Chapter 72 Seeing Shen Jiao Again
After he was released from prison, the sun was already setting.
Fu Yunxiu wanted to go to the Shen family to thank Shen Yan and also to tell him about Fu Changze's situation, but the steward told him that Shen Yan had been urgently summoned to the palace and was not at home.
Having no other choice, he could only return to the inn.
The master and servant ate dinner and went to bed early. The next day, Mantou went to the Shen residence again to deliver a visiting card. The steward said that Shen Yan had gone to the palace yesterday and had only returned this morning. He was currently washing up and asked them to come and visit again at noon.
With nothing else to do, the two strolled around the nearby market, buying some food and clothes to send to Fu Changze later.
Seeing that it was almost time, Fu Yunxiu rushed to the Shen residence. The steward said that Shen Yan had some things to deal with at the moment and asked him to go to the front hall for tea and wait a while.
"Thank you for your trouble, Butler Feng."
Butler Feng led Fu Yunxiu inside, but they ran into Miss Shen Jiao, who was about to leave, in the corridor.
"Where is Steward Feng going?" Shen Jiao noticed his hurried manner and then saw the person following behind him.
"Who is this?" Shen Jiao asked, pretending not to recognize him.
"Young Miss, this is the General's guest. He is Fu Yunxiu, the young master of the Cheng'an Marquis's family."
"So it's Prince Fu," Shen Jiao chuckled, bowing gracefully. "Greetings, Prince Fu."
Fu Yunxiu thought to himself that he was not the heir apparent. But since the other party was a woman, he had no intention of saying much to her, so he simply nodded and greeted her, "Greetings, Miss Shen."
Seeing his polite manners, Shen Jiao's smile widened. "It seems that my elder brother is busy right now. Why don't you wait a moment in the front hall, Young Master Fu? Yun'er, serve Young Master Fu some tea."
"Oh, no," Fu Yunxiu wanted to say that it was no trouble, but the girl named Yun'er was extremely fast and disappeared in the blink of an eye, so he had to give up.
The three arrived at the front hall. Fu Yunxiu casually found a chair and sat down, while Shen Jiao brazenly sat directly opposite him. This made Fu Yunxiu feel uncomfortable for a moment, but since this was someone else's home, he couldn't say anything and could only look away from her.
However, how could Shen Jiao let such a good opportunity slip by?
From the moment she glimpsed him from afar at the manor, she fell for this young master Fu. She even went so far as to send someone to Yongzhou to inquire about him.
Her elder brother said he already had a family, but what she found out was that Fu Yunxiu was not married. He was just not well-liked by his family and lived in an outer courtyard with a maidservant by his side, that was all.
She could understand all of this. Compared to his earlier days when he was physically disabled, wealthy families, especially those with titles, would never entrust their vast fortunes to a cripple. As for his concubines, it was common for men to have multiple wives and concubines; one concubine was nothing to worry about.
These past few days, she had been trying her best to persuade her elder brother to agree to the marriage alliance with the Marquis of Cheng'an's family. However, her elder brother was very stubborn and insisted that the other party already had someone they loved, telling her not to interfere in the relationship and refusing to help her.
Okay, since he's unwilling to be the one to break up the couple, then she'll find a way to let them go their separate ways.
Shen Jiao was lost in thought, and her fixed gaze made Fu Yunxiu feel a little uneasy. Just as he got up to go for a walk in the outer room, Yun'er came to serve tea.
"Please have some tea, Your Highness." Yun'er placed the teacup on the table, and Shen Jiao spoke up at the right moment, "We don't have any good tea to offer, and I don't know if Your Highness will be able to drink it."
“Miss, you flatter me. My tea skills are not good enough, and I really can’t appreciate this tea. As long as it’s palatable, it’s good tea.”
"Your Highness is too kind," Shen Jiao chuckled, covering her mouth. "I've heard that Your Highness is from Yongzhou. I wonder if there are any interesting or fun places in Yongzhou?"
