Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Fu Huaiqing's heart was clearly in turmoil...

After that day, Biezhi didn't go to the palace for seven or eight days.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go, but she had received news from the palace that there were important matters at court that needed to be discussed with the ministers. Prince Su would be staying at the palace for the foreseeable future and would not be staying at the palace.

Cheng Jin finally said that if the prince was free, he would come and inform her in advance.

Hearing this news, Biezhi felt particularly relieved.

She was truly afraid that Prince Su would say something terrifying in his hushed voice, and Biezhi would be unable to bear it.

Not long after Cheng Jin left, she heard that the master, out of consideration for her senior brother's health, had specially replaced him with someone from Youxu Pavilion.

Two pieces of good news in one day gave Biezhi a boost of motivation.

Qin Xiao was also busy, staying at the Dali Temple for a while, and when he did return to the palace, it was usually in the late night. Chaoyang barely peeked out before leaving the palace again.

Free from other concerns, Biezhi felt refreshed.

During the seven or eight days she hadn't been to the palace, she'd mostly left the Xu residence at dawn and dusk, returning to the Qin residence each day to a serene silence.

She calculated the exact time Hua Chao would wake her, retreated to her bedroom, closed her covers, and slept, only to be awakened by Hua Chao just over half an hour later.

Last night, she'd heard that Xu Wenche planned to visit Chaohui Pavilion on Yongwan Road in the north of the city, apparently to meet someone. Fearing a repeat of the situation he'd encountered Zhang Yan, Biezhi planned to appear at his side, posing as the second daughter of the Qin family.

Drowsily, she heard Hua Chao's gentle voice. Biezhi opened her eyes and scrambled to her feet. Having only rested for half an hour in days, she sat cross-legged on the couch, her expression dazed. She took the wet handkerchief Hua Chao offered and cleansed her face.

The warm water soaked her face, bringing her wandering thoughts back to reality.

After all, she appeared as the second daughter of the Qin family. Biezhi specially brought Hua Chao with her when she went out. In order to avoid unnecessary suspicion, she chose to go to Wangchuntai, which is across the street from Zhaohui Pavilion.

Pushing open the windows of the side rooms along the street of Wangchuntai, you can see the scenery of Zhaohui Pavilion.

Biezhi calculated the time to arrive at Wangchuntai, and it was still half an hour before the time agreed by Xu Wenche and others.

Glancing at the figure dressed as a servant in front of the shop in Wangchuntai, her eyes quickly measured the servant, and her eyes wrinkled slightly without a trace.

Why is Fang Tingzhi here?

And he is disguised as a man...

When Biezhi was about to step forward, she saw Fang Tingzhi suddenly turn his back to her and look at the two figures coming through the backyard.

Seeing the man walking in front, Biezhi's eyes twitched for a moment.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Su Ci's voice called out, stopping her, "Why are you here too?"

Biezhi stiffened for a moment. She forced herself to turn and look at the two figures who had unknowingly approached her, and behind them, a startled Fang Tingzhi. A smile tugged at her. "I came to see you. I was just about to leave." As soon

as she entered Wangchun Terrace, Fu Huaiqing had spotted her.

His deep, impassive gaze studied her expression, sensing her deliberate avoidance of his gaze. He gently grasped her hand, clasped behind his back, and glanced at Su Ci.

Su Ci's understanding was immediate. He couldn't understand why Fu Huaiqing didn't speak up himself, but he stopped Biezhi, who seemed intent on escaping. "Since we've met, it's been ages since we've been together. How about a get-together?" Their

familiar words made it sound as if they were close friends, as if they'd met countless times before.

Biezhi glimpsed Fang Tingzhi standing behind Su Ci from the corner of her eye. The corners of her slightly parted mouth slowly closed, and she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. "Then I'll trouble the prince and Master Su."

Her deliberate politeness was evident, as if she was intentionally widening the distance between them. Su Ci raised an eyebrow at this. Temporary politeness was normal, but if it continued like this, there would be no future.

Seeing that Fu Huaiqing remained silent, Su Ci sighed, worried about him. "Your brother and sister, the prince, and I are all old acquaintances. You don't have to be so polite."

