Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 56 Admiration

Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Admiration

"Third Miss, please sit down." Prince Qi put away the bamboo fan, concerned about Fengyu’s health, "How is Third Miss’s injury recovering?"

"It’s almost healed, thank you for your concern, Prince Qi."

Prince Qi sighed and said, "It’s all my fault for being negligent and not taking proper care, causing Third Miss to be on the verge of life and death at the archery banquet. Fortunately, Third Miss is unharmed, otherwise, I would feel guilty for life. I’ll drink this cup to punish myself and apologize to Third Miss."

Fengyu didn’t have time to stop him as Prince Qi drank it in one go. Fengyu, being a businesswoman, was adept at dealing with people, but only when doing business. Normally, she was languid, not fond of talking, and preferred solitude. With Prince Qi’s noble status, she couldn’t refuse his invitation, but she also wasn’t keen on having an engrossing conversation with him.

"Your Highness, you overstate it. The friction among guests at the banquet was not due to inadequate hosting by the host; it was our lack of decorum that troubled you."

Prince Qi raised an eyebrow. The young lady sitting opposite him had a face that could outshine beauty itself, neither servile nor overbearing, and remained calm and composed. At the archery banquet, her red dress amazed the crowd; she was not the dull and rustic girl as rumored.

She had a soft nature, devoid of aggression, yet when she stabbed herself, she was more ruthless than anyone. Fang Lingjun always said Fengyu was kind-hearted, the nicest and prettiest girl she’d ever seen. Telling lies with open eyes, this was clearly a girl with a sweet face but a cruel heart.

"I heard Lin Yu Yan has been sent to the manor. Is Third Miss satisfied?"

Fengyu became alert but remained expressionless, "I took a turn at the Ghost Gate, while she is well-fed and clothed at the manor. Satisfaction is out of the question."

"I saw it." Prince Qi looked at Fengyu with a half-smile, his eyes full of mirth, "Third Miss stabbed herself, you’re quite ruthless to yourself."

Qiuxiang nervously gripped Chunlu’s hand. Fengyu was also surprised but smiled slightly, "What is Prince Qi saying? I don’t quite understand."

Her cloak was large, hands hidden within, and during the dispute with Lin Yu Yan, who could have clearly seen what she was doing? Prince Qi might be bluffing her.

Prince Qi’s gaze swept across the girls behind her and smiled, "Third Miss, don’t be tense. I am not one to meddle with others’ affairs, but such an incident at my archery banquet, which even reached the emperor’s ears, led to my scolding. How does Third Miss intend to compensate?"

Fengyu drank tea to moisten her throat, jade-like fingers pressing on the red porcelain, remaining unperturbed. A streak of astonishment flashed through Prince Qi’s eyes. Such poise and composure, could this truly be a girl who just came of age, secluded in her boudoir?

"Lin Yu Yan also cried injustice, saying I falsely accused her with self-inflicted wounds, but who would believe that?" Fengyu looked at Prince Qi calmly, "A crowd witnessed Lin Yu Yan’s violent act at the archery banquet. If Your Highness says otherwise, would others believe it?"

Prince Qi was caught off guard. He saw Fengyu frame Lin Yu Yan and did not know the wound was fake. Fengyu also wagered on his ignorance.

"I argued with Lin Yu Yan, blades are blind. Even if it was an accident, the knife was in Lin Yu Yan’s hand. If she didn’t harbor murderous intent, how could I have framed her?" Fengyu put down her teacup, "The knife was hers, no matter how you argue, it’s Lin Yu Yan’s fault."

"Once again, I’m looking at Third Miss in a new light." Prince Qi’s smile did not reach his eyes, and there was a hint of displeasure. While he was the carefree Prince Xian, as a royal grandson, he did not like being contradicted. This little girl dared to defy even his dignity, relying on Marquis Zhenbei Mansion to back her up.

