CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: THOUGHTS OF CALLING OFF THE ENGAGEMENT

Xiao Fengxing was stunned and asked instinctively, "Mingzhu was shot?"

This matter was not a secret.

Someone acted in the forest, involving the safety of His Majesty. Gu Yunze had already reported to His Majesty, who ordered a thorough investigation.

Even Xiao Fengxing didn’t know this.

Fu Mingzhu sneered, but saw Xiao Fengxing frown and say, "I told you long ago that girls shouldn’t ride horses."

"Second young master’s words are strange." Fu Shinian said, "You don’t care whether my sister was injured or frightened, but instead, you blame her for riding a horse?"

"My sister’s prowess on horseback was even praised by His Majesty." Fu Shinian said, "Yet the second young master doesn’t allow my sister to showcase her strengths."

"Isn’t this because it’s dangerous?" Xiao Fengxing argued.

"Someone attempted to kill my sister intentionally, even if she were walking on the road, she would face the danger of being killed. What does it have to do with riding a horse?" Fu Shinian paused, saying, "Until now, the second young master hasn’t expressed concern for my sister."

Fu Shinian slowly said, "Second young master, do you really care about my sister?"

Fu Mingzhu’s shoulders trembled slightly.

She wasn’t unaware; all along, it was always her being proactive towards Xiao Fengxing.

She would give Xiao Fengxing precious gifts, and Xiao Fengxing would thank her tenderly, expressing great happiness.

But most of the time, Xiao Fengxing was always dissatisfied with her.

"Niannian, I want to go back." Fu Mingzhu whispered to Fu Shinian.

"Alright." Fu Shinian protected Fu Mingzhu, and when Xiao Fengxing wanted to follow, said, "Second young master, stay put."

Xiao Fengxing didn’t listen, and just as he stepped forward, he was blocked by Chunmian and Qiu Li.

Qiu Li had long been displeased with this Xiao Fengxing.

Her lady, such a nice person, yet every time Xiao Fengxing met her, he found faults, making the lady always lacking confidence in front of him.

This Xiao Fengxing doesn’t like her lady at all.

Xiao Fengxing could only watch as Fu Mingzhu was taken away by Fu Shinian.

"Mingzhu, what’s the matter?"

They happened to encounter Mr. Fu on his way back.

"Father, I’ll tell you in the tent." Fu Shinian said.

Seeing Fu Shinian so serious, Mr. Fu couldn’t help but also turn serious.

Ever since coming up with the idea of the Cheng Family being responsible for transporting supplies, Mr. Fu never dared to underestimate his seemingly delicate, naive, and inexperienced younger daughter.

Mr. Fu led the two into the tent he shared with Madam Fu.

Madam Fu was sitting in the tent drinking tea, and seeing Mr. Fu and Fu Shinian enter with unusual expressions, she put down the teacup and asked, "What happened?"

After sitting down, Fu Shinian said, "Chunmian, Qiu Li, Ting Qin, please go outside with Nanny Yu and stand guard, don’t let anyone come near."

"Yes."

Once the four left the tent, Mr. Fu asked, "What matter is so cautious?"

"Father, what do you think of the Second Prince?" Fu Shinian asked.

What did that mean?

Did Fu Shinian fancy the Second Prince?

The Second Prince, that person, is not impressive!

"Shinian, you fancy the Second Prince..."

"Father!" Fu Shinian said helplessly, "I mean in terms of prospects."

Mr. Fu was even more confused, did Fu Shinian think the Second Prince had a chance of seizing power, so she was considering it?

Impossible, he had to quickly dismiss Fu Shinian’s thoughts.

"He’s not capable." Mr. Fu shook his head and said, "He doesn’t have much ability and entertains too many wild ambitions. Compared to his brothers, they’re the same."

Mr. Fu actually favored the Fifth Prince more.

But the Fifth Prince had been stationed at the border for a long time, not returning to the capital, unwilling to be involved.

