Prince Zhou snatched back the picture and stuffed all the drawings back into the cabinet. He even locked it.
“Do you have brains? Grand Prince Liang is a pervert and other people are trying to avoid him. On the other hand, you are presenting your picture to him. Are you afraid that Grand Prince Liang is unaware of your beauty? Or do you think that your life is too comfortable in the palace? Do you know what consequences are if Grand Prince Liang starts to harbour intentions after seeing your picture? The Grand Emperor dotes on him and he just needs to ask and he will be able to get any palace lady. Even ten Sheng Chumus will not be able to save you.”
It was only then did Fu Rou react. “You are right, Your Highness. I was just thinking of the errand for the Seamstress Department and did not think much.”
Prince Zhou laughed bitterly, “You are considered experienced in the palace but you still don’t know how to protect yourself.”
She had been in the palace for less than a year, how was it considered experienced? She wanted to argue with him but saw that Prince Zhou had laid out a piece of paper as he pointed at the ink slab and gave her a look.
Fu Rou mechanically stepped up to prepare the ink.
“I promised to give you a picture of a beauty, you can't use the ones I have drawn. I shall draw another one for you now so that you will be able to get back to the Seamstress Department.”
Fu Rou was grateful. “Thank you for your kind understanding.”
Very soon, Prince Zhou drew a beauty. She had peach blossom eyes and cherry lips. Her skin was white as snow and she had a slender waistline.
“Your Highness, this lady is--” Fu Rou immediately recognised her.
A sinister look flashed through his eyes. “Lu Yunji’s daughter, Lu Yingying.”
Fu Rou fell silent for a second before saying, “Your Highness, can you draw another one?”
“Don’t you hate Lu Yunji?” He was helping her.
“Yes, I hate Lu Yunji. But that does not mean I want to harm his daughter. I have nothing against Lu Yingying. Knowing Grand Prince Liang’s character, I don’t think we should sew a picture of her and present it to him. Isn’t she innocent? Your Highness, you do not have to do this for me.”
“To tell you the truth, it is not only because of you. I hate Lu Yunji as well. Lu Yunji is currently holding onto the Crown Prince tightly and trying to get into his good books. He is always creating trouble for me.” He was not as magnanimous as her.
Fu Rou looked at Prince Zhou and sighed gently.
Prince Zhou tested, “Are you really not going to consider using Grand Prince Liang to get back at Lu Yunji?”
Fu Rou shook her head.
“I like your honest and fair personality. Okay, I will draw another piece.” Prince Zhou started to draw once again. Very soon, a beauty appeared. When the ink dried, he handed it over to Fu Rou.
“This time I did not draw it based on a person and thought of this beauty myself. No one will suffer because of this. Kind Fu Siyan, are you happy now?”
“Thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave now.” Fu Rou took it and walked to the door. She suddenly turned around, “Although you did not manage to make Lu Yunji suffer, you won't feel horrible now and might even feel slightly relaxed. There is nothing to lose in being a good person.”
Prince Zhou looked on as Fu Rou walked away before muttering to himself, “Now that you've mentioned it, I do feel quite relaxed.”
Fu Rou held onto the drawing and walked past the Imperial Garden. She heard a cat meowing from behind the fake mountain rock. She thought it was a pet of one of the ladies. However, as she turned behind, a huge and tall black figure appeared and Sheng Chuling’s mischievous face could be seen. Assessing his surroundings, Sheng Chuling frantically beckoned her to come over.
Fu Rou walked over. “You are an Imperial Guard and should be doing your job. What if someone catches you sneaking around?”
Sheng Chuling sighed, “I know that but I had to come. If I don’t pass on the message, Elder Brother will kill me when I get back.”
Fu Rou laughed, “Okay, tell me now.”
Sheng Chuling coughed twice. “The following words are sincerely spoken by Sheng Chumu to Fu Rou.” His voice became extremely shy, “Rou’er, I don’t care what you are thinking but you have to believe me. I have nothing to do with Ma Hainiu…”
Sheng Chuling spoke a whole bunch.
“...this was what happened. Nothing that has been said is a lie. I, Sheng Chumu, swear that I only have you in my heart.” Sheng Chuling coughed and acted as if he could not take it anymore. He changed back to his normal way of speech before breathing out. “My god, I finally recited everything. I have sacrificed my skin to goosebumps.”
Fu Rou was calm. “Chumu forced you to come and find me just to say this?”
“Yes.” Sheng Chuling suddenly recalled, “Oh right, there is another thing that he wanted me to tell you.”
Fu Rou asked, “What?”
“Your sister, Fu Yin, has left the family.”
Fu Rou was bewildered. “What? She left the family?” She stomped her foot in anxiousness. “Why...why are you only telling me this now?” Everything he said before was useless!
Chapter 34.2: Drawing Beauty
Fu Yin grabbed onto Ling Long’s wrist, refusing to let go. Ling Long wanted her bracelet and had actually stolen it from her. She has been the one doing the chores, getting her meals reduced and even put up with Ling Long’s abuse. She could bear all this. However, she was not going to give in for the bracelet.
Ling Long was extremely greedy. “You stupid brat. You are so poor that you had to sell yourself, how can you have something valuable with you? You must have stolen it. This is a stolen good!”
“I am not a thief!” Fu Yin pushed Ling Long onto the ground.
“Do you want to die?!” Ling Long climbed up and pulled Fu Yin’s hair. “How dare you hit me! You stupid brat! Are you trying to rebel! I will kill you! I will kill you!”
Fu Yin fought back. “Let me go! Ah!”
“Stop it!” Lu Qi walked into the study room only to see the two of them fighting like street cats over food. He did not know whether to laugh or to scold them.
Ling Long looked back and quickly released Fu Yin and acted cute towards Lu Qi. “Young Master, Yin’er is a thief. I asked her where she got the bracelet and not only did she lie to me, she also pushed me onto the ground.”
Fu Yin raised her voice. “I am not a thief, this was left to me by my mother.”
Lu Qi’s gaze brushed over Fu Yin’s sorry figure and said coldly. “Housekeeper Wu was the one that bought you. If we just ask Housekeeper Wu, he will know whether you stole it or had it with you. Go and call Housekeeper Wu over.”
Soon, Housekeeper Wu came. He verified that when Fu Yin entered the residence, she already had this bracelet on her and it was an item left behind by her mother. She would rather sell herself than sell the bracelet.
Ling Long was guilty. “But…”
Lu Qi was impatient. “Have I been unkind to you? Have I never rewarded you with a bracelet? You are quarreling over a broken bracelet and even accuse someone of being a thief. If there were outsiders, my reputation would have been ruined.”
Ling Long wanted to try and charm him but Lu Qi behaved as if he was trying to chase out a housefly and asked her to leave. Fu Yin moved to exit as well.
“Pour me tea.” Lu Qi knocked the table. He saw that Fu Yin did not respond to him and was about to step out of the room. “Yin’er!”
It was only then that Fu Yin stopped and turned around with a blank face. “Ah?”
Lu Qi snorted, “Didn’t you hear me? Pour tea.”
“Oh.” Fu Yin turned back to the table and took her time to pour the tea. Lu Qi took a sip before looking up at Fu Yin. He saw that she was standing uncomfortably. “Why do you look so dazed?”
“I don’t normally serve you, it is a little…” Fu Yin forced out, “...foreign.”