Chapter 84 The Brother and Sister Set a Trap
When Aman woke up, he felt sore back and weak legs, and his whole body was weak.
There was no one around her. Aman reached out and touched the bed; it was cold. Clearly, the person had already left.
Last night, Fu Yunxiu said that he would be leaving for the capital this morning. Even so, Aman still felt empty inside.
Suppressing the slight disappointment in her heart, Aman sighed, only to realize that her voice was terribly hoarse.
Last night, that man was like a madman, forcing her to call him Brother Fu. If she didn't agree, he would become fierce and ruthless, or he would keep harassing her and keeping her hanging on until she begged for mercy.
Aman couldn't understand it. That person was just like her, extremely awkward at first, but how did he become so naturally skilled and adept at it later on?
That's excessive.
Thinking of this, Aman's cheeks flushed, and her face felt hot. She patted her cheeks, and just as she was about to get dressed, she realized that she couldn't see any of her clothes in the room.
"Huh?" Aman could hardly believe her eyes. She leaned forward slightly to look around. The brocade quilt slipped down, revealing a large expanse of her chest and back, which looked alluringly white in the morning light.
Therefore, when Fu Yunxiu entered the room, he was greeted by such a beautiful scene.
The woman on the bed had arms as white as snow, soft and boneless. The brocade quilt slipped off her body with her movements, revealing her delicate collarbone and fair neck. Fu Yunxiu still remembered the feeling of licking and caressing that place last night. On that delicate skin, the red marks he left were like plum blossoms blooming, making it impossible to look away.
"Aman." Fu Yunxiu called out subconsciously, then realized that his throat was tight and his voice was extremely hoarse.
On the bed, upon hearing his voice, Aman, like a frightened bird, hurriedly pulled her clothes over herself, covering herself completely. Only after confirming that it was her and then speaking, "You, why didn't you knock before coming in?"
“I,” Fu Yunxiu said, his face burning and his ears turning bright red, “came to see if you were awake.”
"I made some porridge, would you like to try some?"
"Hmm." Aman nodded, then asked, "Where are my clothes?"
“Your clothes… are all unwearable, so I went to your room and got you a new set.” Fu Yunxiu’s ears were as red as ripe purple grapes in the sunlight.
Aman was also a little embarrassed. Last night, this man was too impatient and impetuous. She clearly heard the sound of cloth tearing.
Aman reached out and took the clothes. Seeing that Fu Yunxiu was still standing there motionless, she said coquettishly, "Why don't you get out of here?"
After Aman finished dressing and washing up, she came out to find Fu Yunxiu had already prepared the porridge in the pavilion.
The man was tall and elegant, with a graceful bearing; even holding a soup spoon, his noble air was undiminished.
Seeing his radiant face, Aman felt even more resentful. How could he be so full of energy while she felt as if her life force had been drained, leaving her with aching back and weak legs?
After dinner, Fu Yunxiu took a break to visit Madam Fu at the Marquis's residence, but spent the rest of the time with Aman.
Madam Liu was initially curious as to why Fu Yunxiu was still at home, but seeing his satisfied expression, she, as someone with experience, guessed what had happened and didn't ask any further questions.
The next morning, despite his reluctance, Fu Yunxiu set off for the capital.
After meeting Mantou at the inn, Fu Yunxiu went to the Kyoto Prefecture prison.
When Fu Yunxiu tried to bribe a familiar jailer, the jailer was evasive and clearly hiding something from him. Only after Fu Yunxiu pressed him repeatedly did the jailer finally tell the truth: during the two days Fu Yunxiu was away from the capital, the Prefect of the Capital had tortured Fu Yunting.
Even though Fu Yunxiu had prepared himself mentally, he was still shocked when he actually saw Fu Yunting.
Logically speaking, given Fu Yunting's status as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), he shouldn't have been tortured, or at least not severely. However, Fu Yunting was covered in injuries, and his ten fingers were mangled and bloody from being clamped in splints.
Fu Yunting was a scholar, and he relied entirely on his hands to write. The other party's actions were clearly aimed at crippling his hands and forcing him to confess.
"It's alright. Even if they hurt my hand, I won't admit to doing something I didn't do." Fu Yunting was incredibly thick-skinned; he could still laugh even in this situation.
"Brother, if there's really no other way, then let it go." Although Fu Yunting didn't know who he had offended to be set up, the one who wanted him to confess and submit to the law was the Left Prime Minister, who held a high position and great power. The Marquis's Mansion had no power or influence, so how could it be his match?
He didn't want his own affairs to implicate the Marquis's family, and he especially didn't want to implicate his elder brother.
"Brother, let it go!" He used to look down on power, but after this ordeal, he realized that power is not only wealth but also a weapon.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Fu Yunxiu rolled his eyes at him. "I had Mantou buy some wound medicine. You should focus on healing first. We'll find a way."
Fu Yunxiu ultimately didn't dare tell Fu Yunting about Madam Fu's matter.
After being released from prison, Fu Yunxiu went to the General's Mansion to see Shen Yan.
