Chapter 67: The Flower-Viewing Gathering (3)

This matter eventually reached Qi Le’s ears, albeit through a convoluted chain of whispers.

Qi Le had always been protective of his cousin Zhao Yao. Naturally, he wanted to secure an invitation for her, but he rarely had the chance to meet with his second brother. By the time the day of the flower-viewing gathering arrived, it was already too late for Zhao Yao to attend. Now, all Qi Le wanted was to plead her case before his second brother, hoping she wouldn’t be excluded again next year. Unfortunately, his second brother had only stayed beneath the cherry tree for a short while before leaving with the other young lords, and now he was nowhere to be found. Qi Le wandered around in search of him, growing increasingly frustrated.

Seeing his fourth brother’s futile efforts, Qi Ning sighed. He didn’t even have the energy to call him foolish. With a dismissive wave, he let Qi Le go about his fruitless search, deciding not to bother further.

Now, under the cherry tree of the Qi family, Qi Ning sat alone. His father and stepmother were busy mingling with others, while his two elder brothers had gone off to socialize with friends. His fourth brother was running around like a headless chicken, searching for their second brother. Qi Ning, left behind, felt utterly aimless. Despite the lively atmosphere surrounding the mountain, he sat there isolated, feeling an unexpected pang of loneliness.

Just as he began to feel bored, he heard a voice beside him ask, “You’re alone too?”

Qi Ning turned toward the sound and saw Fu Ran, the illegitimate son of the Fu family, speaking to him.

Under the Fu family’s cherry tree, no one else remained except Fu Ran, who leaned against the trunk.

Fu Ran was rarely seen at such gatherings. It was said that the matriarch of the Fu family was exceedingly strict and treated her illegitimate children harshly, rarely allowing them to appear in public. As a result, their lives were fraught with hardship.

Seventeen years old, slightly older than Qi Ning, Fu Ran was extremely thin, with sunken cheeks. His skin was pale, almost ghostly, and his hands hung limply by his sides, delicate and bony. When he spoke, he tilted his head upward slightly, but his eyes drooped downward, giving him an oddly languid air.

Qi Ning had never interacted with Fu Ran before, so when the latter addressed him, he was momentarily taken aback. After a brief silence, he nodded and asked, “Your elder brother and sister aren’t here either?”

Fu Ran glanced at Qi Ning indifferently and replied, “Why would they be? They have plenty of friends and admirers. Things are different for us illegitimate children.”

Hearing this, Qi Ning instinctively furrowed his brow.

Although he too was born out of wedlock, the Qi family upheld a fair and upright tradition. Lady Yao, his stepmother, treated him and Qi Le kindly and never reminded them of their status as illegitimate children. Consequently, Qi Ning hadn’t deeply internalized the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate heirs. Now, hearing Fu Ran point it out so bluntly made him uncomfortable.

Noticing Qi Ning’s frown, Fu Ran smirked—a look that struck Qi Ning as mocking and condescending. Irritated, Qi Ning snapped, “What are you smirking at?”

Fu Ran’s pale face retained its languid yet peculiar smile as he drawled, “Nothing much. I just find it amusing—you’re fortunate to have been born into the Qi family, yet pitiable for the same reason.”

Qi Ning scowled deeper, retorting, “How am I pitiable? My stepmother is kind, and my brothers treat me well. We’re far better off than your Fu family.”

Fu Ran raised his gaze, studying Qi Ning briefly before shaking his head. “How are you not pitiable? Despite their kindness, they leave you sitting here aimlessly. Does your father take you along to network with influential figures? Do your elder brothers pave the way for your future? They only think of themselves; why would they care about someone like you, an illegitimate child?”

Qi Ning grew angry, wanting to refute the claim, but found himself at a loss for words. Before he could respond, Fu Ran chuckled softly and added, “All the good things belong to the elder brothers. As for us, we can only eat their leftovers and pick up what they discard. What’s there to deny? Isn’t this how all illegitimate children live?”

Qi Ning was speechless. A flood of memories rushed through his mind: Zhao Yao ignoring him and Qi Le, focusing solely on Second Brother; Wenwen treating him politely but rushing off the moment she heard Second Brother might leave Jiankang; his father constantly comparing him and Qi Le unfavorably to their elder brothers. His hands clenched into fists, unsure of what to say.

But he couldn’t stay silent—it felt like admitting defeat. Qi Ning had a stubborn streak and refused to let Fu Ran have the last word. However, before he could formulate a response, a commotion erupted nearby.

Qi Ning turned his head and saw, amidst the crowd, Sixth Princess Xiao Ziyu and Fu Rong, the eldest daughter of the Fu family. The princess stood fiercely, while Fu Rong lay on the ground, clutching her cheek. Clearly, a conflict had occurred!

The situation was complicated.

When Sixth Princess Xiao Ziyu arrived earlier, she naturally became the center of attention. Many noblewomen flocked to her, hoping to strike up conversations and perhaps catch the eye of her unmarried fourth brother. However, the princess was notoriously haughty and paid little heed to these advances, choosing instead to spend time with Fu Rong, the eldest daughter of the Fu family. After some initial enthusiasm, the other noblewomen eventually drifted away, unwilling to endure her cold demeanor.

After the men dispersed, Fu Rong approached Xiao Ziyu, and the two strolled together beneath the cherry blossoms, seemingly inseparable.

As they walked, Fu Rong linked arms with Xiao Ziyu and said affectionately, “It feels like ages since I’ve seen you. Last time our brothers gathered, I fell ill and missed it, so we haven’t met since—this must be the first time since the start of the year.”

