Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 99 Framing

Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Framing

Fang Lingjun lowered her voice and said, "Zhang Boxin and Eldest Sister’s marriage was almost finalized. After this incident, the marriage will likely be in jeopardy. Even if Zhang Boxin doesn’t mind, the Zhang Family would care about the rumors."

A clan as prestigious as theirs, even if it’s a distant branch, takes reputation very seriously.

Fengyu’s gaze deepened. Eldest Sister had always been cautious, and her marriage had been difficult. Just when things seemed to take a turn for the better, such an incident occurred at the last moment. Fengyu said, "Junjun, I’ll return home first, you go play with Xue Lan."

"Go ahead!"

Fengyu hurriedly returned to the residence with Qiuxiang and Chunlu. The carriage stopped outside the bustling district, requiring them to walk out. The dragon boat races had just ended, and the streets were at their liveliest. Crowds thronged the riverbanks, and amidst the chaos, Qiuxiang and Chunlu were separated. As they tried to find Fengyu, they realized she had disappeared.

"Miss... Miss, where are you?"

This part of the dragon boat course was the busiest, with the densest crowds. Qiuxiang and Chunlu were pushed about helplessly, but Fengyu was nowhere to be seen. Qiuxiang stomped her feet in frustration, while Chunlu, a bit calmer, said, "Miss knows where the carriage is, let’s head there to wait for her."

Qiuxiang called out a few more times unwillingly, but when Fengyu still didn’t appear, she had no choice but to leave with Chunlu.

Fengyu was forcibly dragged onto a painted boat. Only after she boarded did she see it was the Third Prince. She turned to leap back onto the shore, but the boat had already begun moving. The river water flowed cold and icy; thinking of Feng Wan’s plunge into the lake, Fengyu realized that if the Feng Family sisters both fell into the lake and were rescued by princes on the same day, the backbone of the Feng Family would undoubtedly be broken by public opinion.

"If you’re so brave, jump into the river!" The Third Prince’s mocking voice sounded behind her. Fengyu reached for the dagger hidden at her waist and felt a faint sense of relief.

In a flash, Fengyu had already guessed the Third Prince must have recalled that night. Suppressing his rage, he had come seeking revenge. The bitter cold weather and the isolation on the boat gave Fengyu room to plan her response.

Panicked, she backed to the stern of the boat, gripping the railing tightly, and looked at him warily. "What do you want?"

"Fengyu, if you don’t want to die, I suggest you avoid rash actions." The Third Prince gazed grimly at the girl at the stern and approached her with a cold expression.

"Stay back!" Fengyu retreated farther to the end of the stern. The painted boat swayed gently, seemingly ready to topple into the river with just a gust of wind. She adopted a posture of desperate resistance, appearing ready to perish alongside the Third Prince.

The painted boat was small and could not withstand much motion. The Third Prince stopped one meter away from Fengyu, glaring coldly at her. Now that she was onboard the boat, escape was impossible.

This period of time had been like a nightmare for him. A seemingly ordinary palace banquet had led to his confinement. The palace was flooded with rumors branding him as a cruel, inhumane beast who had violated a palace maid to her death. He had become the greatest disgrace of the Yuwen Royal Family. Even in confinement, he could hear how vicious the rumors were.

He was the Empress’s youngest son, with wise elder brothers and immature younger ones above and below him. Though unruly and impulsive, he had never violated palace maids.

Since turning sixteen, there had been trained palace maids in the palace who taught him about worldly matters, and his residence also had concubines. Why would he torment palace maids, let alone to the point of killing them?

This violent reputation would haunt him for life, condemning his future to ruin. He distinctly remembered it was Fengyu. In the hall, incense had been lit that clouded his mind, but he briefly regained clarity when Fengyu struck him.

He had argued with the Empress but was slapped across the face. "Shut your mouth; don’t mention this again. Finish your confinement, then get designated as a prince and stay out of trouble," she said.

Having no avenue for justice, his pent-up rage had only grown stronger.

"You ruined me, took everything I had. I can’t even openly accept my title, for fear of being impeached by court officials." The Third Prince roared in anger, "I had no grudge against you. Why did you frame me?"

Playing the role of innocent and pitiable was her expertise. Tears streamed down as Fengyu cowered at the stern, her face streaked with sorrow as she looked at him in terror. "Brother Azao, don’t scare Ayu. Ayu is terrified and wants to go home."

"Why are you crying? I haven’t even started crying!" The Third Prince fumed, "If you don’t explain things today, I’ll throw you into the river to drown!"

"Wah... Brother Azao..." Fengyu burst into tears. Streaked with tears and seemingly scared out of her wits, she huddled into a small ball at the stern, her innocent, teary appearance calling to mind the times when little Fengyu had tearfully chased after his carriage yelling "Brother" as he left Ningzhou.

Memories of their childhood friendship resurfaced.

As children, the Third Prince had adored playing with Fengyu. She was obedient and well-behaved, as delicate and lovely as carved jade and snow. Because of her frail body, she didn’t enjoy climbing trees or causing trouble like others. Clean and beautiful, she always stood apart. He had been coaxed into joy countless times, gifting her all the best food and toys. Fengyu had been his favorite playmate in Ningzhou. If Emperor Jianming hadn’t ascended the throne, if their families had stayed in Ningzhou, he and Fengyu might have grown up as inseparable childhood sweethearts.

"Stop crying!" The Third Prince yelled roughly. Fengyu’s deer-like, frightened eyes gazed at him pitifully and tearfully, her look of wanting to cry but holding back tugging painfully at his heartstrings.

The Third Prince: "..."

The blazing anger in his chest seemed to be doused slightly by water. The more Fengyu cried, the more their childhood friendship reawakened. Fengyu understood this well and made her expression all the more pitiful. The Third Prince flicked his robe and sat on the prow. "I was drunk that day, resting properly in the hall. Why did you harm me?"

Fengyu secretly thought, the Third Prince really had no idea—it was all the Empress’s scheme. Realizing this, Fengyu said, "That day at the palace banquet, someone spilled wine on me, and the sister palace maid took me to change clothes. When I entered the hall, I smelled something highly fragrant and started feeling dizzy and hot. I wanted to find water but was locked inside, unable to get out. Afterward, Brother Azao... Brother Azao bullied me. In panic, I struck you and jumped out of the window to flee. I... I ran to the lakeside and encountered the Noble Consort, begging her to save my life. I truly didn’t mean to harm you. How could I dare? Ayu has no strength to carry, no fortitude to shoulder. I can’t even bear to hold a rabbit; how could I harm anyone? Brother Azao, I really didn’t harm you. You must believe me."

"Nonsense! I distinctly saw you and Xie Xun scheming together!" The Third Prince’s face hardened. "You dare lie to me?"

"No, no..." Fengyu waved her small hands frantically. When Xie Xun came, the Third Prince had already fainted and couldn’t possibly have seen anything. He must be bluffing. Fengyu said, "The Young Marquis and I aren’t acquainted. How could we be plotting anything together?"

The Third Prince indeed had been bluffing, certain that Xie Xun had framed him. Fengyu lowered her head, wiping her tears, playing innocent while reminding the Third Prince. "It was my first time entering the palace. I don’t know how I offended the sister palace maid. She spilled wine on me and then led me to your hall. Brother Azao, why would she want to harm me?"

The Third Prince froze. That palace maid was now dead. How could he uncover the truth? Could it really not have been Xie Xun? But he had questioned the eunuchs in the hall, and Xie Xun had vanished for a while, whereabouts unknown.