Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Our Mother is a Close Friend from Girlhood
 

Fu Baozhu couldn’t believe her eyes.

In the past, just a glimpse of sadness from her would have her brothers rushing to comfort her without fail.

Especially if she felt wronged, her brothers would become furious, seeking justice on her behalf.

But today, she was wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, and her third brother had the audacity to tell her not to make an unreasonable fuss over Murong Jiu!

Her expression became even more aggrieved, “Third brother, when has Baobao ever made an unreasonable fuss? It’s clearly the Princess Consort who has misunderstood me!”

“Baobao, third brother knows you can be a bit temperamental, but you must be aware of the occasion. The Princess Consort is kind-hearted and magnanimous, she simply chose not to take issue with you,” he said.

Fu Han, of course, knew her sister was somewhat unhappy because of the Jade Guanyin, even though she hadn’t shown it. He understood Baobao well, so he came out specifically to check on her and didn’t expect to see her apparently having a quarrel with the Princess Consort.

With Baobao’s lively personality, that Jade Guanyin was naturally unsuitable for her. Their father and brothers had already planned to buy her a suitable gift for her birthday.

“Third brother! You didn’t even ask what happened before saying it’s my fault. You, you’ve let me down so much!”

Fu Baozhu couldn’t hold back anymore and started to run outside.

“I apologize for making the Princess Consort laugh,” he said.

After speaking, he hastily followed her.

Murong Jiu watched Fu Han’s eager back and felt envious in her heart. If only she had a brother like that, she would be so content.

The Fu Family was generally good, so how did they end up with a peculiar character like Fu Baozhu?

“Miss, shall we follow to take a look?” Chun Tao asked.

Murong Jiu nodded, “Let’s go, it did happen within the Prince Mansion after all.”

As the nominal head of the Prince Mansion’s main wife, she couldn’t ignore the situation.

In a soft voice, Chun Tao said, “Miss, are you feeling okay now? Shall I go and take a look instead?”

“I’m fine, let’s go.”

She was feeling a little nauseous, but otherwise alright, not feeling like vomiting.

Chun Tao quietly took out a sour plum wrapped in a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed one to her mistress.

Murong Jiu swept away the slight gloominess in her heart, and with a faint smile, she put the sour plum into her mouth, praising, “Good Chun Tao.”

Chun Tao also smiled happily.

The maid and mistress had just stepped out of the back garden when they saw that Fu Han and Fu Baozhu hadn’t gone far, and there was another person in front of them.

“The Fifth Princess…”

What is she doing here?

Murong Jiu’s brows furrowed slightly as she remembered that in her previous life, there had been rumors about the Fifth Princess being infatuated with the Elder Master Fu.

But after the Fu family’s downfall, the Fifth Princess immediately turned around and married the Top Scholar of the dynasty, creating a lovely story.

A cold sneer crossed her heart, as she had always found the so-called infatuation of the Fifth Princess to be worthless.

She wondered if the Fifth Princess was here today for the Elder Master Fu, Fu Heng.

Sure enough, as soon as the Fifth Princess approached, she asked Fu Baozhu, “Treasure Bead, where is your elder brother? Why isn’t he here?”

The Fifth Princess had always been domineering and ordered everyone around, although her attitude towards Fu Baozhu seemed rather decent.

“I’ve seen the Fifth Princess. My elder brother is speaking with my father and second brother in the Prince’s study. I’ll take you to him,” said Fu Baozhu.

Fu Baozhu went right up to her and took her hand, looking without a glance at Fu Han, turned, and headed towards the study,

Fu Han shook his head with a wry smile.

Murong Jiu stepped forward, and Fu Han said to her with a wry smile, “I apologize for any amusement today’s events may have caused the Princess Consort. My little sister is spoiled and loves to act petulantly, but she isn’t bad at heart, I hope the Princess Consort doesn’t misinterpret.”

Murong Jiu was well aware of Fu Baozhu’s true nature, which she perhaps had not revealed in front of the Fu Family.

