Yan Xiaohan poured tea for him and raised his cup: “The road ahead is treacherous. Take care, General. I hope that next year… we can still drink and enjoy the snow together.”
The road ahead was more than just treacherous; it was practically a certain death sentence.
But he didn’t try to dissuade him. He couldn’t, and had no right to. The Fu family’s three generations of loyal military souls, dying on the battlefield was almost a form of homecoming.
Fu Shen held his cup with one hand, lightly touching Yan Xiaohan’s, and sneered, “Don’t be so sentimental. Who would want to watch snow with you next year? You might as well make a wish that if I die in battle, my last act will be to forgive you.”
What seemed like a send-off was essentially a farewell.
“I wish the General victory and a triumphant return,” he said steadily, his hand not trembling, his smile unchanged. “I hope you hate me for a lifetime.”
Through countless difficulties, Fu Shen ultimately broke through and survived. When he returned to the capital, Yan Xiaohan had been promoted to Flying Dragon Guard Chief Inspector, becoming even more unbearable. The two worked together in the court, always arguing, eventually becoming a notoriously antagonistic pair.
Past events were set aside.
But could Fu Shen truly say he had let everything go?
He could disregard the cause and effect, let wounds scar over and heal, but could the feeling of being stabbed through so long ago be easily forgotten?
Once bitten by a snake, one fears the rope for ten years. Fu Shen now always prepared a backup plan for everything, a habit from those days.
He was no longer afraid of betrayal, but also couldn’t fully trust anyone again. Beneath these layers of old events, the final truth was still hidden. Cai Yue had not died.
“What a heartless heart this is, Yan-xiong,” Fu Shen gripped the wheelchair armrest, whispering to himself, “Are you really willing to make me hate you for a lifetime?”
Chapter 24 Settlement | Yan-daren with a Filter
Beijing, at the time when night falls and lamps are lit. The desk was piled high with official documents, and Yan Xiaohan was buried among them, busy beyond measure. The porridge in the tray had long gone cold. The steward, an old servant, hesitated outside the door before finally mustering the courage to tiptoe in.
“Master, you’ve been looking at these for a whole day. Please rest your eyes and have something to eat.”
Yan Xiaohan remained unmoved, quickly finishing the last few lines before tossing down his brush and rubbing his wrist. He leaned back lazily in his chair. He let out a long breath: “Alright, finally done.”
Before his words could fully fade, he suddenly turned and sneezed. The steward panicked: “Oh my, what’s wrong? Please don’t catch a cold… shall I have someone brew some ginger soup?”
Yan Xiaohan wrinkled his nose and waved his hand: “Don’t be so dramatic, it’s nothing.”
Just as he finished speaking, Yan Xiaohan sneezed again. The old servant: “…I’ll still go brew some ginger soup.” Yan Xiaohan chuckled: “Forget it, come back. Isn’t this just normal?” The steward was initially puzzled about what was “normal”, but soon understood the implied meaning. Glancing at his expression, he chimed in: “The marquis is probably already in Yanzhou, thinking of you right now.” He continued: “Forgive this old servant for speaking out of turn, but you’re working day and night, burning the midnight oil, which is truly harmful to your health. If the marquis were here, he would never let you work so hard.” ”Hmm?” Yan Xiaohan raised an eyebrow and scoffed: “What kind of talk is this… Before the wife has even entered the door, you’re already using him to pressure me?” Seeing that he didn’t seem angry, but rather appeared quite pleased, the steward boldly said: “You and the marquis will support each other for life, with someone who understands and cares for you—how is this oppression?” Yan Xiaohan was flattered by these words and broke into a smile, then added: “Pick some thick fur and silk to send to him.” ＜＜
Report
- Changes made:
- Removed the line “Also, how are the craftsmen I asked you to find?”
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- The line “Also, how are the craftsmen I asked you to find?”
- Summary: The article was edited to remove a line of dialogue that was not contributing to the plot or the conversation between Yan Xiaohan and the steward. The change maintains the coherence and flow of the narrative.
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“The steward thought to himself that despite their master’s usual stern demeanor, when he truly loved someone, he was deeply affectionate and considerate, unable to let go.
According to Fu Shen’s account, the emperor’s informant was a high-ranking officer in the Northern Yan army. The Tongzhou military had long separated from the Northern Yan cavalry and was closely connected to the Northern Yan western defense line in the Yuanzhou area.
However, Yan Xiaohan did not need to know too precisely, and he could not intervene in matters within the Northern Yan army.
But if Fu Shen could not handle that person, for both public and private reasons, Yan Xiaohan would have to step in and deliver another blow.”
There was no need to investigate further; it was clear that Qin was trying her best to harm Fu Shen, wanting her own son to inherit the title and fearing Fu Shen would obstruct this, so she preemptively wanted to make Fu Shen “cut off his lineage.”
A selfish and vicious woman who played a backstage intrigue and almost became the beginning of a power shift in the Northern Yan military, stirring up court dynamics.
However, what initially angered Yan Xiaohan was not her spreading rumors about Fu Shen being a “broken sleeve” leading to today’s calamity, but remembering Fu Shen’s words in the cave: “I don’t have a mother either.”
Having no mother was one thing, but to be manipulated by such an unloving and vicious stepmother – how did he survive all these years?
Yan Xiaohan calmed down in the Flying Dragon Guard courtyard, called a subordinate, and instructed: “Jing Ning Marquis has a brother named Fu Ya, who is said to frequently engage in cockfighting and dog-racing. The Emperor has never liked the Ying Guo Mansion being too ostentatious. Since the Marquis has promised me, we should not mistreat his brother.”
The subordinate, a shrewd man, understood immediately: “This subordinate understands. May I ask if the master wants him to become useless immediately or to slowly weaken him with medicine?”
“No rush,” Yan Xiaohan coldly laughed, “Take it slow.”
It would be best if it erupts during the title conferral, and I want to see who in the Fu family can still bear the title of ‘Ying Guo Marquis’. Since Qin liked harming others and cutting off their lineage, let her precious son taste the flavor first. As for Fu Concubine, Yan Xiaohan originally planned to deal with her along with Fu Ya. However, news came from the Eastern Palace that Fu Ting had attempted to use witchcraft to harm the prince’s wife, but was exposed by a trusted maidservant. The prince’s wife, considering her Fu family background, spared her life but stripped her of her position and demoted her to menial labor. The prince was muddle-headed, but the prince’s wife, Qin Shi, was quite clever.
Yu Qiaoting said: “With a knife at my throat, what words can’t be spoken? I never realized you were so stubborn. Are you resigned to fate or do you have a plan?” Fu Shen was hit by his words and laughed: “What do you think?”
Yu Qiaoting: “The Crown Prince lacks virtue, the Jin Prince has no talent, the others are mediocre, only—”
“The Qi Prince,” Fu Shen interrupted him, saying, “In public, the Qi Prince has a reputation for wisdom. In private, my sister is his principal wife. So do you think he is suitable to inherit the throne and become a good emperor?”
