Chapter 14
She Pawned His Jewelry
Prince Jun looked toward Zhong Bo.
Zhong Bo froze in place.
Forget the back gate—even the front gate of the Fu residence had not welcomed any important guests for many years.
But the young man before him was tall and noble-looking, dressed in luxurious robes. The half-mask on his face made him appear mysterious, while the uncovered half revealed sharp features and an extremely handsome face.
At one glance, anyone could tell he was no ordinary person.
“You people…”
Prince Jun’s gaze landed on the golden buyao in Zhong Bo’s hand.
Qing Yi saw it as well, and his expression changed slightly.
“Where are you taking that buyao?” Prince Jun’s voice turned cold.
Zhong Bo instinctively hid the buyao behind his back.
“Th-this belongs to our Miss…”
Then he suddenly remembered the task Fu Zhao Ning had given him.
It could not be delayed!
Zhong Bo immediately shut the gate again, gritted his teeth, and bowed toward Prince Jun.
“Please forgive me, honored sir. This servant has urgent matters to handle and cannot let you enter right now!”
No matter who had arrived, nothing could delay this matter!
After saying that, Zhong Bo turned and ran away holding the buyao.
“Follow him and see what he’s doing,” Prince Jun said coldly.
So they actually took something from Prince Jun’s residence and ran off with it?
“Yes.”
One guard immediately chased after Zhong Bo.
Prince Jun looked again at the broken and shabby back gate and let out a mocking laugh.
“I never expected the once-glorious Fu family to decline into such a state. The mighty Old Master Fu from back then now has to enter and leave through such a ruined back gate.”
“Master, should we go inside and take a look?” Qing Yi asked.
“This Prince will not enter. You go instead,” Prince Jun replied calmly. “The Fu family’s back gate is not worthy of this Prince stepping through.”
“Yes.”
Qing Yi instructed the other guards to properly protect Wangye before pushing open the gate and entering the Fu residence himself.
Xiao Tao had already driven Second Madam and the others away. After throwing aside the broom and returning to the room, she saw Fu Zhao Ning pressing on Old Master Fu’s chest and was instantly shocked.
“Miss!”
“Light all the candles and bring them here,” Fu Zhao Ning ordered in a deep voice. The room was too dark.
“Ah? Y-Yes.”
Xiao Tao felt dizzy with confusion, yet instinctively obeyed.
Fu Zhao Ning had already withdrawn her hand and reached for Old Master Fu’s pulse.
The moment she checked it, her heart sank.
Old Master Fu had exactly the same illness as her own grandfather!
What was even worse was that he had also been poisoned. The poison seemed chronic, slowly fed to him over many years until it had finally erupted completely now.
Besides that, his body was severely malnourished, his blood and qi greatly depleted, and he suffered from serious stomach illness.
Fu Zhao Ning clenched her teeth tightly.
“Zhao… Ning…” Old Master Fu weakly called her name.
Fu Zhao Ning quickly grabbed his hand.
“Grandfather, I’m here. Zhao Ning is here!”
Old Master Fu struggled to open his eyes. When he saw her dressed in red wedding robes, cloudy tears immediately flowed from his eyes.
“Y-you… the Xiao family broke the engagement?”
“Grandfather, Xiao Yan Jing is not a good person. I no longer wanted to marry him. He is not someone worth entrusting my life to…” Fu Zhao Ning hurriedly tried calming him down.
“Pfft—”
Old Master Fu spat out another mouthful of blood.
Fu Zhao Ning’s heart jumped violently.
She quickly continued,
“Grandfather, I was not rejected! I found someone I truly wanted to marry, and I really married him. He’s a hundred times, a thousand times better than Xiao Yan Jing! Really! He also promised to take good care of me, so don’t worry, don’t be anxious…”
Forget it.
At this moment, as long as she could steady Grandfather’s emotions and strengthen his will to live, she could say anything.
