TIGR Chapter 120

The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

Chapter 120 Fated Enemies

When the official’s wife saw the attractive woman beside Lu Heng, she remembered that he had married in the first month of this year, only half a month before the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s wedding. Their marriages were widely discussed in the capital as the two, young, handsome, and accomplished officials, married one after another.

However, after the wedding, Madam Lu rarely appeared in public and kept a mysterious profile, while the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s wife, Hong Wanqing, attended numerous banquets openly. With this stark contrast, the public’s attention shifted toward the celebrated union of the Marquis of Zhenyuan and the Marquis of Wuding, almost forgetting the other newlywed couple.

It was just that Lu Heng’s reputation was so bad that when people mentioned him, what first came to mind were things like family confiscation, torture, forced confessions, and tyranny. It was hard to associate such a reputation with accompanying his wife out in public.

The official’s wife then glanced at Wang Yanqing. With her black hair, fair skin, and delicate features, she was a beauty of the highest rank. As she stepped down from the carriage, her graceful posture was striking. Today, Lu Heng was not wearing his usual flying fish robes but instead wore a dark purple round-collared robe with a crimson inner lining. His waist was adorned with a gold-inlaid jade belt, and the wide hem of his robe flared outward slightly due to pleats inside, making his broad shoulders, narrow hips, and long legs even more noticeable. Lu Heng stepped down from the carriage to help her, his gaze soft and gentle. From a distance, the scene had a sense of calm, as if time had stood still.

The official’s wife couldn’t help but feel astonished. She thought to herself, despite Lu Heng’s notorious reputation for being ruthless and cruel, he was especially gentle with his wife. She then thought about those men who had no abilities outside but ruled their households with loud commands, feeling deeply conflicted inside.

Wang Yanqing held Lu Heng’s hand as she descended from the carriage. She scanned the bustling riverbank, then raised her gaze, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at Lu Heng with an amused yet slightly mocking expression: “So, there are this many people for the Shangsi Festival? I thought our spring outing would be at the estate again.”

Wang Yanqing lost her memory for two years and had spent several Shangsi Festivals at the Lu Mansion. The previous time, Lu Heng, citing the large crowd, took Wang Yanqing directly to his estate in the outskirts of the capital. It was there that Wang Yanqing, with amnesia, first met Fu Tingzhou.

Wang Yanqing once thought that Lu Heng was concerned about her safety and sought to avoid crowded places. But after recovering her memory, she understood that he was guilty and didn’t dare bring her to such public events.

Lu Heng sighed to himself. He held Wang Yanqing’s delicate hand tightly and smiled: “Madam, have mercy. Let’s just turn the pages of the past.”

Lu Heng’s marriage was filled with difficulties. On the day of their wedding, they were attacked by Japanese pirates, and his bride, having regained her memory, insisted on separating from him. While Lu Heng was busy dealing with the assassins, he was also trying to keep his wife calm. Immediately following that, the Renyin Palace Rebellion occurred. Lu Heng had to run between the Imperial Palace, the Wang residence, and the Lu Mansion, leaving him with no time to pay attention to outsiders.

As a result, after their marriage, Wang Yanqing had not made a public appearance. On one hand, Lu Heng worried that she might feel bored staying inside the estate, on the other, he also wanted to publicly announce their union. So, for the Shangsi Festival, he deliberately took a day off to accompany Wang Yanqing to a spring outing by the river in the outskirts of the capital.

He himself hadn’t fulfilled his responsibilities, so he had nothing to say when his wife bullied him. After all, she was his now, and a few words didn’t really bother him. Lu Heng was quite easygoing and let her do as she pleased.

By the riverside, Fu Tingzhou was bored out of his mind, listening to the small talk. When women met, their conversations rarely strayed from cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, who had taken on a new bride, or whose child was about to celebrate their first-month banquet. Hong Wanqing, eager to show off, made sure to stop and chat with anyone they encountered along the way. Fu Tingzhou was becoming extremely impatient as he was forced to listen to the same repetitive and dull topics.

