Chapter 87 Investigation (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
In the following days, Fu Mingzi did not go to the Prince of Jin's residence again. He wanted to give Zhou Xiaoyan some space to think about their relationship.
However, Fu Mingzi couldn't stay at home, since he had told the old man that he had something to tell him in the next few days, so Fu Mingzi could only go out and wander around every day.
However, he didn't really idle around. Instead, he found a few people to start investigating the affairs of the third branch of the family, since he couldn't rely entirely on Fu Mingsong's side.
Within two days, Fu Mingzi had uncovered some clues on his own, but before he could investigate further, Fu Mingsong sent someone to call him home.
"Big brother." Fu Mingzi returned from outside, looking travel-worn, and went straight to Fu Mingsong's courtyard.
Fu Mingsong was standing by the window looking outside when he heard Fu Mingzi's voice, at which point he turned around.
“You’re back.” He said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingzi felt a chill run down her spine for no apparent reason. Her previously high-spirited tone instantly turned low, and she awkwardly replied with a "hmm."
Fu Mingsong looked at him intently for a long time before saying, "Has something happened between you and the Fifth Prince these past few days?"
Fu Mingzi's heart sank, realizing that her pretense of going out these past few days hadn't fooled Fu Mingsong.
"There is something," Fu Mingzi forced a smile. "But it's nothing serious." He added somewhat guiltily.
Fu Mingsong looked intently at Fu Mingzi, the doubt in his eyes almost making Fu Mingzi want to run out the door.
However, Fu Mingsong didn't press Fu Mingzi too much. In the end, he withdrew his gaze, turned his face to the side, and said in a deep voice, "It's good that you know what you're doing."
Fu Mingzi smiled awkwardly, still feeling that her previous decision had been too hasty. Now that she had brought up the matter between herself and Zhou Xiaoyan, she wondered if it would make her family have doubts about supporting Zhou Xiaoyan.
However, he didn't dare to say these words out loud, and kept them deep in his heart.
"Brother, is there anything else you want me to do by calling me back this time?" Fu Mingzi quickly changed the subject.
Fu Mingsong didn't speak, but turned around and sat back down in the main seat. After pondering for a moment, he said, "I've almost finished investigating the matter of the third branch of the family."
Fu Mingzi raised an eyebrow; it was indeed not unexpected.
"What exactly happened?"
Fu Mingsong sighed: "The third brother has harbored ulterior motives and has actually colluded with the Xia family through Ze Fan."
"What?" Fu Mingzi was so shocked he almost lost his footing. Although he had also found out a little, he had only discovered that Fu Zefan was frequently meeting with strangers. He had previously guessed that it might be someone from the Crown Prince or the Fourth Prince trying to win him over, but he never expected the truth to be even more astonishing.
"How could this happen?" Fu Mingzi frowned. Fu Mingfeng was not a fool. He should know the discord between the Fu family, as the head of the noble families, and the powerful clans. To actually side with the Xia family was tantamount to cutting off his own escape route.
"At first, I couldn't believe it either, but when I thought about how my third brother treated me before, I knew he was really capable of doing such a thing," Fu Mingsong said coldly.
Fu Mingzi's heart skipped a beat. When Fu Mingfeng was young, he was so jealous that he would throw cheat sheets into his brother's exam basket. It was not surprising that he would do something like this now.
"So what do you decide to do?" Fu Mingzi asked.
Fu Mingsong closed his eyes briefly: "Once I've gathered the evidence, I'll go talk to my father."
Fu Mingzi wasn't too surprised by Fu Mingsong's decision. Just as she was about to offer some words of comfort, she suddenly remembered Zhou Xiaoyan's words and couldn't help but say, "Brother, why don't you start by investigating the servants in the house? Since he dared to do something like this, there must be someone in the house looking after him. Otherwise, how could he have done something so big with just a child like Zefan, who is so far away?"
Fu Mingsong frowned. He had been too hasty and made a mess of things, failing to consider such a simple problem.
"I understand." Fu Mingsong nodded.
Seeing that there was nothing more for her to do, Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "So, am I still going to take Zefan to see Third Brother?"
"Do it." Fu Mingsong's eyes were cold. "Of course we'll do it. It'll be a good opportunity to see what they're up to."
Fu Mingzi nodded, knowing that Fu Mingsong was not someone who would be held back by certain doubts.
"However, this time when you go, I will have someone secretly follow you. You can do whatever you want, and the investigation will be handled by others," Fu Mingsong added.
Fu Mingzi nodded: "I understand." Actually, he was just being used as a front to attract attention, which he could understand.
After giving some more detailed instructions, Fu Mingzi prepared to leave. However, just as he reached the door, he saw Fu Mingsong's attendant rushing in anxiously.
Fu Mingzi paused and stopped.
Fu Mingsong noticed his attendant frown and asked, "Why are you running so fast? Is something wrong?"
The servant looked somewhat uncomfortable and glanced at Fu Mingzi, but Fu Mingzi seemed oblivious, pretending not to notice and remaining perfectly still.
Seeing that Fu Mingsong didn't seem to care, the servant whispered, "Master, someone came to deliver a message saying that the palace has issued an imperial decree, and it looks like it's going to the Prince of Jin's residence."
Fu Mingsong's expression immediately tightened. He knew exactly what the court had been discussing these past few days. The day after the Fourth Prince broke his leg, an imperial censor revealed the matter of rewarding the Yuntai Camp, and even asked the emperor to make a decision as soon as possible under the pretext of not disturbing the military training.
