Fire

Su Ning left the teahouse with an even gloomier expression. He had hidden Ah Yue very well before, without any news leaking out. Even if she ran away later, he had someone secretly investigate. How could Lin Yan'an know about it?

"How do I know?" Lin Yan'an looked down at Su Ning's departing figure and smiled, "I can predict the future, Sister Huaiying."

"Is this also from a previous life?"

Lin Yan'an nodded. In his previous life, he and Su Ning did not have much friendship. They could only be said to be acquaintances. However, he later broke with his family for a woman and even killed his uncle for her.

Fu Huaiying listened and frowned slightly.

"However, if Sister Huaiying wants, I can bring the person to you immediately."

Fu Huaiying shook her head, not really caring. "No need. I'm not part of the conspiracy, so why would I get involved?"

"Don't you want to use him?"

Fu Huaiying took a sip of tea, looked at the bustling streets outside, and remembered watching the fireworks under the eaves with her mother when she was young. "Use it, why not?"

"But he knows your background. If you don't have something to control him, this person will be very dangerous."

Fu Huaiying saw his worry. "I can use my background to control him. If he tells others about it, how can I explain how he knew my background? If he didn't want to overturn the case, he wouldn't come to me. He won't tell anyone for public or private reasons."

"You've softened your heart."

Lin Yan'an dared to say that in this world, no one except him would understand Huaiying so well. He could guess her heart with just a word or a gesture.

Fu Huaiying looked up at him nonchalantly, "Do you think you know me well?"

"No one knows you better than me," Lin Yan'an picked up the ring from a pile of broken jade and handed it to her, "but at the same time, I am willing to be of use to you."

Fu Huaiying was silent for a while, then reached out and took the jade ring.

There was a mat on the ground, and Lin Yan'an sat down in front of her, resting his face on her knees and slowly closing his eyes.

Fu Huaiying didn't push him away, but raised her hand and touched his hair.

"Tired?"

"Um……"

"Get some sleep."

Fu Huaiying lowered her eyes, looking at Lin Yan'an's sleeping face, a little dazed. She didn't know what she felt for him. Love? Not to that extent. Like? Maybe a little.

Lin Yan'an slept on her lap for the entire afternoon, and his legs were numb, but she inexplicably did not push him away.

…

Although the dethronement of the crown prince was a major event, he still had to do what needed to be done when he returned to the capital.

Fu Huaiying had delayed a lot of things because of her affairs in the palace. All matters had to go through her hands, and she was very busy every day. Even Chen Huanli's classes were delayed, and her previous plan to give him a name was also delayed.

Choosing a name for Huanli... What's a good name? Not too flashy, but not too vulgar...

"What's wrong? Are you distracted?"

Seeing Fu Huaiying grinding ink, she suddenly stopped and stared blankly. Emperor Huan glanced at her.

Fu Huaiying came back to his senses instantly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

"What's on your mind? Tell me about it."

"I'm a little troubled about choosing a name for His Highness the Fourth Prince. Since the name represents foresight and hope, I've been pondering this for a while."

Emperor Huanyu sighed. Fu Huaiying's words touched his heart. "I gave the Crown Prince the name Shengxi, hoping that he would inherit the great responsibility and create a prosperous era. But he... forced the emperor to abdicate and rebelled. He is a traitor!"

"Although this is true, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a filial son. When His Majesty was suffering from a cold, His Royal Highness took care of him every day, never leaving his side. Now that His Majesty has recovered, His Royal Highness is ill. It is unexpected that he would suddenly force the emperor to abdicate and rebel."

Fu Huaiying lowered his head and continued to grind the ink, as if speaking unintentionally.

Emperor Huanyu's face darkened. He reached out to touch the dragon-patterned jade pendant at his waist and said coldly, "How could I not know who my son is? He is just stupid, but he was actually tricked into this situation."

Fu Huaiying paused slightly, but did not look up.

It seems that even if she didn't hand over the dragon-patterned jade pendant, the emperor would be able to see who set up the trap.

The sky was dark when Fu Huaiying came out of the hall. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Chen Huanli peeking from a distance.

She walked over and asked, "Are you waiting for me?"

Chen Huanli nodded and took the hand she extended. "Teacher, I'm worried about you."

Fu Huaiying laughed, "What do I have to worry about?"

"Earlier in the palace, I was locked in the courtyard and couldn't get out. It was the young marquis who told me..."

Fu Huaiying patted his head and said, "It's okay. It's impossible to be worry-free all your life when you are always by your side."

Chen Huanli held her hand and wrote a few words in silence.

'I don't want you to get hurt again'

Fu Huaiying lowered her eyes and looked at him for a long while before suddenly speaking, "I'll give you a name, okay?"

Chen Huanli nodded. "I'll be happy no matter what name you give me, teacher."

Fu Huaiying raised her head and glanced at the crescent moon. "As constant as the moon, as rising as the sun, how about calling it Hengzhi?"

"Hengzhi?" Chen Huanli repeated it and nodded. "I like it."

When he entered the palace the next day, Emperor Huanyu looked up at the memorial sent by Fu Huaiying, but did not open it.

"Do you have any clue about Xiao Si's handwriting?"

Fu Huaiying nodded, "Your Majesty, please give me the name Hengzhi."

Emperor Huanyu stared at her for a long moment. "What's the meaning?"

"Your Highness is now at an age where he is eager to learn. I hope he will persevere in his perseverance."

Emperor Huanyu did not ask any further questions, but just nodded and agreed.

