Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Just Thinking About It Feels Gratifying
 

The Fifth Princess was aware of the plan.

It was her idea to have the palace maid go wash the chrysanthemums just now.

Brother’s plan was flawlessly devised, so how could a strange man suddenly appear?

The development of events was too rapid, almost as if someone had arranged it on purpose.

Could it be that the two young masters of the Fu Family knew something?

Not everyone’s mood for enjoyment was spoiled by a maid, but what everyone was thinking, only they themselves knew.

Taking advantage of the absence of others, the Fifth Princess intentionally probed Fu Baozhu.

Who knew Fu Baozhu was also clueless, only aware that her Third Brother indeed cherished a maid beside the Princess Consort, but after all, she was just a maid and thus unworthy of much attention.

Besides, those three brothers weren’t her blood brothers, so why should she care so much? She didn’t care at all.

The Fifth Princess then said, “You ask your Third Brother if this man was arranged by him?”

“Impossible, the man might have just passed by accidentally; this is someone else’s duty. If something goes wrong, their heads could literally roll.”

“Go and find out for me, I am quite curious.”

The Fifth Princess was indeed very curious.

As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat.

She urged Fu Baozhu to ask, and Fu Baozhu indeed went to inquire.

Fu Heng was also nearby at that moment.

Upon hearing, the two brothers both frowned.

“Baozhu, did the Fifth Princess tell you to ask this?”

“No, no, it’s just my own curiosity, because I remember, Third Brother seemed to really like that maid, why didn’t he save her himself?”

Fu Baozhu was no fool, not disclosing it was the Fifth Princess’s instigation, merely expressing her own curiosity.

But the two brothers had just seen her speaking with the Fifth Princess.

Fu Han denied that he had dispatched anyone.

Fu Heng then earnestly cautioned Fu Baozhu, “Baozhu, don’t let yourself be used as a pawn by others.”

The two had already resolved to keep their sister away from the Second Prince and the Fifth Princess.

No matter what the Second Prince intended by introducing Bai Aoshuang into the General’s Mansion through such means, it was certainly not honorable, undoubtedly aimed at something nefarious.

The two were worried that the Second Prince and the Fifth Princess would use Baozhu in the future, so they hoped she would distance herself from them as soon as possible.

Fu Baozhu frowned, wanting to object to something, but seeing the serious look on her brothers’ faces, she held her words back and adopted an obedient demeanor.

Subsequently, the Second Prince did not allow Bai Aoshuang’s failure to keep him sullen; he soon resumed his usual gentle demeanor in public, chatting and laughing as if nothing was amiss. If the Fu brothers hadn’t already sensed his anomaly, they probably wouldn’t have become suspicious of him.

The Second Prince took the opportunity to speak a few words to Murong Jiu.

Murong Jiu did not treat him harshly, seemingly taking his earlier words to heart, and was not as close to Jun Yuyan as before.

It wasn’t long before Murong Jiu intentionally showed signs of fatigue.

“Princess Consort, are you tired?”

Chun Tao, ever astute, immediately asked.

“Then let’s return to the Mansion to rest,”

Jun Yuyan said.

He was eager to find out what exactly the Second Prince had told Ah Jiu, and since the objective of today’s outing had been achieved, they could head back to the Prince Mansion.

The Second Prince frowned.

At this moment, Fu Heng also said, “The Princess Consort is pregnant, she needs to rest more. We have been out for quite a while today; let us start our journey back.”

Thus, the Second Prince could no longer say much.

After all, there was no suitable place for guests to rest on Lake Heart Island.

With that, everyone boarded the boat together.

The Second Prince and the Fifth Princess, thick-skinned as they were, followed on board the ship reserved by Jun Yuyan.

Murong Jiu sat by the window, sipping some water, and found the breeze quite comfortable at that moment.

The Second Prince called Jun Yuyan away to discuss matters, and the Fifth Princess immediately approached.

Fu Heng and Fu Han, the brothers, followed her with their eyes.

Seeing this, the Fifth Princess asked with a warm smile,

“Imperial Sister-in-law, are you feeling better?”

Murong Jiu touched her forehead with a faint expression, “I’m a bit dizzy. Is there something you wanted, Princess?”

“Oh, nothing much. I was just concerned about you. I heard from my imperial brother that Sister Man is getting married this month. Since you are Sister Man’s actual younger sister, do you plan to attend the ceremony?”

Upon hearing this, Murong Jiu knew she was asking on behalf of the Second Prince.

The Second Prince likely wanted her to hasten to treat his cousin Yun Weiwei, not willing to wait any longer.

Seizing the opportunity while she was in a good mood, he could have her go that day.

She said with a smirk, “Of course, I’ll go. How could I not attend my older sister’s wedding?”

“That’s wonderful! I’ll be there too. Imperial Sister-in-law, rest assured, I will definitely protect both you and your little nephew in your belly.”

The Fifth Princess spoke warmly and affectionately, as if their relationship was very close.

Fu Baozhu drew near and chimed in, “I’ll go too, let’s all go together!”

Speaking of which, Murong Man was her actual older sister; unexpectedly, she was marrying into Marquis Ensu’s Mansion. Fu Baozhu looked down on that mansion; she had seen the eldest son several times, a fine man who yet daubed his face with makeup, truly sickening.

She didn’t know all the ins and outs involved; Nanny Fan hadn’t told her that much. The more you know, the easier it is to slip up.

Besides, she had only met her own biological parents once in private.

Other times, it was only at some banquet that she might see them briefly.

Towards Marquis Mansion, Fu Baozhu felt little sense of belonging, except for Nanny Fan constantly nagging her to remember the kindness of her parents.

She supposed she had to admit that if it weren’t for the switch in identities back then, wouldn’t she have had to live like those in Marquis Mansion?

Who in the Capital City didn’t know that the daughters of Marquis Mansion, while glamorous on the face of it, wore their Cinnabar Hairpins over and over again, and were mocked behind their backs?

But she, every time she went out, could wear something different, and her clothes were made of the finest fabric from Jiangnan.

And she was doted on exclusively by the people of General’s Mansion as she grew up.

As for Murong Man’s marriage, she just wanted to watch the excitement; she harbored no other intentions.

If the Prince also went, she could meet with him again.

The Fifth Princess said that Murong Man’s wedding should be in less than half a month.

Murong Jiu thought, the Second Prince really was in a hurry; he had already set the wedding date. She wondered what kind of mood Marquis Mansion would be in upon hearing this.

Especially Murong Man, she probably had to smash quite a few sets of vases and tea sets to vent her anger.

Upon successfully returning to Prince Mansion, Murong Jiu specifically instructed Zhen Zhu to pack things up for Bai Aoshuang, then took out one hundred taels of silver and had a guard deliver it to Bai Aoshuang.

The person was arranged by Jun Yuyan, who certainly knew where she resided.

“Miss, why give her so much silver? And even return her deed of sale to her?”

Chun Tao was quite puzzled and asked curiously while Zhen Zhu was away.

Bai Aoshuang was such an ungrateful person, the young mistress shouldn’t be so good to her.

“Because the man arranged by this prince is skilled in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. Even if the silver goes to Cui Hua, she wouldn’t be able to hold on to it. Sooner or later, it would be taken by him.”

Just then, Jun Yuyan’s voice came from outside.

Murong Jiu smiled; Jun Yuyan had discussed this plan with her in the carriage on the way back.

Thinking about it now, she felt very vengeful.

Indeed, she had intentionally given the silver note, not for Bai Aoshuang’s use, but to give her hope and then disappointment, to let her taste the flavor of despair.

“But why return the deed of sale to her?” Chun Tao boldly asked.