Chapter 64 Transition (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
On his last visit to the Imperial Study, surprisingly, none of the other princes targeted Zhou Xiaoyan, especially the Ninth Prince, whom Fu Mingzi had been worried about. He simply kept a sullen face and didn't utter a single sarcastic remark.
Fu Mingzi went in and came out with ease, so easily that she could hardly believe it herself.
"The Ninth Prince is more composed today," Fu Mingzi said with a smile.
“With a mother like Consort Luo around, his stupidity is limited,” Zhou Xiaoyan said calmly.
Fu Mingzi smiled. Consort Luo did have some tricks up her sleeve, but now it seemed to be nothing more than petty tricks in the power struggles within the inner quarters. Otherwise, she wouldn't have raised her son to be like this. Now it was too late to make amends.
"Your Highness, would you like to take a look at the residence this afternoon? I heard from Eunuch Wei that Your Highness has not yet visited it." Fu Mingzi skipped over this topic and started talking about something else, because he found that Zhou Xiaoyan always harbored resentment whenever the topic of the inner palace came up, and he really disliked him like that.
Zhou Xiaoyan's attention was successfully diverted. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "It would be good to go and take a look."
This mansion was given to the Ninth Prince in his previous life. He had only heard that it was very exquisite and magnificent, but had never seen it before. It would be good to go and see it now.
The two returned to the West Third Palace together, and since they had eaten late lunch, they strolled outside the palace to look at the residences. Now that Zhou Xiaoyan had been granted the title of king, it was much easier for him to enter and leave the palace.
The house was also located in the west of the capital, right next to the imperial city. It was in a better location than Fu Mingzi's house, and the two houses were not far apart. Fu Mingzi was very satisfied with it, as it would make future visits much easier.
Upon entering, one could see that construction was still underway. The blueprints for the house were produced by the Imperial Household Department, and the supervisor was the deputy chief steward of the Imperial Household Department. Upon seeing Zhou Xiaoyan arrive, he hurriedly came out to greet him.
"Fifth Prince." This deputy chief steward was the son of the emperor's wet nurse and enjoyed the emperor's great trust.
Zhou Xiaoyan didn't dare to be arrogant, and cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Wu."
Chief Steward Wu had a very kind face, but he was very decisive in his actions. He smiled and dodged Zhou Xiaoyan's bow, saying gently, "I wouldn't dare. Your Highness, have you come here because you have any instructions?"
Zhou Xiaoyan shook his head: "I just came to visit since I had nothing else to do, and I didn't disturb Lord Wu."
Chief Steward Wu hurriedly shook his head: "How could that be? Your Highness is overjoyed to be here. I still have the blueprints from this project. Would Your Highness like to take a look?"
Zhou Xiaoyan hurriedly waved his hand: "No need, I'm not good at engineering and construction. Lord Wu can handle it. I'll just wander around with Young Master Fu."
Chief Steward Wu glanced at Zhou Xiaoyan, convinced that he had probed Zhou Xiaoyan's background, so he was not nervous and said with a smile, "Of course, may I show Your Highness the way?"
"No need, Lord Wu is busy, I really don't dare to disturb you," Zhou Xiaoyan said softly.
Steward Wu smiled and said, "Then I won't disturb Your Highness's enjoyment any longer. Please make yourself at home."
Zhou Xiaoyan nodded, then led Fu Mingzi toward the back garden.
As Fu Mingzi walked, he smiled and whispered, "This Steward Wu is quite a remarkable person."
Speaking of this Chief Steward Wu, he was also the emperor's wet nurse and was deeply trusted by the emperor. He must have been the one who understood the emperor's thoughts the most. He must have known that Zhou Xiaoyan was not the emperor's favorite prince, but he was still able to act so humble and submissive, perfectly embodying the spirit of caution and prudence.
Zhou Xiaoyan said expressionlessly, "This Chief Steward Wu is someone who wouldn't even utter a word of abuse to a murderer; he's a well-known good-natured person in the palace."
