The two were in an intimate moment when suddenly they heard Yuanbao outside the door say, "My Lord, the Second Prince is here."
Chen Tingfeng's eyebrows twitched. He looked at Fu Zhen, who got off his lap. "I'll go with you," she said.
Chen Tingfeng smiled. "That's the way it should be."
Now that their relationship was out in the open, there was no need to avoid suspicion anymore.
They would be family from now on.
Fu Zhen didn't know that he had told Xie Yan about Xie Qi'an's matter. Seeing his strange smile, she raised her eyebrows. "Have you been up to something bad behind my back?"
"Of course not," Chen Tingfeng said, taking her hand and walking outside. "You'll find out later."
Xie Yan's originally gloomy mood turned into speechless annoyance when he saw them walking hand in hand. "I know it's hot these days, but you two don't have to be so clingy, do you?"
They were like two melted pieces of candy, impossible to separate.
They couldn't even stay apart for a moment.
Chen Tingfeng sat down with her hand in his, deliberately showing their clasped hands.
He had no other intention, just pure show - off.
Xie Yan was at a loss for words.
Previously, he was just not used to their being so lovey - dovey. Now, it was because he was suddenly informed that Fu Zhen had actually become his younger sister.
On one side was his brother, on the other was his sister.
Their being together made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
He suddenly understood why Chen Tingfeng had always disliked him before.
Who could stand this?
Chen Tingfeng ignored him and poured a cup of tea for Fu Zhen. "You don't come to the Three - Treasures Hall without a reason. What brings you here today?"
"You actually have the nerve to say that," Xie Yan was shocked by his audacity. "I've spent most of my free time this year coming to your place."
It was only after Chen Tingfeng got together with Fu Zhen that he came less often.
After all, the relationship had changed. If he barged in recklessly and saw something inappropriate, Chen Tingfeng would surely make an example of him.
He changed his expression and said seriously, "The matter about General Mao was accomplished, but there was a small accident."
Chen Tingfeng raised his eyebrows. "Someone was planted among your troops?"
Xie Yan replied, "… Sort of. Anyway, in the end, Jin Yuanzhou led the imperial troops and joined my troops to go to the northern border. We'll set off tomorrow after the rain stops."
Chen Tingfeng was not surprised by this result. He would have found it strange if Liu Zhengze hadn't interfered.
"Jin Yuanzhou is not stupid. It's just that he has no interest in the fight for the throne. He's as slippery as an eel. It'll be hard for Liu Zhengze to buy him over," Chen Tingfeng said. After hearing this, Xie Yan hadn't even relaxed when he heard Chen Tingfeng continue, "But I'm afraid a lot of his men have been bribed."
"…" Xie Yan rubbed his forehead in pain. "Are you teasing me? What's the difference between saying this and saying nothing?"
Fu Zhen, however, was deep in thought. "If he really doesn't want to get involved, why would he wade into this muddy water at this time?"
Xie Yan realized this. Right! If he didn't want to get involved in today's matter, he could have just kept silent. Why did he speak up to rescue them at that critical moment?
"Does he want to help me?" he frowned. "But it doesn't seem so."
Chen Tingfeng said indifferently, "He's just being a fence - sitter. If he didn't take this job, Liu Zhengze would have forced him to."
Otherwise, how could Liu Zhengze assassinate General Mao?
It was better for Jin Yuanzhou to take it at this moment. He could not only do the Second Prince a favor but also not offend Liu Zhengze.
He had really learned from those old foxes in the Imperial Academy.
Fu Zhen thought that Jin Yuanzhou seemed to want to protect General Mao. Even if Liu Zhengze finally forced him to take the job, with his slippery nature, if all else failed, his teacher could come forward. Was he really afraid of not being able to get out of it?
"I can go to the Jin Mansion to find out," Fu Zhen looked at Chen Tingfeng. "As his younger sister, Xiang Huan should know something."