Due to his mother’s wishes, however, he couldn’t leave and had to patiently wait for Hong Wanqing to finish her socializing. Several of the Fu family’s young ladies reached a marriageable age, and Chen Shi entrusted Hong Wanqing with helping her younger sisters find suitors. This trip was important for their future, and with such a big responsibility, Fu Tingzhou couldn’t refuse, no matter how much he wanted to.

In fact, Fu Tingzhou knew that while on the surface, Chen Shi was asking Hong Wanqing to help her younger sisters find a match, she was really looking for ways for Fu Tingzhou to spend more time with Hong Wanqing. Fu Tingzhou followed his mother’s wishes and married, fulfilling his duties as a newlywed, but afterward, he rarely returned to the inner courtyard.

His deal with the Marquis of Wuding had only been to form a political alliance, ensuring Hong Wanqing’s status as his legitimate wife. It did not include treating her with affection. Since his mother and grandmother wanted him to marry, he did as they asked. As for what came afterward, he had no intention of playing along.

In his life plan, there had never been a place for the Hong family’s daughter. From the very beginning, he had said that he would give the rightful title of main wife to a woman from the Hong family, but she was not allowed to meddle in his private affairs. As for who he married, it made no difference. Fu Tingzhou also didn’t understand what misunderstanding the Yongping Madam Marquis and Hong Wanqing had, or why she stubbornly thought that after marriage she could change him.

He spent over twenty years and still hadn’t been able to change himself.

Hong Wanqing would stop and chat with everyone she met while the young ladies of the Fu family followed behind her, smiling gracefully, showcasing their elegance and virtue to the other women. Fu Tingzhou stood behind the women, enduring while waiting for Hong Wanqing to finish speaking.

Fu Tingzhou stood tall and straight, stern, and exuded a strong masculinity. Even though his expression was cold, and he didn’t speak, he frequently attracted the attention of other women.

Madam Xu happened to encounter Hong Wanqing, and as they spoke, Madam Xu’s gaze involuntarily wandered towards Fu Tingzhou.

She studied him up close and the more she looked, the more impeccable he seemed. Madam Xu couldn’t help but sigh to herself, no wonder he was one of the only two people to whom the emperor had made an exception for. At just over twenty, he inherited the title of Marquis, had military achievements, and was supported by the Marquis of Wuding. His future was destined to be bright and smooth.

As for Fu Tingzhou himself, he was good-looking, tall and strong with a lean waist and long legs. He lacked the frivolous air of the young noblemen in the capital and the greasy, bloated look of the middle-aged men. His heroic spirit and power perfectly blended. Especially since he had just returned from the battlefield, his aura was cold and ruthless, making him seem very dependable.

Having such a man as a husband was a blessing that many women could only envy. Madam Xu thought to herself, half teasing and half praising: “The Madam was famous for her beauty when she was in the boudoir, but after marriage, she is even more radiant. The Marquis of Zhenyuan and his wife, newlywed and full of happiness, are truly enviable.”

Since her marriage, Hong Wanqing had often been the subject of teasing. She would pretend not to understand, simply smiling and letting it pass. But today, in front of Fu Tingzhou, Hong Wanqing felt especially shy. She pressed her lips together, smiling awkwardly, and sneakily glanced at Fu Tingzhou. To her surprise, his expression was emotionless, with the corners of his lips pressed down, he even seemed a bit impatient.

Like a cold splash of water, the secret joy Hong Wanqing felt vanished in an instant. She thought to herself that serious and upright Fu Tingzhou surely wouldn’t like such jokes. So, she forced herself to smile and politely said to Madam Xu: “Madam Xu, please don’t tease me. With my ordinary looks, I wouldn’t dare overestimate myself. You flatter me.”

“How is it overestimating yourself?” Madam Xu said, “I’ve been in the capital for many years and have seen my fair share of beauties. Among the young ladies of this generation, when it comes to both family background and appearance, who can compare to you? You must stop being so modest. If you’re just ordinary, then who in the capital would dare to call themselves a beauty?”

