Upon entering, one is greeted by a sandalwood gauze screen. The finely grained sandalwood is carved with an old, gnarled plum tree, with a few blossoms in bloom, exuding an elegant and refined charm. Embroidered on the screen are white cranes, two standing gracefully, their frosty feathers like snow, their crimson petals reflecting the sun. On either side are incense burners with carved cloud patterns, burning with the finest jade-scented incense, wisps of smoke curling upwards.
Further inside, long curtains hang down, and through the beaded curtains, one can glimpse the landscape painting of forests and springs hanging on the wall.
On the antique display shelves by the window, there were even more precious gems, jade goblets, and gold vases.
This arrangement is best suited for enjoying tea and discussing literature; inviting Xu Shu in would be a waste and an insult.
You Tong stopped in front of Linghua Gate and did not go any further.
Xu Shu took a few steps and realized that You Tong hadn't followed. She stopped and looked back, only to see You Tong staring at her coldly with her lips tightly pressed together.
The atmosphere had turned cold without her noticing. Even though the room was warm and fragrant with incense, the moment their eyes met, Xu Shu felt a chill. She cleared her throat, not wanting to lose face, and put her hands in her sleeves, adopting the dignified posture of the Princess Consort of Rui, and said to You Tong, "Let's go inside. If you have something to say, let's pour some tea and talk slowly."
You Tong slightly raised her eyelids and said coldly, "No need."
"Didn't you want to speak with me alone? His Highness specifically instructed that we should not neglect our guests who have come from afar."
As Xu Shu spoke, ignoring You Tong's attitude, she walked straight inside to the table with the tea tray, sat down in the main seat, took some tea leaves and slowly brewed them, saying, "Speaking of which, we've known each other for five or six years now. Regardless of how things are now, we were acquainted before. Last time at Fengyang Palace, it was rather rushed, with the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine present, so we couldn't have a proper chat. Now that we're gathered at Liuyuan Garden, let's—brew a couple of cups of tea, and then we can say everything we want to say."
As he spoke, he poured the first cup of tea into a thin-walled, delicate porcelain cup and handed it to You Tong from a distance.
She had clearly dressed up carefully for today's guests; from head to toe, her gold hairpins and brocade clothes were all of great value.
When she raised her glass, her wide sleeves swayed slightly, her posture was calm and slow, and even the smile on her face was just right, showing no lack of princess demeanor.
You Tong looked at the woman kneeling on the prayer mat, closed her eyes, and still remembered the despair of the original owner when she jumped into the frozen lake in December.
While the betrayal of her beloved saddened her, the actions of her close friend were also a knife stabbing into the heart of the original owner.
You Tong stood with her sleeves tucked in and said coldly, "Nobody wants to drink tea with you. I'm afraid there might be poison in the tea."
These words were too blunt, and Xu Shu's face changed drastically. "Insolence!" Her hand holding the cup trembled violently, and the scalding tea spilled out, splashing onto the back of her hand. She instinctively let go. The porcelain cup fell with a dull thud, and steaming tea splashed onto the table. Her face instantly turned angry, and she stood up abruptly, saying, "You Tong, I'm just being nice. Don't push your luck."
"So what if you push your luck?" You Tong took a half step forward. "What can you do to me?"
Xu Shu glared at her, while You Tong stood straight with sharp eyes and a cold expression.
She clenched her fists, struggling to suppress her anger, and sneered, "That's right, at this critical juncture, His Highness does indeed need the Fu family's help, and both of us know this. Today's banquet was indeed at His Highness's instruction, asking me to entertain you and resolve your grudges. But Wei Youtong, everything has its limits. Even if you harbor resentment, you should know when to stop. His Highness is right outside; your behavior of behaving so disrespectfully is unacceptable anywhere."
"Oh? Then please invite Prince Rui in and see if this makes sense."
Xu Shu was speechless; her lips moved, but she didn't speak.
Prince Rui was indeed outside, but Fu Yu was sitting next to him.
That man was ruthless and cold-blooded, and his reputation in the court was always mixed; he was no benevolent person. Xu Shu still felt a chill run down her spine at Fu Yu's cold and authoritative gaze before they came to the West Pavilion—if things went wrong now and Fu Yu stormed off, wouldn't all of Prince Rui's hard work be in vain? How would she explain that?
Xu Shuqiang suppressed his anger and tried his best to endure it.
“Your Highness is very magnanimous. Since I have hosted a banquet to entertain you, I will not hold a grudge,” she said.
That's just stubbornly refusing to admit it.
It's as if she's capable of arguing and Xu Chaozong would definitely stand up for her and uphold justice.
You Tong sneered, "Let me be more explicit. Don't you understand why Prince Rui is receiving us here today instead of at the Prince's residence? Xu Shu, our feud has nothing to do with status, only with conscience. Even if Prince Rui were here, he wouldn't necessarily use his power to bully us. If you don't believe me, invite him in right now and see how he handles things!"
How will Xu Chaozong handle this?
