Chapter 14: A Stunning Counterattack
The maid’s joy was evident, and she couldn’t help but lift her head, only to meet Fu Jinhe’s cool, penetrating gaze. A shiver ran through her heart, and she hastily lowered her head, adopting an even more servile posture. “Miss Fu, please.”
Fu Jinhe rose gracefully, her delicate hand smoothing the worn Twelve Breaks Lingxian gown. Though the hem was stained, it did nothing to diminish her elegant bearing.
The maid led Fu Jinhe toward the direction of the Qingfeng Pavilion.
“Fool,” Shen Minglan sneered upon seeing Fu Jinhe fall into the trap without any defense.
The Princess Dowager cast a cold glance at Shen Minglan. Having spent many years within the palace, she was no stranger to scheming and vile tactics. She knew all of A Lan’s intentions as clearly as looking into a mirror. Today, she had hosted this banquet without intending to spoil the mood. Yet Fu Jinhe’s audacity to defy her and touch her bottom line deserved a harsh lesson.
Xiao Xuanyin’s gaze was deep and intense, fixated on Fu Jinhe’s slender, graceful waist as if it could be enclosed with a single hand.
Only when Fu Jinhe’s figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor did he withdraw his gaze, turning his cold and ruthless eyes toward Shen Minglan and her daughter.
A chill crept up from Shen Minglan’s feet. It was said that His Highness the Crown Prince was of noble grace and refined character, causing the noble ladies of Chang’an to admire him from afar, never daring to offend. Yet she was inexplicably afraid of this cousin, who seemed unusually indifferent toward her.
The Princess Dowager’s heart tightened suddenly, and then she seethed with rage. This was insubordination—absolutely intolerable. Though he was the heir apparent, she was his legitimate royal aunt!
Was he standing up for Fu Jinhe? What exactly was he thinking?
After nearly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they still had not reached Qingfeng Pavilion.
The Princess Dowager’s residence was vast, seemingly endless. The eaves were adorned with golden lacquer carvings and studded with glazed beads, radiating an imposing presence.
Pavilions and towers were surrounded by lush trees, winding and twisting.
Fu Jinhe’s eyes lingered on every plant and brick, aware that the Princess Dowager wielded overwhelming power, able to crush a noble family at will. But had she ever considered that the heavens balanced all things and that retribution would one day come?
Her expression and voice were calm beyond measure as she said, “The Princess Dowager’s residence is magnificent, the finest mansion in Chang’an, far beyond others.”
For some reason, though clearly a compliment, the maid felt a chill down her spine.
Her voice trembled slightly. “Miss Fu, you flatter me.”
Fu Jinhe did not respond further. She stopped and gazed at the nearby Qingfeng Pavilion.
Following Fu Jinhe’s line of sight, the maid’s tone grew eager. “Miss Fu, that is Qingfeng Pavilion. Let us hurry there.”
She was full of hope and, once the matter was resolved, the Princess would surely reward her handsomely.
So it was no fault of hers—after all, people die for wealth, and birds perish for food.
In a corner of the banquet hall.
Having just finished composing poetry about flowers, twenty minutes had passed since Fu Jinhe left the feast.
Shen Minglan exclaimed in surprise, her worry clear. “The maid was clumsy and spilled tea on Miss Fu’s skirt. She went to Qingfeng Pavilion to change.”
“But why has she not returned yet?”
At these words, the hall fell into a hush, and expressions grew complicated.
All present were from noble families, familiar with the shadows of intrigue and underhanded tactics. Shen Minglan’s words carried an unspoken implication.
After a moment, someone took up her suggestion. “Could something have happened?”
Xiao Xuanyin’s brows furrowed coldly as he stared expressionlessly at the speaker.
The man trembled inwardly. What had he done to offend the Crown Prince to be so coldly regarded?
Shen Minglan grew more anxious. “I worry precisely because of that. If Miss Fu suffers misfortune in our Princess Dowager’s residence, the blame cannot be shirked, and we cannot answer for it to the Grand Tutor’s household.”
She tugged at the Princess Dowager’s sleeve, half-pleading, “Mother, shall we all go together to investigate?”
An outsider might think she was very close to Fu Jinhe.
The Princess Dowager held her breath briefly, her phoenix-like eyes sharp with authority. “If so, all shall accompany me to Qingfeng Pavilion.”
Shen Minglan grew elated, her voice tinged with delight. “Thank you, Mother.”
The more people who saw Fu Jinhe’s disgrace, the better. She wished Fu Jinhe would wake from her delusion, end her own suffering.
The group rose, a formidable procession toward Qingfeng Pavilion.
Most wore expressions of schadenfreude; Fu Jinhe was naturally detested, so her downfall was a spectacle they eagerly anticipated.
Jiang Manxue tried to keep a low profile; using others as tools was her specialty.
She smiled silently.
Song Junyao glanced at Jiang Manxue with a complicated look.
He had not expected A Xue to retaliate against Fu Jinhe in such a manner.
