Save my second uncle
The prison is perpetually shrouded in darkness, with even the air itself being foul and murky. Stepping inside, one can immediately sense the chilling, oppressive atmosphere.
The jailer lit a lamp to guide Fu Zhiqiao, saying, "Mr. Fu, please follow me."
Fu Zhi Qiao came to Yuzhou as the owner of Taibai Winery to help treat the plague. In addition, she had a strange relationship with the young master, so the government officials treated her with great respect.
Fu Mingjie was held in solitary confinement in a small cell. The straw and wheat stalks on the floor hadn't been changed in a long time and smelled strongly of excrement and urine.
Fu Mingjie was used to a life of luxury and was naturally not suited to this environment.
"Zhi Qiao, is that you?" Hearing the noise, Fu Mingjie turned around and rushed to the cell door when he saw who it was. "Zhi Qiao, please save your second uncle."
Fu Zhiqiao didn't respond to his question. Instead, she covered her nose and asked, "Is Second Uncle doing well in prison?"
"This prison is no place for a human being, Zhi Qiao, my dear niece, you have to find a way to get me out!" Fu Mingjie pleaded, reeking of sourness. When Fu Zhi Qiao didn't respond, his tone immediately turned reproachful, "Zhi Qiao, I'm your second uncle, you better find a way to get me out right now!"
Faced with Fu Mingjie's accusation, Fu Zhiqiao almost burst out laughing: "Second Uncle, are you getting old and your mind is getting muddled? You secretly changed the medicinal materials, which delayed the treatment of the epidemic. You have committed a capital offense."
"I don't want to die, Zhi Qiao, please save me! I'm your second uncle, we're family, you have to save me!" Fu Mingjie quickly softened his tone after hearing that he was sentenced to death.
Fu Zhi Qiao was present when the imperial envoy interrogated him that day. Although Fu Ming Jie didn't know why Fu Zhi Qiao was with the government officials, he was willing to do anything to get him out! "Zhi Qiao, don't you know people in the government? Could you put in a good word for me with the envoy and ask him to let me out?"
Fu Zhiqiao touched the tip of her nose, and seeing the disheveled Fu Mingjie, she felt extremely pleased.
"There must be some mistake. Our Fu family's medicinal herbs are the best. We would never sell herbs that aren't of good quality. Zhi Qiao, you know that, right?"
"Then why was a problem detected?"
"I...I don't know either, I don't know anything, I'm innocent."
"I don't know if you're innocent or not, but I do know that the Fu family's century-old legacy is about to be destroyed in your hands, my dear second uncle."
Fu Mingjie murdered Fu Changyue in order to seize the position of family head. After successfully taking over, he did not focus on expanding the business, but instead indulged in pleasure. In recent years, the Fu family's business has declined instead of progressed.
Now, with the flood, most of the Fu family's medicinal herb fields have been destroyed, the herbs have been soaked in water, and Fu Wenyang has been discovered to have secretly switched the herbs... All of these things are a testament to Fu Mingjie's incompetence.
Those whose virtue does not match their position will surely suffer calamity.
Even the sturdiest ship needs a good helmsman, and Fu Mingjie simply doesn't have that ability; the Fu family's fate is sealed.
"As the head of the Fu family, you actually did something as reckless as changing medicine without authorization. I am truly ashamed of you." Fu Zhi Qiao's eyes were filled with indifference and contempt as she looked at him.
"There is no evidence that I switched the medicines; I am innocent!" Fu Mingjie shouted angrily, unable to tolerate a junior saying he was incompetent.
"If you didn't do it, then it must have been your third uncle. Otherwise, why wouldn't your third uncle try to save you? You two are brothers from the same mother!"
"I don't believe it!" Fu Mingjie's face turned pale. They were siblings from the same mother, how could his own brother treat him like this?
“Maybe he’d love for you to get into trouble.” Fu Zhi Qiao continued, seemingly enjoying the spectacle: “If something happens to you, the entire Fu family will be his.”
