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: TWOF Chapter 30\n
: TWOF Chapter 32\n
I hope you can support me, many thanks! My Kofi\n
The Qi and Fu families had a good relationship. When Qiao Shi did not show up at the Qi familyâs banquet, the guests couldnât help but ask.\n
So, Fu Xuan was feeling unwell, and the news that Qiao Shi and her two daughters turned back when they were already at the doors of the Qi mansion gradually spread.\n
In the front yard, it was still too early to leave. Qi Ce invited Fu Chen and Xu Yan to his study to show them the good sword Master Qi had gifted him. As they were looking at it, Madam Qi sent a maid over to look for him. Qi Ce apologized to the two and said to Qi Jian, âSecond Brother, go accompany Yun Sheng and Zheng Tang for now [Xu Yan and Fu Chenâs birth names, respectively], Iâll be back soon.â\n
Qi Jianâs face was a little white, and he agreed with a forced smile. He didnât look into Qi Ceâs eyes. \n
Fu Chen noticed this. After Qi Ce left, he asked Qi Jian with concern, âIs something troubling you? If you feel unwell, you donât need to force yourself to accompany us, I can just go somewhere to sit with His Highness.â\n
Qi Jian looked at him, smiled, and said, âIâm fine, I just remembered that in a few more days, Iâll have to start studying again. I kind of admire you guys. Itâs so good to practice martial arts. Your future can depend on your martial arts skills, and it keeps you healthy. Unlike me, who is locked up in the study room the entire day.â\n
He wasnât willing, to tell the truth. Fu Chen pretended he didnât notice. He started talking about martial arts matters as he drank his tea.\n
Qi Jian looked at him and looked for any traces of his crush on Fu Chenâs face.\n
But it was a pity that before he even found a chance to confide in her, he didnât have an opportunity anymore.\n
When he went to a banquet two days ago, his eldest brother was drunk. He helped him back to his room, and when he set him on the bed, he suddenly heard his eldest brother muttering. Qi Jian thought it was just words of drunkenness, so he ignored him. When he turned around, he heard a low but clear âNong Nongâ. His older brother murmured that he would go to her house to propose to her this year.\n
Nong Nong. That was her nickname. The name he had called numerous times in his dreams quietly.\n
So his older brother also liked her.\n
Why wouldnât he? She smiled so prettily, had such a good-sounding voice, and had eyes like clear water. She was innocent and charming.\n
Should he give up? He couldnât bear it.\n
Fight against his older brother?\n
Without thinking, Qi Jian knew that he couldnât compare to his older brother. He couldnât compare in any aspect. Even Master Fu admired his brother moreâŠ\n
Rather than not gaining her and creating a brotherly rift, it would be better to pretend that he had never fallen for her.\n
~\n
In the corner of the corridor, Qi Ce walked over steadily. He didnât even look at the maid in the courtyard, and asked in a low voice, âDid they take the person?â\n
Since she liked him, she would definitely go if he invited her.\n
The expression of the green-clothed maid changed, and she lowered her head, explaining, âNo. I heard that Sixth Lady has a stomachache. She suddenly threw out when the carriage arrived in front of our mansion. Madam Fu said that they went back to their manor. Third Lady didnât come out of the carriage either.â\n
Qi Ce frowned. How could it be so coincidental?\n
After excusing the maid, Qi Ce pondered for a moment, then went back to the study. After seeing Fu Chen, he said, âI heard that Sixth Lady threw up on the way here, nowâŠâ\n
âThrew up? Where is Xuan Xuan!â He only said one sentence when Fu Chen stood up and hurried out anxiously.\n
Qi Ce immediately confirmed that Fu Xuan was really sick. It was not that Qiao Shi and her daughters didnât want to come.\n
After clearing his doubts, he hurriedly stopped Fu Chen and told him about the matter of Qiao Shi and them going home.\n
Fu Chen was still worried, and bid farewell to the few of them, âIâm going to tell father. I wonât join the banquet today. Since she was young, Xuan Xuan has had a strong body and rarely gets sick. I must go back to be relieved.â\n
Qi Ce and Xu Yan were both people who had younger sisters. They said a few words of comfort and sent him out together.\n
After learning of the matter, Fu Pinyan didnât seem to look strange. He told Fu Chen to go back first, and he continued to talk and drink with his colleagues, and only after the banquet ended did he get on the carriage to go home.\n
As soon as he got off the carriage, he rushed to his youngest daughterâs Cuizhu room. [name of her room]\n
The housekeeper, Uncle Liu, had already received Qiao Shiâs order, and reminded him, âMaster, Sixth Lady is fine. Itâs Third Lady who is ill.â\n
Fu Pinyanâs footsteps stopped. He looked at Uncle Liu, then hurried towards Fu Rongâs Fushou room. [name of her room]\n