Biezhi smiled, but she didn't really care.

She watched Fu Huaiqing and Su Ci ascend the stairs, deliberately lagging behind half a step. She glanced at her friend, who looked like a servant, her eyes filled with confusion as she silently asked, "What's going on?"

Fang Tingzhi hadn't expected to meet them there. She tilted her chin slightly toward Su Ci. "Someone's buying information about him."

Biezhi discerned her friend's lips and frowned silently as the man ascended the stairs.

She was a little surprised.

Shanju had previously offered a high price to gather information about important officials at court, but before the offer reached his master, Su Tao had already declined or suppressed it, simultaneously sending a message to the public, making it clear that Shanju would not, either before or in the future, pass on information about any official.

Not to mention Su Ci's status as a cabinet minister, with far-reaching implications, just considering his status as a friend of Prince Su, how could Shanju dare accept such a task?

Strangely, his master also agreed.

Biezhi lowered her gaze and said slowly, "Anything out of the ordinary must be a sign of something strange. Be extra careful."

"I know." Fang Tingzhi had sensed something was amiss when she received the mission assigned by Su Tao. However, her parents didn't object, proving they were well aware of the situation. "They agreed too."

Hearing this, Biezhi remembered that her uncle and mistress were checking on her, and her worries were finally put to rest.

Her uncle was the head of Mingyue Pavilion, so he naturally knew the inside story better than they did. Furthermore, Fang Tingzhi had previously been seriously injured during a mission and had been bedridden for a full fortnight. Since then, her uncle and mistress would review any mission assigned to her in advance, ensuring it was safe before letting her go.

With that in mind, seeking information about Su Ci was a relatively safe undertaking.

Approaching the second-floor wing, Biezhi exchanged a glance with Fang Tingzhi, then followed Su Ci's steps across the threshold.

Fang Tingzhi stood by the door, put her palm on the door handle and pulled it back. She only exerted a little force when she heard Su Ci's voice calling her to go in and follow him.

She did not hesitate and went in immediately.

Biezhi's eyes swept over the man sitting in the main seat, counted the round stools beside the table, picked the seat farthest from him, and sat down.

There was Su Ci between the two of them.

Fu Huaiqing did not miss her series of actions. His eyes were fixed on the back of her hand and the hand of the man beside her, and he turned his eyes slightly to look at Su Ci beside her.

He was not very reassured. The men involved with Biezhi were all interested in her, and there was no guarantee that Su Ci did not have other thoughts.

Su Ci was stunned.

He followed Fu Huaiqing's vague gaze down, "..."

Su Ci raised his head, and their eyes met for a moment, and he was silent.

If there weren't other people here, Su Ci would have raised his hands and sworn to the heavens that he had no feelings for Biezhi at all. If he broke his oath, he would be alone for the rest of his life.

The back of Su Ci's hand, which had nearly reached him, stopped as he withdrew, and Fu Huaiqing's gaze followed suit, falling on the girl's fingertips, which were boredly rolling up her handkerchief.

Fu Huaiqing watched Biezhi for as long as she played.

The large tea room was eerily silent, save for the noise coming through the window. Su Ci couldn't understand what Fu Huaiqing was thinking. He clearly had feelings for the girl, yet he kept his mouth shut. Could it be that by being mute, he could attract Biezhi's attention?

His foot, hidden under the table, shifted slightly, his fingertips holding the teacup perfectly steady.

Sipping his tea, speechless, Fu Huaiqing suddenly felt a kick. He dropped the teacup and glanced at Su Ci indifferently.

Su Ci raised an eyebrow sharply in Biezhi's direction and said silently, "If you don't take the initiative, are you still waiting for the girl to take the initiative?" With

such silence, someone who didn't know better would think he didn't want to see Biezhi at all. When he gave him a look, he clearly realized that she would leave without hesitation if he didn't try to stop her. He

came to Yong'an Street on important business.

The shadow guard had not yet come to report. Fu Huaiqing had not expected to meet her at Wangchun Terrace, so he naturally did not prepare Yisheng medicine.

He glanced at the wide-open window, his Adam's apple rolling.

