bookrandom Chapter 233 Street Encounter
Chapter 233 Street Encounter
Seeing Zhu Kui's mysterious expression, Zhu Fangfei raised her hand and waved it in his eyes, curiously pressing for an answer.
"Dad, tell me, what is it? I promise I won't get angry."
Zhu Kui knows his daughter's temperament better than anyone else. If he says anything that displeases her, she can get angry at the slightest provocation.
He swallowed hard and said cautiously:
"That's right. Yesterday, Father went to the palace. Consort Liang said she wanted to betroth you to the Crown Prince."
"Wei Jianning?"
Zhu Fangfei asked curiously,
"Isn't he already married, and his wife is quite an extraordinary woman?"
Zhu Kui immediately waved his hand dismissively.
"What extraordinary woman? It's just a rumor."
"They got divorced?"
"That's not true."
"If you're not divorced, what do you mean by that? He has a legal wife, yet he still wants to marry me. Does he expect me to be his concubine?"
Zhu Kui quickly raised his hands and pressed them down.
"Fei'er, sit down first, and let your father tell you slowly."
"I won't listen, Father! I just got back yesterday, and today you want me to get married? Do you hate me that much? You want to marry me off as a concubine? Even if he's the Crown Prince, so what? I don't even want to be an imperial concubine, why would I want the Crown Prince?"
"Fei'er..."
Seeing that Zhu Fangfei was very angry, Zhu Kui quickly stood up, put his hands on her shoulders, pulled her to a chair, and said affectionately:
“Silly girl, you are my own daughter, how could I hate you? For so many years, I have gone to the mountain to accompany you every year, just because I was afraid you would feel that I didn’t care about you. Now that you can finally come home, I love you so much that I’m in no hurry to let you get married.”
"Then what do you mean by what you just said?"
"Don't rush, let Dad tell you slowly."
Zhu Fangfei has lived in the mountains for many years. She has a rather impatient temper and a straightforward personality. She doesn't like beating around the bush, so she simply asked directly:
"Dad, just say what you want to say! I don't like beating around the bush."
Zhu Kui hesitated for a moment, then sat back down in his seat, took another sip of tea, and then said earnestly:
"This is what your father thinks: the current Crown Princess is just a country woman. Although the common people talk about her in all sorts of ways, she doesn't actually have much ability. Consort Liang has never approved of her becoming the Crown Princess, and the Emperor doesn't really agree either. Consort Liang called you over yesterday, meaning that you should first marry the Crown Prince as a concubine, and then find a way to become the principal wife. Only in this way will you have a chance to become the Empress in the future..."
After hearing what he said, Zhu Fangfei stared at him with wide eyes.
"Father, are you all crazy? The Crown Princess is doing just fine, why would I want to interfere? Besides, I don't want to be the Crown Princess now, and I don't want to be the Empress in the future. I just want to live a free and easy life."
“Silly child, you can think like this now, but what about the future? You know what kind of person your brother is. He's a hopeless case. Your father can't count on him, and neither can our Zhu family. You are the hope of our Zhu family!”
"Father, you are the Grand Commandant. There are not many people in the capital with a higher rank than you. Why would you sacrifice your own daughter to climb the ranks?"
"This isn't a sacrifice, it's for your own good."
"I don't want you to use the guise of doing what's best for me to satisfy your own vanity. I disagree with this, and you shouldn't even think about it anymore."
After leaving those words, she stood up from her chair without hesitation and strode away, much to Zhu Kui's surprise.
"Fei'er..."
Zhu Kui called out, but she didn't turn her head. She just waved to him with her back to him and then ran away like a shot.
"Ugh!"
He patted the armrest of the chair and let out a long sigh.
He had already discussed with Consort Liang that he would definitely persuade Fei'er to marry the Crown Prince as a concubine, but the girl was not willing to show any mercy. What should he do?
While he was in this predicament, Zhu Fangfei had already run out of the Grand Commandant's mansion to play.
Having spent eighteen years in the mountains, she was nearly driven mad with boredom. Suddenly seeing the dazzling world of the capital city left her dazzled.
Her father originally wanted to arrange two maids for her, but she refused outright.
She was used to being alone and didn't want two annoying girls around her.
Besides, she herself is skilled in martial arts. If she had a helpless maidservant following her, she would only become a burden if anything happened.
As she thought about these things, she looked around the street.
The shouts of vendors on both sides of the street and the dazzling array of goods filled her with curiosity. She looked this way and then ran over to look at the other side. With a sugar figurine in her left hand and a peach pastry that her father had brought her up the mountain in her right, she ate with great relish.
"Watch out!"
Not far away, a frightened horse charged over, instantly plunging the once bustling street into chaos.
She was engrossed in eating her food and looking at the goods on both sides of the street, completely unaware that the frightened horse had already approached.
When she finally realized the danger and tried to run away, she suddenly found that her legs were weak and she had no strength left to run away, except to throw away the sugar figurine and peach pastry in her hand.
She screamed in terror.
"what!"
Just as the horse's front hooves were about to step on her, she closed her eyes tightly, covered her head with her hands, and waited quietly for the horse to trample over her.
Just when she was in despair, she suddenly felt herself fall into a broad embrace, then be lifted into the air and gently placed on the ground before she could react.
She hurriedly opened her eyes and saw the man who had just saved her galloping towards the horse, subduing it in no time.
His dashing figure and his robust physique captivated her.
Still shaken, she patted her chest, wanting to go up to the man and thank him, but he walked away without even turning his head.
"Thank you."
She cupped her hands around her mouth and called out to his back, but he didn't even turn his head. All she saw was his back, which, like a newly drawn sword, radiated a sharp light, making her eyes light up and eagerly want to see his face.
Just then, he heard the whispers of the people around him.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is not only skilled in martial arts, but also kind-hearted. If he hadn't arrived in time, this young lady would probably have been seriously injured."
"Of course, if His Highness the Crown Prince hadn't subdued that frightened horse in time, who knows how many people would have been injured and how much property would have been ruined."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is truly brave and agile!"
"..."
Your Royal Highness?
Is he His Highness the Crown Prince?
She strode forward, running in the direction he had gone.
She wanted to thank him and see his face clearly, but he had already ridden away with his guards, leaving only a cloud of dust behind.
She raised her hand to brush away the dust in the air, muttering to herself.
"Marrying him doesn't seem so bad."