Chapter 104
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“So, you’re saying that the recent rodent plague and epidemic in the northern regions were intentionally introduced by those barbarians?” In the court, Chu Zhaoyi examined the documents in his hand, his brows furrowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I have thoroughly investigated and can confirm it without a doubt.”
“Impressive, Minister Feng. The imperial troops haven’t even reached the northern border, and you’ve already uncovered this.”
“…”
“…”
Fu Nian stood straight behind the folding screen, frozen in place.
He only moved when he heard the command to adjourn the court.
Quietly, he approached the throne, watching Chu Zhaoyi massaging his temples. “Your Majesty, let me help you.”
With that, Fu Nian donned a pair of short-fur gloves over his prosthetic hand and, after ensuring it wasn’t ice-cold, gently touched Chu Zhaoyi’s forehead.
He patiently pressed his fingers against the skin, remembering how Chu Zhaoyi had looked when they first met in their youth. Today, perhaps due to the favorable lighting, Fu Nian noticed a few fine lines and wrinkles at the corners of Chu Zhaoyi’s eyes.
“Fu Nian.”
Hearing his name, Fu Nian paused.
Immediately afterward, a wooden tablet was thrown from the direction of the dragon throne. It tumbled a few times before landing on the floor.
Fu Nian removed his short, plush gloves, crouched down, and picked up the wooden plaque. He glanced at the words on it.
Chu Zhaoyi had always used these wooden plaques to signal the tasks he needed Fu Nian to perform, whether by throwing them on the ground, placing them on a table, or handing them directly to him.
“At your command.”
“Hmm.”
By the time of You hour, Fu Nian had checked his prosthetic limb and donned a concealed blade, ready to leave the palace.
Ever since he had Little Zhoushu, this was the first time Fu Nian had taken matters into his own hands. Previously, he had relied more on the reserve agents of the Shadow Guards, instructing them while he handled the aftermath.
At this hour, most streets were shrouded in darkness, with the exception of the Flower Street, which remained brightly lit.
Fu Nian carefully searched among the passing crowd, looking for someone whose appearance and accent matched the description in the message. Soon, he spotted a sturdy young man emitting the scent of alcohol.
Jumping down from the rooftop, Fu Nian adjusted his cumbersome clothing and accessories before heading straight for the drunken youth.
“Hey, beauty, why are you out here in this cold weather? How can your petite frame endure the chill of spring?”
“…”
“Sss, good wine! Want to drink in the alley? Your hands are so cold, let me warm you up…”
“…”
In the dark alley, where such clandestine dealings were common, Fu Nian carefully examined the pulse and checked the birthmarks on his body multiple times to confirm he had the right person. Only then did he firmly grasp the short blade.
“Beautiful one, how did you—”
Fu Nian remained silent as usual. He used his prosthetic hand to tightly grip the young man’s throat, preventing him from making any sound. In his other hand, he held a blade ready in case the man tried to break free.
After a moment of choking, Fu Nian felt the person in his grip lose consciousness. He then relaxed his grip, picked up the blade, swiftly severed the tendons in the man’s legs, and cut away the birthmark on his body.
Finally, he poured drugged liquor down the man’s throat through a funnel that could be inserted into the esophagus, showing no mercy.
Once he had completed all of this, Fu Nian, feeling thoroughly disgusted, removed the heavy skirts from his body. While the girls in the brothel were still entertaining guests outside, he quietly returned the way he came, discreetly removing the rouge from his lips and the powder from the corners of his eyes.
By the time he returned to the palace, it was well past the hour of the Pig. Fu Nian, bearing the smell of blood and cosmetics, entered the study, addressing Chu Zhaoyi, “Your Majesty.”
As he spoke, the bundle of linen he carried was still oozing blood.
“When you’re done, dispose of the items. I trust your methods, but there’s no need to bring such filth into the main hall in the future,” Chu Zhaoyi said without lifting his head, his pen never stopping.
Fu Nian nodded.
