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: The Way of Favors Chapter 24\n
: The Way of Favors Chapter 26\n
Liang Tong was quick. The second day they returned home, the Liang family sent someone over to propose.\n
The person who came was Liang Tongâs aunt, who was talented in talking.\n
âRegarding family background, our Liang Tong is not as competent, not to mention the flower-like characteristics of Second Lady. If Liang Tong can marry Second Lady, then it would be a blessing of eight lifetimes. Fortunately, Liang Tong has good looks. Besides, for a man and woman to live a good life together, it would be a talented man and a beautiful woman. It is most important for the man to be capable.â\n
âLiang Tong is sincere. He has already thought it through. Next year, he will go to the capital with Zheng Tang to enter the selection for guards. With the two boysâ abilities, it wonât be a problem for them to be selected. This way, Liang Tong will have a job in the capital, and when you guys are transferred to the capital in the future, the family can reunite. This can give Second Lady more respect, and can also take care of Second Ladyâs love, so isnât this wonderful? And after they marry, the couple will live on their own. Second Lady will be the Madam of the family, and there will be less trivial matters.â\n
The remarks were chosen to sound nice, but they were all truthful.\n
Qiao Shi was very moved and excitedly discussed with her husband at night.\n
Fu Pinyan thought carefully.\n
The Liang family was a martial arts master family. Even if Liang Tong wonât become an official, with his identity as the eldest legitimate son, he was a good match for his daughter. But Liang Tong was physically strong from all the martial arts training. He looked much bulkier than Fu Chen and Qi Ce, and he did not know if his daughter would like him.\n
âGo ask Wan Wan about what she thinks.â\n
This meant that he agreed.\n
With his eldest daughterâs personality, if they thought it was good, then she would probably agree.\n
Their eldest daughterâs marriage was settled, and Qiao Shi was both excited and reluctant. She tossed here and there, unable to fall asleep. In the end, Fu Pinyan couldnât stand his wife anymore and finally managed to coax her after a hard fight.\n
When she woke up, Qiao Shi thought about the words carefully and went to Fu Wan with a red face.\n
When they started to talk about marriage, Fu Wan blushed and did not speak, but the helpless her was finally forced by her mother, and she had her elders make the decision.\n
Qiao Shi already knew that it probably happened when the children were playing next to the lake. Her daughter had already noticed Liang Tong then.\n
The two families had a good relationship. Their ages were also compatible, so they started to send out invitations, and the news spread quickly.\n
Qi Ce only smiled after he heard of it and immediately thought of him and Fu Rong.\n
Fu Wan was fifteen when Fu Pinyan started to consider her marriage, so it was obvious that he was reluctant for his daughter to leave him. Then it would be even harder to take the most doted Fu Rong. It also wasnât a very glorious matter for two daughters to have their marriages settled in less than six months, so it wasnât proper to propose right now. At the latest, Fu Wan would get married next year. Then would be a good time for him to propose marriage.\n
In the capital, Xu Jin was not as calm.\n
Sitting alone in front of his desk, Xu Jin picked up the second detailed secret letter sent by his subordinate with gloomy eyes.\n
Liang Yingfang had invited the Fu sisters to the Bamboo Forest Temple. Coincidentally, Master Jingjian had opened the altar, so Old Madam Qi and the princess consort also went.\n
Qi Zhuâs evil intentions were discovered, so Fu Rong pushed Qi Zhu into the water. Liang Tong and Fu Wan had a close conversation, so he probably had won over Fu Wanâs heart, which caused the marriage discussion between the Fu and Liang families.\n
He did not care who Fu Wan married. Xu Jin only wanted to know why Fu Rong and Xu Yan had bumped into each other at the Bamboo Forest Temple. Shouldnât they meet at the end of the year? And that Qi Ce, he likes Fu Wan, so why did he smile at Fu Rong?\n
What was he smiling about?\n
With a âbangâ, Xu Jin stood up abruptly, kicking the red sandalwood desk away from its original position.\n
He just didnât understand how the error happened! \n