Xiao Ziyu smiled faintly and replied, “It has been a long time. You’ve changed quite a bit.”

“Really?” Fu Rong laughed lightly. “In what way?”

Xiao Ziyu studied her and said, “I can’t put my finger on it, but something feels different.”

Fu Rong sensed a hidden meaning in Xiao Ziyu’s words but dismissed it for the time being. Smiling, she said, “Perhaps it’s because we haven’t seen each other in so long. You’ve changed too—you seem more radiant than ever.”

Such flattery was nothing new to Xiao Ziyu, who brushed it off without a second thought. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Fu Rong and asked, “After such a long absence, surely something interesting must have happened. Life within the palace walls is dull—I rely on you to entertain me. Why don’t you tell me what’s new?”

Fu Rong hesitated, her unease growing stronger. She suspected Xiao Ziyu knew about her studies at the Qi family’s academy and was testing her.

However, based on Fu Rong’s understanding of Xiao Ziyu, the princess was straightforward and impulsive, especially regarding matters involving Qi Ying. If she had known, she would have confronted Fu Rong immediately rather than staying silent until now.

Fu Rong hadn’t planned to keep this secret indefinitely. After all, walls have ears, and secrets can’t remain hidden forever. Xiao Ziyu would inevitably learn of it sooner or later. But for now, nothing significant had developed between her and Qi Ying. If Xiao Ziyu found out now, she might meddle and ruin any chance of progress. Thus, Fu Rong’s strategy was simple: delay. Buy time, one day at a time.

After some deliberation, Fu Rong masked her thoughts and responded with a natural smile. “What could possibly be new? You know me—I’m dreadfully boring. If anything noteworthy happened, I would’ve told you in my letters. What else could there be?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xiao Ziyu let out a cold laugh. Her enchanting, peach-blossom eyes turned icy as she sneered, “Oh? So enrolling in the Qi family’s academy isn’t considered noteworthy to you?”

She already knew!

Fu Rong hadn’t anticipated this turn of events and felt a wave of panic. However, she maintained her composure and steadied herself. Without confirming or denying, she asked, “Who told you such nonsense? The Qi family’s academy isn’t a place where just anyone can gain entry.”

Seeing Fu Rong still trying to deny it, Xiao Ziyu’s anger flared. “Stop pretending! This matter was personally relayed to me by Jingchen Gege. Do you think he would lie?”

Upon hearing this, Fu Rong’s heart sank.

She hadn’t expected Qi Ying himself to inform Xiao Ziyu. When had he told her? Was it during his visit to the palace after returning from Nanling? Why did he tell her? Was it an offhand remark, or…

Fu Rong was intelligent and adept at leveraging situations. Even in her current state of unease, she quickly pieced together the implications: Qi Ying had informed Xiao Ziyu to use her influence to thwart the marriage arrangement! Unable to defy his domineering grandmother, he intended to sacrifice Fu Rong’s reputation, letting Xiao Ziyu humiliate her publicly.

Qi Er Gege… he didn’t care for her at all.

She had forgotten that when it came to leveraging power, Qi Ying was far more skilled than she.

Realizing this, Fu Rong felt both humiliated and enraged. It seemed all her carefully laid plans had been seen through. Yet, she knew she couldn’t act rashly. Calming herself, she decided her priority was to placate Xiao Ziyu and resolve the situation peacefully.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she couldn’t afford to worsen her position.

True to her nature, Fu Rong remained composed despite being called out. After a brief pause, she furrowed her brows, feigning difficulty, and looked earnestly at Xiao Ziyu. “Ziyu, please don’t be angry. At least hear my explanation before passing judgment.”

Seeing Xiao Ziyu remain silent but glaring at her, Fu Rong knew she still had a chance to explain. Slightly relieved, she continued, “You know our families are related. My great-aunt has always doted on me and knows how much I love studying. Coincidentally, Master Wang at the Qi family’s academy decided to accept female students. My great-aunt arranged for me to attend alongside them, merely as an extra participant. This wasn’t specifically orchestrated for me.”

She paused, then took Xiao Ziyu’s hand, knitting her brows. “As for not telling you earlier, I feared you might misunderstand. Since childhood, I’ve known how much you admire Second Brother. How could I possibly compete with you? Please, don’t overthink this.”

After finishing, Fu Rong closely observed Xiao Ziyu’s reaction. Seeing the princess staring back intently, Fu Rong knew she couldn’t show any sign of fear or hesitation. Forcing herself to remain calm, she met Xiao Ziyu’s gaze with apparent composure.

Xiao Ziyu fell silent for a moment, her peach-blossom eyes growing colder. Suddenly, she raised her hand and slapped Fu Rong hard across the face!

Caught off guard, Fu Rong stumbled and fell to the ground. The force of Xiao Ziyu’s slap left her cheek burning with pain. She stared up at the princess in disbelief: how dare Sixth Princess strike her so brazenly in public! Despite being a noblewoman from one of the three great families, Xiao Ziyu had dared to humiliate her in front of everyone.

The loud slap drew the attention of the entire gathering. Nobles discreetly gathered around, eager to witness the spectacle. Yet Xiao Ziyu showed no remorse, standing tall as she glared down at Fu Rong and coldly rebuked her. “Even now, you dare deceive me? Do you think no one can see through your great-aunt’s intentions? Or do you take me, Xiao Ziyu, for a fool who can’t discern your petty schemes?”

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Author’s Note: Xiao Ziyu truly is fierce…

She slapped Fu Rong this chapter. What will she do next?