It was common for noblewomen to compliment each other on their youth and beauty, and Fu Tingzhou understood that it wasn’t something to take seriously. However, he couldn’t help but think, disregarding family background, just in terms of appearance, Hong Wanqing was far from extraordinary.

Fu Tingzhou paused for a moment, lowered his gaze, and formed a self-deprecating smile. What was the point of dwelling on these things now? She was already gone.

Hong Wanqing was pleased by these compliments and smiled while declining them. Madam Xu, understanding Hong Wanqing’s attitude, became even bolder with her teasing: “But a beauty is like a flower. No matter how naturally beautiful one’s face is, it still needs the proper soil to nourish it. Marrying the Marquis of Zhenyuan was truly finding the best place to settle down. You two are a perfect match, handsome and beautiful, with matching status. Standing together, you two are perfect. With you both here, it feels like half the sky is brightened.”

.The group of them stood at the bend of the riverbank, surrounded by flowers and trees, needing to turn through the thicket to see behind clearly. Hong Wanqing and Madam Xu were exchanging compliments when suddenly, a commotion broke out from behind them. Footsteps hurriedly approached, accompanied by voices of greetings.

Madam Xu was puzzled, and Hong Wanqing furrowed her brows as she turned to look: “Who is it, disturbing the peace?”

Before she could finish speaking, the people had already passed through the flowers and trees, revealing a scene by the riverbank. The eyes of the two groups met, and petals blew down like rain, fluttering between them. It was as though time had stopped. Eventually, a man dressed in deep red and purple from behind the trees, was the first to smile. Calmly and unhurriedly, he said: “Marquis of Zhenyuan, what a coincidence.”

His voice rang like the clattering of gold and jade, clear, bright, and resonant. The faint smile on his lips seemed to carry the gentle breeze of spring and the first bloom of the spring forest. His words seemed to trigger something, and the surrounding women, as if waking from a dream, quickly adjusted their attire and greeted him respectfully: “Supreme Commander Lu, may you have peace and good health.”

Lu Heng smiled in response, but did not return the greeting. His gaze settled on Fu Tingzhou, and the smile in his eyes seemed to conceal invisible blades and frosty swords. Lu Heng’s eyes locked onto Fu Tingzhou, while Fu Tingzhou’s gaze remained fixed on the woman beside him.

The beauty stood like a delicate lotus, her hair arranged in elegance, her posture graceful and dignified. She wore a grand and radiant red dress, and the sleeves of her gown billowed out, revealing wrists as delicate as snow. She held her hands together in front of her abdomen, calm, composed, and detached from the situation.

All colors seemed to flatter people with fair skin, and Wang Yanqing possessed an innate cool white complexion. Even her bright red gown did not overpower her. Instead, her pale skin softened the vividness of the red, creating a luminous and vibrant presence from afar.

She looked stunning in the dress, but it deeply pierced Fu Tingzhou’s eyes. When he was younger, just beginning to understand matters of the world, he often wondered what she would look like in a wedding gown. Now, after all these years, there she was, dressed in bright red, as stunning as he had imagined. Yet, she was standing beside another man.

Lu Heng, finally angered by Fu Tingzhou’s gaze, reached out and grasped Wang Yanqing’s wrist. Wang Yanqing allowed his grasp, looking docile and obedient. Lu Heng’s action was undoubtedly a show of dominance, and Fu Tingzhou, at last, turned his attention toward him. Lu Heng met his gaze and gave a soft, knowing smile.

“I heard that the Marquis of Zhenyuan and the Yongping Marquis’ third Miss just married. It’s a shame my wife wasn’t feeling well, and we couldn’t toast a glass of nuptial wine at the Fu Mansion. But what a surprise, to run into the Marquis of Zhenyuan and Madam Fu here today. Truly, it seems we are fated to meet.”

Fu Tingzhou’s sneered coldly in his heart, and his icy and unyielding gaze fixed on Lu Heng.

