Not Your Typical Villianess

A street away from Minister Zhu's residence

Zhu Fenfang knocked lightly on the carriage wall alerting the footman to stop the carriage. she rushed down when the carriage came to a stop. She ran forward and pulled the child into her hands. Her speed was a little high, she fell with the child in her hands.

To prevent the little child from getting hurt, Zhu Fenfang pulled the child closer to her belly. She hugged the child tighter and wrapped her hands around the child. Zhu Fenfang shut her eye and braced herself for the painful landing.

when she felt someone grab her arm tightly and held her up. She was pulled into a hard warm embrace and shifted to the side of the road and away from the upcoming carriage. Her eyes fluttered twice before her eyelids gave way to reveal her bright bold eyes and long lashes.

A pale masculine face with slanted cat eyes, pointed nose and thin light pink lips look down at her. Whoever this is was quite handsome, Zhu Fenfang blinked twice in shock.

Her saviour pulls her higher and helped her get steady before taking a step back. the little girl of about four to five years shifted in her hands drawing her attention away from the tall man in brown silk robes.

She looked down at the child in her hands, the child face was red and scrunched up, tears and snot ran down her face, as her lips were bent down slightly. Zhu Fenfang bends low to her eye level and gently wiped the tears from her face. "Don't cry, you are safe now", Zhu Fenfang said smiling.

The child trembled, her eyes puffed up. Her previous low cry got louder, Zhu Fenfang pulled her closer and patted her back gently. she held her until her cry stopped before holding her forward and wiping her tear away once more.

At which point the mother of the child ran up to Zhu Fenfang. Her face was filled with worry and then relief as she finally found her child. She hugged her daughter tight, taking in her side baby smell then carried her up.

"thank you a lot, for saving my daughter's life young Miss", the child's mother a slim woman in loose faded clothes said. She looked up to the tall young Master standing next to the young mistress and bowed.

Zhu Fenfang replied smiling "There's no need to thank me". She pinched the child's puffy cheeks affectionately and said "goodbye my little friend".

The mother nodded and thanked them once more and left with her child in her hands. Zhu Fenfang watched the mother and child leave, with a look of longing. The mother's concern and relief reminded her of her latest mother

it had been a while since she had felt this way, her mother had been dead for 7 years but she missed her every day. More so when the anniversary of her death was around the corner. The anniversary of her mother's death was in two days yet no one made any preparations for her anniversary.

Even concubines in other families were given a memorial ceremony but her poor mother got nothing for the past 7 years. Her father didn't even acknowledge her mother's death, even in her death, her mother could never compare to Zhu Fengyin's mother, the beautiful Princess Bai.

Zhu Fenfang pulled up her fist, her gaze got colder as are remembered the lonely memorial ceremony she held alone for years. While the rest of her family flocked the spring garden courtyard for Princess Bai three days long memorial ceremony.

A soft tap on her shoulder drew her away from her sad thoughts, she shivered and blinked twice. Zhu Fenfang turned to her side and said "thanks for helping me up" her lips curved up, in a gentle smile.

Her lustrous eyes combined with the smile gave off a certain amount of serenity that drew people in. Zhongshan Ling wasn't immune to that effect, he felt calm like all his worries were no more. He couldn't help but smile as his heart soften "no need to thank me. I was just doing the right thing".

"You deserves my appreciation for fearlessly doing the right thing" she pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked down shyly.

Zhongshan Ling smiled wider, she was cute. Like a ray of sunshine after a storm, she was different from the young ladies he had come across at the palace. He was curious to find out just who she was, he saw his guard Fu Hong coming closer and discreetly signalled him to stay back.

"Are you hurt, Miss?" he said.

Zhu Fenfang chuckled a shook her head "no, thanks". She looked up, the sun caught in her eyes as she did. Su curved her hands at her eyes to keep out the sun.

Zhongshan Ling noticed her slight discomfort, he rose his hands up in the direction of the sun and used his wide sleeve to protect her from the sun. "I am sorry for keeping you in the Sun".

"oh..that's alright" she blushed looking down at her feet.

Zhongshan Ling smiled "I won't keep you waiting anymore," he said bringing down his hand and walked away. Zhu Fenfang stood there smiling sheepishly as she watched him leave until her maid ran over. She stood by opposite them watching their interaction.

Zhu Fenfang had caught her eyes when she steadied herself and stopped her from running over. Xiao Chu could only stay put until her mistress was done speaking with the young Master.

"Are you alright, Young Miss? My heart skipped away when you fell. luckily that young Master was there, I don't know what I would have done if you got injured. it's late young Miss let's get going", Xiao Chu rattled on quickly. She draped a coat on her young mistress's shoulders and guided her to the carriage.

Zhu Fenfang pulled the coat tighter and as she got into the carriage. She couldn't help but think that the young Master back then was a little familiar. it was like she met him before but she couldn't remember where.

When she kept getting blanks, Zhu Fenfang decided to keep the matter aside and instead focused on preparing for her mother's memorial ceremony.