Wang Xu looked up in surprise and heard Zanying say, “When you sent the invitation to our house that day, we didn’t have the chance to meet. It was my oversight. But I wanted to ask, were you sent by the Fu family to persuade me? Did Fu Zean ask you to mediate?”

Wang Xu was taken aback by Zanying’s straightforward mention of Fu Zean.

She twirled the silk fan in her hand, and after a moment of awkward hesitation, she replied, “The first time he wrote to me was indeed when he was in trouble. I couldn’t just ignore it.”

Gu Xiaoniang, who was perceptive, listened attentively while looking out the carriage window, enjoying the conversation as if it were her own.

Zanying asked, “So does your family support you in speaking on behalf of the Fu family?”

Wang Xu’s eyes fell, and her expression showed a hint of melancholy.

Zanying frowned and said, “He hasn’t sent even a single letter in two years of engagement. The first letter he sends is when he’s in trouble and needs your help, with no regard for your situation. If he truly cared for you, he wouldn’t be so selfish. If his feelings are lacking, as Elder Sister said, the Fu family has become irrelevant after this incident. Why do you still…”

Wang Xu was momentarily speechless, and then she looked up at Zanying with affectionate eyes. “Ah Ying, your eloquence has improved.”

There was a reason she could become a close friend of the former Zanying, even in her past life.

When Wang Xu was betrothed to Fu Ze’an, she was in the age of awakening feelings.

Having seen Fu Zean’s talents and read his poetry and writings, she could not deny that she was moved.

For someone of her background, having a talented and distinguished woman was very normal.

Women could be as capable as men. However, her father had only her as his daughter, and their family was not particularly prosperous.

From a young age, she had neither the talent of her cousins nor the ambition of her younger relatives.

She simply wanted to live a peaceful life.

Once she was engaged and heard that Fu Zean was a good man, she was content to wait for marriage.

But gradually, she began to doubt Fu Zean’s feelings.

Although he was respectful and cultured, he was excessively formal.

For instance, at a poetry gathering or flower banquet, if there was no one around, he would avoid private interactions with her.

Initially, Wang Xu thought this was a sign of carefulness and could be trusted for life.

But over time, she began to wonder if Fu Zean actually had no affection for her.

Otherwise, how could he treat her like a stranger, without any tenderness?

Recently, she heard that he had brought a younger female relative to major banquets, treating her with great care.

Wang Xu realized that Fu Zean was not incapable of being warm to others; he simply had preferences.

She had seen that younger female relative from afar and wondered why Fu Ze’an had never taken Wang Xu to any banquets or shown her the same care.

He seemed to favor some and distance himself from others, which was indeed peculiar.

It wasn’t until the incident at Hualin Garden that Wang Xu understood the reason.

“The Fu family’s indulgence of their illegitimate daughters and their arrogance was indeed too much,” Wang Xu said with a bitter smile. “I am still in mourning, and I have become indifferent about the future. But Ah Ying, how can I take charge of my own marriage?”

Zanying was surprised. “The main wife of the Fu family is incompetent, Fu Xiao has resigned from his official position, and Fu Zean has been demoted. Does the Wang family not have any intention of calling off the engagement?”

Wang Xu gave a faint smile, her eyes showing a trace of sorrow.

When her father was still alive, this marriage was decided by her uncle.

Now, with only her and her mother left, the marriage, though seemingly respectful and filial, was still a matter of being dependent on others.

Zanying realized that the Wang family was probably still observing the situation.

As long as the current Crown Prince was in power and the future of the Fu family was uncertain, it might be better to sacrifice a less important relative’s marriage as a “minor” gamble.

This way, they could gain a reputation for fairness without significant loss.

She remembered in her past life how Wang Xu waited in the boudoir for the Fu family to come and marry her after her mourning period, with frost in her eyes.

Gently, Zanying took Wang Xu’s hand.

Wang Xu was a good girl, and good people shouldn’t be hurt simply because they are kind-hearted and gentle.

Weakness is not a sin.

At least, Zanying didn’t believe it was.

The world shouldn’t be this way.

“It will be fine.” Zanying’s voice was soft, but her gaze, distant and heavy as a stone sinking into the void, betrayed her deeper thoughts.

Leyou Garden was located three miles north of the imperial palace.

Originally used as a royal medicinal garden during the early days of the southern dynasty, it had since become a recreational park for nobility, nestled between Zhongshan and Fuzhou Mountains, with Xuanwu Lake to the north, making for a picturesque scene.

As the carriage rumbled along, the rolling hills and lush forests came into view.

They were now approaching the outskirts of the garden.

Gu Xichan, noticing that Wang Xu had regained her composure, finally retracted her neck, which she had strained from all the peeking around.

But in the next moment, something caught her eye again, and she exclaimed softly, her gaze fixed on the northern side of the garden.

There stood a half-built palace, shrouded in veils of silk that did little to hide its incomplete state, making for an unsightly view.

She pointed at it and asked, “What is that?”

