“Fu Yun Xi, let’s find a solution together,” she said in a muffled voice.
Her previously cold and distant attitude had completely dissolved, replaced by deep dependence and concern. If they couldn’t cure Fu Yun Xi’s illness, they could at least help him avenge himself against the Empress Dowager. In a way, the Empress Dowager was their common enemy. Though Han Yan had never met the Eastern Marquis and his wife, blood was thicker than water, and this bone-deep hatred could never be forgotten.
Fu Yun Xi looked down at Han Yan, who held him tightly. The warmth from her body was clear and distinct, relieving the cold that had plagued him these days. The cold poison ravaged his body, like ice needles piercing through his bones – even the slightest movement brought unbearable pain. He couldn’t feel warmth; even wrapped in blankets by the fireplace, he felt bone-chilling cold.
But this sharp-eyed girl had burst in, sat quietly listening to him speak, then earnestly embraced him. Her body was still small but had developed the graceful figure of a young woman. He’d almost forgotten – she had come of age. Fu Yun Xi’s expression shifted slightly, remembering how he had ruined her coming-of-age ceremony.
When he’d returned travel-worn and caught sight of her then, his heart had stirred. That little girl had grown into a graceful young woman, and while he had been delighted, he couldn’t show it. After that incident, Han Yan had stubbornly maintained that since her ceremony wasn’t completed, she hadn’t truly come of age. She refused to wear a young woman’s hairstyle, keeping her hair in two round buns instead.
His hand touched one of those buns as he inwardly sighed. Very well – since he hadn’t pushed her away even now, and this girl was so stubborn, why should he make decisions for her? Besides, this kind of protection was less effective than keeping her by his side. She had suffered much because of him, and now that her identity as the Eastern Marquis’s surviving child was exposed, who knew what troubles lay ahead? While he still drew breath, he would protect her well by his side.
He said, “Alright.”
As soon as he spoke, he felt his embrace suddenly empty as Han Yan emerged from it, looking up at him. Fu Yun Xi looked down to see that Han Yan showed no trace of girlish coyness. Her expression was resolute and calm as she quickly said, “The Empress Dowager is about to act, but she’s also grown suspicious. Let’s dispel her doubts.”
Fu Yun Xi was first surprised, then smiled wryly – he’d forgotten that Han Yan, at times like these, had no time for coquettish behavior. She would only analyze and devise countermeasures in the shortest possible time.
“What do you want to do?” Fu Yun Xi asked.
Han Yan tugged at his collar, pulling him closer, and whispered a few words in his ear. Then she released him and asked, “What do you think?”
Fu Yun Xi said, “Fine.”
Two days later.
That day, the capital’s citizens were all discussing one thing: Xuan Qing Prince Fu Yun Xi had died the previous night from his grave illness. Such a man of unlimited potential, immense power, and divine beauty, skilled in both civil and military affairs – everyone sighed with regret. When unmarried young ladies heard the news, they wept bitterly. Throughout the capital, sounds of mourning could be heard. Fu Yun Xi had commanded great respect among the common people, and his passing was a loss to all under heaven.
The Zhuang manor was unusually quiet; even the servants who usually gossiped kept silent. The Fourth Young Lady of the Zhuang family had once been Fu Yun Xi’s intended bride, and though she had been cast aside, she had never shown hatred toward the Xuan Qing Prince. People wondered if Han Yan still harbored feelings for Fu Yun Xi in her heart. Now that the Xuan Qing Prince had died, was the Fourth Young Lady of the Zhuang family grieving silently, or secretly rejoicing?
No one could guess Han Yan’s thoughts. When Zhuang Han Ming came specially to comfort her out of concern, she refused to see him. People assumed Han Yan was too grief-stricken to let others see her current state, so she had simply shut herself away – this matched her usual behavior. After several failed attempts to see her, Zhuang Han Ming could only leave reluctantly, instructing the servants to take good care of her. Zhuang Shi Yang hadn’t come at all; he seemed to be wary of something about Han Yan. Since her return to the Zhuang manor, it had been nearly impossible for them to meet face to face. But out of sight, out of mind – Han Yan was content with this arrangement.
That afternoon, Qing Qiu Court received unexpected visitors. The woman leading them swung her steel whip, striking a sweeping maid by the door. The maid, about to greet the visitors, was caught off guard by this vicious strike delivered with full force. She screamed in pain and fell to the ground. The next moment, another strike landed on her, accompanied by an aggressive demand: “Where is Zhuang Han Yan?!”
The maid was in too much pain to speak. Seeing this, the woman with the steel whip showed no mercy, continuing to strike the fallen maid repeatedly. The maid’s screams of agony alerted those inside.
With a creak, the door to Han Yan’s chamber in Qing Qiu Court suddenly opened. Han Yan walked out and said coldly, “Who dares to make such a disturbance here?”
The woman with the steel whip, seeing Han Yan, immediately stopped and called out, “Zhuang Han Yan!”
“I wondered who could be so ill-mannered,” Han Yan glanced at the injured maid on the ground and said coldly. “So it’s the Western Rong Princess.”
The mockery in these words didn’t escape Irina’s ears, but today she hadn’t come to quarrel with Han Yan. She appeared extremely agitated and asked Han Yan, “Do you know the Prince is dead?”
“Everyone in the capital is talking about it, of course I know,” Han Yan replied.
Irina’s eyes were red, clearly from heavy crying. She shook her head and said, “I don’t believe it. It must be false. Are you all conspiring to deceive me? Zhuang Han Yan, you must know the truth.”
Han Yan looked at her coldly: “The Princess seems to be asking the wrong person. I learned of the Prince’s matter from others’ mouths. Moreover, Princess, you think the Prince and I are conspiring to deceive you? May I ask, why would we deceive you, and what benefit would we gain from such deception?”
“This… this…” Irina stared at Han Yan in confusion. “I don’t know, but how could he suddenly die… even if…” She abruptly stopped here, paused, and then shouted at Han Yan, “You must know he’s not dead, don’t you?!”
She seemed to have convinced herself of this, and seeing another maid standing far away in the courtyard, she raised her eyebrows and sent another whip strike: “Where is the Prince?!”
“Enough!” Han Yan shouted sternly. Her voice was so severe that Irina frowned, unconsciously stopping her movement. Han Yan continued, “Whether the Xuan Qing Prince is dead or not, you shouldn’t come asking me. I haven’t left my quarters these past few days. If the Princess is simply bored and looking for entertainment, you might at least find a more plausible excuse. Mind that trouble comes from careless words.” Seeing Irina still looking unconvinced, Han Yan added, “Besides, it’s simple enough to verify whether the Prince’s death is true or false. As the Prince’s betrothed, you naturally have the right to view his remains. See him yourself – seeing is believing, isn’t it?”