Chapter 004: Eunuch Fu Bin

Chapter 004: Eunuch Fu Bin

When Fu Bin heard the name Lin Baozhen, he couldn't help but think about his nephew's marriage to her.

Years ago, when the Fu family was destroyed, only Fu Bin and his sister Fu Heng were left to depend on each other. Not wanting to burden his sister, Fu Bin seized the opportunity to enter the palace as a eunuch by castrating himself, thereby not only freeing his sister from the burden but also providing her with some financial support.

It was precisely because of Fu Bin's self-castration that Fu Heng had the idea of adopting Fu Jiaze. Fu Heng had only one daughter and did not plan to remarry. By adopting a son and giving him the Fu surname, she could continue the family lineage and ensure someone would offer incense for her brother after his death.

The existence of Fu Jiaze proved Fu Heng's concern for her brother. Fu Bin, who had willingly entered the palace for his sister, naturally cared deeply for this adopted child.

With control over the Jinyiwei, Fu Bin knew all the secrets of the capital city. When the Lin family and the Changqing Houfu tried to arrange a marriage between Lin Baozhen and Fu Jiaze, Fu Bin hesitated.

Although Lin Baozhen came from a good family, her infatuation with Xie Jingzhi was somewhat off-putting.

However, considering Lin Baozhen's young age, he thought she might become more sensible after marriage. If they were to marry, once Fu Jiaze entered government service, the Lin family and the Changqing Houfu would provide public support, while Fu Bin would offer secret backing, ensuring Fu Jiaze's bright future in his career. Thus, he tacitly agreed to the marriage.

Now, hearing Fu Jiaze's words, it seemed the marriage plans had changed again?

"What happened with Lin Baozhen?"

Fu Jiaze and Qin Yuanting exchanged glances. Seeing this, Fu Bin said to his godson, "Yuanting, you speak first."

"Understood," Qin Yuanting bowed and said, "Yesterday evening, Lady Wang from the Lin family visited the Changqing Houfu. This morning, both families began spreading rumors that Fu Jiaze appears learned but is actually shallow. Otherwise, he wouldn't have failed the autumn examinations. They even suggested his past poems were ghostwritten, which is why he never participated in poetry gatherings."

Hearing this, Fu Bin flew into a rage, his voice becoming shrill, and his face turning livid. "How dare they! The Lin family and the Changqing Houfu have such audacity to slander my Jiaze!"

This outburst from the powerful eunuch startled the birds outside, and the serving maids outside walked more quietly upon hearing the angry shouts.

Qin Yuanting knelt down on one knee, "Godfather, I have already controlled these people. What should we do next?"

Fu Bin clenched his teeth, wishing to punish these two families immediately. Fu Jiaze poured his uncle a cup of tea and said, "Uncle, don't be angry. If this marriage doesn't work out, so be it. These servants are just following their masters' orders. Let Qin Qianhu release them."

Fu Bin's anger lingered on his face as he carefully observed Fu Jiaze. Was Fu Jiaze unwilling to marry into the Lin family? He had assumed his nephew at least liked Lin Baozhen.

Admittedly, although Lin Baozhen was somewhat spoiled, she was quite beautiful, especially when she smiled, which many men found appealing. She was also the kind of beauty favored by elders.

Fu Jiaze understood the meaning behind his uncle's expression and explained why he had agreed to the marriage: "I will eventually get married, right? Since she is the daughter of the Minister of Rites, she should be well-mannered. Although she chased after Master Xie, it was just youthful folly. I thought if she was willing to discuss marriage, she must have put that behind her. After marriage, everything would be fine. Besides, Uncle, perhaps you find Miss Lin's beauty appealing? But I didn't marry her for her looks. In fact, the second Miss Lin is far more beautiful."

At this point, Qin Yuanting added, "When Master Fu saved the second Miss Lin, I noticed her beauty too. She is truly stunning."

Hearing Qin Yuanting's words, Fu Jiaze recalled the day he and Qin Yuanting went for a spring outing and encountered bandits, saving Lin Yingxue.

Fu Jiaze's memory was exceptional, and he couldn't help but notice Lin Yingxue's beauty. However, due to his past romantic entanglements, her prolonged gaze made him uneasy rather than attracted. So, he quickly handed her back to the Lin family's group.