Given that Fu Han had spoken like this, she had no choice but to say, “Miss Fu is still young; it’s quite normal for her not to understand how things work.”

“She isn’t that young anymore. If I recall correctly, the Princess Consort is sixteen this year too? Baobao is around your age as well. Indeed, she lacks maturity, and she will need to be married off soon, sigh.”

In his words, there was a trace of concern about Fu Baozhu’s future marriage.

Murong Jiu thought, surely Fu Baozhu’s fathers and brothers were worried that she wouldn’t find a suitable husband, anxious about whether she would live well after getting married. This is what true family members are like—what else could Fu Baozhu be dissatisfied with?

How could someone who grew up so loved and adored possess such a malicious streak?

She truly couldn’t understand.

As they talked, they also made their way towards Jun Yuyan’s study.

Fu Han chatted incessantly along the way, finding that he really enjoyed talking with Murong Jiu, even though she only occasionally responded.

For some reason, the longer he spent time with Murong Jiu, the deeper that sense of closeness felt.

As they neared the study, Fu Han suddenly said to her, “Princess Consort, do you know? Actually, your mother and our mother were close friends in their younger days. If my mother had not passed away so early, perhaps we would have been playmates from childhood to adulthood.”

Murong Jiu stopped in her tracks.

This was the first time she had heard about this.

The Marchioness had been friends with the deceased General’s wife?

But as far as she recalled, the Yongning Marquis Manor had no dealings with the General’s Mansion.

Seeing her look of surprise, Fu Han explained, “My mother’s death was a great blow to my father, perhaps it was to avoid being reminded of her that we stopped associating with your Yongning Marquis Manor over these years.”

Murong Jiu nodded and didn’t take it to heart.

The Marchioness was not her biological mother, and the relations between the Marquis Mansion and the General’s Mansion were of little concern to her.

“Young Master Fu, since you don’t feel like playing chess anymore, shall we play a game of toss the arrow into the pot instead?”

The cheerful voice of the Fifth Princess came from inside.

“Yes, big brother!”

“Then let’s all play together.”

Fu Heng’s tone was indifferent, revealing that he was not fond of the Fifth Princess.

Jun Yuyan ordered Eunuch Shi to prepare the tools for tossing arrows into the pot, and they decided to play in the courtyard. When he came out, he saw that Fu Han and Murong Jiu had already arrived.

Looking at Fu Han’s eager appearance, Jun Yuyan narrowed his eyes and walked towards Murong Jiu.

“Prince, you should join us too! I’ve heard you’re an archery master, never missing a shot!”

Fu Baozhu seemed to have forgotten her earlier displeasure in the back garden as she caught up to Jun Yuyan, her tone excited as she asked him.

“You all play. My arrows are only aimed at enemies.”

Jun Yuyan didn’t look at her and continued walking towards Murong Jiu, ordering the guards to bring out chairs.

Fu Baozhu discreetly clenched her fists within her sleeves.

What’s happening! Why is the Prince so nice to an ugly freak!

“Ah Jiu, would you like to try tossing the arrow into the pot?”

The tone of Jun Yuyan was much gentler as he spoke to her.

Fu Baozhu said loudly, “Princess Consort Sister, you grew up in the countryside, so you probably haven’t played this game before; it’s fun. Why not join us for a game?”

The Fifth Princess chimed in, “That’s right, Eldest Imperial Sister-in-law, since you have nothing better to do, why not take part too?”

Jun Yuyan frowned, about to decline on her behalf, but then he heard her say, “Sure, shall we make it a competition?”

The Fifth Princess reacted as if she had heard some kind of joke.

A contest?

With her?

A country bumpkin, to have ever played toss the arrow into the pot, daring to challenge to a contest!

She said, “Imperial Sister-in-Law, Treasure Bead is the daughter of a General, and her skill in this game is acknowledged as second to none in the Capital City. No one would dare claim to be the first. Perhaps you should just play for fun instead of competing.”

The Fifth Princess’s words were filled with condescension, yet she didn’t realize that she was about to be resoundingly proved wrong.