CHAPTER 506: CHAPTER 506 WOODEN HAIRPIN

Princess Fu Yun’s face was already red.

Ever since she saw Su Chong on the boat, the temperature on her face hadn’t gone down.

Now that Su Chong had touched her head, she felt like she was about to explode with heat.

She lowered her head, saying nothing.

After they finished eating, the boatman guided the boat towards the shore.

The boatman felt a pang of sympathy for Princess Fu Yun.

A timid young lady encountering their bold Mr. Su was like a little lamb meeting a wolf, huddled in a corner, trembling.

Afraid Su Chong would scare Princess Fu Yun, it was better not to let them be together too long for the first time, giving Princess Fu Yun time to process it.

Once the Eldest Young Madam is married into the family, there will be plenty of time for intimacy, won’t there?

Once the boat docked, Su Chong disembarked first, followed by Princess Fu Yun.

Su Chong extended his hand, and Princess Fu Yun hesitated, silently reaching out hers.

In the distance, Prince Yun rode over and happened to see this scene.

Honestly, he was a bit surprised.

Worried that something might happen to Princess Fu Yun, he rushed over, not expecting to find Princess Fu Yun with Su Chong.

If he had known sooner, what was there to worry about?

Prince Yun decided to let them have their time alone and prepared to ride away.

But it was too late.

Princess Fu Yun’s maid, Shanhu, saw him and shouted, "Young Master, this servant is here."

With this shout, Princess Fu Yun looked over, seeing her brother on horseback.

"Brother," Princess Fu Yun called with confidence.

She lightly lifted her skirt and walked towards Prince Yun.

Seeing her brother, her breathing felt much smoother.

Su Chong approached, and Prince Yun dismounted from his horse.

Like Princess Fu Yun, Prince Yun was debating whether to thank Su Chong for extending a helping hand by marrying his sister.

But saying thanks to a brother-in-law is a bit hard to speak out.

In the future, if he bullies his sister, it won’t be easy for him as a brother to stand up for her.

Prince Yun frowned, looking troubled.

"Brother," Princess Fu Yun pulled at Prince Yun’s sleeve.

Prince Yun came back to his senses and said to Su Chong, "Fu Yun went to the lake, and I didn’t expect her to be with Brother Su."

Princess Fu Yun walked towards the carriage and climbed in on her own without the maid’s assistance.

She lifted the curtain and peeked outside, curious about what Su Chong and Prince Yun were talking about.

Su Chong looked at Prince Yun and said, "Today’s lake outing for Fu Yun was a conspiracy by the Heir of Duke Chong."

Prince Yun’s face changed.

"Thank you, Brother Su," Prince Yun said with a bow.

Su Chong’s face was lined with confusion.

Indeed, people growing up in the same family are quite similar.

Princess Fu Yun was already his fiancée, and she would marry him in no time.

He told him this not for gratitude but so that the Prince Yun Mansion would be cautious and alert.

It’s not good for him to have someone watch over Princess Fu Yun, is it?

"To avoid complications, I think I should marry Fu Yun as soon as possible," Su Chong said with a serious face.

Prince Yun: "..."

The boatman led the horse over.

Seeing their own Young Master as solemn as the Marquis, he felt a bit sympathetic towards Prince Yun.

As a brother-in-law, he should be treated with flattery and favor.

But he saw none of that from Prince Yun.

Making their Young Master flatter someone was impossible too.

If he didn’t put others in a predicament, that was already good enough.

But apparently—

The previous sentence was indeed a trap.

Clearly, he wanted to marry Princess Fu Yun soon but spoke of it so righteously as if sacrificing himself to save Princess Fu Yun.

It could only deceive outsiders; even Little Black in the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion couldn’t be fooled by him.

The servant led the horse over, and Su Chong mounted it, clasping his fists towards Prince Yun.

Prince Yun was still in a daze, not yet coming to his senses.

Su Chong glanced at the carriage, meeting Princess Fu Yun’s eyes just at the right moment.

