Family Letters

Emperor Huanyu keenly sensed his emotions and spoke softly, "Why aren't you talking? As long as I'm here, you can say anything."

Chen Huanli raised his eyes to look at the emperor, then glanced at King Huan, and opened his mouth nervously.

King Huan inexplicably had a bad premonition. He narrowed his eyes, thinking about how to continue this scene, but his pupils shrank when he heard Chen Huanli's words.

"When my royal brother brought me the almond cake, I had just finished my meal and couldn't eat any more. But I didn't want to waste my royal brother's kindness, so I planned to use it in the evening. I took out a piece and fed it to the bird. The bird that my father had given me earlier..."

He raised his hand and pointed to the tree in the yard. "I buried it there. I don't know who got the cake, but I didn't dare eat it. I was afraid of hurting our brotherly relationship, so I secretly threw it away."

Emperor Huanyu turned the ring in his hand with a normal expression, without a trace of anger, but King Huan knew that every time he turned the ring he was already angry.

He suddenly knelt down, "Father! I would never do such a thing! I am just worried that my fourth brother is..."

As soon as he said this, he saw Emperor Huanyu's face turn cold. He immediately changed his tone, "I just... just... wanted Fourth Brother to taste my favorite cake. I definitely don't want to kill him! I ask Father to investigate thoroughly."

Emperor Huanyu stood there for a long time without saying a word. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Second son, among so many children, you are the only one who looks most like me. A thorough investigation? I have never been able to find out what you have done. You are so clean. I have the Jinyiwei, but they are no match for you."

Prince Huan broke out in a cold sweat. He shouldn't have mentioned the matter of the late crown prince again. His father had mentioned these things to him before, but it was only mentioned briefly once. However, it was inappropriate for him to remember it for so long. What's more, bringing it up again would be a slap in his face.

"Your Majesty! I never intended to do anything like that! Your Majesty! I never tampered with the cakes! Please investigate thoroughly!"

Emperor Huanyu lowered his eyes and looked down at him, "Ji Yuan, please call the imperial physician."

"yes."

When Doctor Liu entered the hall and saw this scene, his legs went weak, but he could only go forward to test the poison. The almond cake on the table was just picked up by a palace maid, and there was still some mud on it.

He pulled out the needle, but found nothing unusual. He bent down and sniffed, but found no color or smell. He had no choice but to bow and ask someone to bring a rabbit over.

King Huan was kneeling, and seeing this, he felt even more worried, because he knew that this was definitely Fu Huaiying's work, and he was setting him up.

Until the rabbit brought in by the subordinates, blood was flowing from the mouth and nose, and it died soon after.

Imperial Physician Liu frowned. "I have never seen such a poison before. It is colorless and odorless, and even a silver needle cannot detect it. Forgive me for being frank, but this poison doesn't seem to be from our dynasty."

Emperor Huanyu rubbed his brows and ignored King Huan's explanation. He just waved his hand and said, "Come here, King Huan has killed his brothers and sisters. He is confined to King Huan's palace and cannot leave forever."

"Father! It's not me! I beg you to investigate thoroughly! Father!"

King Huan was dragged away with bloodshot eyes. No matter how much he cried and pleaded, he could not move Emperor Huanyu.

He waited until it was quiet outside before he raised his hand and patted Chen Huanli's shoulder. "It's okay. I told you I won't let anyone hurt you. You don't have to worry in the palace. You're old enough now. I'll have someone measure you for court robes tomorrow. After the morning court, go to Qili Garden and help your teacher review the memorials. All the affairs of Qili Garden fall on her alone. Help her share the burden."

Chen Huanli bowed, "I understand."

"Rest, I'm leaving."

"Father, take care."

Ji Yuan came out from the darkness and followed behind Emperor Huanyu.

"Come on, walk with me."

It was always cold at night, especially in the palace, which was a bit colder than outside. Although there were palace maids sweeping the snow, the ground was always slippery. Layers of snowflakes fell from the leafless branches, adding a few strands of white hair to Emperor Huanyu.

"Ji Yuan."

"I am here."

"Tell me, am I wrong?"

"Your Majesty is joking."

Emperor Huanyu smiled and shook his head. "I never joke. The Crown Prince is right. Of all my children, the second one is the most like me. Whether it's appearance or scheming, he's the most like me. When the Eastern Palace was set on fire, you searched the Huan Palace over and over again, but still couldn't find anything. He is the one who can be an emperor."

Ji Yuan lowered his eyes and didn't dare to speak.

Fortunately, Emperor Huanyu just needs someone to listen, not someone to respond.

"But he lacks mercy. Those with a heart full of killing can only survive in troubled times. When my father passed away, he left me with a shaky kingdom. Back then, drastic measures were needed. But now, the country is flourishing and needs a wise ruler."

Ji Yuan still didn't say anything. He couldn't respond like this.

Emperor Huanyu brushed off the snowflakes on his shoulders and said, "I am not old yet. I can still train my successor."

As he spoke, he looked up at the full moon and suddenly sighed, "The moon waxes and wanes. Do you think the Crown Prince will blame me? I've been thinking about him a lot these past few days. When he was little, he always imitated me, putting on a stern face, yet he was always amused. Back then, he often visited the second child, and they had a deep brotherly love. They would climb trees and play together, and he would worry about the second child and protect him all the time. The scar on his hand is from protecting the second child."

The Emperor of the Universe's eyes were moist.

Ji Yuan looked at him in surprise. He remembered that the prince had no scars on his hands.

