Chapter 39
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After saying this, Fu Nian had no strength left to kneel and collapsed into the pool of blood.
The smell of blood filled his mouth and nostrils, and his body involuntarily bent with the reflex of coughing. He wanted to speak, but his throat was blocked by blood, preventing any sound from emerging. He could only lift his head helplessly and look at Chu Zhaoyi beside him.
It seemed that the symptoms of the poison were much worse than he had anticipated…
Meeting his old Master again, Fu Nian knew that he didn’t have much time left. The other party would surely not let go of his past crime of betraying the sect. It was only a matter of time before they moved to kill him.
However, he hadn’t expected the other party to be so impatient.
Chu Zhaoyi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly shouted, “Doctor! Doctor!” Immediately, he rushed out of the study.
Seeing Chu Zhaoyi about to leave, Fu Nian summoned his last bit of strength and grabbed onto the hem of Chu Zhaoyi’s dragon robe.
“Hold… hold on…” However, even a single syllable got stuck in his throat.
He wanted to convey that his time was running out, and could Chu Zhaoyi please stay, hold him for a moment. But before he could voice his request, Chu Zhaoyi impatiently shook his hand off and left the study without looking back.
Large, cold raindrops fell on his face, and Fu Nian touched his wet cheeks and clothes. He opened his eyes.
Only water droplets were on his hand, not the blood from his dream. The dull pain in his chest was also present, but not as intense as during the poisoning.
Huddled in the crevice under the eaves, Fu Nian didn’t hurry to come out. He looked at the gloomy rainy weather outside.
Yes, it was during that time when he thought he was going to die that he had reached out to Chu Zhaoyi, not minding his appearance, trying to make him stay. Later, when he woke up, he found himself lying on the bed in the palace. Having narrowly escaped death, Fu Nian realized that during the onset of the poison, Chu Zhaoyi had only gone to find a physician and hadn’t avoided him out of disgust… But before he could thank Chu Zhaoyi, he saw Chu Zhaoyi with a stern expression, announcing that he was temporarily relieved of all his duties and handed it over to Chu Yao for handling.
Subsequently, the reason for their later quarrel arose from Chu Zhaoyi’s repeated probing. He questioned how Fu Niang had been poisoned, what had happened during his recent journey outside the capital, and why he remained silent. In the end, Chu Zhaoyi threw a remark at him, “Indeed, at the very beginning, you were nothing more than a pawn sent by my father to be by my side. Even though the previous emperor has passed away and your ties with your sect have been severed, you never had any intention of being loyal and candid to me, did you?”
Fu Nian closed her eyes. This dispute and suspicion that arose after the first manifestation of the poison, in the previous life, was just a small beginning that would lead to the escalation of the situation into an abyss.
And later, their fate…
Fu Nian had contemplated being discarded like trash or buried anywhere after his death, or even seeking revenge. All options were plausible.
Suddenly, without any warning, Fu Nian burst into laughter, “Hahaha, hahahaha, hahaha, hahahaha! The rumors in the streets, they’re all true!” Speaking this far, his laughter took on a tone of self-mockery, “They say the Emperor married an empress he loves deeply, one who’s never stepped out of the palace’s main hall, receiving endless favor… and it’s all true, it’s all true…”
As he muttered to himself, Fu Nian massaged his forehead, his eyes wide and staring ahead blankly.
After a while, he gradually calmed down, and then regained his usual composure. With a stern expression, he leaped out from the crevice and walked back steadily.
He would need to visit the storage room again when he had the chance. He had to confirm if Fu Zhen was indeed the one behind the poisoning, and if he was, he would submit his resignation as soon as possible.
As he neared Chengyuan Hall, Fu Nian heard someone calling him from within the heavy rain.
“Lian Nian! Brother Lian!”
He turned around and saw a slender figure under a nearby eave, along with a pile of wooden boxes nearly as tall as himself.
Fu Nian rushed over through the rain. “Rendong? What are you doing here?”
“I’m supposed to deliver this stack of torture instrument molds to the Eastern Gate of the palace, but the rain started before I could finish moving them. Iron rusts when it comes into contact with water. There’s less than half an hour left… can you help me? I’ll split the monthly payment with you.”
“I can help you, no need for payment.” Fu Nian’s response was succinct. After saying that, he took off his outer robe and waistband, wrapping them around the wooden boxes. “It’s been a while. Where are you stationed now?”
“At the Ministry of Punishments,” Rendong replied with a grimace.
Fu Nian paused.