His fingers clenched tightly, images flashing through his mind—the woman’s once earnest and flattering face, now replaced by a shallow, cold gaze that struck him to the heart.
With that aloof, lofty man speaking for her, he felt deeply uneasy.
Ultimately, hesitation faded, replaced by ruthless resolve.
So be it. The die was cast. Fu Jinhe was not worth his pity; all was her own doing.
Once this was over, he would sever ties with her completely.
As they approached within a dozen steps of Qingfeng Pavilion, a voice rose from within—a voice that made hearts race, fluctuating and clear.
It seemed a fierce struggle was underway inside.
The noble ladies and young gentlemen attending the banquet were all unmarried, their faces flushed as they whispered in disgust: “Heavens, how can such licentiousness exist!”
“Who would have thought Fu Jinhe was so depraved? She used her supposed infatuation for General Song as a cover for secret collusion.”
Shen Minglan raged, “Fu Jinhe is a disgrace, shameless and unworthy of General Song! It was inevitable he would break off their engagement!”
Song Junyao’s handsome face darkened like still water. Though angered, he refrained from accusing Fu Jinhe outright.
His “magnanimous and upright” demeanor drew sympathy from the crowd. Originally, Fu Jinhe’s foolish obsession was already a misfortune; now, her licentiousness and secret affairs were even greater disgrace.
Listening to their cruel slanders, Jiang Manxue’s eyes narrowed in satisfaction.
Fu Jinhe, this defeated foe, had been effortlessly crushed with a single move.
Inwardly, she mocked, “Well deserved. I have lived through thousands of years of wisdom far beyond the foolish noble ladies of Chang’an. To compare them to me is truly unfair.”
Xiao Xuanyin stood tall, casting a heavy shadow like an unassailable mountain.
His voice was cold and sharp: “How can you be certain the one inside is indeed Miss Fu, without seeing her face?”
The temperature around them plunged, chilling everyone to the bone.
They gaped in shock. Though they had tried to convince themselves the Crown Prince’s defense of Fu Jinhe was mere coincidence, now he spoke again in her defense—they could no longer deceive themselves.
Not daring to say the Crown Prince was enamored with her, at least he regarded her differently.
Was the Crown Prince mad? To them, Fu Jinhe was worthless—why would he go this far?
Jiang Manxue and Song Junyao’s faces darkened—her with jealousy, him with the fury of possession slipping away.
“I swear with my life,” Jiang Manxue said, “the adulteress inside must be Fu Jinhe.”
Shen Minglan dared not meet Xiao Xuanyin’s gaze and tugged again at the Princess Dowager’s sleeve.
The Princess Dowager patted her hand reassuringly. Fu Jinhe was no great talent; how could she repeatedly move her cold and indifferent royal nephew?
Clearly, Fu Jinhe could not be tolerated!
Her voice was threatening: “The Crown Prince’s words are sound. Then we shall open the door and see.”
“Someone, open the door.”
Soon, a servant approached and slowly pushed it open.
The crowd held their breath, eyes fixed on the doorway.
Just as the door was about to swing wide, Fu Jinhe’s clear, cold voice sounded from behind, “What is happening here? I seem to have heard my name mentioned.”
Shen Minglan and Jiang Manxue’s smiles froze in disbelief as they turned around.
Fu Jinhe held a branch of flowering crabapple, her slender waist swaying like a willow in the breeze, stepping gracefully forward.
Her eyes shone with clear, biting wit.
If the person inside was not Fu Jinhe, then who was...?
They turned abruptly, horrified by the scene.
The maid who had led Fu Jinhe was stripped naked, her body covered in bloody wounds.
She lay unconscious, evidence of inhuman torment.
Beside her stood a man wearing two crimson bellybands—one embroidered with “Lan,” the other with “Xue.”
His expression was mad, eyes glazed as if lost in lustful delirium. “A Lan, A Xue, you two little sluts, serve me obediently, or I won’t spare you!”
The sudden reversal was like thunder striking water, leaving everyone speechless.
Fu Jinhe was not only unharmed, but it was the Princess Dowager and Miss Jiang who were steeped in scandal, their reputations ruined.
Shen Minglan could barely hide the murderous hatred in her eyes.
How had Fu Jinhe seen through their scheme? What extraordinary power did she possess to turn the slander back upon them?
“It must be you, Fu Jinhe! Your heart is vile for framing the Princess Dowager and Miss Jiang!” She pointed a trembling finger at Fu Jinhe, furious beyond words.
Jiang Manxue bit her silver teeth in anger. How much she had underestimated Fu Jinhe was now matched by her humiliation and rage.
Fu Jinhe had made her so-called intelligence a complete joke.
Fu Jinhe smiled softly, even gentler than the caressing crabapple blossoms.
She met their venomous eyes with rock-solid resolve.
The story’s plot was far from flawless.
She advanced carefully, ready to strike back and claim a clean, resounding victory.