The Princess of Hongnong and Fu Xuan resided in a two-courtyard house on West Street. The buildings were low and rather cramped. Their coachman, guards, and maidservants all crowded together. The couple occupied rooms on the left and right of the second courtyard, while the central hall served as a reception room.
Zhao Xin was led all the way through the courtyard to the hall. Along the way, though the furnishings were neatly arranged, the narrow courtyard made everything feel cramped, leaving only enough space for two people to pass through.
One careless step could easily result in bumping one’s head or elbows.
Zhao Xin had learned in recent days that before his arrival, the Princess of Hongnong and her party had not been restricted in their movements. Apart from being unable to leave the city, they could move freely within it and even maintain contact with Cheng officials, and through them, communicate with Fu Zhi in Yong Province.
Only after Zhao Xin arrived had the family been placed under house arrest, with bailiffs and soldiers stationed outside. Daily provisions of vegetables, fish, and meat were delivered at fixed times, but neither people nor messages were permitted to come or go.
As Zhao Xin walked, he thought: Comparing the situations, his arrival might not be a good thing for them.
He wondered whether the Princess and Prince Consort even wanted to return to Luoyang…
Zhao Xin stepped into the hall and looked up to see a middle-aged handsome man and beautiful woman seated at the head of the room. He immediately collected his thoughts, approached, and bowed respectfully.
A clear, crisp voice rang out: “You may rise.”
The Princess of Hongnong’s face was stern. After carefully examining Zhao Xin, she asked: “Is His Majesty well?”
Zhao Xin paused before answering: “His Majesty is in good health.”
The Princess asked again: “Are the Three Excellencies well?”
What Three Excellencies existed now? Zhao Hanzhang alone monopolized all authority. But Zhao Xin still smiled and replied: “All the honored officials at court are well.”
The Princess’s expression relaxed. Only then did she ask: “How fares Chang’an?”
Zhao Xin: “Chang’an is very well.”
If Chang’an was well, then Fu Zhi was well. The Princess’s expression improved further as she asked: “What is the envoy’s purpose in coming to Shu?”
Zhao Xin had been waiting for her to ask about Fu Tinghan but never heard her mention him. Slightly surprised inwardly, he maintained his composure and shifted his tone: “This subject has come bearing His Majesty’s command to escort Your Highness and the Prince Consort back to court.”
The Princess was stunned. She had assumed it was Fu Changyu who had sent someone, never expecting it to be the young emperor.
She was a daughter of Emperor Hui. By relation, she and the young emperor were cousins. The Jin imperial family had weak blood ties—she didn’t believe the young emperor would send someone to fetch her simply because she was his cousin. Besides, she had never even met that child.
When he was born, she had already been in Chang’an, and had remained trapped there ever since.
She couldn’t help but look at Fu Xuan.
Fu Xuan glanced at the Cheng official standing to the side and asked directly: “Has King Li of Cheng agreed?”
Zhao Xin’s lips curved slightly as he bowed and replied: “The Prince Consort may rest assured. This humble official will do his utmost in negotiations to ensure Your Highness and the Prince Consort return to court.”
After exchanging some words in the presence of the Cheng official, Zhao Xin confirmed they were managing reasonably well and had not been mistreated, then rose to take his leave.
Fu Xuan lifted the hem of his robe and stood, nodding slightly: “I shall see the envoy out.”
Zhao Xin bowed and stood aside to wait.
As Fu Xuan passed him, he paused momentarily, then slowed his pace. The two walked one ahead of the other toward the exit. Due to the limited space of the pathway, the Cheng official fell behind.
Somehow in the course of walking, a servant from the Princess’s household inserted himself between them, causing the Cheng official to fall quite far behind.
When the official realized what had happened and tried to push past the servant to catch up, the servant in front demonstrated a remarkable ability to trip over his own feet, falling toward him with a thud…
By the time the official angrily pushed the person aside and looked up, Fu Xuan and Zhao Xin had already turned the corner, not even leaving him a view of their backs.
The official hurried to pursue them.
Fu Xuan escorted Zhao Xin to the front courtyard. Glancing at the Cheng soldiers guarding the gate, he asked: “Is Changyu well?”
Zhao Xin immediately replied earnestly: “The Prince Consort may rest assured. Young Master Fu and the General share deep affection. All is well.”
Fu Xuan smiled faintly. “That is good.”
He paused, then said quietly: “Please tell the envoy to inform him that we are living quite well in Shu territory. There is no need to force matters.”
He turned to face Zhao Xin directly, ignoring his stunned expression, and continued: “Parents are merely one journey in a person’s life path. There are times of meeting, but also times of parting. There is no need to be overly obstinate.”
He turned to face Zhao Xin, disregarding his shocked expression, and stated directly: “The road ahead he must walk himself. Whether good or bad, he must bear the consequences himself. I cannot help him, nor need he help me. Therefore, regarding bringing us back to Luoyang—if it succeeds, well and good. If not, let it be. There is no need to make a great fuss over this.”
Zhao Xin remained in shock even after returning to the guesthouse. Fu Xuan’s words had shattered his long-held beliefs.
Could the relationship between parents and children truly be so detached, so free?
When parents were in trouble, shouldn’t children risk everything to rescue them?
When children faced difficulties, shouldn’t parents worry themselves sick trying to solve their problems?
Yet Fu Xuan said they were merely one journey in Fu Tinghan’s life path, that there would be an ending, that he could cherish the memories but need not be overly attached, and certainly shouldn’t look back.
Zhao Xin sat deep in thought for a long while. When his attendant came to change the water, he returned to himself and said gravely: “If I went back and told Father that his journey ends with me, that he shouldn’t appear in my life anymore to interfere in my affairs, what do you think Father would do?”
The attendant thought seriously before replying: “The master would probably break the young master’s legs, ending the young master’s journey so he could only remain in the master’s journey, wouldn’t he?”
Zhao Xin shivered and quickly expelled the thought that had just arisen from his mind. Forget it—how could he expect his father to have the Prince Consort’s enlightenment?
In that moment, Zhao Xin felt a surge of envy toward Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan had Zhao Hanzhang as his fiancée—that hadn’t made him jealous.
But Fu Tinghan had Fu Xuan as his father—that made him jealous.
However…
Thinking of the Princess of Hongnong’s coldness, Zhao Xin couldn’t help but sigh. “Every family has its own difficulties. Even someone as outstanding as Tinghan has troubles.”
The attendant was curious: “What troubles does Young Master Fu have?”
Zhao Xin waved his hand: “It’s nothing. Prepare things—tomorrow we’re going out for breakfast again.”
He needed to transmit today’s negotiation results back to Luoyang. Zhao Xin had also figured it out—Cheng’s willingness to yield a step was probably because of the three commanderies south of Guanghan.
If they had to capture these territories themselves, who knew how long it would take. If the remaining forces in those three commanderies also had Zhao Hanzhang’s support, Cheng’s unification of these places would become even more difficult.
But similarly, it would be very difficult for Zhao Hanzhang to govern those three commanderies while bypassing Cheng.
In his heart, Zhao Xin wanted to agree to Cheng’s terms, but this matter was too important. He still had to ask Zhao Hanzhang. Moreover, regarding the Jin officials there, he didn’t yet know whether they would obey Zhao Hanzhang’s orders.
When Luoyang received the message, the matter was laid before the civil and military officials.
Zhao Shen, who had just returned from Liang County, glanced at it once and said: “If the General wishes to govern the three commanderies, she must either pass through Guanghan or cross natural barriers. But natural barriers are difficult to cross—the army could lose twenty to thirty percent just marching through.”