Chapter 53: The Agreement - First Published on Jinjiang Literature City
As expected, Commander Yang's actions did not surprise Fu Mingzi. He spent the entire afternoon subtly flattering Zhou Xiaoyan. However, perhaps because his words were rather reserved, and Zhou Xiaoyan could be considered worthy of such flattery, the other princes' expressions were somewhat better than in the morning.
However, Zhou Xiaoyan himself didn't care much about such things.
After finishing his martial arts lesson, Fu Mingzi followed Zhou Xiaoyan back to the West Third Palace. As soon as they entered, they saw Wei Baocheng's disciple waiting at the door: "Your Highness, someone from His Highness the Crown Prince has come to deliver a message and is currently waiting in the front hall."
Zhou Xiaoyan raised an eyebrow, not showing much surprise.
Fu Mingzi understood that this was probably a report on the outcome of Zhou Xiaoyan's departure from the palace during the morning court session.
"Understood." Zhou Xiaoyan waved his hand. "You may all leave. Young Master Fu and I will go in."
Wei Baocheng roughly knew that the Fifth Prince and the Crown Prince might have some connection, and therefore understood the gravity of the situation. So when he heard Zhou Xiaoyan say this, he wasn't too surprised and simply responded calmly.
Zhou Xiaoyan led Fu Mingzi into the main hall. The eunuch who came to deliver the message was the Crown Prince's trusted eunuch. Fu Mingzi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Putting aside everything else, the Crown Prince was certainly good at putting on a show.
"Fifth Prince, Young Master Fu." This eunuch was shrewd; seeing the two people enter, he remained unfazed, simply smiling as he rose to greet them.
Fu Mingzi nodded, her face expressionless.
Zhou Xiaoyan seemed much more enthusiastic: "Since it's you, Father-in-law, who has come in person, what can I do for you, elder brother?"
The eunuch, flattered by Zhou Xiaoyan, showed a hint of joy on his face and said gently, "It's nothing serious. His Highness the Crown Prince just instructed me to tell you that something good might happen in a few days. Your Highness must remain calm these days. His Majesty may be giving you a test. Although Your Highness is quite learned, you still need to take it seriously."
The words were spoken in a veiled manner, but Zhou Xiaoyan and Fu Mingzi, who knew the background, could easily understand the meaning behind them. Fu Mingzi was fine with it, but Zhou Xiaoyan simply put on a gloating expression, his hands trembling with excitement.
"Thank you for informing me, sir." He bowed to the eunuch with an excited expression, and said with a look of utmost loyalty, "Please also tell His Highness the Crown Prince that I will certainly not let my brother down."
The eunuch smiled and said, "Your Highness's words are remembered. In that case, I should take my leave."
Zhou Xiaoyan politely saw the eunuch out personally, and only turned back after the eunuch's figure disappeared from sight.
But now, the joy he had shown before was gone, replaced by his usual indifference.
"It seems the Crown Prince is quite efficient; he got it done so quickly," Fu Mingzi said with a smile.
Zhou Xiaoyan pursed his lips and said after a long while, "The Crown Prince can't be unhappy either, because Father is watching him closely now."
“That’s true.” Fu Mingzi smiled lightly, but in his heart he wondered how the Crown Prince was killed by Consort Luo and the Empress. With so many tricks up his sleeve, how could he be plotted against by two women in the inner palace?
Fu Mingzi wouldn't believe such nonsense. Consort Luo was just a farmer's daughter. Even if she recognized Marquis Dingyuan as her godfather, given Marquis Dingyuan's temperament, he wouldn't help Consort Luo take risks before things were done. Giving her a useless son was already the limit.
Needless to say, the Empress is no exception. Although the Duan family is considered a prestigious family, it has become a mere shell. The Xia family is now the leading family. How many people can the Empress command to assassinate the Crown Prince?
Needless to say, in the entire harem, the Crown Prince was probably most wary of Consort Luo and the pregnant Empress.
Therefore, Fu Mingzi was certain that there were other people behind this assassination attempt.
It's just unknown who it was that made such a swift and ruthless move, not only killing the Crown Prince but also eliminating two formidable enemies, the Empress and the Imperial Concubine.
Fu Mingzi had also thought about the Fourth Prince and the Xia family behind him, but now that he thought about it, the Fourth Prince was not a decisive person. Instead, he was a scheming person who liked to reap the benefits without lifting a finger. As for the Xia family, they would not risk the world's condemnation to kill the Crown Prince because they had too many concerns. If they were exposed, it would be a disaster.
The Xia family, a group of scholars, would never do something like this. It's more likely they would subtly offer some assistance or favors.
Fu Mingzi thought about it again and again, and felt that it was possible that the four parties had worked together to make it happen. However, perhaps the Fourth Prince and the Xia family were too well hidden, and in the end, Empress Duan and Consort Luo became the murderers in the open.
The more Fu Mingzi thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and her concerns about the Fourth Prince grew stronger.
The two returned to the main hall and sat down without a word. Fu Mingzi glanced at Zhou Xiaoyan and found him deep in thought as well. She couldn't help but ask, "His Highness the Crown Prince has pushed you out. You will definitely become the target of everyone's criticism. What do you plan to do?"