Generally, those with proper behavior and manners, and who were young and promising, would usually have good assignments. The Ministry of Punishments… was usually where guards with major offenses were sent.
“I was initially assigned to the Imperial Attendants Bureau. However…”
“However?” Fu Nian inquired.
“I can’t say.”
Fu Nian pressed on, “Was your position taken over by someone else?”
Rendong didn’t answer directly, but the answer was practically written on his expression.
Fu Nian didn’t press further. If Rendong was transferred to the Imperial Attendants Bureau… it wouldn’t harm him in any way. Given that Fu Zhen might not talk, there would be many days in the future when he’d need to investigate at the Imperial Attendants Bureau. After thinking for a moment, Fu Nian spoke again, “What was the original position? Or just tell me who replaced you.”
“Brother Lian, you don’t have to intervene for me—”
Fu Nian continued, “No one intends to intervene for you. There’s nothing in the palace that money can’t solve. Compared to the Imperial Attendants Bureau, the monthly payment at Ministry of Punishments is insignificant. If this matter works out, I’ll make sure you pay back in full in the future. If you feel guilty about it, you can repay me double.” He said this in a serious tone.
Hearing this, Rendong chuckled, “Lian Nian, you’re always like this… I only know the surname is Wu, entered the palace around the same time as me, and lives in the capital.”
Fu Nian silently noted down the information. “Understood. This time, when you return, just focus on your duties for now. You’ll receive further instructions within a month.”
With a surname, hometown, and approximate entry time into the palace, the rest would be relatively easy to investigate.
Since he no longer needed to repay Fu Zhen, his financial situation had improved considerably. He could handle these matters properly.
After helping Rendong move the wooden box to the palace gate and watching him go to meet with his contact, Fu Nian bid him farewell and left.
Draping his clothes on the wooden box, he now had only his inner garments and wrist bindings on him. Rainwater had disheveled his hair, making him look like a fugitive who had just escaped from the Ministry of Punishments.
Fu Nian was aware that he looked rather disheveled. So, he decided to take a less-traveled side entrance to return to Chengyuan Hall.
Before reaching the courtyard of his residence, from a distance, Fu Nian saw several palace attendants and maids kneeling in the heavy rain. The aunt and Li Gonggong were also present, holding umbrellas, scolding the individuals on the ground. However, most of the palace attendants, maids, and guards were standing under the eaves, sheltered from the rain, quietly listening to the reprimands.
What… he hadn’t returned for half the day. What could have happened?
Fu Nian’s heart sank, and he quickly slipped to the side, taking shelter under the eaves with the others.
“What’s going on?” Taking advantage of Li Gonggong’s departure to the study, Fu Nian whispered to the colleague beside him.
“Sudden inspection. They found some banned books and… forbidden items.” A guard who had worked together with him whispered back.
Fu Nian looked closer and saw, indeed, in front of the kneeling eunuchs, there were several… unmentionable bronze objects.
He stared at the indecent items that were confiscated for a while, noticing that those around him seemed too embarrassed to meet his gaze. He followed suit and averted his gaze.
“There was also someone who slipped out of the palace without permission. They didn’t say where they went, but I guess they’ll end up at the Ministry of Punishments.”
Hearing this, Fu Nian paused.
Last night, the night before, and many days before that, he had slipped out of the palace at night. He had even been subtly reminded this morning, and now seeing the outcome of being caught red-handed was quite enlightening.
After a while, Li Gonggong hurried over from the study.
“Reporting to His Majesty, according to the palace rules, those who privately possess banned books and items are demoted to slaves and sent to the Jing North Temporary Palace. Those who leave the palace without permission are punished with fifty lashes and sent back to their hometown.” Li Gonggong’s voice was precise. After speaking, he turned to those who were avoiding the rain.
“In the future, remember this. Serving in Chengyuan Hall is a blessing for you all. Don’t learn from these things and ruin your prospects. Don’t touch books and items you shouldn’t hide, and don’t engage in unethical behavior…”
Fu Nian didn’t listen to the rest of the lecture.
He had also hidden banned books before. The punishment’s humiliation was stronger than its actual impact. Seeing those being taken away today made him realize that he had been given some leniency back then.
There was also a punishment of fifty lashes for leaving the palace without permission, being sent back to one’s hometown…
He lowered his head, looking at the floor.
He realized that he needed to be even more careful in his actions from now on.
After the lecture, Fu Nian walked into the bathhouse, washing away the rain and mud from his body before returning to his room.
He had slept long enough this afternoon. He hadn’t fully processed the shocking words, and after calming down, he was eager to read more.
