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

Fu Luan sighed, "I'm just trying my luck; if I'm lucky and things turn out the way I want, that would be great!"

"If I'm unlucky, it's because I'm overthinking things... In the end, he was hurt because of me;

"It's only right that the Fu family and I take care of his family. Do you remember the beggar we saw when we got off the carriage today?"

Fu Ling and Hua Luo looked at each other, and Fu Ling replied, "I remember. But..."

Fu Ling didn't continue speaking, and Hua Luo blushed.

The two women were so frightened by the beggar who suddenly appeared on the ground and grabbed Fu Luan's leg that they screamed and huddled together, not daring to look at the beggar at all.

Fu Ling was alright, but Hua Luo felt ashamed of her cowardice.

As Fu Luan's personal maid, she should have been the first to rush out and protect Fu Luan;

But she backed down out of fear. It happened the same thing last time at Zhaoyang Palace…

It seemed she knew nothing but how to serve Fu Luan; but she didn't want it to be like this...

Even the newly arrived, eight- or nine-year-old maidservants in the mansion, who were paid two taels of silver a month, knew how to "attend to daily life";

If all she can do is these things, then what use is she to Fu Luan?

How can she have the nerve to receive a monthly salary that is much higher than that of other maids?

Perhaps sensing her shame, Fu Luan patted her shoulder and smiled gently:

"You don't need to blame yourselves. I wasn't blaming you. I just wanted to say..."

"You were hugging at the time, so you didn't see that person's hand..."

The beggar's hands were numb and rough, just like the burns on Ah Song's face and the back of his hands!

He was likely one of the refugees who caused Asong's burns, or at least he was present at the time.

In the Great Wei Dynasty, there was no clear distinction between refugees and beggars;

It is common for migrants to fall ill or get injured, lose the ability to leave their hometown, and become beggars.

"Although I don't know anything about medicine, I can barely tell that those 'bumps' on the back of his hand are recent and not old injuries..."

Fu Ling pondered for a moment and said, "Although I didn't see his injury, I did hear him speak..."

"His wording was not like that of a vagrant; on the contrary, he was more polite than many ordinary people—at least outwardly polite."

"He's definitely educated. And it's obvious he knows our young master, or at least knows his identity;"

"Just one glance at him and you know his official rank... Did the young master mention this person earlier?"

Fu Luan shook her head and sighed, "No... I was too busy talking to him about other things. But..."

"I felt that the voice sounded familiar back then, and now I think I know who it is!"

Fu Ling and Hua Luo quickly came over. Fu Luan whispered a few words, and Fu Ling exclaimed in surprise, "How could it be him?"

Fu Luan shook his head again: "It's just speculation. After all, his face was covered by his hair."

"And there are so many people with similar voices!"

"This person can only crawl, so he probably can't go far; and his features are quite distinctive, so he should be easy to find."

"Hua Luo, send men to search for this person throughout Chang'an; whoever finds him will be richly rewarded!"

Unfortunately, things didn't go as smoothly as Fu Luan had anticipated...

A disheveled beggar with burns on the back of his hands, who could only crawl, seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Some suggested that Fu Luan increase the bounty and the amount of silver offered, but Fu Luan repeatedly refused.

Once the bounty is increased, even if someone finds the person, they will become a "hot commodity";

Hide him and wait for the bounty to increase, and increase again...

She won't tolerate this kind of person! Nor will she waste time on this one thing...

She began to acquire numerous houses.

Not only in Chang'an, but wherever there were members of the Fu clan, she bought houses in preparation for any eventuality.

Although the two have been in sync ever since Xiao Jiu saved her;

But in her previous life, Xiao Jiu died tragically in prison;

Now that she has been reborn, she can see the future of everyone.

Only she and Xiao Jiu remain an unknown...

The words the Emperor spoke to her at Yuanjia's residence that day often echoed in her ears—

"Xiao Jiu's youthful nature makes him even easier to be seduced by a cunning woman than that good-for-nothing Yuan Lu!"

That night at Yaohua Palace, Yuanjiu resisted Qingluan's seduction;

But what if it were another woman?

Replace her with a more beautiful woman, one from a better family, and one who is even more alluring...

She had already failed once, stumbling over Yuan Lu; she dared not gamble her life and fortune on a man again!

Even though this man once risked his life to save her...

After all, who can guarantee that Yuan Jiu, who returns to the Eastern Palace, or even Yuan Jiu after ascending the throne, won't be the next Yuan Lu?

While Fu Luan was waiting for the beggar's whereabouts, Fu Zhengzheng was also waiting for news—news from the palace.

Of course, she wasn't waiting for news of being brought to the palace, but rather for news of Consort Shu reprimanding her!

She was unaware that Consort Shu's face had already been ruined and she had fallen out of favor because of the ointment she had presented, and she lived in constant fear and anxiety.

Fearing that there might be something wrong with the ointment Shu Guiyi used, they sent someone to reprimand her.

She was only half right; the ointment did indeed have a problem. But Shu Guiyi would never blame her again…

She was unaware of this matter for the time being; not only was she unaware, but she also received another "gift" from Shu Guiyi.

"For me? But I already received a reward of silver last time in the palace;"

"Your master even gave me a good 'advice'!" Fu Zhengzheng snorted, looking at the middle-aged woman in front of her who was dressed in gold and silver.

However, his eyes kept glancing at the gold and silver jewelry being held by the people behind him.

The woman smiled apologetically and said, "Consort Shu said that the reward from that day was from that day."

"Now that she has used the ointment you gave her, not only are the scratches on her face gone;

"The skin has also become smoother and firmer, like a freshly peeled egg;

"She's even more delicate and fair-skinned than many of the young concubines in the palace who are only a decade or more old! The Emperor is absolutely infatuated with her now..."

"If you were my lady, wouldn't you also give your 'benefactor' a bigger reward?"

"Her Majesty also said that the ointment is almost gone..."

Fu Zhengzheng was pleased with the flattery at first, but frowned when she heard the rest.

The woman's implication was all too clear: Shu Guiyi still wanted her ointment!

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this so-called "reward" could be used to buy ointment.

“But this ointment…” Fu Zhengzheng hesitated.

The ointment was originally given to her by Fu Luan, but now that Consort Shu wants it again, where is she going to get it?

If she were to ask Fu Luan again, she wouldn't be able to bring herself to say it;

She sent the gifts, but failed to get Consort Shu to recommend her for the position of concubine.

During this period, she felt awkward whenever she saw Fu Luan, and wished she could avoid him!

Even if she's thick-skinned and unafraid of making a fool of herself, Fu Luan will still inevitably offer some sarcastic remarks...

The woman noticed her predicament, then rolled her eyes and smiled:

"Consort Shu said that she thinks Miss Fu's background and appearance are suitable; she is already planning to recommend you to the Emperor on a chosen day..."