Having been married for so long, how could Xu Shu not know Xu Chaozong's temperament, his ambitions and secrets?
The woman in front of him was a thorn, buried in Xu Chaozong's heart and between husband and wife.
Consort Ling in the palace earnestly instructed Xu Shu that she knew perfectly well what Xu Chaozong meant by saying she had been wronged this morning.
The princess's feigned dignity could no longer hold up, and Xu Shu's face turned quite embarrassed.
After a moment's pause, she straightened up and said, "Alright, let's put aside our identities then. I know you hate me because of His Highness's matter. You think I stole his love and am two-faced, but Wei Youtong, you should also consider this: even without me, would His Highness have married you? Prince Rui is a prince, and the person by his side should be a virtuous and capable wife who can help him solve his problems. Tell me, with the Wei family's power, how much can we help him?"
"Is this your reason for stabbing me in the back?"
I'm just stating the facts.
"And then?" You Tong raised an eyebrow, staring at Xu Shu. "How do you explain what happened after that?"
Xu Shu's gaze darted away for a moment. "After that... what happened?"
"The rumors and slander throughout the capital are like daggers, each one a veiled attack. Princess Consort Rui, are you truly unaware of these matters?" You Tong sneered, pacing to her side. "In the past, I, Wei You Tong, treated you quite well, didn't I? Even if our marriage was ordained by fate, and you and Prince Rui each had your own choices, why stir up such turmoil in the capital? Public opinion can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones. Those discussions and mockery are sharper than swords, clearly driving people to despair. Xu Shu—"
You Tong raised her hand and placed it against her chest. "Doesn't it hurt here?"
Standing about a foot apart, Xu Shu turned her head away, avoiding her gaze.
You Tong looked at her profile. Xu Shu's cheeks were slightly puffed out, as if she were clenching her teeth, and she was trembling slightly. The evenly applied makeup covered the blemishes on her cheeks, but it could not hide her pale and bluish complexion.
She stared at the remaining tea on the table, her throat bobbing a few times before she whispered, "I've only heard about those things."
"Ha!" You Tong almost laughed in anger. "Back then, when the infamy was overwhelming, the Wei family was powerless to retaliate or silence the gossip you stirred up. But Xu Shu, nobody's a fool. We can trace the source of those rumors. By saying such self-deceiving things, are you looking down on me, or on yourself?"
Xu Shu didn't say anything, but suddenly turned around, dodging You Tong's hand pointing at her chest, and turned her back to him.
You Tong took out a handkerchief, slowly wiped her fingers clean, and casually tossed it aside.
He continued, “The first time you mocked me, I thought you were feeling guilty and afraid of being criticized. But what about the second time? Knowing that rumors can drive someone to desperation, you still used this matter to spread rumors and hurt their feelings. Is human life so worthless to you? Have you ever thought about how those who once considered you a sister, a close friend, felt after being attacked with these cold words? Your heart is truly more venomous than a snake or a scorpion, and harder than iron!”
"Alright! Stop talking!" Xu Shu suddenly spoke up, her tone somewhat sharp.
Immediately, her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she was forcibly enduring it.
"I know I've wronged you in the past." Xu Shu's voice trembled. When she turned around, her eyes were bloodshot, her cheekbones were flushed, her teeth were clenched, and her expression was somewhat ferocious. She lowered her head slightly, looked up at You Tong, took a couple of breaths, and then said, "Those things are all in the past, I don't want to hear about them! I only ask you, what exactly do you want?"
What do you want?
You Tong coldly stared at the increasingly pale face in front of her.
If there were a tombstone tablet for the original owner, You Tong would wish to drag the couple there and make them kneel in front of the grave for ten or eight years!
But she is still alive, and even if they are to kneel, it can only be done in front of the Buddha at the temple.
That spoiled yet naive girl has already left in despair. Now, all she can do for the time being is to restore her reputation.
—Xu Chaozong still needs the Xu family's support to seize the throne. Even though he needs Fu Yu's help, he can't easily abandon the Xu family. For the sake of Grand Tutor Xu's position, if she openly exposes the Xu family's misdeeds, Xu Chaozong will definitely suppress it at all costs. After all, the capital is still the imperial territory; haste makes waste and will only arouse the other party's suspicion.
Words that are subtle and pervasive, like a gentle stream, are more likely to be believed.
You Tong had already made up her mind before she arrived, and now that she had broken through Xu Shu's defenses, things became much easier.
He then stepped back two steps and said solemnly, "Restore my reputation."
Xu Shu looked up in astonishment, her eyes flickered, and then she said, "How could I possibly restore this?"
"I'm afraid only you and Prince Rui could accomplish this." You Tong temporarily suppressed her sharp words and said in a deep voice, "The rumors from that day involved the three of us. You know perfectly well whether those things are true or false. Recently, banquets have been held in various mansions, and it's a lively time. Isn't it enough for you and Prince Rui to step forward and refute these rumors to reach a conclusion?"
This request is tantamount to Xu Shu contradicting herself.
