Fu Tinghan said, “The main courtyard at the Zhao estate is also used by Hanzhang. Mother-in-law has never said anything about it.”
Fu’an replied, “That’s different. Madam Wang is widowed, and she’s not the type to争these things.”
“So you’re saying Princess Hongnong is the type to compete for these things?”
Fu’an looked horrified and waved his hands frantically. “No, no, no, this servant doesn’t mean that…” These words couldn’t reach the princess’s ears.
He immediately looked around and, finding only personal guards nearby who were their own people, relaxed. He lowered his voice and said to Fu Tinghan, “Young Master, the princess can offer to let you live in the main courtyard, but it can’t be something you arranged from the start.”
Fu Tinghan replied, “…I already said it that way.”
“Yes, you already said it. Words spoken are like water spilled—they can’t be taken back,” Fu’an was nearly in tears. “What you said earlier had many problems. The princess will likely misunderstand and think Sanniang instigated you…”
Fu Tinghan asked, “…What does this have to do with Hanzhang?”
Fu’an was almost crying. “Young Master, you should quickly go consult with Sanniang. When the princess gets angry, it won’t be easy to handle.”
As a noble son from an aristocratic family, raised with ritual and propriety from childhood, how could he not know the principle that “when parents are present, one has no private property”?
Fu’an thought the young master might have forgotten due to his previous injury, but the princess and prince consort didn’t know that.
Fu Tinghan pressed his lips together but still took the advice to find Zhao Hanzhang. Wait—he was going to find Zhao Hanzhang anyway.
Seeing him just leave them like that, Princess Hongnong couldn’t help but slam her hand on the table in anger.
Fu Xuan sighed, stood up, and was about to put on his wooden clogs and leave. Princess Hongnong called after him, “Where are you going?”
Fu Xuan said, “To look around this estate and choose a courtyard I like to stay in.”
“Stop right there!” Princess Hongnong shot to her feet and glared at him. “You’re just going to let him act so recklessly? Did you hear what he just said? Not a shred of respect as a son should show his parents. In front of his parents, it’s all ‘I this’ and ‘I that.’ Not only has he made no progress over these years, he’s actually become worse…”
Fu Xuan interrupted with one sentence: “Do you think he seems like our son?”
Princess Hongnong froze, then widened her eyes. “Are you saying…” he’s an impostor?
Before she could finish the question, Fu Xuan had already sighed. “Back then, you were devoted to protecting the country, and he left for Luoyang in a fit of anger. Perhaps at that time, he made the same choice as you.”
“Father said he faced danger all along the way. From Chang’an to Luoyang—a journey of only two or three days—he took over half a year, taking a detour to the Pingyang area to avoid refugee armies and rebel soldiers. When he finally reached Luoyang, he nearly lost his life when refugee armies stormed the city gates.”
“Although he survived, he lost his voice for a long time,” Fu Xuan said. “I don’t know what decision that child made, but from the day he left us until now—nearly five years—he hasn’t sent us a single letter, which shows his attitude. Over such a long time, love can fade, and so can resentment and hatred. Looking at him today, he bears us no hatred, but no love either. There’s only a faint sense of guilt. What do you think that guilt is about?”
Princess Hongnong’s face turned pale, and she said nothing.
Fu Xuan said, “It’s guilt over the debt of life, isn’t it?”
He shook his head and smiled wryly. “This child is still too upright. His ability to come into this world is a gift to this world. He simply came through our bodies. Over these years, we’ve only given him pain, with few moments of joy. He really doesn’t need to feel guilty.”
“You weren’t the one who suffered the pain of childbirth. You weren’t the one who went through life and death to give birth to him. Of course you can say such things,” Princess Hongnong stared at him, her eyes seeming to hold flames, but she suppressed them, only saying through gritted teeth, “Don’t preach philosophy to me. He was born from my body, so he’ll forever be my son!”
Fu Xuan disagreed with her philosophy and simply chose not to argue, leaving on his own instead.
Princess Hongnong stood in the main hall regulating her breathing. Ren Hui stepped forward to support her, asking in a low voice, “Should we redecorate the main courtyard?”
