Capítulo 511: Chapter 511: Battle-Hardened
“I was naive before,” I said. “I always thought that if I just backed down and didn’t fight or compete, that would be enough. But I never imagined that backing down wouldn’t prevent conflicts. Nor did I expect her to become so deranged as to collude with Joseph V and betray her own father.”
Perhaps Evelyn didn’t realize the consequences would be so grave at first, but Fu Xing would never say something like that.
He had a poor impression of Evelyn when he first learned the inside story.
And when he later learned that she had colluded with the Lost Association, he wasn’t surprised at all.
“You were too young back then, it’s not wrong to value family ties, but Evelyn is at fault. She’s not the kind of person who could ever seize power, even if Joseph V had no successors left, the Elder Council would never approve of her ascension. From the moment she betrayed her father at sixteen, her fate was sealed. It’s a pity she doesn’t understand that yet.”
Fu Xing said with near cruelty, “Don’t be fooled by the Lost Association’s full support for her. Anyone with a clear mind knows she has no hope in this life, and the Lost Association must be aware of it too. Unfortunately, she still doesn’t understand and has caused the death of the only man who truly loved her.”
“If it weren’t for me, Xiling might not have died.”
“Xiling wanted to die long ago, life was suffering for him,” Fu Xing said without mercy. “Don’t tell me you feel guilty, do you?”
Lin Fu’s spirits revived, “Of course not, in that situation, they all deserved to die.”
Fu Xing nodded in satisfaction; the woman he liked couldn’t possibly be too soft-hearted.
“Thank you for telling me all this today.”
“What silly thing to say, you are my wife, and of course I have to protect you. It’s normal for a big family to have a few messy people and one or two traitors.” Fu Xing said in a nonchalant tone, trying to console her, “Don’t be sad anymore. You’ll get used to it in time.”
Lin Fu: “…”
Is this supposed to be comforting?
What, getting betrayed by my own sister once isn’t enough, and I need to be betrayed several more times?
Fu Xing also realized his little wife’s resentment and regretted his words, hurrying to make amends, “It happened to me too, really!”
Lin Fu gave him a sidelong glance, “Sure! Nobody has weathered as many battles as the Duke.”
The phrase “weathered many battles” made Fu Xing’s handsome face suddenly turn red, and he coughed uncomfortably, avoiding Lin Fu’s eyes.
Lin Fu also noticed his odd reaction and asked curiously, “Are you blushing?”
“No.” How could he be blushing?
Lin Fu wasn’t so easily fooled; her small hand roamed over Fu Xing’s body, tickling him and pressing for an answer, “Tell me quickly? Why would you suddenly blush? Tell me! Quick.”
“Stop it, I’ll tell you,” said Fu Xing, grabbing her mischievously wandering hand. He pressed his lips close to Lin Fu’s ear and whispered huskily, “Fu Tian likes using words like ‘weathered many battles’ for his romances, but not me. You’re the only one for me, so I don’t qualify as having ‘weathered many battles.'”
“Ah!” Lin Fu covered her face, she would never be able to look at the phrase ‘weathered many battles’ the same way again.
Yet Fu Xing seemed to think it wasn’t enough and gently nibbled her earlobe, murmuring, “Only after we’ve loved over a hundred times would that count.”
“Are you keeping count?” Lin Fu was astonished, “Are you really the Fu Xing I know?”
“What do you think I’m like?” Fu Xing asked leisurely.
Lin Fu’s mind once again flashed the first time she saw Fu Xing, half-dressed… No, that’s not right. She quickly banished the image from her mind and spoke seriously, “At the Duke Mansion, the butler led us in two ranks, Fu Tian and Fu Yue stood meekly like schoolchildren, everyone was so tense, it didn’t feel like welcoming the master of the house back home but more like greeting a head of state.”