55 Undercurrent
◎The more people know, the more risk there is◎
"What's wrong with the Queen? Why do you look so bad? Can you explain it clearly?"
Rong Pan always stood on Rong Qianyu's side. In fact, it was uncomfortable to see them being so awkward. It would be better to help them get together, so that the two of them would not be upset in front of her, and she would not be able to persuade them or scold them.
She asked tentatively, "Was it obvious what I did to him in the past?"
Obvious? Rong Pan sneered in his heart. Doesn't she know whether it's obvious or not? She has to hold a small thing and look at it for a long time, holding it in her hand all day long. That little Rakshasa figure is about to be worn out by her. Isn't this obvious?
They said it was nice, but they were worried about getting involved, and they did the same thing. Then they turned around and said they were afraid of being implicated and refused to admit it. The key is that the two of them just settled it, and neither of them said anything more. They hugged and kissed, said all kinds of nonsense, and now they ask if it's obvious?
Rong Pan was caught in the middle, feeling completely shaky. "Well, I know and can see it, but I'm not sure if Yuanqing can see it."
"It's really difficult."
Rong Qianyu sighed deeply, wanting to accept but not knowing how to convince herself. In her opinion, everything they were doing now was just for the benefit of both of them, but she had never really fallen in love with anyone, so she really didn't know where it came from, and this mutual benefit became distorted.
In the past, she knew clearly that she didn't like Wen Xiaqing, and her feelings for him were just friends, but towards Xue Ji, she suddenly became unclear.
"Isn't it a good idea?" Rong Pan asked earnestly, just asking them to solve their own problems and not involve her, an irrelevant person.
"Let's talk about it later." Rong Qianyu was exhausted. She had to figure it out, to convince herself, but she had no clue. Fu Tao had even come to her to confide in her, his coherent words had helped others, but had only trapped her.
"Your Majesty, you can take a rest soon. His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin will be here tomorrow. It's all about the Sixth Princess's marriage."
Speaking of this, Rong Qianyu couldn't help but worry, "Your Majesty has his own plans, but if the Sixth Princess doesn't understand, considering the character of Prince Jin and Concubine Liu Xian's instigation, I'm worried."
Fu Nian is Fu Kang's youngest and favorite daughter. There is indeed a special plan in arranging a marriage for her suddenly at this time. However, Fu Nian may not appreciate it. Although Empress Xian is from a famous family, she is far less capable of planning than the Empress, and her vision is not as long-term as hers.
Rong Pan asked, "Can't Concubine Liu Xian see this?"
Since ancient times, there has been a rule in the Great Zhou Dynasty for marrying concubines' daughters to foreign princes. Fu Kang doted on Liu's mother and son very much. He suddenly arranged the marriage at this time because he was afraid that Fu Hua would ascend the throne in the future and drag Fu Nian out to marry. However, Fu Nian had been making a fuss about this matter for many days.
"I don't know. Princess Jin came to chat with me a few days ago. I hope I'm overthinking it. I hope nothing unexpected happens."
It's almost the end of the year now, so it would be best if Fu Kang could get away safely, otherwise there would probably be another bloody storm.
In the Prince of Jin's Mansion, Fu Zhang was also worried about this matter, but he was unwilling to take any action. For one thing, he had always been a filial son and did not care much about the fight for the throne. Naturally, he looked down on Fu Hua, that young boy, but he did not want to interfere. He just wanted to live a stable life with his wife and children.
Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished. The more he wanted to live in peace with the world, the more he could not stay out of it.
The uncle came to see his grandchildren, who rarely visited him, but in fact he was also here to urge Fu Zhang to do something. "I think His Majesty is not in good health. You should prepare yourself early, son-in-law."
Fu Zhang had no intention of rebelling and refused to listen no matter what was said. He was not an idle prince and had considerable prestige in the court. However, he was a person who sought stability and was unwilling to get involved in these struggles.
"Your Majesty is not even old yet, so how could he be useless? It's just a headache. My father-in-law is making too many generalizations."
His dear uncle did not want to see him miss the throne. One reason was for the family, and the other was that he was allowed to marry the daughter of the family because of his extraordinary demeanor and was deeply loved by the people.
Placing your bet early on would be a shame if you didn't get any of it back. "Your Highness, please don't hesitate any longer. You're the eldest son and you're popular, so you're better than that kid Fu Hua. Why was he born to sit on the throne, while you deserve to be an idle prince?"
Fu Zhang helplessly explained, "What about the safety of my mother and sister? If I were the only one to rebel, I'd be killed, so what? But what about mother and Nian'er? What about your sister, uncle?"
"Your Highness, you won't succeed if you hesitate. Your Majesty is about to marry Nian'er off. Do you want her to meet the wrong man and leave her hometown, never to see him again in her life?"
These words touched his heart. He was most worried about his sister. If she really left her homeland and was bullied all her life, according to the custom of the Turkic Qianbei, she would marry her father, son, and grandson. How could Nian'er possibly bear such a great humiliation?
He hesitated, but didn't give an answer. "I certainly don't agree with Fu Hua, but this matter is so serious that I have to discuss it with my mother and sister."
"The more people know about you, the more risk you will face," said my uncle.
Fu Zhang was at a loss for words. "My mother is also your sister. How could I not discuss such a big thing with her?"
