Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 133 - Fu Baozhu and the Western Region Prince Exchange Gifts Privately

Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Fu Baozhu and the Western Region Prince Exchange Gifts Privately

The news that the Second Prince had asked the Emperor to grant a marriage quickly reached Murong Jiu’s ears.

This was expected by her and Jun Yuyan.

The Emperor had agreed quickly because he had originally wanted to arrange a similar marriage for him but had never found a suitable candidate nor wanted to give fodder to gossipers.

Now that the Second Prince had initiated the request for marriage himself, it was more than ideal and exactly what the Emperor had in mind.

“Is the Second Prince eager to marry because he is preparing to take action?”

Murong Jiu had nothing else to do and was embroidering a tiger-headed shoe.

Jun Yuyan was sitting by the window reading a book.

It was the Hidden Guard who had come to report that the Emperor had agreed to grant the marriage.

Jun Yuyan smiled and said, “The Third Prince is someone he has never taken seriously. Suddenly, he finds that such an insignificant person is the Emperor’s most beloved son. With his pride, naturally, he wouldn’t want to wait another day.”

Murong Jiu also knew the Second Prince well; he was indeed such a person, arrogant and ruthless, with decisive actions.

To prevent being implicated by the Emperor’s wrath after the death of the Third Prince, marrying would serve as a distraction.

Moreover, recognizing his position in the Emperor’s heart, the position of his principal wife was reserved for a noble girl useful to him. Now, to prevent the Emperor’s suspicion, marrying Murong Man from the empty shell of Yongning Marquis Manor turned out to be the best choice.

“Prince, you still need to be cautious of the Second Prince framing you.”

Murong Jiu commented.

Given the Second Prince’s cunning and ruthlessness, he would definitely frame someone.

After all, the Third Prince and Consort Jing Pin were the Emperor’s darlings.

Jun Yuyan smiled gently, “Ah Jiu, rest assured, I will not let him have his way.”

…

Yongning Marquis Manor.

Murong Man received the imperial decree, her face full of surprise.

The old madam, who had been bedridden, suddenly perked up and commanded the servants to place the imperial decree granting marriage.

“This is wonderful, Manman has finally seen the light after the darkness!”

Lady Wang said excitedly.

Marquis Murong also had a face full of joy.

However, the couple’s faces had several blackish-red tumors, making any expression they made frightening to behold, nauseating if one looked too long.

People from other courtyards in the manor had come, all smiling enthusiastically, congratulating Murong Man on soon becoming the Second Prince’s wife, and perhaps even the Crown Princess Consort in the future.

The people of the manor, just like flies attracted to filth, noticed Murong Man’s good fortune and could not wait to fawn over her.

The legitimate daughters and concubine-born daughters from other rooms were almost ready to fan and carry shoes for Murong Man.

Given the current situation in the Capital City, the Second Prince was the most likely candidate to inherit the throne.

Prince Ling had already been disabled and disfigured, and although the Emperor had granted him a royal title to compensate, this also meant he could not become the Crown Prince.

The mother of the Third Prince was a palace maid and thus of too low a birth.

The Fourth Prince fared slightly better than the Third Prince, but he was never favored by the Emperor.

With just these four princes, it was clear to anyone that the Second Prince had a greater chance.

Marquis Mansion had thought that Murong Man might only become a concubine at most. They never imagined that despite previously being married, she could still become the principal wife of the Second Prince; wasn’t this sheer luck?

And it was the Second Prince who had requested the imperial decree for the marriage!

Amongst all the flattery and sycophancy, Murong Man did not lose herself, though she was extremely excited. Previously, the Second Prince had only promised her the position of Concubine, and if he became the Emperor, he would make her his Noble Consort.

Even she did not anticipate becoming the Second Prince’s principal wife!

She thought of Murong Jiu; what did it matter that Murong Jiu had removed her birthmark and restored her looks? Prince Ling could favor her all he wanted, but the best she could aspire to was Prince Consort. Unlike her, she could potentially become the Noble Consort, no, she was soon to be the principal wife of the Second Prince, destined to be the Empress!

With these thoughts, her heart swelled with excitement.

The Second Prince took an interest in her, and the date of the bestowed marriage was set for just half a month later. The gossipy women of the Capital City said she could never marry into a family of noble lords, but now she was to become the Second Prince’s Consort, a fact that would shatter these people’s faces.

Indeed, it allowed her a moment to truly raise her eyebrows and exhale in satisfaction.

It swept away the sullen mood of many days.

Murong Jiu would surely be very jealous once she knew.

The only thing that irritated Murong Man was that the imperial edict had also mentioned Yun Weiwei. Yun Weiwei would enter the Second Prince’s Mansion as a concubine the same day.

But the thought that Yun Weiwei was merely a concubine, who would have to serve her tea, and in terms of status, Yun Weiwei would never be as noble as herself—her own children would be legitimate, while those born to Yun Weiwei would only be concubine-born.

On this point, she had completely won over Yun Weiwei.

Once married into the Second Prince’s Mansion, Yun Weiwei would still have to consider her, the principal wife’s, mood.

Murong Man’s mouth curved into a proud smile as she instructed the mansion to fully prepare her for her upcoming marriage.

This time, her wedding procession must extend ten miles, even if it meant selling family assets to gather eighteen dowries.

…

The Fu Family.

Eldest son Fu Heng walked briskly into his father’s study.

“Father, this is a letter sent by the Prince of the Western Regions, Na Kesi, which I have intercepted,” he said.

He placed the opened letter in front of General Fu.

He had already read the content.

General Fu glanced at his son’s grave expression and knew the letter contained nothing favorable.

He frowned and read through the letter quickly.

The entirety of it was filled with Na Kesi’s words of affection, which were very bold and hinted at intimacy.

His face also darkened.

His daughter, pampered and cherished by thousands, was involved in private intimacies with a foreign man. If word got out, outsiders wouldn’t know what to think about the Fu family’s values.

If the two genuinely shared mutual affection, that would be one thing.

But that wasn’t the case.

General Fu clearly remembered how Na Kesi had stared at Princess Consort Ling at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet and had barely glanced at Fu Baozhu.

They had always kept someone following Fu Baozhu and knew how they had gone from acquaintances to lovers.

The story was quite ridiculous: who would have thought that it was Fu Baozhu herself who had “accidentally” met him on the road where Na Kesi passed, and then she had taken him around the Capital City, though she in a carriage and he on horseback—such behavior from an unmarried girl was utterly reckless.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

And soon after that day’s palace banquet, General Fu had told Fu Baozhu personally to keep her distance from the people of the Western Regions.

Back when the Western Regions were not yet a vassal state, General Fu had led the army himself in battle, with countless men dying at the hands of people from the Western Regions, including his close subordinates. Country grudges and family enmities, forever remembered.

No one knew the ambitions of the people of the Western Regions better than General Fu.

As his daughter, she should remember this even more.

But while she agreed verbally, she secretly maintained contact with him.

This letter in front of him was already the fourth one.

“Na Kesi has arranged to meet Baozhu at the city gate this evening, father. Should this letter still be delivered?”

“Send it,” said General Fu, rising to his feet. “I will deliver it myself!”

With that, he gripped the envelope and walked briskly toward Fu Baozhu’s residence.

At that moment, Third Young Master Fu Han was reading in Fu Baozhu’s courtyard, as he had been these past few days, to conveniently intercept any letters from his elder brother.

Fu Baozhu pulled Nanny Fan into the room urgently and said, “Find a way to lure Third Brother out; Na Kesi might send a letter later, and we can’t let Third Brother catch us.”