"Did he feel a lot of pain the day the fire started?"

No one answered him, no one dared to answer him, no one could answer him.

"Let's go, I'm tired too."

"yes."

next day

Fu Huaiying saw Chen Huanli waiting at the door of Qili Garden, and curled her lips. It's done.

"Why is the Fourth Prince here?"

Chen Huanli smiled, his eyes sparkling. "His Majesty said that all the affairs of Qiliyuan are on the teacher's shoulders, so he asked me to come over and help you with the burden. My court robes are already being prepared by the Ministry of Rites."

Fu Huaiying raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice, "Where is the Second Prince?"

"Life imprisonment."

Fu Huaiying nodded. She was very satisfied with the result. Since the emperor had already chosen Huanli as the heir, she could take her time.

"Please read these memorials and pick out the important ones. Then send them to His Majesty together."

"Should I go?"

Fu Huaiying nodded. "Go ahead, show up more often, and express your opinions. Hengzhi, sometimes a single word from him can benefit you for a lifetime. For you, the present and the future are the most important."

Chen Huanli nodded. "I understand, Teacher."

"I'm glad you understand."

…

Ever since Chen Huanli was allowed to enter the court and Prince Huan was imprisoned for life, many people have switched allegiance to the Fourth Prince, and Fu Huaiying has also been unable to live in peace.

The house that His Majesty gave her happened to be next to the Dingbei Marquis's Mansion. She accepted all the invitations sent by various families and had to attend the banquets she had to attend. It was a critical time for her to be in danger of separation. As long as King Huan was not dead, they could not relax.

She didn't even have time to reply to Lin Yan'an's letter. Lin Yan'an wrote six or seven letters, and she only wrote one.

Until the night, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't seen Lin Yan'an for a long time. Inexplicably, I missed him. Fu Huaiying stood up, lit the lamp, and took out the letters that had been carefully kept.

It always starts with, My wife Huaiying, reading this letter is as nice as meeting you in person.

Lin Yan'an wrote down every single thing that happened on the battlefield, even the words that couldn't be tied up with a straw rope were written smaller.

Fu Huaiying suddenly laughed as she watched. Dahu came over and asked, "What are you laughing at, girl?"

"Xiao Yan'an, he talked about everything, even the small cut he made while practicing swordplay, which he wrote half a page about."

"Miss, the young marquis wants you to comfort him."

Fu Huaiying was stunned for a moment, then laughed again, "Then please help me get some paper and pen so I can comfort him."

Da Hu took out a pen and paper and handed it to her, "Miss, this letter was written ten days ago. If you comfort him now, he will have forgotten it by the time it reaches the young marquis, right?"

Fu Huaiying was a little stunned. She counted the letters one by one. It had been three months since Lin Yan'an went to the battlefield. She read one letter a day and could see his letters every day. He wrote three letters a day, but the letter in her hand was written ten days ago. It was also the only one she had not read.

But there was no other news from the border.

"What's wrong, girl?" Da Hu noticed that something was wrong with her and asked, "What happened?"

Fu Huaiying shook her head. "Fu Guang, I'm a little panicked. This letter was sent ten days ago, but it's the last one. Given his personality, it's impossible that he hasn't received a letter in such a long time."

Da Hu smiled and comforted her, "Miss, it's been getting colder these past few days, and it's snowed heavily for days. The roads are covered in snow, so maybe that's what delayed us. Don't worry, the young marquis has been on the battlefield since he was young, so he'll be fine."

Fu Huaiying put down the letter in her hand with a heavy heart and put it away. "I hope so. I will go to the palace tomorrow and ask Ji Yuan."

Da Hu helped her change clothes and blew out the lights. "Don't worry, girl. It's not good for your health to worry too much all the time."

Fu Huaiying responded randomly a few times, and Dahu could tell that she was being perfunctory, so he spread his hands helplessly.

The next day, Ji Yuan came out of the hall and saw a man holding an umbrella, standing in the snow, motionless in the distance.

He stepped forward, only to find that the person was Fu Huaiying. He was helpless for a moment, "Why are you here? Waiting for me?"

Fu Huaiying nodded, and the snowflakes on her shoulders were brushed away. She glanced sideways and realized that she had been standing there for so long that she didn't notice that there was a wet spot on her clothes.

"What are you waiting for me for? Do you want to ask me for something?"

Fu Huaiying nodded again.

Ji Yuan was surprised. "What's the matter? Why do you look so listless?"

"I didn't sleep well last night. Let's go. It's not easy to talk here. I'll pay you back for the meal I owed you last time first."

Ji Yuan laughed and walked beside her, "You paid last meal, but I guess you owe another one."

It was snowing, so Ji Yuan didn't let her ride a horse. He acted as a groom and drove the carriage for her.

They stopped at Fangding Tower. Fu Huaiying had her own room there, which was reserved for her by the owner of the tower.

She ordered some dishes according to Ji Yuan's preferences and looked up at him, "Anything else?"

"That's all. I can't eat any more."

Fu Huaiying nodded and said, "Bring two pots of tea first."

"Okay, sir."

Ji Yuan stared at her, "Tell me, what's the matter?"

"Is there any news from the border?"

Ji Yuan's expression remained unchanged. He had already guessed that Fu Huaiying would ask, "If I said there was no news, would you believe it?"

"What happened? Why haven't we heard anything from Yan An these past few days?"

Ji Yuan hesitated. "I don't know much about what's happening on the battlefield, but I heard the situation isn't good. The Lady is so powerful that even General Wen is struggling."