Tonight, with the rain, the guards at the Imperial Attendants Bureau would likely be less vigilant.
While at it, he could also clarify who had accepted the favor and replaced Rendong. It would be good to settle this matter as well.
After dark, while his colleagues were deeply asleep, Fu Nian quietly got up from his pallet.
After dressing, he placed some small blades for lock-picking and a piece of flint wrapped in oiled cloth into his waistband.
Once he was prepared, he quietly left the room.
As he reached the doorway, Fu Nian heard a deep and powerful voice from nearby, “Guard Lian.”
He nonchalantly halted, “Li Gonggong, hello. If I may ask, what brings you to me so late?”
“You…” Li Gonggong gave him a brief glance at his neat appearance.
“I just finished my duty. I intended to return to rest, but I suddenly remembered that I left something in the bathhouse.” Fu Nian answered without batting an eye. The guards’ schedules and temporary assignments were not overseen by the Gonggong. This was the only reason he could confidently tell this white lie.
Li Gonggong nodded slightly, “What did you leave behind? I’ll send someone to find it for you. His Majesty is expecting you.”
At this hour… Chu Zhaoyi sending for him?
It was already a bit too coincidental that he ran into Li Gonggong. Moreover, Chu Zhaoyi was sending for him.
“Let’s go. His Majesty is in the study. When you arrive, wait outside the hall for a moment. His Majesty will call you in when he’s ready.”
After saying that, Li Gonggong led the way, and Fu Nian could only follow.
He hadn’t expected Li Gonggong to be leading the way. He had even planned to hide the flint and blades on his person. If those were discovered, Fu Nian thought of the earlier punishments—those being demoted to slaves and expelled from the palace.
Arriving at the study’s entrance, Fu Nian saw that Li Gonggong was still closely following him. He had no choice but to refrain from asking him to leave.
“This year’s national fortune remains smooth, and autumn is upon us. The words you spoke before, I hope you remember them.” The voice of Ze Wang could be heard through the door.
“I’ve checked all the eligible girls. Those selected are all elegant, literate, and refined. What’s presented before you now is a portrait album. Please take a look.”
“… ” Chu Zhaoyi’s voice was barely audible.
Then, Ze Wang’s voice softened considerably, almost inaudible from outside.
Fu Nian’s expression remained unchanged.
Thinking back, the cause of his sudden poisoning in his past life was supposedly his anger upon hearing about Chu Zhaoyi’s upcoming marriage. Now, he found it almost laughable.
After a while, Fu Nian heard voices coming from the left side of the study. Ze Wang emerged, walking away with a maid.
“Li Gonggong, let him in as soon as he arrives.”
Only then did Li Gonggong urge softly, “Guard Lian, you may go in now.”
Fu Nian nodded.
Unexpectedly, upon entering the Imperial Study this time… there was no body search.
Given Chu Zhaoyi’s cautious nature, this rarely happened.
He entered the inner room, bypassed the folding screen, and knelt before the table. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
After speaking, he waited a long time without hearing a response. Inside the room, there was only the faint sound of brushes moving across paper.
Fu Nian didn’t rush to speak. He knew that when Chu Zhaoyi was focused on reading memorials, even if someone spoke, he could automatically filter out distractions.
After a while, Fu Nian heard the sound of a brush being set down.
“Rise.” The voice was still casual, with complete inattention directed towards him.
Fu Nian obediently stood up, bowing before the table.
Chu Zhaoyi didn’t rush to continue the conversation. He glanced at Fu Nian’s reaction, then lowered his gaze, pretending to be engrossed in the contents of the scroll as he resumed speaking, “Take off your clothes, put on the veil, don’t face me, and keep your mouth shut unless asked.”
Hearing this, Fu Nian couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
“Today’s inspection, I presume you’ve also seen…” Chu Zhaoyi stopped here deliberately, not continuing.
Fu Nian didn’t respond.
The last time they had discovered his hidden forbidden books, he naturally remembered.
However, this time… now that he was carrying flint and blades on him, if he were to remove his clothes, the issue wouldn’t be about humiliation, but whether he’d end up being beheaded and displayed.
As seconds ticked away, Fu Nian felt Chu Zhaoyi putting down his brush, and his intense gaze remained fixed on him.
It was as if a signal before a hunting leopard, patiently waiting for the prey’s struggle.
“Can’t you hear? Are you going to do it yourself, or should I help you?”
He was just about to answer when Chu Zhaoyi, without another word, stood up abruptly from his desk.
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