Chu Sheng
Seeing that he remained silent, Fu Huaiying continued, "I'm teaching you, not for the sake of the country, but simply to climb up. I'm now in Qiliyuan, and I'm considered a close minister to the emperor, but I still don't want to kneel."
Chen Huanli understood. He held Fu Huaiying's hand, his young face full of sincerity. "Teacher, if I can really sit in that position, I promise that I will never make you kneel again. No one can make you kneel."
The teacher and student talked heart to heart all night until dawn. Fu Huaiying went to work and let him go back to rest.
When Fu Huaiying entered the palace, she met an unexpected guest. Fu Tingyun stopped her on her way to work.
"Fu Huaiying, no, now it's time to call you Fu Zhibi."
Fu Huaiying raised an eyebrow. Seeing that he was wearing official uniform, he did not salute but just called him "Brother".
Fu Tingyun grew up in the academy and seldom returned home. He seldom saw his sister. He occasionally caught a glimpse of her when he was young. She was kneeling in the Frost Moon Courtyard, with her head lowered and trembling, looking like she was at the mercy of others. But he didn't expect that she was a black-hearted person who had been hiding in the mansion for so many years.
"If you say that the Yuewan incident has nothing to do with you, I don't believe it at all."
Fu Huaiying chuckled. Another one coming to accuse them, but they had no evidence. Why did they insist on getting a response from her? Could she possibly tell the truth herself?
"Brother, what are you talking about? Mother killed someone, and now Yue Wan's brother is still kneeling in front of Shuntian Mansion. Brother, you don't want to solve the problem, but come to trouble me? I think it wasn't your sister who died, so you have such leisure time."
"What a good mouth, what powerful means! I didn't know there was such a talent in our family."
Fu Tingyun walked beside her, and from a distance, they looked like a harmonious brother and sister.
Fu Huaiying lowered her eyes and looked at the badge hanging on his waist. She praised him in a nonchalant tone, "The Ministry of Rites is a good place. Big Brother has found a good place."
Fu Tingyun smiled. Did she only know he was in the Ministry of Rites today? Wasn't she just mocking him? The Minister of Rites was a fourth-rank official with no real power. This was a warning to him, telling him to be quiet.
"Compared to Qiliyuan, the emperor's close minister, my sister will definitely be able to rise step by step."
"Thanks for your good words, big brother. If no one blocks my way, I will definitely prepare a feast for you and have a drink if I get a high position."
Fu Tingyun really didn't want to continue chatting with her. She spoke without any loopholes and pretended to be innocent and pitiful, but she was probably completely dark inside. Yue Wan's death might be caused by her mother, but Fu Huaiying was definitely involved as well.
"I still say the same thing. If you are willing to live peacefully, I will not cause you any trouble. But if you insist on causing trouble, I am not your mother, nor am I Rou'er. I will definitely not show you mercy."
Fu Huaiying patted Xiaobai, who had been trying to poke his head out from his sleeve, and sneered, "What should I do? Is Big Brother going to kill me?"
"Do you think I don't dare?"
"I am an official appointed by the imperial court. If you kill me, you must be buried with me. However, I will not be lonely on the road to the underworld with you by my side."
Fu Tingyun finally couldn't continue speaking. He waved his sleeves, quickened his pace, walked in front of Fu Huaiying, and left her far behind.
After he walked away, Fu Huaiying put away the smile on her face and walked in the opposite direction.
The emperor was in his prime and did most of the things himself. Fu Huaiying delivered the memorial to Chongyang Palace, but it was kept and placed on a small table nearby.
"Have you read all these memorials?"
Fu Huaiying nodded, "Yes."
"There have been quite a few people impeaching your father recently, and it's really difficult for me to handle it. What do you think?"
Fu Huaiying lowered her eyes, knowing that the emperor was testing her, but she didn't care about Fu Liusong's future at all, and let him die.
"Your Majesty is wise and must have reached a conclusion."
The emperor smiled, not knowing whether she really didn't care or was pretending. He reminded her several times, but she didn't plead.
"If I were to dismiss Fu Yushi from his post, would you still think I am wise?"
"Your Majesty's decisions are always correct. Otherwise, the people of the world wouldn't love you so much. Whether you are dismissed or not, father will be grateful."
The emperor laughed twice. Although she seemed to be flattering him, who doesn't want to hear nice words?
"I heard that your maid's brother has been kneeling in front of Shuntian Mansion for three days?"
"Yes, I saw it when I passed by on my way to court these past two days."
"Since everyone has seen it, why hasn't anyone dealt with it? The young marquis of the Loyal and Brave Marquisate has been bringing it up quite a bit these past two days. Does the prefect not dare to deal with it, or does he simply not want to?"
How could Fu Huaiying respond to this? The one who died was her maid, and the one who killed her was her nominal mother. Saying more or less would be wrong. It would be better to remain silent.
The emperor saw that she was silent again, so he turned to look at her and asked, "Why aren't you talking?"
Fu Huaiying lowered her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I have always been dull. My grandfather said that if you know you are stupid, you should speak less. Whether you say too much or too little, it is wrong. It is better not to say anything."
"You do resemble your grandfather. Well, I won't embarrass you. Send someone to invite him into the palace. I will question him personally."
"……yes……"
Normally, His Majesty wouldn't personally inquire about such matters. Perhaps it was because of Lin Yan'an's recent disturbances that things became so heated, or perhaps... it was because of the Wen family...
Fu Huaiying shook his head and turned to go to the Pacification Office to ask for help.
As she stepped into the door, she saw a very tall man with a resolute face wearing a flying fish suit walking towards her. She looked down at his badge.
"Commander."
Ji Yuan was slightly startled, not quite recognizing her. "Who are you?"
