Chapter 182 Palace
The sun was shining brightly that morning.
Xiao Yan sat on the couch not far from the window, holding the chubby little one in his arms, reading a book. Although the chubby little one in his arms was sleeping soundly with his eyes half-closed, Xiao Yan was upright, full of energy, and showed no signs of sleepiness.
Dan Ying waited by, watching the sunlight gradually climb onto Xiao Yan's forehead, and then thought of closing the window a little.
Their master, though unassuming in public, secretly loathed the sunlight.
But he preferred to sit by the window.
As she was thinking, Liu Yi came in.
"Your Highness, the time has come." He bowed, his tone respectful.
Xiao Yan closed the book after reading the last line, looked up at the window, and said, "Let's go."
Dan Ying felt a pang of pity, and at this moment, she couldn't hold back her words, blurting out, "Your Highness goes there every day, and even Chief Steward Ma and Chief Steward Ming don't let you in, but today..."
Xiao Yan silently watched her coldly, and she felt a chill run down her spine, unconsciously kneeling down.
Xiao Yan stopped looking at her, picked up the chubby baby, and walked out.
Liu Yi glanced at Dan Ying secretly, sighed inwardly, and quickly chased after her.
"Your Highness, if we still cannot enter Chengde Palace today..."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. "What, do you think like Dan Ying?"
Liu Yi quickly shook his head, "This servant wouldn't dare. This servant was thinking, thinking..."
He was tongue-tied and couldn't think of what to say next after thinking for a long time, which made Xiao Yan laugh.
"Alright. I know what you two are thinking. You've been by my side for three years now, and the fact that you have these kinds of thoughts shows that I haven't misjudged you."
Liu Yi lowered his head and didn't say anything more.
The two slowly walked through the small garden and soon arrived at Chengde Palace.
When Ma Hong saw them coming from afar, he quickly went to greet them.
"Your Highness Yan."
Xiao Yan nodded, then looked to the side and asked with concern, "Is Your Majesty feeling any better? The weather is getting colder now, is Your Majesty's bedchamber properly furnished?"
Ma Hong bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Although His Majesty is feeling better these days, he is still listless and unwilling to go out. In addition..."
He sighed, somewhat embarrassed and helpless, and then whispered, "To be honest, Your Highness, the Prime Minister and several ministers also came yesterday, but His Majesty did not see any of them..."
Xiao Yan nodded, "Health is the most important thing. If those ministers can't even handle a small matter and still have to bother the Emperor while he is ill, then they are being inconsiderate."
Ma Hong nodded, "Yes."
Xiao Yan looked around again. "Commander Zhao is nowhere to be seen today."
Ma Hong remained expressionless. "Commander Zhao guarded the capital for several days. Today, seeing that His Majesty was feeling better, he went to handle affairs within the Imperial Guard."
He looked up at the sky and thought, "We should be there soon."
Xiao Yan spoke to him slowly for a few more minutes, lingering for almost an hour before finally saying, "Since Your Majesty is still recuperating, I will not disturb you any longer. Once Your Majesty is in a better mood and has recovered, please inform Chengguang Palace, and I will be able to put my mind at ease."
Ma Hong readily agreed and personally escorted Xiao Yan out.
He wiped his sweat, turned around and went into Chengde Palace, where Mingxiu laughed at the door.
Even the most mature and composed Ma Hong said somewhat irritably, "If His Highness Yan comes again tomorrow, then it will be Chief Steward Ming's turn to deal with him."
Mingxiu waved her hands repeatedly, "That won't do. We agreed that you would handle external affairs and I would handle internal affairs. I need to take care of His Majesty, how can I leave his side at will? When Prince Yan comes tomorrow, you should be the one to deal with him."
Ma Hong didn't want to say anything more, and just slowly walked inside.
Mingxiu followed, saying, "I didn't realize His Highness Yan was so eloquent. You said he comes every day, but he never comes in. Why is that? Could it be that he already knows...?"
Ma Hong paused, "Walls have ears. Steward Ming, be careful what you say."
Mingxiu pouted and remained silent.
But after a short while, she couldn't hold back anymore. "How much longer do I have to live like this?"
Ma Hong said in a low voice, "It'll be soon." He clenched his fist, his heart feeling like it was overgrown with weeds.
For the past two weeks, no one has been allowed into Chengde Palace.
Xiao Yan is no good, the Prime Minister and the other ministers are no good, and Ying Ziye is no good either.
Zhao Youchen guarded Chengde Palace so tightly that not even a bird could pass through, and secretly spread the word that if the Grand Tutor did not enter the palace, His Majesty would not see him.
This matter is a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion. Many people believe that His Majesty and the Grand Tutor have developed a rift and are competing with each other, but what is the truth...?
That very evening, Zhao Youchen secretly sneaked into the Grand Tutor's residence.
The Grand Tutor's residence is decorated with white banners everywhere. In recent days, he has even invited a Buddhist monk to chant sutras for the deceased. He has not received any outside guests and it is said that he has been fasting for several days. At first, he only drank water every day, and later he became a vegetarian every day, which shows his sincerity.
Everyone was speculating about who Fu Mingyi was observing mourning for.
As Zhao Youchen climbed over the wall, he pursed his lips, his heart burning with rage.
There was much discussion in the court, with some saying very harsh things. Some even said that Zhao Youchen was using his position as a guard to carry out house arrest and kidnapping, and that he should be dealt with seriously.
If Fu Mingyi and the others don't come back soon, he really won't be able to hold on any longer.
As he was thinking this, he noticed that the Grand Tutor's residence was somewhat different from usual.
He was alert and about to call for Uncle Li when he saw a person kneeling in the mourning hall, reciting a scroll of scriptures in his hand. That voice... who else could it be but Fu Mingyi?!
Overjoyed, he hurried to go inside, but Fu Shan, who appeared out of nowhere, grinned and said with his head tilted, "Lord Zhao, don't be in such a hurry. It won't be long after the master finishes reading the scriptures."
Zhao Youchen had a lot to say, but he could only hold back for the moment.
He noticed that Fu Mingyi didn't seem to be pretending, and a question arose in his mind.
When did your master return?
"Just got back."
"Now that you're back, shouldn't these things also be..."
Fu Shan straightened his expression and said, "What are you saying, Lord Zhao? Our master specially burned incense and chanted sutras today to pray for the deceased, and there are still three days to observe the rites."
Zhao Youchen stared at the scene in astonishment, realizing that he might have been wrong from the start.
Was all that Fu Mingyi was doing in the mansion not just a cover-up, but actually a way of keeping vigil and mourning for his deceased relatives?
Finally, after Fu Mingyi finished reciting a passage of scripture, he presented the scripture with both hands and placed it under the ever-burning candle before slowly walking out.
Zhao Youchen went up to him and stood side by side. The two nodded slightly and then walked towards the backyard.
Fu Shan breathed a sigh of relief, looked up and around, and only then did he feel that the days were not so hard to endure.
During this period, the Grand Tutor's mansion welcomed many people openly and secretly, but Fu Mingyi had made it clear beforehand that no one, no matter who they were, was allowed to enter the mansion.
The Grand Tutor's residence was surrounded like an iron barrel.
In the backyard, Fu Mingyi patted Zhao Youchen on the shoulder: "You've worked hard these past few days."
Zhao Youchen punched him on the shoulder. "You finally decided to come back?"
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