Anyway, Prince Jun was not here.
He could not hear her!
“R-really?” Old Master Fu’s voice was weak, as though he could stop breathing at any moment.
Qing Yi had already reached the doorway and saw everything inside the room. He also heard Fu Zhao Ning’s next words.
“Really! Grandfather, I’m not lying to you. After I discovered Xiao Yan Jing’s true nature, I took the initiative to break the engagement. I was the one who refused to enter the Xiao residence. My husband happened to pass by at that moment, thought I had done the right thing, admired me greatly, and fell in love with me at first sight…”
What nonsense was she even saying?
Fu Zhao Ning paused for a moment.
But seeing that Old Master Fu truly seemed drawn in by her ridiculous story and was struggling to stay conscious, she continued without hesitation.
“Grandfather, take good care of yourself. Once you recover, my husband will come visit you personally. We really got married today. We properly bowed to heaven and earth. His family background is excellent too.”
“Originally, it was improper for me to return home tonight, but my husband knew I was worried about you, so he told me to hurry back. He even wanted to come himself, but I stopped him.”
At the doorway, Qing Yi sucked in a cold breath and seriously wondered if he had heard incorrectly.
What exactly was Miss Fu saying?
Master fell in love with her at first sight?
And even wanted to come personally?
“Who are you?” Xiao Tao finally noticed Qing Yi and jumped in fright. The candle in her hand nearly fell to the floor.
Fu Zhao Ning turned her head. When she saw Qing Yi, her expression immediately changed.
She quickly looked behind him. After not seeing anyone else, she secretly relaxed.
Exactly.
How could Prince Jun possibly chase after her personally?
Still, she had ridden away on Prince Jun residence’s horse, so it was normal for the residence to send someone after her.
What she feared now was Qing Yi exposing her lies after hearing everything she just said.
“I am—”
“He’s called Qing Yi! He’s my husband’s guard!” Fu Zhao Ning interrupted him before he could speak.
“Grandfather, look! I wasn’t lying to you. My husband was worried about me, so he sent a guard to escort me home. Please stop worrying. I’m really fine.”
“Once your spirit improves, I’ll definitely bring my husband to meet you properly. You can ask him anything you want, alright?”
“Qing Yi,” Fu Zhao Ning said while tightly holding Old Master Fu’s hand, “tell him whether I lied to Grandfather or not.”
Qing Yi saw the pleading look in her eyes.
He opened his mouth, then looked toward Old Master Fu, whose consciousness was barely hanging on.
As if possessed by some strange force, Qing Yi nodded.
“No. Everything Miss Fu said is true.”
Xiao Tao had been staring at him fearfully and cautiously the entire time. Hearing this, she finally relaxed completely, tears of happiness immediately falling again.
“Miss, it’s wonderful that you’re alright.”
As for what the future son-in-law looked like, or why he suddenly brought Miss away to marry her publicly in the streets—
Those questions were not important right now.
Surprisingly, the story actually seemed effective.
Old Master Fu visibly relaxed somewhat, and his breathing no longer sounded quite so strained.
“Xiao Tao, hurry and boil hot water.”
Fu Zhao Ning no longer had time to care about Qing Yi. She once again used her unique method to press Old Master Fu’s acupuncture points.
Qing Yi stood there awkwardly for a moment, unsure what to do.
After thinking briefly, he turned and walked back outside.
Outside the back gate, Zhong Bo hurriedly returned carrying everything Fu Zhao Ning requested and almost crashed directly into him.
“Hurry inside. Your Miss is waiting for you,” Qing Yi unconsciously said after seeing Zhong Bo’s anxious expression.
Zhong Bo had no time to wonder why Qing Yi had been inside.
The noble young master outside in the carriage still had not left, but Miss urgently needed these things.
The moment Fu Zhao Ning saw him return, she immediately asked anxiously,
“Did you bring the silver needles? Where are the ginseng slices?”