He entered the room to see Qiao Shi and the others all there. His beloved daughter leaned against the bedside. Her face was white. It seemed like with just a few hours of not seeing her, she had gotten much skinnier.\n
Fu Pinyan then looked towards Fu Xuan and confirmed that she was fine. He sat beside the bedside and rubbed Fu Rongâs forehead, âNong Nong, how do you feel? Where do you feel unwell? Have you seen the doctor yet?â He ignored the faint smell in the room.\n
Fu Rong buried herself into her fatherâs arms, and her tears fell again.\n
She only knew today how stupid she was in the previous life.\n
Since she was small, her mother would always remind her older sister to take good care of her every time they went out, always afraid that she would be bullied by others. Fu Rong felt that her mother worried too much. She was so smart, so there was only the possibility of her bullying others. Who could bully her? She argued back to her mother. Her mother told her that she looked smart, but she grew up in a honey jar. When she was outside, she wouldnât be able to see the bees next to the honey when she ate something sweet. She would be about to be stung and still worry about finding honey.\n
Perhaps she really thought that she was smart, but Qi Zhu was not a normal bee. The two of them were only normal friends. When they met, they smiled and greeted each other, but when they were apart, they didnât miss each other. They hadnât asked each other for favors, and no one had offended the other. Last spring, she hadnât seen Xu Yan. The two of them had no hatred against each other. Fu Rong couldnât understand how Qi Zhu could be so cruel as to give her that plate of pastries.\n
There was a churn in her stomach. Fu Rong covered her mouth and wanted to vomit, but there was nothing in her stomach to throw up.\n
She hated herself for being stupid, for hiding under the rock for so long. She hated Qi Zhu even more. \n
She hated her for making her endure the pain of blisters, for leaving her with a scar on her forehead that she didnât dare show others.\n
She hated her for taking her younger brotherâs life, for making her hate and blame herself. The whole family was miserable. The most pitiful person was her younger brother, who didnât know why he left.\n
She hated her for being insidious and hypocritical, for hurting her terribly. And she could still greet her as nothing happened and apologize for Qi Ce, staying as the dignified and gentle Lady Qi in everyoneâs eyes, who had a good reputation.\n
The hatred that could not be described rushed towards her like a mountain. Fu Rong clutched her fatherâs clothes tightly, almost crushing her teeth.\n
Fu Pinyan was heartbroken.\n
His daughter was best at whining. She would tell him of all the grievances she had suffered and beg him to help her. This time, she looked so angry but was only clenching her teeth like this, which made him feel even worse than her hugging him and crying.\n
Listening to Qiao Shi say everything that Qi Zhu had done hatefully, Fu Pinyan didnât get angry but laughed, and said to the Fu brothers and sisters, âWanâer, take your younger sister over there. You guys donât need to worry here. Zheng Tang [Fu Chenâs birth name], go guard the yard, and donât let any idlers come close.â\n
He was a very powerful father. When he was really angry, besides Fu Rong, even Qiao Shi didnât dare provoke him.\n
Fu Wan rubbed Fu Rongâs head, said a few words of comfort, then left with Fu Xuan. Fu Chen followed them.\n
Qiao Shi looked at her husband suspiciously.\n
Fu Pinyan didnât look at her, but only lifted the daughter with her head buried in his arms, forced her to sit upright, and supported her shoulders firmly, âNong Nong, tell me, what exactly are you angry about?â\n
Fu Rongâs crying could cause anyone to worry. Her heart was full of hatred, and regret, and even more blame. She couldnât understand, understand why she had to be wronged by someone in this way.\n
âTell me. If you donât tell me, how will daddy know what you are angry about?â Fu Pinyan patiently looked at his daughter.\n
She heard her fatherâs gentle voice next to her ear. Fu Rong couldnât hold it in anymore, and she leaped into her fatherâs arms to tell of her grievances, âI have never angered her, why would she hurt me in that way, hurtâŠDoes she know how terrible I have lived? Where have I done bad to her for her to be so cruel?â\n
Even if she was sorry to Qi Zhu in any way, she wouldnât feel so terrible.\n
Fu Pinyan looked towards his wife.\n
Qiao Shi climbed onto the bedside and held her daughter in her arms. She patted her gently, âDumb Nong Nong, she is jealous that you look prettier than her, which is why she wanted you to get sick and leave scabs. Then she could be the prettiest girl in Xindu. Mother is telling you, the more one stands out, the more people get jealous. Once someone is jealous of you, even if there is no hatred between the two of you, there will be evil thoughts. Nong Nong, donât be angry. This matter is not because of your carelessness, but rather because that person is too scheming. She has such plots at such a young age. I didnât realize it either. If I had realized it sooner, I wouldnât have made you tumble so much.â\n
