Chapter 71 Visiting the Prison

Aman spent the entire afternoon making flower dew. By the time she finished, the rain outside had stopped sometime earlier. With the rain finally clearing, birds that had been confined for so long came out to forage for food. Their chirping mingled with the patter of raindrops on the eaves, and even the air felt fresher.

Aman opened the window, took a deep breath, and stretched comfortably.

As Aman stretched her aching body, she was about to ask them what they were having for lunch when she saw Mantou rush out of the east wing.

With an anxious expression, she asked, "Aman, where is the young master?"

"Huh?" Aman looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Weren't you sleeping in your room?"

The two locked eyes and almost instantly understood, "Oh no."

The young master must have gone to the Marquis's residence.

The two of them didn't have time to think about anything else and rushed to the Marquis's residence, only to be told that Fu Yunxiu had indeed been there, but had left two quarters of an hour earlier.

"Do you know where he went?" Aman asked.

"I don't know," the old gatekeeper shook his head, then pointed in a direction, "I remember, the young master went that way."

The old man pointed in the direction of the market, a place with numerous shops and well-connected roads. The crucial point is that they have absolutely no idea what their young master is doing there.

"Let's split up and search. Young master hasn't been gone long, he shouldn't have gone far."

The steamed bun went east, and Aman went west. The streets were deserted after the rain, and few shops were even open.

Aman searched street by street until dark, but still couldn't find Fu Yunxiu.

As dusk fell, only the dim glow of candlelight illuminated the streets. Aman walked alone, and occasionally passersby would glance at her, seemingly wondering why a frail woman like her was wandering the streets so late.

With curfew approaching, Aman still hadn't found anyone. Desperate, he could only pin his hopes on Mantou, thinking that perhaps Mantou had already found the young master and gone home.

Aman hurried home, and at the entrance of the alley, he met Mantou, who was also returning home alone.

"How about it?"

"We couldn't find him. We asked around in many places, but no one said they had seen him," Mantou said.

Hearing this, Aman felt even more disheartened.

In the dead of night, where could the young master go all alone?

It would be fine during the day, but curfew is approaching soon, and the young master has gone out without any money and doesn't even have a place to stay.

"What should we do!" Aman stamped her feet anxiously, but to no avail. Mantou wanted to comfort her, but he himself was also in a state of confusion.

Just as the two were at their wits' end, a figure appeared in the distance, staggering towards them. The tall figure seemed somewhat familiar.

“Aman, look… isn’t that the young master?” Mantou tugged at Aman’s sleeve, and Aman followed his gaze.

Although the person's face could not be seen under the cover of night, his tall figure and familiar walking posture made him unmistakably the young master.

"Young Master." Aman jogged forward and caught Fu Yunxiu just before he stumbled and fell.

Fu Yunxiu was feeling depressed after leaving the Marquis's residence, so he randomly found a small tavern to drink. He drank until dusk, thinking that Aman must be waiting anxiously at home, so he decided to go back. However, he had forgotten to bring his money in his haste to leave.

Left with no other option, he had to pawn the jade pendant he was carrying to the shopkeeper. Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper didn't recognize its value and insisted on paying him silver, which dragged on for quite some time.

Looking at the nervous girl in front of him, Fu Yunxiu couldn't help but reach out and pull her into his arms.

"Aman." Fu Yunxiu buried his face in Aman's neck, greedily inhaling her faint fragrance.

If we're talking about the people in this world who are genuinely good to him, Aman would definitely be number one.

"Young master, let's go home first." Aman's neck itched from his breath, and she couldn't help but shrink back, but the big hands around her waist were like iron clamps, refusing to loosen their grip even a little.

The sound of the night watchman's drum could be heard in the distance; if they delayed any longer, they would have to go past curfew. Aman had no choice but to rely on his movements, and with the combined efforts of Mantou, they finally managed to get Fu Yunxiu back to Wutong Garden.

Perhaps because he had been exposed to the wind outside, or perhaps because the two of them had been swaying along the way, Fu Yunxiu had fallen into a deep sleep when he returned home, and he did not move no matter what they did to him.

Mantou helped Fu Yunxiu change clothes and wash up, while Aman went to the kitchen to cook him a bowl of hangover soup.

