Chapter 032: Meeting the Empress

Chapter 032: Meeting the Empress

Fu Jiaze had just been thrown into the North City Command's prison because of his special status and the case involving exam fraud. Therefore, the cells on either side were filled with serious offenders and dangerous criminals.

Most of these people would soon face their deaths, spending their days in the terror of impending doom. Only when the guards dragged Fu Jiaze into the cell did they make any noise, but once the guards left, silence returned.

The low moans of the tortured prisoners added to the eerie atmosphere of the cell.

Being here was much like being in the secret prisons of the Imperial Guard, a place where one enters but never leaves.

With shackles on his hands, feet, and legs, Fu Jiaze entered the damp, moldy, and bloody cell. Based on his previous experience, he avoided the golden straw and sat directly on the hard ground.

This prison was cleaner than the one in the provincial city, yet the low moans made it feel even more desperate.

Leaning against the cell door, he couldn't help but recall the chaos at the imperial examination results board. When Lin Yingxue rushed down from the teahouse, he was being apprehended.

Just moments ago, he was the top scorer, basking in glory; now, he was a prisoner accused of fraud.

Facing the young girl's concerned and bright eyes, he didn't know what to say, eventually managing only a dry, "I did not cheat."

But even that single sentence drew immediate rebuke: "Accused of exam fraud, your fate is decided by His Highness the Third Prince. Do not speak further, or your punishment will be worse."

With handcuffs and leg irons on, he waved goodbye to Lin Yingxue, the clinking of chains echoing. The last time he was arrested for a scandal, he felt nothing, but this time was different. Fu Jiaze felt a burning shame, as if he had truly committed a grave sin.

The crowd's murmurs were incessant.

"That's the top scorer, looking so handsome, how could he commit fraud?"

"Didn't someone just say he's the nephew of a powerful eunuch? He must have known he'd pass, so he dressed up nicely."

"Having a good uncle sure helps. If it weren't for the Third Prince, he might have gotten away with it, just like the Fourth Prince helped that Wen family member."

Fu Heng was also quickly apprehended, leaving Fu Wanan without care. Fu Heng called out to Lin Yingxue, "Please take care of my daughter."

To her daughter, she said, "This is your future sister-in-law. Listen to her, stop crying, everything will be fine soon."

Fu Jiaze was quickly taken away, while Lin Yingxue, entrusted by Fu Heng, brought his sister to him, saying, "I believe you. Everything will be alright. Don't worry about Madam Fu."

Leaning against the cell bars, Fu Jiaze wondered if he could escape this ordeal. If his uncle told the Empress, his chances of survival would increase by thirty percent. If the Empress acted as he hoped, it could rise to eighty percent.

Empress Jian Yunyao was not particularly beautiful, but her reputation for intelligence spread throughout the capital city before her marriage. Her father was the head of the National University, who once said in a drunken stupor that if Jian Yunyao were a man, she would surely be on the imperial examination list, showing her sharp wit.

In the past, Zhuang Hesheng, a scholar who later became a monk, admired Jian Yunyao. Logically, they should not have interacted, but Fu Jiaze guessed that the Empress, as a young girl, must have disguised herself as a man to meet Zhuang Hesheng.

The Empress valued talent and had stopped the practice of concubines committing suicide to accompany the emperor in death, indicating her courage to speak up.

Other minor details led Fu Jiaze to believe that if his uncle had already spoken to the Empress and sought her help, she would likely assist him.

However, these were mere speculations, and many uncontrollable factors could arise.

He never expected that his mother's divorce years ago would resurface, compounding the situation. What consequences would this bring? Fu Jiaze couldn't predict.

Back against the cell bars, he endured the longest hour of his life. Soon, he saw the guards approach, and he stood up, his eyes brightening.

His calculations had paid off; his preparations had worked.

The guards' keys jingled, drawing attention from other cells. Some cried out, "Innocent! I want to confess!"

The guards, however, walked straight to Fu Jiaze, "Fu Jiaze?"

Already standing, Fu Jiaze replied firmly, "Yes."