Don't be fooled by Jin Xiang Huan's carefree and innocent appearance on weekdays. In fact, no one in the capital who had offended her had escaped her revenge.
Moreover, the fact that she could plant people in other families was enough to prove that she was not a simple person. She just didn't like these tricks usually.
Chen Tingfeng frowned instinctively. "Intimate female friends are hard to come by. Jin Yuanzhou isn't important enough for you to sacrifice your friendship with his sister."
Fu Zhen comforted him. "I just said I'd try to find out. It's not that serious. If Xiang Huan is unwilling, I won't force her."
Xie Yan didn't say a word on the side. He was watching the show with interest.
He had never seen Chen Tingfeng so considerate for someone else. It was really strange.
Chen Tingfeng was still a bit reluctant. He had previously been reluctant to let Fu Zhen take risks to be the bait, but seeing her determination, he had to agree. Just thinking about the result now made his hands tremble.
Today's matter was not as dangerous as that one, but he still didn't want Fu Zhen to sacrifice anything for it.
She had had a hard life. Now that things were finally getting better, why should she worry about the fight for the throne?
Fu Zhen naturally knew what he was worried about. It was nothing more than his fear that she would suffer. Her heart warmed, and she sighed. "Alright, I won't mention it. Just assume I'm going to play with her, okay?"
Jin Yuanzhou would go to the northern border tomorrow, and Jin Xiang Huan would surely go to see him off. As a friend, she should go with her.
Chen Tingfeng knew that he hadn't completely dispelled her thoughts, but seeing that she had agreed for now, he didn't want to pursue it further. He could only say helplessly, "You..."
Fu Zhen gave him an ingratiating smile.
Xie Yan's teeth suddenly ached. He closed his eyes painfully. "So what should we do about this matter?"
His sudden interruption made Chen Tingfeng and Fu Zhen feel a bit awkward.
Chen Tingfeng coughed twice softly. "I'll ask Qian Tong to secretly follow your troops. We'll surely bring General Mao back safely."
The Third Prince had already been sent back to the northern border by him. With him there, it would be difficult to attack General Mao in the camp.
Moreover, there was also Chen Xuan eyeing them covetously.
Xie Yan nodded. Seeing that the matter was resolved, he didn't want to stay any longer to disturb the two lovebirds.
He took two steps forward, then suddenly walked back. He coughed softly. "That..."
Chen Tingfeng gave him a look, signaling him to speak quickly.
"Give me two more antidote pills. I'll keep some with my mother - concubine," he said, rubbing his nose and showing an embarrassed but shameless expression. "Also, give me a copy of all those strange antidotes. Xie Guang and I live close to each other. I'm afraid he'll harm me."
This wasn't unfounded. After all, Xie Guang was crazy, and now he was even crazier. There was no guarantee that in a fit of anger, he would rush at Xie Yan regardless of the consequences and end it all.
Chen Tingfeng calmly held out one finger. Xie Yan stared at it for a long time, then clicked his tongue and took out a hundred taels of silver from his pocket. "Is this enough?"
Even brothers should settle accounts clearly. Chen Tingfeng wiggled his finger. "A thousand taels."
"You're robbing me!" Xie Yan jumped up. "You're selling me those few pills for a thousand taels?"
"If you keep arguing, it'll be two thousand taels," Chen Tingfeng frowned. Seeing that he was about to speak again, he said, "Five thousand taels."
Xie Yan immediately swallowed his words. He pointed at Chen Tingfeng for a long time. On closer inspection, his fingertips were still trembling.
But when under someone else's roof, one had to bow one's head.
He gritted his teeth and said, "… Fine."
Then he took out a handful of silver notes from his pocket and stuffed them into Chen Tingfeng's hand. "The pills!"
"Yuanbao."
Yuanbao walked out of the corner with a smile. "Greetings to the Second Prince. Your Highness, please follow this servant."
Xie Yan glared at Chen Tingfeng fiercely and stormed off.