He wanted to ask the other party why this had happened when they had promised to protect Fu Yunting. However, he was told by the people from the General's Mansion that Shen Yan had entered the palace that afternoon and had not returned yet.
With curfew approaching, Fu Yunxiu had no choice but to return home for the time being.
No sooner had he left than Chen Yan returned.
The gatekeeper stepped forward to take the horse and told Shen Yan that Young Master Fu had come to see him.
"He came here?"
"Yes, Young Master Fu looks furious and seems quite unhappy," the doorman said.
Shen Yan knew why Fu Yunxiu was unhappy, because he had also gone to apologize that afternoon for the same reason.
Fortunately, His Majesty remembered their past relationship and did not punish him, but only reprimanded him. He also promised that when Fu Yunting came out to participate in the palace examination in the future, he would give him a good official position, which can be regarded as a blessing in disguise.
Speaking of this matter, Fu Yunting was completely innocent and was implicated by him.
The Left Chancellor wielded great power in the court, colluding with his cronies and influencing the selection of officials. He was also involved in the matter of King Yu, but later, seeing the situation turning against him, he chose to protect himself and thus escaped disaster.
His Majesty has long disliked him. And his son, Gao Zhao, is even worse. Relying on his father, the Prime Minister, he bullies the weak, abducts women, and even rapes young children. He is utterly wicked.
His Majesty wanted to use Gao Zhao's death as a starting point to investigate the Left Prime Minister. He harbored some selfish motives, wanting to fulfill his sister's wish, so he brought Fu Yunting into the operation.
To protect his son's reputation, the Left Prime Minister will undoubtedly work behind the scenes to obstruct the Kyoto Prefecture's investigation. Furthermore, Fu Yunting is a member of the Cheng'an Marquis's household, his status neither particularly high nor low.
When the time comes, once the Kyoto Prefecture has made its judgment, he will have someone propose an overturning of the verdict. In this way, the Left Chancellor, who has been in charge of the judiciary, will inevitably be investigated and punished. Like pulling up a radish and bringing out the mud, his private dealings will surely come to light.
Fu Yunxiu, eager to save his brother, would naturally agree to his marriage proposal.
They also eliminated Gao Zhao, this scourge, along the way.
Such a brilliant plan, killing three birds with one stone, is truly ingenious.
However, he underestimated the shamelessness of the Left Prime Minister. In order to make it clear that his son died from an assassination, he took advantage of the time when the Prime Minister was inspecting the military camp to torture Fu Yunting. He even tried to cripple Fu Yunting's hand in order to force him to confess.
In the end, it was his own fault for letting Fu Yunxiu down. Shen Yan nodded and said, "I understand. Go down. If he comes again tomorrow, just bring him to see me directly. There's no need to announce him."
As Shen Yan had predicted, Fu Yunxiu indeed came to visit again the next day.
After a night, Fu Yunxiu was no longer as angry as he had been the previous night. His purpose in coming today was still to ask Shen Yan for help.
At least it will give him a few more days to think of a way to save Fu Yunting.
"You want me to hold off the Left Prime Minister?" Shen Yan laughed. "Brother Fu, are you overestimating me? The Left Prime Minister wields immense power and is the head of the civil officials. This time, it was his son who died. With witnesses and evidence, even before the Emperor, I have no grounds for argument. How can I possibly obstruct the Capital Prefecture's investigation?"
“But no autopsy was performed in this case,” Fu Yunxiu said. Without an autopsy, the so-called witness testimonies and physical evidence are all questionable.
“Who said there was no autopsy?” Shen Yan gave him a look that said, “You’re too naive.” “The day before yesterday, the coroner from the Kyoto Prefecture came to examine the body and said that Gao Zhao did indeed die from being stabbed in the heart with a dagger.”
“Impossible.” Fu Yunxiu didn’t believe it. “How could a spoiled brat who hardly ever goes to class go to the academy in the middle of the night and just happen to get killed?”
Shen Yan naturally knew there was something fishy going on, after all, he was the one who had Gao Zhao dragged to the academy. He smiled and said, "You seem to trust your brother quite a bit. But now there are witnesses and physical evidence, plus the coroner's autopsy results. Even if your brother doesn't confess, the Kyoto Prefecture can easily convict him. Unless..."
“Unless what?” Fu Yunxiu asked.
“Unless His Majesty orders a thorough reinvestigation of this matter,” Shen Yan said. But how easy is that? Given Fu Yunxiu’s status, he couldn’t even get an audience with His Majesty.
Fu Yunxiu sighed dejectedly. Was there really no way to turn things around? Was Fu Yunting just being wronged for nothing?
"Isn't there any other way?" Fu Yunxiu asked. Did the other party, being in a high position of power, really have the right to treat human life so casually?
He shook his head.
"This..." Fu Yunxiu took two steps back. Did he intend to watch Fu Yunting be falsely accused and killed?
“Or, I can help you,” Chen Yan suddenly said.
"Really?" If Shen Yan is truly willing to help, perhaps there is still room for maneuver in this matter. "Then thank you very much, Brother Shen."
“Hey, don’t thank me yet. I have conditions for this,” Chen Yan said. “I want you to marry my sister.”