When Aman brought in the soup, Mantou had already helped Fu Yunxiu to bed. At his feet lay the robe Fu Yunxiu had just taken off, the hem of which was soaked with mud and water.

Aman glanced at her and placed the hangover soup on the table. Mantou, seeing that the person had already fallen into a deep sleep, finally breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards her, fanning herself with her hand.

In just a short while, he was sweating profusely from the heat.

Seeing that he was busy with the steamed buns and the young master, and that his own clothes were filthy, Aman poured him a cup of tea and said, "You should rest too. I'll take care of the rest."

Mantou knew he couldn't serve others as well as Aman, so he didn't refuse. He took the tea and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "Then you should rest early too, don't stay up too late."

Fu Yunxiu had a good drinking habit; even when drunk, he didn't make a fuss or cause any trouble, he just slept soundly, as quiet as a child. He would only hum a few words occasionally.

Aman leaned closer to listen and heard him say, "Mother, why are you treating me like this? Why don't you want me?"

From what the gatekeeper of the Marquis's mansion had said earlier, Aman had already guessed that what the Second Madam had said was true. The young master was indeed poisoned by Madam Fu.

Even after receiving the accurate answer, Aman was still somewhat alarmed.

She couldn't understand what kind of hardship could drive a mother to poison her own child without feeling any remorse.

Aman reached out and took his hand. "It's alright, young master, you still have me."

She gently patted Fu Yunxiu, "Aman will never abandon you, she will always stay with you."

Perhaps hearing Aman's words, Fu Yunxiu's emotions gradually stabilized, but he gripped Aman's hand even tighter. It didn't hurt Aman, but it made her unable to pull away.

Aman tried a few times but found it didn't work, so she just lay down and fell asleep in front of Fu Yunxiu's bed.

When I woke up again, it was already broad daylight.

Aman rubbed her eyes and realized something was wrong; she was lying in bed, and in the young master's room no less.

She slowly turned her head and met Fu Yunxiu's clear, affectionate eyes. He had gotten up sometime earlier, washed and dressed, and was now sitting on the edge of the bed watching her.

"Awake?" he asked.

Aman blushed for a moment, but quickly regained her composure, looked around at her surroundings, and asked, "What happened to me?"

"I didn't want to wake you up because you were sleeping so soundly. And you, why don't you go to your own room to sleep? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?" Fu Yunxiu said.

“I was just worried that you might need something in the middle of the night or feel unwell. How are you? Does your head hurt?” Aman asked.

Fu Yunxiu shook his head, reached out and hugged Aman, pulling her into his arms, his chin stroking her head, "I made you worry."

Aman nestled in his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It's nothing, as long as you're alright."

In the warm morning sun, with his beloved in his arms, Fu Yunxiu felt much better, even though he was feeling depressed.

Aman stroked his back for a long while before finally speaking, "Young master, you went to the Marquis's residence yesterday..."

Aman sensed Fu Yunxiu's movements stiffen, and he didn't ask the rest of the question. Fu Yunxiu also knew what Aman wanted to ask, but he didn't speak until a long time later when he finally said, "Aman, I may have to move to the Marquis's residence for a while."

Aman paused for a moment, pulled away from his embrace, and asked, "Has something happened at the Marquis's residence?"

“No,” Fu Yunxiu shook his head, “I just want to take back what’s rightfully mine. Aman, will you support me?”

Fu Yunxiu looked at Aman with a very serious expression. Aman knew he wasn't faking it, and nodded, saying, "Of course, I support whatever you do, young master."

Knowing she would say that, Fu Yunxiu smiled sympathetically and said, "I originally thought I was just unlucky, that's why I was plagued by illness at such a young age. But I never imagined it was all my mother's doing. I used to listen to her in everything, just to see her smile when she got what she wanted. But I never imagined she would want my life."

Since he couldn't have it, he wouldn't force it. However, he didn't want to give it up anymore.

He didn't want to live such a pathetic life, and he didn't want Aman to follow him in such a pathetic way for the rest of her life.

He held Aman's hand tightly, and said in a tone that sounded like a confession or a vow, "Aman, I want the title of Marquis. I want you to become a glorious Marquis's wife."

