Chapter 018: Secret Meeting Under the Moonlight

Chapter 018: Secret Meeting Under the Moonlight

Fu Heng's lips curled slightly at the news, but someone in the private room was trembling with anger, itching to rush out and punch someone.

"Calm down," Wei Wuhou held Lin Baozhen's wrist.

Wei Wuhou was a martial general, and years of training had left calluses on his palms.

His hand gently brushed against Lin Baozhen's wrist, sending tingles throughout her body, causing her eyes to redden, and she let out a soft moan.

This sound made both of them freeze.

For Lin Baozhen, it reminded her of the man in her dreams who had taken her, and her body went limp with a blush.

Wei Wuhou, on the other hand, was stunned by the realization that Lin Baozhen, an unmarried girl, would respond like a woman entangled in bed.

Wei Wuhou looked at Lin Baozhen's reddened eyes and couldn't help but wonder if she was no longer a maiden, which might explain why she sought him out to marry her.

But Xie Yuan quickly dismissed this sudden thought.

Lin Baozhen was the daughter of the Minister of Rites. Even though Lin Yi was currently controversial, he could still discipline his daughter. Moreover, the Changqing Hou Mansion wouldn't allow her to behave so recklessly.

Rationally, Wei Wuhou believed Lin Baozhen was a maiden, but the suspicion lingered.

Perhaps this doubt could only be resolved on their wedding night.

Lin Baozhen withdrew her wrist, picked up a cup from the table, and gulped it down, easing the heat that had risen within her.

"Lord Marquis, I'm just angry about how they talk about my father. Even if he's a scholar, he's still a man! He did what any man should do."

Lin Baozhen felt Wen Hui was ungrateful. If she were Wen Hui, having such a devoted man would be enough; there was no need for all this fuss.

Xie Yuan nodded, his gaze filled with approval.

"Indeed, I used to think Lin Yi was too scholarly, but now I see he has such courage. Since he is the daughter of your teacher, it's possible he liked her long ago. Given the opportunity, doing so isn't wrong."

To him, if one likes someone, one should pursue them.

Xie Yuan himself didn't have a main wife but had many women. He had even taken another man's concubine before, but unfortunately, she couldn't bear him children, and his interest waned, so he returned her.

Lin Baozhen's eyes sparkled as she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled, "Lord Marquis, you still call him 'Brother Lin'? What should I call you?"

The teenage girl, like a blooming hibiscus, blushed, and Xie Yuan's heart stirred as he reached out to caress her cheek.

Xie Yuan's voice was low and magnetic, "I was wrong; I should call him my father-in-law. But Baozhen, would you find me presumptuous?"

Lin Baozhen looked up at Xie Yuan, whose features resembled those of her beloved Xie Jingzhi, but with added maturity.

Her heart raced, her eyes misty, and her tone softened:

"How could you be presumptuous? It was I who first asked if you wanted to marry me."

"Baozhen, as long as you don't find me presumptuous."

They drew closer, almost touching lips.

Footsteps sounded outside, and they quickly separated.

Because of the mention of Lin Yi, Lin Baozhen pouted and fanned her face to cool down. "So annoying. I wonder when the Jinyiwei will uncover the truth."

"The Jinyiwei are under Lord Fu's control. Although I don't know why he's targeting your father, this time it seems he's in trouble. The Jinyiwei will fabricate evidence if they can't find any."

Lin Baozhen sighed and looked at Wei Wuhou, "If my father is no longer the Minister of Rites, would you still marry me?"

Xie Yuan chuckled and pinched her cheek, "No matter your status, I would still marry you. Baozhen, being the daughter of the Minister of Rites makes things difficult for me. I fear your father might chase me away with a broom."

Lin Baozhen had a suitable birth chart, and regardless of her status, he was willing to marry her as his main wife.

Lin Baozhen nestled into Xie Yuan's embrace, then remembered his earlier words. Why was Fu Bin targeting Lin Yi?

A thought crossed her mind: Fu Jiaze shared the same surname as Fu Bin. Could Fu Jiaze be related to Fu Bin, and was he targeting her father to avenge him?

But she quickly dismissed this absurd idea.

If Fu Jiaze had such a powerful relative, would he be exiled to a remote county as an official?

Fu Jiaze was just a poor scholar with talent but no luck, destined to die in obscurity. How could he have such a relative?

In Xie Yuan's arms, Lin Baozhen murmured, "Actually, this incident is good. No matter what, that hateful Wen won't stay in our family, and your proposal will be smoother."

Lin Yi was only a few years older than Xie Yuan, and proposing would be challenging. But now, with Lin Yi preoccupied, Wei Wuhou might help speed up the process.

However, hearing Lin Baozhen's thoughts, Xie Yuan looked down at the woman in his arms.

Lin Yi was her father, and her smooth marriage was built on his troubled career. Wasn't that too cold-hearted?

