Chapter 70: Making Things Difficult (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
The moment the crown prince got into the carriage, his expression changed.
The eunuchs serving him immediately shut their mouths and dared not utter a word.
The Crown Prince returned to the East Palace with a sullen face. As soon as he got out of the carriage, he turned around and went to the study in front. Several advisors hurriedly followed him.
After the group entered, the Crown Prince couldn't help but ask, "Why hasn't anyone reported back to me about the Yuntai Camp?"
One of the middle-aged staff members looked surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Has something happened at the Yuntai camp? But our men haven't noticed anything unusual these past few days..."
"Hmph!" The Crown Prince sneered, "Nothing unusual. I'm afraid those so-called 'our people' are no longer on our side."
"What do you mean by this?" the aide exclaimed in surprise.
The Crown Prince pursed his lips, looking very serious: "Today I went to my fifth brother's residence and suddenly heard that Fu Mingbo has returned. Fu Mingbo is different from the others in the Fu family. He has always been a rigid and serious person. He just came back a few days ago and is back again today. It must be because the Yuntai Camp has given them a holiday. The Yuntai Camp has always given them a holiday once a month. How could that have changed?"
The aide broke out in a cold sweat: "In that case, I'm afraid something really big is about to happen."
"Investigate immediately!" The crown prince's voice was ruthless: "Don't contact that person again. If you have the chance..." The crown prince slashed downwards with his hand.
The aide immediately understood the crown prince's meaning, and a chill ran down his spine, but he still put on a trembling expression: "Your subordinate understands."
The crown prince then nodded.
After saying this, the Crown Prince paused for a moment before saying, "I'm afraid the matter between Lady Du and the Fifth Prince is not going to happen. Now that Father Emperor values the Fifth Prince so much, it is completely impossible for him to marry a princess of such low status."
When the Crown Prince mentioned this, the advisor smiled and said, "We don't expect the Fifth Prince to actually marry Lady Du. We're just seeing what the Fifth Prince's attitude will be like."
The Crown Prince frowned upon hearing this: "I've been feeling something's off these past few days. Father's sudden attention to the Fifth Prince, and what the Fifth Prince said about the Fourth Prince today—I feel like there's something going on here."
The aide hesitated, "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
The Crown Prince then recounted what Zhou Xiaoyan had said about the Fourth Prince earlier that day. Upon hearing this, the advisor was startled and immediately said, "Then I will immediately have someone investigate the Fourth Prince."
The Crown Prince shook his head: "Let's not alert them for now. We'll investigate this matter after the selection of officials. I feel that we'll be able to see some of Father's thoughts during this selection."
The aide nodded: "Your Highness is brilliant."
The crown prince shook his head and said nothing more.
**
While the Crown Prince's palace was filled with suspicion and fear, the atmosphere at the Prince of Jin's residence was much more harmonious.
After seeing the Crown Prince off, Fu Mingzi returned to the main room. When she entered, Zhou Xiaoyan had already changed into casual clothes and was drinking a bowl of tea, but he showed no signs of being drunk.
"Your Highness has excellent acting skills." Fu Mingzi couldn't help but give a thumbs up in praise.
Zhou Xiaoyan put down his teacup, pursed his lips, and a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes: "Is everything alright with the Crown Prince?"
Fu Mingzi proudly raised her chin: "With me in charge, what can't we handle?"
Zhou Xiaoyan couldn't help but chuckle: "If the Crown Prince knew about your smug look, he would be furious."
Fu Mingzi chuckled, "What's wrong with that? We're doing this for His Highness's own good. Isn't it good to let him know His Majesty's thoughts sooner rather than later?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaoyan's expression turned slightly somber: "I'm afraid that if he finds out, Father will kill him without hesitation."
Fu Mingzi frowned. He also remembered what Yun Jia had told him before: His Highness the Crown Prince had indeed died early. Moreover, according to his speculation, he was probably killed by the Emperor because he knew about the Emperor's intentions. However, this was just his speculation, and he did not dare to be sure. But now that he heard Zhou Xiaoyan say this, he felt that his speculation was probably true.
"Your Majesty wouldn't be that ruthless, would he?" Fu Mingzi asked Zhou Xiaoyan tentatively.
Zhou Xiaoyan sneered: "I know him better than you do. They say even tigers don't eat their cubs, but he's more ruthless than a tiger. He's absolutely capable of doing something like this."
Fu Mingzi was now completely certain.
"Then what does Your Highness decide to do?" Fu Mingzi asked after a pause.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaoyan was momentarily bewildered. Initially, he didn't care much about the Crown Prince's life or death, because regardless of his past or present life, the Crown Prince had only ever treated him as a pawn or an opponent, never showing him any pity. But now, could he really just stand by and watch the Crown Prince die?
Zhou Xiaoyan clenched his fist, finally turning his face away, not daring to look Fu Mingzi in the eye.
“I will remind him of his father’s intentions. As for whether he can avoid it, that depends on his fate,” Zhou Xiaoyan said in a hoarse voice.
Fu Mingzi chuckled: "So Your Highness is giving up the opportunity to reap the benefits? And entrusting your future to someone else?"
Zhou Xiaoyan found these words rather harsh, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "I know that what I am doing is unfair to you. You have staked your entire fortune on me, but I cannot make a decisive decision. I am indeed not a good ruler. However, I do not want to see the Crown Prince die an unjust death. He is, after all, my brother."