Perhaps it was an unfortunate fate.

Lu Heng suddenly appeared with a woman by his side. Madam Xu was curious but hesitant to ask, fearing it might be improper. Now that Lu Heng had spoken, Madam Xu finally dared to confirm, it was indeed the elusive Madam Lu, who was rarely seen in public.

With a smile, Madam Xu said: “So it’s Madam Lu. I’ve long wished to pay my respects to you, but unfortunately, I’ve never found the right opportunity. Now that I’ve finally met you in person, I’m truly amazed. I never expected Madam Lu to be such a celestial beauty. You’ve truly broadened my horizons.”

Wang Yanqing smiled gently and gave a slight nod to Madam Xu: “You flatter me, Madam. I’ve not been well recently and haven’t been able to receive guests. If I showed any disrespect, I hope you will kindly overlook it.”

Madam Xu didn’t dare comment on Madam Lu. She quickly relayed so and changed her tone to one of concern: “Madam Lu, what happened, were you feeling unwell?”

Lu Heng, holding Wang Yanqing’s delicate hand in both of his, smiled and smoothly took over the conversation: “At the wedding, a few troublemakers caused a disturbance, and things went awry. She accidentally bumped her head, and I was worried there might be danger. So I kept her in seclusion for quite some time, only today did I allow her to come out.”

Lu Heng showed no hesitation in displaying affection in front of everyone. When he mentioned “troublemakers,” his tone slowed and his words became sharp and deliberate, as if there was a deeper meaning behind them.

Madam Xu listened to these words with little reaction, but the three people involved understood that when Lu Heng spoke of troublemakers, he was not referring to the Japanese pirates or assassins, but rather to Fu Tingzhou.

On the day of Lu Heng’s wedding, Wang Yanqing was knocked unconscious when an assassin collided with her at the entrance. Before that, Wang Yanqing had been hidden away by Fu Tingzhou in the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, and most of the women in the capital didn’t recognize her. However, Hong Wanqing and the young ladies of the Fu family were very familiar with her face.

The last time Hong Wanqing had seen Wang Yanqing was during the Lantern Festival in the twelfth year of Jiajing. After that, news about Wang Yanqing faded from the capital. Hong Wanqing, focused on preparing for her own wedding, assumed Wang Yanqing had died. To her surprise, not only had Wang Yanqing survived, but she became Lu Heng’s wife.

On that day, Hong Wanqing saw Wang Yanqing briefly, following a man. She later learned that he was none other than the famous Commander of the Imperial Guards, Lu Heng. When Hong Wanqing returned home and mentioned this to her mother, she spoke with a sense of pity, thinking how tragic it was for Wang Yanqing. Fu Tingzhou had abandoned her, and now she had fallen into the hands of another man, becoming nothing more than a plaything.

Later, when Wang Yanqing’s whereabouts became unknown, Hong Wanqing thought she had been killed by Lu Heng. When the Yongping Marquis Mansion received the invitation to Lu Heng’s wedding, Hong Wanqing saw the character “Wang” on the invitation and didn’t even think of Wang Yanqing.

The position of Lu Heng’s legitimate wife was highly coveted, even by the daughters of dukes and marquises. If Lu Heng was willing, he could have his pick from the granddaughters of high-ranking officials, ladies from scholarly families, and even imperial relatives. Any woman in the capital would be eager to be chosen by him. There were so many people with the surname Wang in the world, and Wang Yanqing was neither powerful nor influential. How could she possibly be the one Lu Heng would marry?

The concept of Lu Heng’s plaything and that of his legitimate wife were entirely different. As for the former, Hong Wanqing could easily extend her noble sympathy and kindness, but if it were the latter, she was instantly enraged. She could not accept the idea of a lowly commoner, someone beneath her, sitting alongside her as Lu Heng’s legitimate wife.

In fact, Hong Wanqing would go out of her way to avoid Wang Yanqing. After all, Lu Heng was at the same level as her uncle, Guo Xun, in terms of official rank, and in the court, Fu Tingzhou was still below him.