What Aman really wanted to say was that she didn't care about those empty titles; relatively speaking, this peaceful and stable life was what she truly liked.

But she also understood that the young master wanted to earn a title not because he coveted wealth, but because he wanted to vent his anger.

Madam Fu is his mother. Even if she poisoned him for some reason, what can he do about it?

Should we report them to the authorities, or retaliate in kind?

She understood that the young master wasn't that kind of person. Therefore, it seemed that the only thing he could do was to thwart her long-cherished wish.

Aman grasped his hand, as if to give him some strength, and nodded heavily, "Okay."

Moving back to the Marquis's residence isn't urgent for now. Right now, Fu Yunxiu's priority is to save Fu Changze.

Putting everything else aside, just the fact that rescuing Fu Changze would disgust Madam Fu makes it impossible for him not to save this man.

When Aman learned that Fu Yunxiu was going to the capital, she immediately understood that it was because of the Second Young Master. However, Fu Changze was implicated by his uncle, which was treason, a crime punishable by death, and Aman was somewhat worried.

"Although the second brother isn't exactly a good person, he's still sensible. Don't worry, I won't act recklessly unless I'm absolutely certain." Fu Yunxiu was determined to leave, and Aman knew that nothing she said would make a difference, so she could only silently pack his luggage.

This time, Fu Yunxiu didn't rent a carriage from a carriage shop; instead, he used the Marquis's carriage directly. When Madam Liu learned that he was going to the capital, she was extremely grateful to him. She not only provided him with a fine carriage and driver but also gave him a considerable amount of silver.

“The capital is not like Yongzhou, where money is needed everywhere to smooth things over. This is my own private money, not public money,” Madam Liu said, seemingly feeling it wasn’t enough, and then took off her emerald bracelet.

This bracelet was a dowry gift from her mother when she got married.

But right now, living people are naturally more important.

Madam Liu pulled two more gold hairpins from her hair and stuffed them into Fu Yunxiu's arms. "This journey is dangerous, so remember to be careful at all times. Yunxiu, I'm entrusting Changze to you."

Fu Yunxiu couldn't describe his feelings at that moment. He never imagined that he could get along so peacefully with Madam Liu. He also never expected that he would experience the maternal love he had been searching for so long in Madam Liu.

Although he knew that Liu was just afraid that if he died, no one would save Fu Changze.

The outcome of this trip was uncertain, and Fu Yunxiu dared not make any rash judgments. He simply nodded and boarded the carriage bound for the capital.

Although the old Marquis has many old friends in the capital, the current situation in the capital is not yet stable, the emperor's anger has not subsided, and everyone is being cautious, for fear of accidentally bringing trouble upon themselves.

Therefore, those people who could help Fu Changze were unreliable; we had to rely on General Shen Yan, the Protector of the Nation.

Yes, when everyone in the capital was in a state of panic, Shen Yan was appointed by the emperor as the Protector General of the Nation. Not only was he granted a mansion in the capital, but he was also temporarily put in charge of the Imperial Guard to protect the safety of the imperial city.

It is said that the emperor, seeing him all alone, wanted to arrange a marriage for him, but he refused. He claimed he already had someone he loved, but they separated due to a misunderstanding, and he is still searching for her.

Nowadays, the most talked-about topic among the people of Beijing is the scandalous affair of this General Shen Yan.

Some say he was ambushed by enemy troops, fell off a cliff, injured his head, and lost his memory before marrying a peasant girl. Others say he kept a mistress in his house on the outskirts of Beijing, but then disappeared without a trace, probably because he got tired of her.

Anyway, there are many different opinions, and no one knows whether it's true or false.

Fu Yunxiu listened the whole way, and thus gained a fairly good understanding of the current situation in the capital.

As he expected, His Majesty's estrangement from Prince Chen was not because he truly disliked him, but because he wanted to protect him.

Being an emperor is difficult, but being a crown prince is even more difficult. Once you sit on that throne, thousands of eyes will be watching you, and thousands of conspiracies and schemes will be waiting for you.

When the late emperor ascended the throne, it was thanks to the support of several powerful families that he was able to get on the throne. Later, the Sun family became the most powerful family in the country. By the time His Majesty ascended the throne, the Sun family had already become a force to be reckoned with.

