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: TWOF Chapter 29\n
: TWOF Chapter 31\n
I hope you can support me, many thanks! My Kofi\n
The Fu manor was about 30 minutes away from the Qi manor. When they went onto the carriage, Fu Rong did not sit next to Qiao Shi but rather sat next to Fu Xuan. She purposely pinched her light-skinned face, âYounger sister is ten years old already. You are becoming prettier by the day. Look at your eyebrows. If you put on menâs clothing, you would even beat our older brother.â\n
Fu Xuan pushed her sisterâs hand away and glared at her, âYou go sit over there.â\n
Fu Rong didnât leave, and looked at her, âI like sitting next to my sister.â\n
Fu Xuan secretly wished for luck. In the end, she couldnât push her older sister away and decided to close her eyes and not respond. She finally discovered that her third older sister liked to tease her. The angrier she was, the more her sister teased her. After she ignored her, her third older sister quickly decided that it was boring.\n
Fu Rong then tapped her younger sisterâs face two times. Seeing the little girl as motionless as an old monk, she scooted to the side and smiled.\n
These days were so nice.\n
She had the body of a thirteen-year-old but had the heart of a twenty-one-year-old. To live this again, she of course would want to make her experience as fun as possible.\n
Even though her parents were a few years younger, they were still her elders. Her few years of experience couldnât change a daughterâs respect for her parents.\n
Her thoughts to always rely on her older brother now seemed a little immature.\n
Her older sister and younger brother were both gifts from her reincarnation, and Fu Rong couldnât treasure them enough.\n
The funniest person was her younger sister.\n
Without mentioning her older sister and younger brother, her older brother didnât marry in the previous life, so he was always her older brother, and did not have another identity. Her older sister was the only one who was different. She married someone. Now, Fu Rong could remember her sisterâs serious look when reprimanding her brother-in-law and even herself. Even though she was her older sister, Fu Rong was still a little afraid of Fu Wan at the time. As of now, her younger sister was still a little girl, so Fu Rong of course would have to relive her prestige as an older sister.\n
She was thinking of entertainment when the carriage suddenly stopped.\n
Fu Rong was about to lean towards the window to see what was happening when she heard Xu Yanâs voice. Soon, Fu Chen leaned towards them and said, âMother, His Highness is also going to the Qi family and bumped into us along the way. He wants to give you his greetings.\n
His Highness. Only one person in Xindu City was worthy of this name.\n
Qiao Shi was surprised and quickly said through the curtain, âYour Highness, you are too polite.â\n
Xu Yanâs voice was gentle, âI am related to the main house [1], so I should go greet you and uncle [2]. I hope that aunt stays healthy and achieves everything you want to achieve.\n
Being treated so courteously, Qiao Shiâs beautiful eyes gleamed, âAlright, itâs not convenient for this conversation as we are on the road right now. Your Highness should come over to our manor some other day, and aunt will prepare a big gift for you.â\n
âWith auntâs love, I will definitely go up to the manor.â Xu Yan smiled, his appearance even more attractive than Pan An [3].\n
Fu Chen only felt that Xu Yan was smiling like a fox. He knew what he was thinking of, and smiled on the outside but not the inside, saying, âAlright, itâs getting late. Letâs get on our horses first. It wonât be late to continue chatting at the Qi Manor.â\n
Xu Yan nodded and apologized to Qiao Shi, and turned around to get on his horse.\n
In the carriage, Qiao Shi and Fu Xuan looked at Fu Rong.\n
Qiao Shi had grown up in a large family. She had seen fighting and disputes since she was very young, so she would always think about something for a while if it seemed unusual. Fu Xuan hadnât been through any scheming, but she was smart and naturally could understand what was happening.\n
This was the Fu familyâs third year in Xindu. Before July of last year, the Princeâs mansion had not interacted with their family before. Now, with Xu Yan being so welcoming, he probably wanted something. The prince of Xindu did not like to interact with the big and small officers of Jizhou. Without mentioning their future, he wouldnât come to the Fu family just for a gift.\n
Fu Wan already had a fiance and Fu Xuan was only ten years old. Fu Rong was beautiful and alluring and was just the right age. Who could it be besides her?\n