Hong Wanqing had to use all her self-control to maintain her expression. Deep down, she was seething with resentment, desperately searching for any flaw in Wang Yanqing’s appearance. It was privately rumored that Lu Heng was not interested in women, perhaps Wang Yanqing was just a shield for him.

However, no matter how maliciously Hong Wanqing scrutinized Wang Yanqing from head to toe, she couldn’t find any evidence that Wang Yanqing was suffering.

The last time Hong Wanqing had seen her, during the twelfth year of Jiajing, Wang Yanqing had been gaunt and pale, carrying the weakness of someone recently recovering from a serious illness, melancholy and subdued. But now, Wang Yanqing’s expression was serene, her eyes clear and bright, her figure even more graceful than before, her skin glowing with a healthy pink-white radiance. She looked like a pearl that was cleansed of all its imperfections, standing with a natural, captivating elegance.

Such a calm demeanor and vibrant complexion, these were not qualities of a woman who not living a happy life.

Especially when Lu Heng had taken the initiative to hold Wang Yanqing’s hand, it was a crushing blow to Hong Wanqing’s self-deception. She could feel something shifting within her, and when she turned to look at Fu Tingzhou, she found that he was staring intently at their clasped hands, his gaze deep and complicated, and the only thing missing from it was any trace of his wife.

Hong Wanqing felt as though a cold bucket of water had been poured over her, forcing her to face a truth she had been deliberately ignoring.

Fu Tingzhou still loved Wang Yanqing, and perhaps he only loved Wang Yanqing. All the odd behavior Fu Tingzhou exhibited recently suddenly made sense.

Hong Wanqing’s emotions were in turmoil, shock, shame, and sorrow followed one after another. But for the young ladies of the Fu family, encountering Wang Yanqing again was something they long expected.

Chen Shi had kept it hidden from the Yongping Marquis Mansion, but the Fu family knew well that Fu Tingzhou always cared about Wang Yanqing, and Wang Yanqing had been taken from him by Lu Heng.

Therefore, when they saw Wang Yanqing today, there was a sense of awkwardness in their hearts, but it was not as difficult to accept as it was for their new sister-in-law. Madam Xu sensed that the atmosphere was strange. Just moments ago, Hong Wanqing had been lively and talkative, but now she wore a stern face and didn’t speak a word, while the young ladies of the Fu family all silently lowered their heads in unison. Madam Xu glanced to the other side and was stunned by the sight of Madam Lu, who was smiling gently with a soft, submissive look as her wrist rested delicately in Lu Heng’s hand. Meanwhile, Fu Tingzhou and Lu Heng both appeared calm, one expressionless, the other wearing a composed smile, but there was an unmistakable, subtle tension in the air.

Madam Xu didn’t understand the underlying dynamics, but Madam Lu appeared, and this was clearly a far more important connection to make than with Hong Wanqing. So, she quickly set aside her thoughts of Hong Wanqing and focused all her attention on engaging Wang Yanqing in conversation.

“I’ve been in the capital for many years and have never seen anyone as outstanding as you, Madam. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I thought I had seen the Luo Goddesses or Concubine Heng herself. May I ask where you are from?”

Wang Yanqing didn’t glance in the Fu family’s direction. She responded to Madam Xu’s question with a gentle smile: “I am from the Datong Prefecture.”

“Ah, so you’re from Datong.” Madam Xu said, her expression lightening with realization, “No wonder. If I had seen someone as beautiful as you, I definitely would have remembered. Datong isn’t far from the capital, after all. By the way, didn’t the Marquis of Zhenyuan lead the troops in Datong last year?”

Madam Xu shifted the conversation towards Fu Tingzhou, and the atmosphere became even more awkward. Everyone fell silent for a moment. Fu Tingzhou cast a brief, indifferent glance at Madam Xu, then nodded and said: “That’s right. I was simply carrying on my grandfather’s legacy. He also led troops in Datong in his early years. Before he passed away, he worried most about the Datong Prefecture.”

