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: TWOF Chapter 25\n
: TWOF Chapter 27\n
Fu Rong liked to eat dates. Before, when she learned that her father was being promoted to the governor of Jizhou, she was very happy. Firstly, Jizhou was an important place in Jingji. Jizhouâs manor was also widely connected with other places, meaning that her fatherâs talent was now known in the imperial court. Secondly, Jizhouâs Xindu dates had been famous for generations, so wouldnât she have dates she could never finish eating?\n
After they arrived, the thing she looked forward to the most in this past year wasnât the Dragon Boat Festival or Lantern Festival, but the Date Picking Festival in Xindu.\n
The autumn air was nice and fresh, and the date pickers selected by the government were picking the dates starting from the outside and moving inwards. Fu Rong and her brother went into the quiet mountain to choose a nice place. Fu Rong hurried her older brother away, âBrother, go over there to pick, stay away from me.â\n
Last year, the brother and sister also came. Fu Rong had excitedly stayed at her brotherâs side, but Fu Chen was messing around with the bamboo poles, causing the thumb-sized dates to fall. There were so many that it made Fu Rongâs head hurt. In the end, Fu Rong asked by some bamboo poles herself, knocking them out one by one, which was a very happy scene. If she really only wanted to eat dates, why would she run so far away? She would still have dates to eat if she stayed at home.\n
Fu Chen had no interest in picking dates. He walked to a date tree on the side and picked a few red dates at the bottom. He then sat on the ground and stuffed a date into his mouth, making a crisp sound, âYou can pick them, Iâll sit here.â\n
Fu Rong ignored him, raising her head to pick some of the red dates at the top of the tree, then raised the bamboo pole to knock them down.\n
After a few fell, Fu Rong happily put them into the bamboo basket and prepared to bring them back for her family to eat. She picked them herself, so it would show her sincerity.\n
âArenât you tired?â Fu Chen couldnât stand looking anymore. With his sisterâs way, how long would it take for her to fill the basket?\n
âYou donât need to worry.â Fu Rong thought that he was being annoying and glared at him. She grabbed her bamboo basket and walked away.\n
Fu Chen didnât get up, smiling at his pouting sister.\n
Fu Rong didnât walk very far. She looked back to see her brother waving at her with a grin, and smiled as she set the bamboo basket on the ground, continuing to pick. In this forest-covered mountain, even if she knew that her fatherâs servants were down there, Fu Rong was still a little afraid. With her brotherâs company, she didnât need to worry.\n
As she knocked, Fu Rong suddenly felt that something wasnât right.\n
She secretly looked at the dense patch of grass across from her.\n
Among the lush green grass, there seemed to be a vague silhouette.\n
Fu Rongâs back felt cold.\n
Who was hiding there?\n
It is not good to cover up in broad daylight, so this person was without good intent.\n
No matter how afraid she was, she knew that she couldnât panic at this time. The person was too close to her, so if he rushed out with malicious intentions, her brother wouldnât have enough time to save her.\n
Fu Rong clenched her hands, continued tapping a few times, then pursed her mouth, turning her head and complaining to her brother, âOlder Brother, my arms are sore. I have no more energy!â\n
Fu Rong expected her to be like this, and said to her with a wave, âCome over, Iâll help you knock. If you are afraid of being hit, you can stand to the side.â\n
âOlder Brother is the best!â Fu Rong complimented sweetly. With one hand holding the bamboo pole, her other hand went to grab the bamboo basket, never having looked over there for a second. It was as if she did not know that someone was hiding there, and only her slightly trembling hand showed that she was afraid.\n
The brother and sister were about fifty steps apart from each other. Fu Rong counted her every step. Although her face was brightened by her smile, she was upset at her brother for not coming over to pick her up. After blaming him, she understood that her brother was innocent. It was all because she wasnât obedient, and had to go so far away.\n
Fu Rong was so scared.\n
She had been through so many injustices but had never been through such a danger.\n