Xie Yuan lowered his eyes, thinking that he only wanted a son of his own. Whether Lin Baozhen was cold-hearted or not didn't matter. He held her tighter.

"Lord Marquis, can you call me Bao'er?" Lin Baozhen recalled her lover in her dreams calling her that, and wanted the Lord Marquis to do the same.

"Why not?" Xie Yuan smiled, "Bao'er."

/

In the past few days, some people blamed Wen Hui, while others blamed Lin Yi. From this day forward, the tide turned completely, criticizing Lin Yi for lacking the integrity of a scholar.

By evening, the air carried moisture, which turned into a chill by nightfall. The wind blew through the streets of the capital, making lanterns sway and candlelights flicker, echoing the stars in the sky.

Few people remained at the city gates, mostly those entering the city. One person rode a horse, their cloak fluttering, blending into the night.

At the outskirts of the capital, in the Fourth Prince's hot spring villa, lights moved slowly in a small courtyard.

Fei Yan carried the lantern in front, while Lin Yingxue followed behind. At this hour, it was inappropriate for her to meet with any man outside. Lin Yingxue had already lain down but eventually got up again.

Perhaps knowing that Lin Yingxue was conflicted, Fei Yan walked slowly.

Even the longest road has an end. When Fei Yan saw the person under the tree, she set down the lantern and said, "Miss, I'll take my leave now."

Lin Yingxue acknowledged with a nod, adjusted her cloak, took a deep breath, and walked over. "Mr. Fu."

Fu Jiaze looked at Lin Yingxue and immediately noticed how thin she had become. "You've lost weight."

After saying this, Fu Jiaze continued, "Indeed, kneeling at the Lin residence's gate must have been under immense pressure. How could you not lose weight?"

Lin Yingxue came to see Fu Jiaze with mixed feelings, torn between not wanting to meet him and wishing he would leave quickly. Hearing his words of comfort, she couldn't help but look up at him.

Fu Jiaze had been watching Lin Yingxue. Seeing her lift her head, he caught sight of her gaunt features.

The girl's cheeks were alarmingly thin; they used to carry a hint of baby fat, and her eyes held a carefree sparkle. Now, those eyes had grown heavy and still.

All her emotions were written on her face. Fu Jiaze didn't need to guess what she was thinking. She had chosen Wen Hui that day, yet felt guilty towards Lin Yi.

Perhaps the moonlight was too gentle, making Fu Jiaze's voice soften as he said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Supporting your mother at the Lin residence was right. As for your father Lin Yi, he treats you well only because you are Wen Hui's daughter. It's good, but not entirely genuine. If he truly cared about you, he wouldn't have kept you from participating in various flower banquets and prevented you from making friends."

Lin Yingxue kicked a pebble with her toe and whispered, "But it's still good. He treats me better than my elder sister. I remember the things he mentioned... I remember his eyes when I knelt. He said I was his pride, but I made him ashamed and sad."

Tears fell unexpectedly, and Lin Yingxue wiped them away with the back of her hand, the first time she cried in days.

As she cried and spoke, some of the heavy emotions lifted, but Lin Yingxue didn't want to continue. Talking to Fu Jiaze about these matters wasn't appropriate.

Fu Jiaze knew Lin Yingxue needed to vent, so he said, "When Lin Shilang deceived your mother into becoming his concubine, they lived like a married couple for a while. You were their eldest daughter. Without you, your birth mother might have perished long ago in the Lin residence. Lin's kindness towards you isn't pure; it's mixed with other motives."

Before meeting Lin Yi, Fu Jiaze had guessed that Lin Yi had a strong possessive desire for Wen Hui. Seeing him at the Lin residence confirmed his suspicions.

Lin Yi's heart was filled with Wen Hui. Lin Yingxue was Wen Hui's child, and he loved her by extension.

Lin Yingxue smiled through her tears, looking up at Fu Jiaze. "I know. I understand the logic, but I can't get past it emotionally. These past few nights, I've dreamt of my childhood."

Fu Jiaze looked at her red eyes and said, "Tell me about it. I only have a foster mother and a sister, so I don't know what fatherly love feels like. He mentioned teaching you to write. Do you remember how old you were then?"

Fu Jiaze's words instantly brought Lin Yingxue back to her childhood memories. She heard her own laughter and happily threw herself into Lin Yi's arms, calling out, "Father."

Fu Jiaze coaxed Lin Yingxue into sharing many stories of Lin Yi's kindness towards her.

These stories she wouldn't share with Ye Zi, who was always silent and never gave her any advice.

She wouldn't tell Aunt Ou, who would only sigh, "Ah, it's all karma."

She couldn't tell Fei Yan, even though Fei Yan's contract was in her hands; she couldn't fully trust her.

Certainly, she couldn't tell Wen Hui, who already bore too much on her heart.