But his uncle still insisted on instigating him, "Your Highness, there is no way out now. You don't know why you have been forbearing and yielding for so many years. Are you willing to accept this? Why, why?!"
Ultimately, it's all for their own benefit, yet they want him to lead the charge. "Let me think about it," he said.
Fu Zhang rarely came to the palace to visit his mother. Liu Tongwu was so angry about Fu Nian's marriage that he fell ill and threw a tantrum, refusing to agree to Fu Nian marrying that poor family.
"Mother, please drink the medicine."
After a few words, Liu started to talk again, "It's a rare opportunity for you to come to the palace, go see your father, don't be in a hurry, your father also wants to see you."
He blew the medicine in the bowl cold and handed it to her, "Mother, why don't you come live with us? We can take care of you."
She had an obsession in her heart, and this was how her life would be. She was not as magnanimous and open-minded as Bai Yi. She only hoped that her sons and daughters would bring honor to the family. She could not leave this place that imprisoned her and brought her countless sorrows from powerful people. In this life, and the next, even if she died, she would be buried in the imperial mausoleum.
"What will happen to Nian'er if I leave? How can she leave me? Besides, how can she go to her fiefdom and become the empress dowager with her son while the emperor is still alive? And... I don't want to go anywhere else."
Fu Zhang was a child who had suffered a lot in his early years, so he didn't have that much competitive spirit. However, he couldn't turn a deaf ear to his uncle's instigation, and every time he tried to persuade him, he returned in vain.
Liu Tongwu shook her head helplessly. She knew that her son was loyal, filial, and righteous, but there were not so many brothers in the palace. It was just fathers and sons killing each other.
"Mother has been competitive for over twenty years and finally gave birth to a son before Bai Yi. You are also sensible and smart, suppressing her unruly son for twenty years. It's a pity that you were not born from the Queen's womb. I was just a mere Zhaoyi at the time, not even a concubine. You must have suffered so much over the years."
"Has your uncle been here?" Fu Zhang asked.
"How could he have the kung fu?" Liu flatly denied. "Zhang'er, mother hopes you don't live your life in vain. Mother has no ability and can only let you end up like this. Mother hopes you can be better. You are better than that kid Fu Hua, and Xiao'er is also good. Mother doesn't want you to be buried in the dust."
Many mothers in the world never bother to ask their children what they like, blindly giving them what they think is best, without considering whether the children like it. If they don't like it, they always threaten to give birth to and raise them, until the children give in, not knowing how much they are harming them.
"Why does mother force father so much? I don't want to argue. Can't you be more down-to-earth?"
Fu Zhang has been such a child since he was young. Whatever Liu says is good is good, but the child will grow up and have his own ideas, and there will always be a day when he will break free from her control.
Seeing that he was unmoved by any persuasion, Liu completely lost her patience. "Are you willing to be a subject for the rest of your life? My son, you are not that kind of person." She almost knelt down to beg him. Fu Zhang had never seen his mother beg for anyone like this before.
"If you were a free and easy prince, Xiao'er would be a boy, a playboy at best. What about Yan'er? What about your sister? Since ancient times, there has never been a precedent in the Great Zhou Dynasty for the emperor's daughter to marry a foreign prince. If there was a foreign marriage, Nian'er would go first, and in ten years it would be Yan'er. Can you bear it?!"
These words were like a thorn that pierced Fu Zhang's heart. After all, the child became his weak spot. He really couldn't bear to see his daughter suffer such a tragic fate in the future.
"Yan'er is the eldest daughter and the legitimate daughter. If you and your wife have the heart to hope that she will live under someone else's roof like the Crown Princess in the future, I will not object! What about my Nian'er? She is only a few years old, and now your father wants to arrange a marriage for her! And she is a lowly official from a humble family, without any official title or family background. How can I feel at ease with you?"
"Let me think about it, mother. I'll take my leave first." On one side is loyalty and on the other side is filial piety. It is said that when faced with two evils, one should choose the lesser one, but he really didn't know how to choose.
Despite this, Liu was still pressing hard, "If you can't solve it, and Nian'er really marries a poor family like that, I will die in front of you!"
Fu Zhang was worried the whole day and felt suffocated by being threatened by his relatives. But for the sake of his sister and daughter, he had to find Fu Hua with tired eyes.
Fu Hua was also very happy to see him coming. He had always respected this elder brother very much. "Brother, it's a rare opportunity for you to come here. Please have a good talk with father."
Fu Zhang held him back, unable to express the myriad thoughts in his mind. "I have something to ask you."
"you say."
"I'm asking you a question. You must answer me completely. I want your truth." After a long pause, he finally spoke, "The Crown Princess is the eldest daughter of Rong State. If Great Zhou becomes hostile to another country and needs a woman for marriage, what will you do?"
"Of course, we have to choose from among the royal family."
"Does it also include Nian'er and Yan'er?" Fu Zhang asked.
"Of course," Fu Hua added, "but if my brother can't bear to let her go, then just don't let her go. Besides, this is my father's business. It's not my business to decide what kind of husband he chooses for Nian'er. My father loves Nian'er, too."
Fu Zhang's face was serious, gloomy and without any joy, "It will be your turn sooner or later."
"That will be many years from now." Fu Hua was not stupid after all. She could tell that he had something to say but was not willing to speak. "Nian'er's matter, brother, I need to ask father for help. After all, Nian'er is still young, so there is no rush to get married now."
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