Seeing Fu Yunxiu's puzzled expression, she explained, "Don't laugh at me, Young Master Fu, but I've lived for almost eighteen years and have never traveled far from home."
Eighteen years old. Upon hearing this age, Fu Yunxiu couldn't help but think of Aman.
At the same age, Aman was much simpler than Miss Shen. She was straightforward and said what she meant without beating around the bush.
Recalling the person's reluctant eyes as he left, Fu Yunxiu felt a warmth spread through his heart, and a smile appeared in his eyes.
Shen Jiao kept a close eye on Fu Yunxiu. When she saw him smile, she thought he understood her meaning, so she quickly said, "If you have time to go to Yongzhou, please don't mind showing me around."
This was quite outrageous. Under what circumstances would a lone man and woman agree to go out together? Fu Yunxiu didn't think he had any charm that could make someone he met for the first time fall for him. He simply assumed that this Miss Shen was someone who had lived a secluded life in her mansion and was naive to the ways of the world.
He then declined, saying, "I have been ill at his bedside for a long time and am not familiar with the customs and culture of Yongzhou. I am afraid I cannot help Miss Shen. Since General Shen is busy, I will visit you another time."
As he spoke, he got up and left, but bumped into Shen Yan, who was rushing over, at the door.
"I'm so sorry, something came up and I was held up." After Shen Yan finished speaking, he realized that Fu Yunxiu was about to leave, and his brows were furrowed, which meant that something was making him uncomfortable.
Shen Yan initially thought it was due to poor service from the servants, but upon looking up, she saw Shen Jiao in the hall, still furious because of Fu Yunxiu's departure, and hadn't had time to recover her expression.
"What are you doing here?" Shen Yan asked.
"I was about to go out when I ran into Prince Fu. I thought you were still busy, so I'll entertain him for you." Shen Jiao looked at her with her big, bright eyes, as if she were feeling very wronged.
But Shen Yan knew that she wasn't putting on this expression for herself, but for Fu Yunxiu.
The person who usually acts like a spoiled brat at home is now pretending to be a demure young lady.
Judging from Fu Yunxiu's expression, it seems her disguise didn't work!
That's for the best, so she won't always be thinking about it.
Shen Yan found it amusing, but didn't show it on his face. In front of outsiders, he still had to give his younger sister face.
He patted Shen Jiao's head and said, "You've worked hard. Didn't you say you were going out? Go ahead, don't delay."
“Brother…” Shen Jiao looked at him with dissatisfaction. He knew his own feelings perfectly well; what could be more important than being with Fu Yunxiu?
But Shen Yan pretended not to understand and pushed her out the door, saying, "Perfect timing. Brother Fu and I have something to discuss, but it's not suitable for a child like you to hear."
In order to leave a good impression on Fu Yunxiu, Shen Jiao did not dare to use her unreasonable and argumentative power. She could only stomp her foot, snort coldly, and leave reluctantly.
Shen Yan chuckled and said to Fu Yunxiu, "My younger sister has been spoiled since she was little, Brother Fu, please don't take offense."
“I actually find Miss Shen charming and adorable,” Fu Yunxiu said.
"Do you really think so?" Shen Yan raised an eyebrow.
Fu Yunxiu said, "…………" He just said it casually.
Seeing him speechless, Chen Yan couldn't help but burst into laughter.
After Shen Jiao had walked away, Shen Yan dismissed the servants and asked seriously, "Did you see Fu Changze?"
"Yes, I saw him." Fu Yunxiu said, "I asked him about the situation. He was not involved in Liu Xun's rebellion and knew nothing about it."
After pondering for a moment, Fu Yunxiu decided to tell Shen Yan everything he knew. "It's just that he had previously given Liu Xun silver several times, and the amounts were not small. Liu Xun probably used all of that silver to support Yu Wang's private army."
Surprised that Fu Yunxiu would dare to tell him even these things, Shen Yan asked in bewilderment, "Aren't you afraid that I'll sentence your Cheng'an Marquis's Mansion to the crime of aiding and abetting treason by telling me all this?"