His Majesty has no real power, so his actions are hindered at every turn. Even his favorite son can only be cared for in secret.

Years ago, he accompanied his father to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager. He once glimpsed the Emperor asking the head maid, Chen Wang, about his recent situation behind the artificial hill in the Imperial Garden.

His expression and tone did not resemble the rumored hatred towards Prince Chen at all.

He was young then and didn't take it to heart. Later, when he grew older, he realized the implications.

This emperor, known for his refined manners, may not be as naive as he appears.

Sure enough, he spent more than ten years playing a grand game. With the help of the Sun family, he eliminated the powerful and influential families one by one who harbored disloyal intentions. Then, taking advantage of the Sun family's overwhelming power and complacency, he caught them like turtles in a jar, wiping them out in one fell swoop.

Fu Yunxiu and his party arrived in the capital in the evening. It was too late to get to the Shen residence now.

Moreover, it would be inappropriate to disturb them abruptly, so Fu Yunxiu decided to find an inn to stay in first, and then visit them after he had found out more about the situation and sent out a formal invitation.

Unlike his casual trip to the capital last time, this time Fu Yunxiu came with a lot of pent-up anger.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly. The next morning, Mantou went to the Shen residence to deliver a visiting card. Shen Yan happened to be at the residence and, upon learning that it was Fu Yunxiu's visiting card, knew that he had come for Fu Changze.

Because of Liu Xun, Shen Yan had gained some understanding of the Fu family's relationships. She also knew that in recent years, the Marquis's mansion had been managed by Fu Changze's mother, Madam Liu, and that Fu Yunxiu had suffered a lot at her hands during his years of illness.

Logically speaking, now that the Liu family has been convicted, Fu Yunxiu should be the happiest.

Shen Yan received Fu Yunxiu in the outer hall. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Fu Yunxiu got straight to the point and explained the purpose of his visit.

He wanted to rescue Fu Changze.

Previously, because of the matter of the Earl of Yunyang, Shen Yan still owed Fu Yunxiu a favor. He shouldn't have refused, but now His Majesty is investigating the remnants of the Liu and Sun families. Fu Changze is Liu Xun's nephew and had a close relationship with Liu Xun before his rebellion, which is common knowledge in the capital.

He couldn't just release the person so carelessly.

Fu Yunxiu noticed Shen Yan's hesitation but didn't press him. He knew this wasn't an easy task. Even though Shen Yan was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, if this matter wasn't handled properly, it could easily cause him a lot of trouble.

“I know this matter can’t be rushed, but could I see him first?” Fu Yunxiu asked as a second choice.

Fu Changze is imprisoned in the Jinwuwei prison. Shen Yan is now in charge of the Jinwuwei, so he still has some power.

The Jinwuwei prison was located underground in the Jinwuwei camp. It was not only dark and damp, but also teeming with snakes, rats, insects, and ants. Shen Yan arranged for someone to take Fu Yunxiu there. Upon arriving at the prison, Fu Yunxiu was overwhelmed by the stench of decay, which made him dizzy and lightheaded.

The jailer noticed his discomfort and said, "Young Master Fu, please bear with us. This Jinwuwei prison usually holds serious criminals. If we don't deflate their arrogance, they won't be able to speak up."

Fu Yunxiu didn't say anything, but just nodded and continued to follow him forward.

Although Fu Changze's crime was treason, the evidence was insufficient. Moreover, there were many other death row inmates who had conspired with King Yu to rebel and were waiting to be executed. So even though he had been arrested for three days, he had not yet been interrogated and was simply kept in the prison.

Even so, after being locked up in this dark and gloomy dungeon for three days, unable to eat or sleep, and with the occasional shrill screams, even a man of iron like Fu Changze was now exhausted.

When Fu Yunxiu saw him, he almost didn't recognize him.

Disheveled and haggard, he huddled in a corner of the cell, curled up tightly, showing no trace of his former dashing and imposing appearance.

"Fu Changze, your family has come to see you." The jailer shouted coldly. Fu Changze seemed to be startled by his voice, his body trembled violently, and he did not make a sound.

Seeing that he didn't move, Fu Yunxiu tentatively called out, "Changze?"

