Chapter 105
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Chu Zhaoyi glanced at Fu Nian’s anxious expression and added, “Don’t worry, we will never send Zhoushu for a political marriage. She is our only child, and we will never let her endure such hardships.”
Hearing these words, Fu Nian breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as they didn’t use their young daughter for political marriage, he couldn’t think of any other hardships they might face.
He was about to ask something else, but before he could speak, Chu Zhaoyi embraced him and extinguished the candle.
Fu Nian remained silent.
The next morning, just after the morning training session, Fu Nian was summoned for an early task.
Although he had the official seal of the Grand Shadow Guard, most of the time, Fu Nian still presented himself as a diligent “Imperial Guard Lian” within the palace.
After completing his morning task, Fu Nian changed back into his regular Shadow Guard attire. He was about to walk under the eaves near the Imperial Study when a young boy’s figure suddenly flashed past him.
Fu Nian turned around and saw an unfamiliar child who appeared to be a reserve member of the Shadow Guard based on his clothing. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the boy had a prosthetic left leg, which was not made of ordinary materials.
“Sir, His Majesty has issued an order that you are not allowed to attend the study session today. Please stay here,” the boy said in a cold, emotionless voice.
Fu Nian stood upright and replied, “If His Majesty has any orders, he will surely convey them to me directly.” Then, he reached out his hand and said, “Let me see your waist token.”
The boy didn’t respond verbally but handed over his waist token while simultaneously passing a scroll of bright yellow silk to Fu Nian.
Fu Nian checked the waist token to confirm its authenticity and then returned it. He opened the scroll, which bore Chu Zhaoyi’s handwriting.
The seal was also genuine.
【In consideration of Minister Fu’s recent exhaustion, a day of rest is granted.】
Fu Nian’s name was written on it, and there were no signs of forgery.
Fu Nian looked a bit embarrassed as he examined the silk.
He had always received verbal orders much more frequently than written edicts. Even when there was a written edict, it was typically read to him in person by the Gonggong. Even if a colleague delivered a message, it was usually someone of similar rank, like Chu Yao.
Letting a young messenger pass on the message, it was the first time.
“Please tell His Majesty that I have received the message. Thank him for his understanding,” Fu Nian finished speaking calmly, received the silk scroll, and turned to leave Chengyuan Hall.
Perhaps Chu Zhaoyi had urgent matters, which was why he casually had someone deliver the message. Fu Nian thought so and didn’t pay it much mind.
Fu Nian took a look around Little Zhoushu but found her still sleeping, clearly unwelcoming any disturbances from her father. After a while, Fu Nian found it boring and decided to visit the Imperial Attendants Bureau.
The Imperial Attendants Bureau’s duties were not very demanding, and the perks were quite good. Every time Fu Nian visited, he found Rendong mostly idle.
Today, when Fu Nian arrived at the Imperial Attendants Bureau, he was surprised to see many people coming and going, especially palace maids entering and leaving the Weaving Bureau.
He waited for quite a while before he saw a sweaty Rendong taking a break under a tree.
Rendong seemed to have grown taller since the last time they met, and his physique had become more robust, no longer retaining the slim and fragile appearance of his youth.
“Big Brother Lian, what’s up?”
“Just coming to see you in my free time. It’s rare to see the Imperial Attendants Bureau this busy. Is there something major happening recently?” Fu Nian calculated the timing and realized that there weren’t any significant festivals recently, so there shouldn’t be so much activity.
“It just started to get busy a while ago. The message from the Emperor’s Hall said they needed to make wedding attire according to the standards of the legitimate princess and even requested dowry items… Well, they didn’t give us much time. What’s more, Princess Ningfu is not even a year old yet. It’ll be at least a dozen years before she can wear those clothes, judging by the size.” Rendong scratched his head, trying to recall, “Anyway, the Princess has a long way to go. Why are they preparing all this now?”
Fu Nian didn’t respond.
The matter of exchanging the princess for medical prescriptions had been decided during the morning court session, or at least a rough plan had been made.
But Chu Zhaoyi had stubbornly refused to let him eavesdrop on it.
“Big Brother Lian, what’s wrong?” Rendong noticed the subtle change in Fu Nian’s expression.
“I suddenly remembered that there might be some flaws in my morning tasks,” Fu Nian replied, his face showing no signs of nervousness or deceit. “I have to go. I’ll come again another day.”
After that, Fu Nian quickly left the Imperial Attendants Bureau.
He had always followed Chu Zhaoyi’s orders.
Even if he was tired and unwilling, as long as Chu Zhaoyi told him to do something, he would definitely do it.
But today, after careful consideration, Fu Nian decided to sneak into the Imperial Study to eavesdrop on the conversation, despite Chu Zhaoyi’s order to refrain from listening.
“…Royal Uncle’s words make sense. However, for this Northern Expedition, it would be much better if I go in person. Throughout history, many emperors have led expeditions in person, and given the gravity of this matter, the epidemic has already entered our borders and could spread at any time. Since the other side has made an offer, it would be better to compromise temporarily…”
“….”