In his previous life, the last meal he had before he died was delivered by this Steward Wu. At that time, he still greeted him with a smile and called him Your Highness. He even served him the meal with great care, which shows how well this person treated others.
"How interesting." Fu Mingzi smiled, then glanced at Steward Wu, who was still bowing his head, making a gesture of respectful farewell, truly submissive to the extreme.
“No wonder His Majesty trusts him,” Fu Mingzi suddenly said. “With his temperament, I’m afraid no one can bring themselves to have any ill intentions towards him.”
Zhou Xiaoyan lowered his eyes: "But no one dares to underestimate him; that's his skill."
Fu Mingzi nodded. Indeed, this Chief Steward Wu had been the Deputy Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department for so long that no one dared to really take advantage of him.
The two of them entered the back garden. At this time, the flowers and trees in the garden had not yet been planted and looked a bit messy, but the general shape was already taken out. It was clear that the garden had been carefully prepared and was not just a haphazard effort. The trees and flowers planted were all of the highest quality.
The craftsmen who were working stopped and bowed when they saw them come in. Zhou Xiaoyan waved his hand and turned to go to a less crowded area.
They walked all the way to the lake and finally stopped. Looking at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, Zhou Xiaoyan frowned: "This house is indeed exquisite."
Fu Mingzi laughed: "It's more than just exquisite. I'm afraid you'd be hard-pressed to find a house like this, which resembles a southern garden, in the entire capital."
“But the more this is the case, the more I feel that my father has ulterior motives towards me.” Zhou Xiaoyan said in a low voice.
The emperor in his previous life used him so much, but he only gave him a large mansion as compensation. Now he's given such an exquisite mansion; who knows what his true intentions are?
Fu Mingzi didn't take it seriously at all: "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. What's there to be afraid of? Does His Majesty hold a knife to your throat and force you to do something?"
Zhou Xiaoyan's expression softened slightly, but the gloom in his eyes did not disappear. Fu Mingzi still did not fully understand the emperor's ruthlessness.
However, there was no need to overthink it at this moment. Zhou Xiaoyan's emotions calmed down a bit, and he should focus on doing his own thing right now.
“You’re right.” He smiled at Fu Mingzi.
Fu Mingzi was dumbfounded by the laughter and couldn't help but take a step forward. Zhou Xiaoyan was startled and took half a step back, his face turning red: "Don't be silly in public."
Fu Mingzi felt a dryness in his mouth, but he smiled somewhat frivolously, raised his hand, brushed the fallen leaves off Zhou Xiaoyan's shoulder, and said in a low voice, "What are you thinking about, Your Highness? How could I be a reckless person?"
After saying that, he took advantage of Zhou Xiaoyan's stunned moment to lean close to his ear and whispered, "Even if I want to be intimate with Your Highness, I will find a place where no one can see me. Otherwise, if Your Highness is seen looking so cute, I will be very sad."
Zhou Xiaoyan's face flushed red instantly, and he stammered out a few words, but couldn't utter a single complete sentence.
Fu Mingzi's smile deepened.
"I...I'm going back to the palace." Seeing Fu Mingzi's amused look, Zhou Xiaoyan gritted his teeth, turned around, and refused to look at him anymore.
Fu Mingzi smiled and nodded: "Alright, it's getting windy, it's time to return to the palace."
Zhou Xiaoyan felt he had no way to express his bitterness and couldn't help but feel resentful. He had made many mistakes in his past life, but he was right about one thing: he was indeed a frivolous and reckless person!
**
Five days later, Fu Mingzi, who spent his days either loitering at home or talking to Zhou Xiaoyan in the palace, was finally caught by the Duke of Jingguo and taken to his study.
“Ever since the Fifth Prince stopped going to the Imperial Study, you’ve become far too idle. If you continue like this, are you going to start causing trouble again like before?” Duke Jingguo looked at him with a stern face, his tone full of dissatisfaction.
