Fu Tinghan: "The main courtyard of Zhao Mansion is also used by Hanzhang, and my mother-in-law has never said anything."

Fu An: "How is that the same? Mrs. Wang is widowed, and she is not one to fight over such things."

"So you mean Princess Hongnong would fight over these things?"

Fu An shook his hand in horror, "No no no, that’s not what I mean..." These words must not reach the Princess’s ears.

He immediately looked around, finding that those gathered nearby were all personal guards, their own people, so he relaxed and lowered his voice to say to Fu Tinghan, "My lord, the main courtyard can be the Princess’s concession to you, but it cannot be something you arranged from the start."

Fu Tinghan: "...I’ve already said that."

"Yes, you’ve already said it, and words once spoken are like water thrown out," Fu An was about to cry, "There were many problems with what you just said. The Princess is likely to misunderstand, thinking that it was Third Lady who instigated you..."

Fu Tinghan: "...What does this have to do with Hanzhang?"

Fu An was nearly in tears, "My lord, you’d better go discuss this with Third Lady quickly. If the Princess gets angry, it won’t be easy to handle."

As a noble son raised by the rites and rules, how could he not know the principle of having no private property in the presence of his parents?

Fu An thought that the lord might have forgotten due to past injuries, but the Princess and the Prince Consort did not know this.

Fu Tinghan pressed his lips together and decided to listen to the advice to seek out Zhao Hanzhang, no, he was initially going to seek out Zhao Hanzhang.

Princess Hongnong was so irritated when he just left them like that that she slammed the table.

Fu Xuan sighed, got up, slipped on his clogs, and was about to leave when Princess Hongnong called out to him, "Where are you going?"

Fu Xuan said, "To look at this residence and choose a courtyard I like to stay in."

"Stop right there!" Princess Hongnong got up abruptly, glaring at him, "Are you just going to let him be so unruly? Did you hear what he said just now? There wasn’t even a hint of respect a son should have, always ’I this’ and ’I that’ in front of his parents. Over the years, not only has he not improved, but he has become more unbearable..."

Fu Xuan interrupted her with a single sentence, "Do you think he seems like our son?"

Princess Hongnong was stunned, then asked in disbelief, "You mean..." He’s an imposter?

Before she could finish the question, Fu Xuan sighed and said, "Back then, you were bent on protecting the country, and he angrily returned to Luoyang. At that time, perhaps he made a choice just like yours."

"Father said, his journey was perilous, from Chang’an to Luoyang should only take two or three days, but it took him over half a year. To avoid the refugee army and bandits, he detoured to the Pingyang area, finally returning to Luoyang, and at the city gate was almost killed in an assault by the refugee army."

"Although he survived, he lost his voice for a long time," Fu Xuan said, "I don’t know what decision the child made, but from the day he left us, until now, nearly five years, without a single letter to us, one can infer his attitude. So much time, love can fade, resentment and hatred too. From what I see today, he has neither hatred nor love for us, but there is a faint guilt. What do you think this guilt stems from?"

Princess Hongnong’s face turned pale, and she remained silent.

Fu Xuan said, "Isn’t it guilt toward his birth parents?"

He shook his head with a wry smile, "This child is too proper. His existence in this world is a gift to it, he merely used our bodies to come here. For years, we’ve only given him suffering, rare were the times he smiled. Truly, he need not feel guilty."

"It wasn’t you who suffered the toil of childbirth, nor you who bore him through life-and-death struggles," Princess Hongnong glared at him, fire seemingly in her eyes, though she held it back, gritting her teeth, "Do not lecture me. I bore him, so forever he is my son!"

Fu Xuan, disagreeing with her, simply chose not to argue and left.

In the main hall, Princess Hongnong tried to control her breathing while Ren Hui stepped up to support her, softly asking, "Do you want to reorganize the main courtyard?"

Princess Hongnong said nothing, simply walked to inspect the main courtyard.

The main courtyard was simple, with just three slightly withered plum trees in the yard, some buds on them. Red lanterns hung under the eaves on either side, and the window lattices and walls were covered with the Chinese character for happiness. Princess Hongnong hesitated, even the bridal chamber arranged so plainly—how destitute have they become?

Her face softened, gradually calming, "No need, let’s find another courtyard."

Ren Hui asked, "Do you want to take a look at Changsong Courtyard?"

"Where is Changsong Courtyard?"

Ren Hui, having already looked into this, pointed in a direction and said, "There’s a side gate over there leading outside; it’s very convenient for coming and going."

Isn’t that in the farthest corner over there?

Princess Hongnong sneered inwardly, he really does think of staying far from her at every turn.

Princess Hongnong’s gaze swept over the area, she randomly pointed to a courtyard and said, "Let’s take that one, it looks nice enough. Is it far from the one the Prince Consort chose?"

Ren Hui, troubled, said, "It’s right near the Prince Consort’s."

Princess Hongnong immediately said, "Have him move to Changsong Courtyard, I don’t want to live too close to him."

Ren Hui sighed and agreed.

For matters this unimportant, Fu Xuan went with flow, having initially requested a servant to fetch water to wipe the table. Upon hearing this, he tossed the cloth aside, let down his rolled-up sleeves, "Alright, let’s go to Changsong Courtyard."

He left with a guard.

Changsong Courtyard was already prepared; the bedding and mosquito net, even soap for washing were provided, you could move in just by carrying your luggage. It was spacious, with a side gate nearby, much better than the courtyard he initially chose.

Originally, he wanted to give this courtyard to the Princess, but unexpectedly, she didn’t want it.

While in Shu, their couple had to live in one courtyard, but now the residence was big enough for them to live apart as far as they wished.

Fu Xuan removed his outer garment and lay on the bed, taking a comfortable breath, instructing the guard, "Go help the Princess, I don’t need you here."

The guard silently withdrew. The courtyard the Princess chose was chaotic, with few people at their disposal, fortunately, Fu Tinghan left twenty personal guards, who could help clean and cut dried grass in the yard.

Even so, after a hustle and bustle, Princess Hongnong found the courtyard uninhabitable because it lacked even a bed.

They had to move a bed from the neighboring courtyard, only for it to fall apart halfway through.

Remember, this residence was right in front of Zhao Mansion; how would Zhao Erlang forget it during his loot of Luoyang years ago?

Therefore, everything usable had long been cleared by Zhao Erlang. The main courtyard and Changsong Courtyard were habitable because everything inside had been replenished.

Princess Hongnong stared at the disassembled bed, her upbringing couldn’t keep her face composed.

Guards and servants were as silent as cicadas facing cold, not daring to speak.

The personal guards looked around, finally, a centurion quietly suggested, "Perhaps you could squeeze in with the Prince Consort for now?"

Ren Hui and others looked at the centurion in terror. Was that something a mere soldier could say?

Princess Hongnong, her chest rising and falling with anger, was about to explode when Qing Gu led a group of Zhao Mansion servants in.

Hearing they were Mrs. Wang’s personal attendants, the anger on Princess Hongnong’s face quickly dissipated. She adjusted her sleeves and then turned to sit in the main hall, bidding Qing Gu to enter. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Qing Gu entered, respectfully kneeling to pay respects, head bowed, "Princess, in your journey, my lady should have personally received you, but due to state affairs, she has entrusted this matter to our lady."

"My lady wanted to visit, but the Princess just returned, and fearing to add trouble, sent me to be at your service. If the Princess lacks anything, just tell me, and I’ll have someone fetch it."

Princess Hongnong said, "General Zhao has been considerate, state affairs are crucial. I have a few close aides here, no need to trouble the General and Mrs. Wang for now."