"Shinian, our family not taking sides is the safest approach." Mr. Fu said, "Your father is merely a fourth rank official, we don’t need to get involved in that. In the future, no matter what happens, we must simply follow His Majesty honestly."

Fu Shinian nodded and said, "Just now, my sister met Xiao Fengxing."

As soon as Mr. Fu heard this, he realized Fu Shinian didn’t even address him as second young master.

"He was very angry about the Cheng Family being responsible for transporting supplies, and with a very bad attitude blamed my sister for not telling him about it."

"What does it have to do with him?" Mr. Fu said without thinking.

Fu Shinian smiled faintly. Look, this was the normal reaction.

"Father, my daughter suspects that Xiao Fengxing has quietly sided with the Second Prince." Fu Shinian said softly.

Mr. Fu was taken aback but quickly came to his senses, "Very likely."

Fu Mingzhu glanced at Mr. Fu, then at Fu Shinian, and seeing Madam Fu seemed to understand too.

She forced herself to stop thinking about her feelings for Xiao Fengxing.

Slowly, she seemed... to also understand a bit.

"The Second Prince publicly recommended himself for the monitoring role, but His Majesty blocked him because of the Cheng Family’s better idea." Fu Shinian said softly, "Then, Xiao Fengxing came to blame my sister for not telling him about the Cheng Family’s matter."

"The normal first reaction would be, what does it have to do with him? But he blamed my sister instead." Fu Shinian said slowly, "I suspect that the idea for the Second Prince to recommend himself was given by him. When it didn’t work out, he blamed my sister."

Mr. Fu’s expression darkened as he looked at Fu Mingzhu, "Mingzhu, how much do you like that Xiao Fengxing?"

Mr. Fu’s manner of addressing Xiao Fengxing changed as well.

If Fu Mingzhu truly liked him, then he... then he would see if there was another way.

If need be, bind to the Second Prince’s cause and strive to assist him.

"Father." Fu Mingzhu tightly twisted her hands, "No matter how much I like him, I can’t jeopardize the family into danger."

"Besides, Father is right, we don’t need to do anything, and we initially didn’t need to get involved in such dangerous struggles. Winning would be good, but looking at his abilities, it doesn’t seem like he stands a chance to win. Not worth the risk of annihilation." Fu Mingzhu said, "So, Xiao Fengxing... it’s better left alone."

After Fu Mingzhu finished speaking, she couldn’t stop her tears from falling.

She indeed couldn’t bear it.

But she also couldn’t let her family get dragged into danger.

"Alright." Mr. Fu stood up, gratified, "You truly are our child."

"Let’s delay the marriage for now." Mr. Fu said, "I’ll think of a better reason to break off the engagement. One that can successfully dissolve the engagement without affecting your future prospects."

No matter what, breaking off an engagement for a woman always had consequences.

Xiao Fengxing’s reputation was too good; without reason for breaking off the engagement, people would likely assume there was something wrong with Fu Mingzhu.

Mr. Fu couldn’t let Fu Mingzhu suffer.

Fu Mingzhu nodded absentmindedly.

Madam Fu, seeing Fu Mingzhu’s state, couldn’t bear it and said to Mr. Fu, "Now it’s just our speculation, shouldn’t we try to find out? Confirm that Xiao Fengxing truly sides with the Second Prince, then it’s not too late to think about breaking off the engagement."

Mr. Fu knew Madam Fu had softened her stance, but in fact, he was aware that there’s no mistake about Xiao Fengxing siding with the Second Prince, otherwise he wouldn’t have been so agitated.

"I understand." Mr. Fu said, "I’ll investigate it further."

"Mingzhu, don’t be so upset, maybe we’re wrong." Mr. Fu consoled.

[Ding! Xiao Fengxing’s luck value -10, the Fu family’s luck value +5, Xiao Chengyu’s luck value +5]