Fu Tingzhou’s words carried an implicit meaning, and Lu Heng couldn’t help but let out a cold smile in his heart. With slow deliberation, he spoke: “But, of course, times are different now. No matter how noble the wishes of our ancestors were, the younger generation cannot simply inherit everything. The past is gone and the Marquis of Zhenyuan has to look forward.”

Wang Yanqing felt Lu Heng’s fingers tense up, though the pressure against her wrist remained gentle, there was a hidden force building within. She had only just managed to get out, and didn’t want to cause a confrontation between Lu Heng and Fu Tingzhou, it would only make things difficult for her in the capital going forward. Wang Yanqing turned to Madam Xu and said: “I’m naturally quite lazy and not very familiar with the capital. If there are any important matters, I hope Madam Xu will lend me a helping hand.”

Madam Xu, hearing this, immediately began to decline. How could she have the courage to help Lu Heng’s wife? But with Wang Yanqing’s initiative to make such a gesture, Madam Xu, of course, wouldn’t let the opportunity slip by. She immediately responded with warmth: “Madam, you flatter me. I’m a few years older than you and do have some standing in the capital. If you ever wish to meet anyone, just let me know, and I’ll be happy to introduce you.”

Wang Yanqing nodded and smiled at Madam Xu. She had jet-black hair, snow-white skin, and gentle eyes. When she smiled, it was like a spring breeze that brought a full view of flowers to bloom: “Thank you, Madam.”

Hearing Wang Yanqing’s soft words of gratitude, Madam Xu thought to herself that it was no wonder Supreme Commander Lu liked her. Even as a woman, just hearing her made her heart soften. With this opening, Madam Xu intended to close the distance with Wang Yanqing and smiled as she said: “You are so beautiful, with a sweet voice, even your clothes seem to shine on you. If I’m not mistaken, Madam’s dress is made of snow-light satin, right? No wonder the ladies of the capital have been searching for it for so long but couldn’t find any. It turns out, they’ve all been sent to the Lu Mansion.”

Hong Wanqing, upon hearing snow-light satin, narrowed her eyes and glanced at Wang Yanqing’s outfit.

The dress shimmered like snow reflecting red plums, dazzling and radiant, a well-deserved reputation. Su Ji clearly stated that they hadn’t received any snow-light satin, yet in the end, it appeared on Wang Yanqing.

And of all people, it was her?

Hong Wanqing gritted her teeth in hatred, while Wang Yanqing didn’t show the slightest smugness. Instead, she was momentarily taken aback and turned to ask Lu Heng: “What is snow-light satin?”

Lu Heng, equally unable to help, said: “How would I know?”

Every day, countless people tried to send him gifts. He only accepted the things that were sent to the front courtyard after carefully selecting them, while the gifts intended for women were all kept. He had to handle so many things every day, how could he possibly distinguish the name of a fabric?

Wang Yanqing only thought the fabric was novel and decided to use it for a dress, never imagining there would be so much meaning behind it. Wang Yanqing said: “I don’t need so much. I haven’t used the remaining piece yet. If Madam likes it, I can have someone send it to the Xu family after we return.”

“No, no.” Madam Xu quickly declined. What a joke, how could she dare accept something from Madam Lu? If Lu Heng sent someone to their house, her entire family would be terrified.

Madam Xu smiled gently and said: “I’m getting old, it would be silly to be wearing bright red and green. Such vibrant fabric should be worn by someone young and beautiful like Madam Lu. Just look at this dress, it’s dazzling and refreshing. No more standing around, it’s such a lovely spring day. Let’s go and admire the scenery.”

Madam Xu, full of enthusiasm, took the lead, and the two parties ended up walking together. In truth, if the Fu family didn’t want to, they could have politely excused themselves, but Hong Wanqing, holding back her frustration, refused to be put at a disadvantage. And Fu Tingzhou, driven by some inexplicable sentiment, couldn’t bear to leave, so the two sides, each with their own hidden agendas, ended up walking together.

