Chapter 22 Four Months Later, His Fish Talisman
"Princess," Qin An entered with a serious expression, "the man has been caught."
Fu Sui was taken aback: "So fast?"
"Last night, someone noticed a man acting suspiciously and reported it to the patrolling soldiers. This morning, news spread that the man had confessed. He said he was originally a servant of the Feng family, and that he had seen the county princess's face on the street by chance and became enamored with her. In order to get close to her, he devised this method of impersonation. The fake document he used was stolen from Lady Ma. All the crimes were committed by him alone, and the Feng family was unaware of them."
Fu Sui's eyes were full of sarcasm and disdain: "What a coincidence, my petition had just been submitted to the palace and the person was arrested. Who interrogated him? Such high efficiency."
"It's the Ministry of Justice."
Fu Sui's brows furrowed with gloom, and her alluring eyes were veiled with frost: "Those who break the law at night are to be disciplined by the Imperial Guards. All cases, big and small, in the capital must first be reported to the Jingzhao Prefecture. Why did he go to the Ministry of Justice?"
Qin An couldn't understand this either, since the Feng family should have no dealings with the Ministry of Justice.
Fu Sui pondered for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on his lips, a smile so subtle it was cold and sharp as thorns: "The Feng family received the news of my memorial at noon that very day. They spent the whole afternoon and evening coordinating their statements with the Ministry of Justice. The Feng family is truly a force to be reckoned with."
Qin An asked, "Should we bring the person out for a second trial?"
Fu Sui shook his head: "I can't bring it up. Since the Ministry of Justice has already prepared the confession, they won't give him a chance to recant while he's alive."
"What about Lady Ma..."
“As Consort Feng’s mother, it’s not a big deal for her to take a few invitations from Consort Feng’s palace. At most, she’ll be reprimanded.” Fu Sui clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, fiercely pinching her anger.
Qin An was also unwilling: "Are we just going to let this go like this?"
"If the sage has no further comment, then let's close the case here."
Two days after the case was closed, Feng Xiang'er's maid came to the princess's mansion alone. Fearing that Fu Sui would not believe her, she used a silver bracelet engraved with Feng Xiang'er's name as proof and invited Fu Sui to meet her at Manxiang Tower.
Fu Sui recognized the maid named Ya'er and remembered the silver bracelet.
The bracelet was crudely made and of poor quality. It was bought for Feng Xiang'er with Consort Feng's own monthly allowance when Consort Feng first entered the palace. Feng Xiang'er treasured the bracelet and wore it with her all the time. Later, other noble ladies saw it and mocked Feng Xiang'er for wearing something that only peasants would wear in public, saying she was shallow and embarrassed Consort Feng. Only then did Feng Xiang'er stop wearing the bracelet in public.
Fu Sui was about to refuse, but after hesitating for a long time, she finally agreed. She was curious about what Feng Xiang'er would say.
After a few days apart, Feng Xiang'er looked slightly haggard, but the sorrow between her brows did not diminish her beauty at all; on the contrary, it added to her charming demeanor.
When Feng Xiang'er saw Fu Sui arrive, she didn't say much and went straight to the point: "My brother was the one who made the invitation."
Fu Sui was about to sit down, but before her bottom even touched the chair, she heard Feng Xiang'er's words. If it weren't for Feng Xiang'er's resolute expression, as if she were going to the execution ground, Fu Sui would have suspected that Feng Xiang'er was deliberately trying to dodge her.
Fu Sui sat down steadily in the chair, straightened her skirt, and then replied indifferently, "Why are you telling me? Go tell the Prefect of the Capital."
“I will not tell the Prefect of the Capital. Even if the Princess kidnaps me, I will never admit that this matter has anything to do with the Feng family.”
Feng Xiang'er's tone was resolute. Fu Sui didn't expect to drag the Feng family down with Feng Xiang'er. They were her parents and brothers. No matter how much Feng Xiang'er cried and made a scene, she still cared about the Feng family.
Fu Sui leaned back in his chair, raised his chin slightly, and looked down at Feng Xiang'er: "Since you're not going to report me, why did you come here to find me? Did you come here just to show off?"