Fu Mingzi didn't take it seriously at all: "His Highness no longer goes to the Imperial Study, but he hasn't left the palace to live in the Prince's Mansion either. Where else can I go? Am I supposed to go to the palace to report every day? His Highness is already attending court to listen to government affairs."
The Duke of Jingguo was quite angry at his words: "You spend your days indulging in debauchery, yet you have plenty of excuses."
He paused after speaking, then added, "Even so, we should find something worthwhile to do."
Fu Mingzi thought for a moment: "What should I do? His Highness is currently in the Ministry of Revenue. Does that mean I should also join the Ministry of Revenue?"
Duke Jingguo shook his head in anger: "You make it sound so easy. Forget it, I won't waste my breath on you. Your eldest sister will be arriving in the capital tomorrow. You and your second brother will go to pick her up then."
Upon hearing the Duke of Jingguo mention this, Fu Mingzi perked up: "You've arrived so quickly?"
"How much longer are you planning to do this!" Duke Jingguo said, somewhat annoyed. "Stop talking nonsense. Get up early tomorrow and stop being so lazy."
Fu Mingzi pursed her lips: "When will Second Brother be back?"
"He'll be back tonight. There's been a lot less training at the Yuntai camp, so he's had some free time," Duke Jingguo said casually.
Fu Mingzi's expression tightened. It was rather unusual that the Imperial Guards, who were responsible for protecting the capital, were now idle.
"Why are you free now?" Fu Mingzi remembered that the emperor attached great importance to the training of the Yuntai Camp, and would send people to check on it almost every month.
"Why are you asking this, you little kid? Get out of here!" Duke Jingguo said, feigning impatience.
Fu Mingzi, however, wouldn't be chased away so easily, and pressed on, asking, "What exactly is the reason, Father? Please tell me."
The Duke of Jingguo was somewhat annoyed by the question, and then said, "It is His Majesty who wants to reward the army, so please don't ask any more questions."
Fu Mingzi immediately fell into deep thought.
Duke Jingguo wouldn't let him think in his study, raising his hand to shoo him away: "Get out of here after you've finished asking your questions!"
Fu Mingzi obediently left this time, but she seemed more somber than when she arrived.
He remembered that in Fu Yunjia's memory, after the emperor made the daughter of the Duke of Qian a concubine for the fourth prince, he sent the fourth prince south to suppress bandits. It was because of the fourth prince's merit in this matter that he came into the sight of the ministers of the previous dynasty.
Now that the emperor is rewarding the troops, who will he send?
The Crown Prince? No, absolutely not. The Emperor is already wary of the relationship between the Crown Prince and the civil officials, so how could he allow the Crown Prince to monopolize the limelight?
The Fifth Prince? That's unlikely. First of all, although the Crown Prince used Zhou Xiaoyan, he was also wary of him. After all, the Emperor treated Zhou Xiaoyan quite well on the surface. Even if the Crown Prince allied with Zhou Xiaoyan, he wouldn't truly trust him.
Therefore, the fourth prince, who is to be granted the title of king, is the only option.
The emperor's order for the fourth prince to reward the army was likely intended to strengthen his connection with the military generals. After all, the fourth prince now has powerful families behind him, and if military generals are added to the mix, the crown prince, who only has civil officials, will be no match for the fourth prince.
Fu Mingzi broke out in a cold sweat. Did the emperor really like the fourth prince that much? To scheme against his own two sons like this, just to pave the way for the fourth prince?
If that's the case, why not depose the Crown Prince early on, directly appoint the Fourth Prince as Crown Prince, and make Consort Wu the Empress, thus saving all this scheming and plotting?
Was he afraid that Consort Wu would become a target and be harmed, or was he afraid that his reputation would be tarnished by the matter of deposing the eldest son and establishing the younger son?
Fu Mingzi's fear of the emperor deepened.
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Author's Note: This is just a short transition; I hope you enjoy reading!
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