Chapter 1405 – Wei Ci’s Assassination (5)
“Tai Fu?”
“Zixiao?”
Jiang Pengji peeked down and, sure enough, spotted the somewhat older Wei Ci.
At this moment, Wei Ci appeared to be in his thirties, radiating the charm of a mature man. Dressed in a lake-blue scholar’s robe, he stood tall, with his pitch-black eyes still carrying the familiarity she cherished. However… Wei Ci had grown a neatly trimmed beard. While not overly thick, it masked some of his boyish charm, adding a touch of solemnity and seriousness, taking away some of his youthful vitality.
For Jiang Pengji, who had a particular weakness for handsome looks, she preferred the beardless Wei Ci.
What’s so good about a beard anyway?
It just makes eating a hassle, gets messy at the corners of the mouth, and it can prick during affectionate moments.
Crouching on the beam, Jiang Pengji muttered to herself, while the three below seemed oblivious to her presence, continuing their conversation.
Fushou, feeling anxious, suddenly looked up at the familiar voice, tears welling in his eyes as he gazed at the girl.
He greeted her with a shaky voice, “Fushou pays his respects to the Princess—”
The girl smiled gently, “You don’t need to be so formal here. Were you just paying tribute to your ‘birth mother’?”
Even dressed in riches and holding a lofty status, at this moment, she seemed like the adorable and gentle elder sister next door, instantly comforting Fushou.
Fushou nodded with a pouting face, his chubby fingers knotting together in distress.
Without his father’s permission to leave the estate and buy offerings for his lowly-born mother—and burning them in the courtyard no less—was a major taboo. Now, he had been caught in the act by the visiting Tai Nu, and he couldn’t help but worry about how angry his father would be. Despite being young, Fushou was sensitive, having noticed from the servants’ attitudes that his father disapproved of his birth mother, even forgetting the day of her memorial.
He didn’t want his birth mother to be alone underground, but he also didn’t want to be hated by his father, leaving him torn.
“Fushou is quite filial,” the Tai Nu smiled, ruffling his little tuft of hair gently, “Privately honoring her has its merits, but you know, there are many ways to express filial piety. If seen by outsiders, it might tarnish Tai Fu’s reputation.”
Fushou’s tears brimmed as he asked, “It would be like that?”
“In recent days, the common people are busy celebrating the Emperor’s birthday; that’s a nationwide celebration,” the Tai Nu sighed, “If you burn offerings privately in the estate, those who are aware will commend your filial piety, but others might think ill of you—do you understand?”
Fushou had no idea about all that!
He only learned by chance about his birth mother’s memorial day, and while the Emperor’s birthday was indeed significant, being young, he just noticed the estate was particularly festive, even his usually aloof father cracked a smile, taking him to see the lanterns last year—only now realizing that his birth mother’s memorial day coincided with the Emperor’s birthday. Fushou scratched his little face, earnestly apologizing to the Tai Nu, seriously stating he had learned his lesson.
“Yes! It’s not always about burning paper money for the deceased; Fushou, listen well to Tai Fu and study diligently. Grow up to be a pillar of strength, then your ‘birth mother’ will surely be comforted watching from below, don’t you think?”
Fushou nodded earnestly, albeit confused.
“Princess!”
Wei Ci interjected with a hint of disapproval, interrupting their conversation.
“What’s with the caution, Tai Fu? If Fushou grows up to be a talent with lofty aspirations, can you really keep him in check for life?” Princess Changsheng’s smile faded slightly, becoming serious, “I will treat him like my little brother and will look after him greatly.”
Wei Ci’s expression was complicated, while Fushou remained blissfully unaware of the silent exchange between the Princess and his father.
He declared, “Then Fushou will also learn extensively like father, become a scholar, and one day be Tai Fu!”
Changsheng’s smile stiffened slightly as she regretfully pinched Fushou’s chubby cheeks.
“That’ll be tough. Feng You’s knowledge far surpasses yours; even if you were to become Tai Fu, you would have to beat him first.”
Fushou’s lips jutted out in disappointment.
He knew Feng You well—the boy who always pinched his face behind his back, calling him a chubby weakling!
He didn’t like Feng You, but his father always praised Feng You in front of him, which felt like a massive blow to his little heart.
“Why must I surpass him?” Fushou complained, “He’s so much older than me, that’s unfair.”
Princess Changsheng crossed her arms and smiled, “Because he’s already set as my choice.”
Fushou added, “Because he’s your companion reader?”
Changsheng replied, “That has something to do with it, but the main reason is—he pleases me.”
Fushou moped, “But does Fushou not please you, Princess?”
Changsheng rubbed Fushou’s chubby face, “You silly child, my fondness for you is different from my fondness for Feng You.”
Fondness is fondness, right?
Fushou obviously didn’t get it.
The two who understood the nuances couldn’t say anything, only wearing expressions of indifference with a tinge of a smile.
Wei Ci plotted quietly to have a word with Feng Zhen.
How was he educating his son? The Princess is barely of age!
As for Jiang Pengji, she plotted to stir up trouble for Wan Xiuer, cutting Feng Zhen’s allowances to turn him into a real ascetic!
Changsheng coaxed Fushou patiently, then asked Wei Ci to take him to swap into clean clothes, preparing to leave the estate for a day of fun. Since the Emperor was born during the blossom festival, the two events coincided. There would be many lively and festive activities, making it one of the most bustling days of the year.
“May I come down now?”
After ushering away Wei Ci and Fushou, Changsheng’s smile disappeared, fixing her gaze on the beam.
Jiang Pengji gracefully leaped down; Changsheng instinctively took a step back and, upon seeing Jiang Pengji’s face, flashed a trace of astonishment.
“A foreigner? What are you doing hiding in the beams?”
With striking features unlike those of the Central Plains and a cascade of fiery red hair that resembled an upturned bonfire.
One glance was enough to tell she was not of Central Plains descent.
Changsheng was about to ask further when she caught sight of the God-Slaying Blade at Jiang Pengji’s waist, causing her to fume with rage.
“A thief intruding the palace!”
Stealing was one thing, but right under the nose of a monarch? That foreigner had quite the nerve!
Without another word, Changsheng prepared to strike, and the guards stationed outside rushed in, but Jiang Pengji swiftly slipped away.
Although Changsheng was young, her martial skills were formidable; however, her abilities weren’t quite enough to catch Jiang Pengji.
As Jiang Pengji made her escape, Changsheng’s expression was complex as she gazed in the direction she ran away.
“Send people to intercept at all city gates; once this red-haired foreigner is spotted, capture her at once! If there’s resistance, kill without mercy!”
With such an eye-catching appearance, she would be recognized anywhere!
To think she dared to break into the palace and steal her mother’s treasured blade… this thief had truly gone too far!
“Fushou pays his respects to the Emperor.”
When Changsheng finally regrouped with Wei Ci and the others, she caught sight of Fushou bending awkwardly to bow, nearly toppling over.
The Emperor he referred to was an exceptionally beautiful woman who seemed to be in her early thirties.
She smiled, supporting Fushou and effortlessly lifting him to check his weight, causing Fushou to shyly cover his face with his plump hands.
“Fushou can walk by himself.”
The woman chuckled, “But if Fushou walks on his own, I won’t get to enjoy that delightful milky scent of yours.”
