Feng Lisheng looked at her with a complicated expression. "No need."
Su Qing's expression froze. Although Feng Lisheng was cold to others in the past, his gaze was gentle when he faced her.
However, at some point, the way he looked at her became cold, as if she was no different from anyone else in his eyes.
She adjusted her expression and said in a familiar tone, "Your Highness, you seem to have become much more distant from me after returning from the border."
Then, she sighed sadly. "I still remember the days when we studied together in Imperial College. Back then, we often skipped class to play, along with Brother Crown Prince…"
The Crown Prince she was talking about was not the current Crown Prince, Feng Qiyu, but the late Crown Prince, Feng Qiyou.
Feng Lisheng's expression softened unconsciously at the mention of the familiar name of the person who had passed on.
Su Qing, on the other hand, thought that he was thinking about their past. She heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "In the blink of an eye, we've all grown up. Fortunately, we're not far away from one another."
"In a few days, Qiyu and I plan to go to the hot spring manor in the suburbs of the capital. Your Highness, do join us too. Let's have a good gathering."
Feng Lisheng refused without hesitation. "Go with Qiyu!" He paused and explained,
"We are no longer young. We're both already engaged. It's not appropriate for us to get together again. Let bygones be bygones!"
Su Qing raised her head in disbelief and looked at the distinct edges of his face. Her heart ached, but at the same time, she could not help but hope that he was just blaming her for choosing the Crown Prince.
She took a deep breath and said nonchalantly, "Let's not talk about this anymore. I heard from Ning Yue and the others that they met Miss Shen when they were shopping and they had a small misunderstanding. I know Miss Ning Yue. She has a little temper, but she's not a bad person. I'll apologize on her behalf if she has offended Miss Shen in any way."
Seeing that his expression was still indifferent, she pretended to be curious and asked, "I didn't hear that you knew Miss Shen before. Why did you suddenly decide to marry her?"
Feng Lisheng looked at her. Her smile was still elegant and natural, but disappointment flashed across his eyes.
Not wanting to say more, he answered casually, "Because she's good-looking."
After saying that, he turned around and strode away without looking at her.
Su Qing was stunned. What did he just say? He did not mind her character or family background simply because she was beautiful?
How could the Feng Lisheng she knew be such a person?
However, when she thought of Shen Mingjiao's face, she hesitated. Could she have judged wrongly? Feng Lisheng is just like most men in ancient times. They only valued a woman's beauty.
At the thought of this, she felt a little glad that she had chosen the Crown Prince.
At the same time, she was also a little angry. She was angry that Feng Lisheng could not keep her in his heart and was so easily bewitched by her beauty.
…
When Feng Lisheng returned to the mansion, Eunuch Hua welcomed him and chuckled.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to see our Princess Consort? Why are you back so early!"
Feng Lisheng glanced at him casually. "You're quite well-informed!"
Eunuch Hua chuckled. "Dashan and the others are worried that you will be in danger when you go out, so they naturally have to act as secret guards to protect you, Your Highness."
Feng Lisheng answered. "Then let's talk when they can defeat me."
Eunuch Hua did not care about this. His eyes were filled with curiosity as he asked, "Your Highness, why don't you spend more time with the Princess Consort? You have to know that all girls have to be coaxed. You can't always keep a cold face, or you'll scare our Princess Consort. Oh right, I heard that the Princess Consort went to the beautiful pavilion to buy clothes and jewelry. As her husband, you have to be more self-aware and take the initiative to pay for them. If the Princess Consort is still not satisfied, you can buy the Jinxiu Workshop opposite and let the Princess Consort choose as she pleases…"
Along the way, she kept educating him. Those who didn't know better would think that Shen Mingjiao was his master.
However, Feng Lisheng did not think there was anything wrong with his words. Instead, he thought about it seriously and said, "But she doesn't want the money I gave her."
Eunuch Hua slapped his forehead in agitation and changed the topic.
"It's good that she doesn't want them! It means that our Princess Consort has a noble character. She is a lady who values money as dirt and does not bow down for rice. It is your honor to be able to marry such a lady!"
Feng Lisheng was speechless. How could a person who swallowed saliva while staring at gold be described as a lady who valued money as dirt?
He passed through the front yard and arrived at the study. Along the way, the huge Imperial Residence seemed quiet and empty. Occasionally, he could only see a few vigorous attendants passing by. The garden was bare and overgrown with weeds. At first glance, it did not look like the residence of a superior first-grade Prince, but like a small military camp.
Feng Lisheng pushed open the door of the study and saw an eight-foot-tall bearded man standing inside.
Master Fang stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Your Highness, I am useless. I searched the entire Northern land but I couldn't find a child who matched the portrait."
It was an expected answer, but Feng Lisheng was still a little disappointed.
Tapping his fingertips on the edge of the table, he instructed, "Continue searching. You can expand the range appropriately. Focus on the little beggar and the kidnapped child."
Master Fang accepted the order and left. Feng Lisheng lowered his eyes and pondered. In his previous life, he found Shuo'er in the 19th year of Jinghe, which was four years later. At that time, he was so thin that he could not even speak clearly. When he brought him back to the residence and handed him to Shen Mingjiao, he gradually revealed his talents. However, he never mentioned his childhood.
Finding him in advance was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
At this moment, Eunuch Hua walked in with the accounts. "Your Highness, seeing that you're about to get married, shouldn't the residence be remedied?"
"No need. The princess will take care of these after she marries in."
Eunuch Hua looked at him disapprovingly and was about to start preaching when Feng Lisheng waved his hand. He thought of something and smiled. "This is her home ground. Don't snatch it from her."
Eunuch Hua raised his eyebrows. Has he really fallen for her? "Alright! Then I'll send someone to tidy up the storeroom and register it so that I can hand it to the Princess Consort altogether." With that, he prepared to leave.
"Hold on—"
"Don't touch anything in the storeroom!"
Eunuch Hua was very puzzled. Could it be that his Royal Highness was a miser? That would not do…
Before he could finish imagining it, he heard Feng Lisheng say with a smile,
"Leave it for the princess. It's her greatest source of entertainment."