Returning to the study once more, he had already changed back into the plain attire of a Shadow Guard, free from makeup and the smell of blood. He stood quietly behind the screen, like a large loyal hound waiting for a command, ready to tear apart any enemies at a single word.
He stood in the shadows for an unknown amount of time until he heard someone approaching outside the study.
He wasn’t sure who it was specifically, but he knew Chu Zhaoyi had used a secret bell to signal him to leave. There must be important matters to discuss with the officials.
Lying on the eaves, Fu Nian stretched lazily.
In another half hour, Chu Yao would come to take over his shift. At that time, he could go and see if Little Zhoushu was sleeping well and if she had started to speak. The last time Fu Nian saw her, she had already learned to crawl.
The wet nurse and Little Zhoushu lived in Xungui Residence, not far from Chengyuan Hall. At this hour, the child, who was not yet a year old, would already be fast asleep.
When Fu Nian arrived, he didn’t make any commotion. Instead, he crouched by the window and peered inside.
“Why don’t you go in, My Lord? The princess really likes you—”
“No need,” Fu Nian replied calmly.
Fu Nian didn’t want to disturb her; his hands had just been involved in a murder, and despite multiple baths, he couldn’t wash away the lingering bloodlust.
After watching for quite some time, suddenly, the baby in the room started crying without warning.
Fu Nian watched as the wet nurse hurriedly rushed in to soothe the baby. He remained alone, crouched by the window, observing.
After comforting the baby for quite some time, with nursing and adding blankets, her cries showed no signs of abating.
Fu Nian grew anxious too. He twisted his head left and right outside the window, hoping to capture the baby’s attention.
After she had cried for a while, a palace maid came out. “My lord, the wet nurse says that the princess sensed your presence and is crying because she wants you to hold her.”
Fu Nian hesitated for a moment.
His initial reaction was how could that be discerned? However, upon further thought, throughout history, there had been plenty of people skilled in taming animals. Wet nurses spent a lot of time with infants, so it wasn’t unusual if they could pick up on such cues.
“Please wait a moment,” Fu Nian said and rushed to the water basin at the well. He washed his prosthetic limb and hands multiple times, both inside and out. Only then did he dare to walk cautiously into the room.
“Wuwu wawa, ah wa—”
The wailing cries quieted down considerably as soon as Fu Nian crossed the threshold.
Approaching the cradle cautiously, Fu Nian extended his left hand and wiggled it in front of the baby.
The little one, who had been inconsolable moments ago, suddenly stopped crying, her round eyes fixated on Fu Nian’s face.
“Shu Shu, were you really crying earlier or just pretending?” Fu Nian asked, curious about the sudden change.
But before he could finish his question, the little one abruptly burst into loud sobs again.
Panicking, Fu Nian was about to call for the wet nurse when he turned his head and saw a man dressed in a black dragon robe standing in the doorway. The man appeared just as bewildered as Fu Nian.
“Why did you come?” Fu Nian put down his soft, pliable prosthetic arm and looked up at Chu Zhaoyi.
“Naturally, I came to find you. You’ve been coming here day after day, and I can’t find you anywhere in Chengyuan Hall.”
“I’ll make sure to pay more attention in the future.”
After giving his answer, Fu Nian didn’t hear a response from Chu Zhaoyi. Instead, he felt another head on his shoulder, pressing against him as they both watched the baby on the bed.
“I’m jealous,” Chu Zhaoyi muttered. “She’s taking away Ah Nian’s attention.”
“How could that be? Every night, I’m with—,” Fu Nian started to say, but he realized it wasn’t quite appropriate and wisely stopped himself.
A soft chuckle came from his shoulder.
Fu Nian resisted the urge to knock his head with his wrist.
After a while, it seemed that Little Zhoushu was tired of crying. She changed to a more comfortable position, curled up under the blankets, and continued to sleep soundly.
When leaving Xungui Residence, Fu Nian followed Chu Zhaoyi without seeing his face.
But he could vaguely sense Chu Zhaoyi’s restless footsteps.
He didn’t dare to ask too much, and he understood that Chu Zhaoyi’s restlessness was likely due to the daytime political affairs.
