Chapter 41

Chapter 41

The Imperial City was in a state of unrest.

In just one year, several searches had occurred in succession, truly a series of relentless trials.

Only the royal mansion remained relatively stable.

With the Crown Prince's untimely demise, the mansion could no longer be decked out in festive colors; thus, the red silk and lanterns that had been hung up the day before were taken down, replaced by white silk at the entrance.

The household murmured in hushed tones, "Such misfortune, to happen right on our young lord's birthday. How will we celebrate his birthdays in the future without having to avoid the Crown Prince's death anniversary?"

It is said that the Crown Prince was only the heir apparent, not the sovereign, and thus his death does not warrant a national mourning. Yet he was the Emperor’s son, and with our mansion right at the Emperor’s doorstep, who knows if one day the Emperor might harbor discontent because the young lord celebrated his birthday on his son's death anniversary?

In two years’ time, the capping ceremony will definitely be held on a grand scale.

The person steadying the ladder also whispered, "Isn't that the truth? Clashing with our young lord when alive, and even in death, seems to disrupt our young lord."

The butler, approaching and overhearing their whispers, waved his hand to hurry them, "Hang it up quickly! Watch your mouths and avoid idle talk here!"

"Yes."

The servants efficiently tied up the white silk and moved the ladder inside.

As the butler turned away, his robe was suddenly tugged.

There, a beggar, too filthy to discern his face, pleaded softly, "Butler! Help me! Let me see Fuguang! Save me, please!"

The butler, startled, scolded, "What beggar dares to utter our young lord’s name so brazenly? Guards, take this man away and keep such riff-raff far from the mansion's gates!"

"I am Xiujin!" He clutched at the butler's robe even tighter, refusing to let go, leaving the guards at a loss, looking to the butler for instructions.

The butler, out of options, gestured and said, "Go and inquire about the young lord's wishes." He then looked down at the filthy heap at his feet and muttered through his covered nose and mouth, "Get up, follow me inside. What an eyesore you are at the gate!"

Xiujin, overwhelmed with joy, quickly got to his feet and entered the mansion.

It was as if someone was chasing him from behind.

……

The dire consequences of overindulgence during the night recoiled upon Xue Fuguang.

He lay prostrate in bed, too sore and achy to rise.

But fortunately, as the heir apparent, he need not get up if he wished not to; no one could compel him.

Mu Jianshu looked at him in this state and felt a twinge of regret.

Restraint should have been exercised.

Yet now, it was not a matter of mere words about restraint; it was beyond his control.

Before their heartfelt confessions, there had been a sense of distance between the two, but now it had vanished completely.

Mu Jianshu, feeling entirely justified, took on the role of a devoted servant, tending to Xue Fuguang with the utmost care, fearing any dissatisfaction.

Xue Fuguang, too, exhibited a trace of being spoiled by affection, a reemergence of his pampered nature from a past life.

When the butler sent someone to notify Xue Fuguang, Mu Jianshu was attentively helping him drink soup.

Xue Fuguang's brows furrowed slightly, "It's hot, set it aside."

Mu Jianshu began the painstaking task of stirring the spoon, cooling the soup more quickly.

The servant entered after seeking permission at the door, recounting the incident of Xiujin clinging to the butler's legs at the entrance, begging for his life, to Xue Fuguang.

Xue Fuguang remained expressionless, while Mu Jianshu's face changed color first.

Xue Fuguang instructed, "Have the butler take him to change his clothes first, find a place for him to stay, somewhere discreet. There's a search going on outside, let's not draw any attention. I'll see him shortly."

The servant acknowledged and hurried away.

Mu Jianshu's voice carried a hint of coldness, "He really did manage to escape from the Eastern Palace yesterday."

Xue Fuguang was unsurprised, "Hmm. Dress me. I shall see to the matter."

Abandoning any pretense, he lifted his hand to take the soup bowl from Mu Jianshu, blew on it gently a couple of times, and then sipped slowly.

Mu Jianshu's lips tightened as he crouched down to help Xue Fuguang with his shoes and socks before dressing him in his robe and fastening his belt.

Once arrayed, Xue Fuguang set down the bowl and, taking the handkerchief offered by Mu Jianshu, wiped his mouth and stepped out of the Tingzhu Xuan with a leisurely gait.

Shao Jing, sensing the urgency, had run ahead to oversee the custody of Xiujin.

It was clear that he had a strategy in mind for handling Xiujin, fearing a blunder if left to others.

By the time Xue Fuguang arrived, Xiujin had already shed the beggar's rags described by the servants, washed from head to toe, his hair still damp and clinging to his skin.

His originally bright, childlike eyes were now filled with panic and fear, his frame hunched over slightly, bristling with wariness and resistance, as if someone might leap out and kill him at any moment.

It was only upon seeing Xue Fuguang that he seemed to find someone trustworthy, rushing towards him with tears welling up in his eyes and his nose and eye rims reddening: "Fuguang, save me, please save me!"

Xue Fuguang looked at him in this state with a shadow of unease at the corners of his eyes.

He had to admit, Xiujin truly possessed the capacity to evoke a protective instinct in others. His own past misfortunes were largely due to this pitiable appearance of Xiujin.

But as Xiujin approached, just as he was about to touch him, a sheathed long knife was thrust between them, halting Xiujin's advance.

Mu Jianshu, behind a mask, showed no pity in the black depths of his eyes, as cold as a block of ice, with a barely perceptible glint of murderous intent lurking within.

