Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: When the master speaks, why should the servant interject?
 

Fu Baozhu was strikingly beautiful, and from her every word and gesture, it was clear that she came from a background of privilege, exuding an aura of nobility.

Even her dress was flamboyant—a bright red gown that made her the center of attention wherever she went.

At the moment, she was probing around, inquiring about the whereabouts of Jun Yuyan.

Her investigations had informed her that Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu were already sharing a room and even dined together. She had deliberately come so early in hopes of catching a glimpse of Jun Yuyan.

But after scanning the courtyard, where was there a trace of that man?

“Miss Fu, you come in and instantly start looking for my husband. To the unaware, it seems like you’re eager to enter the Prince Mansion as a concubine,” said Murong Jiu with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Fu Baozhu, her thoughts pierced, felt a surge of annoyance but responded with a laugh,

“Look at you, Sister, speaking like that. I heard that you and the Prince are in perfect harmony, but upon my arrival, I have yet to see the Prince, and my curiosity got the better of me.”

Her words carried an insinuation, aimed at piercing the sham façade of affection between Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan.

Everyone in the world surely believed that Prince Ling would never favor Murong Jiu.

So why pretend to display an image of happiness?

Fu Baozhu spoke with an air of superiority, for she truly looked down on Murong Jiu.

An oddity from the countryside—who could ever make her way into Prince Ling’s Mansion if not for this marriage switch?

But a sparrow will always be a sparrow, and cannot transform into a phoenix no matter how high it perches on a branch.

Though she did not see the Prince, Fu Baozhu was not in a bad mood.

Just look, in the Princess Consort’s courtyard there were only two or three maids, while for her, simply to serve her tea and water, there were four, not to mention the other maids.

Could one really be favored and yet be so neglected?

Thinking this, Fu Baozhu felt increasingly smug.

In a calm tone, Murong Jiu said, “Miss Fu seems more concerned about the Prince than I am. Otherwise, why don’t I have someone check if the Prince is free to come and see you?”

“No, no need!”

Fu Baozhu quickly shook her head. What a joke, although she wanted to see the Prince, to so brazenly summon him to see her? If word got out, what would people think of her?

She wasn’t exactly without marriage prospects.

She still remembered Nanny Fan’s words; if Prince Ling was no longer the image she once admired in her heart, it was only right for her to seek a more suitable husband.

Murong Jiu was truly cunning, plotting to ruin her reputation.

Her eyes flickered as she said, “Princess Consort Sister, others cling to their husbands as if their lives depend on it, yet you seem keen on finding another beauty for the Prince? Could it be, Sister, that as rumors have it, your heart belongs to another?”

She was referring to the Second Prince.

After all, Murong Jiu’s infatuation with the Second Prince was an open secret in the Capital City.

This country bumpkin, married to Prince Ling, surely wasn’t satisfied in her heart.

Seriously lacking in taste.

The Second Prince, aside from his looks, was far inferior to Prince Ling in every other aspect.

It would be best if people in the Prince Mansion heard Murong Jiu’s disdain for Prince Ling, and from then on, no one would hold her in any regard.

Unexpectedly, Murong Jiu chuckled lightly.

“Miss Fu, your words are quite amusing. You come in immediately inquiring about my husband, and I assumed you wished to become a concubine—I thought of doing you a favor to help you out. But instead, how come you’re lashing out in return? Your three older brothers are all esteemed and accomplished, so why is it that when it comes to you, you fall short of their grace?”

“You—who are you saying falls short of grace!”

Fu Baozhu’s face flashed with anger, taunted by a woman she held in disdain.

At this point, Nanny Fan at her side spoke up,

“Your Majesty the Princess Consort, our young miss is naturally kind-hearted and may have misspoken unintentionally. She is young and has been indulged from a young age, not as worldly and understanding as Your Majesty. Please do not humiliate our young miss.”

With just a few words from Nanny Fan, it was clear she was a formidable character.