He thought that he knew everything general about her, so he was relieved to let her stay in Jizhou, so he only had his subordinates keep a close eye on the Fu family but not be too attentive. He only needed to find an opportunity before Fu Rong met Xu Yan and make her fall in love with him. He was a better person than Xu Yan and had a higher status than him. She valued status highly, so she would naturally find methods to get close to him. He only needed a little over a year. At the end of next year, he would find methods to transfer Fu Pinyan to the capital, and she would be right under his supervision then.\n
But since the beginning of spring, almost none of the things that happened matched up with the information he received in the previous life!\n
Qi Ce and his sister had evil intentions. It would be unavoidable for her to be mad after discovering their plan, but why did she not discover their plan in the previous life? And how did Qi Ce marry her older sister in the previous life?\n
And her, what is she thinking? Why did she not look at Xu Yan when they encountered each other several times, but kept on looking at Qi Ce?\n
âThey locked eyes twice. Qi Ce smiled, and Ms. Fu was surprised.â\n
What did smiled mean? What did surprised mean?\n
He ordered his subordinate to explain clearly. His subordinate worded it very well, âQi Ce smiled warmly, and Ms. Fu seemed to beâŠdumbfounded.â\n
Thinking of this, there was only anger inside Xu Jin.\n
In the previous life, his Emperor father was dissatisfied because of his unwillingness to marry. He didnât marry because he could not touch women. When he married, he had to find excuses to cover up, and it was too troublesome. Itâs good now when she turns fifteen, he can marry her. Twenty years old was not too early or late. It would make his Emperor father satisfied and could also stop the gossip.\n
She was destined to be his princess consort. How could his princess consort have unclear matters with others?\n
And those differences, were they because his subordinates did not do their job well in the previous life, orâŠ\n
Xu Jin could not find a single reason, a reason that could cause these differences!\n
The people he sent out in the previous life to inquire were all his confidants. They did not need to lie to him about such a trivial matter, but in reality, everything around her was different!\n
He was angrier than fire, but this did not affect his hearing. Noticing the quiet sound of footsteps lingering at the door, Xu Jin could imagine the worry on Xu Jiaâs face.\n
He had never lost his temper this way in both lives.\n
After burning the letter, Xu Jin leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes for a rest.\n
Everything was ready. Getting angry could not change anything. The most important thing right now was to have her fall in love with him. When she had hold of him, she would be relieved. She wasnât dumb. She wouldnât leave a prince unhooked and choose an unimportant person in Jizhou.\n
âSomeone, come.â\n
Xu Jia, who had always been waiting outside, immediately walked inside. He carefully glanced at Xu Jinâs face, and asked in a low voice, âPrince, what are your orders?â\n
Xu Jin closed his eyes and said with a casual air, âLast year, the dates in Xindu turned red before the Mid-Autumn Festival. I donât know when they will this yearâŠâ\n
With matters to handle, he didnât have time to go there whenever he wanted, and even if he went, he might not be able to catch up to them. She liked to play and was fidgety, and she also liked to eat dates. She went to pick dates last year, so she probably will this year as well. He could only hope that the dates turned red after the Mid-Autumn Festival because he could not leave before the festival.\n
Hearing this, Xu Jia knew what he meant. His prince wanted to go to Jizhou to pick âdatesâ again.\n
Returning to his office, Xu Jia immediately wrote a letter informing the people in Jizhou to inquire when the dates would turn red and have them sent over earlier.\n
~\n
âMother, look, Little Guan can walk on his own!â\n
Fu Rong relaxed her hand delightedly and shouted.\n
The few people watching the moon in the pavilion also looked out.\n
The moon was the brightest on the fifteenth. The sky was not completely dark when the moon appeared. Near the lake that was full of moonlight, Fu Rongâs long skirt fluttered, and she bent over to support Little Guan, who just had his first birthday. Little Guan was smart. He stood there obediently and did not move. After the gazes of the entire family fell on him, he started to giggle and took two steps forward, shaking.\n
Qiao Shi was absolutely delighted. She walked to the pavilion steps and stooped down, clapping her hands to signal for her son to walk in her direction.\n