“I understand it all.”
“……”
Fu Nian listened for a long time, but Chu Zhaoyi’s voice fluctuated between high and low, and he couldn’t discern anything significant. It seemed as though Chu Zhaoyi had sensed someone eavesdropping and intentionally lowered his voice.
It was an uneasy day for Fu Nian, who had nothing to do.
After enduring until the evening meal and seeing Chu Zhaoyi, Fu Nian couldn’t hold back his words any longer and said, “Today, I met someone from the Imperial Attendants Bureau. They said that they are busy preparing the wedding attire according to the standards of the legitimate princess…”
“The issue of the northern plague has been resolved. I was just about to tell you. In half a month, envoys from the North will come to receive the bride. During this half month, I will personally go to the North. The affairs of governing will temporarily fall to my uncle. When the time comes, you should stay in the capital, which will allow you to take care of Little Zhoushu and also protect—”
“You want me to stay in the capital while you go on the Northern Expedition?” Fu Nian interrupted, incredulously.
“Right. We’re saying we will be sending the princess for a political marriage, but all you need to do is adopt a goddaughter. We’ve already found a suitable candidate, a young eunuch from the Imperial Guards will play the role of your adopted daughter. After the ‘marriage,’ he will have other tasks to carry out in the Northern Kingdom,” Chu Zhaoyi explained before taking a sip of tea. “We never intended to actually go through with this political marriage. Originally, we were going to send someone from the Imperial Guards, the most capable being you or Chu Yao. But Chu Yao is an adult male with a tall physique, and trying to pass him off as a young girl would be too absurd….”
“Why not let me handle it? As long as I confirm that the people from Great Chu get the prescription, I can eliminate the people from the North and escape alone. I am capable of—”
Before Fu Nian could finish, Chu Zhaoyi knocked on the table to signal him to sit down.
Fu Nian had no choice but to sit down, maintaining a dignified posture as much as possible.
Chu Zhaoyi continued, “Indeed, if we send you, this matter would be much simpler, given your outstanding abilities. However, Ah Nian, although you are my most capable minister, you are my empress and also my wife. We have never had a proper wedding, and now asking you to wear bridal clothes and marry someone, even if it’s a pretense, is absolutely not—”
“In matters of great importance, you can treat me as a blade, not as your wife.”
Chu Zhaoyi: …
Chu Zhaoyi’s brows unconsciously furrowed for a moment. He didn’t rush to respond but suppressed his trembling hands, picked up his chopsticks, and took a few bites of his meal.
After eating a little, he finally spoke, “I have my own plan. Today, I will work in the court overnight and am expected to depart in two days.”
Seeing that Chu Zhaoyi didn’t want to engage in further conversation, Fu Nian clenched the silver fork in his hand and looked down at his plate.
This feeling was reminiscent of the time in the previous life when they pretended to be a harmonious couple.
But this time, Fu Nian felt more anger than cautious self-reflection.
Chu Zhaoyi should trust him. He should trust him even more than he trusts other ministers.
After a silence for some time, Fu Nian was about to serve Chu Zhaoyi some soup to ease the tension.
Unexpectedly, the voice of Li Gonggong came from outside the door, “Your Majesty, Lord Chu requests an audience.”
“Understood.” Hearing that Chu Yao requested an audience, Chu Zhaoyi put down his chopsticks, left the dining table, and before leaving, hastily instructed, “Eat a little more. Little Royal Uncle will find you later…”
Chu Zhaoyi gave some more instructions, but Fu Nian didn’t pay attention.
He simply clenched his silver fork and aggressively stabbed the food on his plate.
Suddenly, without warning, the silver fork snapped in half, and one piece bounced off and fell to the ground.
Fu Nian looked at the half of the silver fork in his hand, stunned for a moment. Finally, he threw it angrily into the plate, refusing to touch the food anymore.
This feeling was not good at all. Fu Nian could sense an indescribable flame burning in his heart, consuming his reason and also consuming his unwavering loyalty.
Chu Zhaoyi was planning to take risks personally and didn’t allow him to accompany him.
He had protected the young emperor with his life for so long…
Fu Nian tried to think back to how Chu Zhaoyi had treated him when he insisted on leaving the palace in the past.
Back then, Chu Zhaoyi’s thoughts were probably similar to what they were now. He would blame the other party for not opening up and communicating freely while also unwilling to completely lose the bond they had.
As he remained silent in front of the plate for a while, Fu Nian finally remembered.
Yes.
When Chu Zhaoyi and he had a rift back then, and he insisted on leaving, Chu Zhaoyi had confined him to Chengyuan Hall.
He had taken away his prosthetic limbs, replaced them with elaborate and heavy gemstone jewelry on his wrists, and then attached these luxurious bracelets to pure gold chains, firmly locking him inside Chengyuan Hall, telling him that he must stay within this confined space even if he died.
Thinking of this, Fu Nian couldn’t help but reach out and trace the collar of Chu Zhaoyi’s robe.
They slept together every night, and these measurements were the ones he knew best.
Author’s note: There are two more chapters expected to conclude!
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