The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man-Chapter 1832
"Alas." Her face was filled with sorrow, "Tomorrow, Pear Blossom Villa is forming a marriage alliance with my sixth sister." ππ«ππ²πππ―ππ¨π§ππ.ππ π¦
"Your sixth sister is marrying Chang Haotian, arenβt you happy?"
"Iβve always been at odds with my sixth sister, how could I be happy." She frowned, "Itβs Sixth sister Gongsun Qianshuang getting married, family matters are decided by my older brother. The sad thing is, my older brother has decided that after Sixth sister leaves for her marriage, heβll choose a day to send me to Ministry Councillor Liβs Mansion as the fifth Auntie. Fu Chou, that Ministry Councillor Li is over fifty years old, with three sons who are older than me. I donβt want to marry him."
Fu Chou comfortingly patted her back, "The Gongsun Family has already accepted Ministry Councillor Liβs betrothal gifts. What else can be done? Do you want me to marry you?"
Speaking of marrying Fu Chou, Gongsun Qianru was willing. He was the Tianji Pavilion Manager, with money and power in his hands. However, he was still the son of former Country General Zhao Zhenkun. The Zhao Family was exterminated, and Fu Chouβs true identity must never be revealed. If it were exposed, he should have been beheaded with the Zhao Family, as he is a court fugitive!
She overheard her older brother discussing with the Gongsun familyβs strategist, saying that Vice Chancellor Xiao Kang had repeatedly accused Fu Chou of being the son of the court fugitive General Zhao Mingcheng, and it was the power of the Tianji Pavilion within the court that kept anyone from daring to arrest Fu Chou.
Otherwise, Fu Chou would have been imprisoned long ago, awaiting execution.
After the Gongsun familyβs secret meeting, they concluded this was a matter between General Zhao and Prime Minister Xiao. So they decided to stand by, unaffected by frost on othersβ tiles, to avoid a direct confrontation with the Tianji Pavilion.
Qianru feared that if Fu Chou was ever abandoned by the Tianji Pavilion, she would also be executed. After all, General Zhao was guilty of treason, and the entire family was wiped out.
If Fu Chou were imprisoned, his wife or concubine would also be executed.
She wouldnβt dare risk her life, "Even if you wished to marry me, I donβt have that fortune. Iβve been married once; although it was a divorce with the third young Master of the Ning family, with a tarnished reputation, how could I be worthy of you."
Fu Chou grasped her chin, "You knew my identity long ago. Are you afraid Iβll implicate you?"
Qianru stiffened, "I..."
"You donβt need to deny it." Fu Chou said coldly, "If you hadnβt known I was Zhao Mingcheng, you wouldnβt have climbed into my bed. Saying you admired me since youβd seen me before, if I were that foolish, could I have achieved the position of Tianji Pavilion Manager?"
"Since you guessed, I wonβt deny it." She softly replied, half true and half false, "Yes, I overheard elder brother discussing with others, and thatβs how I found out your true identity. So what? Iβve always believed the treason case against General Zhao was suspicious; I believe he was wronged. Iβm not lying. I genuinely have feelings for you, which is why I wanted to be with you."
"Really?" Fu Chou looked into her eyes.
She lowered her gaze slightly, "Weβve been together for some time now. In all this time, have I ever taken advantage of you? Have I ever plotted anything?"
"Not really." These days, apart from occasionally giving her some money, which she accepted, she never asked for anything from him.
"Thatβs just it." She wrapped her small hands around his waist, "Fu Chou, I genuinely love you."
"If you love me, why did you go to the memorial hall of the Xiao couple to pay respects?"
"I just wanted to irk Xiao Yuchuan." She smiled bitterly, "After all, Xiao Yuchuan let me down. If not for him leaving me on the day of the marriage ceremony, I wouldnβt have married young Master Ning."
"The son-in-law already said he wouldnβt marry you." Fu Chouβs face turned somewhat cold, "He got married to the young Lady first; you are merely the third party."