In the past, Feng Xiang'er's emotions were always written on her face, but today, from the moment Fu Sui entered, she wore a blank expression, neither happy nor angry, without changing her demeanor in the slightest. She ignored Fu Sui's sarcasm and said to herself, "Please tell the Princess of Yanshan that I have wronged her by causing her trouble because of my invitation. The Princess must stay away from my brother and the Feng family in the future."
Fu Sui wanted to ask Feng Xiang'er why she didn't tell Yan Shan herself, but seeing Feng Xiang'er's pale face, he swallowed his words. He guessed that Feng Xiang'er probably didn't know how to face Yan Shan either.
What the Feng family decides to do is none of Feng Xiang'er's business, so how could Yanshan bear to be harsh on Feng Xiang'er? Fu Sui sighed helplessly, "You're quite kind to her."
Feng Xiang'er lowered her eyes, tormented by self-blame for Yanshan and the pain brought to her by the Feng family. She couldn't bring herself to betray her own family for the greater good, and could only become a villain who aided and abetted evil.
She didn't have a deep impression of the Princess of Yanshan. Unlike Fu Sui, who was unrestrained and unforgettable at first glance, or Zheng Zizai, who was all smiles and made people feel warm and close to her, the Princess of Yanshan was always silent, always in a corner, always ignored, like a beautiful but silent ornament.
But when Feng Xiang'er was slapped by the princess, it was this silent, beautiful ornament who secretly wrapped ice in a handkerchief and gave it to Feng Xiang'er to apply to her face.
Originally, Feng Xiang'er had forgotten everything, just like her previous memories of being ridiculed and ostracized—all of which she had deliberately tried to forget. But the more pain Feng Xiang'er felt, the deeper the memory became; the more she tried to forget, the more vivid it became.
She knew what it would mean if Feng Xianyi succeeded. She knew all about the glamorous women in the house, the old woman who came to demand her daughter but was beaten and never seen again, and the distorted cries in the dead of night. But that was her father who carried her on his shoulders to the lantern festival, her mother who scrimped and saved to cut a piece of floral cloth to make clothes for her, her brother who caught crickets for her, and her only home.
Feng Xiang'er's voice was nasal and muffled: "Hello, County Magistrate. She is kind-hearted and should not have fallen into the den of tigers and wolves."
Before Fu Sui could say anything, Feng Xiang'er stood up and said, "Princess, please order whatever you like, and put it on my tab. I have other matters to attend to at home, so I will not keep you company any longer."
Fu Sui watched Feng Xiang'er disappear as if fleeing for her life, blinking a few times in confusion. Shedding a couple of tears in front of others won't get her eaten by a tiger; was Feng Xiang'er really such a strong-willed person?
The emperor hosted a banquet for the Kule delegation at the Tiancheng Hall. Kule's visit to the court was both to thank the emperor's divine soldiers for helping him drive away foreign enemies and to express his willingness to submit to the Celestial Empire and to pray for its protection.
The young man from Kule was the seventh prince of the Kule King. He had loved the culture of the Central Plains since childhood and volunteered to come to the capital with the delegation, hoping to stay in the capital and serve the Heavenly Khan.
Since he couldn't attend such an occasion, he stayed home and messed around behind closed doors.
Since she relayed Feng Xiang'er's words to Yanshan, she had not heard any news from Yanshan. Fu Sui assumed that Yanshan was too scared to go out because of the Feng family.
During this time, she contacted Tian Ganyou several times to discuss hunting. Tian Ganyou, adhering to the principle of enjoying himself to the fullest, suggested a large-scale hunt. Fu Sui, thinking that no other hunting ground could compare to the lush pastures and abundant game of the Royal Forbidden Garden, tried to apply to the Emperor for permission to hunt there, and the Emperor surprisingly agreed. Fu Sui immediately submitted a memorial, sincerely praising her elder brother at length.
Tian Ganyou took care of all the selection and arrangements for the hunt, while Fu Sui only needed to prepare the manpower and equipment he wanted to bring.
Gifts poured in from all directions, and Fu Sui spent his days checking them, reading the messages, practicing his archery skills, and living a very fulfilling life. Until an uninvited guest arrived at the Princess's residence.
