BMN : Chapter 30

Shortly after Fu Ming completed the letter to the emperor, a cool breeze arose. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees in the courtyard filled the night, making it hard for Fu Ming to sleep. Despite a restless night and a slightly foggy mind, Fu Ming rose early the next morning. His occasional light coughs concerned Wanlan, who wanted to fetch the doctor attending to the old lady, but before she could leave, news arrived that the house arrest had been lifted, allowing the household members to come and go freely.

Upon confirming this, Fu Ming quickly had a light breakfast and then headed out.

Fu Ming first met with Qi Yuanshu, asking him to deliver the letter to the emperor at an appropriate time. Qi Yuanshu, introduced by Zhou Chengyan, had become acquainted with Fu Ming back when he was still an unrecognized scholar. Despite Fu Ming’s noble status from the Duke of Sui’s household, he had always treated Qi Yuanshu sincerely. Now, with regular access to the emperor, delivering a letter seemed a minor task, despite the potential risk. Considering the current predicament of the Jin household, this was not a major concern. Qi Yuanshu agreed without hesitation and took the letter from Fu Ming.

Fu Ming expressed his deep gratitude and agreed with Qi Yuanshu to meet again for a more leisurely occasion once the situation was resolved.

As Fu Ming left Qi Yuanshu’s residence and walked down the street, he encountered Zhou Chengyan.

Zhou Chengyan saw him from afar and quickly approached. “Ming ge, I went to the Duke’s mansion, but the maids said you were out. I was wondering where to find you, and luckily, here you are!”

Fu Ming replied, “If you hadn’t come to find me, I would have come looking for you. Let’s find a quiet place to talk.”

“There’s a teahouse nearby with a quiet room in the back. Let’s go there.”

After a few turns, they arrived at the teahouse and settled in a quiet room.

Before the tea could cool, Fu Ming asked, “Xifu, have you found out anything in these past days?”

Zhou Chengyan replied, “One thing is certain: my brother-in-law’s arrest was indeed orchestrated by the Crown Prince’s faction. He is still under investigation. Some of the officials appointed by the emperor to investigate are not aligned with the Crown Prince, so there is a tug-of-war, and no conclusion has been reached yet.”

“Who are the officials responsible for the investigation?”

As Fu Ming asked, Zhou Chengyan took out a list from his sleeve, detailing names, positions, affiliations, and conduct. Fu Ming read it twice and then put it away, saying, “Xifu, you’ve been very thoughtful.”

“My brother-in-law is involved, and he’s the father of my nephew. And you, Ming ge, are my dear friend. How could I not give it my all?” Zhou Chengyan poured the first cup of tea for Fu Ming and pushed it towards him.

After taking a sip, Fu Ming said, “There are many who add to the flowers on the brocade, but few who provide charcoal in the snow. Regardless, I owe you this favor and will always remember it.”

Zhou Chengyan smiled and added, “Ming ge, if you need me to help with anything, just let me know. Don’t bear the burden alone.” He noticed Fu Ming’s pallor and expressed concern, “You don’t look well today. If there’s nothing urgent, go home and rest. See a doctor and take care of yourself. Only if you’re well can you have the energy to help others.” The first thought in Fu Ming’s mind was that Jin Yi was not someone else; he was his husband, a man with whom he shared his fate. But he did not voice this, only replying, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself.”

Back at the mansion, Fu Ming studied the list, pondering the best course of action. He was interrupted by a report that Lord Fan had arrived.

Fu Ming had only met Fan Zhi twice: once when he came to borrow money and once when he returned it. Later, when Jin Yi was promoted, many colleagues came to congratulate him, and Fan Zhi sent a gift but did not come in person.

Now, those who once came to celebrate were nowhere to be seen, but Fan Zhi, who had not sought favor, visited the Jin mansion on the first day of the house arrest being lifted. As Fu Ming had noted, many add to the flowers on the brocade, but few provide charcoal in the snow. But having a few was enough.

Fu Ming showed Fan Zhi the list provided by Zhou Chengyan. Having been in court for a long time, Fan Zhi was more attuned to court politics than the relatively inexperienced Zhou Chengyan. He pointed out several key figures on the list and discussed the current court situation with Fu Ming, giving him a clearer understanding.

Fu Ming wanted to keep Fan Zhi for dinner but knew he had other duties to attend to, so he did not insist.

Before leaving, Fu Ming made an unceremonious request: “Brother Wensu, could you convey a message to the Third Prince? If possible, I would like to meet him at Jianlou.”

Fan Zhi replied, “Of course.”

Relieved, Fu Ming smiled and thanked him.

For the next several days, Fu Ming went to Jianlou daily. On the fourth day, he finally met the Third Prince.

After paying his respects, the Third Prince helped him up, saying, “You’ve been worried these past days, haven’t you?”

“Thank you for your concern,” Fu Ming replied. “Though I’ve been anxious, I’ve been safe at home, with food and shelter, unlike my husband, whose condition I know nothing about.”

“Sigh,” the Third Prince sighed. “He’s undoubtedly suffered some physical pain.”

“He is a warrior and can endure physical suffering. But, my lord, do you think it will end there?”

Faced with Fu Ming’s earnest gaze, the Third Prince hesitated before finally saying, “The emperor’s mind is difficult to read.”

