Chapter 33 Chapter 33 So the prince was planning to pry someone else's wall...

Fu Huaiqing's eyes darkened upon hearing this.

Could their relationship be called anything more than just good friends?

In his twenty-five years, he had never heard of a pair of friends so deeply connected. Even if two pieces of wood were put together, they would never claim to be anything more than friends.

Fu Huaiqing understood why she said that; she was simply worried about causing trouble for Ji Ran, not wanting to burden him with her.

He was clearly the 'Jiran' she spoke of, the one she was defending with all her might, yet he still felt uncomfortable. An indescribable bitterness spread, numbing even the tip of his tongue.

To her, Ji Ran was acceptable, but Fu Huaiqing wasn't.

Biezhi didn't understand why the man's mood had suddenly plummeted, as if he were about to devour everything he saw.

That included her, of course.

She tactfully lowered her eyes, as if he couldn't see her unless they met.

Under the pavilion's eaves, Jiang Yue witnessed his own prince in such a state of emotion for the first time. He hesitated, looking at Biezhi, who was pretending to be a quail with his head bowed. From the corner of his eye, he saw the prince's face falter for a moment, then close his eyes. When he opened them again, his expression instantly returned to normal , and he breathed a sigh

of relief. Fu Huaiqing took a sip of tea, shaking off the sour taste.

"So, I misunderstood," he said calmly.

The pervasive chill dissipated, and so did the vague gloom. Biezhi, unsure of his thoughts, made no effort to reply, her gaze fixed on the tiny gravel on the ground.

She didn't wait long before a brief note suddenly appeared in her peripheral vision. The man's bony knuckles pressed against the note, slowly pushing it forward until the edge of the note was flush with the edge of the table.

He spoke succinctly, "Zhang Yan's life story."

Biezhi's almond-shaped eyes gleamed. Fearing the man would retract his words, she hurriedly bowed, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your assistance." She reached for the memorial, but with her fingertips barely half a palm's length away, the man pressed his knuckles against it, exerting a gentle pressure, causing the document, resting on the table, to retreat slightly toward him.

She glanced up, caught off guard by the man's deep, clear eyes, which held an unreadable expression.

Biezhi gazed at him anxiously, her voice tinged with suspicion, "Your Highness?"

"I can give it to you," Fu Huaiqing said slowly, "but there are conditions."

Biezhi knew the principle of payment in exchange for goods, but was surprised that, besides keeping a close eye on the court officials interacting with Xu Wenche, she could also give Prince Su what he desired.

She blinked. "What's the condition?"

Fu Huaiqing's expression was indifferent, his tone unyielding. "Starting from today, for the next six months, you must come to the palace every day."

Biezhi froze in shock.

She stared blankly at the man beneath the dimly lit light. The bright yellow palace lanterns cast a particularly gentle shadow on his handsome features, even the faintest hairs visible. But the words that escaped her lips were incomprehensible.

Why did he come to the palace so often?

She didn't seem to have anything the man wanted from her.

Biezhi paused for a moment. "Your Highness," she replied, "I have matters to attend to with Xu Wenche, so I'm afraid—"

"That's all right," Fu Huaiqing interrupted slowly. "Come here half an hour after dark. When you come to the palace, someone will accompany him on your behalf."

Biezhi's right eyelid twitched, as if she saw a glaring pit dug just a stone's throw away, waiting for her, her prey, to fall.

She hesitated and asked, "Why?"

"There is someone who needs you to teach him the art of self-defense." Fu Huaiqing said.

Since they were not familiar with each other, they could only force themselves to get closer. Seeing each other

every day for half a year.

Even if one is deaf and the other is blind, they should be familiar with each other after spending half a year together.

Biezhi hesitated to speak.

Not to mention half a year, she might have left Beijing in three months.

Biezhi glanced at the memorial on the table, licked his lips unconsciously, was silent for a while, and then nodded to agree to his request: "Okay."

Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow.

He seemed not to have told her that when she lied, she would lick her lips subconsciously to ease the uneasiness in her heart.

Fu Huaiqing naturally remembered that Biezhi had mentioned leaving Beijing not long ago.

Thinking of this, his face sank, and he slowly retracted his knuckles that were resting on the memorial, and said intentionally or unintentionally: "You need to do this for half a year, don't forget it, girl."

Biezhi's heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

She felt a constant sense of gloom surrounding her. If she hadn't only mentioned leaving the capital to Ji Ran, Biezhi would have truly believed that Prince Su had noticed her departure in three months, and that her current agreement was merely a temporary solution to obtain the memorial.