The guard smirked, unlocking the cell door, "Come out. If you feel wronged, you'll have your chance to plead your case shortly."

Fu Jiaze took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.

/

To face the Empress, Fu Jiaze needed to present himself properly. After washing and changing into a new blue robe, he stepped out of the North City Command's gate.

Outside, he saw the Third Prince talking to Lin Baozhen.

Upon seeing Fu Jiaze, Lin Baozhen widened her eyes and exclaimed to Zhao Ting, "How can he be out?"

Zhao Ting's mood was terrible. The Empress rarely intervened, but this time, her opinion clashed with his. He had planned to achieve two goals: diminish the Emperor's trust in Fu Bin and gain support from the literati by cleaning up the exam system. Now, both seemed uncertain.

If not for Lin Baozhen's crucial information earlier, he wouldn't bother with her now.

Zhao Ting sighed, "Miss Lin, your information was useful, but the Emperor and Empress still want to see him and assess his true abilities."

Of course, Fu Jiaze had genuine talent!

Lin Baozhen had no doubt about this.

During their time in Tong County, a talented monk praised Fu Jiaze's abilities, calling him a potential top scorer. Tong County, once poor, had become renowned under his leadership, with its people living comfortably and more settling there. Lin Baozhen suspected that if Fu Jiaze hadn't died, he would have received a promotion soon.

She harbored a faint hope that he shouldn't face the Emperor, and pouted, "Even if he has talent, he could still cheat. With such an uncle, taking shortcuts is natural."

Xie Yuan, standing beside Lin Baozhen, saw Fu Jiaze and said to his fiancée, "Bao'er, stop. He's out."

Seeing Fu Jiaze clean and composed, Lin Baozhen raised her voice, "Can't I speak the truth? He has such an uncle. And the Third Prince has evidence, both testimonies and physical proof. He cheated, and I'll say it to his face."

Lin Baozhen felt resentful. If she had known about his uncle earlier, she would have stayed by Fu Jiaze's side, instead of being sent to a small county. She dreamed of a tragic death, feeling her breath fading as she struggled against an unseen force.

Looking at Lin Baozhen, Fu Jiaze saw anger and hatred. Confused about why he offended her, he calmly replied, "The truth is, I do have an uncle, but I did not cheat. I await the Emperor's judgment."

"Do you have any right to see the emperor?" Lin Baozhen said, "Third Prince, since the evidence is clear, we should directly convict him!"

How could the Third Prince not want that? If he could convict Fu Jiaze, his reputation among the officials would soar. At this moment, he could only say, "Miss Lin, I also wish he didn't need to see the emperor, but who can blame him for having a good uncle who pleaded with the Empress? It's the Empress who wants to see him. Come on, let's not delay."

When Lin Baozhen saw the two of them get into the carriage, her mouth slightly opened wide, and she said to Xie Yuan beside her, "How can he face the emperor?"

Her fiancé was first concerned about Xie Jingzhi's performance, and now she was inexplicably concerned about Fu Jiaze—both of whom had nearly been engaged to her.

Xie Yuan felt a faint green tinge atop his head. Originally, he wanted to take Lin Baozhen to the Jewel Pavilion to buy jewelry, but now he had no mood for it. He reluctantly said, "I'll take you back."

Lin Baozhen responded, "Aren't we going shopping?"

Xie Yuan remained silent for a while, then rubbed his temples, "Too many things have happened today; I'm not in the mood."

His face was sullen, and given his age, such a grim expression made his facial wrinkles more pronounced. This might instill awe in his subordinates, but it held no appeal to a young girl in love.

Lin Baozhen opened her mouth, but eventually found herself without any mood either, and responded dejectedly.

Seeing the girl's silence, Xie Yuan regretted his actions. After all, what he wanted wasn't Lin Baozhen's true affection, but merely a child.

Forget it; once they were married, he would treat her better.

Thinking this, Xie Yuan said to Lin Baozhen, "Rest well. The next time we meet will be when I marry you."

