CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: SHE EVEN REMEMBERED TO HOLD HIM BACK

The words of Aunt Liu suddenly gave Xiao Fengxing a sense of crisis.

Although he was tacitly acknowledged by everyone as the next Marquis Changping.

But after all, Xiao Chengyu was not dead yet.

He was still just a concubine’s son in the marquis’s mansion.

"This can’t go on." Aunt Liu said, "No one can say for sure whether the Empress will abandon her in the future, or if she’ll be lucky enough to continue being favored by the Empress."

"But at least now, she is favored by the Empress, so taking advantage of this to gain more benefits is the most practical, and future matters can be dealt with later." Aunt Liu calculated, "Don’t let her think she’s capable now and start to look down on you, only for others to benefit."

"Got it." Xiao Fengxing frowned, feeling a bit annoyed, "Might as well probe her attitude, and say we’ll move the wedding date forward."

"There’s no need for such trouble." Aunt Liu said, "You’re thinking in the old dynasty’s way, where one idea has to go roundabout to get results. For matters in the inner residence, there are simpler and more direct methods."

Seeing Xiao Fengxing look over curiously, Aunt Liu lowered her voice and said, "Just directly make cooked rice with her, no need for urgency. The Fu family will then be eager to quickly ask to send her into the mansion."

*

Fu Mingzhu’s mind was filled with images of Xiao Fengxing holding hands with an unknown woman at the lantern festival, becoming more and more annoyed.

In her agitation, she took a sip of the sweet osmanthus wine.

Unknowingly, she drank quite a lot.

Fu Shinian, fearing she would get drunk, was about to stop her, when Fu Mingzhu handed her a cup, "Niannian, try it, it’s good."

Fu Shinian: "..."

"Sister, if you’re not happy, let’s drink together when we return home, okay?" Fu Shinian whispered.

"I’m not unhappy." Fu Mingzhu replied, "I’ve thought it through long ago. I, Fu Mingzhu, am not fixated on him. There are plenty of good men; why like someone who doesn’t care about me?"

Fu Shinian knew Fu Mingzhu was hurting inside but didn’t want to dampen her spirits, so she took a deep breath and said with a smile, "Okay, then I’ll accompany sister."

Fu Shinian drank it all in one go.

Xiao Chengyu wanted to stop her but failed.

Though it was osmanthus wine, after the sweet osmanthus flavor, there was still the potency of alcohol.

Fu Shinian clearly didn’t expect that the fragrant and sweet osmanthus wine would have such a strong taste of alcohol.

She blinked in confusion, then drank another cup with Fu Mingzhu.

"Sister, don’t you taste the alcohol?" Fu Shinian whispered.

"A little, but it’s not strong, it’s fine." Fu Mingzhu naturally had a good tolerance for alcohol, but she remembered that Fu Shinian didn’t, so she said, "Just have one cup, no more."

But Fu Shinian proactively poured herself another, "Sister is in the mood; how can I spoil it?"

With that, she drank another cup.

Just as Fu Shinian poured herself another and was about to drink, Xiao Chengyu took the cup from her hand.

Immediately, an empty hand was filled with a cup of tea.

"No more drinking, your face is all flushed." Xiao Chengyu said, "Have some tea."

Xiao Chengyu couldn’t help but feel a bit dissatisfied with Fu Mingzhu.

Knowing Fu Shinian wasn’t a good drinker, yet she didn’t stop her, just kept drinking herself.

Fu Shinian misunderstood, hastily grabbing the cup from Xiao Chengyu’s hand, "Marquis, bear with it. Before your health recovers, no alcohol."

Xiao Chengyu: "..."

She even remembered to stop him.

"Marquis must be a little envious seeing us drink." Fu Shinian volunteered, "Then I won’t drink either, I’ll accompany the marquis."

The explanation that was on the tip of his tongue was swallowed by Xiao Chengyu, who changed to saying, "Alright."

When they left the Taste Building, though Fu Shinian had only drunk two cups, the redness on her face hadn’t faded.

She walked steadily but looked quite dazed all over.

Even more honest and obedient than usual, she was practically led wherever without a word.

With such a Fu Shinian, if she were by his side, Xiao Chengyu would naturally be at ease.

But he obviously couldn’t follow her back to the Fu Mansion, which made him uneasy.

Seeing Chunmian help Fu Shinian onto the carriage, Xiao Chengyu looked at Fu Changqin, feeling unsure, and had to remind him, "Take good care of her."

Under Xiao Chengyu’s authority, Fu Changqin responded subconsciously, "Marquis, rest assured, I’ll make sure they return safely."

As soon as he said this, Fu Changqin realized it was off.

He was the brother of Fu Mingzhu and Fu Shinian, taking his two sisters back to the mansion together; why wouldn’t Marquis Changping be assured?

*

The next day, when Fu Shinian woke up, she even forgot how she returned the night before.

She somewhat confusedly asked Chunmian.

"Miss, you mustn’t drink anymore." Chunmian said, dressing her, "You only had two cups of osmanthus wine and were so drunk you couldn’t remember anything. It’s scary."

"Lucky that the Eldest Young Master and the Marquis were both protective, otherwise it would’ve been dangerous." Chunmian dressed Fu Shinian, using her hands to gesture, "Just a little cup like this, and you managed to get drunk."

"What about sister? Is she okay?" Fu Shinian asked.

"The Eldest Miss is fine, she’s a good drinker." Chunmian smiled, "Last night when we came back, you didn’t look too bad from the outside, but you were actually dazed, changed clothes, and fell asleep immediately."

"Hurry and do my hair." Fu Shinian urged, "I have something to discuss with mother."

By this time, Mr. Fu had already gone to work.

But it was the same to talk with Madam Fu.

Chunmian also reminded her, "Miss, don’t forget, today you have to visit the marquis’s mansion."

Last night, she promised Xiao Yingyue.

"I remember." Fu Shinian said, "I’ll go after seeing mother."

Getting ready, Fu Shinian first took a walk around her little courtyard upon leaving.

Now, her first thing every day was to take a lap around the courtyard and see how the purple qi was growing.

Now the purple qi was no longer just a little bit at the base of the wall.

Now it covered the entire wall outside her bedroom.

Fu Shinian was quite satisfied, then went with Chunmian to see Madam Fu.

"Why are you up so early today?" Madam Fu was surprised, "Last night you came back drunk; I thought you’d sleep in some more."

Mentioning this, Madam Fu couldn’t help but nag, "In the future, if you want to drink, do it at home. Even if you embarrass yourself, no one will say anything. Don’t drink so much outside like last night."

Fu Shinian agreed and mentioned seeing Xiao Fengxing holding hands with a lady while wandering the street.

"Sister saw it too." Fu Shinian brought it up, asking, "Where’s sister?"

"She just came to pay respects and then went to Cheng Mansion, says you discussed opening a shop together, and went to consult her uncle about what to pay attention to."