"Sir, do you know that the most favored Princess Yuanyang of the current emperor is my niece. Although she is a woman, she is smart and good at devising strategies. She has offered advice to the emperor on many occasions.
So, with the princess's support, our Fu family will have a more stable future than you, sir.
If the princess were a man, our Fu family would have already risen to great heights." It's a pity that she's a woman.
"Anyway, our Fu family is in a better position than you. If you're willing to ally with us, the princess will surely take care of you. You'll gain more benefits from us than we'll get from you. You won't lose out."
Chu Junyi gave a soft cough. His hand reached under the table and found Li Xinyue's. He patted it gently to comfort her.
Even an outsider like him was annoyed by this shameless speech, let alone the princess herself.
After a pause, he thought that since they had already talked about the relationship between the princess and the Fu family, he might as well probe deeper. Maybe he could find out where Concubine Fu's boudoir or relics were.
After all, the Fu family was a prominent family with great wealth and influence. If he didn't clarify this, where could she find Concubine Fu's boudoir?
Li Xinyue glanced at him from the side and sighed inwardly. She also reached out and gently patted his palm, indicating that she could bear it.
Chu Junyi remained calm on the surface, but there was a slight, gratified lift of his lips. Then he came back to his senses and continued to deal with Fu Chengyuan. "Lord Fu, since we've talked this far, I have a question. I'm not sure if I should ask it."
"I heard that Concubine Fu, the mother of Princess Yuanyang, was a legitimate daughter. With such a rift between the legitimate and the illegitimate branches in your Fu family, will she really support you?
Lord Fu, I've read a lot. You can't fool me!"
Fu Chengyuan let out a chuckle. He knew this humble - origin scholar was not easy to deceive and that he had to reveal some truth.
"Fine. Since we've reached this point, if we're to form an alliance, we should be honest with each other. To be honest, Concubine Fu was just a substitute found by the legitimate branch back then. The real legitimate daughter had died in childbirth. My legitimate uncle, that is, Fu Tonghuai's father, found a woman who resembled his daughter somewhat from somewhere. Then she climbed up the social ladder, became a concubine, and gave birth to the famous Princess Yuanyang."
"So, since she was just a substitute from outside, she didn't have a particularly deep relationship with the legitimate branch. So, sir, do you think I can curry favor with this princess?
Her Highness the princess also can't do without our Fu family, her only maternal family.
After all, the intrigues in the palace are even worse than those outside. Which prince or princess doesn't have a powerful maternal family as a backer?
Our Fu family, even if not as powerful as the prominent families in the capital, is still her only maternal family. It's the only support and comfort for her both physically and mentally.
She can't do without us, and we can't do without her. Naturally, she will take care of us. If Lord Chu is willing to ally with us, she will surely take care of you too.
From now on, if we respond to the emperor's call to promote scholars from humble origins and break the monopoly of the prominent families, maybe we can really make a name for ourselves."
Fu Chengyuan had a very good plan, and it even seemed to be in line with Li Xinyue's thoughts.
Li Xinyue was in a tumultuous mood at the moment, and her emotions were on the verge of getting out of control.
Yes, after her mother was in trouble, she had once fantasized that someone from the Fu family would come to rescue them. But no matter how much she hoped, the people from the Fu family never came.
On the contrary, because of her mother's matter, the Fu family, in order to protect themselves, was eager to draw a clear line from them. Finally, they even helped the powerful and wealthy in the capital seek personal gain.
What use did she have for such a Fu family!
She, Li Xinyue, had achieved her current status entirely by her own ability. What did it have to do with them!
If there was anyone who had a real relationship with her, it was only the emperor and the empress dowager.
The emperor... actually had a hard time too.
She sighed inwardly. Her mind was wandering, and she didn't listen to what Chu Junyi and Fu Chengyuan were saying anymore. It was not until Chu Junyi reached out and patted her that she came back to her senses.
Chu Junyi leaned on her and stood up. "Lord Fu makes a lot of sense. But to be cautious, I still need to think about it."
Fu Chengyuan also stood up. "Okay. Then I'll wait for your reply, Lord Chu."
"Sure."
Li Xinyue endured her resentment towards the Fu family and helped Chu Junyi out of the main hall. Then, under the guidance of the Fu family servants, she helped him back to the guest room to rest.
But as soon as the door was closed, she was suddenly embraced by someone. Her body was pressed tightly against his.
Someone's breath, slightly tinged with the smell of wine, fanned across her face. The warm and slightly itchy feeling made her face flush instantly.
The anger and sadness in her heart were stunned by this sudden embrace.
She leaned back, put her hands on his chest, and whispered angrily, "Chu Junyi! How dare you be so presumptuous!"
But the next moment, she was held even tighter. Her hands on his chest were forced to bend and were finally trapped between them, feeling rather awkward.
Someone, however, leaned calmly on her shoulder, inhaling her fragrance. He had no intention of letting her go, nor did he make any improper moves.
After a long time, she heard him, seemingly suppressing some emotions, say softly, "Your Highness, I'm late. If I could have met you earlier, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much."
Li Xinyue was shocked. Tears welled up in her wide - opened eyes and slid down her cheeks.
She opened her mouth, not wanting him to hear her sobs. "Chu Junyi."
"Yes."
"You..." The hand trapped between them unconsciously tightened, but then she quickly loosened it for fear that he would notice something.
After a long while, she swallowed a thousand words and said realistically, "I can give you a chance, but I won't marry into a humble - origin family. Do you understand what I mean?"
"The bright moon should stay in the sky. Your Highness doesn't need to lower your status. I will surely rise up and follow your Highness closely."
Li Xinyue's heart was pounding, her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was rapid.
She felt that she was a bit out of character tonight and even a bit out of control.
"It's getting late. If you're going, go quickly. Concubine Fu's boudoir should be in the compound of the legitimate branch of the Fu family. According to Fu Chengyuan, it's called Cheng Garden. It's located in the northwest corner..."
"What about you..." Li Xinyue was worried that after she left, if the people from the Fu family came again, whether he could handle it alone, after all, he couldn't see.
Chu Junyi smiled slightly. "Don't worry. I'm just blind, not stupid. I won't die."
Li Xinyue, "Then I'll go and come back quickly."
"Okay." Chu Junyi let her go.
Li Xinyue stared at his eyebrows and facial features. Although his eyes were covered by the gauze, it didn't seem to affect his good looks. Instead, the covering gave people more room for imagination.
Putting aside their identities, he was really handsome, no less handsome than Murong Xiu.
If he had been born into a wealthy family, maybe the title of the Number One Young Master of the Great Yan Dynasty would have belonged to him.
Sighing, Li Xinyue put away her messy emotions, turned around, and walked out. Then she carefully avoided the sight of the Fu family servants and headed straight for her mother's boudoir.
Whether she succeeded or not today, this would be the last time she worried about her mother's affairs. After today, she would forget everything about her mother, because this would become a weakness for others to take advantage of. She couldn't have any weaknesses.
Not long after Li Xinyue left, Fu Chengyuan led a few girls who resembled Li Xinyue in appearance or temperament to knock on the door.
The assistant left the dinner table early just now because he had been ordered by Fu Chengyuan to find these girls.
"Lord Chu, have you gone to rest?"