Lin Baozhen thought that perhaps because too much had happened today, she had no mood either and responded dispiritedly.

Meanwhile, Fu Jiaze repeatedly faced the Third Prince's reprimands in the carriage.

"The steward Huang Zhong from Fu Bin's residence has confessed. You knew the exam questions in advance, which is why you won."

"You gained fame at Princess Mingrui's poetry gathering through cheating."

"I advise you to confess honestly. The Empress is merciful and might spare you, especially with your uncle pleading on your behalf. It wouldn't delay your upcoming marriage."

Fu Jiaze thought that if anyone less resolute might have crumbled under such accusations from the Third Prince.

Seeing Fu Jiaze silent, Zhao Ting continued his monologue for a while before switching to a softer approach.

"Are you feeling wronged? Do you feel like you've been framed? I've read books and understand the integrity of scholars. Perhaps you didn't cheat, but you must know that with an uncle like yours, everyone assumes you did."

"How will the officials view you? As long as you pursue the imperial examination route, they will think your uncle intervened. These officials always stick together, making it difficult."

"With such an uncle, why didn't you change your strategy from the start? If you had chosen the Jinyiwei path, you would likely already be a thousand-household commander by now. Why go through this?"

"I'm thinking of you. If you admit to the crime, your uncle can still arrange for you to join the Jinyiwei. Within a year, you could rise quickly. Why insist on becoming an official when it doesn't suit you?"

"Third Highness."

Zhao Ting looked expectantly at Fu Jiaze, thinking he had admitted his fault, but Fu Jiaze said, "The carriage has stopped; we're entering the palace."

Zhao Ting's face twisted momentarily, seeing Fu Jiaze unmoved, he said, "Do as you please."

Fu Jiaze acknowledged it. After verifying his identity, the side gate of the palace opened. As a criminal, Fu Jiaze couldn't enter by carriage, so the Third Prince took a sedan chair while Fu Jiaze walked towards the study.

/

The emperor, initially interested in reviewing paintings, upon seeing the empress, remembered her fondness for these arts and decided to have Fu Bin sort out some scrolls to send to Luanfeng Palace.

Fu Jiaze estimated he still had some time before entering the palace, so Jian Yunyao refused Fu Bin's help and began sorting the scrolls herself.

Jian Yunyao, though only fair-looking, had eyes that lit up when she encountered something she liked, making her features instantly radiant.

This change in her eyes caught the emperor's attention, reminding him of the past.

Back then, lifting the veil with a joyous call, he found his empress rather plain, except for her bright eyes, like stars in the night sky, a pity on such a plain face.

Fortunately, this unattractive empress was virtuous, allowing him to take concubines. However, she was too rigid, forbidding him from frequenting brothels. Later, the emperor realized she disliked coercion, which led to his deep affection for another woman, whom he kept hidden from the empress.

After their marriage, the emperor gave Jian Yunyao the respect due to her until he witnessed her decisively shooting their infant son with a bow, changing their relationship forever.

The emperor felt both gratitude and fear towards his wife. Gratitude, for if not for Jian Yunyao's actions, they might have lost the battle or paid a heavy price. Fear, because she had shot their own son.

The emperor remembered the scene vividly: the Di people threatened to open the city gates using their son. While he hesitated, Jian Yunyao took the bow from her brother and shot their son without hesitation.

He knew his wife was well-read but never imagined her archery skills were equally impressive.

At that moment, Jian Yunyao's eyes shone brightly, stirring mixed emotions in the emperor. Now, she no longer wielded weapons, even reading books was fine.

Moreover, as an emperor, he no longer lacked heirs. If that child had survived, the throne would have belonged to him, not his beloved son.

Thus, Jian Yunyao's action was justified.

The emperor whispered instructions to Fu Bin, asking him to select some rare books from the Imperial Academy for the empress after questioning his nephew.

Fu Bin felt a huge weight lifted, understanding this meant the emperor would not pursue the matter further.

Fu Bin quietly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will ensure my nephew selects appropriate books."

Just then, word came that the Third Prince and Fu Jiaze had arrived.