"You're talking nonsense. My third brother wouldn't do that to me."
Fu Mingjie was clearly flustered, glaring angrily at Fu Zhiqiao. He said he didn't believe it, but a hint of hesitation still crossed his mind.
"Of course it will, just like how you treated my father back then."
Fu Mingjie seemed to have been struck by lightning. He looked at Fu Zhiqiao in disbelief, then lowered his eyes to try to hide his disbelief. "What nonsense are you talking about? I have always respected my elder brother. We are family!"
"When you killed my father, did you forget that we were family?" Fu Zhi Qiao's tone was impatient, putting pressure on Fu Ming Jie without his knowledge.
Fu Mingjie swallowed hard in fear, his eyes avoiding her gaze. "Zhi Qiao, you...you mustn't talk nonsense. Everyone in the city knows that my brother was killed by Jiang the bandits."
Fu Zhiqiao smiled mockingly, her tone icy, "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. You and I both know exactly how my father died."
Every word Fu Zhi Qiao uttered resonated with Fu Mingjie. She hadn't come to save him; she had come to watch his misfortune unfold.
Fu Mingjie finally realized that Fu Zhiqiao had come back to take revenge on him.
He cursed her under his breath, pretending to be weak and begging for help, but inwardly he thought bitterly that if only he had been ruthless enough to kill Fu Zhi Qiao as well.
Seeing Fu Mingjie's increasingly distorted face, Fu Zhiqiao was satisfied: "Second Uncle, it is only right that a murderer should pay with his life. Now it is time for you to pay for it."
*
Meanwhile, the farewell banquet for Min Kunzheng and Xie Zhuo was held on a cruise ship on the Li River.
The three-story pleasure boat sailed to the middle of the river, and the surrounding boats all gave way, not daring to get close.
Inside the pleasure boat, Ding Liqun, the prefect of Yuzhou, quickly called for the banquet to begin. "The Crown Prince and Lord Min's return is imminent. I propose that we all raise a toast to wish them a safe journey!"
Xie Zhuo didn't want to socialize, so Min Kunzheng glanced at Xie Zhuo and stepped forward to speak: "The reason why this disaster relief and epidemic prevention has gone so smoothly is thanks to everyone's dedication. I will definitely report to His Majesty truthfully and will not miss anyone's contribution."
"Thank you, Lord Min!"
"Lord Min, let's drink until we drop tonight!"
After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was a little tipsy.
Prefect Ding Liqun, emboldened by alcohol, ordered a song and dance performance.
The dancers wore masks made of feathers, adding to their mystique. Their alluring figures and captivating dance moves drew everyone's attention.
Fu Yan'er, disguised as a dancer, mingled at the very end of the dance troupe with her face covered. After a few nimble spins, she stopped in front of Xie Zhuo, her watery eyes looking at him.
Xie Zhuo's mind wasn't on the dancers at all. He half-closed his eyes, holding an empty wine glass in one hand, savoring the taste of Taibai wine.
As expected of her wine, it's delicious!
Seeing that Xie Zhuo ignored her, Fu Yan'er gritted her teeth. In order not to make her intentions too obvious, she had no choice but to return to the group of dancers.
When the music stopped and the dance ended, everyone applauded and cheered, "Great, great, well done! This dance was absolutely wonderful!"
The dancers scattered and came to the table, squeezing in to sit next to the adults wherever they could.
Xie Zhuo leaned halfway back in the chair, looking languid. His outstanding temperament clearly distinguished him from ordinary people. Especially when he pursed his lips, his cool and indifferent face was particularly attractive, and the dancers couldn't take their eyes off him.
The dancer in the pink dress was quick-witted and sat down next to Xie Zhuo first. As soon as she sat down, Xie Zhuo covered his nose and said, "I don't like the smell of perfume, stay away from me."
