Chapter 10 Second Brother, don't beat around the bush, just say what you want to say.
After leaving Fu Mingsong's study, Fu Mingzi went directly to the stables.
The servants leading the horses in the Duke's mansion were stunned, not expecting that the Fifth Master would need a horse at this time.
Songyan was even more anxious and chased after him all the way to the front gate: "Fifth Master, where are you going?"
Fu Mingzi cracked his whip: "I have to go out of the capital on business. You should go back now." His face still held that unrestrained smile, making it clear to anyone that his so-called "business" was probably nothing serious.
Songyan's face immediately fell: "Fifth Master, please don't harm this servant."
"You dog of a servant, why do you talk so much nonsense? I'm leaving!" Fu Mingzi cracked his whip and headed towards the north gate.
Fu Mingzi spurred his horse and rode in a high-profile manner, leaving the capital through the North Gate and heading straight for Yuntai.
Shortly after he left the capital, someone from the palace arrived.
“Who is this eunuch…” Fu Mingsong looked at the eunuch in front of him, feeling uneasy.
"My family serves the Fifth Prince, and our surname is Wei." The person who came was Wei Baocheng, Zhou Xiaoyan's personal eunuch.
Upon hearing that it was someone from the Fifth Prince's entourage, Fu Mingsong breathed a slight sigh of relief: "So it's Eunuch Wei. May I ask if you have come with important business?"
Wei Baocheng smiled and said, "It's nothing important. His Highness just caught a cold after school today and is afraid he won't be able to go to school tomorrow, so he sent me to inform your Fifth Young Master."
Fu Mingsong's heart skipped a beat, and a bitter smile immediately appeared on his face: "Alas, what a coincidence. I was just thinking of sending someone to the palace to apologize, but my fifth brother has made a foolish mistake again today and took the job of delivering the message from home. I'm afraid he has already left the capital."
"Ah, really?" Wei Baocheng was also startled, but after thinking about the reputation of this Fifth Young Master, he calmed down. This really is the kind of person who would do such a thing.
“That’s right.” Fu Mingsong’s face became increasingly embarrassed: “My second brother was training troops in Yuntai. Mingzi is a playful boy who did such a thing. It’s my fault for not disciplining him properly and making a fool of myself in front of my father-in-law.”
Wei Baocheng didn't know what he was thinking, but he smiled and said, "Young Master Fu is young and it's normal for him to be a little impulsive. There's no need for you to be like this, Your Highness. At least we didn't delay anything. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now. I still need to report back to the Fifth Prince."
"I wouldn't dare delay you, Father-in-law." Fu Mingsong politely escorted Wei Baocheng out, and only returned to his residence after watching the sedan chair carrying Wei Baocheng disappear.
She couldn't help but think to herself, what a coincidence. She had thought that she would be punished for missing the Fifth Prince's class, but the Fifth Prince happened to be sick and even sent his personal eunuch to deliver a message. It seemed that the Fifth Prince trusted Fu Mingzi quite a bit.
The thought crossed Fu Mingsong's mind and he quickly dismissed it, not taking it seriously. After all, in Fu Mingsong's view, the Fifth Prince was not a particularly important target for him to guard against; otherwise, he would not have sent Fu Mingzi to the palace in the first place.
As for Fu Mingzi, he rode at full speed as soon as he left the capital, the wind whistling past his ears and stinging his face like knives.
Even so, by the time he arrived at Yuntai, it was already getting dark.
Before the horse even reached the entrance of the camp, it was stopped by the patrol team.
"Military restricted area, unauthorized personnel please detour!" the squad leader shouted to Fu Mingzi.
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "I am Fu Mingzi, the younger brother of Fu Mingbai, the deputy commander of the Xiaoji Battalion. I am here to deliver a letter to him. Please let me know."
Upon hearing that he was a member of Fu Mingbai's family, the squad leader, who had been on guard, relaxed: "So he is the deputy commander's brother. In that case, please dismount, Young Master Fu. I will send someone to inform him immediately."
Fu Mingzi knew this was a military stronghold and that no recklessness was allowed, so he obediently dismounted. The squad leader then immediately sent one of their squad's soldiers, who seemed quite clever, back to the main camp to report the incident.
As for the remaining people, they still looked at Fu Mingzi with wary expressions. After all, whether it was her identity or the delivery of the letter, it was all Fu Mingzi's word, and no one could verify it.
Fu Mingzi, on the other hand, seemed completely unconcerned, holding the riding whip in her hand and waiting with an air of nonchalance.
A moment later, a man hurriedly walked from the direction of the camp. Fu Mingzi squinted and saw that it was Fu Mingbai's personal guard, who was from their Duke's mansion. He recognized him.
"Fifth Master, it really is you." The guard was also surprised to see Fu Mingzi: "Why is it you who came to deliver the message this time?"
Fu Mingzi chuckled and said, "I happened to be free, so I came over."
Once the person was recognized, the entire squad breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly said goodbye, and left to continue their patrol.
Fu Mingzi, on the other hand, was led to the main camp by Fu Mingbai's personal guards.
"I just heard that you were coming, and I couldn't believe it. I didn't expect it to really be you." The guard was genuinely surprised and kept exclaiming as he led the way.
"However, the deputy commander is quite busy today and may not be able to attend to you," the bodyguard said cautiously.