"What?" Fu Yunxiu frowned, even doubting whether he had misheard. How could Shen Yan make such a request?
“Yes, my sister Shen Jiao, you’ve met her before.” Shen Yan said, “She’s my only sister, and I’ve cherished her since she was little. Now that she’s reached marriageable age, I’ve been looking around and I think Brother Fu is the right person for her.”
"If you agree to marry my sister, I can risk offending the Left Prime Minister and being criticized by the civil officials to ask His Majesty to exonerate your brother. Moreover, if you marry into my General's Mansion, those clowns from the Marquis of Cheng'an's Mansion will shut up. It's a win-win situation, so I hope Brother Fu will consider it carefully."
To be honest, the benefits of the marriage alliance that Shen Yan mentioned almost hit Fu Yunxiu where it hurt. He really needed someone like that to help him remove all the difficulties and obstacles.
“But…” Recalling the love in Aman’s eyes when he came to the capital yesterday, Fu Yunxiu quickly put the thought out of his mind. “No, no, marriage is a serious matter, how can it be used for a transaction? Besides, I have someone I love in my heart.”
“She’s just a concubine. At worst, we can take her into the household later. Do you really think that as the heir of the Marquis’s mansion and the future Earl of Cheng’an, you would marry a peasant woman as the head of the household? People would laugh their heads off.” Shen Yan said, “Marriage is a serious matter, not a child’s play.”
"So what?" Aman loved him when he was insignificant and saved him from dire straits, so how could he let him down? "Brother Shen, there's no need to mention this matter again."
Seeing that he was unyielding, Shen Yan became annoyed and directly ordered him to leave, "In that case, Brother Fu, please go back. I'm afraid I can't comply with your request."
He turned and left, seemingly leaving no room for maneuver.
Fu Yunxiu watched his resolute back and couldn't understand why Shen Yan had previously been so supportive of his marriage to Aman, but now he was so opposed, even showing contempt for Aman's peasant background in his words. Was it because he had taken a liking to him and wanted him to be his brother-in-law?
But if he really changed his mind and agreed, would he really feel comfortable entrusting his sister to him after such an ungrateful act?
Fu Yunxiu couldn't understand it.
The maid led Fu Yunxiu out, and when they reached the main gate of the courtyard, they ran into Shen Jiao.
She glanced at Fu Yunxiu, her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips pursed as if she had something to say to him.
Out of consideration for the difference between men and women, Fu Yunxiu ultimately did not ask any questions, but simply nodded slightly and walked past her.
Shen Jiao suddenly called out to him, "Young Master Fu, please wait."
Fu Yunxiu stopped and turned to look at him. "Miss Chen, is there something you need?"
Shen Jiao didn't answer, but looked at the maid beside her and instructed, "You may leave now."
"yes."
The maidservant responded and left. Shen Jiao then said to Fu Yunxiu, "It is not appropriate to speak here. Would Young Master Fu please move to another place?"
The two arrived at the garden one after the other. Shen Jiao turned around and saw that Fu Yunxiu was deliberately keeping his distance. She couldn't help but smile, "Young Master Fu is truly a gentleman."
Fu Yunxiu said, "There are too many people talking, and I dare not tarnish Miss's reputation."
Shen Jiao nodded, "Just as my brother said, Prince Fu is an extreme person. I overheard the conversation between the prince and my brother just now. I lost my father at a young age, and my brother is like a father to me. He was indeed a bit anxious about my marriage and spoke without thinking. I hope the prince will not take offense."
"No," Fu Yunxiu said.
"That's good," Shen Jiao seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief, patting her chest. "I was worried that you would have a rift because of me, and then I would be guilty of something terrible."
Seeing that Shen Jiao had been talking for a long time without getting to the point, Fu Yunxiu was clearly getting impatient. "Miss Shen called me here, not to act as a peacemaker, is she?"
"Yes and no," Shen Jiao said seriously. "I called the Crown Prince here partly for my brother's sake, and partly for my own."
"What do you mean?" Fu Yunxiu didn't quite understand.
"Just now I heard the Crown Prince and my brother say that they already have someone they love and they must not let that go. To be honest, I am very envious. As a woman, who wouldn't want to spend their life with the person they love? It's just that my brother comes from a military background and is a rough man. As the eldest brother, he is like a father to me. I cannot change what he has decided."
Shen Jiao smiled sadly, "Today the Crown Prince refused the marriage, and perhaps tomorrow my brother will take a fancy to someone else. In short, although it is my marriage, the decision is not mine. ... Therefore, I would like to ask the Crown Prince to pretend to agree to this marriage. In this way, the Crown Prince's dilemma will be resolved, and I will not be forced to marry someone I do not want to marry. When I find someone I like in the future, the Crown Prince can write a letter of divorce to set me free."
"Wouldn't that damage your reputation?" Fu Yunxiu asked.
He seemed to be tempted by her words, so Shen Jiao pressed her advantage and said, "If someone truly loves me, they wouldn't care about such unrealistic things. Please, sir, do me a favor and save me from this predicament."
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