Xu Shu's eyes were still bloodshot, and her face was pale and embarrassed.
You Tong didn't bother to look at her any longer and said, "Today's visit to Liuyuan is for private matters. If you've thought it through, then send the banquet invitation. In front of everyone, you will still be the Princess Consort of Rui. After all, what I want is the dignity of the entire Wei family. It is His Highness who invited my husband to the banquet. You can decide for yourself."
After saying that, he turned and walked straight out.
Upon reaching the Linghua Gate, he turned back and saw Xu Shu with a pale face, looking somewhat lost and disoriented. A thought flickered in his mind, and he sneered, "By the way, the Prince Rui's mansion is spacious. If you ever sleep alone, you should think about whether your resentful soul might come looking for you if I really die. After all, I know the Prince Rui's mansion very well."
These words came as abruptly as Xu Shu raised her eyebrows and saw You Tong's expression as cold as ice, with an unusually strange look in his eyes.
She suddenly felt cold, and then she saw You Tong lift the door and walk away alone.
Chapter 39 Little Hands
After returning from the West Pavilion, Fu Yu and Xu Chaozong still sat facing each other.
The spacious table was laden with exquisite dishes, their aromas quite enticing, yet almost nothing had been touched, a sight that pained the heart. However, You Tong truly disliked the food prepared by the couple, so she didn't touch it either. After bowing and taking her seat, she drank a cup of tea because she was thirsty.
Seeing that Xu Shu hadn't come out, Xu Chaozong's gaze lingered on her face, hesitating to speak. Fu Yu's eyes darkened slightly. He took her teacup, filled it, and asked, "Are you hungry?"
"Not very hungry, and I don't have an appetite," You Tong shook her head.
Fu Yu then said to Xu Chaozong, "In that case, I will take my wife back first. Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness."
As he spoke, he stood up.
Xu Chaozong also saw him off with a smile. Perhaps because the two had a smooth conversation, his expression was serene and he personally escorted him to the covered walkway.
Fu Yu also remained composed and dignified. After taking a few steps, he clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Highness, please wait."
Then, taking You Tong's hand, they walked straight outside.
The movement was natural, concealed by the wide sleeves, not abrupt or eye-catching, but the couple walking hand in hand side by side revealed a slight intimacy. Du He and his maidservants, who were waiting respectfully not far away, were dumbfounded when they saw this, and quickly lowered their heads to pretend they didn't see anything. Xu Chaozong behind them, however, froze, staring at the couple's backs in a daze.
Compared to them, You Tong was the most shocked.
Even though they had been married for months, slept in the same bed, and she had even held his arm for warmth in her sleep, they had never truly been lovers. To be held in public by Fu Yu was unprecedented. Such a gesture from this aloof and discerning war god was something no one else would dare to even imagine.
That hand was steady and strong, with calluses on the fingertips, but the palm was warm, quite different from his cold and hard body.
You Tong froze for a moment, realizing that he was putting on a show of a harmonious marriage in front of outsiders, and abandoned the idea of pulling away.
Fu Yu walked with a solemn expression, his robes swaying slightly.
Court affairs swept into the distance, his expression unchanged, but his mind was almost entirely focused on his palm—
The hand wrapped in his palm was slender and warm, soft and boneless.
His heart fluttered slightly as he caressed her hand, his gaze drifting to her slender neck, her soft earlobes, and even the mound of her breasts below her neck. Just last night, as they shared the same bed, he had inadvertently touched her breast in his drowsy state, experiencing that same soft touch. Even now, the sensation remained vividly clear in his mind.
You Tong had no idea what he was thinking. It wasn't until she walked through the winding corridor and arrived at a narrow passageway embraced by bamboo that she finally found an excuse to quickly pull her hand back and lift the hem of her skirt.
Fu Yu felt his palm go empty, and when he tried to reach out to grab her again, she had already hidden behind him.
...
After leaving the Lingering Garden, the couple took a carriage back to their residence. In a quiet alley, the spies who had been hiding for a long time also quietly left.
Fu Yu pretended not to notice anything and only summoned Du He after he had gone far away.
His return to the capital, though not a grand affair, was nonetheless quite significant due to Emperor Xiping's summons. Emperor Xiping was chronically ill, the position of Crown Prince remained vacant, and the war in the south was unstable. The arrival of powerful military figures like the Fu family in the capital would undoubtedly have a crucial impact on the succession struggle. From the moment he approached the capital, there had been no peace in the surrounding area. After Emperor Xiping's personal summons and Xu Chaozong's enthusiastic courtship, he was even more closely watched by those with ulterior motives.
These people appeared and disappeared like ghosts; how could Fu Yu remain unmoved?
He had come from afar and could not afford to linger in the capital; delay would be pointless. His agreement to meet with Xu Chaozong was not only to discuss political matters and settle personal grudges, but also to lure Xu into making a move.
Now that the other side's informants have revealed their whereabouts, Du He can arrange for people to investigate and track them down.
By the evening of the following day, the news reached Fu Yu.