Even though Chu Zhaoyi had allowed him to participate and ask questions, as a mere military officer, Fu Nian had barely read the Four Books and Five Classics, let alone recognized characters. Even if Chu Zhaoyi presented memorials to him, he would likely not understand them.
Back in the sleeping palace, Chu Zhaoyi was still sitting at the table reading, as usual.
Fu Nian wasn’t idle either. He started sorting through the incoming letters.
Suddenly, a memorial caught Fu Nian’s attention.
He hadn’t intended to read it, but the memorial happened to be open and fell in front of him. When he picked it up, he unintentionally started reading.
It wasn’t a particularly formal memorial, and the tone and etiquette were quite lax. It was signed by Ze Wang.
At first glance, Fu Nian only saw the words “marriage alliance.”
He read it carefully and managed to understand the gist of the letter.
【In the twelfth month of last year, the Northern Kingdom claimed to have discovered the antidote to the rat plague and epidemic. If Lord Feng’s information is correct, they deliberately spread the disease by transporting infected corpses into the Great Chu’s territory. Our spies reported that the King of the Snow Kingdom, upon hearing that Your Majesty has just had a daughter, expressed his intention to negotiate for the antidote through a marriage alliance, promising to sign a treaty to cease the spread of the rat plague and epidemic.】Upon learning that Your Majesty has just had a daughter, he expressed an intention to form a marriage alliance.
Fu Nian’s gaze fixated on this sentence.
Chu Zhaoyi had only one child, and Fu Nian couldn’t help but grip the letter tightly.
Little Zhoushu had just learned how to crawl…
For a moment, Fu Nian’s complexion looked even worse than Chu Zhaoyi, who was reviewing memorials.
He knew that Chu Zhaoyi had always prioritized the greater good.
In the previous life, if he didn’t have the ability to clear obstacles for Chu Zhaoyi, he would undoubtedly have been just a pawn used for competition.
With a heavy heart, Fu Nian climbed onto the dragon bed, warmed the bed, and waited for Chu Zhaoyi to arrive.
After waiting for a while, Fu Nian finally saw Chu Zhaoyi finish reading the books and lie down beside him.
As soon as Chu Zhaoyi laid down, Fu Nian couldn’t wait any longer and asked, “Your Majesty, are you troubled by the political affairs during the day in the court and the epidemic situation in the Northern Border?”
“Why are you suddenly asking about this?” Chu Zhaoyi didn’t directly answer but replied with a question.
“Because I care about you,” Fu Nian said.
Chu Zhaoyi smiled and reached out to pat Fu Nian’s head. “It’s not entirely that. The situation in the Northern Border, while not without a solution, is somewhat difficult due to their conditions…”
Fu Nian understood why Chu Zhaoyi paused.
Because the condition set by the Northern Kingdom was a marriage alliance involving Little Zhoushu.
“But if there’s a solution, why are you worried, Your Majesty?” Fu Nian asked.
Chu Zhaoyi replied, “Although there is a solution, the conditions set by the Northern Kingdom are somewhat challenging. While I could accept them, it would harm the dignity of Great Chu.”
Fu Nian was momentarily stunned and wanted to ask more, but he hesitated and couldn’t bring himself to continue.
Conditions could be accepted…
In other words, Chu Zhaoyi considered the possibility of sending the young princess for a marriage alliance? It made sense, given Chu Zhaoyi’s previous complaint about Little Zhoushu diverting his attention.
Fu Nian didn’t dare to ask further and was left with a shivering heart.
He couldn’t accept it.
Fu Nian even started thinking about leaving the palace with Little Zhoushu to escape the possibility of a marriage alliance.
“What’s wrong, Ah Nian?” Chu Zhaoyi noticed Fu Nian’s anxious expression and asked.
Fu Nian shook his head quickly, indicating that nothing was wrong.
But his heart was already considering the worst possible outcomes.
Continuing, Chu Zhaoyi said, “As long as everything is fine. If we really have to consider the northern conditions to obtain the prescription… Ah Nian, you might have to endure some hardships.”
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