Gao Yuexing ordered someone to fetch some slices of ginger. When she turned back, she saw Li Fuxiang guarding the steamer, staring at it intently. The fresh aroma of crab was already wafting through the gaps in the steamer.
Standing behind him, Gao Yuexing suddenly spoke, “I heard that the eldest daughter of Minister Chen of the Ministry of Personnel is a peerless beauty, charming like a willow and graceful as a flower. I wonder who will have the fortune to win her hand.”
Li Fuxiang’s shoulders trembled, and he tilted his head slightly, not daring to look back at her.
Gao Yuexing felt a surge of frustration, took a deep breath, and found it hard to suppress the emotion welling up in her chest.
Gao Yuexing had never considered what she would do if there were another woman by Li Fuxiang’s side. In their past life, Li Fuxiang had only ever had her. In his world, Gao Yuexing had a smooth path without rivals—no woman could approach him.
So, faced with the sudden appearance of Miss Chen, Gao Yuexing felt an unusual sense of helplessness.
Perhaps feeling he couldn’t avoid it, Li Fuxiang hesitated for a long while before finally turning around.
Gao Yuexing stepped closer, her tone tinged with light anger. “Are you feeling guilty?”
Based on her understanding of him, Gao Yuexing had no doubt that he was indeed feeling guilty.
Li Fuxiang glanced at her and took a small step back. “I didn’t mean to save her.”
Gao Yuexing frowned. What kind of explanation was that?
Li Fuxiang always believed that meddling and rescuing her at that time had resulted in this whole messy entanglement.
Of course, when tracing the root cause, that was indeed the case.
But Gao Yuexing wasn’t swayed by all those nonsensical statements. She knew that the crux of the matter lay in whether Li Fuxiang had seen anything he shouldn’t have.
Gao Yuexing asked, “What was Miss Chen wearing that day?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “Green.”
Gao Yuexing asked again, “What about the style?”
Li Fuxiang shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Gao Yuexing pressed, “Think carefully.”
Li Fuxiang tried to recall but still couldn’t remember.
What left a deep impression on him was Miss Chen’s green dress because its grass-green hem had spread out on the water’s surface like an enormous lotus leaf. Li Fuxiang found that peculiar and unusual. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was actually a person who had fallen into the water.
The attendants who usually stayed by Li Fuxiang’s side remained hidden in the shadows, and since Li Fuxiang disliked making a fuss, he went into the water himself to rescue her.
At that moment, Li Lanyao came over to check on the crabs. Hearing their conversation, she knocked on Gao Yuexing’s shoulder. “So you’ve heard about that incident. I have a few things to say about it—listen to me.”
Gao Yuexing followed her. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
Li Lanyao said, “Let me make it clear first: I’m not being harsh—it’s just the truth. According to what I found out, when Little Five first pulled her out of the water, Miss Chen was extremely grateful, offering profuse thanks and vowing to visit personally to express her gratitude—a proper display of decorum and refinement. Who would’ve thought that in just one night, her demeanor would shift completely to one of desperation and clinging?”
Gao Yuexing was momentarily dumbfounded and stood there in a daze.
Li Lanyao continued, “Silly goose, you still don’t get it? After Miss Chen returned home, she inquired widely about Little Five’s identity and then had other ideas.”
Gao Yuexing suddenly understood, but after thinking it over, she felt it inappropriate to judge others with such suspicion. So she asked Li Lanyao, “Do you have any concrete sources for this information?”
Li Lanyao said, “Miss Chen’s younger sister—her own flesh and blood—told me herself. Miss Chen’s antics completely ruined the reputation of the Chen family’s daughters, and even Miss Chen’s younger sister’s marriage prospects aren’t going smoothly anymore. After all, women know women best. Those madams are sharp-eyed, and Miss Chen’s tricks couldn’t fool them.”
The scheming and plotting within large households were indeed best understood by the women themselves.
Gao Yuexing sighed, “It seems life in the capital isn’t easy for you either.”
Li Lanyao replied, “The Gao family has strict family rules—no concubines, no illegitimate children. Not everyone is as fortunate as Madam Gao.”
Madam Gao was indeed fortunate. Even Gao Yuexing, as her daughter, had to admit that it would be hard to find another man as good as her father in this world.
The palace maids brought out the steamed crabs, let them cool naturally in the breeze for a while, and then served them on the table.
The Liuhua Terrace was set with three tables.
The Emperor and Consort Xian sat at the main table, cheerfully watching the younger generation’s antics.
Li Lanyao and Gao Yuexing, being two girls, naturally stuck together, chatting endlessly.
Zheng Yan and Zheng Yi, as boys, couldn’t quite join in with the girls and formed their own group. They even tried to pull Li Fuxiang away to play with them, but he refused and instead ran to the girls’ table. Feeling bored, the Zheng brothers reluctantly joined them as well.
The crab shells were garnished with ginger flowers. Gao Yuexing picked up a utensil and pried one open. It was indeed the perfect time to enjoy the crabs—the roe spilled out, rich and flavorful.
As she licked her fingers, she noticed Li Fuxiang silently sitting beside her. Although the crab was placed in front of him, he didn’t move a muscle. Gao Yuexing, still licking her fingers, froze for a moment and asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”
Just moments ago, he had seemed so eager.
It would’ve been better if she hadn’t asked. The moment she did, Li Fuxiang suddenly raised his hand and forcefully rubbed his eyes.