Lin Yingxue shared some stories, and when she felt she shouldn't continue, Fu Jiaze prompted, "What happened next?" "Fortunately, Aunt Ou kept Ye Zi for you."

Fu Jiaze was an excellent listener, and Lin Yingxue unwittingly shared many stories of Lin Yi's kindness. The sound of the night watchman's gong startled her, reminding her how late it was. She had intended to distance herself from Fu Jiaze but ended up talking so much.

Feeling embarrassed, Lin Yingxue said, "Did I talk too much? Sorry."

"Sometimes it helps to talk," Fu Jiaze said, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair, perhaps charmed by her flushed face.

Lin Yingxue had already washed up, and her long hair was loosely tied into a bun. Because of Fu Jiaze's touch, the hairpin slipped and broke, scattering her hair.

"Sorry." Fu Jiaze tried to pick up the pieces but found only two large fragments.

Looking at the broken hairpin, Lin Yingxue remembered it was a gift from Lin Yi on her tenth birthday.

"It's okay." Lin Yingxue smiled. She had already defied her father, and perhaps the broken hairpin was a sign, like their fractured relationship.

If she had to choose between her father and mother, she would still choose Wen Hui.

Though she smiled and didn't cry, Fu Jiaze could see her sadness.

After a moment of silence, he took out a new hairpin from his sleeve. "Since it's broken, let this one make up for it."

While preparing the hairpin, Fu Jiaze had also taken a comb, which he now used to tie her hair.

Fu Jiaze moved quickly, and before Lin Yingxue could react, he started combing her hair.

Lin Yingxue stiffened, trying to move away, but felt Fu Jiaze's hand on her shoulder. "Relax, I won't mess up your hair. I've been doing my sister's hair since she was young."

Sister?

Lin Yingxue thought of Fu Wanan, the little girl with innocent eyes and slow reactions.

Fu Jiaze was a foster son, and Fu Wanan was like a child. No wonder people speculated that the Fu family adopted Fu Jiaze for Fu Wanan.

"Does your sister do her own hair now?"

Fu Jiaze paused. "You met her?" He inserted the hairpin into Lin Yingxue's hair. This was the first time he had done someone else's hair besides his sister's. His fingers occasionally brushed against her ears.

When he combed his sister's hair, Fu Wanan would giggle and sometimes dodge, annoying him. But Lin Yingxue remained silent, her body stiffening each time his fingers touched her ear, causing a slight rise in temperature.

Previously, Fu Jiaze hadn't realized how intimate combing hair could be. Now, feeling uncomfortable, he hastened to finish, inserting the hairpin into her hair.

Seeing the hairpin in place, he felt a sense of loss, wishing he had moved slower.

Analyzing the situation, Fu Jiaze said, "The rain was heavy today. My mother and sister probably had a broken carriage wheel and stopped here to shelter from the rain. How was my mother... easy to get along with?"

Fu Jiaze couldn't help but feel nervous.

"Your mother is very knowledgeable," Lin Yingxue said. "Her words are refreshing, and she seems capable in her actions."

Fu Jiaze judged from Lin Yingxue's tone that she did not dislike his mother, and smiled. "It seems you and my mother get along well. What about my sister? What do you think of her?"

Though it was a very ordinary statement, Lin Yingxue's heart raced, and she lowered her head to hide it. "Your sister is innocent and carefree. She even complimented me on my looks."

"Wanan was delayed at birth, so she has congenital deficiencies," Fu Jiaze said. "There have always been rumors that I am going to marry my sister, but rest assured, my mother never had such intentions. She raised me not to marry my sister but to take care of her. If she marries, I will support her; if not, I will look after her for life."

"What am I supposed to be reassured about..." Lin Yingxue whispered softly, her heartbeat accelerating even more, feeling as if it might leap out of her chest.

"I've already told you before, Wanan and I share only a sibling relationship. You've met her and should know about her congenital issues. But my mother absolutely does not intend to pair us up. Therefore, I want to make it clear to you that there has always been only a sibling bond between us."

Lin Yingxue's mind began to spin. Fu Jiaze's meaning was too obvious, making her wonder if she was dreaming.

Lin Yingxue regained her composure. "Actually, it's unnecessary. After my defiance at the Lin residence gate, my father might have other plans for my marriage."

Fu Jiaze laughed, his voice gentle as water under the moonlight. "I have already promised to marry you. A gentleman's word is worth a thousand pieces of gold, and I will not break my promise. With my mother in the capital, the proposal will be more convenient. You just need to wait for me, and I will handle the rest."

"The hairpin I gave you is the betrothal token. It is a family heirloom from the Fu family, meant for my future wife. Now it rests in your hair."

Lin Yingxue hurriedly tried to remove it, but Fu Jiaze held her hand. "Are you hoping for me to comb your hair again? There are many days ahead, Yingxue, no need to worry."