The Yuantai Emperor had been on good terms with Fu Jian when the court was in turmoil and still needed his support; he had favored Fu Ting’zhong and Fu Ting’xin because the brothers supported each other, with the Shu King also involved; but now he dared to act against Fu Shen purely because he was young and easy to manipulate, and the current Ying Guogong was a useless waste who was about to ascend to immortality and would be of no help if something happened.
To be prepared, Duan Guihong sent Du Leng to Fu Shen’s side. As the emperor’s intentions became increasingly clear, Duan Guihong finally lost hope in the so-called “peace in the human world.” He finally understood that as long as someone sat on that dragon throne, the Fu family members, and he himself, would never escape “heaven’s mandate.”
The Western Ping Prefecture Prince finished his confession, slowly exhaling the accumulated stagnant air in his chest, and said: “I have betrayed my trust, deeply disappointing my mission. When I meet Fu Gong in the underworld, I will have no face to see him.”
As the first prince of a different surname to be granted a county, he guarded the western frontier for twenty years for a fleeting, mirage-like entrusted mission. Fu Shen knew full well that he had done many wrong things, yet could not stand at a higher position to condemn him.
Just like when Fu Tingxin once said to Duan Guihong “What sin have the common people committed,” now it was Fu Shen’s turn, and he could only say the same words. Because he knew he was not innocent.
The most frustrating charges in the world are “fabricated,” “punished for possessing treasure,” and “I did not kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me.”
Fu Shen said dejectedly: “I also have no face to see him, so why don’t we go hang ourselves at his grave together?”
Duan Guihong ignored his sarcasm: “Since we’ve come to this point, I’ll tell you something. You know I’m in the southwest, far from reach, unable to establish a significant force in the capital. Pure Yang Taoist could only stand firm in the capital thanks to someone repeatedly offering help.”
Fu Shen’s heart sank: “Who?”
