Bai Qingqing giggled, "Mother, don't be angry. It's not like we ever planned to marry into their family anyway."
Madam Qiao turned her head and asked, "Do you really think that way? I find Fu Yi to be quite a fine young man—distinguished and rare to come by."
Bai Qingqing slowly shook her head, worried that Madam Qiao might take the idea seriously. She leaned in and whispered, "He already has someone he likes. I saw him buying jewelry for that girl."
"How outrageous!"
Madam Qiao was fuming. "Is that true? And yet they still have the audacity to come to us?"
"No way. I'll send word back immediately—we Bai family simply cannot afford to 'climb up' to them."
"There’s no need to make things awkward. As long as I know the truth, that’s enough."
Madam Qiao nodded. "You're right."
...
Back at the Ping Prince’s Manor, the princess consort kept Fu Yi behind for a conversation.
"Now that you've met the State Duke’s wife, this matter is as good as settled. In Xuancheng, no one can compare to you."
Though Madam Qiao hadn't given a definite answer, the princess consort felt the match was nearly certain. Given the status of the Ping Prince’s Manor, what more could anyone ask for?
"By the way, the weather is getting warmer. Go pick out a few bolts of summer gauze and have them sent to Qingyun so she can have some new clothes made. Girls love dressing up—choose some bright colors."
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Fu Yi’s eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion. For once, he didn’t immediately comply. "Mother, don’t you think it’s rather inappropriate for me to do that?"
"How is it inappropriate?"
"She’s my cousin, a young lady. Why should I be the one picking out her things?"
"Because you have an eye for what Qingyun likes. What's gotten into you, my child?"
Fu Yi stood still. "Qingyun is not a child anymore. Everything she wears and uses is chosen by me—if others find out, what will they think? How will she marry in the future?"
The princess consort frowned. "She is your cousin! What is there to talk about? You two grew up together—who knows what the future holds?"
So it was true. His mother really intended for him to marry Lu Qingyun. He thought he had made his stance clear last time.
"I only see Qingyun as my younger sister. There are no romantic feelings between us. If you truly care for her, you should find her a good match, someone reliable who can support her in the future."
"No! How could I trust anyone else? What if she gets bullied?"
Something stirred in Fu Yi's heart. He pressed further, "So, Mother, are you saying you want me to marry Qingyun?"
The princess consort hesitated for a moment. "That won’t do either. You need a marriage that secures your position as heir. Qingyun... she can’t help you with that."
Fu Yi laughed—a laugh that made the princess consort feel uneasy. At the same time, he found his mother to be a stranger.
"So what you’re saying is, you want me to marry someone I may not even like for the sake of securing my title, and then disregard my own wishes to take Qingyun in just because you favor her? Mother, what does my marriage mean to you?"
The princess consort was shocked. "How can you speak to me like this? Am I not doing this for your own good? A man shouldn’t get caught up in trivial affections—having multiple wives and concubines is normal."
"Did you think the same way when you were fighting against Concubine Zhou?"
"Fu Yi!"
The princess consort trembled with anger, expecting him to apologize as usual, but this time, he didn’t.
"I don’t need to trade my marriage for the title of heir, and you don’t need to trouble yourself over it, Mother."
He left the room, leaving the princess consort struggling to catch her breath. She pointed at the doorway with a shaking hand. "This... this..."
The senior maid rushed forward to help her. "Please, Your Highness, calm down. The young master has always been filial—perhaps something is weighing on his mind."