And Xu Yan became friendly to them after that coincidental encounter at Bamboo Forest Temple, which proved this point.\n
Fu Xuan saw that her sister wasnât secretly peeping outside, and was as calm as ever, and was a little more relieved. As long as her sister stayed within the rules and wasnât tempted by Xu Yan, the rest of the matters would be taken care of by the elders.\n
Qiao Shi also took back her excitement.\n
It would be best if her daughter didnât understand. Her marriage was supposed to be decided by her and her husband.\n
She looked calm on the outside, but she was delighted inside.\n
Xu Yan had a noble status, and he was handsome, all of his attributes well suited for her daughter. What was even better was that Xu Yan did not have any brothers, which prevented the fight for the inheritance. The princess consort looked cold on the outside, but she had perfect etiquette. She didnât look down upon the wives of normal officers. As for Xu Xi, she would marry someone sooner or later, so she couldnât bother her older brother and sister-in-law.\n
Her Nong Nong was beautiful and delicate. She was so sweet that people couldnât help but want to hold her hand. She was also generous and polite. This was good. She deserved to be matched up with a noble person.\n
The more Qiao Shi thought about it, the more satisfied she was. She would discuss it with her husband when they went back and have him keep an eye on it. They would first ask around to understand what kind of person Xu Yan was. When Xu Yan came to propose marriage, they would be prepared. If she was wrong about the whole thing, it wouldnât be a big deal. She wasnât worried about her Nong Nong not being able to find a good husband. But they would have to pay extra attention when they interacted with Xu Yan in the future. They shouldnât be too cold or too friendly, to avoid Xu Yan showing dislike for Nong Nong.\n
Fu Rong knew what her mother was thinking about without looking at her.\n
In the previous life, her mother really liked Xu Yan. It was probably the same this time.\n
But Fu Rong wasnât anxious. No matter how good Xu Yan was at pleasing people, if she didnât want to marry him, her parents wouldnât force her to. And if there was an opportunity, Fu Rong really wanted to persuade Xu Yan to stop wasting time on her. But Xu Yan didnât say anything to her, and she couldnât go straight up to him and make things clear. If Xu Yanâs embarrassment became anger and he attacked her with âmiss, you misunderstood me, I donât like youâ, she wouldnât be able to live if it got out.\n
But Xu Yan probably wouldnât say that, right?\n
The manâs thin and haggard face suddenly appeared in her mind, and Fu Rong closed her eyes anxiously.\n
It would be best to not meet. If she ignored him, he would get tired of her after some time. If he had never had her, how would there be the bitterness of loss?\n
As she thought and thought, they arrived at the Qi mansion.\n
The men and women went separate ways.\n
At the front of the main door, seeing Xu Yan and Fu Chen walking over the shoulder to shoulder, Qi Ceâs eyes narrowed slightly, then went to welcome them with fake surprise, âYun Sheng, when did you come back? Have aunt and uncle come back as well? I remember that you said before the lantern FestivalâŠâ\n
Xu Yan smiled slightly, âNo. I wasnât used to the bustling capital and came back early. You guys have a banquet today, so I came to take a look. Do you blame me for coming uninvited?â\n
Qi Ce asked, âIf I blamed you, will Your Highness leave with anger?â\n
The two best friends smiled at each other. Qi Ce then went to welcome Fu Chen, and soon, they were walking towards the front courtyard.\n
It wasnât successful at the side door.\n
Something was going on today. There were several carriages parked in the alley. Qiao Xing walked to the side of the road and looked forward, then said, âMadam, it seems as if weâll have to wait for fifteen minutes.â\n
Qiao Shi lowered her head, and said to her two sisters, âWe have come late.â\n
Before, when the Qi family held banquets, they were considered to be the early ones. Now, it was pretty late, so wouldnât it be packed with some people from outside the city?\n
Waiting was boring, so Fu Rong slightly pushed up the curtains.\n
Across from her were the tall courtyard walls of the Qi manor. There had been a big snowstorm on the third, so there was still snow on the road, but the Qi family had gotten rid of all of it. The bluestone slabs washed with snow glowed with a faint light under the sun.\n