Fu Changze's money most likely came from the Marquis's assets, or at least it was inextricably linked to the Marquis's family. In normal circumstances, others would be trying to cover it up, but Fu Yunxiu did just that, revealing everything completely.
Should he be called stupid, or should he be called too trusting?
"Can you do it?" Fu Yunxiu asked.
"..."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, but then Shen Yan's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Since you trust me so much, then I won't hide anything from you. Yesterday, His Majesty summoned me to the palace to discuss the matter of abdication."
"Abdicate?" Fu Yunxiu raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Your Majesty is getting on in years, and since your last illness, your health has deteriorated considerably. Now that the Sun clan has been eliminated and the country is at peace, Your Majesty is considering abdicating in favor of Prince Chen and retiring to enjoy your remaining years."
This matter wasn't exactly a secret; it was estimated that by noon at the latest, the news would have spread throughout the entire capital.
“His Highness Prince Chen will ascend the throne in three months. To show his divine favor, he will grant a general amnesty. Since your brother did not participate in the rebellion, he should also be included in the amnesty. Just wait for good news,” Shen Yan said.
"In that case, thank you very much, General Shen." Fu Yunxiu stood up and bowed.
Shen Yan raised her hand to help him up, "No need to thank me, it's all your brother's good fortune, it's just that his life wasn't meant to end."
“But there is still one thing I don’t understand, and I would appreciate your guidance, Brother Fu,” Shen Yan said.
“Brother Shen, please speak freely,” Fu Yunxiu said.
"I want to know, Brother Fu, how do you know that His Majesty does not favor Prince Yu for the throne, but rather Prince Chen?" This is something that not only he, but even Prince Chen, finds very puzzling.
After all, His Majesty had not given Prince Chen a kind look before. Everyone thought that His Majesty hated Prince Chen to the bone because of the death of Consort Yu, and avoided him like the plague because of his cursed fate. Even Prince Chen himself thought so.
If His Majesty had not personally summoned him to the palace to discuss his illness and had not informed him in a secret letter that he should come to the capital to request an audience ahead of schedule, he would still have been kept in the dark.
And all of this was unknown even to King Yu, who had been keeping a close eye on him, yet Fu Yunxiu, who was far away in Yongzhou and had been bedridden for a long time, knew about it.
Moreover, reflecting on the events of that day, he seemed to know that he hadn't truly followed King Yu, and was certain that King Yu wouldn't become the crown prince or the emperor. So now that King Chen had ascended the throne, he didn't seem surprised.
It seemed as if everything was under his control.
“Everything that happens leaves a trace. Since His Majesty is a benevolent father, there will naturally be clues in the details,” Fu Yunxiu said.
“But when you entered the palace, you were just a nine-year-old child.” Shen Yan said in surprise. He had also investigated Fu Yunxiu’s past in recent days. Speaking of meeting the emperor, he remembered that the only time he entered the palace to meet the emperor was when he accompanied his father, Marquis Cheng’an, to attend the emperor’s birthday banquet.
In just this one instance, he discovered the truth that His Highness had not noticed for over a decade.
Shen Yan didn't want to believe it, but he had no choice but to. Because Fu Yunxiu had no grounds to lie to him.
"So intelligent as to be almost demonic, could it be referring to someone like Fu Yunxiu?"
It's truly something to be both envious and terrified of.
The two talked for a while longer before Fu Yunxiu took his leave.
After the steward and his men had gone far away, Chen Yan finally lost his temper. He plucked a leaf from a potted tree and, with a sharp motion, shot it towards a distant pillar.
A leaf brushed against the pillar, landing on the wall and kicking up a cloud of dust, along with a strand of hair.
"Hehe... Brother!" Shen Jiao came out from behind the pillar in a huff, saw the strands of hair that had been cut off by the leaves on the ground, and stomped her foot in dissatisfaction. "Brother, what are you doing? You cut my hair that had just grown back like this again."
There was no fear in her eyes, and it was clear that this was not the first time Shen Yan had done this.
