Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: General’s Daughter Fu Baozhu

Ah Li was the name their mother used in her boudoir.

Over the years, it had become the name their father called out most often when he was drunk.

But he nearly forgot what Mother looked like, in the blink of an eye, it had already been sixteen years.

And Princess Consort Ling had awakened his scant memories.

He wondered if Princess Consort Ling would look even more like Mother if she didn’t have that black birthmark on her face.

Fu Sheng and Fu Han, who were following behind, hadn’t heard their father’s murmur. Dismounting, they walked over to Murong Jiu.

...

Fu Heng also dismounted and said to General Fu, “Father, we brothers had planned to thank her in person before, but we never found the time. Now that we’ve met, let’s go and express our gratitude.”

General Fu looked at Murong Jiu for a while before saying, “Hmm, go ahead. Later, bring some gifts and formally visit to express thanks.”

With that, he too dismounted and followed behind his three sons.

“Princess Consort Ling, it has been raining continuously these past days, and we had matters to attend to, so we haven’t been able to come and express our thanks. It’s very rude of us, and we hope Princess Consort Ling won’t take it to heart,” said Fu Han, the third young master with the aura of a scholar, speaking to her with gentle politeness.

But despite the Third Young Master looking like a scholar, maybe because he was the youngest among the three brothers and had a dash of playfulness in his gentleness, the Second Young Master, who was more like a warrior, seemed steadier in comparison.

And not to mention the eldest son, Fu Heng, who was even more composed and poised.

Murong Jiu quickly gestured with her hands and said, “There’s no need for a formal visit. Saving someone was just a matter of extending a hand at the moment, and besides, Lord Zhou has already sent a thank-you gift.”

Fu Sheng replied, “Lord Zhou is Lord Zhou, but we are ourselves. If it weren’t for the Princess Consort, our third brother wouldn’t know how long he would have blamed himself.”

Indeed, in her previous life, when Murong Jiu saw the Third Young Master again, she couldn’t find such a youthful smile. The matter with Zhou Hong had caused him such guilt for a long time, and he had been resented by the Zhou family, and thus his character had been forced to mature.

Seeing General Fu approaching, Murong Jiu’s heart pounded like thunder as she bowed in the manner of a junior to General Fu.

“Princess Consort Ling, please there’s no need for such formalities,” said General Fu, his tone instinctively softer. He was afraid his gruff voice would startle Princess Consort Ling.

The closer he got to Princess Consort Ling, the less she resembled Ah Li, but an uncontrollable feeling of wanting to be close to her arose in his heart.

From the very first glance at Murong Jiu, he liked this younger member of the family from the bottom of his heart.

“About the last time Princess Consort Ling stepped in to save Minister Zhou’s young son, I’ve heard about it. I thank you on behalf of these three rascals,” he said.

The three fine young men of the Capital City were described as rascals by General Fu. @@novelbin@@

Murong Jiu covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her eyes curving into crescents.

General Fu looked into her expressive eyes, which seemed to be capable of speaking, and he felt as though he saw Ah Li from his younger days.

“Father!”

As he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a shout.

Murong Jiu turned her head towards the voice and saw a young girl in a striking red dress riding a snow-white horse galloping towards them.

The girl had a bright and beautiful appearance with snow-white skin. Her posture on the horse was bold and carefree. With a “Whoa,” she brought the horse to a stop in front of everyone.

She swung off the horse with agility, went up to the General, and took hold of his sleeve, her lips pouted in a mix of coquetry and accusation as she hummed, “Humph! Why didn’t Father and brothers wait for Baobao? Baobao also wanted to join you in the campaign against the bandits!”

Fu Baozhu, the only daughter of General Fu.

Murong Jiu had seen her a few times in her previous life as well.

Even her name was like a pearl or a treasure, which showed the affection her family had for her.

Unlike her, even her name was just because she was the ninth in the line, so she was called Murong Jiu.

Murong Jiu herself hadn’t noticed the flash of envy in her eyes.

But Fu Heng had noticed it, his brow furrowed slightly, and for some reason, he felt somewhat hurt on her behalf.

The Marquis Mansion’s treatment of Murong Jiu was known to all three brothers, who had later made special inquiries and knew that the Marquis and Marchioness had neglected her.

But to him, Murong Jiu was just an outsider, even if she owed him a favor, it wasn’t enough to feel hurt on her behalf.

He didn’t understand where this feeling came from.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Minghua Mountain is not a place you can go to!”

General Fu scolded softly. It was a reprimand, but it lacked any true reproach, as he feigned authority while his affection and indulgence for his daughter were palpable.

“But Baobao wants to go! It’s not dangerous there anymore, please let Baobao go, Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, persuade Dad!”

Fu Baozhu was persistent, pouting unhappily, as if used to acting coquettishly, these gestures were something Murong Jiu could not learn even if she tried.

When she was small, she barely survived, and from the time she could remember, she was subjected to all sorts of beatings and scoldings. She didn’t know what it was like to act spoiled, and she never had the chance to do so.

Later, when she met her master, her character had already become sensible.

Murong Jiu silently stepped back a few paces, as an outsider, it was too jarring for her to stand amid their family.

Fu Heng noticed her movement, his eyebrows involuntarily furrowing even more deeply.

He said to Fu Baozhu, “Alright, Baobao, Minghua Mountain is a den of mountain bandits, full of traps. It’s not a place to go for fun. Not letting you go is for your own good. You should return to the mansion now.”

Fu Baozhu unhappily said, “But wasn’t the leader of the mountain bandits already killed by Prince Ling? The rest are just a rabble, what’s there to be afraid of? I’m not scared at all!”

The General and the three young masters didn’t get angry, instead, they patiently and kindly persuaded her to give up the idea.

Murong Jiu sighed inwardly. People truly couldn’t be compared. Even the Fifth Princess was not treated as a treasured loved one by her family like Fu Baozhu was.

No matter, she had nothing to envy; didn’t she have a master who doted on her, after all?

Perhaps it was the pregnancy reaction coming on again, she felt nauseous and wanted to retreat to the shop at the back.

“Alright, Baobao understands, I won’t go if I shouldn’t.”

It was then that Fu Baozhu seemed to notice her for the first time and asked with innocent eyes, “Dad, brothers, who is she?”

With such a distinctive scar on Murong Jiu’s face, she didn’t believe Fu Baozhu didn’t recognize her. Moreover, from the look Fu Baozhu gave her, she caught a glimpse of hostility and mockery, which quickly disappeared.

She remembered from her last life, Fu Baozhu had looked her up and down with the same mocking gaze; she just didn’t understand why it was the same now. It was their first encounter, what could she have done to merit Fu Baozhu’s hostility?

The Fu Family hadn’t caught the expression in Fu Baozhu’s eyes. General Fu looked at Murong Jiu and said to her, “She is Princess Consort Ling. It was her superior medical skills that saved Minister Zhou’s young son. Baobao, quickly pay your respects to Princess Consort Ling.”

“So, you are Princess Consort Ling! Hello, Princess Consort Sister, I’ve long heard of your great reputation!”

Fu Baozhu said affectionately, first giving her a bow, then excitedly and presumptuously taking Murong Jiu’s arm.

With a childlike tone, she said:

“I admire people who know medicine the most, Princess Consort Sister. I feel so close to you upon seeing you, and you also helped Third Brother, I have to thank you too! Sister, can I come to the Prince Mansion to visit you later?”