"Princess."
The He family sent over fifteen gold beads of different shapes and patterns. Fu Sui was lying on the bed arranging the gold beads and various gemstones, thinking about whether to make a necklace or a bracelet.
Fei Qing came in and reported, "There is a young man outside named Yan Tianqing who says he has urgent business to discuss with the princess." As she spoke, she presented an object with both hands.
Fu Sui had never heard of the name Yan Tianqing before. However, with so many people coming and going these past few days, Fu Sui assumed he was also there to deliver congratulatory gifts, and found it amusing. Other servants would announce their master's name, so why was he giving his own?
Fu Sui casually snatched the object from Fei Qing's hand, only to discover upon holding it that it was an exquisitely crafted goldfish-shaped pouch. Fu Sui looked at the pouch in his hand, puzzled. What did this mean? Was he wishing her a successful career in the government?
Fei Qing just said that person wanted to see her, so this must be the token. Fu Sui was a little unhappy. The Princess's mansion wasn't a business that opened its doors wide. It was ridiculous that one or two of the main figures didn't even show themselves but just sent a servant to run Fu Sui around like a headless chicken.
She impatiently opened the fish bag and took out the fish tally inside. The brand-new fish tally was gleaming with gold, and the back was engraved with "General of the Left Guard Crossing the Mountains".
Fu Sui's first thought was, "Even fish-shaped talismans can be counterfeited?" She held the talisman, turning it over and over, but aside from its excessively new appearance, she couldn't discern anything unusual. Fu Sui thought of the person who gave her the talisman: "Where is that person?"
"In the foyer, the guards are watching."
In a room next to the gate of the Princess's mansion, Yan Tianqing sat on a chair on the right, feeling both excited and apprehensive.
Today, he had gone with his third brother to arrest someone. After they caught the person, his third brother, for some reason, took the fish bag from him and told him to take it to the princess's residence and be sure to invite the princess over. Yan Tianqing looked at the towering vermilion gate of the princess's residence and understood for the first time why wealthy people were called "high-class" or "grand families."
Yan Tianqing glanced around the room; this was probably a waiting room for guests. Such rooms were paved with smooth blue bricks and furnished with red pine tables and chairs. Yan Tianqing clicked his tongue, wondering how much this would cost.
Two people stood inside the house, and two more stood outside. Judging from their manner of walking, Yan Tianqing knew they were all skilled martial artists. Yan Tianqing wasn't bothered by the princess's cautiousness; if he had that much money, he could have been even more vigilant than the princess. The more Yan Tianqing observed, the more he admired his third brother. His third brother knew such important people, and he recited the address so naturally, as if he were a regular customer. His third brother was truly impressive.
A guard came in and placed some snacks and tea on the table next to Yan Tianqing. Yan Tianqing was worried that eating and drinking in front of the guards would make his third brother's men seem unruly. After thinking it over, he felt that it would be even stranger not to eat or drink. Since that was the case, he figured he might as well eat and see what the tea and snacks of a noble family tasted like.
When Fu Sui pushed open the door, Yan Tianqing was serving snacks with a teapot in one hand and a teacup in the other.
Upon seeing Yan Tianqing's face, Fu Sui knew that it was indeed Yue Shanling who had something to discuss with her; this was the person who had been with Yue Shanling that day during Yuanxi.
When Yan Tianqing saw someone coming, he quickly put down the teapot and cup, wiped the pastry crumbs from his mouth, and stood up.
“Hey, you…” Yan Tianqing was good at recognizing people; he recognized Fu Sui at a glance.
As soon as Yan Tianqing finished speaking, the two guards standing in the room glared at her coldly. Yan Tianqing immediately reacted and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Yan Tianqing, Left Guard, greets Your Highness, and wishes you good health."
"Where are they?" Why don't they come themselves?
Who is he? Luckily, Yan Tianqing was quick-witted and replied with a daring glance, "The general is on the Rouge River. Please come closer."
Rouge River is a section of the Li River. Because it is near Pingkangfang, some people say that the Li River is like the Wei River, and that it is greasy and overflowing with grease. Therefore, that section is called Rouge River.
