Chapter 52: So What If She Wasn’t the One Who Saved Him?

The carriage rolled on for a while, and the outside world grew increasingly quiet.

Fang Zhenzhen couldn’t resist lifting the curtain to peek outside.

“Aren’t we going to Fengwei Tower?”

He Chengjin smiled. “A few days ago, Fengwei Tower built a unique new branch outside the city. The space is larger, allowing for banquets, flower appreciation, fishing, and fruit picking.”

“I’ve reserved the entire place.”

Fang Zhenzhen pressed her lips together in a smile. She knew he must have prepared another surprise, just like the last two times, and she couldn’t help but look forward to it.

The front courtyard of Fengwei Tower was filled with the fragrance of flowers, with colorful butterflies fluttering about.

As soon as Fang Zhenzhen stepped inside, she was stunned by the sea of blossoms before her.

The expansive courtyard was densely packed with vibrant flowers, leaving only a narrow, winding path wide enough for a single step.

A warm breeze carried the floral scent through the air, enveloping her.

She turned to He Chengjin, eyes brimming with joy, her heart overflowing with sweetness.

“Do you like it?” He Chengjin asked gently, his eyes full of affection.

Fang Zhenzhen threw herself into his arms, her eyes reddening as tears fell.

This marked the third birthday she had spent with him.

Each time, he had gone to great lengths to surprise her.

“Brother Jin, meeting you has been the greatest blessing of my life,” Fang Zhenzhen whispered, tears falling from her lashes.

He Chengjin wiped away her tears. “Don’t cry. Come with me—there’s more.”

He led her through the floral sea, past an elegantly designed moon gate, under a rose-covered arch, and into a tranquil scene of bridges and flowing water. Beyond that stood the main building of Fengwei Tower.

Upon entering, a refreshing coolness mixed with the fragrance of flowers swept away the lingering heat from outside.

Before she had time to take in the surroundings, she noticed flower petals drifting down from above.

Lifting her skirt, she ran forward, stopping at the center of the open space on the first floor. Looking up, she saw people standing on all three levels, spaced at intervals, scattering petals from above.

She caught some in her hands and twirled in delight.

Through the cascading petals, she looked at He Chengjin and felt her eyes well up again.

But then, inexplicably, a memory from when she was twelve surfaced.

She had been helping Fang Zhiyi look for something when she stumbled upon a jade pendant in her redwood drawer.

She had fallen in love with it at first sight.

The drawer was cluttered with all sorts of miscellaneous items.

The jade pendant lay in a dusty corner.

She had thought, if it was so neglected, it must not be important to Fang Zhiyi.

But if she asked to borrow it and got refused, she would never get it. So, without a word, she had slipped the pendant into her sleeve and taken it.

Afraid of being discovered, she never dared wear it in front of the main household.

Then, when she was fifteen, she went to buy accessories in town and was shocked when someone recognized the pendant.

The person was a young man around her age, strikingly handsome and of distinguished status.

In that instant, she had fallen for him.

And she had resolved to make the pendant hers forever.

Now, through the rain of flower petals, Fang Zhenzhen gazed deeply into He Chengjin’s eyes, searching for the love brimming within them.

She sighed in relief—and felt a hint of triumph.

So what if she wasn’t the one who saved him back then?

He loved her.

Love could never be replaced.

On the fourth floor, the largest private room was already set up with a flowing water banquet.

More than twenty exquisite dishes floated along the water channel of a stone table.

“Everyone, leave us,” He Chengjin commanded.

The attendants standing in the corners bowed and quietly withdrew, closing the door behind them.

He Chengjin took Fang Zhenzhen’s hand and led her to the table, seating her before retrieving a wooden box from a nearby shelf.

He placed the box on the table, then sat beside her.

“Open it.”

Fang Zhenzhen’s lips curved into a delighted smile as she lifted the lid, her eyes lighting up.

“It’s beautiful.” Her voice was slightly unsteady.

