MYUFPC CHAPTER 20
Now, he wants Jiashan
Ruyang opened her lips and said casually, "I noticed that you usually prefer to wear a white agate hairpin, why have you changed to a golden one today?"
She looked at it and asked, "Is it a new one?"
Jiashan replied, "Yes."
She didn't plan to tell Princess Ruyang that it was a gift from Zhan Yue, thinking that it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Although Jiashan felt that there was nothing wrong with Zhan Yue giving her a hairpin, she was afraid that Princess Ruyang would overthink it and cause needless gossip. So, Jiashan didn't mention it.
Hearing her answer, Ruyang's thoughts wandered elsewhere, and she didn't ask any more questions.
After the meal, when Jiashan returned to her own courtyard, Zhao Youze stayed in Princess Ruyang's courtyard to keep her company. While Zhao Youze was taking a nap, Ruyang instructed the female attendant beside her, "Pay attention to Zhan Daren's movements today. If he returns to the temple, invite him to see me immediately."
The female attendant agreed.
Princess Ruyang's gaze was deep.
She gently rubbed her temples.
If she hadn't seen wrong, the hairpin Jiashan was wearing was a personal belonging of the late Marquis of Yongding's wife, Fu Shiyu's mother.
After the Marquis of Yongding's wife passed away, the hairpin was left to Fu Shiyu. It wasn't a family heirloom, but it was definitely a very important token to Zhan Yue.
Only a wife would give such a gift.
What did Zhan Yue mean by this?
And did Jiashan know the inside story?
In the soft afternoon sunlight, Princess Ruyang fell into deep thought.
Zhan Yue didn't return to the temple until late at night, just as Princess Ruyang was about to go to bed. Hearing that Ruyang was looking for him, Zhan Yue specifically called Wu Yingtong to inquire.
Upon learning that Jiashan had dined at Princess Ruyang's place at noon, he was silent for a moment, changed into a new set of clothes, and then went to Princess Ruyang's courtyard.
Just then, Princess Ruyang finished telling Zhao Youze a bedtime story. Hearing that Zhan Yue had arrived, Ruyang tucked Zhao Youze in tightly and said, "Yuan Kang, sleep first. Aunt will be back soon."
Zhao Youze, with only his fair and chubby face exposed, nodded obediently, "Okay. I'll wait for Aunt."
Seeing his obedience and understanding, Ruyang couldn't help but smile and gently stroked his forehead.
Princess Ruyang went to the outer hall.
Zhan Yue was sitting at the table, holding a teacup. His peach blossom face, with only the side profile visible, was handsome, as if he was thinking about something, his brows slightly furrowed.
Ruyang walked over and, under the dim light of the room, carefully scrutinized Zhan Yue for a few moments.
Zhan Yue took the initiative to greet her, "Aunt."
Ruyang nodded, and she gestured for Zhan Yue not to be too formal, "I haven't seen you often recently. What have you been busy with?"
Zhan Yue remained expressionless and talked about several official matters he was busy with. Ruyang listened patiently until Zhan Yue finished. Then Ruyang looked at him with a slight smile and said, "Is it all official business, or are you busy with any personal matters?"
Zhan Yue looked up and stared quietly at Princess Ruyang. He said gently, "I heard that the princess had lunch at Aunt's place today."
Seeing that Zhan Yue had brought up the topic, Ruyang didn't beat around the bush. She looked at him and paused for a moment, "It seems that the hairpin is indeed your grandmother's."
Zhan Yue did not deny it.
He nodded and admitted honestly, "Yes."
Princess Ruyang's gaze locked onto him. Seeing that he remained unfazed and calm, a sense of helplessness crept into Ruyang's heart. She asked in a low voice, "Does Jiashan know?"
"Not yet," Zhan Yue said.
Ruyang chuckled bitterly. After a moment, she half-squinted her eyes and sighed, "Zhan Daren is quite calculating."
Her tone was more serious than usual, and Zhan Yue pursed his lips.
Princess Ruyang felt a myriad of emotions. She looked at Zhan Yue and said solemnly, "Since you call me aunt, I treat you as my own child. Probably only I would say these things to you."
Zhan Yue's back stiffened, and he lowered his head to listen.
Ruyang's eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, dark and mysterious. She stared at Zhan Yue, "What are you thinking?"
"You can't let go of the Fu family, can you?" Princess Ruyang's gaze was clear, even a bit aggressive. She raised her voice, "Are you trying to use Jiashan to vindicate the Fu family?"
A string in Zhan Yue's heart tightened. His voice was clear and resonant, "Aunt, you've misunderstood."
"The Fu family is the Fu family, and Jiashan is Jiashan," Zhan Yue's eyes were calm, and he stared at Ruyang without blinking. "No matter how despicable I am, I would never resort to using a woman to achieve my goals. You can rest assured of that."
Princess Ruyang couldn't rest assured, instead, she felt even more troubled.
She let out a heavy sigh, "So, are you truly fond of Jiashan?"
Zhan Yue's eyelashes drooped slightly, and Jiashan's beautiful face slowly appeared in his mind.
Once she had said, wishing him to achieve his goals.
Zhan Yue's expression was pale and firm under the glow of the fire. He nodded, "Yes."
"I'm have a special fondness for her," Zhan Yue opened his mouth slightly, his throat moved, and his rosy earlobes were faintly hot.
It was rare to hear such words from the usually cold Zhan Daren.
Seeing that his nervousness didn't seem feigned, Princess Ruyang took a sip of tea and asked him, "What if you can't marry her?"
Zhan Yue's fingertips rested on the teacup, his fingertips were ice-cold. He said in a hoarse voice, "In my heart, there's no such 'what if'."
Ruyang opened her eyes and stared at him, her thoughts seeming to return to a night many years ago. At that time, the Marquis of Yongding had just been stripped of his title, and the Fu family, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, had fallen in a single day. Many villains took advantage of the fact that the Fu family only had orphans and widows left, and they added insult to injury.
Ruyang hadn't been made a princess at that time, she was just a concubine princess.
Although her mother had some beauty, her family background was not particularly prominent, and because her mother was close to Empress Fu, she was also implicated in the Marquis of Yongding's affair and lost the emperor's favor.
Even though Ruyang wanted to protect the Fu family, she was powerless.
On the same lonely night, Ruyang asked her younger sister-in-law, Fu Shiyu, "What if Fu Xiao doesn't survive, and what if the Fu family becomes extinct?"
Fu Shiyu, who was only sixteen years old at that time, was not as old as Ruyang, but she said something that was exactly the same as Zhan Yue today - "There won't be any 'what ifs'."
Later, the Duke Anguo came to ask for her hand in marriage, and Fu Shiyu became a concubine in the Duke Anguo's mansion. With the protection of the Duke Anguo's mansion, the villains finally stopped their malicious intentions.
The remaining members of the Fu family were thus able to survive, and Fu Xiao grew up safely.
Decades passed, and Fu Shiyu's son grew up.
He seemed to be like all the members of the Fu family, patient and stubborn. Once he wanted something, he would never let go.
Now, he wants Jiashan.
Princess Ruyang let out a long sigh.