Fu Huaiying looked up and said, "I am Fu Huaiying, the staff writer of Qiliyuan. I have received the order from His Majesty to ask you to go to the Shuntian Mansion Gate on Shen Street and invite a scholar to come into the palace for a conversation."
Ji Yuan nodded. He was not worried at all whether the person in front of him was lying to him. After all, no one dared to falsely convey the imperial decree.
"Let's go, but I don't recognize you, so I'll have to ask Fu Zhibi to come with me."
After a moment, Fu Huaiying and Ji Yuan looked at each other in front of the two big horses.
"...Sir...I can't ride a horse..."
Ji Yuan was also a little helpless. He didn't know that she couldn't ride a horse. For her to be able to enter Qiliyuan, she must have studied hard in the academy for many years. So he assumed that Fu Huaiying had learned riding and shooting, but he didn't expect that she couldn't.
"Well, come on up and we'll ride together."
Fu Huaiying was even more helpless. "Master Ji, putting aside the fact that it's not a good look for a man and a woman to ride together, let's just say we've invited that scholar over later...how will he get into the palace? Do we have to ride together, three of us?"
Ji Yuan's cheeks flushed, and he realized that he had been a little inconsiderate. "Sorry, it's my fault. I'll go find you a carriage."
When Fu Huaiying arrived, Chu Sheng was almost fainted, his face was pale and the corners of his lips were chapped.
"Chu Sheng, huh? His Majesty wants to see you. Please come with us."
Chu Sheng slowly raised his head and only saw the man's shoulders and the token in his hand. He struggled to stand up, but almost fell down because he had not eaten or drunk anything for three days.
Fu Huaiying was quick to help him up and said, "Be careful."
Chu Sheng immediately took two steps back, moved further away from her, and bowed, "Thank you, young lady."
Ji Yuan helped him into the carriage, and the carriage wobbled into the palace.
Chu Sheng had been kneeling for these days, and his legs were still weak when he got off the carriage. He walked with a limp, but refused to let anyone help him. His stubborn eyebrows and eyes showed the unique character of a scholar.
He was unwilling to be helped, and Fu Huaiying would not go forward and ask for trouble. She took a step back and stood beside Ji Yuan, watching Chu Sheng slowly move towards Chongyang Palace. His Majesty did not summon them into the palace, so they could only stand outside and wait.
Chu Sheng entered the hall, knelt down and bowed deeply, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty..."
The emperor sat at the head of the table, looking him over with his eyes lowered. After a moment, he spoke slowly, "I heard you knelt in front of Shuntian Mansion for three days? What perseverance!"
"I'm just asking for justice. Debts should be paid, and murder should be punished. It's only right and proper."
The emperor sighed, "Although Madam Fu was at fault first, your sister signed a contract to sell herself, and her life and property are in the hands of her master."
Chu Sheng was a little stiff, but he still spoke through gritted teeth, "Your Majesty! According to the laws of this dynasty, no matter how powerful or noble one is, they cannot torture and kill slaves without reason. Although my sister signed an indenture, she... those whip marks and knife wounds on her body cannot be faked!"
The emperor was waiting for his words, "Since you are familiar with the law, you also know what the crime of torturing and killing slaves is, right?"
"...I know... Anyone who kills a slave without reason will be lashed with twenty lashes..."
"If you know, why are you still clamoring for someone's life? Is your sister's life more important than the law?"
Chu Sheng felt a sinking feeling in his heart as he listened to the emperor's chilling words, but he knew that letting Wen Shuangye take a few whippings was already the biggest concession he could make.
"I dare not."
"Go back, don't kneel there anymore. Don't let me hear you kneeling in front of Shuntian Mansion these days."
"……yes."
Fu Huaiying watched Chu Sheng come out of the hall in a daze, and understood in her heart. Yes, if the emperor really wanted to execute Wen Shuangye for Yue Wan, he would be really crazy.
She turned around and looked at Ji Yuan, "Master Ji, I have some things to do over there, so please take him back."
Ji Yuan nodded in agreement.
Fu Huaiying turned around and left the palace, thinking of buying some books, but she didn't expect to run into a big crowd again. She didn't intend to join in the fun, but the voice over there was so familiar that she couldn't help but stick her head out to see.
"If I hear you say something disgusting about her again, I'll rip your mouth off!"
"Help... Help! Someone's been murdered..."
"If you yell again, I'll beat you to death!"
Lin Yanan had just finished scolding a chatterbox, and when he looked up, he saw Fu Huaiying standing beside him, watching intently.
He clapped his hands and kicked the man who was beaten and crying aside.
"What a coincidence, Sister Huaiying."
Fu Huaiying raised an eyebrow and looked at him as he came over. "Unfortunately, I came here specially to see your fun."
Lin Yan'an raised his hand and pointed at the Fang Ding Building across the street. "Sister, would you please do me a favor and have dinner with me?"
Fu Huaiying didn't hesitate and followed him into the building. To be honest, she was very willing to interact with Lin Yan'an. It was no surprise that a playboy with a bad reputation could do anything and was willing to be driven by her. Without Lin Yan'an, where could she find such a useful person? Now in her heart, Lin Yan'an's status was much higher than others.
As usual, Lin Yan'an ordered a few of her favorite dishes, and even asked the waiter to go out and buy a bowl of fish soup. In her previous life, every time she went to the Fu family, she would not talk to anyone else when she came back, including him. She would not eat without fish soup, and she would not eat it unless he bought it.
When the waiter came back with the soup, Lin Yanan took it and pushed it in front of her. "Try it. The fish soup here is very good. You will like it."
Fu Huaiying took it half-believingly, scooped a spoonful lightly, and the moment it entered his mouth, his eyes lit up slightly.
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