Inside, a gold hairpiece adorned with three-colored gemstones sparkled brilliantly.

“You’ve always loved beautiful things. Today, I gift you this. And every year from now on, I will give you another—for a lifetime.”

Tears shimmered in Fang Zhenzhen’s eyes as she looked at He Chengjin. “You must keep your word, no matter what happens.”

He Chengjin grasped both her hands, his expression solemn. “I have spoken, and I will never break my promise.”

The overwhelming joy of the evening was dizzying, but when her gaze swept past the wine pot on the table, she regained some composure.

After placing the hairpiece aside, they began their meal.

Since they were both in a good mood, they naturally drank a little more than usual while chatting.

Midway through, when He Chengjin stepped out to have more hot dishes brought in, Fang Zhenzhen dipped her fingertip into a fine powder hidden in her sachet and discreetly applied it to her lips.

He Chengjin had decent alcohol tolerance and wouldn’t easily get drunk. She worried that forcing too much wine on him might raise suspicion, so she decided to use a mild sedative instead.

When the new dishes arrived, their conversation continued, and they drank a few more cups.

After a while, a blush tinged her cheeks, and she appeared slightly intoxicated.

“My lord, did you know? There are so few people in this world who have ever treated me well,” she murmured wistfully.

“My elder sister has always been outstanding. My entire childhood was spent in her shadow.”

“My parents found me lacking compared to her, and since I wasn’t a son, they often overlooked me. After Xuze was born, it only got worse.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at He Chengjin, gently caressing his face.

“Thank you, my lord, for loving me so deeply.” She slowly leaned in, her lips brushing his as her eyes fluttered closed, a single tear slipping down her cheek.

As their kiss deepened, He Chengjin’s consciousness gradually blurred. A sensation of dizziness overtook him.

When he came to, he jolted awake, eyes wide. The ceiling spun briefly before coming into focus.

Had he drunk too much?

Confused, he turned his head—and saw Fang Zhenzhen beside him, her shoulder bare, her robes disheveled.

He sat up abruptly, checking himself.

His belt had come undone at some point, his clothes were in disarray, and there were even faint scratch marks on his neck.

Scanning the room, he realized they were both lying on the carpet.

How did this happen?

He remembered nothing, only that his last conscious memory was of kissing Zhenzhen.

Trying to recall, he felt certain they hadn’t gone too far—otherwise, he wouldn’t have no memory of it at all.

He had indeed drunk more than usual tonight, but not enough to be completely unaware of his actions.

Could the alcohol have been too strong?

His gaze landed on the table, and suspicion flickered in his mind.

“Zhenzhen,” he called softly.

Fang Zhenzhen awoke in an instant, scrambling up in a panic. Feeling the cool air against her chest, she hurriedly gathered her robe and clutched it tightly.

Her eyes reddened as she looked at He Chengjin timidly. “We… I don’t know what happened.” She began to sob.

“It’s all my fault—I shouldn’t have drunk so much.” Her words subtly guided the narrative.

She had taken the antidote in advance, so the sedative had no effect on her.

But if she didn’t feign drunkenness, she’d have to fabricate more lies, increasing the risk of being caught.

He Chengjin couldn’t bear to see her blame herself and quickly reassured her. “Zhenzhen, it’s not your fault. I drank as well, and if anything, you suffered because of it. I will take responsibility.”

“Get dressed—we’ll head back. I’ll explain everything to your family.”

Fang Zhenzhen wiped her tears and nodded obediently.

After escorting her home, He Chengjin ordered his men to investigate whether there had been any drugs in the food or drink before boarding the carriage.

At the Fang residence, he explained the situation and gave his solemn promise, only then was Fang Zhenzhen released.

As he left, his men reported that they had thoroughly searched Fengwei Tower and found no trace of any drugs.

He Chengjin began to doubt himself. Had he truly just drunk too much and lost control?

Just as he was contemplating how to explain this to his mother, a summons arrived from the palace—Consort Liang had requested his presence.