If he spoke now, he would see the girl's horrified face the moment he opened his mouth, and he would have to avoid

her in the future. She had already been scared a few days ago, so it would be safer to take it step by step.

Su Ci waited for a long time but he didn't speak. A hint of doubt flashed across his face. He was silent for a while, and felt that he had to rely on himself: "Yong'an Street is not close to the Qin family. Why did you come here today?"

"I heard my sister mention that Yong'an Street is more lively than other places. I happened to be free today, so I came to take a look." Biezhi was right. Qin Wan did mention it to her, and if Su Ci asked about it in the future, it would not be exposed. "I didn't expect to meet the prince and the young master here."

If she had known earlier, she would not come.

"Your Highness and I just decided to come here on short notice." Su Ci paused, then smiled at her. "Your Highness is more familiar with Yong'an Street. If you have any questions—" "

No need to trouble Your Highness." Bie Zhi was genuinely worried that Prince Su would agree, after all, he could have been so straightforward about his feelings for her. Before Su Ci could finish, she interrupted, "I'll just go for a walk on my own."

The rejection in her words was undeniable.

Su Ci hadn't expected Bie Zhi to be so resistant to her friend. He subconsciously glanced at Fu Huaiqing, whose eyes were darkening. It seemed as if something had happened between them that he was unaware of.

She hadn't shown this level of resistance when they met a few days ago.

Facing the gaze that was filled with the words 'stay away from me,' Fu Huaiqing pursed her lips slightly, picked up the teacup, and took a sip, soothing the uneasiness that lingered in her heart.

The refreshing tea flowed down her throat, unable to dispel the restlessness that weighed on the man's heart.

Fu Huaiqing was well aware of this.

His loss of control also pushed her further and further away from him.

After Biezhi finished speaking, he also realized that he was a bit too decisive. It was okay to treat other people like this, but it was obviously an insult to Prince Su to treat him like this. If he had a worse temper, he might have ordered people to drag him away and lock him up.

Before she could figure out how to ease the current atmosphere, she caught a glimpse of a figure climbing the stairs under the eaves of Zhaohui Pavilion. Biezhi couldn't help but straighten her back, and raised her eyes to look at Xu Wenche.

Fu Huaiqing: "..."

Obviously, everyone is more important than herself.

His eyes became dark, and the usually calm lake was rippling with waves. He couldn't help but think that if Biezhi was asked to rank them according to their preference, Xu Wenche might be ranked ahead of him. The only thing he could compete for would be with Qin Xiao to see who would be ranked second to last.

Su Ci, naturally observing Biezhi's actions, looked over and asked, "What's going on outside?"

"I saw a friend." Seeing Xu Wenche already enter the Chaohui Pavilion, Biezhi didn't care to care too much. She stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for taking me in. I'll go over first."

Without waiting for a reply, she hurried away without even turning back.

Su Ci sensed something was amiss.

He had just followed Biezhi's gaze, and the figure she was fixated on was clearly Xu Wenche.

Su Ci's expression froze slightly, and he glanced sideways, motioning Fang Tingzhi to leave.

As the door closed, he averted his gaze and quickly glanced at the man in the main seat. "Being too close to Xu Wenche won't be good for her."

They knew it all.

If Xu Wenche's arrival in Beijing was simply a matter of expanding the Xu family's assets, there wouldn't be any advantages or disadvantages. For Biezhi, it was at least a new friend, and another path forward in the capital.

However, he had drawn many eyes on him during his visit.

Be it an important official in the court or a wealthy businessman in Beijing, the figures behind them are eager to try, just waiting to tear open a hole and swallow them up.

Anyone who appears next to Xu Wenche will certainly be checked one by one by nearly a dozen people. If there is a mistake in any link, it can be disastrous, not to say that it is irreparable.

Fu Huaiqing hummed lightly, "I know."

Then, there was a long silence.

Su Ci didn't know why Biezhi appeared in the Qin family, but it was obvious that she had taken the Qin family's path, and the Qin family was willing to support her and watch her rush into the fire.

He looked at the slender knuckles that knocked on the table from time to time. The knocking sound was chaotic and there was no rhythm at all.

Fu Huaiqing's heart was obviously confused.