Fu Huaiying was still standing aside, picking out the unreviewed memorials and placing them in front of Emperor Huanyu.

In recent days, there have been frequent rumors that Prince Huan will be made the crown prince. It seems that the crown prince's party can no longer sit still, so the emperor trapped the crown prince in the East Palace, but apart from deposing the crown prince, he did nothing else.

Emperor Huanyu looked surprised, "Why are these again?"

Fu Huaiying revealed a hint of embarrassment at the right moment, "... My Lords, these past few days... I really can't make the decision..."

Emperor Huanyu's eyes were gloomy. "Do they think I'm dead?"

Fu Huaiying immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, please calm down."

Emperor Huanyu rubbed his brows and said, "Get up. This has nothing to do with you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Because of Emperor Huanyu, Fu Huaiying was delayed for some time and returned even later. It was this late every day these days. Lin Yanan waited outside the palace gate early, but he had to wait for a long time every time.

She hurried out of the palace just before the palace gates were locked.

Seeing her tired face, Lin Yanan couldn't help but feel distressed, "It's been so long these past few days, you haven't had a good rest."

"There's a lot going on these days, so you have to be careful and be vigilant at all times."

Lin Yan'an nodded and took the cloak to put on her. Fortunately, the emperor gave her a house, otherwise he would not be able to see her off when she returned to the Fu family.

Fu Huaiying held his hand and stepped into the carriage. She looked back inadvertently and saw a red light in the distance. She looked at it for a long time and thought she was dazzled.

"What's wrong?"

"That seems to be a red light?"

Lin Yan'an stood up and squinted his eyes to look for a long time. "It seems that there is, but it's too late to go and see it now. The palace gates are locked."

Fu Huaiying nodded, lifted the curtain and went in.

Her house was the former General Ji's Mansion. It had always been cleaned and there was no sign of disrepair. It was also very close to the imperial palace and could be considered an excellent house. However, it was not very close to the Fu family. There was another house next to the Fu family, but His Majesty still gave her this one. It was not known whether it was a favor or a way for her to draw a clear line between them.

Lin Yan'an took over the job of picking her up, so Dahu waited at the door every day. When he saw her coming down, he would immediately step forward and extend his hand.

Fu Huaiying helped herself to get off the carriage, but she found that the red light not far away was getting brighter and brighter. She suddenly realized that it was not a red light at all, but a fire.

"Yan'an, look."

Lin Yan'an looked in the direction of her hand, and the increasingly bright firelight made his face gloomy.

"The fire broke out."

Fu Huaiying stood and watched for a moment, then sighed, "I can't sleep tonight. That direction is the East Palace."

Lin Yan'an narrowed his eyes, "King Huan acted too quickly."

"I was afraid that he wouldn't dare to do it before. I underestimated him."

Lin Yan'an turned around suddenly. He didn't know that Huaiying was fanning the flames. "...You...he will realize it after a while..."

Fu Huaiying didn't turn around, staring straight at the fire over there. She raised her hand and interrupted him, "Even if I wasn't there, he wouldn't let the prince go. If he wants to remember me, then remember me. However, whether he can kill the prince today or not, it will be difficult for him to be appointed as the crown prince."

"But it's hard to say. The Fourth Prince is young, and the Third Prince doesn't have the Emperor's favor. So, for now, he is the most suitable."

"What does the emperor fear most? He fears his son is incompetent, and even more so, he fears his son is capable. When the East Palace caught fire today, wouldn't he be thinking of the Fuyao Pavilion? He killed the previous crown prince, and King Huan followed in his footsteps. His son is too much like him, which is not a good thing for him."

The clues of the witchcraft incident were very confusing, and she had barely escaped the disaster because of Jiang Yueru's words, but Emperor Huanyu could tell who was the person behind the scenes at a glance. Such an emperor would never allow his heir to have the same schemes and thoughts as him.

Fu Huaiying's voice was so soft that Lin Yan'an had to almost lean over to her mouth to hear it.

The fire not far away grew brighter. The patrol team rode their horses towards the palace, passing by them and stirring up a gust of wind.

Lin Yanan looked at the palace walls that were burning with flames, "He was smart all his life, but he was also confused for a moment."

Fu Huaiying narrowed her eyes. "Although this move is risky, the chances of success are high. The Crown Prince is dull, but he is the apple of your majesty's eye. As long as he dies, no one can compete with King Huan. Even if your majesty is furious, for the sake of your vast territory, you will not let King Huan die. Although he will not be made Crown Prince, no one will be able to compete with him. Wait until your majesty is a hundred years old..."

Lin Yan'an looked down at her, "But now your Majesty is in his prime, and he has two princes by his side..."

"The Fourth Prince is young, and Your Majesty knows that being kind alone does not make one an emperor. The former Crown Prince is an example of this. Therefore, the Third Prince will not be the crown prince unless all the other princes are dead."

"He's really difficult to deal with. He was difficult to deal with in my previous life, and he's still the same in this life..."

Fu Huaiying laughed, "People are all mortal. If they are not immortal, they will always get hurt and die."

She is not a saint, so there is no need for her to argue with him. If anyone blocks her way, she can just find a chance to kill him.

Da Hu frowned and said, "The evening wind is cold, young lady, why don't you go back home?"

"Okay," Fu Huaiying nodded, then turned back to look at Lin Yan'an, "Yan'an, go ahead."

Lin Yan'an pulled the reins and mounted the horse. "I have to leave for Fushan tonight. If anything happens, just ask Dahu to go to the Marquis' Mansion to get someone."