Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 83: Her Improper Relationship with Marquis Changping
"It’s convenient," Fu Shinian said with a smile, "Actually, I am well-rested, and I could go visit Ying Yue today."
"Ah!" the Elder Madam Xiao said, "It’s no rush for today."
The Elder Madam Xiao glanced at Xiao Chengyu, "It’s quite a coincidence to meet you here."
Xiao Chengyu paused for a moment and said, "I was just about to return to the mansion with my mother."
"Are you not going to visit the Fu Mansion?" the Elder Madam Xiao asked, "Shinian is your savior; you ought to personally go thank her."
Xiao Chengyu: "..."
"You’re right, I was being rude," Xiao Chengyu said, "But I must prepare a grand gift before visiting; otherwise, my visit might seem insincere."
"That’s also true," the Elder Madam nodded.
Fu Shinian thought to herself, the Elder Madam has already personally come to thank her, so why does Xiao Chengyu need to come again?
She didn’t know how to stop him, as Xiao Chengyu already helped the Elder Madam onto the carriage.
Fu Shinian could only quietly say to Xiao Chengyu, "Marquis, the Elder Madam has already expressed her gratitude so formally, you don’t need to come."
"I still need to thank you personally," Xiao Chengyu said.
Fu Shinian: "..."
After seeing the Elder Madam off, Fu Shinian returned to the mansion.
Madam Fu, Aunt Cheng, and Fu Mingzhu were all present, and upon seeing her return, they immediately asked if everything went well in the palace.
Fu Shinian told them everything, except about Princess Fuhui.
This matter involved Xiao Chengyu as well, so Fu Shinian thought it better not to mention it.
"That’s good," Madam Fu was relieved, trusting Fu Shinian’s etiquette, but was worried about the many palace people, from this consort to that princess, who might trouble Fu Shinian if offended.
Seeing that everything went smoothly, Madam Fu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The consort gave me some gifts, they are supplements, instructing me to take good care of myself. The emperor also appointed me as a village lady and promised our family a plaque and rewarded me with gold," said Fu Shinian.
Though she didn’t know when they would be delivered.
Fu Shinian had no experience with this.
"The emperor also praised my parents, saying my upbringing was good, all thanks to you," Shinian said with a smile to Fu Mingzhu, "The empress also praised my sister, saying she would pray at Law Temple daily for me out of worry. So now that I’m fine, we should visit the palace to chat with the consort in a few days."
Fu Mingzhu cared little for the rewards Fu Shinian received or for her increased favor with the emperor and empress.
After all, these were things Fu Shinian earned with her life.
Moreover, if Fu Shinian was well, the whole Fu family would be well.
Fu Mingzhu smiled and nodded, "Are you tired now?"
"Not tired," Fu Shinian said, "I slept most of the day yesterday and had a good sleep last night. Initially, I was nervous entering the palace, but now I’m completely relaxed, no longer tired."
"I guess the supplements Aunt gave me were effective; I drank bird’s nest before sleeping last night and sea cucumber and polygonatum soup this morning. Now, I feel full of energy," Fu Shinian said.
Aunt Cheng was overjoyed that her preparations were useful, smiling broadly.
"Since that’s the case, let’s go for a walk," Fu Mingzhu said, "I hear Jade Pavilion has new jewelry; let’s buy some. It’s the end of the month, and New Year is approaching, so we can find something nice and festive to wear for the occasion."
"Exactly," Madam Fu agreed, "On the first day of the new year, the wives of ministers are to enter the palace for New Year greetings. You will join, so buying festive items to wear will make the empress happy."
Madam Fu brought out silver, "No matter the price, if it looks good, buy it."
"Mother, I have plenty of money," Fu Mingzhu said, "Shinian and I started a spice shop, and it’s quite profitable. Now, not just me but Shinian is a young madam with wealth. Given time, if we open more shops, our earnings would equal the dividends Aunt receives from Uncle."
Madam Fu knew about the shop they opened and was pleased to hear about its success, yet she handed the money to Fu Mingzhu, "Your earnings are yours; this is my gift to you."
Fu Mingzhu accepted, and together with Fu Shinian, said, "Thank you, Mother."
Fu Shinian nearly forgot about the shop they started and said, "We might as well visit our shop, sister."
"That’s what I was thinking."
Thus the pair first went to their spice shop.
Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu ran the shop quietly, known only to their family; no one knew that Water Bloom Fang was theirs.
Fu Shinian was surprised by how well their business was doing.
Customers streamed in constantly.
When they entered, there were many customers, and the staff was overwhelmed.
Even the shopkeeper was personally attending to guests.
No one noticed them, the owners.
Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu merely browsed, not requiring attention.
Suddenly, someone said, "I heard Fu Shinian returned yesterday."
With a grand procession and the Crown Prince personally greeting her at the city gate, naturally, everyone in the Capital City knew.
But her visit to the palace today was discreet, so few knew.
"Indeed," another voice, recognized by Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu, belonged to Xu Xiuyu, now closely associated with Lin Qingqing, "Running off to Ganning so far is truly shameless."
"Quiet down," Lin Qingqing said, "She’s now a person of merit, you shouldn’t let anyone overhear, it wouldn’t go well for you."
"Eh, I’m just telling you," Xu Xiuyu said, "But rumors are rampant that she and Marquis Changping are improper."
"Really? I heard it too," another person said, whom Fu Mingzhu recognized as Zhou Xiulin, an official’s daughter, "It’s said she stayed at Marquis Changping’s residence in Ganning City. Although not sharing a room, under the same roof every day, who knows if something happened? In such a remote place, even if something did happen, there might not be anyone to know."
Xu Xiuyu said, "They returned in the same carriage."
"The whole journey in one carriage?" Another person joined the conversation.
"Yes," Xu Xiuyu said, "Yesterday the Crown Prince personally escorted them from the city gate, and Fu Shinian alighted from the same carriage as Marquis Changping, seen by many citizens. Really, no regard for propriety. Even if sharing the ride, they should have separated before entering the city."
"You don’t understand," Zhou Xiulin scoffed, "Her actions force the Marquis Changping to marry her, intending to become Marchioness Changping."
"But doesn’t she consider that Marquis Changping hasn’t married all these years; how could he swiftly marry her? She’s taking quite the risk," Zhou Xiulin said.