Fengyu said, "I heard Junjun mention that Your Highness likes Jiangnan tea. The sudden incident at the archery banquet caused you to be reprimanded by the emperor. Not only does the prince not blame me, but also drank to punish himself, I am grateful. It happens that my family has some pre-rain Longjing from Jiangnan. If Your Highness likes, I can send someone to deliver it to the manor."

Fengyu’s face appeared youthful, with a soft, sweet voice. Her innocuous demeanor and voice seemed like a show of weakness. Prince Qi, initially displeased, found that Third Miss behaved with proper restraint, realizing it was improper to compel her.

"Then I’ll accept Third Miss’s token of gratitude."

Fengyu accompanied Prince Qi for two more drinks before finding an excuse to return to her own private room. Qiuxiang and Chunlu were so tense that their backs were soaked with cold sweat.

Chunlu asked, "Miss, what is Prince Qi’s intention in bringing this up?"

Fengyu shook her head, feeling a faint uneasiness. Prince Qi Yuwen Mao was Emperor Jianming’s cousin. After the bloodline of the late emperor was extinguished, he was originally the most hopeful candidate to inherit the throne. Unfortunately, he was young and an only child, posing a high risk compared to Emperor Jianming, who was an adult with no observed misconduct. When stationed in Ningzhou as a Vassal King, he had supported Marquis Zhenbei with money, effort, and manpower. With three offspring, he was more suitable for the role of emperor. After much deliberation, Marquis Zhenbei chose Emperor Jianming.

Prince Qi and Emperor Jianming’s fathers were both brothers of the late emperor, but Prince Qi’s father was the late emperor’s brother born of the same mother. In terms of bloodline, Prince Qi was closer.

After Emperor Jianming’s ascension, he never treated his cousin poorly. Prince Qi, though without real power, enjoyed wealth and leisure, not having to reside in the fiefdom, living quite freely.

Wealth without freedom is a kind of confinement.

The struggle for royal power was intense and brutal. Fengyu didn’t want to get involved. In the future, if Prince Qi Mansion organizes another banquet, she would avoid it if possible, as she was a nobody to Prince Qi, soon to be forgotten.

After Lin Yu Yan went to the manor, Fengyu lived comfortably, attending classes with Fang Lingjun and Princess Xue Lan at the Imperial College, arranging outings for boating, flower viewing, and climbing. As the year-end approached, peace resumed in the capital. When Prince Qi Mansion hosted another flower viewing banquet, Fengyu feigned a headache to avoid attending.

She avoided Prince Qi, but not Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao blocked her once at the Imperial College, regarding the issue with Lin Yu Yan. Fengyu didn’t want to get entangled with the Lin Family, so she avoided him. Today, coming to Xiangguo Temple for incense offerings, Lin Xiao somehow got wind of it and intercepted her.

Qiuxiang and Chunlu were exceedingly vigilant, despite Lin Xiao having saved Fengyu, they also were wary of him. Lin Xiao’s eyes were dark and unreadable, his expression a mix of accusation and grievance, "I am not a monstrous threat, why are you unwilling to see me?"

Under the maple tree, the young man wore a thin black robe, highlighted by his cold and stern features, wrapped in an icy aura. Fengyu remembered that night when he half-knelt before her, shielding her from the sword.

"Is your injury healed?" Fengyu asked softly.

The young man’s eyes instantly turned red with frustration and reluctance, yet he remained silent, only staring at her intently. Fengyu, a regular at Xiangguo Temple, visited monthly for incense offerings and blessings for her elder sister, parents, and grandmother. The main hall was teeming with visitors, and Fengyu and Lin Xiao moved to a secluded area of the rear hall.

The backyard was filled with a broad stretch of maple trees, leaves half yellow and half red, offering a splendid view. Qiuxiang and Chunlu stood not far, keeping watch. Lin Xiao’s gaze swept over her abdomen. Fengyu wore a short jacket and long skirt, draped in a light blue cloak, hands clasped around a hand warmer. Her complexion was rosy, showing no signs of fatigue. Lin Xiao thought of her being stabbed and in grave peril, feeling concern mixed with shame.