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness, you truly bring me something new every day."
He stood up, walked to the other side of Zhou Xiaoyan, and looked straight at Zhou Xiaoyan's face: "I thought you were indifferent before, but later I realized that you are not indifferent at all. On the contrary, you are very gentle. Now that I hear what you said, I finally know that my choice was not wrong."
“A wise ruler is not necessarily cold-hearted, but rather loving all under heaven. If a person can disregard even his own brothers and sisters, how can I expect him to love all people in the world?” Fu Mingzi knelt on the ground and gently took Zhou Xiaoyan’s hand: “Your Highness, don’t always think about those things. In fact, didn’t you already do what you called a reminder today? As long as the Crown Prince isn’t a fool, he will know about the Emperor’s thoughts and those things at the Yuntai Camp sooner or later. How he and the Emperor fight each other then is none of your business.”
When Zhou Xiaoyan heard this, he felt relieved, not because of the Crown Prince, but because Fu Mingzi was not angry with him.
He quickly grasped Fu Mingzi's hand and said urgently, "That's my plan, I..."
"Alright." Fu Mingzi stopped Zhou Xiaoyan from speaking: "Your Highness has already repaid the debt of brotherhood today. In the future, Your Highness should not be soft-hearted towards the Crown Prince, nor should you have any illusions about him. The Crown Prince is not an easy person to deal with."
Zhou Xiaoyan nodded solemnly: "I understand, and I will definitely keep this in mind in the future."
Fu Mingzi patted his head as a reward, but sighed inwardly.
What he just said was nothing but nonsense. What brotherhood and blood ties meant nothing to the imperial family. But he knew that Zhou Xiaoyan was not a cold-blooded person. To get him over this hurdle, he couldn't force him. That's why he used today's diversionary tactic as a reminder, so that Zhou Xiaoyan could have some peace of mind.
Although this peace of mind is vague and elusive, it at least makes him feel a little better.
Afterwards, Fu Mingzi explained their next steps, watched Zhou Xiaoyan rest, and then left the Prince of Jin's residence.
When Fu Mingzi returned to the Fu family, the old master was still awake and practicing boxing in the front yard. When he saw Fu Mingzi return, he raised his eyes and stopped his practice.
"You're back so late, were there a lot of people here today?"
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "Not many. It was just a few princes, some people from the Fifth Prince's maternal family, and a few neighbors who live nearby."
"Oh," the Duke of Jingguo replied dryly. "Then you should get some rest too." He took the handkerchief offered by his servant and wiped the sweat from his face.
Fu Mingzi smiled and leaned closer: "Father, I heard some news, would you like to hear it?"
Duke Jingguo frowned, then waved for his attendant to leave.
"You speak," Duke Jingguo said, looking at Fu Mingzi.
Fu Mingzi didn't mince words and said directly, "I heard that His Majesty wants to marry my eldest sister's illegitimate daughter to the Fourth Prince as a concubine. Do you think this is appropriate?"
"Proper my foot!" Duke Jingguo suddenly flew into a rage, throwing a handkerchief at Fu Mingzi's face: "Why didn't you tell me this sooner!"
Fu Mingzi chuckled and dodged to the side, saying, "I just found out too."
Of course, all of this was nonsense. He had told Fu Mingzhu that the emperor would bestow Mu Xueqing upon the fourth prince as a concubine so that she could prepare in advance. The reason he only told the Duke of Jingguo now was naturally because he wanted to catch the Duke of Jingguo off guard and make him make a decision in a very short time. Otherwise, given the Duke of Jingguo's way of thinking, he would probably overthink it again.
"Don't try to fool me with this nonsense." Duke Jingguo waved his hand with some annoyance: "I will give this matter serious consideration."
Duke Jingguo was no fool; he knew exactly what Fu Mingzi was up to. He simply wanted Fu Mingzi to decide whether to let things unfold as they would or to side with the Fifth Prince.
Because once Mu Xueqing marries the Fourth Prince, then the illegitimate son of the Duke of Qian will be connected with the Fourth Prince. If the Duke of Jing does nothing, then Fu Mingzhu will definitely be sacrificed. If he sides with the Fifth Prince, then the Fu family will probably undergo another major upheaval.
This was no small matter, and the Duke of Jingguo dared not make a decision immediately.
Fu Mingzi naturally understood this as well, so she immediately corrected her attitude: "Of course, please take your time to consider it, I won't bother you any longer."
After saying that, he hurriedly left. Duke Jingguo watched Fu Mingzi's departing figure with a deep gaze.
It wouldn't be accurate to accuse him of disregarding the bigger picture, because the moment the emperor decided to arrange the marriage, he had already decided to put the Duke of Jingguo's mansion in danger, or rather, the emperor valued the Duke of Qianguo's mansion more than the Duke of Jingguo's mansion.
This was unavoidable, given that the Duke of Jingguo was in the capital, while the Duke of Qianguo was far away on the frontier. Naturally, it was necessary to win over this important frontier official. By keeping the Duke of Qianguo in check, it was possible to ensure that the frontier would not be in turmoil and that the country would remain stable.
Although the Duke of Jingguo nominally commanded the Imperial Guards, his only trusted confidants were the Xiaoji Battalion. With the imperial seal of command in the emperor's hands, he couldn't cause any real trouble.
The Duke of Jingguo's mansion wanted to protect itself in this matter, which put it in a difficult position.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