Fu Rong didnât believe her. Her eyes were filled with tears, âItâs only because of jealousy?â\n
âWhat else could it be besides jealousy?â Qiao Shi wiped her daughterâs eyes distressedly and told her something that happened when she was young, âWhen I was younger I was also almost framed by someone. A noble childe came to our house to visit. My sisters were afraid that they couldnât compete against me in appearance and wanted to destroy my face. Thankfully, they werenât as good at concealing it as Qi Zhu is, and I noticed it and avoided everything. Nong Nong, remember, when you go to someoneâs house in the future, unless you really trust them, try not to touch the food and such.â\n
Living in a too peaceful home also had its disadvantages. The girls hadnât seen much sordidness, so their defenses were set low.\n
Fu Pinyan looked at his wife with surprise, as he had never heard her mention this matter before.\n
Qiao Shi was completely focused on her daughter, so she didnât know her husbandâs expression.\n
On the contrary, Fu Rong, after all that crying, had vented out all of the grievances inside her and left only hatred.\n
Qi Zhu had hurt her in that way. If she doesnât retaliate back, wouldnât she live this life in vain, knowing the truth of what she concealed for nothing?\n
The hatred in her eyes was unabated, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly with a vicious touch. Until this moment, Fu Pinyan finally sighed in relief.\n
He didnât want his daughter to be a soft persimmon. If someone punched her, she could cry, but she must have the intention to make them pay back ten times greater!\n
He also wouldnât let his daughter take revenge herself. When a daughter grew up, she couldnât be kept. In the future when his daughter married someone and suffered grievances in her husbandâs family, her father would be like distant water. His daughters can only solve their problems by themselves. But right now, he will guard at his daughtersâ sides.\n
âNong Nong, how do you plan on taking revenge?â Fu Pinyan stood up to pour a cup of tea and came back with a smile as he said this.\n
Fu Rong raised her head with surprise, looking at her fatherâs gentle and elegant handsome face. But the smile on his face looked evil no matter what.\n
His daughter didnât say anything, and Fu Pinyan pushed, âTell me. Let me see your skills.â\n
Qiao Shi froze. Was this a way of teaching children?\n
Fu Rong didnât think much. Under her fatherâs anticipating eyes, she looked down, thought of something, then denied it. After continuously denying three or four ideas, she said slowly, âDaddy, I want to invite her to look at the lanterns with me in a few days, during the lantern show at the Lantern Festival. Daddy should arrange some people in advance, and order them to deliberately make some noise, then take advantage of the chaosâŠand hurt her face.â\n
She would take revenge for the hatred of both lifetimes.\n
Didnât Qi Zhu want to be the number one beauty? Fu Rong wanted her to be even worse than the maid next to her, wanted her to live a life worse than death, and never have a day of happiness in the future.\n
Fu Pinyan didnât make a judgment. He smiled and asked his wife, âWhat do you think, Su Niang?â [her wife title]\n
Qiao Shi curled her lips, looked at her daughter that had already been through storms and clear skies, and muttered, âWhen you two do bad things, donât involve me.â\n
Fu Pinyan nodded his head, and said to Fu Rong, âAlright, weâll do it the way you said. Donât worry and just light the lanterns. Iâll take care of the other matters.â\n
Fu Rong reminded thoughtfully, âDaddy, you also have to be careful, donât let anyone figure anything out.â\n
âDo I need you to teach me?â Fu Pinyan rubbed the top of her head.\n
Seeing that the father and daughter were about to settle things, Qiao Shi finally couldnât hold it in and said, âWait, Nong Nong hasnât visited her in more than half a year. Now if you suddenly take the initiative to invite her out to admire the lights and something happens, sheâs not dumb. Sheâll definitely be suspicious of Nong Nong.â\n
Fu Rong froze. This was trueâŠ\n
Without waiting for her to think, Qiao Shi said, âNong Nong, you donât need to hurry to invite her for now. Everyone loves the liveliness of the Lantern Festival. Even if she doesnât invite you, even if she doesnât leave her house, there will certainly be times in the certainty that she does leave her house. Your daddyâs people can do it at any time, is there really a need to retaliate back right away?â\n
She pinched her daughterâs face, which still didnât seem to have much blood in it, and smiled gently, âWhen one takes revenge, ten years isnât even late. Nong Nong, you have to stay in the long run.â\n
Fu Rong glanced at her mother, then at her father, who had been smiling and looking at her mother. Her heart suddenly surged with sweetness, âMother, I find that you and daddy are really well-suited for each other. Youâre really a perfect match.â\n