Chapter 17 Fusu's Outrageous Remarks
After Fusu and Emperor Renzong reached an agreement, they suddenly felt hopeful for the future, and even Sima's high-pressure teaching didn't seem so bad anymore. When he was called on to answer questions in class, he even answered with a smile, which made Li Qiu and Yan Jidao come to ask him what was going on after class.
"Shh, we can't say yet." Fusu kept everyone in suspense: "You'll find out in a few days."
Yan Jidao raised an eyebrow: "Is this related to us and Zishantang?"
"Uh-huh."
"I see, I understand." Yan Jidao nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
He was, after all, the son of a prime minister, and his family had firsthand information channels, so it wasn't surprising that he guessed it. Only little Li Qiu was completely bewildered: "What do you know?"
He looked left and right, but couldn't figure it out. Frustrated, he puffed out his cheeks: "I'm never being friends with riddle tellers again!"
Fusu and Yan Jidao tried to coax Li Qiu again, but Li Qiu stubbornly refused to listen and insisted that the two of them confess honestly. Fusu thought for a moment, and realized that the court and the public would know in a few days; it wasn't a secret.
He was about to speak when Yan Jidao beat him to it, whispering something in Li Qiu's ear. Li Qiu's eyes widened in surprise, but he acted as if nothing had happened and reconciled with the two of them as before.
As for Zhao Zongshi? Oh, he had absolutely nothing to do with it. He was always smiling during Sima Guang's lessons, completely oblivious to anything amiss with Fusu!
They really are a match made in heaven, master and apprentice.
Fusu couldn't help but mutter a complaint, his expectant gaze drifting towards the direction of the Funing Palace. Although he said "in a few days," he himself didn't know how long that would be. Fusu couldn't very well urge him, after all, it was a matter of state, not a family matter; the Emperor needed to discuss it with his officials before making a decision.
This time, Emperor Renzong is joining the peace talks as the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, and it's not as simple as just making a symbolic appearance after everything is settled.
To take the most obvious impact, the previous peace talks involved a delegation from Western Xia against officials from the Song Dynasty. Both were subjects, none more noble than the other.
However, once the emperor himself intervenes, the Western Xia envoys will be facing the very ruler of a nation, which will put them under psychological pressure. Conversely, if the emperor shows weakness during negotiations, it will allow the other side to make exorbitant demands.
Fusu waited and waited, and finally, one day, when the pomegranate flowers were about to bloom and he had studied half of the Analects, he saw the figure of the eunuch beside Emperor Renzong outside the door of the Zishan Hall classroom.
This eunuch's surname was Huang, and because he held the official title of Duzhi, everyone in the palace called him "Huang Duzhi". Huang Duzhi seemed to have been waiting outside Zishan Hall for a while: "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered me to come and fetch you."
Huang Duzhi didn't say where he was going, but how could Fusu not guess?
Could it be that today?
Then it's my turn to go on stage!
Fusu's bright eyes crinkled with laughter. After waving goodbye to his classmates, he got into the sedan chair brought by the eunuch without saying a word. The table inside the sedan chair was laden with snacks and seasonal fruits, clearly prepared with great care.
After a long day of classes, Fusu felt a bit hungry, so she opened the snack box to replenish her energy. The box was neatly arranged with a dozen or so carved plum balls and candied kumquats, each about the size of a thumb, perfect for a single bite. Fusu unconsciously ate quite a few.
Knowing he would be nagged if he ate any more, Fusu reluctantly licked the honey off his fingertips and carefully wiped his hands clean with a damp cloth.
After finishing his meal, Fusu rinsed his mouth with salt water and casually lifted the curtain to look outside. Wait! Why was he still in the palace? Why was he in a place he had never seen before?
Throughout the entire Song Dynasty imperial palace, there was virtually no place Fusu couldn't go. He was frequently seen in the Emperor's Funing Palace, the Empress's Kunning Palace, and the Grand Princess's Rouyi Palace. He could even visit the residences of concubines like Consort Miao; because of his young age, no one gossiped. However, Fusu didn't interact with them much, nor did he particularly enjoy going there.