Zhou Xiaoyan smiled slightly, a cold smile flashing in his eyes: "Since they all want to push me out as a target, then I have to show them my abilities, otherwise wouldn't it be a waste of their scheme?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness is right. Since you've been put forward, why not steal the limelight and let everyone know Your Highness's abilities? When they want to help the person hiding behind the scenes, they probably won't be able to match Your Highness's popularity."
This is a strategy of using a counter-strategy, but it is also an extremely dangerous one, because one is always in the eye of the storm. If one makes a mistake, it will lead to an abyss. Moreover, the emperor is watching from above. It is really as difficult as climbing to heaven to make any achievements in such a position.
However, Fu Mingzi preferred this kind of going against the tide. Having come this far, if she gave up on herself, what face would she have to compete for that position?
If you want to unify the world but lack the courage to defy fate, then you should give up that idea as soon as possible.
Seeing Fu Mingzi's eager expression, Zhou Xiaoyan knew that he had indeed struck a chord with him.
After Fu Mingzi died in his previous life, he also wondered what he had done wrong to end up like this.
But he eventually realized that he had made mistakes at every step.
Unable to see through his father's true intentions, and unable to discern Zhou Xiaoheng's loyalty and treachery, he was caught in the middle of the situation, blinded by superficial warmth, confused, foolish, and pitiful.
He still remembered what Fu Mingzi said when she left him.
“Your Highness, you are now dancing on the edge of a knife, your life hanging by a thread. If you do not take a gamble, you will become someone else’s stepping stone. I have come to you today to ask if you are willing to break free from this predicament with me, spread your wings and soar into the sky, and no longer be a puppet in someone else’s hands.”
At that time, although he had been deeply hurt by his own cold words, his eyes were shining when he said those words.
But how did he answer back then?
“Fu Mingzi, if you want to leave, then leave. A person like you probably never speaks the truth. You said you would stay with me, but now you've already made arrangements to enter the court. Since you've already abandoned me, why bother saying these high-sounding words in front of me? I'm no longer the person I was when we first met. I have the Emperor's favor and my fourth brother's support. I no longer need the sweet talk of a treacherous person like you!”
As if blinded by lard, she found Fu Mingzi utterly ridiculous. If he wanted to abandon her, why bother saying such nice things? After all these years, hadn't he said enough sweet words? In the end, he was only after her looks.
At that time, he was extremely indignant, perhaps even a little frightened, and unwilling to listen to Fu Mingzi's explanation any longer, so he immediately turned and left.
Looking back now, Fu Mingzi's eyes not only shone with starlight, but also held endless compassion. He knew his situation all along, but unfortunately, he didn't believe in him, so he could only leave in despair.
Looking back now, when he later entered the court to serve, he faced several close calls, but miraculously survived each time. Now, upon closer reflection, Fu Mingzi's figure can be seen behind all those events.
Zhou Xiaoyan's eyes darkened slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Once I establish my own government, you will become my advisor."
In his previous life, he had thought about who he would hire as his advisor if he were to establish his own government, but before he could think about it deeply, Fu Mingzi's image appeared in his mind.
However, at that time he was very cold to Fu Mingzi and was terrified that he would have such thoughts. He struggled for several days and finally decided to give this bastard a chance. But he did not expect to receive news from Zhou Xiaoheng that Fu Mingzi was going to make arrangements to enter the court.
At that time, he felt not only anger at being betrayed, but also fear of uncertainty about the future. He had become accustomed to this person always being by his side, so when Fu Mingzi came to talk to him again, he felt even more fooled, which is why he said such hurtful things and broke up with him completely.
Now, separated by two lifetimes, he finally said what he had wanted to say in his previous life.
“Okay!” Fu Mingzi answered with a smile without any hesitation. His bright eyes were fixed on Zhou Xiaoyan, as if he only had eyes for him.
Zhou Xiaoyan felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and certain emotions welled up from the depths of his soul, carrying a hint of bitterness and a faint burning sensation.
"My residence probably won't be very nice, so please don't mind." Zhou Xiaoyan turned his head away as if to cover up, not daring to look into Fu Mingzi's eyes anymore. He was afraid that if he looked any longer, he would really lose his composure on the spot.
Fu Mingzi continued to gaze at him steadily: "As long as Your Highness is here, nothing else matters."
His sincere words made Zhou Xiaoyan's heart tremble.
“Then it’s settled.” He finally turned around and looked at Fu Mingzi with a solemn expression: “Since you’ve chosen me, you can’t change your mind.” He spoke solemnly, as if he were making some kind of vow.
Fu Mingzi wanted to laugh, but looking into Zhou Xiaoyan's eyes, he suddenly felt that perhaps it was not the right time to crack jokes.
“Of course.” He said firmly, “Would Your Highness like to make a vow with me?”
Hearing this, Zhou Xiaoyan finally smiled faintly: "I believe you," he said.
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "Alright, as long as Your Highness trusts me, I am willing to serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty."
**
When Fu Mingzi came out of the West Third Institute, she was in a great mood.
Because this was the first time he had sensed a trace of dependence from Zhou Xiaoyan, and the object of this dependence was actually himself. Fu Mingzi was a pragmatic person, and just thinking about this, he even thought about how he would confront his family after they got together.
We still need to win over the old man first, and then win over the eldest brother.
Thinking of this, Fu Mingzi clapped his hands. Oh no, he forgot the most important one: his nominal fiancée!
I've been so busy these past few days that I completely forgot about this. I need to get back quickly and resolve this issue as soon as possible.
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