You Tong was surprised, put down her pen, and said, "It's not even noon yet, why are you back so early?"
"Something came up. Look at this." Fu Yu noticed the oranges on the plate, took a slice, and handed her the letter.
The plain white Xuan paper, folded to the size of a palm, was not sealed with lacquer.
You Tong opened the letter and, seeing the familiar handwriting, was initially taken aback. After reading the contents, her brows furrowed. "If he's come to his senses, he should discuss it with you. Why is he seeing me for no reason?" she muttered to herself, then casually tossed the letter aside. "What did the guards in the palace say?"
“Xu Chaozong has been in a daze lately, and his will has become much weaker.” Fu Yu leaned against the table and raised his hand to smooth her brow. “If you are willing to see him, I will let you go and meet him. If you are not willing, it will not hurt to keep him locked up for another two or three months.”
That being said, dragging this out is not a solution.
With most officials in and around the capital submitting to the government, the Fu family now has control of the court, and they are just one step away from taking that final step.
It would be best if the palace could provide an explanation.
You Tong hesitated for a moment, then smiled at Fu Yu, "If my husband doesn't mind, why don't I go?"
Fu Yu raised an eyebrow. "A dying man is not worth worrying about."
"Let's go then. We'll check out the first snow of the day while we're at it."
...
The palace was exceptionally quiet under the heavy snow.
Hanliang Palace was quite far from the Southern Office where government affairs were handled and the three main halls of the former dynasty. You Tong followed Fu Yu through the Left Silver Light Gate and walked for a long time before arriving. The surrounding halls were empty, and dozens of guards surrounded the palace so tightly that it was impossible to pass through. The food and drink of the palace staff entering and leaving had to be checked, making it almost like a prison.
Xu Chaozong stood alone in the courtyard, his clothes worn, gazing absently at a crabapple tree outside the wall.
Hearing the door open, he turned around and trembled slightly when he saw the person's face.
The poised and serene young woman wore an exquisitely tailored silk robe, over which she wore a cape embroidered with amber flowers and gold thread, making her radiant even in the gloomy weather. Her hair, as black as raven feathers, was piled high, and a gold hairpin with a phoenix holding a pearl was set beside her bun, making her look even more radiant.
Her appearance seemed unchanged; her almond-shaped eyes were bright and clear, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her cheeks were fair and delicate, just as before.
Her demeanor was completely different from what he remembered. The youthful naiveté, unrestrained pride, and arrogance had been replaced by a refined and elegant grace. Her eyes were clear and bright, lively like a spring, yet also imbued with composure. As she walked slowly, the tinkling of her jade pendants revealed the resilient nobility of a lady-in-waiting and the mistress of a household. Given time, once Fu Yu had secured the throne, she would be able to enter the empress's palace.
Just as my grandfather had hoped, the phoenix perches on the parasol tree.
Unfortunately, that sycamore tree did not belong to Xu Chaozong, but was given the surname Fu.
When this thought arose, Xu Chaozong felt an unbearable bitterness, and his heart suddenly ached.
His emaciated body swayed slightly before he spoke in a hoarse voice, "I thought you wouldn't see me."
“How can I not obey the Emperor’s summons?” You Tong said calmly as she walked to the central courtyard and curtsied to him.
This was certainly not the proper etiquette for an audience with the emperor, but Xu Chaozong's current situation was no different from that of a prisoner. He had even endured the cold stares of the palace servants, let alone anything else, so he could only force a smile. The past rushed past. Standing in the palace where he had once played with his childhood friends, everything had changed. He reached out and picked up a handful of cold snow. Half of his mind was filled with the beautiful woman before him, and the other half with the distant dream from last night.
“I remember you fell here when you were four years old.”
Seeing that You Tong remained silent, he continued on his own, "Back then, when Grandfather was still alive, we sneaked out of the banquet at Taiye Pond and came here to find Mother Consort. There used to be a jujube tree outside this palace. You loved to eat jujubes back then, and every time I would climb up and pick them for you, with a bunch of people surrounding us below, afraid that we would fall and hurt ourselves..."
He was immersed in the past, reminiscing, and mentioned many trivial things.
Finally, he said with a self-deprecating tone, "I originally thought that once I seized the throne, I could fulfill my wishes, rule the world, restore order to the court, and live a fulfilling and happy life. Looking back now, the happiest days of my life were all during that time—when my elder brother was still alive and I had you by my side. Unfortunately, the road has come to this point, and there is no going back."
With a weary sigh, he bent down slightly. Months of exhaustion had robbed him of the vigor and ambition he had displayed when he first ascended the throne.
You Tong stood two steps away, her voice neither sad nor happy, "This road was chosen by the Emperor."
"It was my choice. I abandoned you, abandoned the Princess and the Grand Tutor, abandoned my conscience, and in the end, I still lost to Fu Yu. This palace, this capital, this world, will fall into his hands sooner or later. I've known for a long time that you hate me for what happened in the past. You've come here today to act as a persuader for Fu Yu, haven't you?"
You Tong stood upright, neither avoiding his gaze nor revealing any sharpness.
"I dare not presume to be a lobbyist. This originally belonged to the Emperor, and whether or not to relinquish it is entirely up to him; I have no right to interfere. However, the Emperor understands the current situation better than I do. The people have suffered for too long, and someone must turn the tide, reform the administration, and bring about a clean government and stability to the land. If the Emperor can see things clearly and is willing to relinquish it, there will be no turmoil in the court and no war outside, which would be a good thing for the people."
Xu Chaozong chuckled, “Fu Yu isn’t the only one who wants to reform the bureaucracy. I’ve also devoted myself to this before.”
You Tong, of course, knew all the effort he had put in.
