Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Bai Aoshuang Fell into the Water! Bai Aoshuang Fell into the Water!

Fu Heng and Fu Han were comforting the frightened Fu Baozhu together.

Fu Baozhu was most afraid of snakes, and just now, there seemed to be a snake in the grass. Although neither of them had seen it, they were worried that Fu Baozhu would be scared, so they kept comforting her and even called for the servants on Lake Heart Island to scatter some sulfur on the path.

When Murong Jiu arrived, what she saw was this tender scene.

Her expression didn’t change much, she only glanced at them briefly before shifting her gaze and continuing on the scenic path with Jun Yuyan.

The island wasn’t large, with several pavilions in the center for rest, and many flowers were planted around.

At this time of the year, it was the chrysanthemums that were in bloom.

...

The Fifth Princess said her legs didn’t hurt anymore and called for her personal attendant to bring a basket, excitedly going picking chrysanthemums, which could be dried for tea.

She planned to pick extra to give some to Fu Heng.

Seeing this, Fu Baozhu also became interested, thinking of sending some to Jun Yuyan under the pretext of giving them to Murong Jiu.

“You two, go pick some as well,” Murong Jiu said to Zhen Zhu and Bai Aoshuang.

Bai Aoshuang quickly picked up a basket and went to pick chrysanthemums, displaying her graceful figure as she did so.

Fu Han indeed took several more looks and then moved his gaze away somewhat embarrassedly.

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“Third Young Master, looking at your complexion, have you not been feeling well with your appetite lately?” Murong Jiu suddenly asked Fu Han, who was standing nearby.

Fu Han showed a look of surprise, then nodded and said, “Princess Consort, you can tell from my complexion that my appetite hasn’t been good?”

Murong Jiu nodded with a smile, “Observation is the first step in diagnosis. If there’s anything else that makes you uncomfortable, Third Young Master, you can discuss it with me. If you don’t mind, I could take your pulse to see.”

“Of course I don’t mind.”

Fu Han had always had a good impression of Murong Jiu.

Although Bai Aoshuang had hinted that she was mean and jealous, Fu Han felt there must be some misunderstanding and had even tried to explain it to Bai Aoshuang a few times.

“Let’s go over there, under the tree where it’s cooler,” Murong Jiu suggested, pointing to a stone chair not far off.

Fu Han agreed quickly, and Jun Yuyan accompanied Murong Jiu over there. Seeing this, Fu Heng did not follow.

Murong Jiu took Fu Han’s pulse and described his symptoms, saying that his stomach had not been very good recently and advised him to go back and get some medicine to take.

Fu Han was thoroughly impressed by her medical skills and repeatedly expressed his agreement.

Then, Murong Jiu’s tone shifted as she said to him, “Would the Third Young Master trust me?”

“Hm? What do you mean?” Fu Han was somewhat puzzled but also noticed the seriousness in Murong Jiu’s eyes, so he nodded, “Of course I would trust the Princess Consort.”

“One of the palace maids with me has met you a few times. Today, Chun Tao told me she overheard her discussing with another maid how to fall into the water, so you would dive in to save her,” Murong Jiu said.

Upon hearing this, Fu Han’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Jun Yuyan and then back at Murong Jiu, saying in surprise, “Is the Princess Consort referring to Miss Bai?”

Murong Jiu nodded, “I will not say more, but I hope that the Third Young Master has his own judgment and is mentally prepared.”

Fu Han looked somewhat incredulous, standing there motionless.

Jun Yuyan, noticing a few mosquitoes buzzing around, took Murong Jiu’s hand and started to walk away.

No sooner had they stepped out than Murong Jiu calmly withdrew her hand and smiled at him, “Prince, I’m going to Chun Tao to have some water.”

After saying so, she headed toward Chun Tao in the pavilion.

Jun Yuyan looked at his hand, feeling slightly heavy-hearted, then glanced over at the Second Prince.