"Knowing that, why were you eavesdropping? Didn't you say you were going out?" Shen Yan turned and went into the house, ignoring her shouts.
Seeing that getting angry wasn't working, Shen Jiao followed up with a grin, "Brother, what did Fu Yunxiu want with you this time?"
She was standing far away and didn't hear what the two were talking about.
"What's it to you?" Shen Yan glanced at her, picked up the teacup on the table, and realized it was empty.
"Let me do it, let me do it," Shen Jiao fawned over Shen Yan, making him tea and sitting down next to him, fanning him with her hand. "Brother, did you ask?"
"What do you want to ask?"
“Let’s arrange a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Cheng’an’s family,” Shen Jiao said.
"Why are you still thinking about this?" Shen Yan slammed down her teacup. "Didn't we already say that he has a family?"
"What family background? He's just a concubine. He's never been married. I've already sent people to investigate. Don't try to fool me, brother." Shen Jiao muttered indifferently, inadvertently revealing her true feelings.
Shen Yan also grasped the key point, "You've investigated, Shen Jiao. I gave you a bodyguard to protect your safety, not for you to do whatever you want. An unmarried woman, going to investigate a man's family background on her own, what about the upbringing your mother gave you?"
"Don't try to intimidate me with your upbringing," Shen Jiao said, no longer holding back since the matter was out in the open. "Anyway, I just like him. Since you won't help me, I'll go find my mother, hmph!"
Shen Jiao snorted coldly, lifted her skirt, and ran away. Shen Yan watched her retreating figure, feeling a sharp pain in his forehead.
Her younger sister is truly spoiled; from childhood to adulthood, there's nothing she hasn't gotten. Hopefully, their mother will discipline her properly this time and stop indulging in her antics.
Shen Yan came from a distinguished family. From a young age, his father led troops to guard the northwest and was away from home most of the year. When he was seven years old, his father returned to the capital to report on his duties and stayed for a while. During that time, he followed his father to practice boxing and swordsmanship and was very happy.
From that moment on, he resolved to become a great general like his father, protecting his country. He even promised his father that he would demonstrate a complete set of sword techniques to him the next time they met.
I just never imagined that one meeting would be forever. The Northwest was in turmoil, my father died on the battlefield, and my mother was pregnant at the time, so my younger sister became a posthumous child.
At that time, my mother was heartbroken, and my younger sister became her only source of emotional support. Later, when my younger sister was born, my mother gave her the best name: Jiao.
Bright as the moon amidst the clouds.
His father was the only son in the family, and his grandparents were getting old, so the entire Shen family depended on him. He dared not slack off in the slightest, and he always pushed himself to pursue better in both academics and martial arts.
At fifteen, he joined the army and met Prince Chen, who was also a new recruit. At that time, he did not know that he was a prince, and only regarded him as a comrade who could talk to him. The two went through thick and thin, risking their lives together. At eighteen, he achieved great military exploits and successfully took over the Shen family army.
It was then that he learned that Xie Chen was a prince, and a very unfavored one at that.
Others who risked their lives could be ennobled and appointed prime ministers, but Xie Chen was at most a deputy general in charge of the guards.
The people in the army respected him and were willing to listen to him.
After the border regions were pacified, he began to reside in the capital. At that time, Shen Jiao had just turned ten years old.
The little girl was plump and chubby, with eyes as big and bright as black jade. She looked at you like that, and you would want to pluck the stars from the sky for her.
Having been a seasoned warrior and witnessed countless deaths, Shen Yan had always turned a blind eye to Shen Jiao's sometimes unreasonable demands. Unexpectedly, this had spoiled her so much that she had become so arrogant and domineering, completely lacking the gentleness and virtue expected of a lady from a respectable family.
"Alas!" Whenever he thought of these things, Shen Yan regretted his past actions. He rubbed his throbbing temples and was just about to go to the study to handle official business when Su, the nanny who served his mother, came to invite him.
"Young master, the madam requests your presence."
Chen Yan: "..." Well, I can't escape this scolding today.
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