She looked forward, herself alert and her heart full of panic. She was fully on guard. As soon as there was a little noise, she would throw down the things she was throwing and run towards her brother. Her brother was good at martial arts, so he would definitely be able to defeat the bad guy.\n
She was only twenty-something steps away from her brother, and her safety was almost ensured. Fu Rongâs thoughts suddenly started pummeling again. Should she continue to pick dates and leave with her brother if there was nothing else, or immediately tell her brother to capture the person? As she was hesitating, the patch of grass in front of Fu Chen suddenly started moving. Fu Rongâs heart jumped. She was just about to warn her brother to move away when Fu Chenâs body froze. His eyes were still filled with surprise when his straight body fell over.\n
With two clatters, the objects in Fu Rongâs hands fell to the ground.\n
Her legs were limp, and her face was streaked with tears.\n
Has her brother died?\n
âBrotherâŠâ\n
âMs. Fu, Brother Ling was only hit by my soothing needle and has temporarily fainted. He will wake up in an hour. Mr. Fu, please donât cause a ruckus. Otherwise, Xu [1] can only continue doing evil, and kill people to keep their mouth shut.â\n
Fu Rong hadnât yet shouted for her brother in despair when she was forced back by the man who quickly appeared from the grass.\n
After a great sorrow and a great joy, it was a great surprise.\n
Fu Rong was completely dumbfounded, not knowing whether to cry or laugh or doubt. She could only stare at the gray-clothed handsome man dumbly as he walked towards her.\n
She recognized him, Xu Jinâs personal bodyguard. His surname was Xu and his first name Jia. It was rumored that he had exceptional martial arts skills, and was capable of flying over walls.\n
Why is he here?\n
Is her brother really alright?\n
Her gaze averted to her brother, who was lying on the ground. The tears that Fu Rong kept in her eyes still fell. She covered her mouth and ran to her older brother. Who cares who he is and what he is going to do here. She needed to first confirm that her brother was alright, or else she would rather risk her life and yell for her father to bring people to avenge her brother!\n
The young girlâs tears fell like pear blossoms and rain, and her figure staggered like rootless duckweed rushing to the shore. Xu Jia retreated to the side, silently waiting for Fu Rong to confirm. Sigh, it would be nice if the Fu family lived in the capital. His lord would be able to propose at any time. Now that the Fu family was in Jizhou, if his lord suddenly went to propose, donât mention the crown prince and the others, but even the emperor would wonder what his motives were. After all, his lord came to Xindu for secret services and no one knew about this, so for his lord to approach the beauty, he would have to come up with an excuse.\n
Fu Chenâs complexion was red, his breathing was long, and his pulse was steady.\n
Fu Rongâs heart finally went down. She laid down on her older brotherâs chest, terrified.\n
âMs. Fu, my master invites you to come over.â\n
âWho is your master? How do you know that my surname is Fu?â Fu Rong was laying on top of her brother and did not want to get up. His master, isnât his master Xu Jin? Why does he want to call her out after bullying her?\n
âIn April, we stayed at the manor of the Fu family. My master admired Brother Lingâs boldness, which is why he was willing to reveal his whereabouts and did not take Brother Lingâs life. Ms. Fu, you should clean up and go. My master doesnât have much patience.â\n
âWhere is he?â Fu Rong took out her handkerchief to wipe her tears. After calming down, she glanced at her sleeping brother and stood up.\n
Just because Xu Jin was a prince, he could do whatever he wanted.\n
Xu Jia smiled, âWhere is master, doesnât Ms. Fu know?â Ms. Fu, please go over. I will temporarily bring Brother Ling to a secret place. After my lordâŠmaster finished asking his questions, Ms. Fu can reunite with Brother Ling.â Because it slipped out of his mouth, the smile on his face disappeared, and he lowered his head to cover it up.\n
Fu Rong pretended to not notice his quick change and walked forward.\n
After she was almost at the patch of grass, Fu Rong looked back. She could no longer see the figures of Xu Jia and her brother, and even the bamboo pole and basket she dropped were gone.\n