Every time Xue Fuguang encountered Xiujin, he felt an uncontrollable heaviness, as if a stone weighed down upon his heart, with Xiujin being the trigger for releasing it.

Yet now, thanks to a single action by Mu Jianshu, his mood unexpectedly brightened.

Xue Fuguang was momentarily lost in thought.

He remembered Mu Jianshu's steadfast presence by his side, unwaveringly supportive, showing no tenderness to anyone else.

The only sliver of it was due to his affection for the master by extension.

His usually furrowed brows lifted, "Who seeks to kill you? And how should I save you?"

Xiujin halted abruptly, stepping back from the knife, his tears cascading down, "The imperial soldiers are after me, there’s even a bounty posted for me. Fuguang, do you know? Yesterday, in the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was murdered, so much blood... I was terrified, and it was with great difficulty that I escaped. I don’t know who else to turn to, please save me, you’re the heir, only you can save me now!"

Shao Jing brought over a chair for Xue Fuguang to sit down.

He inquired, "That notice has been posted for quite a while, you've only just become aware of it? Where have you been until now, and how were you brought into the imperial palace?"

Xiujin hurriedly explained, "I had no idea. I found myself at Du's place when I awoke; he was the one taking care of me. But then I fainted and when I came to, I was in the Crown Prince's palace, taken there by the Sixth Prince. I... I'm terrified of those officers and didn't dare go to Du's home... I had no one else to turn to but you!"

Shaoying, with a headache from his crying, couldn't help but murmur under his breath, "How many times have I told you? You can't just casually call the Heir-Apparent by name. Do you think you are the Crown Prince? Even the Sixth Prince has to be referred to respectfully."

With his eyelashes quivering, two trails of tears rolled down as Xiujin stammered, "Hei... Heir-Apparent."

Xue Fuguang looked on with a mock smile, "Why do you fear seeking out Lord Du, yet find your way to the royal mansion instead? I had already handed you over to the Crown Prince before, at your own consent. Now that you're in trouble, you brazenly run back to seek my help, unconcerned about implicating my household?"

Xiujin explained, "If I were to go to Lord Du, I would certainly be handed over to the officers by the Prime Minister. I heard him pressing Lord Du to turn me in. The Crown Prince... he was murdered, Fuguang, no, Heir-Apparent, you're the only one I could think of. Please save me. I will surely repay your kindness in the future!"

Leaning back in the armchair, Xue Fuguang mused, "Oh? But when I initially took you in at the mansion, giving you a chance at life, you have yet to repay that deed. Now, risking the crime of beheading to save you once more, what can you possibly offer in return?"

Seeing a softening in his tone, Xiujin quickly promised, "Anything, I will do anything you ask, I swear!"

The gleam in Xue Fuguang's eyes shifted, "Fine, you said it yourself."

He stood up, clapping his hands, "I can't save you. The only place that can possibly fend off the officers' search right now is the Sixth Prince's residence. If you want the Sixth Prince to save you, tell him about your close ties with the son of General Qin. He should agree to protect you for General Qin's sake."

Just at that moment, another report came, "Heir-Apparent, the imperial guards, the imperial guards have come to search! They are looking for the assassin involved in yesterday's attempt on the Crown Prince!"

Xiujin instantly panicked, fearing he would be taken away, and attempted to cling to Xue Fuguang.

Shaoying caught him and dragged him away, "Shut up and follow me quickly!"

The servants hurriedly cleaned up any traces left by Xiujin.

Xue Fuguang sent people to check on Xue Wanxi's side, instructing those in her courtyard not to panic.

When the imperial guards entered the mansion, the leader smiled upon seeing Xue Fuguang, "Commander Zhou Minshan, at your service, Heir-Apparent!"

Xue Fuguang nodded at his familiar-faced subordinates, "Commander Zhou, your efforts are appreciated."

The butler ordered tea and pastries for the searching officers, who then stuffed their pockets, ate, drank, and wandered through the mansion before leaving.

Zhou Minshan bid farewell to Xue Fuguang, casting a glance at Mu Jianshu before he left.

He thought to himself, this one had a narrow escape; if he truly enters the Heir-Apparent's good graces, he'll rise high in the future.

However, he felt he wasn't too shabby himself.

"Heh, good thing I had the guts and the keen eye to pick out a master of craft. No doubt, before long, he and his brothers will rise to the heavens in one leap."

"Xue Fuguang had Renxiu Qiao dressed up and then sent to the Sixth Prince's residence."

"They even used the name of the Xue family."

"Given Renxiu's loose lips, it's almost certain he can't keep his mouth shut, so it might be better to just send him directly to the Sixth Prince and let him ponder it openly and uprightly."

"Having dealt with that affair, Xue Fuguang now had new matters to attend to."

"Just yesterday, he had seized Mumu Jian Shu and inquired at length about his affairs in the Ying dynasty."

"Upon further reflection, it seems that Mumu Jian Shu's life in the Ying dynasty was probably not all that great."

"Though he was the leader of the spies, controlling the largest network of information in the Ying dynasty, his subordinates were on alert against him, only heeding the emperor's commands."

"Having dealt with one batch in the imperial palace, it seems that it was only a fraction of the whole; if Mumu Jian Shu wishes to fully consolidate and control the entire espionage organization, it would still take him considerable time and effort."

"Perhaps, in the end, he will perish at the hands of the Crown Prince and Renxiu, with the meddling of the Ying dynasty contributing to his downfall."

"A word from the author: Good night~"