Birthday Banquet

After a couple of days pass, it was prime minister Fu's birthday. In Fu Mansion, the servants are busy everywhere, moving stuff and decorating the hall.

First Madam Fu from the first branch is busy instructing servants to bring stuff and a checking list to make sure everything is set. She saw Old Madam Fu walking toward her. Old Madam Fu is not too old as she is 45 to 50 years old but still looks young. After Old Master Fu died, she stay closed door now and didn't often go out to occasion anymore.

She has two sons and one daughter. There are some concubines but they don't have any children after Old Master Fu died from an illness. Fu Bohai is the first son of Old Madam Fu. He is an upright man and is a prime minister. He married Gong DanDan with no concubine. They have two children. The first child is the son called Fu Lei, 11 years old, as now he start to join the army. The second child is a daughter is named Fu Lijuan, 7 years old.

Fu Bolin is the second son of Old Madam Fu, he was kinda spoiling when he is young and he doesn't like to be a soldier so he low-rank prime minister after didn't pass the scholar exam so he bribe to get a low-rank position. He is a man with lust toward opposition sex, so he got two concubines from the brothel. He married Mei Cuifen, who is a merchant business daughter. They have only two daughters. The oldest is called Fu Lin, 8 years old. The youngest is called Ling, 7 years old.

The empress who name is Fu Biyu is the youngest child and the only daughter of the Fu clan. She married the emperor when she reach the age of sixteen years old, but luck is not on her side as she died after the third prince is 5 years old. Old Madam Fu always feel heartbreaking as she thought of her husband and daughter.

" Mother, why did you come out. You should just rest well and I will come to get you after everything is ready." First Madam Fu said softly and worriedly.

She always worried about Old Madam Fu's health. Ever since that year, her health started to decline. First Madam Fu sighs as she thought about the empress.

"It's okay. I just feel stuffing by staying inside. I want to come to get some fresh air. So don't worry about me. Just do your stuff." Old Madam Fu said softly and patting First Madam's hand.

" Okay. Then just be careful and Nanny Ma, help to take care of my mother for me."

" Yes, First Madam." Nanny Ma answer respectful manner.

Then they walk away. First Madam Fu turns back to look at the list again.

" Mother! Mother!"

There was a little girl running toward First Madam Fu and the little girl look around 7 to 8 years old. She wears a green long sleeve jacket with white fox fur on the collar and cuff. Her hair is made into two buns on each side of her head and it is tied with green string that has a little bell on each string. She has a high bridge nose and red lips. She has chubby cheeks that make people want to pinch. When she ran over, the winds will blow her green floral skirt that is embroidered flower blossomed on.

First Madam looked toward the voice and saw Fu Lijuan run over.

" Li'er, you need to stop running. What will happen if you hit or bound on the wood columns?" First Madam Fu lecture Fu Lijuan, whose face is flush after she ran over.

" Mother, don't worry. I know how to dodge. I won't get hurt." Fu Lijuan speaking in a naughty manner.

" Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to stay in the room and not go out?" First Madam pinches Fu Lijuan's cheek.

" Mother! Why did you pinch my cheek? Look, it will be red and I will not look cute anymore. I came out because sister Ling told me that she want to play with me but I couldn't find her anywhere. Do you see her?" Fu Lijuan asks as she smoothes her cheek.

It hurt very much when they pinches her cheek and why people always pinches her cheeks. Ugg... her mother is also one of them too.' Fu Lijuan thought.

Fu Lijuan didn't see her mother look right now or she will know her mother has a dark expression. First Madam Fu knows now for sure that the Second Madam Fu's daughter does not have good attention to her daughter. Or else Fu Ling will never-repeating asking Li'er doing stuff that she didn't do. Even though Li'er is naught but she is not very smart to scheme like the second branch family.

" Li'er, go find your brother and cousin at the Red courtyard. Maybe Ling is over there." First Madam said a white lie.

" Okay. I will go now." Fu Lijuan walks toward the other courtyard.

When First Madam Fu saw that Fu Lijuan is gone, her expression is dark, and hard to read what she is thinking.

**

As Fu Lijuan walk in to the Red courtyard, she saw her big brother and big brother cousin sit at the stone table talking.

" Big brothers!"

Both guy turn to look at the voice.

" Oh, Li'er. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to stay in your room?"

" Hmph... I can go anywhere I want! Why are you bothered within?" Fu Lijuan sticks out her tongue to her brother Fu Lei.

" Y..you... Hmph, I don't want to talk to a little kiddo like you." Fu Lei turns to focus on his paper.

Fu Lijuan returns to her sense when she feels her cousin look at her. She is scared stiff because her big brother's cousin isn't someone playful or talkative. She forgets about him as she argues with her big brother.

" Big brother cousin." Fu Lijuan greets respectfully and softly.

" Hm." Wang Yanlin nods.

Wang Yanlin doesn't know why but when he Fu Lijuan, it makes him think of the little fox who bit his hand. He wondered if she coming to Fu Mansion because he know, his aunt invite all the upper prime ministers' families.

" Big brother prince, do you think I do this is right?" Wang Yanlin snapped out of his mind when Fu Lei ask him.

" Hm. Keep practice like that and your kung fu will for sure improve."

" Okay. I will do what you say." Fu Lei smiling.

He has always admired his older brother's cousin prince because his cousin has the best kung fu, smart, and handsome which make many ladies fall in love with him at first sight. It's just his older brother's cousin is too cold and he always looks at people with a cold eye. He is also not a very talkative person. Fu Lei sighs... even though he is younger but he understands how his older brother's cousin thinks since his mother, the empress died and he has no one now.

" Eh? Brother, what happens to your hand. It looks like you got bit." Fu Lei ask when he saw Wang Yanlin's hand bit mark.

" Oh...brother, who dare to bit you. Tell me I will go teach that person a lesson." Fu Lijuan said angrily as she stomp her foot.

" Oh. It's just a little fox who has sharp teeth bit me. But I will catch that fox soon." Wang Yanlin said in a good mood and smiling.

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Somewhere in Feng Mansion, Feng Wu sneezed. She thought, who is talking bad behind her back.