Yan Xiaohan’s eyes burned, moved and amused. He could neither cry nor laugh, and all his thousands of words condensed into a single sigh: “Hearing these words, even if I were to be crushed to pieces now, I’d have no regrets. But rumors kill invisibly. Having one person suffer for reputation is enough – be good, don’t sacrifice your own reputation needlessly.”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” Fu Shen declared decisively: “Having you is enough. What use are those empty names!”
Yan Xiaohan held his hand, affectionately pressing it against his cheek, “It’s because you’re too good.”
It wasn’t just his family background or official position that made Fu Shen truly admirable, but his breadth of mind and character. Yan Xiaohan had looked down on and questioned him before, but after experiencing life’s vicissitudes, he knew he could never be like Fu Shen. A noble gentleman shining like moonlight, one might not meet such a person in a lifetime; he could only observe from afar, never daring to hope that the bright moon would fall into his arms.
Fu Shen laughed: “Who exactly has been bewitching whom… Alright, get up. We still need to congratulate the Prince of Qi. We’ll settle our account when we return.”
Yan Xiaohan: “We still have an account to settle?”
“What do you think?” Fu Shen said with a sinister smile, “If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll forget who’s in charge of this household.”
At the Prince of Qi’s residence, Prince Qi’s son-in-law Qi Yun Rui heard his brother-in-law had arrived and hurried to the front hall to welcome them. Unexpectedly, he first encountered Yan Xiaohan and was momentarily stunned: “…Sir Yan, Lord Fu.”
“Congratulations to Your Highness,” Fu Shen cupped his hands, “Congratulations on your noble daughter’s birth.”
The Prince of Qi unconsciously returned the salute and smiled, saying, “Thank you. Please, both of you, take a seat.”
Fu Shen and the Prince of Qi hadn’t really interacted much before. Given his exceptional status, getting too close to anyone was unwise, so despite their family connection, they remained distant.