It must have been something the Second Prince said to Ah Jiu.

Although Ah Jiu hadn’t changed much, Jun Yuyan could clearly feel some resistance from her.

When the Second Prince met his gaze, he didn’t shy away but rather met it head-on, revealing a smug, cold smile.

Ah Jiu wasn’t someone easily swayed by instigation; having interacted with her for so long, Jun Yuyan had some understanding of her, which is why he couldn’t figure out what exactly the Second Prince had said to her.

“What did the Princess Consort say to you? Why do you seem so distracted?”

Fu Heng approached Fu Han immediately and asked.

Coming back to his senses, Fu Han gave a complicated look at Bai Aoshuang, who was picking chrysanthemums, and said,

“Big brother, I told you before that I like a servant girl—it’s her.”

Fu Heng followed his gaze and immediately noticed Bai Aoshuang.

Because the servant girl had dressed with care, her attire seemed plain but was embellished with many subtle touches, and her posture while picking chrysanthemums was deliberately delicate and frail. With just a glance, Fu Heng could tell that this servant girl was posturing.

“This is your taste?”

“Big brother, although she is a servant girl, she was forced to sell herself due to her family’s decline. She can read and write, not much different from the average young lady.”

Fu Han continued to defend Bai Aoshuang.

Fu Heng could tell the servant girl must be crafty, but he didn’t say much. Instead, he asked; “Did the Princess Consort talk to you about this servant girl? What did she tell you?”

“The Princess Consort said…said Miss Bai was conspiring with her nearby palace maid to stage a drowning for me to save her…”

Fu Han said with indecision.

Fu Heng’s eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, “If you were unaware, and she really fell into the water, would you save her?”

“Of course, I would.”

“And after you saved her?”

Seeing that Fu Han was silent, Fu Heng said in a deep voice, “With your nature, you would definitely take responsibility for her, and all she needs to do is to feign death to prove her innocence, then you would be determined to bring her back to the General’s Mansion, right?”

“Miss Bai doesn’t seem like that kind of person…”

“So you think the Princess Consort is lying to you?”

Fu Heng’s tone grew stern.

Fu Han quickly shook his head, “I don’t mean that, big brother, I just…”

His brother’s voice softened, patting his shoulder, “You’re naïve, too innocent, not aware that some people will do anything to achieve their goals. If you don’t believe, we can just watch and see; the Princess Consort has no reason to lie to you.”

“I understand, big brother.”

“Alright, act naturally.”

After their conversation, the two brothers walked out.

Seeing the two men, Bai Aoshuang made an even greater effort to flirtatiously attract notice.

Possibly because he had been reminded, when Fu Han looked at her, suddenly she didn’t seem like the fragile, pitiable, yet strong-willed woman he had pictured in his mind.

The subsequent covert observation made him feel that some of her actions seemed indeed quite deliberate.

His heart sank, and Fu Han realized he might have really been deceived.

But he still wanted to give Bai Aoshuang a chance; as long as she didn’t intentionally fall into the water, it would show her intentions weren’t all bad.

After picking chrysanthemums, Bai Aoshuang, Zhen Zhu, and the Fifth Princess’s personal attendant carried the flowers to wash them at the lake.

This was a perfect opportunity, and Bai Aoshuang and Zhen Zhu exchanged a glance.

The Second Prince approached the Fu brothers to talk, while guiding them toward the lake.

Fu Heng’s eyes narrowed.

The Second Prince’s actions seemed deliberate; could it be that the palace maid around the Princess Consort was the Second Prince’s agent?

And this servant girl wasn’t just trying to climb the social ladder; she might be a spy the Second Prince intended to plant in the General’s Mansion!

“Splash!”

A sound of something hitting the water was heard, followed by Zhen Zhu exclaiming loudly, “She’s fallen in the water! Bai Aoshuang has fallen in! Someone help! She can’t swim!”