Madam Xu pointed out the scenic sights along the way to Wang Yanqing, while Lu Heng stayed by her side. The Fu family ladies, seeing how uncomfortable Wang Yanqing was, deliberately lagged behind, and before long, they had distanced themselves from the front.

Finally free from the presence of that living hell, the Fu ladies sighed in relief. The youngest daughter, the Fu family’s fifth Miss, leaned toward her fourth sister and whispered: “Fourth sister, is that really Commander Lu?”

Women weren’t supposed to associate with unrelated men, and while they had never met Lu Heng, they had certainly heard his name everywhere. The Fu family’s fourth Miss nodded. Though she felt a sense of trepidation, she couldn’t help but glance at Lu Heng’s back.

Today, Lu Heng wore a dark purple robe, with crimson lining. The two colors complemented each other, creating an unexpectedly striking effect. In the official world, crimson was considered noble, yet few men could pull off the color well. However, Lu Heng was tall and broad-shouldered with a firm waist, and despite spending so much time in the elements, his complexion was fair. He wore the purple and red effortlessly, exuding an air of aristocratic luxury and grace. One could even say he looked somewhat handsome.

It was hard to imagine that this very man, feared by all across the land, was the head of the Imperial Guards—Lu Heng.

If Fu Tingzhou was the fierce wind of the northern border, cold and ruthless, then Lu Heng was the intoxicating spring breeze of the imperial capital, seemingly calm, but with a hidden chill, a subtle threat that could take lives without warning.

The Fu family’s second Miss was already betrothed, and this might have been her last Shangsi Festival with her sisters. Upon hearing the younger girls’ words, she turned around and warned them: “Mother told you all to be careful with your words and actions. Have you forgotten?”

The Fu family’s fourth Miss immediately lowered her head, but the fifth Miss, being younger and favored by Fu Chang, wasn’t particularly afraid of her older sister. She secretly curled her lip and whispered: “The Supreme Commander looks quite young, and he’s not as scary as the rumors say.”

The fifth Miss spoke softly and there was quite a distance between them and the front, but Lu Heng still heard her. His eyes narrowed slightly as he turned his head, smiling as he said: “Fifth Miss Fu, you flatter me. I’m only two years older than the Marquis of Zhenyuan.”

Lu Heng was the type of person whose smile became more composed the angrier he got. The Fu family girls didn’t expect Lu Heng to overhear them, and they immediately fell silent, startled. When the Fu family’s fifth Miss caught Lu Heng’s gaze, her spine stiffened instantly. She hurriedly lowered her head, and all the charming thoughts she had moments ago evaporated.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn’t calm down for a long time, still feeling disbelief. Was Lu Heng really only two years older than her Second Brother?

It wasn’t an exaggeration. She felt like she had grown up hearing Lu Heng’s name. But now, it turned out that he was their peer?

When Lu Heng suddenly turned around, it also startled everyone in front as well. Wang Yanqing turned to look behind, and the Fu family’s second Miss, unintentionally meeting Wang Yanqing’s gaze, quickly looked away. Wang Yanqing knew that the second Miss was the most favored daughter of the Fu family as the biological daughter of Madam Chen and only full sister of Fu Tingzhou. In the past, because Old Marquis Fu personally mentored Wang Yanqing, Madam Chen and the Madam Marquis had been resentful and often made trouble for Wang Yanqing. Even the second Miss had shown her an unfriendly face.

But now, things were different. Wang Yanqing hadn’t become their second sister-in-law but had married someone else. The Fu’s second Miss was about to be married off as well. Madam Chen had spoiled their second Miss terribly, and Wang Yanqing could only hope that she would find a kind mother-in-law and good sisters-in-law once she left for her husband’s home.

Madam Xu hadn’t expected Lu Heng to suddenly take issue with a group of unmarried girls. She was about to smooth things over when Fu Tingzhou, standing nearby, spoke up: “A man of honor knows what is right and what is wrong. Why scare a bunch of young ladies?”