Biezhi gathered the memorial in her hand and held it tightly, fearing that Prince Su would think of something else the next moment and she would fall into another trap he had set.

Falling into one would be accidental, two might be due to obstructed vision, and falling into three would simply mean that he was too cunning and she was still a little immature.

Regardless of who was more cunning, she, a mere commoner, believed she could not compare to the power-playing Prince Regent. Who knew if he even glanced at her in his spare time, she would be manipulated by him.

Biezhi didn't stay in the palace for long. The guards on duty came to announce Su Ci's arrival, and she was able to escape.

Su Ci, hurrying over, caught sight of a figure in the long corridor across the empty courtyard. His solemn eyes widened as he stared at the girl in disbelief, then glanced at Cheng Jin, who was trailing behind her.

After watching the girl walk out of the palace gate, Su Ci, stunned for a moment

, finally came to his senses. It was nearly midnight; how could she be here?

Su Ci looked thoughtfully in the direction of the palace's study, quickening his pace as he entered the courtyard, familiar with the place.

The study door was wide open, and he stepped inside.

Fu Huaiqing absentmindedly toyed with the pen in his hand, unreading the memorial before him. Hearing Su Ci enter, he glanced up at him, seeing the profound meaning in his eyes. He said calmly, "I see." "Hmm.

" Su Ci didn't bother to exchange polite words, finding a seat and pouring his tea. "You're quite quick. We've only met a few times, but are you really sure it's her?"

They had known each other for nearly twenty years. Although rumors had circulated in recent years among the people of the capital that Prince Su and Qin Wan had known each other since childhood and were awaiting a wedding date, in reality, all this was simply a lie.

Su Ci knew that he had always been averse to women. When the Imperial Concubine was still alive, she had tried to arrange marriages for him many times, meeting every eligible noblewoman in the capital, naturally including Qin Wan, but he had rejected them all without exception. Even the maids from the Imperial Bedchamber who were sent to him were turned away.

After the imperial concubine passed away, the late emperor asked her several times, but she always declined on the grounds that she had no intention of having any romantic relationship with him.

Later on, no one dared to mention this matter.

It kept pushing and pushing until now.

No one could have imagined that it wasn't that he didn't have any feelings for men and women, but that he just hadn't met the woman he liked. But now was the perfect time. Even if he didn't say much about his feelings for Biezhi, his family background alone was enough to stop some court officials from thinking of sending their daughters to the palace.

Su Ci thought about this and smiled: "Love at first sight?"

Fu Huaiqing sat upright behind the desk, his deep eyes as calm as a cold pond. It was impossible to see

through his thoughts.

After staring at each other for a while, Fu Huaiqing put down the pen in his hand, stood up and walked over, denying: "Not really."

If it was love at first sight, he wouldn't have realized his feelings only recently, and he wouldn't have let his relationship with Biezhi reach a dilemma.

"Not really..." Su Ci was puzzled. The Qin family had only recognized their youngest daughter a dozen days ago. Even if they saw her every day, it would only be ten days in total. "How could you have the time to fall in love with her?"

Fu Huaiqing replied casually, "She and I have known each other for a long time."

Su Ci was stunned.

The study was so quiet that only the sound of the breeze blowing through the treetops could be heard. Fu Huaiqing paused for a moment, then added, "But she doesn't know."

Su Ci: "..."

He opened his mouth, hesitant, and said after a while, "This means you are only getting to know her, not the two of you."

Fu Huaiqing glanced at him indifferently.

Su Ci's lips pursed slightly, silently taking back what he had already said. "Let's just assume you know each other." He sipped his tea to suppress his surprise, then said, "But I don't think she's particularly interested in you, and she's remained somewhat aloof from the Qin family."

If it weren't for their frequent interactions, and the Qin family's recent grand banquet announcing the return of their youngest daughter, few officials in the capital would have known about this.

"She has a crush on someone," Fu Huaiqing said, his gaze fixed on him.

Su Ci's eyes suddenly widened, his mind swirling as news after news rained down on him. "Who?"

Fu Huaiqing said, "You don't know her."

Su Ci knew he didn't know her; if he did, he wouldn't be so stunned.

He stared at him silently for a moment, then understanding dawned. A hint of a smile etched in his eyes, and he teased, "So the prince is trying to steal someone else's girlfriend, and now he's come to me for advice."

Fu Huaiqing remained impassive, saying nothing.