Caught peeking, Princess Fu Yun’s face instantly flushed, hurriedly letting down the curtain.

Su Chong’s lips curled slightly, and with a slight squeeze to the horse’s sides, he rode off.

The servant followed closely on horseback.

Prince Yun walked to the carriage, knocked on it, and asked, "Sister, how did you get along with Mr. Su?"

Princess Fu Yun stayed silent.

Prince Yun lifted the curtain, "Even to your brother you can’t speak?"

Princess Fu Yun let down the curtain.

Shanhu quickly said, "Mr. Su had the Commandery Princess jump off the big boat, and she did. He then caught her and held her for a long time."

Prince Yun was stunned.

Princess Fu Yun’s face was burning.

She wanted to say that for as long as Mr. Su held her, she pinched his arms just as long.

Once Shanhu got inside the carriage, Princess Fu Yun asked, "Am I heavy?"

Shanhu was puzzled.

"Why does the Commandery Princess ask that?" Shanhu looked curious.

"Nothing, nothing," Princess Fu Yun quickly responded.

Nothing, indeed.

Shanhu sensed there was something.

The carriage moved slowly forward, with Prince Yun leading the way.

Shanhu kept looking at Princess Fu Yun, raising her hand to point at the wooden hairpin in Princess Fu Yun’s hairdo, "How come there’s a wooden hairpin?"

Princess Fu Yun raised her hand to touch her hairdo and asked, "Where?"

Shanhu moved beside her, reaching to remove the wooden hairpin from Princess Fu Yun’s hairdo.

The wooden hairpin seemed a bit familiar.

"Isn’t this the style of the jade hairpin the Commandery Princess was picking out for the Princess Consort at Jinyu Pavilion the other day?" Shanhu said.

Suddenly realizing, Shanhu covered her mouth with a laugh, "I know now, it was given by Mr. Su, wasn’t it?"

That jade hairpin had been smashed beyond recognition.

Not many people knew the style of the jade hairpin.

Aside from it being a gift from Mr. Su, she couldn’t think of anyone else who would give her lady a wooden hairpin.

Moreover, seeing her lady’s expression, it seemed she had no idea someone had given her a wooden hairpin.

Princess Fu Yun touched the wooden hairpin, her face flushed with blush.

Shanhu teased her deliberately, "Since the jade hairpin was meant for the Princess Consort, will the Commandery Princess give this wooden hairpin to the Princess Consort?"

Princess Fu Yun glared at Shanhu, "Where does a maid tease her mistress this way?"

"This wooden hairpin...,"

"Don’t tell the Princess Consort," Princess Fu Yun said.

Shanhu could see that their lady seemed quite fond of Mr. Su.

How could she bear to give away the wooden hairpin gifted by Mr. Su, and it wouldn’t be appropriate.

Princess Fu Yun sat in the carriage, her hand constantly touching the wooden hairpin, feeling a bit thirsty. She said, "Pour me some water."

Shanhu hurriedly poured a cup of tea for Princess Fu Yun.

After drinking, a moment later, she asked for more.

After three rounds, Shanhu grew puzzled, "What did the Commandery Princess eat, being this thirsty?"

Princess Fu Yun said nothing.

She couldn’t bring herself to say that Mr. Su added salt to the grilled fish twice.

Princess Fu Yun was too embarrassed to speak of it, but the servant had no problem.

On the way back to the mansion, the servant looked at Su Chong and said, "Young Lord, your fish grilling skills have declined since the days at Qingyun Mountain."

"What’s wrong with them?" Su Chong asked.

"The fish I ate today had no salt. Out of consideration for Young Lord’s face, I kept quiet," the servant said.

"Impossible!" Su Chong said.

"I added salt to every fish, precisely gauging it."

The servant looked at him, "Young Lord is sure?"

Su Chong looked at the servant, and gradually his lips twitched.

This was the second time he slipped up in front of her.

His image, indeed.