Wang Xu explained, “That’s the new palace that started construction at the beginning of the year for His Majesty’s birthday. But a few days ago, construction was suddenly halted, and it’s just been left there.”

Wang Xu knew nothing more of the matter, but Zanying understood perfectly.

A slight smirk played at the corners of her lips.

She glanced through the curtain, thinking how adept the Wang family was in handling affairs.

Choosing to hold the banquet at Leyou Garden meant that all the distinguished guests could easily see the half-finished palace.

She could only wonder what Yushi was feeling at this moment.

The maids and servants of the young ladies disembarked from the rear and gently knocked on the carriage, indicating that they had arrived and could now enter the garden.

The three women were just about to step out when a voice called from outside the carriage.

“Ah Ying.”

Wang Xu’s body stiffened slightly.

In an instant, ice seemed to form in Zanying’s eyes.

She gently pulled Wang Xu back into her seat and softly said to Xichan, “Let’s wait a moment longer.”

They soon heard the voice of Mistress Ren from outside the carriage. “Master Fu, it’s rather inappropriate for you to be here today. Or is this just like your family, always following in each other’s footsteps, coming here specially to trouble our young lady?”

By the riverbank, stood a young man in a black silk robe and lacquered gauze cap—Fu Ze’an.

After his family’s recent upheaval, his once jade-like face had grown gaunt, his lips pale and thin, and his eyes dim.

The change only made his once graceful demeanor appear even more melancholy.

His gaze was fixed on the tightly closed curtains of the carriage, and his voice was hoarse. “Ah Ying, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not here for any other reason. The Fu family has indeed acted absurdly, and we’ve been arrogant and partial. I apologize for how we treated you. I only want to confirm with you in person. If you are truly determined to cut ties with the Fu family, I will, tomorrow, summon the elders of the clan and settle this matter in the ancestral hall.”

His eyes were bloodshot, and his brow furrowed as he spoke.

For the past few days, he had been tending to his grandmother, but all he could think about was the moment when his grandmother humiliated Zanying.

He had replayed all the injustices the Fu family had inflicted on her in his mind countless times, each thought filling him with more regret.

He didn’t want Ah Ying to lose her place in the family registry.

It would be too cruel for a young woman just coming of age.

But this cruelty was, in part, their doing.

So if this was Ah Ying’s wish, he dared not ask her to reconsider but was willing to fulfill it for her.

Earlier, Fu Ze’an had gone to Wuyi Lane to visit, but the guards at the gate had stopped him from entering.

That’s why he had come to wait here.

After waiting for a long time, a calm voice came from inside the carriage: “I will honor our agreement.”

Hearing Zanying’s voice again, Fu Ze’an felt a sharp sting in his heart.

It was no longer warm or familiar but distant, as if spoken to a complete stranger.

His nose tingled, and his eyes stung.

Suddenly, he remembered the times he had reprimanded her for lacking propriety, for not being obedient, and for not thinking about the bigger picture—comparing her to a mere pawn.

“Ah Ying, your elder brother was wrong.”

“You certainly were.”

Mistress Ren, standing outside the carriage, cut in with a mocking laugh, arms crossed. “Our young lady has nothing more to do with you or your prestigious family. That title of ‘elder brother’ is no longer necessary. And don’t you dare call her by her maiden name again—that’s not proper.”

She continued coldly, “It’s touching how considerate Master Fu is. Weren’t you the ones who wanted to cast her out of the family in the first place? And now you act as if you’re magnanimously fulfilling her heart’s desire. Spare us the theatrics and make way for your precious Second Miss to officially join your family. A nice reunion of flesh and blood is all that matters, right? Oh, and why didn’t you bring your beloved sister along today? I suppose after parading her at all those grand banquets these past few months, where she’s met all the important people and made all the right connections, you’re tired of her now? She no longer holds your interest?”

Inside the carriage, Gu Xichan and Wang Xu were silent, considering Zanying’s feelings.

Gu Xiaoniang gently shook her sleeve, while Wang Xu held Zanying’s fingertips with concern.

Zanying, however, just smiled slightly and shook her head, her expression free of sadness.

There was no need to grieve for someone heartless; it was unnecessary and unworthy.

Outside the carriage, Fu Zean’s eyes flickered, and he accepted his fate in silence.

He truly deserved it.

He had never taken Zanying to any events outside the palace.

He had always thought that everything in the palace was the best and that Zanying would be protected and not harmed.

But there was a time when Zanying had asked him to take her out for a change of scenery, and he had refused due to palace rules.

Once upon a time, Zanying had been shy around strangers, but now she had to face so many unfamiliar people alone after breaking off her engagement with the Crown Prince.

Fu Zean wished he could accompany her into the Luyou Garden.

But if he did, she would face even more criticism.

“Ah Xiaoniang, the peony garden in the park is very beautiful, and the Apricot Altar and Bamboo Pavilion are also elegant,” Fu Zean said from the shadow of the carriage cover, his voice trembling with pain. “Don’t drink too much, stay away from the water, and don’t worry; most of the young lords and ladies are friendly.”