Little Guan wanted to go to his mother, but he was new to walking, and the more he was anxious, the worse his walking was. Fu Rong was afraid that her younger brother would trip, so she took him into her arms, and returned to the pavilion with a smile, âI taught Little Guan so that he could walk at such a young age. None of you guys have spent as much time as I have to help Little Guan practice his walking.â\n
Seeing that her forehead was covered in sweat, Fu Chen took their younger brother over thoughtfully, but he said, âYeah, father had government affairs to deal with, mother needs to take care of the house, Wan Wan is busy organizing her dowry, Xuan Xuan is attentive in her studies, I leave the house to learn martial arts, youâre the only free person in this family, so who will accompany younger brother if you donât?â\n
His words did not just offend one person. Fu Rong looked at her older sister with a smile. Her older sister and Liang Tongâs marriage was already settled, and they would get married in September of next year. The Liang family hoped that they would get married earlier, but the family was reluctant. Of course, the latest date was the best, and Liang Tong should have a governmental job by then, so it would be good for his image to marry.\n
Fu Wan was already used to this. Her face only turned slightly red, and she turned her head to look at the lake.\n
Qiao Shi glared at Fu Rong.\n
Fu Rong sat beside her father with a smile. She picked up a tangerine to peel, and handed it over to her father filially, âFather, eat another one. Iâm best at choosing tangerines. This one is the sweetest.â\n
Fu Pinyan took the tangerine, broke a piece off, and tasted it, then nodded and said, âItâs good.â\n
Fu Rong smiled more sweetly, âFather, look, Iâve taught younger brother how to walk. Shouldnât father reward me something?â\n
âWhat do you want?â Fu Pinyan used his eyes to stop his wife from talking and put the tangerine on the table.\n
But Fu Rong put on another act and looked at him with her chin down, âFather, how about you guess?â\n
Her bright and clear eyes were cunning. Fu Pinyan rubbed his daughterâs head helplessly, âDo you want to go pick dates again? Forget it, this year is the last year. I forbid you to mess around. You will be a big girl next year, so you should not think about going outside.â\n
Fu Rong obediently agreed.\n
Sheâll happily live this year, and sheâll deal with next year next year.\n
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The dates turned red at the start of autumn.\n
Xinduâs dates were very well-known, and they were the tributes sent to the palace by the people of Jizhou. The people of Xindu were very proud of this, so they created the Date Picking Festival. Every year when the dates turned red, the families would take their children to pick dates. The large families would go to their part of the mountain to pick dates and view the autumn scenery in the process. The normal civilians would either go into the mountain to pick wild ones or plant a few date trees in their yard.\n
The Fu family did not have a date mountain, but Fu Rong went to Xinduâs best place for producing dates, Qixia Mountain. The entire mountain was the property of the government, and the fruit trees were planted everywhere. There, the best patches were sent to the capital and the rest were divided among the cityâs officials.\n
The tribute was a major matter. Fu Pinyan needed to go over to supervise it, and would also take Fu Chen and Fu Rong with him. He had a job to do and allowed the siblings to go for a stroll inside.\n
The siblings did not run far when Xu Yan came over with his younger sister, Xu Xi. \n
The officer went to report to Fu Pinyan hurriedly.\n
Fu Pinyan understood the reason for their visit immediately. When they met, he smiled at Xu Yan and said, âYour Highness is here to pick dates, am I right?â\n
Xu Yan looked at his younger sister, and returned the smile, âXiâer is playful. I donât know if this is convenient for uncle?â [1]\n
âYes, it is convenient. Your highnesses can play as much as you would like to.â Fu Pinyan turned around to invite the two of them into the mountain, then ordered the officer guarding nearby to prepare the bamboo basket to hand over to Xu Yanâs follower. Watching the two of them leave, Fu Pinyan touched his two-year-old beard, wondering, this prince had always called him Mr. Fu in the past, so why did he change today?\n
Because he had a request after entering the mountain?\n
It couldnât be. Forget the prince manor, even the Fu family didnât need to be so polite if they wanted to enter the mountain.\n
But he did not know that when Xu Yan was being polite over here, an impolite âdate thiefâ had silently sneaked in.\n