CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: DON’T TALK NONSENSE!

Xiao Fengxing was grabbed by the neck by the Second Prince, his hands instinctively clutching the prince’s hand, trying to make him let go.

The Second Prince squeezed hard, and Xiao Fengxing struggled to speak, "Your Highness, I am... innocent..."

After all, he was a marquis’ son, and the Second Prince couldn’t really kill him.

He could only resentfully push Xiao Fengxing’s neck, throwing him to the ground.

Xiao Fengxing hurriedly got up and knelt before the Second Prince to show his loyalty, "Your Highness, I really don’t know anything!"

"This matter, my fiancée never mentioned it to me at all!" Xiao Fengxing hastily explained, "If I had known, I would never have suggested such a thing."

"Leave now." The Second Prince, tricked heavily, didn’t want to hear more from Xiao Fengxing.

Xiao Fengxing had no choice but to get up, cover his neck, and leave the tent, only to run into Chen Yuan’an at the door.

Xiao Fengxing found it hard to contain the resentment in his eyes.

If Chen Yuan’an hadn’t been one step ahead, offering a fine steed to the Second Prince, he would now be the one relied upon by the prince, not Chen Yuan’an!

Seeing the expression on Xiao Fengxing’s face, Chen Yuan’an sneered mockingly and entered the Second Prince’s tent.

While busy preparing to roast a mountain chicken with Fu Changqin, Fu Shinian suddenly heard a "ding" in his mind.

[Xiao Fengxing’s Fortune -2, the Fu Family’s Fortune +1, Xiao Chengyu’s Fortune +1]

Eh?

Fu Shinian paused in confusion; this notification was different.

Why did Xiao Chengyu also gain fortune?

Could it be because of the court matters, Xiao Fengxing’s prospects were reduced, so Xiao Chengyu’s increased?

Fu Shinian could only speculate, unsure of the exact reason.

However, if Xiao Chengyu’s fortune was increasing, does that imply Xiao Chengyu might also extend his life through increased fortune?

After all, fortune affects all aspects of life.

As Fu Shinian pondered this, he saw Fu Mingzhu coming out of the tent and walking away.

"Sister!" Fu Shinian quickly got up to catch up, "Where are you going?"

"I’m going to see Erlang, I haven’t spoken to him today yet." Fu Mingzhu said while walking, just in time to see Xiao Fengxing striding over.

"Erlang!" Fu Mingzhu called excitedly and hurried over to greet him.

But as she approached, she noticed Xiao Fengxing’s face was filled with anger.

Even upon seeing Fu Mingzhu, his expression didn’t change.

Seeing Fu Mingzhu, Xiao Fengxing walked over briskly and questioned without waiting for her to speak, "Why didn’t you tell me that the Cheng Family is responsible for transporting supplies?"

Fu Mingzhu paused for a moment, then said, "Before His Majesty announced it today, I didn’t know if it would even happen."

"Second Young Master, why should the Cheng Family’s affairs be told to you?" Fu Shinian asked.

Xiao Fengxing, already extremely angry, couldn’t help but explode upon hearing Fu Shinian’s question, "Why are you everywhere! Didn’t you notice I’m talking with Mingzhu here? Why are you interrupting!"

This time, Fu Mingzhu placed Fu Shinian behind her protectively, without needing Shinian to hide, and said displeased, "What did Shinian say that was wrong?"

"Why should the Cheng Family’s affairs be told to you?" Fu Mingzhu said angrily.

Xiao Fengxing was momentarily at a loss; he couldn’t admit that the Cheng Family taking on the task of transporting supplies ruined his efforts with the Second Prince.

His allegiance to the Second Prince was a secret known to none.

Xiao Fengxing took a deep breath and said, "Aren’t you my fiancée? Your mother’s family took on such a big task, and I didn’t know. Would others believe that?"

"What others?" Fu Shinian poked her head out from behind Fu Mingzhu, "Why would others inquire about this matter?"

"I saw that after His Majesty’s announcement today, no one came to ask." Fu Shinian said puzzled, "Besides, didn’t Sister just say that we didn’t know the outcome until the announcement was made, so how could Sister tell you?"

"Moreover, even though Sister is your fiancée, she hasn’t married you yet. Do we really need to tell you everything about our family?" Fu Shinian countered, "I haven’t seen you telling Sister everything about the marquis’ affairs."

"Fu Shinian!" Xiao Fengxing shouted, unable to bear it any longer.

"Xiao Fengxing, I’ve had enough of you!" Fu Mingzhu said angrily, "Why are you always taking your frustrations out on Shinian!"

"I truly don’t understand why the Cheng Family’s affairs should be discussed with you?" Fu Mingzhu coldly said, "I, too, have no right to inquire or interfere with my maternal grandfather’s family affairs."

Xiao Fengxing also had no such rights.

"Moreover..." Fu Shinian said softly from behind Fu Mingzhu, "If the Cheng Family prospers, Sister can follow suit. Are you not happy about that, Second Young Master?"

"Why aren’t you... happy for Sister?" Fu Shinian asked from behind Fu Mingzhu, in a shadowed expression.

"Of course I’m happy for Mingzhu, I just..." Xiao Fengxing racked his brains, defending himself, "I just don’t like being kept in the dark."

"Does the Cheng Family taking on the transportation of supplies affect you that much, Second Young Master?" Fu Shinian asked softly, "As far as I know, it has nothing to do with you, does it?"

"You haven’t achieved any scholarly merit or entered the court." Fu Shinian said, "Yet you’re in such a frenzy, almost as if the Cheng Family thwarted your plans."

Fu Shinian saw that Fu Mingzhu fell into deep thought.

Fu Mingzhu was not dumb; she was just blinded by her feelings for Xiao Fengxing.

Fu Shinian didn’t expect to sever Fu Mingzhu’s long-standing feelings for Xiao Fengxing with just a few incidents.

But as long as a crack formed in Fu Mingzhu’s heart, she wouldn’t act irrationally even if she discovered the matters between Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing. That would be enough.

"Don’t speak nonsense!" Xiao Fengxing said anxiously, looking at Fu Mingzhu hurriedly.

But Fu Mingzhu’s face was expressionless, "I really don’t understand why you would question me over this matter."

What did the Cheng Family’s affairs have to do with him?

Fu Mingzhu pulled Fu Shinian along and turned to leave.

Xiao Fengxing remembered what Aunt Liu said, that things could change before marriage.

He hurried to catch up with Fu Mingzhu.

He didn’t understand why Fu Mingzhu used to always be obedient to him.

No matter how he blamed, Fu Mingzhu would just admit her fault gently, never getting angry.

Why did she seem to get angry so easily now?

"Mingzhu." Xiao Fengxing caught up and said, "I was wrong about my attitude before, I just..."

"Second Young Master, when you came just now, you threw accusations at my sister." Fu Shinian said, "Did you even ask if my sister was alright?"

Xiao Fengxing was stunned; what could possibly be wrong with Fu Mingzhu?

Seeing Xiao Fengxing’s reaction, Fu Mingzhu turned her face away sadly.

Seeing tears in Fu Mingzhu’s eyes, Fu Shinian felt bad too, but for the future, she had to harden her heart and continue, "Sister was nearly shot in the woods earlier. Without asking a word, you came to blame her for not telling you about the Cheng Family’s matters."

"Second Young Master, is my sister less important to you than the Cheng Family?"