Lin Baozhen was indeed beautiful, but compared to Lin Yingxue, she was merely pretty. Fu Jiaze had always been wary of exceptionally beautiful women due to his past experiences. Since Lin Baozhen didn't stare at him obsessively, he had a better impression of her than Lin Yingxue.

Never did he expect the Lin family to break the engagement?

Considering Lin Baozhen's previous behavior, Fu Jiaze suspected the source of the rejection might still be her. Could there be new developments with Master Xie?

Fu Jiaze looked at Qin Yuanting, hoping the Jinyiwei officer could provide answers: "Lin Baozhen has already been ridiculed once for chasing after Master Xie. Now, if she acts like this again, her marriage prospects will suffer. I'm curious, if she didn't want to marry me, why didn't she say so earlier? Who decided to break the engagement now, and why?"

Fu Bin also turned to Qin Yuanting.

Qin Yuanting did not disappoint Fu Jiaze's expectations. "The Jinyiwei has investigated this. It was Miss Lin herself who changed her mind. The Changqing Houfu was initially reluctant, but the Lin family's lady insisted, saying Miss Lin has always been fortunate and her decision must have a reason."

Upon hearing Qin Yuanting's words, Fu Bin and Fu Jiaze reacted differently. Fu Bin was furious, while Fu Jiaze was stunned, his expression dazed.

Seeing Fu Jiaze's demeanor, Fu Bin worried his nephew might be overly distressed.

Fu Jiaze explained, "Uncle, I was wondering if Lin Baozhen's fortune was real. Now it seems she truly is blessed. Perhaps heaven is favoring her and protecting her from me."

Fu Bin frowned deeply, "Minister Lin even praised your scholarly talent, saying you have the potential to be the top scholar. Breaking this engagement will harm the Lin family."

"Have you ever wondered why I've participated in the autumn examinations so many times without passing, until Mother wrote a letter asking you to arrange my examination here in the capital?"

Indeed, Fu Bin had been puzzled, but due to his own past, he hadn't faced his sister. After Fu Heng's marriage changed, she stopped contacting Fu Bin. It wasn't until Fu Jiaze arrived in the capital for the autumn examinations that they reconnected. Fu Bin was too elated about reconnecting with his sister to ask further questions.

Fu Jiaze looked down at the plain porcelain cup in his hand, the tea leaves unfurling in the pale yellow brew. He spoke softly, "My luck has always been bad. I passed the preliminary exams early, but every time I took the autumn examinations, something went wrong."

"I remember the first year, someone pushed me during an argument, fracturing my right hand. The second year, I got involved in a love triangle and broke my right hand. I then started practicing writing with my left hand. The third year, someone died because of the love triangle, and I was accused of murder. Though cleared, I missed the exam. The fourth year, I entered the examination hall smoothly, but rumors spread that the examiner favored me and wanted to make me the top scholar. To avoid suspicion, I was disqualified."

Hearing this, Fu Bin was stunned. If it weren't his nephew, he would have sympathized with the misfortune. Now, he could only say, "Rest assured, nothing will go wrong in the capital. If I can't protect you here, I shouldn't be the chief eunuch."

Fu Jiaze was less optimistic. Before each examination, he felt a premonition of trouble, and this time was no different. He had always dismissed fate, but his repeated failures made him reconsider.

He lacked luck in the examinations, whereas Lin Baozhen had always been fortunate.

Why did the Changqing Houfu favor Lin Baozhen? Because before her birth, the old lady dreamed of golden carp leaping in the sunset. On the day Lin Baozhen was born, the sky was filled with sunset hues, and she opened her eyes and smiled at the old lady. Additionally, when Lin Baozhen was a month old, Lin Yi received a promotion. At her third birthday, he was promoted again.

Lin Baozhen fell for Xie Jingzhi, and her original fiancé conveniently died. Now, her sudden desire to break the engagement—could it be because she foresaw his failure in the examinations?

"Master Fu, with your talent and Godfather's and my support, you need not worry about these issues," Qin Yuanting suddenly said. "Since the love triangles caused so much trouble, it's better for the Lin family to break the engagement. This way, these rumors won't affect Master Fu anymore."

