Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 96: Like

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Like

A few young men followed Fang Lingjun in coaxing, Zhang Boxin was slightly tipsy, his cheeks, ears, and neck were all red. It was unclear whether he was drunk or embarrassed, "Shut up, all of you!"

"Then pay us hush money," Zhou Liyu laughed heartily.

"I’ll treat this time, just don’t talk nonsense!" Zhang Boxin, not wanting to be ridiculed, decisively offered hush money.

The crowd reluctantly let him go. Fengyu knew that Zhang Boxin and Feng Wanxiang had met a few times and both were very satisfied. But after all, they weren’t very familiar, unlike her and Fang Lingjun who had known each other since childhood, knowing each other’s backgrounds well.

Fengyu said, "Big Sister likes quiet, and enjoys poetry and songs."

"Zhang Boxin, you perfectly avoided Miss Feng’s interests," Cai Wensen and Zhou Liyu, his two mischievous friends, laughed uncontrollably, pounding the table and saying, "There’s still time to study hard now."

After being ridiculed, Zhang Boxin chased Zhou Liyu and Cai Wensen, and the group laughed together. Fengyu was rarely so relaxed. They continued playing the drinking game. Fengyu lost several rounds, with Lin Xiao helping her block the drinks.

A cheer from outside whistled by, and everyone crowded at the window to watch the dragon boats on the lake. The dragon boat just passed the front, and Fengyu could see some girls from Mudan Building dancing. The ministers and people were enjoying themselves together, drawing cheers from both shores and cries of "long live." Fengyu thought that without war, every year would be like this peaceful scene, perhaps being the dream of the young marquis.

The girls from Mudan Building were safe and sound, if it were a regular performance, there would be nothing to worry about. Fang Lingjun said, "I didn’t expect the Empress to accompany on a tour, quite unexpected."

"The Emperor went out with the consorts; if the Empress didn’t come and the Noble Consort dominated, how could she be willing?" The playboys lounged around the market, also commenting on the imperial concubines.

The families of the concubines, except for Consort Xie, were not too prominent, so the sons of noble families were not afraid of being overheard. Moreover, these few were unhappy due to almost spending New Year’s Eve in jail because of Imperial Uncle Lv.

Princess Xue Lan said, "I accompanied my mother to the palace for a banquet on New Year’s Eve. The ladies all performed rituals outside the hall, and the Empress was not seen. Both Imperial Uncle and Duke Ning encountered troubles, which severely impacted the Empress. She was critically ill, and during the trivial affairs from New Year’s Eve to Lantern Festival, the Noble Consort and Princess Consort De handled everything alone. In previous years, the Empress held all the power and never gave the Noble Consort and Princess Consort De the chance to assist with palace affairs. This year, she truly seems gravely ill. Imperial Uncle is her only full-brother, other half-siblings are disappointing, no wonder she was so heart-stricken."

"Imperial Uncle Lv was also a scourge, he nearly implicated us," Cai Wensen clicked his tongue.

Fang Lingjun curiously asked, "Did you really not deal a blow to him?"

Zhang Boxin put his hands on his hips and argued, "In broad daylight, we’re not stupid. If we did want to deal a blow, we would choose a night with high winds and dark sky. Li Pengfei actually beat him up, I didn’t even touch a hair on him. Yet in jail, I was severely interrogated, such bad luck."

The mastermind behind this good show, Fengyu, calmly drank tea, her expression gentle and soft, like a newborn white rabbit.

"He’s dead, it’s a great relief, several streets even had discounted promotions, it’s truly a nationwide celebration," Cai Wensen said disdainfully, "God knows how many lives he’s stained his hands with, and he was so arrogant and uncouth. If it weren’t for his family background, the Kyoto Capital Guard would have killed him and dumped him in the lake, and no one would care."

Lin Xiao coughed twice, "Alright, it’s a good Lantern Festival, why talk about these disheartening things."

The Lin Family was related to the royal family through marriage, so others dared not say more.