No wonder she had caught Xu Jinâs eye. Sure enough, his heart was as careful as his hair.\n
She smoothed down her clothing. Fu Rong walked towards the grass with a cold face.\n
âThe terrain here is low. It is safer for Ms. Fu to walk around from one side.â\n
The voice was low, and the tone was relaxed, like the one used in a light conversation.\n
Fu Rong looked under her feet. It seemed to slope down. If it wasnât because she was too close, or because Lord Xu Jin was sitting instead of lying on his stomach, she wouldnât have been able to see him just now.\n
He was worthy of being a prince. He was full of momentum, and wouldnât bow down to others.\n
Fu Rong glanced at the manâs face, didnât say anything, and walked around like a river current.\n
Xu Jin also didnât look at her. He pointed to the patch of grass across and said, âMs. Fu, please sit. Itâs too easy for people to discover you if you stand up.â\n
Fu Rong pursed her lips and sat down obediently. Her white dress was on the ground, like a blooming flower in the green grass.\n
Xu Jinâs gaze slowly moved upward along the skirt. Seeing her small, white hands in front of her, seeing her chests that were slightly more bulging than last time, seeing the blue leaves embroidered on her collar, seeing her white and slender neck, seeing her tightly pursed red lips, and finally, he locked eyes with a pair of beautiful eyes, that were unfortunately hidden by her eyelashes.\n
âWhy arenât you talking?â Xu Jin unconsciously rubbed the dragon-patterned jade pendant on his waist, asking with interest, âDonât you want to ask me the reason?â\n
His hand was moving in a way that it would be hard for Fu Rong not to notice it. Her gaze stopped at the familiar four-clawed dragon pattern. Fu Rong turned her head and said, âYour Highness has your own ways to settle matters. My brother and I were too playful and disturbed Your Highness. I only plead for Your Highness to forgive our family. I will not tell anyone what has happened today, including my older brother.â\n
âMs. Fu is indeed smart, how do you knowâŠoh, I almost forgot about this jade pendant.â Xu Jin laughed humorously, âI donât like to change the things Iâm used to. No wonder my identity was revealed. I almost lost my life after having multiple attempted assassinations along the way, and I could only hide in this mountain to avoid more trouble.â\n
Fu Rong had no interest in his matters and turned a deaf ear. \n
Xu Jin stared at her drooping eyelashes, his eyes darkening.\n
Now that she knew he was a prince, why wasnât she being friendly?\n
Remembering her pitiful appearance when she was lying on her older brother and crying, Xu Jin understood a little. The young girl was probably angry. This lady had no interest in men and took most importance on her family members.\n
He wondered when the news of his death arrived in the capital in the last life, did she cry?\n
He died. Going back to a few years ago. What about her, what about the people who hadnât died, did they continue to live? She was in her prime time but turned into his widow, which was pitiful enough.\n
The faint guilt from causing her to become a widow the previous life was mixed with the slight apology that caused her to cry just now. Xu Jinâs expression softened a little, âTodayâs events have happened because of helplessness. As long as Ms. Fu keeps your promise, I promise that I wonât disturb your familyâs life. After I return to the capital, I will also clarify my slander about Noble Ling [2] to my father, the Emperor.â\n
This was about her fatherâs future and whether the family could enter the capital early. For a moment, Fu Rong forgot about her anger towards Xu Jin, raising her head to look at him, âReally?â\n
The eyes that had just cried were wet, clear, and inviting. Xu Jin was delighted inside and nodded slightly. He couldnât help but smile and say, âMs. Fu is this happy, so how do you plan to thank me?â\n
She was charming and lovely, his future princess consort. In this life, Xu Jin wanted to live harmoniously as husband and wife with her.\n
The male master was outside while the female master was inside, which would make the family prosperous.\n
He wanted her not only because of her greed for vanity and her fawning over him but also her heart. He wanted her to truly love and admire her husband, always think of him, ask him for help, love her husband and teach her children, so he also needed to try to make her happy, so happy that she would fall for him.\n