The only place he couldn't visit for the time being as Fusu, and which he also privately avoided, was Emperor Renzong's work area. Looking at the plaque above the palace where the sedan chair was parked, bearing the black background and gold characters of "Chuigong Hall," he couldn't help but feel a wave of dizziness.
Fusu quickly grabbed the eunuch's sleeve: "Chief Huang, aren't we going to negotiate peace with Western Xia?"
Huang Duzhi laughed and said, "Oh, that's right. It seems Your Highness already knows? His Majesty was just about to summon some officials to discuss the peace talks and ordered this old servant to summon Your Highness as well."
Fusu felt another sudden jolt in his heart.
His bright, dark eyes darted around quickly, and he bent down to say, "Um, my stomach suddenly feels a little..."
But then a loud greeting came from behind.
"Huang Duzhi is good."
The man walked closer and saw Fusu's figure, which had been hidden by the eunuch. After saying "Eh?", he greeted Fusu with a smile: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Cheng."
Fusu stared at the uninvited guest who had interrupted his peeing escape: Who are you?
Fortunately, Magistrate Huang answered in time: "I have met Mr. Fu."
Fu Xiangong, Fu Bi, it turns out to be him.
Compared to other famous officials of the Northern Song Dynasty, this person did not have any outstanding poems or prose works left to posterity, but his fame was no less than that of others. This is because he was a co-initiator of the "Qingli Reforms," on par with Fan Zhongyan.
Fusu discreetly observed Fu Bi: his wide robe and turban were the most admired scholar's attire of the time. When his face was expressionless, he appeared dignified and solemn, but the amiable smile lines softened his inherent seriousness. It wasn't hard to imagine that this man was easygoing and fond of conversation.
Just now, Magistrate Huang addressed Fu Bi as "Lord Fu," indicating that he still holds a high position. But it's spring of the fourth year of the Qingli reign, and Teng Zijing has already been demoted to govern Baling County. Logically, the Qingli Reforms should have failed, so why is Fu Bi still a Lord Fu Bi, and hasn't been purged or demoted to a local post?
In front of the two men, Fusu fell into deep thought. This drew a second glance from Fubi.
Huang Duzhi made an apologetic gesture: "Master Fu, His Highness Prince Cheng is not feeling well, so I must excuse myself."
Upon hearing this, Fu Bi immediately became serious: "The Prince's health is not good, this is a serious matter. How about this, Chief Minister Huang, you take His Highness to the Imperial Hospital for a consultation, and I will go into the palace immediately to inform His Majesty."
Fusu's contemplation was abruptly interrupted: ?
Tell the officials?
No, absolutely not!
He could fool only Huang Duzhi; at worst, Huang Duzhi could send him to Empress Cao's Kunning Palace to rest. But if the Emperor found out, and more importantly, if Fu Bi and the Imperial Medical Academy got involved, that wouldn't do!
Having been a top student for two lifetimes, Fusu already felt ashamed to even think about faking illness. The thought of being caught red-handed while faking illness made him want to crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment.
"...I, I'm fine now. I just had a stitch, but I feel much better now. Chief Huang, please take me inside."
Fusu's fair face flushed slightly from lying, and Fubi's meaningful gaze made him dig his toes into the ground. He could only pretend not to see it and stare at his toes.
"It was a misunderstanding. Everyone knows they misheard."
Huang Duzhi touched Fusu's soft belly a few times, and only after confirming that he was really alright did he breathe a sigh of relief: "Oh dear, thank goodness Your Highness, you are alright."
He then led Fusu up the steps of the Chuigong Hall: "Come, Your Highness, please be careful."
The Chuigong Hall was usually frequented by adults, and the height and length of the steps were somewhat strenuous for Fusu, who was still a child. Therefore, he climbed very slowly, and after a few steps, he did not see Fubi overtake him.
Fusu turned around and saw Fubi walking slowly a few steps behind him, as if he were ready to catch him if he fell.
"Thank you for protecting me, Master Fu," Fusu couldn't help but say.
