By the ti for dinner, Mrs. Liu sent soone to urge him, and he sullenly entered Mrs. Liu’s courtyard.
Through the window, he saw Mrs. Liu and Fu Rou were talking. As soon as he entered, the two of them stopped speaking. He was sowhat angry: "What are you whispering about?"
Mrs. Liu hurriedly smiled and stepped forward: "We were just chatting about so trivial matters, not whispering anything — Did sothing happen to you today? Why are you so angry? Could it be that Vice Minister Xu’s side still isn’t working out?"
Saying this, she signaled Fu Rou to leave, and handed a cooled cup to Fu Jun, then sat on a small stool and began to massage his legs. The way of serving soone was second nature to her, and Fu Jun’s expression indeed improved.
"There’s no problem with Vice Minister Xu. It’s just that I encountered Mr. Du on the way." Fu Jun took a sip of tea and sighed.
Mrs. Liu was imdiately stunned: "Mr. Du? What did he say?"
"He didn’t say anything, that’s why I’m upset." Fu Jun said lazily, then recounted the incident on the street before saying, "I reckon this marriage arrangent is in jeopardy."
Since Mr. Ning passed away, the initiative for this marriage arrangent fell into the hands of the Du Family. The Du Family is reluctant to bring up this matter, and his Fu Family can’t possibly pursue it aggressively, can they? Just like what happened on the street today, even if he, Fu Jun, was lowly, he couldn’t afford to lose face like that. After all, he is an Imperial Examination graduate!
But if the Du Family doesn’t propose, he truly has no way out.
Mrs. Liu couldn’t stay calm: "How can they not recognize you? How can this marriage arrangent be ’in jeopardy’?!"
She didn’t want Fu Zhen to marry into the Du Family, but neither did she wish for the Du Family to call off the engagent!
If the Du Family calls off the engagent, how could Fu Rou have any hope of substituting Fu Zhen to marry in?
This marriage arrangent must not be ’in jeopardy’!
"Yes, father!" At this ti, Fu Rou, who was still outside the door, ca in, shaking Fu Jun’s arm with a panicked face: "The engagent was clearly set, and they want to back out. Father, you can sue them!"
"Who would sue for sothing like this? Besides, that’s the Du Family, can we afford to provoke them? Suing them would make them obedient to you?" Fu Jun’s voice beca stern, "Are you all going to eat or not?!"
He was very annoyed.
Earlier, the mother and daughter thought to have Fu Rou replace Fu Zhen to marry into the Du Family. He turned a blind eye, hoping sothing could be done. But after seeing Du Su’s attitude today, he felt that they didn’t want to marry even the legitimate eldest daughter of the Fu Family, let alone shove a concubine’s daughter over — it was too far-fetched!
And how could they not understand reason at this point?
Fu Rou looked crestfallen, her face suddenly drooping completely.
...
When Fu Zhen finished washing, Bixi ca to whisper in her ear.
The servants at Mrs. Liu’s side hadn’t changed, but Bixi had already managed to win over two little maids there, so the fact that Fu Jun was angry at Mrs. Liu’s place today reached Yixin Hall.
"It’s a sha the little maids couldn’t get closer to the inner room, otherwise we could see them suffer!"
Bixi said, hands on her hips.
Fu Zhen smiled without making a sound, but she did think of the instructions given to Zhang Cheng and Yang Tong during the day, and asked them to be summoned to the outer room.
Zhang Cheng had already returned: "I followed General Pei all the way, only to see him return to the previous teahouse, et Mr. Du and Junior General Cheng, and then they just sat there having tea. About an hour later, Mr. Du left first because of so matters, and then General Pei left as well. He went directly back to his mansion."
After hearing this, Fu Zhen asked Yang Tong: "What about the Li Family?"
"Miss, isn’t it strange? Today, the teacher’s wife actually went out. She hardly ever leaves ho usually. I asked the neighbors nearby, and they all said she went out early in the morning; the master ca to pick her up. The two of them took a carriage to the southern road, but no one knew where they went."
Fu Zhen found this very strange. What on earth happened with the Li Family?
"Then what about your senior brother?"
"Senior brother went out on a patrol of the stores half a month ago. Recently, it’s the master who guards the martial arts school. Otherwise, you might not have t him that day."
Fu Zhen deepened her previous suspicions.
Could it be that when she saw Li Yi that day, it seed as if there was an underlying concern beneath his bright face?
She cald her thoughts: "Ask about it again tomorrow. Your fellow disciples must know sothing, right? Let know if you find out anything."
She further instructed: "Before the new guards arrive, one of you needs to watch over young master Jia, and one over Madam, especially at night, to prevent any incidents. If you have ti, patrol around."
Zhang Yang both accepted the order and left. Fu Zhen returned to her room, lay down, and stared at the top of the canopy, but it took a long ti for her to close her eyes.
There shouldn’t be any deadly issue with the Li Family. Li Yi does have so influence in the capital city, both in the officialdom and among the common people, and people give him so respect. But for such an old couple to act so unusually, it must be a tricky matter at least.
Though she was anxious to ask him for guards, she couldn’t ignore his troubles; feeling anxious wouldn’t help either.
While other martial arts schools might also have reliable people, rekindling the connection with Liang Ning to accomplish this matter wouldn’t be easy. Furthermore, Fu Zhen’s previously fragile image was too deeply ingrained in people’s minds. Too much action would easily attract attention. If Li Yi could return soon, she would naturally still want to employ people from Taishan Hall.
Falling into a hazy sleep, she suddenly was awakened by a noise just before dawn.
Opening her eyes, she seed to hear rustling sounds outside the rear window.
She imdiately got out of bed and approached the rear window, listened for a mont, then abruptly pushed it open!
With her action of opening the window, several objects were startled and fell to the ground with a patter not far away, and a large swarm of wasps buzzed in imdiately!
Luckily, she reacted quickly, reaching the door before the swarm entered the room! Her training as a female general ingrained in her not to forget to grab a piece of clothing to shield her head and face as protection along the way!
Nevertheless, in the blink of an eye, the swarm still filled the entire room!
"Miss!"
Bixi’s voice sounded from outside.
Fu Zhen said: "Stay away! Go get so torches, light them and bring them in!"
Though these little creatures couldn’t harm Fu Zhen, if she were still the previous Fu Zhen inside the room, the consequences after tonight would be imaginable!
Fu Zhen swiftly leaped out through the open rear window, passing over the few fallen nests on the ground, then raised her head to survey the surroundings!
Her movents were extrely fast, although not as powerful as in her past battlefield days, breaking through these little creatures’ blockade was more than sufficient!
After scanning a semi-circle, she imdiately locked onto a figure behind a tree at the front. In three steps over two, she charged over and fiercely grabbed the person’s back, then hefted them up and slamd them heavily onto the ground!
The sound of a miserable scream thundered through the air, and at this mont, Bixi and the maids brought in lit torches, and upon seeing this, she shrieked "Miss," then imdiately jumped out the window holding the torch!
"This is Li Quan from the master’s room! — This bastard dared to harm our miss. Watch as I beat you to death!"
Engraged, Bixi pulled off the cloth covering her head, then lifted the torch in her hand, and began fiercely striking Li Quan’s head and body with all her strength!
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