As the saying goes, "Fate brings enemies face to face." In such a vast capital city, they happened to run into Pei Qing'an. It was simply—
"Disgusting!" Jiang Fuying murmured softly.
With that, she turned around and was about to leave.
But just as she took a step, the corner of her sleeve was gently tugged.
"Doesn't Lady Jiang want to watch some fun?"
Fun?
Jiang Fuying was stunned for a couple of seconds and quickly understood.
She almost forgot that his loathing for Pei Qing'an was no less than hers!
Raising her delicate eyebrows slightly, she asked, "Is the heir apparent planning to..."
Lu Huaizhou pointed at the Flower Tower behind them and then at the figure approaching from afar. He pursed his lips and said in a rather considerate tone,
"Of course, I'm going to help my cousin fulfill his wish."
A hint of darkness flashed across his autumn-water eyes.
Jiang Fuying understood what he meant: Judging from the direction Pei Qing'an was coming from, he was heading straight for the Flower Tower.
And the Flower Tower was one of the largest brothels in the capital.
Pei Qing'an's purpose for coming here was self-evident.
She curved her lips and voluntarily looped her arm through his, whispering, "As my husband wishes, let's stay here and greet our cousin."
Seeing how naturally she changed her address, Lu Huaizhou also wore a faint smile: "I'll do as my wife says."
Pei Qing'an and his entourage gradually approached the Flower Tower. When he saw the beautiful couple walking hand in hand, his complexion changed and he stopped in his tracks.
Before he could make any other preparations, Lu Huaizhou spoke first, "Cousin, long time no see."
Jiang Fuying also nodded at him with a smile, "Cousin."
Pei Qing'an felt as if he had swallowed a fly, and nausea welled up in his heart.
He didn't want to talk to Lu Huaizhou at all, but with his colleagues beside him, how could he ignore them?
A hint of annoyance flashed across his black eyes.
He didn't show it on his face. Instead, he put on a gentle smile and responded to them, "Cousin, cousin-in-law."
The three of them stood facing each other. After a few words of greeting, Pei Qing'an's eyes on Jiang Fuying suddenly showed a bit more appreciation.
His mother was right that day. This Lady Jiang was indeed much more dignified and virtuous than Jiang Fuyue.
Even though Lu Huaizhou acted so absurdly, she was willing to be patient with him and always regarded Lu Huaizhou as the most important.
As sisters, looking at her and then at Jiang Fuyue...
If there hadn't been the marriage substitution, she should have been his main wife.
A strange feeling welled up in his heart, and Pei Qing'an tightened his fist.
"I often hear Fuyue praise cousin-in-law for being virtuous and considerate. Seeing her today, it's really so," Pei Qing'an said out of the blue, changing his tune. "Cousin has always acted in an unruly manner. Fortunately, cousin-in-law has taken good care of him."
As soon as his inconsistent words fell, Jiang Fuying and Lu Huaizhou rolled their eyes at the same time.
Jiang Fuyue praised her?
He acted in an unruly manner?
Pei Qing'an must be daydreaming and saying whatever came to his mind!
Lu Huaizhou was even more annoyed with him. He sized him up and down and clicked his tongue in disbelief.
This guy was actually pretending in front of him. Not only was he putting on the airs of an elder cousin, but he was also deliberately belittling him in front of Lady Jiang.
If he didn't refute this guy, he would be a disgrace!
"I guess cousin is here to drink in the Flower Tower," Lu Huaizhou said bluntly.
Pei Qing'an's face sank instantly. "Cousin, I..."
But Lu Huaizhou didn't give him a chance to speak.
"I must say, cousin really lives up to his reputation as the most young and promising academician of the Imperial Academy and the heir apparent of the Pingning Marquis in the capital..." Lu Huaizhou deliberately paused halfway through his words. Under the inquiring gazes of everyone, he loudly said the second half, "A brothel like the Flower Tower is a place he can come to whenever he wants!"
His voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear clearly.
For a moment, many burning gazes fell on Pei Qing'an.
He always cared about his reputation, so he quickly tried to make up for it. "Cousin, don't talk nonsense. My colleagues and I are here only to discuss important official business."
Lu Huaizhou leaned slightly to the side and winked at Jiang Fuying.
Jiang Fuying immediately understood what he meant: Wife, quickly cooperate with me.
So she coughed softly twice and pretended to persuade him, "Husband, cousin is just here to discuss official business in the Flower Tower. Don't talk nonsense."
"Oh!" Lu Huaizhou pretended to be suddenly enlightened. "So cousin always discusses official business in such a place full of debauchery!"
A hint of amusement flashed across Jiang Fuying's autumn-water eyes, but she still tried to persuade him, "Husband, this is cousin's official business. We don't know about it. Husband, you..."
"Madam, you don't know," Lu Huaizhou suddenly interrupted her. He looked at the passers-by around him with a radiant look.
"I'm not like cousin. Although I'm a good-for-nothing playboy, I've never stepped into a brothel in my life!"
Instantly, the looks of the passers-by around Pei Qing'an became strange.
Even the good-for-nothing playboy heir apparent had never set foot in a brothel, but the well-known gentle and elegant Heir Apparent Pei wanted to discuss official business in a brothel. By comparison...
Pei Qing'an's face turned ashen and almost black enough to drip ink.
Was this playboy actually proud of himself?
It was really ridiculous!
He had always been magnanimous and wouldn't argue with a fool like Lu Huaizhou!
"I still have something to do. I'll leave first."
With that, he lifted his foot and walked towards the Flower Tower.
Just as he took a step, a thunderous voice came from behind him.
"I wish my cousin, the Heir Apparent of the Pingning Marquis, a smooth discussion of official business in the Flower Tower and hope he meets a charming beauty!"
Lu Huaizhou's shout made all the passers-by who didn't know what was going on turn to look.
Hearing this, Pei Qing'an almost lost his balance and fell flat on his face.
Fortunately, his colleagues around him supported him in time.
After this commotion, he quickened his pace.
Looking at the fleeing back, Jiang Fuying's eyes were filled with amusement.
It seemed that he not only loathed Pei Qing'an but was also his nemesis!
"Heir apparent," she called out softly and gave him a thumbs up. "The show today was great. The heir apparent is much more decent than him."
In an instant, countless fireworks exploded in Lu Huaizhou's mind.
She praised him for being decent!
His wife not only didn't believe that guy's belittling but also praised him for being decent!
Lu Huaizhou's lips couldn't help but curl up, showing his dazzling white front teeth.
"Lady Jiang has discerning eyes."
...
After laughing, Jiang Fuying suddenly remembered a past event.
In her previous life, Pei Qing'an often came to the Flower Tower on the pretext of discussing official business or listening to music and having a leisurely chat.
At first, she believed his words completely. She really thought he was busy with official business and had a hard time being an official. Every time he returned to the mansion late at night from the Flower Tower, she would take care of him without even taking off her clothes.
But the room was filled with the strong smell of powder, and when he was drunk, he would occasionally call out the name of the top courtesan Li Niang in the Flower Tower.
In the end, even if she was slow, she understood the truth.
Pei Qing'an was a hypocrite from beginning to end!
He was not even a fraction as good as Heir Apparent Lu!
Thinking of this, Jiang Fuying suddenly turned around and stared fixedly at the plaque of the "Flower Tower". Her autumn-water eyes were filled with mockery.
She suddenly wondered if her good younger sister, who had been obsessed with marrying Pei Qing'an in both lives, had the fortune to see Pei Qing'an's true face.