Su Ci teased, but a headache gripped him. The problem was, "I've never stolen anyone's girlfriend before, so there's no point in asking me about this."

Hearing this, Fu Huaiqing averted his gaze.

He took a sip from his teacup to moisten his dry throat, then said, "Don't mention today's events in front of Qin Xiao."

Su Ci naturally understood what could and couldn't be said, but the fact that he'd reminded him of this matter showed how deeply he cared.

Seeing that he had no intention of discussing the matter further, Su Ci shifted his focus and explained his purpose for today's visit. "I've already ordered them to bring her into the mansion. What should we do next?"

"Leave everything else to her." Fu Huaiqing paused for a moment, stroking the teacup, remembering Biezhi and Fang Tingzhi's friendship. "If you have time, just keep an eye on her."

Su Ci raised an eyebrow. "Who deserves this much attention?"

"Someone who could tear your family apart," Fu Huaiqing said.

Su Ci: "..."

What Fu Huaiqing said was true.

If something happened to Fang Tingzhi in the Su family, Biezhi would definitely go and tear down the Su family. It

's not like she hasn't done it before.

Biezhi has already done it once, and it will definitely be easy for her to do it again.

On the way back to the Qin Mansion, Biezhi sneezed several times in a row. If she hadn't been feeling well, she would have thought she had a heat stroke.

Before pushing open the side door of the courtyard, Biezhi lowered her eyes and glanced at her clothes. After confirming that there was nothing unusual, she pushed the door open. Suddenly, a figure wandering in the courtyard came into her sight.

She frowned slightly and walked over, "Madam Qin."

Madam Qin, who had been waiting for nearly half an hour, turned around at the sound. Seeing Bie Zhi finally return, her tense body suddenly relaxed. She stepped forward, cupping her hand in the girl's, and said, "Xiao'er was about to come over just now, but I stopped him. The people in the courtyard said you weren't there, so I told him you were out having fun today. If someone from the Dali Temple hadn't called him over, you'd be out of the house today."

"He was looking for me?" Bie Zhi frowned, glancing at Madam Qin's slightly hesitant expression. "What happened?"

Madam Qin was silent for a moment, then said, "He heard something last night."

Hearing this, Bie Zhi remembered that Qin Xiao had been in the courtyard during their conversation yesterday. She probably knew what he had heard, but she didn't know what had happened since he left.

Seeing that her expression was the same as always, it was obvious that she understood what she was referring to. Madam Qin was stunned for a moment, remembering what her son had said last night, and her eyes trembled as she looked at the girl.

Honestly, whether in temperament or interpersonal relationships, Madam Qin didn't see Biezhi as any different from the other noble ladies in the capital. Her talent and knowledge weren't hers to choose. If life weren't for the pressures of life, how many people would risk their lives for a living?

From the start, she had a positive impression of the young woman.

However...

Madam Qin was still a little hesitant about marrying her son.

Her son was already in dire straits, with hundreds of people seeking his life. Biezhi's assassin identity was similar to his. If the two of them were to get together, the future would be filled with chaos and unrest.

Madam Qin also had her own selfish motives: she hoped her children could live out their remaining years in peace. She stared at Biezhi for a moment, hesitant, but ultimately, she chose not to speak. "I have a favor to ask of you. Is that possible?"

Biezhi's brows twitched.

She didn't agree outright, but said, "Madam, please tell me what it is."

"Later—" Madam Qin looked at the girl's clear almond-shaped eyes, feeling increasingly embarrassed to speak. After a moment's hesitation, she steeled her resolve and said, "I hope the young lady can stay away from Xiao'er, so he doesn't bother her."

Biezhi, assuming it was a serious matter, didn't bother to ask why, but readily agreed, "Yes."

Madam Qin's crisp response momentarily lost her composure. She knew she was wrong to blame Biezhi for the situation, instead advising her son.

After a brief silence, her eyes gradually settled into a more determined tone. "I'll also tell Xiao'er not to bother the young lady."

Biezhi was unaware of Madam Qin's swirling thoughts, but her request was a simple matter for her. From the beginning, she hadn't considered having any contact with Qin Xiao.

Their relationship was based on money and goods.

However, Biezhi hadn't anticipated that the next morning, just after Madam Qin had mentioned this matter, she would run into the man waiting outside the courtyard's side gate.

Biezhi and Qin Xiao looked at each other for a moment, nodded and greeted each other, then left without looking back.

After a while, I heard the sound of steady footsteps behind me. I followed closely.