Fu Ming’s heart sank. He asked bluntly, “Does this mean you’ve given up on him?”

“Of course not!” The Third Prince softened his tone at Fu Ming’s distress. “Zhang Ji is a pillar of the court. The country needs him to guard the borders. How could he be easily discarded?”

Fu Ming breathed a sigh of relief. “I apologize for my earlier outburst, Your Highness.”

The Third Prince shook his head. “You spoke out of concern.” After a pause, he continued, “Though I wish I could immediately rescue Zhang Ji, the Crown Prince’s faction is watching closely, and the emperor is wary of me. If I act rashly, not only would I fail to save Zhang Ji, but I might also harm him. Do you understand?”

Fu Ming lowered his head and replied, “I understand.”

It wasn’t that the Third Prince couldn’t act, but that it was difficult for him to do so. Even if he valued Jin Yi as an important ally, he wouldn’t risk the bigger picture for him. Fu Ming didn’t know whether to feel cold or relieved—Jin Yi was not the Third Prince’s sacrificial pawn, but neither was he essential. They couldn’t rely solely on the Third Prince; they had to find their own way out.

Since their defenses couldn’t protect them, they had to strike at their enemies’ weaknesses.

With the list in hand, Fu Ming went to a small courtyard to meet Yan Le secretly.

Seeing Fu Ming’s haggard appearance, Yan Le sighed, “Ming ge’er, when you entered the Duke Sui’s household, I didn’t know if you could get along with Lord Jin. Seeing you like this now, it seems you two are deeply in love. That’s a good thing, but you’ve worried yourself sick…” Yan Le thought of the saying “deep love does not last long” but couldn’t bring himself to say it. Instead, he said, “I hope he sees your dedication and never lets you down.”

Fu Ming replied, “He’s already been good to me. Moreover, I’m not thinking about the future right now; I just want to get him out of prison.”

Yan Le said, “I’ll do everything I can to help.”

They discussed for over half an hour. Before leaving, Fu Ming cautioned Yan Le, “Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Even though the Crown Prince is not a tyrant, he is still the Crown Prince. Be careful and don’t act rashly, lest you jeopardize everything.”

Yan Le heard the concern in Fu Ming’s words, both for the current situation and for his long-term well-being. He smiled softly, “Don’t worry, I know my limits.”

Every few days, Fu Ming would meet Yan Le. Several names on the list were marked, each accompanied by a sum of money—money that flowed from the Jin household into these officials’ pockets through Yan Le’s connections. Yan Le, favored by the Crown Prince, was able to meet these officials, who were friendly to him, despite any disdain they might feel.

Fu Ming didn’t know if this was the right approach, but he couldn’t afford to miss any chance. If money could avert disaster, he would spend it all, even if it meant going bankrupt. But this was not just his family; he could live frugally, but the descendants of the Duke Sui couldn’t lose face. As his dowry and the silver that Xinyue had prepared were nearly exhausted, Fu Ming couldn’t sell off the family’s assets, so he had to borrow.

When he met Tao Yang again, though it was difficult to ask, Fu Ming didn’t waste time on pleasantries and directly stated his need.

“If it were anything else, I might not be able to help, but in this matter, I can do something.” Tao Yang readily provided the funds.

Yet, the silver didn’t stay long in his hands. It was immediately handed over to Yan Le. While the money couldn’t secure Jin Yi’s release, it at least alleviated his suffering and allowed him to send a letter to his family.

Fu Ming trembled slightly as he opened the letter, the familiar handwriting bringing tears to his eyes. He wiped them away and read the letter carefully.

It didn’t say much—just that Jin Yi was safe and asked the family not to worry. The last two lines, written separately, were for Fu Ming alone, simple yet moving:

*I know your heart is as steadfast as the sun and moon. Please take care and eat well.*

Fu Ming returned to the Jin household with the letter, sharing it with everyone. The letter, like a lifeboat, offered a breath of relief to those on the brink.

Having exhausted all options, Fu Ming continued to wait, day after day, with no new developments or news. As autumn deepened, he borrowed more money from Tao Yang, but the last two times, the funds were returned by Yan Le, who said the situation had reached a stalemate.

To have the energy to deal with matters, Fu Ming had been taking strong medicine to suppress his illness, but it wasn’t a cure. With the cooling weather, his condition worsened, the side effects of the medicine exacerbating the problem.

In the past, he might have been able to manage his anxiety, but in the autumn of his illness, his resilience was weakened. Each night, he woke from nightmares, tears on his cheeks, worrying about Jin Yi’s well-being in prison. Could he have warm clothes and enough food? How would he cope with illness? These thoughts kept him awake until dawn. Attempts to send food and clothing were refused at the prison gates.

As days turned into weeks, Fu Ming’s physical and mental exhaustion deepened. He had tried every possible avenue, leaving him unsure of what else to do. Should he publicly plead with the Minister of Justice for justice, or would that make matters worse?

In this state of exhaustion and confusion, Fu Ming received an invitation.

This time, Zhou Qinqing did not pretend to be her brother; she openly wrote her name on the invitation, stating that she wanted to discuss Jin Yi’s case with Fu Ming.

After some thought, Fu Ming prepared himself and went to the meeting.

—

Author’s Note:

Happy New Year! Best wishes to everyone!

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