Prince Han was currently eating happily and he replied reasonably, “Imperial Father, my literature school is currently extremely busy. If I have to take out time to manage the celebration, I am afraid…”
The Crown Prince immediately became unhappy. How can his own brother be so arrogant?
Empress Zhangsun coughed. Prince Han did not notice the Crown Prince’s expression but quickly understood his Imperial Mother’s expression and immediately stopped talking.
Concubine Yan said, “Prince Han is brilliant and always interacts with scholars. With regard to the celebration, he would easily be able to find out the ancient traditions. He is a good choice.”
The Emperor agreed with her logic. “Prince Han. This matter shall be assigned to you.”
“Ah?” Prince Han was unwilling. “Mmhm, I accept your decree.”
Empress Zhangsun continued, “Your Majesty, there is one more person that deserves merit for the successful birth of the Imperial Grandson, other than the Crown Princess. During the crisis, Fu Siyan suggested the method of fright to ensure the safety of both mother and child.”
“Oh? Fu Siyan, you did well.” The Emperor has heard of Fu Rou’s numerous contributions. “Before this, you bravely charged through Cangshan Mountain and used a cloth to map out the position of the stone room. You saved the Grand Emperor and Empress. This time, you saved the Crown Princess and my Imperial Grandson. How should I reward you?”
Fu Rou stepped forward and spoke, “It is my duty to share your worries.”
“Your words remind me of Zhan Xuanzhi. You are a palace lady yet you know how to help me share my worries. Very good, you have the spirit of a man. However, I have to reward you for your contribution. Tell me, what would you like?”
Fu Rou fell silent for a while. “If Your Majesty really wishes to reward me, then I do have something. In Guangxi’s Lion Mountain, there are bandits running wild and robbing citizens. They have caused families to be torn apart and become miserable. I wish that Your Majesty will dispatch troops to suppress the bandits so that the poor citizens can return to the homes and be reunited.”
“I understand.” The Emperor found it strange. “How do you know about bandits in Guangxi’s Lion Mountain?”
“I met a grandfather and his granddaughter on my way and heard from them.”
Empress Zhangsun added, “Your Majesty, Fu Siyan saw and heard many things when she was out of the palace.”
The Emperor continued, “Fu Siyan, why have you never mentioned this before?”
Fu Rou replied calmly, “In front of the Emperor, I should not speak without a decree.”
Li Shimin suddenly laughed, “I know what to reward you with now. Since you are a Siyan, I shall reward you with the power to speak. In the future, you are allowed to speak in front of me.”
Seeing how Fu Rou was frozen, Empress Zhangsun smiled. “His Majesty is treating you favourably, aren’t you going to thank him?”
Fu Rou kneeled to thank him. “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”
Speaking in front of the Emperor? This reward is huge!
Chapter 53.2: Delighted Sorrow
With Lu Yunji and Lu Qi eating prison food for the second time, it made the people in their residence disorganized. They were all wondering if they should run away. Lu Yingying turned a deaf ear as she entered Lu Qi’s study room and saw Fu Yin looking depressed. She was staring blankly at a picture that Lu Qi drew previously.
“Now you are looking sullen. Are you regretting it now? When you killed my cousin, did you think of today? If Lu Hanxing were still alive, he would be running around for Father and Elder Brother, trying to pull relations.” She thought that Fu Yin regretted killing Lu Hanxing.
Although Fu Yin pulled herself back to reality, her gaze was still dull. “I do not regret killing Lu Hanxing. You will not understand my sorrow.”
“I truly did not see how evil you were.” Lu Yingying’s face was frosty. “I also do not want to understand what a murderer thinks. I came to see my future nephew.”
She walked in front of Fu Yin and bent down, she spoke gently to the small bump, “Good nephew, don’t be afraid. You still have me, your aunty. I will make sure you get to see your father and grandfather.”
Fu Yin could not resist asking, “What do you intend to do?”
Lu Yingying ignored her as she stood up to leave. It was just words. After she walked out of the study room and the Lu Residence, she was at a loss of where to start. She knew she could not use the same method of begging the Emperor to forgive them.
A resounding laughter filled the air. It made Lu Yingying think that it was really a few houses that were happy while a few were suffering. She followed the sound and looked and felt even more offended. Yan Zifang was drinking with his group. They were eating heartily and laughing. One look and she knew they were celebrating the fall of her household. She continued staring straight at them and eventually caught Yan Zifang’s eye.
Yan Zifang looked coldly at her for a while before walking up to her. “What are you doing here?”
“I am here to save my father and brother.” She wanted to ask if he could help her.
“I already said that we do not owe each other. Who you want to save has nothing to do with me. You can’t be hoping that I save your father and brother right? That would be a joke. You should know that I was the one that caught Hong Yide.”
He did not understand her just like how she did not understand him. They should not mix.
“That’s right, we are strangers with no connection to each other. I was foolish.” Lu Yingying turned to leave. Suddenly, she turned back. “Yan Zifang, no matter how many obstacles one has gone through and how emotionless one has become, there should still be a soft spot in your heart. Previously, I was gullible and thought that I could find that soft spot for you.”
“You are indeed gullible. You only know how to ask me to be kinder but don’t know how to convince your father and brother to do less evil.” Does it mean that kind people should be bullied by the evil ones?
“I believe that everyone is kind and that everyone has a nice side. Even my father and brother are not bad beyond repair. In my eyes, this world is much brighter and more beautiful than the world in your eyes. Yan Zifang, I pity you.” Lu Yingying walked off.
Yan Zifang was stunned. No one has seen how difficult it was for him to live. Even Fu Rou could not see it. Only her, Lu Yingying, saw through him. He was indeed pitiful.
Prince Han tossed and turned slowly as he woke up. He had a splitting headache. As he saw Consort Han embroider next to him, he could not help but relax.
“You are awake? Does your head hurt? Next time when the Crown Prince asks you to drink, you should not just accept them all foolishly. If you can decline, you should decline.” Recently, the Crown Prince had gotten slightly distant from Prince Han and they could not invite him over. However, in the past few days, he kept asking Prince Han out for drinks. Anyone could tell that the Crown Prince was in a good mood.
Prince Han did not comment and simply asked what she was embroidering.
Consort Han’s expression was slightly awkward as she wanted to hide it. Prince Han sat up and took the embroidery. There was a hundred children on it.
“The Crown Princess works hard and it has only been a short while since she entered the palace and she already gave birth to an Imperial Grandson for Imperial Mother. Compared to her, I…” Consort Han felt bitter.
“You can’t compare these kinds of things.” Prince Han did not allow her to continue.
“Although that’s what we say, who doesn’t know how Imperial Mother feels. Even I feel like I have let you down.” Her deepest anxiety was not having any sons.