"Your Highness, what... what do you mean by this?" Lu Jin didn’t dare to raise his head in his panic.
The Crown Prince was startled by Lu Jin’s sudden and straightforward kneel. He stood frozen for a moment before hurrying forward to help Lu Jin up.
"Minister Lu, please rise!" The Crown Prince said after lifting Lu Jin. "This matter concerns the dignity of the Imperial Family. I merely wish for you to re-investigate before spreading any word. Conduct this investigation discreetly. As for those prison guards... I ask you to keep them in check!"
Lu Jin let out a sigh of relief and responded repeatedly, "Naturally! Naturally!"
"Then, I shall entrust this case to you, Minister Lu!" The Crown Prince nodded to Lu Jin before descending the high steps.
The guards brought forth the Crown Prince’s horse. After mounting it, the Crown Prince cast a deep look at Lu Jin.
Lu Jin hurriedly bowed deeply and did not rise until he heard the Crown Prince and his guards gallop away. He then slowly stood up and dusted off his knees.
Lu Jin knew Madam Fu of the Fu Family. Though she was a woman in the inner quarters, she was a person of great character and determination.
Today’s events all came from Madam Fu’s words. Fu Ruoxi hadn’t spoken a word...
Yet, Madam Fu’s death, right in front of Fu Ruoxi, had nearly served as a direct accusation of the Empress. Fu Ruoxi called out to Madam Fu several times, trying to interrupt, but to no avail.
On this point alone, Lu Jin realized... the truth itself no longer mattered. What Fu Ruoxi, the most crucial witness, would say must coincide with Madam Fu.
Because Fu Ruoxi could not betray the lives of the entire Fu Family. He could not betray Madam Fu’s life. He could not tarnish Madam Fu’s lifelong reputation.
In the prison of the Court of Judicial Review, a guard hurried out, saluted Lu Jin, and said, "Master, General Fu is ramming the prison door like a madman, demanding to see Madam Fu!"
Lu Jin pursed his lips and squinted, finally saying after a while, "Go heat a pot of wine and prepare a few dishes. I’ll go see General Fu myself."
"Yes, I’ll prepare it right away!"
After the guard left, Lu Jin stood in front of the prison gates of the Court of Judicial Review without moving.
Not until a sudden wind arose in Dadu City, causing the lanterns in front of the prison gates to sway, did Lu Jin place his hands behind his back and sigh deeply, sensing that despite the calm on the surface, turbulent undercurrents roiled beneath Dadu City.
Chun Tao entered, carrying a small silver cup filled with lactic juice. She drew aside the already lowered sky-blue gauze curtain and saw Bai Qingyan, her hair released and cascading like raven feathers. Bai Qingyan, still clothed, sat on a soft couch by the window, resting against a ginger-yellow embroidered pillow, reading a military book annotated by King of Zhen, Bai Weiting. A thin woolen blanket was draped over her knees.
Chun Tao took small steps forward, placed the silver cup and spoon in front of Bai Qingyan, and said softly, "You’ve been exhausted for so many days, my lady. Now that you’ve finally returned to Dadu City, you should rest early."
"I’m afraid I cannot rest just yet." Bai Qingyan sipped the hot tea at hand and looked up at the equally weary Chun Tao. "You should rest. There’s no need for you to attend to me here."
"I will stay to accompany you, my lady." Chun Tao set the black lacquer tray aside and skillfully closed the slightly ajar window lattice before tending to the lamp wick, ensuring Bai Qingyan’s eyes wouldn’t strain from dim light.
Resting the book on her knees, Bai Qingyan said to the busy Chun Tao, "If you tire... who will take care of my daily needs? I’ll retire soon. There’s no need for anyone to stay on watch tonight. Listen to me!"
Chun Tao wanted to argue further, but as the lady had said, if she were to fall ill, who would care for her? Nanny Tong wasn’t around.
Chun Tao nodded, bowed to Bai Qingyan, and retreated.
Just as midnight approached, Bai Qingyan heard an extremely faint noise from outside the window. She closed her book and slightly pushed open the window lattice.
The dim yellow light from inside the room seeped through the window, and the Hidden Guard quickly knelt. "Master, Madam Fu in the prison of the Court of Judicial Review has died from ramming the wall. She saw the Crown Prince and Minister Lu Jin before her death. Minister Lu ordered the guards of the Court of Judicial Review to keep their last words secret and forbade all guards on night duty from leaving the prison henceforth. I was unable to investigate further. Now... all commanders returning from Anping Camp with Fu Ruoxi have been taken into the Court of Judicial Review."
Bai Qingyan’s hand tightened slightly around the book on her knees, her heart sinking. It wasn’t surprising that the commanders from Anping Camp had been brought into the Court of Judicial Review. Lu Jin would need to summon them for questioning to investigate the case thoroughly.
But she hadn’t expected Madam Fu would die from ramming the wall.
Madam Fu wasn’t someone who couldn’t bear difficulties or would threaten Fu Ruoxi with her life. So, Madam Fu must have used her life to set a trap to save the Fu Family.
Closing her eyes, Bai Qingyan didn’t know what Madam Fu had said to the Crown Prince and Lu Jin before her death.
But Bai Qingyan could guess that whatever Madam Fu had said, there would be no chance for the Empress this time.
The Empress implicated the Fu Family, so Madam Fu, facing death, naturally aimed to drag the Empress down with her. Only by dragging the Empress down... would the Crown Prince intervene.
Bai Qingyan believed that with Madam Fu’s wisdom, she must have forced the Crown Prince to promise to protect the Fu Family in front of everyone.
Though the Fu Family hadn’t been the most illustrious aristocratic family in Dadu City for years, they had produced generations of capable military leaders, always loyal to the Jin Kingdom. Fu Ruoxi’s emergence was said to be due to the virtues accumulated by the Fu Family’s ancestors, bringing honor and prosperity to the family!
But who would have thought he’d be deeply entangled in feelings, nearly endangering the entire Fu Family?
Madam Fu had already given her all for the sake of her descendants!
The reason Madam Fu had to use her life to secure the Crown Prince’s aid was that, after meeting the Crown Prince, she would have realized that both the Crown Prince and the Emperor were the same.
People like them, even if the Fu Family pledged loyalty, wouldn’t lift a finger to protect them unless the loyalists paved their way with their lives. So, she could only leverage the Crown Prince’s machinations to strive for a chance of survival for the Fu Family.
Bai Qingyan clenched the woolen blanket on her legs to steady her voice. "I understand. Relay this news to King Xin."
The Hidden Guard acknowledged and disappeared under the corridor as the candlelight flickered.
Watching the flickering candlelight in the glass cover, Bai Qingyan thought of Fu Ruoxi. She wondered if Fu Ruoxi could still protect the Empress as before after witnessing his mother’s suicide.
She deliberately let this news reach King Xin’s ears, knowing the Empress would panic. At this moment... the Crown Prince had returned to Dadu. With the Empress and King Xin already at a disadvantage, the Empress’s biggest worry was that Fu Ruoxi might reveal everything. Likely, she would send someone to eliminate Fu Ruoxi.
Meanwhile, King Xin would only urge his uncle, Zhong Shaozhong, even harder to contact old allies.