Fu Rou looked back at her and answered seriously, “I am in no rush. Today, I came mainly because there are things from the Six Offices that I need to report to Your Highness.”
As she spoke till here, she gestured for her accompanying palace maid to bring over a stack of books. She then talked endlessly to Sun Lingshu on the Eastern Palace’s expense, rules for selecting palace maids annually and practices regarding their stock of gold and silver etc.
Sun Lingshu usually only cared about the Crown Prince. Whatever Fu Rou was telling her was causing her to become confused. As she saw the sun start to set, she yawned.
Fu Rou asked, “Are you tired, Your Highness?”
“I am not tired but I already know everything that you said.” To outsiders, she was a valiant female master.
“That’s good.” Fu Rou looked at the sky. “Oh, look at me, once I start talking I cannot stop. It is already so late. I wonder if you have any other instructions for me, Your Highness?”
Sun Lingshu thought about how Fu Rou chattered on and on. She guessed that Fu Rou did not find anything strange and sent her off. She did not want to ruin the huge event that was going to happen today.
“I don’t have anything for you. Court Lady Fu, you have many things to do, I won’t keep you back any longer.” Sun Lingshu got up and personally sent Fu Rou off.
Fu Rou found it strange but did not say anything. She followed her to the front steps. “Your Highness, you don’t have to send me off. I will take my leave now.” Fu Rou walked down the steps and headed towards the Eastern Palace’s main gate. Her steps were unhurried.
Sun Lingshu looked at Fu Rou’s back view for a while. She could not see any indication of anything suspicious and turned to head back into the palace.
All of a sudden, a shriek pierced through the cold air.
Chapter 79.1: Shoot
Sun Lingshu turned around abruptly. She saw that Fu Rou did not seem to be affected by the shriek as she left without turning back. Sun Lingshu thought it was slightly strange.
At this moment, a palace maid ran out from the side door. She stumbled and crawled up the stairs, shouting, “A dead person! Your Highness, there is a dead person!”
Sun Lingshu was startled. “What dead person? Don’t talk nonsense.” She glanced at Fu Rou’s direction. At this distance and with the palace maid shouting, it was impossible for Fu Rou not to hear.
The palace maid shouted in fright, “It is true! In the box, it is Third Young Master Sheng...he...he’s dead!”
Fu Rou halted but did not turn back. She then started walking again, increasing her pace slightly.
Sun Lingshu, who was watching Fu Rou, immediately stared sharply at her. She commanded loudly, “Court Lady Fu, please hold up!”
Fu Rou pretended not to hear. She was about to reach the main door. Sun Lingshu ordered, “Guards, hold her back!”
A group of guards dashed up and stood in front of Fu Rou and her accompanying palace maid. They pointed their swords at her.
Fu Rou finally turned and looked at Sun Lingshu from afar. Sun Lingshu walked over to her.
Sun Lingshu looked down at her from above, as if wanting to poison her. “Court Lady Fu, did something scare you? Why are you in such a rush that I can’t even call you to stay?”
Fu Rou did not reply and did not look at Sun Lingshu. As she lowered her head, she saw her palace maid, who was in a frightened state. “You said that Third Young Master Sheng is dead inside a box. Which Third Young Master Sheng?”
Study room in the Secretariat Department.
Grand Prince Liang entered, and was puzzled. “Why is there nothing going on at Prince Han’s side? Did he return to his mansion already?”
The Crown Prince sat by the window and gazed out into the garden. “Every day, at this time, he will return to his mansion to eat. It is a habit that he adopted after he got married. Now, although Consort Han is no longer around, old habits are hard to change.”
Grand Prince Liang smirked, “It serves him right for staying together with Consort Han.”
A breeze blew past a red plum flower tree. A flower dropped in front of the Crown Prince as he suddenly seemed to fall in a trance. “Consort Han did not poison the jujube cakes.”
Grand Prince Liang was startled. “What? Consort Han did not place the poison? She did not kill Sun Lingwei? Then Prince Han lost his consort for nothing and became enemies with the Eastern Palace? Crown Prince, we are at a critical juncture. What do you mean when you say something like this?”
The Crown Prince did not know how to reply.
Grand Prince Liang glared at him for a long while before waving his hands impatiently. “Forget it, forget it. Regardless of whether Consort Han placed the poison, she is already dead. Your relationship with Prince Han is already ruined. Let’s just do this! Once you shoot, you can’t take back your arrow. Prince Han has to die today!”
“Once you shoot, you can’t take back your arrow…” The Crown Prince muttered these words as he laughed bitterly, “It’s too late to turn back.”
At this moment, Prince Han and Sheng Chumu walked past the garden. The Crown Prince stood up and walked towards the window. He coincidentally exchanged glances with Prince Han.
Prince Han froze and hesitated for a while before nodding in acknowledgement. “Your Highness.”
“Are you leaving?” The Crown Prince suddenly recalled the times when the two of them drank and hunted together. They would discuss ancient and modern analects. How did the brother that he once felt completely comfortable with end up so estranged?
Prince Han laughed foolishly, “Your Highness knows me. I don’t like the food from the Imperial Kitchen and I cannot bear being hungry. It is already so late, I have to go back and eat.”
The Crown Prince smiled as well. “You have always been this way since young. You don’t care about anything other than food. I remember when you were about eight years old, you ate three roasted chickens in one sitting. You were so full you could not even sit and Imperial Mother was so anxious.” His Imperial Mother was no longer around.
Prince Han scratched his head. “When I was young, I had a huge appetite. I can’t do it anymore. Now, don’t talk about three chickens, even two is too much. Sigh, if only people can remain at eight years old. How great would it be to be carefree without worries? I am starving and will not carry on talking. Your Highness, I will be leaving first.” His Imperial Mother was no longer around.
Nobody could make them hold hands ever again…
The Crown Prince’s eyes turned icy as he looked unreadable. “Go ahead, Fourth Brother.”
Prince Han did not say more and left without hesitation. Only when he walked out of the palace gates and got onto the horse did he get distracted for a moment. Prince Han only refocused when Sheng Chumu called out, “Brother-in-law.”
“The Crown Prince called me Fourth Brother just now…” He laughed bitterly. “It has been long since he called me that.”
Sheng Chumu’s expression did not change. “No matter how affectionately he calls you, he has still decided to murder you. The Crown Prince called you Fourth Brother to send you off. There is still one word after Fourth Brother -- go [1].” He heard it clearly, not missing out a single word. That includes the evil intentions he harboured. “The arrow has already been mounted, he will definitely shoot.”
Prince Han suppressed the pain he felt. “That’s right, he thought I would not have noticed. Go, go-” His tone turned icy as well. “It is time to take revenge for my wife, haiya!”
His fine horse ran on all fours. In front of them was the tiger’s den. How would you catch the tiger without entering the tiger’s den? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The guards dragged Fu Rou into a side room and pushed her in roughly.
Sun Lingshu stood outside the door, her eyes were icy. “Didn’t you want to know which Third Young Master Sheng died? I will be kind and let you see.”