin layer of window paper left between the two of them.
"Actually, I died once," she said.
Chen Tingfeng's face changed abruptly. Although he had already guessed and even prepared himself mentally, when he really heard Fu Zhen admit it, he still couldn't help but change his expression. "You... Was it because of me?"
His voice was extremely soft, like a thin layer of ice on a winter day. One wrong step and it would shatter completely.
Fu Zhen took his hand and sighed. "It was you, but it wasn't just you."
At this point, she finally let down her guard and told him everything.
She started from the dream she had had when she had a fever after entering the Marquis's Mansion and told him every single detail without reservation.
The moment she finished speaking, she was tightly pulled into a warm embrace.
Chen Tingfeng held her so tightly that it seemed as if he wanted to merge her into his very flesh and blood to feel at ease.
His eyes were red, and he could hardly hold back his tears.
A real man doesn't shed tears easily, except when deeply hurt.
He thought that perhaps all the things that could hurt him so deeply in this life had happened today.
He gritted his teeth. When he opened his mouth, a sob escaped. He quickly clenched his teeth again and just closed his eyes and held her tightly.
Like holding a precious treasure that had been lost and found again.
Fu Zhen felt the trembling of his embrace. After a sigh, she also reached out and hugged him tightly.
All the regrets of the past life finally disappeared completely in this embrace.
In the silence, she softly said, "Chen Tingfeng."
"I forgive you."
In this life, I won't blame you.