Cen said with a sneer: “Back then, for the position of heir, the Qin family threw away all dignity, sending daughters to the palace and dividing the family, making a complete mess. What was the result? The Jingning Marquis’s sister still married into the Qi Wang’s family in a grand manner. The Qin family can only rely on Fu Liang Di and has to avoid me, like a thief. If her son had half the backbone of the Jingning Marquis, Fu Liang Di wouldn’t have to endure humiliation and bow down under my command.”
The maidservant didn’t know that the words “Jingning Marquis” had touched a distant, hazy regret in her heart. She only felt that the Crown Prince’s wife was particularly sharp tonight and stammered in response: “Then… Your Highness, should we keep her away from the Prince these days?”
Cen gazed at the bronze mirror, pondering for a moment, and then waved her hand: “No need. A useless person can’t be helped, no matter how much the Prince tries to elevate them.”
That night, in the Chun Fang Pavilion of the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Sun Yanliang was staying here.
Liang Di Fu Ting served him in removing his outer garments and helped him wash, though attentive as always, there was a hint of melancholy between her brows.
A beautiful woman filled with sorrow, her willow-like eyebrows slightly furrowed, presenting a unique charm. The Crown Prince saw this and was delighted, unable to resist embracing and caressing her.
After their intimate moment, he lazily asked: “What’s wrong? What troubles you so much?”
Fu Ting quickly got up and knelt by the bed to beg for forgiveness: “Today, my mother sent someone with a matter that startled me, causing me to be somewhat distracted. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
The Crown Prince reached out and pulled her back: “I pardon you. What is it? Tell me.”
Fu Ting’s brow relaxed, looking like she had seen a savior, her eyes full of reverence and trust, which made the Crown Prince feel even more pleased.
She leaned close to the Crown Prince’s ear, her breath like an orchid: “I won’t hide it from Your Highness, this matter concerns my brother, Jingning Marquis Fu Shen…”
Near the end of the year, after the shocking case of the Eastern Tartar envoy ambush, another rumor about the North Yan commander began to spread quietly among the capital’s officials and nobles like a wildfire—
Jingning Marquis Fu Shen was fond of men, with a predilection for cut sleeves and shared peaches.
The appearance of this news was strange, but upon careful consideration, it seemed somewhat plausible. Moreover, people always enjoy using the most vulgar speculations to complete the “truth”. Before long, Fu Shen’s romantic history since joining the military had been vividly described among the noble families, even becoming a topic of casual conversation.
In the Great Zhou, a fondness for male love was not particularly outrageous, and people were quite tolerant. But when such a thing occurred in a general holding military power, it was no longer simply a “preference”.
When the slightly more alert Yan Xiaohan heard this rumor from the Flying Dragon Guard, his heart suddenly sank, and he had a bad feeling.
That night, he didn’t wait for Fu Shen’s response. In such a situation, even the most resilient person would waver. Yan Xiaohan had the upper hand, but he was not happy.
The Eastern Tartar envoy attack case was not handed over to the Flying Dragon Guard by Emperor Yuan Tai, so Yan Xiaohan could only choose to investigate privately. The doubts lingering in his heart had not disappeared. Although Fu Shen said he was thinking too highly of himself, a person who could survive the battlefield falling into an ambush was as strange as a duck drowning in a water tank.
Fu Shen’s attitude made him suspect that there might be more to this case, and Yan Xiaohan needed to uncover the truth behind it.
Not for justice, nor for morality, but because he wielded an emperor’s uniquely sharp demonic blade on his behalf. He needed to see the surging undercurrents hidden beneath the surface to control the blade’s direction and prevent being bitten back or swept away by the currents.
In this dynasty, successive emperors greatly valued the forbidden armies.
Inside the palace were the Left and Right Feathered Forest, Divine Pivot, and Divine Wu Six Armies, specifically responsible for protection, known as the “Northern Six Armies”. Additionally, the Flying Dragon Guard was set up to supervise officials and patrol the four borders, with the chief being a third-rank Qin Cha official who had the right to submit secret reports directly to the emperor.
All generals of the Northern Armies were part of the Flying Dragon Guard. Yan Xiaohan held the position of Qin Cha official, ranking above all other generals, effectively the commander of the Northern Forbidden Armies.
Delivering the message was Left Divine Pivot Army General Wei Xuzhou. General Wei was uniquely blessed; in the entire Northern Forbidden Armies, no one was more enthusiastic about matchmaking and spreading gossip.
Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen’s discord in the Flying Dragon Guard was well-known. Wei Xuzhou said gleefully, “The rumor-monger is really good at being nasty. Look at Jing Ning Marquis’s usual high-and-mighty attitude. I thought he’d be stuck with his right-hand man for life, hahaha…”
Yan Xiaohan frowned deeply, “Where did this rumor come from?”
General Wei said, “My second aunt’s sister’s husband’s cousin… who is the wife of the Marquis of Liu’en. His family has an unmarried daughter who took a fancy to the Jing Ning Marquis.”
After private inquiries, they discovered such a hidden story.
Yan Xiaohan put his hand to his forehead, completely unwilling to speak to him.
“Sir,” Wei Xuzhou circled around him, oddly asking, “The Jing Ning Marquis has such a preference, and he’s not worried, so why are you worried for him?”
Strange, too strange. Someone who hadn’t been unlucky for years suddenly becoming so unfortunate that even drinking cold water gets stuck—what outrageous thing had Fu Shen done to have all sorts of demons and monsters plotting against him?
“Something’s not right… Brother Wei, please investigate where this rumor about the Jing Ning Marquis’s broken sleeve actually came from—” Before he could finish, a blue-robed young eunuch from the outer hall entered. They quickly stopped talking and paid their respects. The young eunuch said, “His Majesty summons Sir Yan to the Hall of Nurturing Heart.”
Wei Xuzhou, hearing there was business, was about to excuse himself, but Yan Xiaohan suddenly gestured to him from behind, saying, “Please wait, Public Servant, I have some official business to discuss with General Wei.”
The young eunuch said coldly, “This is the Emperor’s decree. Does Sir Yan want to make His Majesty wait?”
Yan Xiaohan’s lips revealed a subtle smile, his usual expression that was both gentle and seemingly about to devour someone.
“As the Flying Dragon Guard’s Qin Cha official, my every move follows the imperial will. Public Servant, saying this puts me in a difficult position.”
The eunuch, originally just putting on airs, changed his expression upon seeing his smile, recalling the terrifying legends about the Flying Dragon Guard’s Qin Cha official. With difficulty maintaining his composure, he retreated, “In that case, Sir Yan, please proceed.”
The bewildered General Wei was pulled to the desk. Yan Xiaohan casually grabbed a few scrolls as a distraction and whispered, “Go to the Jing Ning Marquis’s residence, tell him the outside rumors, and make sure Fu Shen is careful and prepared. No matter what happens, hold back and don’t act rashly.”
Wei Xuzhou’s gossip-loving heart was ignited, but seeing Yan Xiaohan’s serious expression, he quickly nodded, “Sir, rest assured, leave it to me.”