Yan Tianqing walked out today. Jiuru Lane was quite a distance from the Rouge River, and Yan Tianqing couldn't very well run all the way to lead the princess. A tall, strong guard led out a horse for Yan Tianqing to ride and guide the way.
Yan Tianqing stroked the horse's tangled mane, then its neck and rump, growing more and more fond of it. This horse was no less impressive than the best warhorses in the army. Yan Tianqing secretly rejoiced that he hadn't spoken carelessly on the Lantern Festival; indeed, the capital was different from the borderlands, where even a casually thrown stone could hit a nobleman.
Upon arriving at the Rouge River, Yan Tianqing dismounted first and surveyed the riverbank. He and Yue Shanling had arrested the princess in a shady operation in Pingkangfang. Yue Shanling only instructed him to take the princess to the Rouge River, without specifying the exact location.
Music played continuously along the Rouge River, and people thronged the banks. Yan Tianqing glanced around briefly before his gaze fell upon a painted boat moored at the shore. He rushed over and, sure enough, found the marks left by Yue Shanling beside the boat.
Inside the painted boat, Prince Xiping sat upright to one side, trying his best to control his breathing and movements to conceal his anxiety. All the doors and windows of the boat were tightly closed, and there were no guards outside; only the man opposite him was inside.
The Prince of Xiping kept observing the person sitting opposite him. The man wore an ordinary blue robe, with nothing that could indicate his status. He sat with an air of superiority, his eyes lowered, as if he were resting. The Prince of Xiping, who had just been abducted here, understood that no matter how relaxed the man opposite him seemed, he had no chance of escaping from him.
The man sensed the gaze of the Prince of Xiping and looked up. His eyes, like two black agates submerged in icy water, were half-hidden behind his drooping eyelashes. From the moment he was captured until now, the man hadn't asked him a single question. The Prince of Xiping secretly resolved that no matter what the man intended to do, he would never utter a word.
The pushed-open boat door broke the stalemate between the two, and Kouyun helped Fu Sui carefully board the boat.
Yan Tianqing had just darted halfway into the boat next to Fu Sui when Yue Shanling gave him a look and he silently withdrew the foot he had already stepped in, then went outside to find a place to squat.
Knowing Yue Shanling well, Fu Sui knew that summoning her with the fish-shaped talisman wasn't just a whim to take her boating on the lake, so he waved to Kou Yun. Kou Yun looked at the person who had made the princess drunk with distrust, and only left with his men after confirming several times that there was no wine in the boat.
"What wind has blown me here to General Yue today?" Fu Sui found a seat and sat down gracefully.
Yue Shanling didn't reply, but reached out his hand to Fu Sui.
Fu Sui pretended not to understand, hesitated for a moment, and opened her small pouch with confusion. She took out a small gold ingot shaped like a plum blossom, held it gently in Yue Shanling's palm with her slender fingers.
Yue Shanling, both amused and exasperated, placed the gold ingot back on the table in front of Fu Sui and asked, "Where is my fish talisman?"
Fu Sui looked away guiltily, then pretended to be calm and said, "It's with your little attendant."
"Really?" Yue Shanling stared at Fu Sui, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if waiting for an answer or as if he already knew.
Fu Suijiao's dark eyes, as deep and cold as a still pool, made her heart flutter. Her eyes flickered, trying to escape Yue Shanling's gaze, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "I didn't bring it."
"Hmm?" Yue Shanling raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with doubt.
However, Yue Shanling's gaze was extremely serious, making Fu Sui's ears burn. She retorted angrily, "I forgot it at home."
This was the truth. Fu Sui was in a hurry to ask Yan Tianqing, so she casually put the fish charm aside. Only when she saw Yue Shanling reach out did she remember that the fish charm was still in her bedroom. It was all Yan Tianqing's fault for not reminding her. Fu Sui secretly pushed all the blame onto Yan Tianqing in her heart.
Yue Shanling hadn't expected that inviting Fu Sui would lead to the fish tally being involved, so he had no choice but to discuss the important matter first and deal with the fish tally later. He coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment, sat up straight, and pointed at the Prince of Xiping: "Do you know him?"
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