The breadth of Fu Baozhu’s experiences was limited. No matter how deep her scheming, she was easily provoked, but this Nanny Fan was clearly different.

A mere mention of youth can erase all offenses.

Little did they know, Murong Jiu and Fu Baozhu were of the same age, both sixteen.

That phrase “knowledge of the ways of the world” was an insinuation of her deep scheming nature.

Contrasting her with the naive and innocent Fu Baozhu.

Murong Jiu merely said indifferently, “Since when can a servant interrupt when the master speaks? What about the rules?”

Nanny Fan’s complexion changed, and she immediately put on an apologetic smile, “This servant knows her mistake. I’ll slap myself, please forgive me, Your Majesty the Princess Consort!”

Having said that, she slapped herself hard, turning her face red within a few strikes.

Capable of bending and stretching, and adept at judging the situation, this nanny was not to be underestimated.

Fu Baozhu’s face looked terrible, not because she felt sorry for Nanny Fan, but because her nanny being punished in the Prince Mansion made her lose face.

She had suffered such a setback upon her arrival at the Prince Mansion, clearly, she had underestimated Murong Jiu.

She wanted to leave with a flick of her sleeves, but at that moment, an announcement from outside came through—it was Murong Qian, the seventh daughter from the Marquis Mansion, coming for a visit.@@novelbin@@

Fu Baozhu frowned slightly. Didn’t everyone at the Marquis Mansion dislike Murong Jiu? Why would someone come to see her?

She didn’t leave, instead wanting to see if this Murong Qian truly shared a close sisterly bond with Murong Jiu!

Murong Jiu glanced at her indifferently, without any gesture of seeing off the guest.

“Let Seventh Sister come in.”

Last time she visited her parental home, Murong Qian had expressed a wish to come to the Prince Mansion. It was curious why it took her so long to come.

Murong Qian walked in gracefully, dressed today in a thin skirt of goose yellow. She looked meticulously dolled up; her blush was as light as a cloud, resembling a shy girl.

“Ninth Sister!”

As soon as Murong Qian entered, she quickly approached and warmly took Murong Jiu’s hand.

“Ninth Sister, have you been well lately?”

“All is well, thank you for your concern, Seventh Sister.”

“But you don’t look well. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

Murong Jiu looked at her seemingly genuine expression and replied, “The heat is oppressive, and I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

Murong Qian expressed concern, suggesting that she might use some Calming Incense.

After a while of making polite conversation, Murong Qian, as if she had only just noticed Fu Baozhu, asked, “Ninth Sister, who is this?”

“The fourth daughter from the General’s Mansion.”

“So it’s Miss Fu, what a pleasure to meet you! I did not expect Ninth Sister and Miss Fu to be good friends.”

Fu Baozhu wore a smile, but inwardly she scorned the idea. Associating with a concubine-born daughter would only lower her own standards.

Which noble girl in the Capital City would befriend a concubine-born daughter?

Just as she was about to get up, she heard Murong Qian say, “Ninth Sister, I heard that Prince Ling was injured during the bandit suppression, is his health affected?”

Fu Baozhu frowned secretly. Could it be that this concubine-born daughter also harbored thoughts for Prince Ling?

Murong Jiu gave Murong Qian an extra glance and said, “Prince Ling suffered a superficial wound. It’s not a big issue, thank you for your concern, Seventh Sister.”

“That’s good to hear. Ninth Sister, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. You wouldn’t mind me joining you for luncheon here, would you? I hope it won’t disturb you and Prince Ling.”

Murong Qian joked.

“Not at all.”

Murong Jiu was confident that with Murong Qian there, Jun Yuyan wouldn’t come over at noon.

Fu Baozhu, however, took this as evidence of Murong Jiu’s lack of favor.

“Your Majesty the Princess Consort! Prince Ling sent me to deliver the rewards from the palace for the bandit suppression!”

Suddenly, Manager Lin spoke loudly from outside the courtyard and commanded his people to bring in the chests.