Fu Mingzi, however, still had a smiling face: "It's alright, it's alright. I was just tired of staying in the capital, so I came out for a walk. Second Brother has important business to attend to, so I naturally won't disturb you."
The guards breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a bit of a sigh. This guy really did whatever he wanted. After wreaking havoc in the capital, he suddenly had the idea to come here and cause more havoc.
On the surface, he remained fearful and apprehensive, leading Fu Mingzi into Fu Mingsong's tent. After all, although he was a personal guard, he was originally a servant of the Duke of Jingguo. He could be arrogant and domineering in front of the soldiers, but in front of the real Fu family members, he still had to be humble and subservient.
Fu Mingzi entered Fu Mingbai's tent, and as expected, he did not see Fu Mingbai.
The guard hurriedly said, "The deputy commander is currently discussing matters with several commanders in the admiral's tent and will not be back for a while. Please wait a moment, Fifth Master."
Fu Mingzi nodded indifferently, but his eyes wandered over the things in the tent.
A bed, a table, a stove, a knife hanging on the wall behind the table, and a bookshelf against the wall with books scattered about, but none of them were the words of sages, but rather military strategies.
The decorations were simple, yet they carried a solemnity that matched Fu Mingbo's own temperament.
Fu Mingzi casually found a stool and pulled it to the stove in the tent to warm himself by the fire.
"Go get me something to eat, I'm starving." Fu Mingzi acted as if she were one of the family.
"Yes," the guard replied cautiously and hurriedly withdrew.
Soon, the food was brought out. In this kind of large camp, there wasn't much good food: a bowl of porridge, a dish of pickled vegetables, and two steamed buns. The rough-looking soldiers' faces were all a little red.
"Fifth Master, it's past mealtime at the camp, and there's not much left in the kitchen. This is all we have. Please have this to tide you over. If it's not enough, I'll go out and hunt a rabbit for you."
“No need.” Fu Mingzi took the bowl of rice, picked it up and drank a big mouthful of porridge, then put the steamed bun on the edge of the stove to toast it: “This is enough.”
If people found out that his personal guards were out hunting rabbits in the middle of the night, who knows what they would say about Fu Mingbo behind his back.
The guards breathed a sigh of relief and said nothing more, simply standing by with their hands at their sides.
After Fu Mingzi finished eating, she waited for quite a while, until it was completely dark outside, before Fu Mingbai finally returned.
Fu Mingbo entered the room wearing armor, and when he lifted the curtain, he brought in the chill from outside.
He looked very much like the Duke of Jingguo, with cold eyes and slightly dark skin, and appeared to be a very dignified person.
"Second Brother." Fu Mingzi subconsciously stood up. Of all the people in the Fu family, the one he feared the most was not anyone else, but his second brother.
"Why did you come here?" Fu Mingbo took the knife from his waist and threw it to his personal guard. He frowned and looked at Fu Mingzi with great dissatisfaction: "Isn't the house enough trouble for you to cause?"
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "I'm just trying to help my older brother and deliver this message to you."
Fu Mingbai's expression shifted slightly, as if he sensed something in his eyes. He waved his hand directly to his personal guards: "You may all leave."
As soon as Fu Mingbai gave the order, the guards left the tent without a sound.
After everyone had left, Fu Mingbo said, "Don't beat around the bush, just say what you want to say."
"Second brother is indeed clever." Fu Mingzi complimented with a smile, and then took out the letters that Fu Mingsong had given him.
"These two letters are from your second sister-in-law and nephew. This one is from your eldest brother. You should burn it after you finish reading it."
Although Fu Mingbo was straightforward, he was not stupid. He immediately frowned and took the letter.
"You sit here and wait," he said, then walked to his desk, opened the letter, and began to read.
Fu Mingzi didn't peek either. He sat in front of the stove with his legs crossed, leisurely warming himself by the fire.
Fu Mingbo quickly finished reading the letter Fu Mingsong had given him. As for the remaining two letters, he didn't open them but simply put them in his pocket.
"Did your elder brother ask you to pass on any message?" Fu Mingbo stared intently at Fu Mingzi, his face ashen.
Fu Mingzi remained calm: "No, he just said to burn the letter he wrote after you finish reading it."
Fu Mingbo walked to Fu Mingzi's side with the letter in his hand. With a wave of his hand, the letter fell into the stove. Fu Mingzi used fire tongs to move the letter to the center of the stove and watched as it was engulfed by the flames and burned to ashes. He then used the fire tongs to scatter the ashes, leaving no trace behind.
Throughout the process, Fu Mingbo stood beside him and watched him until he finally scattered the ashes. Then he whispered, "Your caution is just like your older brother's. You must always remember this caution in the future; it will help you live longer."
Fu Mingzi laughed: "Isn't Second Brother careful?"
Fu Mingbo shook his head with a pained expression: "I'm far from good enough."
"Does Second Brother have any message for Eldest Brother?" Fu Mingzi asked.
"Just tell him I understand." Fu Mingbo turned around and walked back to his desk.
"Go ahead, I've already instructed the guards to prepare a tent. Rest for the night and return to the capital as soon as possible tomorrow," Fu Mingbai said with his back to Fu Mingzi.
"Yes." Fu Mingzi stood up, bowed, and without asking any further questions, turned and left the tent.
As soon as he came out, a guard came up to him: "Fifth Master, would you like to rest?"
Fu Mingzi nodded: "Let's go."
Get some rest; he needs to go home early tomorrow.
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