The Eldest Daughter Reborn: She Provoked the Obsessive Crown Prince and Couldn't Escape

Fu Luan laughed and said, "You're usually so clueless, but you're quite perceptive when it comes to human relationships."

Hua Luo smiled and said, "Because they are good to me, I pay more attention to them..."

Unfortunately, the guests were not so insightful.

"Princess Chun'an is wearing felt and wool in the middle of summer; is she trying to disgust our county magistrate?"

"That's right! Look at what the concubines and ladies of the house are giving out—it's all gold and jade. It's perfect for this time of year!"

"I heard that this damned Princess Chun'an is not good-looking and her mother is of low status;

"She's been disliked by the Emperor since birth... what good things could she possibly offer?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Luan frowned and sighed softly, "This is probably the best thing she can give away..."

The imperial rewards continued to be announced one after another. Fu Luan asked in a low voice, "Have the people from the palace given their rewards yet?"

A stewardess surnamed Ding smiled and said, "Naturally, it was rewarded according to the rules."

"Some of the busy ones have already left; as for the ones who aren't busy, we'll settle them in the side hall."

"We hired a theatrical troupe to perform for them, and their food and utensils were the same as those for our distinguished guests. We dared not neglect them!"

This Ding was the head servant woman who led Fu Luan and his men to "catch mice" in Fu Zhengzheng's room.

Fu Luan nodded, and Hua Luo smiled and said, "Sister Ding has been busy these past few days and must be exhausted."

"Sister-in-law, take this when you have time to drink tea or give it as a gift. Please don't find it offensive. I wonder if the people from Yaohua Palace have left, or..."

She secretly slipped a small bag of silver into Madam Ding's sleeve, which made Madam Ding beam with joy.

"The lady-in-waiting from Yaohua Palace is still in the side hall! This servant will invite the young lady and the county magistrate here right away?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Luan immediately stood up and continued walking, saying, "That's the person who serves the princess personally."

"There's no reason to ask someone to go through all that trouble for me. Of course, I'll go myself!"

Upon arriving at the side hall, they indeed saw the rouge lady who served Yuan Rui.

Just as Rouge was about to bow, Fu Luan smiled and helped her up; not only that, but he also personally took out a stack of silver notes.

Rouge understood her meaning and quickly declined, saying, "The steward of the manor has already given me a reward."

"Besides, I already received a gift from the county magistrate in the palace last time..."

What Rouge was referring to was, of course, the matter of how she secretly tried to win over Yuan Rui on behalf of Fu Luan that day.

Fu Luan had always admired her for her manners, and now she smiled so much that her eyes turned into crescent moons.

"The housekeeper gave me the reward money from the Marquis of Chang'an's mansion, while I gave myself, Fu Luan, the reward money."

"Moreover, we agreed last time that we would give a portion of the 'deposit' first."

“We’ll pay the balance after the deal is done. If Sister Rouge doesn’t accept the money, it would seem like we’re being distant!” Fu Luan said.

Rouge had no choice but to accept it, and then said, "Please don't blame the princess for not coming in person the other day, and for sending such warm clothes in the middle of summer. She..."

Rouge sighed, her eyes instantly reddening.

Fu Luan knew that she and her maid must have their reasons, so she gently comforted them, "Don't be in such a hurry, just tell me slowly..."

"That day—the day after the county magistrate's promotion banquet—the princess had originally prepared generous gifts for the occasion;

"But on the way, we met Shu Deyi. She relied on the fact that she came from Consort Mei's palace and started to mock my princess from afar."

"They say she's plain-looking and has never caught the Emperor's eye since she was little... My princess is rushing to the banquet;"

“I’ve been so tolerant of her, but she’s gone too far with her words, even mentioning the princess’s mother…” Rouge sighed.

Fu Luan had already guessed about 70-80% of what would happen next.

"Presumably, the princess was too protective of her mother and verbally or even physically offended Shudeyi."

"Shu Deyi then went to the Emperor or her patron, Consort Mei, and cried her heart out, making a terrible accusation."

"In the end, the princess was ordered to be placed under house arrest, wasn't she?" Fu Luan smiled as she poured Rouge a cup of tea.

"It's not exactly house arrest, she was just punished by copying Buddhist scriptures! But the princess didn't feel sorry for herself;

"I was even quite happy, because she left Shu Deyi speechless! It's just a pity about all those gifts..."

"His Majesty is so biased! Shu Deyi is talking nonsense without distinguishing right from wrong;"

"The Emperor not only punished the princess, but also ordered her to give all the gifts she had been saving up to Shu Deyi."

"How could Shu Deyi cherish it? She gave it all to the palace servants! The county magistrate knows the situation of our princess in the palace."

“Those things are treasures she’s been saving for a long time, but to Shu Deyi they’re nothing but…” Rouge became more and more upset as she spoke, but Fu Luan connected this matter with her own plan.

“I guess Yuan Rui touched on Shu Deyi’s heart by saying that he was favored but had no children…” Fu Luan pondered.

"Miss Rouge..." Fu Luan wanted Rouge to pass on a message to Yuan Rui, but the play on stage was over and Rouge was about to leave.

Fu Luan ultimately did not speak.

She personally escorted Yuan Rui to the second gate and then had Hua Luo make arrangements for everyone who came from Yaohua Palace.

Seeing that Fu Luan was not there, the people at Fu Zhengzheng's table spoke much louder.

Especially Fu Zhengzheng herself, she felt a mix of disappointment and relief when she realized that the focus of everyone's attention was not on her.

Upon seeing this, her aunt, Madam Yan, couldn't help but sneer, "I say, Second Miss, you're really useless!"

“That little slut Fu Luan is the daughter of the Marquis of Chang’an and the daughter of the Fu family. Aren’t you one too?”

"They've made a fortune, and even a minor promotion to county magistrate is accompanied by a four-day banquet. And you? You're a useless piece of trash!"

Yan's uncle chimed in, "Yes! The Marquis of Chang'an's family banquets usually only invite the Fu and Yu families;

"They've never invited us, so why should we? The Fu family is related to the Marquis of Chang'an's family, so why shouldn't our Yan family be?"

"Didn't my sister have a child with the Marquis of Chang'an?"

Fu Zhengzheng slammed down a bowl and chopsticks, and said with a sneer, "She invited you all just to show off in front of me!"

"Showing off how amazing she is, how powerful her mother's family is! How much her brothers dote on her!"

Madam Yan counted on her fingers and said, "Oh dear, Second Miss, you can't be so muddle-headed anymore!"

"The young masters are throwing her a banquet, and it's all the Marquis's money they're spending! You're also the Marquis's daughter;

"Shouldn't you have a share of every penny he earns? That's equivalent to—"

"They're using your money to pat her on the back!"

Fu Zhengzheng sighed deeply, and tears streamed down her face. "How could I not know the reason behind this?"

"But what can I do? She's the eldest daughter of a noble family, treated like royalty."

"Backed by the Fu family, a founding hero, even my father's title of Marquis of Chang'an was earned by Madam Fu..."

Fu Zhengzheng sniffed and continued, choking back tears, "She later married and became the Crown Princess—"

"Even if she isn't now, she'll definitely go back to the East Palace soon!"

"What about me? What do I have? Don't I want to receive a prestigious official title?"

"If I had some good relatives and good brothers, and a great ancestor who was a founding hero, it would be hard to say who would be hosting a banquet for several days!"