Chapter 8: You Are Very Clever

Considering Pei Heng’s usual attitude toward Jiang Ning, Fu Shi felt that his words were not without reason.

“You are right, perhaps I was overthinking it.”

...

On the other side, having had her fill, Jiang Ning cautiously probed the man before her.

“Pei Heng, do you truly have no intention of returning to the Shen family?”

Pei Heng sipped his tea unhurriedly, his expression indifferent. “Is the Princess so eager for me to leave simply because she has grown weary of me?”

As he spoke, the man slowly raised his head.

Meeting Pei Heng’s cold gaze, Jiang Ning suddenly felt as though her thoughts had been laid bare. After a long silence, she stammered, “W-what else could it be?”

“You have a foul temper and you don’t know how to please this Princess, so of course I want you gone!”

Watching the young woman’s guilty expression, Pei Heng raised an eyebrow. “If I don’t know how to please you, then Fu Shi certainly seems to be quite good at it.”

“You are so eager to drive me out; could it be because he has been whispering in your ear?”

Hearing the man’s sarcastic tone, Jiang Ning felt her head spinning. “What on earth are you talking about? What does this have to do with Fu Shi?”

Pei Heng let out a soft scoff and slammed his cup onto the table with a loud *bang*.

“You are certainly protective of him.”

Jiang Ning rubbed her temples, unable to understand what he was so angry about. “What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever protected him? Weren’t we talking about whether or not you would return to the Shen family? How did he suddenly get dragged into this?”

Jiang Ning’s indignant expression only made Pei Heng more annoyed. He had merely mentioned the man, so why was she getting so worked up?

“If you want me to leave, fine. If you are willing to kick Fu Shi out, I will leave of my own accord.”

With that, Pei Heng grabbed the young woman’s arm and pushed her out. Before Jiang Ning could even react, Pei Heng slammed the door shut with a loud crash.

Feeling the pain in her arm, Jiang Ning raised her foot and gave the door a soft kick. “You temperamental maniac! You piece of trash!”

“No wonder the heroine doesn’t like you—you deserve it.”

—

At night, a black-clad figure snuck into Fu Shi’s bedchamber.

Watching Fu Shi, who was leaning against his desk and writing diligently, the man in black bowed with clasped hands, kneeling respectfully.

“Master.”

Finishing the final stroke, Fu Shi set down his brush and spoke in a cold voice. “What did you see this afternoon?”

The man in black lowered his head and reported truthfully, “Pei Heng drove the Princess out. The Princess looked extremely angry; it seems they had an argument.”

Fu Shi knitted his brows, unable to help but feel a sense of relief.

“Pei Heng, he really is the same as always.”

The man in black whispered, “Master, should I continue to keep an eye on them for the time being?”

Fu Shi waved his hand.

“No need. Pei Heng is extremely vigilant. If I have you keep watching him, he will surely cause trouble for me.”

Having said this, he picked up a handkerchief and wiped his fingertips with deliberate, slow movements. “Take this letter to Mu Chi and have him deliver it to that person personally.”

The man in black was somewhat puzzled.

“Are you not going to deliver it yourself?”

Fu Shi narrowed his eyes and said in a calm tone, “Leave such trivial matters to Mu Chi. Tonight, I intend to have a proper talk with Pei Heng.”

At the hour of the Ox, a heavy, goose-feather snow began to fall.

Fu Shi held an umbrella and went to Pei Heng’s small courtyard all by himself.

At that moment, Pei Heng was braving the snow, practicing his archery beneath a tree. Seeing the person approach, Pei Heng did not seem surprised.

“You had me watched all afternoon, and now you come in the middle of the night, braving the snow.”

“Vice Minister Fu, what exactly is your objective?”

Meeting the man’s bottomless gaze, Fu Shi brushed the residual snow from his sleeves and curled his lips into a smile. “Lord Pei, I am curious: why would you rather remain in the Princess’s residence than return to the Shen family to acknowledge your ancestors?”

“Could it be that you are truly loath to part with the Princess?”

Hearing this, Pei Heng turned around and suddenly hurled his sword through the air.

The long, cold-glinting blade pinned the hem of Fu Shi’s robe into the dirt.

“Vice Minister Fu, it is just the two of us here. Ask whatever you wish to ask; there is no need to beat around the bush.”

Fu Shi pulled the sword out and tossed it back to him. “I know a thing or two about the situation in the Shen family. Are you staying here because you want to use the Princess as a shield?”

Pei Heng pursed his lips and adjusted his cuffs.

“Since you already know, why ask me?”

Fu Shi lowered his eyes. “I was only guessing; I was not certain.”

Pei Heng reached out and patted his shoulder. “Vice Minister Fu, you are very clever.”

Having said that, he added, “It is a pity that I despise people like you—those who think themselves too clever.”

Fu Shi smiled at him, his expression unchanging. “I came here because I wanted to share a piece of news with you.”

“The Princess can no longer serve as your shield.”

Hearing the man’s meaningful tone, Pei Heng clenched his fists. “What do you mean by that?”

Fu Shi spoke slowly.

“The Crown Prince intends to send the Princess to Panbang for a marriage alliance. I only just learned of this news myself.”

Pei Heng let out a cold laugh, his eyes filled with undisguised malice. “No matter how incompetent Jiang Ning may be, she is still the Princess of the current dynasty.”

“Even if the Crown Prince wants to send her to Panbang, he must have the Emperor’s consent.”

Fu Shi raised his eyes. “Whether the Emperor agrees or not, I do not know. But I know one thing: as long as it is something the Crown Prince wants to do, no one can stop him.”