The dancer in the pink dress turned pale, and the officials also paused upon hearing Xie Zhuo's voice. Wasn't today supposed to be a day of fun and celebration? Why was the young master so serious?
Ding Liqun was clearly a regular here, and he immediately stepped in to defuse the situation, saying, "The young master doesn't like the smell of cosmetics, but I do. Little beauty, come here quickly."
The lead dancer in the purple dress pulled the pink-dressed dancer, who had been rejected by Xie Zhuo, to his side. "Sir, it's been a long time since you've come to support us."
The dancer in the purple dress had a slender figure, and with a wave of her sleeve, she brought a captivating fragrance.
Ding Liqun was very pleased with this and immediately laughed out loud: "The people who have come today are all distinguished guests. If you serve them well, I will reward them handsomely."
"My lord, look at what you're saying! When have we sisters ever failed to serve you well?" The dancer in the purple dress chuckled, her voice clear and melodious, as she held a handkerchief in her handkerchief.
Several adults nearby burst into laughter upon hearing this, and the other dancers followed suit, swaying their bodies as they poured drinks and brought them to their lips, speaking softly and gently.
After the dancers came in, the atmosphere in the cabin immediately became lively with drinking.
The adults were all all smiles and relaxed, but Xie Zhuo was drinking alone, exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay.
Looking at the group of officials who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, Xie Zhuo rubbed his forehead in exasperation, wondering why he wasn't going to find Fu Zhi Qiao to build a relationship, but instead was drinking with a bunch of smelly men.
With fine wine in hand and beautiful women in their arms, the adults present were somewhat tempted, but because Xie Zhuo, a "decent person," was there, they refrained from making any excessive moves.
Ding Liqun noticed Xie Zhuo's reaction and asked enthusiastically, "Does Your Highness find this beauty unsatisfactory? If not, I'll get you a different one!"
Xie Zhuo rubbed his temples. "I've been a little tired these past few days. Please enjoy your food and drinks, everyone. Don't worry about me."
Xie Zhuo made an excuse to come out for some fresh air, and as soon as he left, the atmosphere in the cabin immediately became lively.
Seeing Xie Zhuo leave alone, Fu Yan'er followed him out without making a sound. She thought that with her dance skills and appearance, she would definitely attract the young master's attention. However, after seeing the young master's attitude towards the dancer in the pink dress, Fu Yan'er felt a chill in her heart. It seemed that seduction was not the way to go. Perhaps she would have to find another way.
*
"Miss, I haven't been to the Lishui pleasure boats yet. I've heard that the actresses there are all incredibly beautiful, like celestial beings. Shall we go and see for ourselves?"
"Why do you suddenly want to go on a boat trip?" Fu Zhi Qiao teased her. "What, does our Ginkgo also want to see beautiful women?"
Of course, Ginkgo's desire wasn't simply to see beautiful women. Yesterday, she overheard the prefect planning a farewell banquet for Lord Min and the young master, to be held on the Li River.
The painted boats on the Li River were a favorite pastime for the high-ranking officials and nobles of Yuzhou, offering a wide variety of delicious food and wine. However, what made it most famous were the beautiful women on the boats. It was in this rather improper place that the young master held a farewell banquet...
Has his flirtatious nature been exposed? She can't let her young lady be deceived by the young master's facade!
In Yinxing's opinion, Xie Zhuo, though a prince, was not suitable for her daughter. Since going to the capital, her daughter had been looked down upon one after another, especially by the Princess Consort of Duan and that young lady named Yu Yadan, who openly and secretly belittled her daughter, which made Yinxing feel very aggrieved.
"Girl!" Ginkgo said coquettishly, "We're about to leave Yuzhou, and who knows when we'll be back."
"Okay, I'll take you there."
Yinxing breathed a sigh of relief after Fu Zhiqiao agreed. She had really carried too much burden in order to let the young lady see the true face of the prince!
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