Fu Bi was actually doing the work of a palace attendant, but he rose to the position of prime minister not to curry favor with anyone, but simply out of kindness. In his heart, Fu Su did not want to gain the favor of Fu Bi, a high-ranking official, but given his personality, he could not ignore the kindness of others.
Fu Bi chuckled upon hearing this: "What's the big deal? Your Highness, please walk with peace of mind. This old minister is here to watch over you and will make sure you don't fall."
The two exchanged no further words. Fu Bi walked a few steps behind Fu Su until they entered the Chui Gong Hall together. Upon entering, Fu Su saw the Emperor with his back to him, looking at a map. The Emperor turned around, a hint of surprise flashing across his brow: "Minister Fu and Su'er have arrived at the same time."
Fu Bi smiled and said, "I exchanged a few pleasantries with His Highness Prince Cheng, which delayed me for a while. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Renzong, of course, wouldn't blame him. He smiled and waved to Fusu, then patted the spot next to him, where a soft, comfortable cushion had just been placed. Fusu obediently sat down and heard the Emperor's smiling voice.
"Originally, it should have been just me and a few of you ministers, but Su'er insisted on coming to listen, so I had no choice but to agree. Please bear with him, my ministers."
Fusu was adjusting his posture when he heard this and couldn't help but glare at the Emperor: "It was clearly the Emperor who asked me first 'Do you want to come?' before I said I would come."
And it was about peace talks, not the Chui Gong Hall, okay?
No sooner had he finished speaking than the emperor and his ministers burst into extremely loud laughter: "Hahahahahaha!"
Fusu: ? ? ?
No, what are you laughing at?
After the laughter subsided, one person bluntly challenged him: "Ten pages of the Analects, surely the Emperor didn't force His Highness to do so?"
Fu Su looked in the direction of the voice and saw the person who had been laughing the most unrestrainedly and without any regard for appearances: "Mr. Song!"
He looked incredulously at the faces of several other important officials, some of whom he had met only once, and others whom he had never met before. He found that they were not surprised at all, which meant that they must have known about the background of the ten pages of the Analects long ago.
Who told them?
Is it Mr. Song, or the official?
As Fusu was acting as a detective, eliminating suspects one by one, Fu Bi cheerfully provided evidence: "I heard that Your Highness was only three days old when the Song army at the front lines decisively defeated the Dangxiang. A few days ago, Your Highness left the palace for some reason and happened to witness the scene of the Western Xia envoy being severely reprimanded at Xiangguo Temple. I thought that when we, as ruler and minister, discuss peace talks, we might as well take Your Highness along. Perhaps there will be an unexpectedly good result."
...So it was you! Emperor Renzong of Song!
Who else knows the cause and effect in such detail?
Fusu immediately glared at the Emperor sitting next to him. The Emperor looked away, coughed lightly guiltily, and covered his son's fluffy hair with his large hand: "Your Mr. Song was just joking, don't take it to heart."
What Mr. Song?
Don't pretend you don't understand! I'm clearly angry with you!
The secret between father and son was leaked to the court officials, and Emperor Renzong even gave him a reputation for bringing good fortune to the Western Xia's treasures. It was clear that if things continued this way, the favor shown to him by the court officials would skyrocket. Emperor Renzong secretly held high hopes for him; if the civil and military officials also supported him as crown prince, then his chances of escaping the throne would truly be sealed!
—That's why I didn't want to come to the Chuigong Hall!
It seems that we have no other choice but to resort to that one move, and it is indeed the right time.
Fusu shook his head furry as he thought to himself.
Hmph, you wanted unforeseen consequences, didn't you? Well then, I'll offer a solution that solves the problem once and for all.
“Peace talks are not a long-term solution. In my opinion, the only way to eliminate the threat of the Tanguts is to kill them all.”
Fusu, with an innocent and naive expression, uttered the most terrifying words imaginable, while secretly anticipating the reactions of his courtiers.
A note from the author:
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My tooth, shoulder, and hand have been hurting for the past two days [chin resting on hand], I feel like I need to do some prayers.
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