“Well…” it hemmed and hawed, momentarily unable to think of anything. Finally, it said, “This man is cold and disloyal. When the fake Princess Changle died for him, he showed no signs of heartbreak.”
Feng Miaojun laughed: “Which man isn’t cold and disloyal? At least he isn’t passive-aggressive.”
As she finished speaking, she was slightly stunned. Why had she mentioned passive-aggressiveness?
“That’s not necessarily true,” White Board snorted twice. “The fake princess liked him, yet he wanted to marry her off to the Yan Kingdom prince.”
Feng Miaojun shook her head, feeling that Fei Yuan was somewhat shortchanged, then heard White Board say: “At least someone who likes you wouldn’t let you marry someone else.”
“Oh?” she laughed. “Who?”
White Board stammered, unable to speak. Feng Miaojun removed her hairpins and face ornaments, and also took off her earrings, tossing them on the table.
That night she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, so she simply got up to meditate and refresh her spirit.
Fu Lingchuan had returned to his official duties, but he worked much slower, occasionally putting down his brush with a long sigh.
He had a confidant named Wang Qian who was discussing state affairs with him tonight. After hearing seven or eight sighs, Wang Qian couldn’t help but ask: “Why is the State Preceptor troubled?”
Fu Lingchuan shook his head without speaking.
Wang Qian thought for a moment: “Is it because of the Queen?”
Fu Lingchuan glanced at him.
Wang Qian knew he had guessed correctly: “The Queen is proud and has her ideas. Why doesn’t the State Preceptor… why doesn’t he propose marriage? We all say you and the Queen are a match made in heaven.”
Fu Lingchuan shook his head and said softly: “She refused.”
Wang Qian was momentarily stunned. Fu Lingchuan’s voice betrayed unmistakable disappointment, prompting Wang Qian to quickly ask: “Does the Queen have someone in her heart?”
“I don’t know.” Fu Lingchuan laughed dryly. “But she clearly stated she has no interest in me.”
Wang Qian said quietly: “The Queen is still young and may not understand romantic feelings. The State Preceptor is nearby; sooner or later, you can capture her heart.”
Proximity? Hearing these four words, Fu Lingchuan’s heart skipped a beat as he suddenly remembered something:
She had been State Preceptor Yun Ya of Wei Kingdom’s maidservant!
He had seen Yun Ya himself—would Changle not be moved by such a romantic figure?
Wang Qian glanced outside the study several times and lowered his voice even more: “Your subordinate has something to say, but I’m not sure if I should speak.”
Fu Lingchuan casually placed a barrier: “Go ahead.”
“Recently in court discussions, the Queen often expresses her views, and her supporters in court are gradually increasing,” Wang Qian said slowly. “In the long run, this may be disadvantageous to the State Preceptor.”
Fu Lingchuan had witnessed Feng Miaojun’s true personality early on at Luofu Island—she was not an easy person to handle. Compared to her, Fei Yuan was truly a simple girl. For this very reason, Fu Lingchuan’s control over her had always been too weak.
He had tried to deliberately suppress her several times, but it felt like trying to block a spring with his hand—it might work temporarily but not forever. The spring water would eventually splash out, or simply find another opening to burst through the ground.
Wang Qian seemed to perceive his worries and coughed lightly: “I dare say, the Queen’s firmness may be due to her extraordinary cultivation. Perhaps…”
Fu Lingchuan narrowed his eyes at him: “Perhaps what?”
He was right. The reason Feng Miaojun liked to stand as an equal with Fu Lingchuan, the reason she refused to be a docile puppet, stemmed from her strength. She was a cultivator with profound skills.
She wasn’t like those fragile women raised in the deep palace who could be dictated to by men.
Even with the barrier in place, even facing the State Preceptor who held the nation’s power, Wang Qian’s throat still felt dry. He unconsciously licked his lips before saying: “Why not use some spiritual herbs that suppress cultivation, which wouldn’t harm her body…” Without the Queen’s backing, her pride would also be gone.
Fu Lingchuan’s expression changed abruptly, and he said coldly: “Get out!”
Wang Qian was greatly alarmed and fell to his knees: “State Preceptor!”
“Get out!” Fu Lingchuan said word by word, his eyes filled with murderous intent. “If you dare say such things again, I will have you torn apart by five horses!”
Wang Qian dared not stay any longer. He bowed to him, got up, and left quickly.
The study returned to quietness.
Fu Lingchuan reviewed a few more documents, then put down his brush and gazed at the starry sky outside, lost in thought.
The closer to her birthday, the busier it became. Yet on the second day came an invitation that even Feng Miaojun couldn’t refuse:
The Nineteenth Prince of Yan had arrived and invited her to dine at Tianyuan Fragrance Lodge.
Unlike other envoys, Zhao Yun had not entered the palace for an audience but instead invited her out, with a particularly sufficient reason—before she left Yan’s capital, Taiping City, she had promised Zhao Yun that someday she would privately treat him to a meal in New Xia.
His arrival was a great surprise to Feng Miaojun. But as Queen, her word was gold, and how could she go back on a promise? So Feng Miaojun agreed. She hadn’t stepped outside the palace for nearly half a month, so she treated this as an opportunity to get some fresh air and relax.
Being confined in the deep palace sometimes truly felt like imprisonment.
Fu Lingchuan, concerned for her safety, personally accompanied her.
Tianyuan Fragrance Pavilion was one of the most distinctive restaurants in Wusel City. Though not the largest, it attracted many visitors who often had to wait for seating.
Of course, as the Queen of the country, Feng Miaojun had certain privileges.
Tianyuan Fragrance was situated on four sandbanks, themed after spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with each bank planted with different seasonal flowers and trees. Thus, there were beautiful flowers to see in every season.
Now in the third month, nothing was more beautiful than peach blossoms.
Therefore, in this season, Tianyuan Fragrance opened only amid a magnificent peach forest. There were no private rooms or high walls; only low tables and rush cushions placed under the most brilliantly blooming peach trees. Guests all sat on the ground, enjoying flowers with wine, and appreciating an elegant ambiance.
Those who came here were all noble people, gathering in groups of three or five under the trees, drinking lightly. The tables were set far apart, not disturbing one another.
Zhao Yun had arrived first.
When Feng Miaojun arrived, he stood up to welcome her but was stunned by the beauty approaching from the opposite, unable to shift his gaze for a long time:
Her hair was piled high, she wore white clothes with pink adornments, and playful winds carried fallen petals, brushing past her dark hair and snow-white skin, kissing her phoenix eyes and crimson lips, swirling around her several times, reluctant to leave.
All the garden’s fragrance could not compare to the allure in her eyes.
If the Spring Goddess could walk among mortals, it would surely be her.
As she walked along, the whispers in the peach forest grew quieter until they almost ceased.
It seemed everyone was attracted by her, forgetting their conversations.
Zhao Yun saw her and also saw Fu Lingchuan beside her, an equally elegant and handsome man. Standing together, they were like an unparalleled couple.
On such occasions, Fu Lingchuan would only stand beside one person. Zhao Yun knew this but couldn’t hide the astonishment in his eyes.
The peerless beauty stopped before him, her cherry lips curving upward: “Nineteenth Prince, it’s been a long time.”
“Changle…” The first two words were somewhat incredulous, but Zhao Yun immediately composed himself and corrected, “Your Majesty, your grace exceeds that of before.” Then he turned to Fu Lingchuan with a bitter smile, “Only upon seeing the Queen today do I realize how deeply Brother Fu has deceived me.”