Princess Hongnong didn’t answer. She just walked to the main courtyard to look.
The main courtyard was also very simple. There were only three somewhat withered plum trees in the courtyard with some buds on them. Red lanterns hung under the eaves on both sides, and the window frames and walls were covered with the character for double happiness. Princess Hongnong paused, startled. Even the bridal chamber was decorated like this—how poor had things become?
Her expression softened somewhat, gradually returning to calm. “No need. Find another courtyard to settle in.”
Ren Hui asked, “Would you like to see Changsong Courtyard?”
“Where is Changsong Courtyard?”
Ren Hui had already learned about it and pointed in a direction. “There’s a side gate over there that leads outside. It’s very convenient for coming and going.”
So it was in the most remote corner over there?
Princess Hongnong snorted coldly to herself. He really wanted to stay as far away from her as possible.
Princess Hongnong’s gaze swept around and she randomly pointed at a courtyard. “Let’s take that one. It looks decent. Is it far from where the prince consort chose?”
Ren Hui looked conflicted. “It happens to be right next to the prince consort’s.”
Princess Hongnong immediately said, “Have him move to Changsong Courtyard. I don’t want to live too close to him.”
Ren Hui sighed and agreed.
For such trivial matters, Fu Xuan was very easygoing. He had already drawn water with the servants to wipe down tables, but upon hearing this, he immediately threw down his cloth and lowered his rolled-up robe. “Fine, we’ll go to Changsong Courtyard.”
He took a guard and left.
Changsong Courtyard had already been cleaned up. The bedding, mosquito nets, even the washing soap were all prepared—ready for immediate occupancy. It was also large, with a side gate nearby. It was much better than the courtyard he had chosen earlier.
He had originally wanted to give this courtyard to the princess, but unexpectedly she didn’t want it.
When they were in Shu, the couple had no choice but to live in the same courtyard. Now that the estate was large enough, naturally they could stay as far apart as possible.
Fu Xuan took off his outer robe and lay down on the bed, exhaling comfortably. He said to the guard, “Go help the princess. You’re not needed here.”
The guard silently withdrew. The courtyard the princess had chosen was in chaos. They didn’t have many people to begin with. Fortunately, Fu Tinghan had left twenty personal guards who could help with cleaning and cutting the dead grass in the courtyard.
Even so, after all the bustle, Princess Hongnong discovered the courtyard still wasn’t habitable—there wasn’t even a single bed.
They tried to move a bed from the adjacent courtyard, but halfway through, the bed fell apart.
You should know that this estate was right in front of the Zhao residence. How could Zhao Erlang have forgotten it when he scoured Luoyang years ago?
So everything usable in this estate had been cleared out by Zhao Erlang years ago. The main courtyard and Changsong Courtyard were habitable because the furnishings had been newly added.
Princess Hongnong looked at the collapsed bed, and all her years of refinement couldn’t help her maintain her facial expression.
The guards and servants fell silent, not daring to make a sound.
The personal guards looked around, and finally a squad leader quietly suggested, “Why don’t you and the prince consort share for now?”
Ren Hui and the others all looked at the guard squad leader in horror. Was this something a lowly soldier could say?
Princess Hongnong was so angry her chest heaved. Just as she was about to explode, Qinggu arrived leading a group of servants from the Zhao residence.
Hearing she was Madam Wang’s personal maid, Princess Hongnong’s anger quickly dissipated. She straightened her sleeves, turned, and sat in the main hall before allowing Qinggu to enter.
As soon as Qinggu entered, she knelt respectfully to pay her respects, keeping her head lowered. “The princess has returned from afar. My young lady would have personally received you, but national affairs are pressing, so she entrusted this matter to our madam.”
“Madam was going to visit in person, but the princess has just returned, and she feared coming over would add to the chaos. So she sent this servant to await your orders. If the princess lacks or needs anything, please just tell this servant, and I’ll send people to find it.”
Princess Hongnong said, “The Grand General is thoughtful. National affairs are important. I have a few personal attendants here, so for now, there’s no need to trouble the Grand General and Madam Wang.”