The crab shell in Gao Yuexing’s hand fell to the ground. Alarmed, she hurriedly cupped Li Fuxiang’s face, but he turned his head away in defiance. Gao Yuexing forcibly turned it back, and sure enough, his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. His gaze was lowered, and he refused to look at her.
They were no longer the same height. Now, Gao Yuexing had to look up at him.
Still, she clung to his neck as she did when they were children, lightly nuzzling against his neck. “It’s my fault. I wrongly accused you… It’s not your fault—it’s those people trying to harm and scheme against you. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Leaning against her, Li Fuxiang lowered his head, as if wanting to surrender his entire weight to her. But knowing his little fiancée was delicate, small, and not yet fully grown, he held back, only resting part of his weight on her.
Gao Yuexing personally cracked open a crab, placing the roe and meat onto the small saucer in front of Li Fuxiang. Her slender fingers worked with unhurried precision, making the process a pleasure to watch.
The two childhood sweethearts, oblivious to the world, leaned close and acted intimate, driving the others at the table to the brink of exasperation. Eventually, they couldn’t bear it anymore and retreated to another table, expressing disdain and resentment.
Zheng Yan muttered in a daze, “Am I imagining things? I could’ve sworn I saw Little Cousin squeeze a handful of ginger juice to rub into his eyes…”
Zheng Yi replied, “It’s not your imagination. I saw it too.”
Li Lanyao: “…”
Zheng Yan angrily said, “That’s outrageous! So underhanded!”
Zheng Yi gave him a glance and said coldly, “Give it a rest. It’s not like Gao Miss doesn’t fall for it.”
Zheng Yan protested, “But I—”
Zheng Yi cut him off. “Second Brother, you must understand: the same dish served by different people can completely change someone’s appetite.”
Zheng Yan slumped his head dejectedly.
Li Lanyao gazed at him with an indifferent expression. Having already prepared a small dish of crab meat, she suddenly spoke in agreement, “Indeed, the same dish served by different people naturally carries a different significance.”
Zheng Yan let out a soft “Ah,” then respectfully turned to look at her. “Princess?”
Li Lanyao took small, delicate bites, finishing the crab meat on her plate. With an elegant gesture, she wiped her mouth and asked Zheng Yan, “Aren’t you going to eat?”
Zheng Yan looked down at the crab in front of him but, for some reason, suddenly felt he had lost his appetite.
Li Fuxiang finished eating the meat from one crab when an attendant from the Emperor’s side approached. With a calm and measured demeanor, he bowed and said, “Your Highness, the Emperor instructed me to remind you that you’re currently on medication and must abstain from seafood.”
Hearing this, Gao Yuexing immediately stopped her actions of peeling crab. “You can’t eat anymore.”
Li Fuxiang didn’t seem to mind. If he couldn’t eat, so be it—he had already found satisfaction elsewhere.
Zheng Yan wasn’t wrong.
Li Fuxiang knew exactly how to exploit Gao Yuexing’s weaknesses.
The emotion in Gao Yuexing’s gaze as she looked at him wasn’t so much love or affection but rather an overwhelming tenderness.
Li Fuxiang had entered her life as a weak figure from the very beginning, instantly capturing all her attention. Because of this, he knew where the softest spot in Gao Yuexing’s heart lay.
After being tempered by intrigue and the battlefield as he grew older, Li Fuxiang shed his once-soft exterior. Yet he still retained a fatal vulnerability, hidden deep inside, which he revealed only to Gao Yuexing.
Gao Yuexing noticed his gaze still fixed on the crab roe in her hand. So, right in front of him, she sucked the roe clean from the shell in one bite. A bit of roe stuck to her cheek, but she remained oblivious, looking rather pleased with herself.
Li Fuxiang tilted his head and observed her for a moment before reaching out to wipe away the roe on her face.
Gao Yuexing, having trained in the Medicine Valley and possessing an extraordinarily sharp sense of taste and smell, immediately noticed something unusual the moment his hand came close.
Before Li Fuxiang could pull his hand back, Gao Yuexing grabbed it. Her fingertips brushed against his palm, and Li Fuxiang briefly clenched and released his hand, as if flinching slightly.
Gao Yuexing narrowed her eyes, brought his hand to her nose, and sniffed lightly. “Such a strong smell of ginger.”
Li Fuxiang silently lowered his head.
In her heart, Gao Yuexing calculated, Well, well, his tricks are getting more elaborate.
Li Fuxiang hadn’t expected his little scheme to be exposed so quickly. But instead of panicking when faced with Gao Yuexing’s eyes gradually igniting with anger, he appeared fearless.
Gao Yuexing pinched his chin and said, “You’ve perfected the art of playing pitiful. If you’re so skilled, don’t waste it on me. Figure out a way to deal with that Miss Chen.”
Li Fuxiang, sensing that her anger had subsided, responded, “Don’t be mad. I’ll definitely find a way to resolve it.”
The Emperor’s order of house arrest for a year had initially been intended to allow Li Fuxiang to recuperate in the palace and prevent him from wandering around. However, under the care of the Medicine Valley and the nourishment of countless rare treasures, his health recovered quickly. Being young and full of vitality, Li Fuxiang was soon bouncing around energetically before the Emperor. How could the Emperor bear to confine him for an entire year?
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the Emperor found an excuse and, on the eve of the festival, granted him a pardon.
By this time, the most turbulent period had passed.
Li Fuxiang’s house arrest was lifted, and his insubordination was brushed aside without much weight.
However, on the very night of his regained freedom, the capital was shaken by a shocking and gruesome incident.
Miss Chen, the eldest daughter of the Chen family, was dead.