Fu Mingsong watched as the emperor's face turned from normal to ashen, and finally understood that the fourth prince's fall from his horse the day before was not accidental.
The imperial court has been discussing the selection of a person for this matter for the past few days, but due to the emperor's ambiguous attitude, no decision has been made. Unexpectedly, an imperial edict was issued today, and it was even sent to the Prince of Jin's residence. The purpose of this is self-evident.
Fu Mingsong suddenly looked at Fu Mingzi. Fu Mingzi was slightly surprised, but not too surprised. Fu Mingsong immediately understood and waved his hand: "I understand, you can go now."
The servant was somewhat surprised by Fu Mingsong's calmness. He knew that the master had been frowning over this matter for the past few days, but he also understood that he couldn't get involved in such things, so he immediately took his leave.
After the attendant left, Fu Mingsong asked anxiously, "Did you cause the Fourth Prince's trouble?"
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "I don't have that ability. I just gave His Highness the Crown Prince some clues. I didn't expect that the Fourth Prince would fall off his horse a few days later. I was quite surprised myself."
Fu Mingsong pursed his lips, not believing that Fu Mingzi was genuinely surprised. However, there was no need to be too critical of such matters, as long as the outcome was good. But he never expected that such a good thing would end up falling on the Fifth Prince.
"In that case, you should congratulate the Fifth Prince properly and stop fooling around." Fu Mingsong's words were also a hint to Fu Mingzi not to quarrel with Zhou Xiaoyan anymore.
Fu Mingzi smiled bitterly to himself, wondering if he had shot himself in the foot.
"Yes, I've got it." Fu Mingzi couldn't explain her relationship with Zhou Xiaoyan to Fu Mingsong at this moment, so she could only stammer in agreement.
Seeing that Fu Mingzi's expression was strange, Fu Mingsong was afraid that he was just trying to fool him, so he said again, "If you don't want to go, I'll have someone force you to go. Now, one move can affect the whole situation, so don't be willful!"
Fu Mingzi was completely under Fu Mingsong's thumb, and could only beg for mercy, saying, "Let's at least wait until tomorrow. Now that the imperial decree has been issued, if we rush over now, won't we just become a laughing stock?"
Fu Mingsong frowned, somewhat disagreeing with him, but ultimately gave him some face, nodding and saying, "Alright, then go tomorrow. This time, you mustn't just go through the motions."
Fu Mingzi nodded hurriedly, and only then did Fu Mingsong let him go.
Fu Mingzi left Fu Mingsong's study and finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Today's events were truly thrilling.
**
Although she had spent some time with Fu Mingsong, Fu Mingzi still had to face reality. The next morning, Fu Mingzi reluctantly got up, tidied herself up, and ate breakfast slowly before finally getting up and heading out the door towards the Prince of Jin's residence.
Seeing that he wasn't in high spirits, Songyan couldn't help but say, "Fifth Master, if you don't want to go over there, then let's go to the newly opened restaurant to listen to some folk songs. I've heard that the young ladies singing there have very soft voices."
Fu Mingzi waved his hand irritably. It wasn't that he didn't want to go to the Prince of Jin's residence; he was just afraid that if he went, he would get a result he didn't want to hear. If that were the case, he would rather deceive himself and not go.
Seeing Fu Mingzi's expression, Song Yan quickly shut her mouth and dared not say more, but she couldn't help but sigh in her heart that ever since this man got involved with the Fifth Prince, his temper had become more and more eccentric.
Fu Mingzi strolled leisurely to the Prince of Jin's residence. As soon as he arrived at the gate, the gatekeepers greeted him with great joy, while others hurriedly ran inside to deliver a message.
Fu Mingzi maintained a smile throughout the journey. Once inside the gate and reaching the door of Zhou Xiaoyan's study, he saw Zhou Xiaoyan standing under the eaves in plain clothes, looking at him with his cool, aloof eyes.
Fu Mingzi stopped and stood still, looking straight at him. The two stood there silently, and the courtyard fell into silence.
After a long while, Zhou Xiaoyan finally spoke first: "You've come." His voice was somewhat hoarse.
Seeing that things were not going well, everyone in the courtyard quietly retreated. Even Song Yan, who was following behind Fu Mingzi, left, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.
Fu Mingzi nodded, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something, and she couldn't say a word.
"Come in and talk," it was Zhou Xiaoyan who spoke first.
Fu Mingzi nodded again, lifted her slightly heavy steps, and walked towards the study.
He followed Zhou Xiaoyan into the study and they sat down separately. To prevent the study from falling into the awkward silence that had preceded it, Fu Mingzi spoke first: "Has Your Highness made a decision?" He stared intently at Zhou Xiaoyan.
Looking at Fu Mingzi's slightly burning gaze, Zhou Xiaoyan felt a surge of emotions in his heart. After a long while, he finally sighed and said, "I'll tell you everything."
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingzi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Really?" he asked urgently. "Don't worry, I will keep it a secret."
Hearing this, Zhou Xiaoyan couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Actually, I should have told you a long time ago, but I thought it was for your own good, so I kept it from you until now."
Hearing this, Fu Mingzi felt comforted and her tone softened considerably: "I know you mean well, but some things shouldn't be a barrier between us."
Zhou Xiaoyan's expression turned serious, and he nodded: "You're right."
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