Chapter 82: Encountered—What’s Going On?

"What brings you here, Steward Chen?" Li Rui was accustomed to the steward's manner, for he always spoke in this way.

"Miss Fu came by again at noon today," Steward Chen replied, walking alongside Li Rui as he explained Fu Yan's visit. Yet Li Rui paid it no mind.

"Does she not mind the heat? Why come here instead of resting?" Li Rui was surprised at how quickly Fu Yan had heard the news; he had only returned to the capital last night. It seemed she had pressed his father for information, for they'd encountered each other at court that morning.

"Well, she heard you were back," Steward Chen said, giving Li Rui a look as if to say, 'Who else would she come for?'

"You didn't tell her I wasn't here?" Li Rui kept walking, heading toward the secluded wing of the residence. He meant to see how Zhang Xiaolan was settling in.

"My lord, you know full well that this old servant cannot stop Miss Fu. When she throws a tantrum, who among us can withstand her?" Steward Chen wore a distressed expression, feeling aggrieved. If it were someone else, things might be more reasonable, but everyone knew the Fu family's cherished daughter was notoriously spoiled.

"She's gone by now, I assume?" Li Rui had already anticipated the outcome; not once had Steward Chen managed to keep her out. Still, given Fu Yan's status, barring her outright would be unseemly.

He did not dwell on it, but this was a sensitive period for him; fewer outsiders in the residence would be preferable.

"She left more than an hour ago, but..." Steward Chen, having set up the story for some time, was finally ready to reveal the facts, though he hesitated, fearful of blame.

"But what?" Li Rui stopped, sensing the steward's sudden reluctance and wishing to press for details.

"She crossed paths with Miss Zhang, who arrived last night. You know Miss Fu's temper isn't the best," Steward Chen said cautiously, watching Li Rui for any sign of anger. Li Rui looked surprised but not furious, though the steward knew even his patient master had his limits.

"They met? How did that happen?" Li Rui was indeed astonished. Zhang Xiaolan was staying in the secluded wing; Fu Yan would have no reason to go there.

"Miss Fu marched in and, as usual, made straight for your study. This old servant tried to explain that you weren't home, but she refused to believe me and pushed on ahead. As luck would have it, Miss Zhang was in your study as well, and so they met," Steward Chen explained. He himself hadn't expected Zhang Xiaolan to be there and had failed to guard against it, only for Fu Yan to stumble upon her while searching for Li Rui.

He had witnessed the strength of this guest firsthand and began to wonder if Li Rui had indeed brought home a favored concubine. Even as a secondary wife, Steward Chen approved; after all, Li Rui had been single for years and it was time he found a woman to continue the family line.

"What happened after they met? Tell me quickly," Li Rui grew alert, his brows furrowed in concern that Fu Yan might have troubled Zhang Xiaolan.

"Miss Fu assumed Miss Zhang was your favored maid, treated her rudely, but didn't expect Miss Zhang to stand her ground. The two were evenly matched, needle against needle..." Steward Chen recounted the scene vividly, his words betraying admiration for Zhang Xiaolan, who had managed to hold her own against the young lady. Before he could finish, Li Rui guessed,

"They quarreled?"