Fu Jiaze emerged from his disappointment. He believed in "my destiny is mine to control." He told Qin Yuanting, "Qianhu Qin is right. Uncle, Mother sent me to the capital for the examinations, hoping you would clear obstacles for me. Honestly, after failing repeatedly, I even considered buying an official position to start as a minor official. Mother disagreed, so I brought a letter to find you."

Fu Jiaze studied to become an official, not necessarily through the examinations. He had considered buying an official position, but Fu Heng strongly opposed it, believing his talent deserved the proper path. She revealed the existence of her brother only then.

Fu Heng had mixed feelings, saying, "I planned to introduce you to your uncle after my death, so he wouldn't be lonely. Now that you're having trouble here, go to the capital where he can protect you."

Fu Jiaze only learned Fu Bin's true identity after arriving in the capital. Despite his maturity, he was still surprised to meet the powerful eunuch known as the Nine Thousand Years.

Upon meeting Fu Bin, Fu Jiaze understood his adoptive mother's conflicted emotions. Despite their deep bond, Fu Bin's choice had created a rift between them.

Fu Bin's lips twitched when he heard Fu Jiaze mention Fu Heng. Finally, he said, "Jiaze, this time, Uncle will ensure you participate in the Autumn Examination safely and smoothly. However, you need to promise Uncle one thing: You must attend the Flower Appreciation Banquet and gain some fame there."

Fu Jiaze instinctively wanted to refuse. Twice before, his romantic entanglements had started at such banquets. The thought of those infatuated young ladies staring at him made him uneasy, fearing that some jealous young man might confront him.

Fu Bin was determined to have Fu Jiaze attend the banquet and would not let him refuse.

Only then did Fu Jiaze realize the skill his uncle possessed as the head eunuch. Regardless of how he argued, he ended up agreeing to attend the Flower Appreciation Banquet. If there was an opportunity to compose poetry, he needed to excel and gain some recognition.

/

While Fu Jiaze did not take the marriage rejection to heart, Fu Bin, with his narrow-mindedness, could not tolerate the Lin family and the Changqing Marquisate treating his nephew so poorly.

The Lin family and the Changqing Marquisate wanted to tarnish his nephew's reputation and, in doing so, trample on Lin Baozhen's name!

The joke about the daughter of the Minister of Rites quickly spread throughout the capital city.

Gossip filled the streets, alleys, wells, and riversides, all centered around Lin Baozhen. Fu Jiaze was merely mentioned in passing.

"How can the daughter of the Minister of Rites, who should be the most upright, act like this?"

"Exactly! No matter how good her family background is, I want to see which fool would be interested in her."

"She is worse than ordinary girls; she doesn't even know the meaning of propriety and shame."

A group of women beating clothes with laundry hammers chattered incessantly. One woman, who had joined the conversation midway, felt something was amiss after listening for a while. "I heard that it wasn't because the Fu family's son lacked talent, right? This Miss Lin's mother came from the Changqing Marquisate, and her father is the Minister of Rites. If the Fu family's son lacks talent, they wouldn't match at all."

As soon as she finished speaking, another plump woman chimed in, "This Fu Jiaze must be talented. If he weren't, why would the Lin family have claimed they were a perfect match? Now, they've changed their tune, probably because Miss Lin has fallen for someone else again, like that Xie gentleman."

"Who is this Xie gentleman? Wasn't he supposed to be engaged to the Fu family's son?" the woman asked, confused.

Seeing her lack of knowledge, the plump woman recounted how Lin Baozhen had pursued Xie Jingzhi. This story, originally known only among the noble ladies of the capital, now spread through the women washing clothes by the riverbank.

After finishing her tale, the plump woman moved on to other places, still talking about Lin Baozhen.

Such gossip permeated every corner of the capital city. Stories involving the romantic affairs of high-ranking officials' daughters always piqued people's curiosity. With embellishments, the tale became one of Lin Baozhen chasing after Xie Jingzhi. Everyone focused on Lin Baozhen and Xie Jingzhi, paying little attention to Fu Jiaze's involvement.