"Brother?" Upon hearing the familiar voice, Fu Changze finally reacted, and when he looked up, he saw Fu Yunxiu standing outside.

“…Brother…is it really you?” Fu Changze’s face lit up with joy for a moment, but his smile vanished when he saw the jailer next to Fu Yunxiu.

"Why are you here? Did you come to see if I'm dead? Don't pretend to be kind."

Fu Changze's tone was icy, and even the jailer couldn't stand it anymore, speaking up to rebuke him, "Hey, how can you talk like that?"

“It’s alright,” Fu Yunxiu stopped the jailer from uttering the foul language he was about to say. “I would like to speak with my brother alone for a while. I hope you can do me a favor.”

"This..." The jailer looked troubled. "Young Master Fu, this... is against the rules!"

Fu Yunxiu knew this, so he took the purse from his waist and placed it in the jailer's hand, saying, "This little bit of money is just to invite you to have some tea, sir."

The jailer feigned reluctance, but ultimately accepted it with a look of reluctance. He weighed it; it was about ten taels of silver. He immediately beamed, "Alright, since you're a friend of the general, I have to give you this much face. Just don't keep it for too long, or I'll have to take responsibility."

"Understood, understood." Fu Yunxiu nodded repeatedly. The jailer pointed to the tea table not far away and said, "I'll be right there. Let me know if you need anything."

After the jailer left, Fu Yunxiu finally took two steps forward and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

"That's all there is to it," Fu Changze said, his demeanor completely changed after the jailer had already walked away. His face was still haggard, but the coldness in his eyes was gone. "Why did you come? Aren't you afraid of implicating me?"

“If I was afraid of being implicated, I wouldn’t have come,” Fu Yunxiu said. “Besides, it was your mother who begged me to come.”

It means that he wasn't the one who was eager to pursue her.

Fu Changze smiled but didn't say anything.

"And you, what's the situation now?" Fu Yunxiu asked.

Fu Changze shrugged. "That's all you see. They've locked me up here, but they won't interrogate me or torture me. Aside from the poor food and lodging, everything else is pretty good."

"Then about Liu Xun's rebellion..." Fu Yunxiu wanted to ask, but he couldn't tell whether Liu Xun knew about it or not.

Fu Changze understood what he meant and shook his head. "I didn't. After you came to see me that day, I thought it over and over again and decided to listen to you. Although my uncle was unhappy, he only scolded me for being unambitious and for making him waste his time."

As for the rest, he knew nothing about it.

Fu Yunxiu nodded, indicating that he understood. In that case, Fu Changze was indeed wronged.

“But brother…” Fu Changze hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the whole story. “I did give my uncle some silver before.”

It's highly likely that Liu Xun used this silver to support King Yu's private army. If the matter is investigated, he will be held accountable.

Fu Yunxiu frowned, and after a long while, he finally spoke, "It's nothing, just a small gift from a nephew to express his filial piety to his uncle." As for how the other party spends it, that's up to them.

It all depends on how the eaves are decided.

"Okay, I know. Just wait patiently." Fu Yunxiu didn't say what he was waiting for, but Fu Changze already knew from his attitude.

These are turbulent times, and his crime is aiding and abetting treason; saving him will certainly not be easy. Fu Yunxiu will definitely have to use his connections.

Fu Changze stared at him blankly, his eyes filled with emotion. Fu Yunxiu was not good at dealing with this situation, so he opened his mouth but only said, "Your mother is very worried about you."

“I know,” Fu Changze chuckled, looking at Fu Yunxiu, “Brother, thank you.”

Fu Changze admired his elder brother Fu Yunxiu, but he was ruthless when it came to betraying him. Not to mention the things his mother had done over the years.

He wasn't unaware that his mother was deliberately abusing him, but he never intervened. Occasionally, he would go to Wutong Garden to bring back food and supplies, merely as a pastime when he was bored.

But Fu Yunxiu was able to put aside past grievances and risk his life to save him.

It was said to be his mother's request, but if he didn't want to, who could force him?

His father used to say that he liked Fu Yunxiu's magnanimity more than his intelligence. At the time, he didn't understand what that meant, but now he finally did.

Both he and Fu Yunting are far inferior.