Lu Heng chuckled upon hearing this: “I was merely reminding the fifth Miss Fu that I became famous too early, so my name has been heard for a long time. Unlike some people, who relied on outside help and only succeeded later. It’s just the facts, how was I scaring people?”

The phrase “relied on outside help and only succeeded later” was a clear jab. It was obvious who he was mocking. For a man, to be insulted for relying on his wife’s family connections to rise to power was a surefire sensitive topic. As soon as Fu Tingzhou heard it, he became furious: “What did you say?”

Madam Xu, who was caught off guard, was now terrified. The two most powerful young talents in the capital were on the verge of clashing, and she didn’t dare speak up. Just as the situation was about to escalate, the beautiful woman standing next to Lu Heng tugged at his sleeve and said: “I also grew up hearing your name. Before meeting you, I thought you must have had three heads and six arms. Those who don’t know are not guilty. Let’s just forget it.”

The beauty’s soft hand gently conveyed her meaning, and Lu Heng’s anger immediately subsided. He was very pleased with Wang Yanqing’s words. He gave Fu Tingzhou a cool glance, then reached out to take Wang Yanqing’s slender fingers in his hand.

Lu Heng secretly pinched the soft flesh on the inside of Wang Yanqing’s wrist, reminding her that they would settle things once they returned home. Wang Yanqing couldn’t help but be impressed. Normally, men didn’t care about age, the older they were, the more it represented experience and seniority. But Lu Heng, on the other hand, was extremely sensitive about people calling him old.

She didn’t know what he cared about.

Lu Heng was secretly satisfied, but Fu Tingzhou’s mood plummeted. She had grown up hearing Lu Heng’s name? Before meeting him, she had misunderstandings about him?

What was she talking about? Her youth should have belonged solely to Fu Tingzhou.

Fu Tingzhou thought he was numb to everything, but hearing her words made him realize his heart still had feeling. He thought that once she left the capital, with that determined look in her eyes, he would have to let her go, no longer willing to force her to become something she despised. He resigned himself to the fact that they had no fate, that it would be better to part with dignity and never meet again.

However, she stayed and became Lu Heng’s wife.

Even the shared memories of their youth, in her words, became misunderstandings before she met Lu Heng.

Fu Tingzhou felt as if his heart was being sliced open by a blunt knife, each breath drawing blood. Yet he forced himself to stand tall, maintaining the dignity of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, refusing to be impolite toward the wife of a colleague.

He once thought that forgetting each other would be the cruelest punishment, but now he understood that real cruelty was meeting and not recognizing each other.

Madam Xu, who witnessed how a single word from Madam Lu had calmed Lu Heng, drew a sharp breath, her mind in a state of shock.

Was this really the ruthless, cold-blooded Lu Heng that killed without blinking an eye?

Madam Xu couldn’t help but marvel in disbelief. At the same time, she felt a strange atmosphere between the Zhenyuan Marquis, Hong Wanqing, Lu Heng, and Madam Lu. It felt unusual, even eerie. Madam Xu’s thoughts gave her chills and she quickly suppressed them. Smiling, she tried to change the subject: “It’s such a lovely day, let’s not talk about such serious matters. Madam Lu, Madam Zhenyuan, I see the flowers are blooming beautifully over there. How about we walk that way?”

Wang Yanqing agreed, and the Fu family girls, who were trembling in fear of Lu Heng, eagerly seized the opportunity. Everyone else agreed as well, with Hong Wanqing forcing a smile in acknowlement.

The women floated away like fragrant clouds, and once they were far enough, Lu Heng and Fu Tingzhou no longer needed to pretend. Both of them immediately revealed cold expressions.

Fu Tingzhou’s face was as hard as iron, and he nearly ground his teeth as he said: “Lu Heng, she clearly said she wanted to leave the capital. Did you force her into this?”

A gust of wind blew through, scattering pale pink flower petals into the air, like a light-colored mist. Lu Heng brushed the petals off his sleeve and, in a calm and unhurried tone, replied: “Force her? Why couldn’t she have willingly married me?”

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