Light white mist drifted out as she breathed, and Fu Rong couldnât help but hold her cloak tighter. Just when she was about to retract back into the carriage, she saw a teenage girl in ragged clothing walking over. Her hands were in her sleeves, and she only walked a few steps when she lifted her arm to wipe her tears. She looked so pitiful.\n
Fu Rong wasnât a very kind and generous person. When she saw it, she frowned and was about to put down the curtain.\n
Just at this moment, the girl seemed to have sensed something, and looked over.\n
At this time, she was very close to the Fu familyâs carriage. Although she was dressed very poorly, her hair was done very neatly. Her round face was frozen white from the cold. As she raised her head, she was presented in front of Fu Rong.\n
Fu Rongâs hand tightened, and she froze in front of the window, forgetting to move.\n
The little girl looked at her, and there was hope in her eyes. She hurriedly dropped her arm and ran over quickly. She was almost to the carriage when she stopped by the carriage lady. The little girl wasnât anxious, and she looked into Fu Rongâs eyes and pleaded, âThird Lady, please help me. Please give me some money. My daddy is going to die from his sickness, pleaseâŠâ\n
As she said this, she knelt down and kowtowed continuously.\n
âYou recognize me?â Fu Rong lowered her head to look at her. At her side, Qiao Shi and Fu Xuan turned around curiously.\n
The little girl wiped her tears and said, âIâm called Yu Zhu. I was originally a maid in Ladyâs, Second Ladyâs yard. Third Lady has seen me before when you came over to play. Last spring, I was sick with a serious illness. Second Lady was afraid that I would pass on the illness and drove me out. Today, I came to plead to the maids to lend me some money for medicine, but theyâŠâ\n
Qi Zhu had an older sister, who had been married a long time ago.\n
âLast spring, what were you sick with?â Fu Rong interrupted her with a white face, her body trembling.\n
Fu Xuan sat next to her. She was short and couldnât see the person kneeling outside, but felt that there was something wrong with her older sister. She seemed angry and quickly hugged her sister. At least this could reduce the trembling.\n
Then she knew why her older sister was angry.\n
âChickenpox. The doctor said that this illness spread easily, so Second Lady didnât want me anymoreâŠâ\n
âThen after you moved out, did she, did the maids go to visit you?â Fu Rong asked while facing the Qi manor walls. If it werenât for Fu Xuan squeezing her hand tightly, she would probably form a fist. With her current strength, her nails would sink into her flesh.\n
The little girl was a little suspicious as to why Fu Rong asked this. She thought for a moment, and said, âYes. Second Lady found a home remedy for me, saying that the blisters formed from touching date cakeâŠâ\n
Hearing this, Fu Rongâs white face turned green. She wanted to tell her to stop talking, but she couldnât stop herself when she opened her mouth.\n
Qiao Shiâs eyes and hands were quick, and grabbed the spittoon in the corner and put it in front of Fu Rong. She patted her daughterâs back with a cold face with hatred in her eyes.\n
Fu Xuanâs eyes were also red. Listening to her older sisterâs continuing vomiting, her hands almost tore the curtain. After a while, she poked her head and looked out. Seeing that no one noticed what was going on here, she whispered to the puzzled Yu Zhu, âYou go back first. Just pretend you have never talked to us. Turn around the corner to the Fu manor and come to me for the medicine money.â\n
Yu Zhu had been a maid in the main house. She had faintly guessed something. She kowtowed and continued to walk forward with her hands in her sleeves.\n
Because she saw hope, her footsteps were light and quick.\n
Fu Xuan watched her walk far, looked at the mansion across from her, and ordered Qiao Xing with a cold voice, âGo to the Qi mansion. Just say that I have had a stomachache since this morning, and have left because I feel unwell.â\n
âDo I need to tell Master?â Qiao Xingâs voice also held hatred.\n
âThereâs no need.â\n
But it was Fu Rongâs weak voice.\n
[1] Xu Yan may be related to the Fu family through status, identity, or relatives. (But it doesnât mean he is related to them by blood.)\n
[2] Uncle is used to call a man a generation older (respectfully). (Same thing with aunt.)\n
[3] Pan An- A western Jin poet who is known for his good looks from a very young age.\n
[4] Yun Sheng- Xu Yanâs birth name. In ancient China, many people had two different names, one of which is the birth name. (If youâve watched The Untamed, youâll know that Wei Ying is Wei Wuxianâs birth name.)\n