Fu Shen said: “I’ll say this clearly – we are an imperial betrothal, officially married by the Ministry of Rites, legally wed, having paid respects to heaven and ancestors, performed the Zhou ritual. In the future, we’ll even be buried together.”
“We are one body. There’s no question of being worthy or unworthy. Even after leaving this room, you can righteously call me husband.”
Yan Xiaohan’s eyes burned, moved and amused. He could neither cry nor laugh, and all his thousands of words condensed into a single sigh: “Hearing these words, even if I were to be crushed to pieces now, I’d have no regrets. But rumors kill invisibly. Having one person suffer for reputation is enough – be good, don’t sacrifice your own reputation needlessly.”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” Fu Shen declared decisively: “Having you is enough. What use are those empty names!”
Yan Xiaohan held his hand, affectionately pressing it against his cheek, “It’s because you’re too good.”
It wasn’t just his family background or official position that made Fu Shen truly admirable, but his breadth of mind and character. Yan Xiaohan had looked down on and questioned him before, but after experiencing life’s vicissitudes, he knew he could never be like Fu Shen. A noble gentleman shining like moonlight, one might not meet such a person in a lifetime; he could only observe from afar, never daring to hope that the bright moon would fall into his arms.
Fu Shen laughed: “Who exactly has been bewitching whom… Alright, get up. We still need to congratulate the Prince of Qi. We’ll settle our account when we return.”
Yan Xiaohan: “We still have an account to settle?”
“What do you think?” Fu Shen said with a sinister smile, “If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll forget who’s in charge of this household.”
At the Prince of Qi’s residence, Prince Qi’s son-in-law Qi Yun Rui heard his brother-in-law had arrived and hurried to the front hall to welcome them. Unexpectedly, he first encountered Yan Xiaohan and was momentarily stunned: “…Sir Yan, Lord Fu.”
“Congratulations to Your Highness,” Fu Shen cupped his hands, “Congratulations on your noble daughter’s birth.”
The Prince of Qi unconsciously returned the salute and smiled, saying, “Thank you. Please, both of you, take a seat.”
Fu Shen and the Prince of Qi hadn’t really interacted much before. Given his exceptional status, getting too close to anyone was unwise, so despite their family connection, they remained distant.
This was where Fu Shen’s foresight showed. Yan Xiaohan, having spent a long time in the palace, had mastered the art of saying the right thing to anyone. Seeing Fu Shen had nothing more to say, he tactfully took over the conversation.
The Prince of Qi respected Fu Shen greatly but was only wary of Yan Xiaohan.
Though unsure why they had come together, it was clearly not just to offer congratulations. The Prince of Qi, already anxious about Emperor Yuan Tai’s arrangement for them to go to Jingchu together, became even more speculative, unconsciously speaking in an official tone.
One handling external matters, the other internal, they worked together seamlessly. Fu Shen, disregarding his “husband’s” dignity, leisurely examined the wrinkled infant and inquired about Fu Ling’s condition. Looking back, he noticed the Prince of Qi had broken into a sweat despite the early spring chill.
He glanced at Yan Xiaohan with a smile, signaling him not to go too far.
Yan Xiaohan understood and smoothly steered the conversation to casual topics. Fu Shen seized the opportunity to interject, “As family, let’s be direct. Next month’s Jingchu journey will require Your Highness’s care.”
The Prince of Qi was momentarily confused about what kind of “care” was meant, pausing before forcing a smile: “Lord Fu is too kind. On such a long journey, I should be relying on Sir Yan.”
“Our family member”… Unless the status difference was significant, what man would willingly admit to being the “wife” outside? The Prince of Qi wondered if Emperor Yuan Tai’s marriage decree intended Fu Shen to be the “wife”. Was Fu Shen saying this to embarrass Yan Xiaohan or to challenge the Emperor?
His puzzled reaction was noticed by both men. Fu Shen looked slightly disappointed, while Yan Xiaohan could barely suppress his schadenfreude. Clearing his throat, he said, “Your Highness and Princess have worked hard. We’ve disturbed you long enough and will take our leave.”
The Prince of Qi was eager for them to leave, offering insincere courtesies before finally seeing these two distinguished guests off. Returning to the inner chamber, he sat down unceremoniously, exhaling wearily.
Just then, Fu Ling awoke and asked concernedly, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
“Your elder brother… is he really a cut-sleeve?” the Prince of Qi hesitantly asked.
Fu Ling immediately retorted, “How could that be! If he truly preferred men, it would be easier. Why would he wait for the Emperor’s marriage decree and let court lackeys bully him!”
The Prince of Qi, seeing her genuine anger, quickly tried to calm her: “Don’t be angry. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that today they came together, and Lord Fu spoke ambiguously…”
Fu Ling angrily punched the bed, “It’s all that Yan’s fault!”
At the Yan residence, Fu Shen changed out of his formal attire and casually asked, “What do you think of the Prince of Qi?”
Yan Xiaohan thought, “Shrewd and cautious.”
“Hmm,” Fu Shen said, “And suspicious. Just like his father.”
Speaking of which, my niece doesn’t resemble her mother but looks remarkably like the Prince of Qi – the chin and eyes are identical… Oh?”
He suddenly stopped, reaching out to hold Yan Xiaohan’s chin and examine it from side to side: “I just realized your chin is quite similar to theirs.”
Yan Xiaohan casually fabricated: “That’s called ‘if you’re not from my family, you won’t get into my house.'”
Fu Shen laughed: “Now we’re ‘family’? Wasn’t it just moments ago you were crying, making a scene, and threatening not to go out?”
Yan Xiaohan cunningly kissed him on the lips: “My lord is magnanimous. Won’t you forgive me?”
“How pitiful,” General Fu remained unmoved, “Don’t try these tricks. You must learn a lesson today.”
He casually pulled a thin book from the small table by the bed and tossed it into Yan Xiaohan’s lap.
A thin booklet with an indigo cover, white text spelling out the title “Snow Plum Hermitage Collection”.
Yan Xiaohan was bewildered, casually opening a page. Glancing through, he was immediately struck by the eight characters “Serve the people, down with tyrants”.
“Am I seeing this correctly?” He turned the cover to check the author, “A forbidden book in the home of a Flying Dragon Guard inspector? My lord, where did you find this?”
Fu Shen said, “Last winter when I returned to North Yan, you investigated a case at Kuang Mountain Academy, wasn’t it?”
Yan Xiaohan remembered: “I was wondering why this ‘Mr. Xi Xian’ looked familiar, and now I know.”
“This Mr. Zeng Xi Xian is the mentor of Gu Shanlu, the imperial censor. Regarding the Eastern Tatar envoy case, I owe Censor Gu a favor. Although his teacher has committed a forbidden act, his crime does not warrant death. He has been in prison for some time and has suffered enough,” Fu Shen said. “So I wanted to ask if you could intervene and see if you could show mercy and release this old gentleman?”
Yan Xiaohan’s eyes gradually grew cold.
“Jing Yuan,” he lowered his eyes to look at the ink characters on the page, “have you truly forgotten, or are you deliberately reminding me?”
Fu Shen said, “What are you talking about?”
“The Jin Yunfeng case,” Yan Xiaohan raised his eyes, his gaze as if frosted with ice and snow. “After seven years, are you still trying to test me with a similar case? Aren’t you afraid I might relapse and stab you in the back again?”