They continued playing the drinking game. Zhang Boxin seemed to have seen something, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, "I’ll go downstairs and buy you something to eat."

He dashed off in a flash, so fast that no one could stop him.

Princess Xue Lan said, "There’s food in the tavern, why did he go downstairs to buy it?"

"He’s drunk, don’t mind him, let’s continue playing."

Lin Xiao had always wanted to find an opportunity to have a few words alone with Fengyu. Fengyu’s attitude towards him was very cold, not even as enthusiastic as with Zhang Boxin.

Lin Yu Yan asked if he liked Fengyu.

He did!

But what can be done about it?

His sister hated her, his brother disliked her, and his parents were annoyed with her for causing chaos at home, ruining the family’s reputation. Elder Lin specifically called his father over to scold and rebuke him for not disciplining the children at home. The thought of proposing marriage was just a delusion.

The intense gaze was hard to ignore. Princess Xue Lan, Zhou Liyu, and Cai Wensen noticed it, and since they were good friends with Lin Xiao, they intentionally dragged Fang Lingjun and Xue Lan to the window to watch the dragon boats, giving Lin Xiao and Fengyu some space alone.

Lin Xiao helped Fengyu block a few drinks. He could hold his liquor well and wasn’t drunk, but there was a hazy melancholy in his eyes. A young man’s unfulfilled gaze could soften people’s hearts.

Though Miss Feng San was slow, she was no fool. She finally realized from his gaze the youthful, tender feelings of affection, greatly shocked.

"You... like me?" Fengyu asked.

Lin Xiao gruffly denied, "No, who would like you!"

The proud young man never admitted his affection easily, fearing rejection, and knowing it was an unbridgeable chasm.

Lin Xiao had saved her life and provided false testimony for her at the palace banquet. Fengyu did not blame him for Lin Yu Yan’s matter, but she couldn’t act like nothing had happened.

After he denied it, Fengyu actually let out a sigh of relief. People are emotional creatures, always hoping to be liked and recognized by others. But Fengyu was stingy in giving her affection; if love wasn’t what she desired, it would only be a burden.

Fengyu wanted to join Princess Xue Lan and Fang Lingjun at the window to watch the dragon boats. But Lin Xiao dragged her to the other side of the elegant room, where there was a window connected to the next room, bustling with noise.

Lin Xiao’s palms were sweaty, sticking to the skin on Fengyu’s wrist, "Fengyu, if Yuyan marries and I settle things at home, willing to propose, would you be willing to marry me?"

Fang Lingjun noticed Lin Xiao pulling Fengyu to the next room and, worried she might suffer, got up to find Fengyu but was stopped by Zhou Liyu and Cai Wensen.

"What are you doing?" Fang Lingjun raised a fist.

"Lin Xiao has blocked so much wine for Fengyu, how could he bully her?"

Fang Lingjun said, "His two eyes are practically glued to Ayu; I’m not blind. He likes Ayu, but has he forgotten Lin Yu Yan nearly killed her, what a daydream."

Cai Wensen tutted, "Lin Yu Yan will eventually marry off, it won’t hinder Fengyu and Lin Xiao."

Princess Xue Lan chuckled lightly, "She attempted murder with a knife, her reputation is ruined. If she never marries, Fengyu marrying Lin Xiao would only lead to being bullied to death by her, with such a ruthless sister-in-law, it’d be skinning if not death."

The crowd, "..."

In the adjacent room, Fengyu looked into Lin Xiao’s eager eyes, feelings surging. Did he really like her, was she too slow in realizing it? "When I was attacked at the manor, you protected me; at the palace banquet, you helped me out; I know... at least you don’t truly dislike me. But why do you like me?"

"I don’t know either, but I met you, and I liked you," Lin Xiao’s expression was painful yet joyful, "I thought I’d hide it in my heart forever, not to trouble you. Yet I couldn’t bear it. Fengyu, I’ll protect you, trust me."