She lowered her head and smiled. "It certainly took a lot of effort. To compete with the Prince of Ying for the throne, the Emperor used every trick in the book to win over court officials. But at that time, the Emperor was so focused on his struggle with the Prince of Ying that he didn't care about the people. Corrupt officials ran rampant, the law was a mere formality, the people were exploited, bullied, and robbed, and the government not only stood by but even aided and abetted the evildoers. Bandits and thugs roamed everywhere, and the people lived in constant fear. They longed for peace and a wise ruler. What was the Emperor doing at that time?"
The almost questioning tone startled Xu Chaozong.
"Even if you were forced by circumstances to seize the throne, what happened afterward? When you instigated the war between Wei Jian and Zhao Yanzhi, did you ever consider the people?" You Tong stared at him, his gaze sharp and insightful, unlike anything he had ever seen before. "Your Majesty's efforts are not for peace and prosperity, but solely for consolidating your power! A ruler is like a father, receiving honor and respect from the people, and should love them like his own children. How have you treated the people? What are those soldiers and civilians who died in Jingzhou in your eyes? Pawns whose lives are as worthless as grass? Or even less than pawns?"
Such words, spoken by a woman who was not involved in politics, had a hundred times greater impact on Xu Chaozong than if they had come from a court official.
The last traces of color drained from his face, and he swayed, barely managing to stand by holding onto the railing.
You Tong took a breath. "On the other hand, the Fu family has defended the borders for generations, shedding blood on the battlefield. Their soldiers have endured countless hardships to protect the peace of the region. Even if they intended to seize the throne, General Fu risked his life to fight his way into the heart of the Tatar territory to eliminate future threats and prevent the people from suffering the ravages of war. The same thing, yet the Emperor treats the people like dirt, while the Fu family puts the people first. The difference in their values, didn't the Grand Tutor teach you about it back then?"
She didn't speak aggressively, and even tried her best to be gentle, but she still left Xu Chaozong speechless.
Of course, he had many excuses to evade and shirk responsibility. But if he were to ask himself honestly, from the struggle for the throne to his consolidation of power, when he made decisions and planned, he only sought victory in the struggle, without ever considering the bigger picture. And over the years, matters concerning the plight of the common people were, to him, nothing more than a document on his desk.
His face was pale, and his once beautiful appearance had turned him into a gaunt skeleton.
After a long pause, he finally said, "So in your heart, I am not worthy to be emperor?"
The answer was too sharp. You Tong didn't speak, but paused for a moment before saying, "I know the Emperor's thoughts. He is unwilling to hand over the country to others and also deeply hates his husband's scheming. Even if it is difficult to reverse the decline, he will still pin the crime of plotting to usurp the throne and killing the emperor on him."
Xu Chaozong stared blankly, then gave a self-deprecating twitch at the corner of his mouth.
You Tong then said, “The Fu family is honest and upright in their administration, and they have shed blood for the people, relieved the capital’s troubles, and eliminated the abuses of the court. Everyone in the world has seen this, and the public will judge who is right and who is wrong. If he were truly incompetent and immoral, would the officials and people inside and outside the capital have submitted to him? The crime of regicide is just a few words in the history books. When future generations comment, they will think about why he killed the emperor.”
"Your Majesty is not a cruel person. Even though my husband controls the palace, he has not harmed the lives of the concubines. Putting aside the struggles and scheming, Your Majesty can also think about whether the person sitting on this throne all these years has lived up to the expectations of the people."
She had said everything she wanted to say, and how much of it Xu Chaozong would listen to was beyond her control.
You Tong looked at the gaunt man opposite her, and seeing his pained expression, she was probably slightly moved.
She took a deep breath and knelt down deeply before Xu Chaozong.
"This humble woman takes her leave."
Her skirt swayed slightly as she took a step forward, the hem of her skirt sweeping across the snow on the ground.
Xu Chaozong was jolted awake from his turbulent thoughts. Seeing her about to leave, he knew that this parting would be the last time they would meet. His heart tightened, and he reached out to grab her. Their hasty meeting had been filled with discussions of politics. As his life was drawing to a close, he still had so much to say to her.
His thin body lunged forward, his withered hand reaching out, abruptly trying to grasp her shoulder.
You Tong could only see the expressions on his face, sometimes dejected, sometimes angry, and sometimes regretful. She knew that he was in turmoil and emotionally unstable. When he suddenly pounced on her, she didn't know what he wanted to do and instinctively dodged backward.
The snow in the courtyard hadn't been swept away. She stepped on a small embankment beside the path, lost her balance in her haste, and slipped and fell to the ground.
Fu Yu, who had been standing outside the door, heard the slight noise and immediately pushed the door open and rushed in. In a flash, he was by You Tong's side and helped her up. When his gaze fell on Xu Chaozong, it was sharp and fierce, and he was suppressing his anger.
You Tong leaned against him to steady herself and quickly said, "It's alright, husband, there's no need to worry."
As he spoke, he raised his hand to straighten his clothes.
Her slender fingers, touched by the snow on the ground, revealed a trace of crimson.
Fu Yu's gaze sharpened, and he quickly grabbed her hand to examine it. He saw that the snow on her soft palm had melted, and beads of blood were seeping out, clearly indicating that she had been scratched by dry branches on the snow. He was even angrier and, without bothering to argue with Xu Chaozong, loudly ordered the imperial physician to be summoned. After wiping away the snow, he grabbed her and hurriedly walked out.
Before they had taken two steps, Xu Chaozong's voice rang out, "You Tong—"
His voice was tense and hurried, with an uncontrollable tremor.
You Tong paused slightly and turned to look at him.
Xu Chaozong stood in the snow, his expression filled with anxiety and tension, his gaze fixed on her. "What happened back then was my fault. I let you down, and I let down the time we shared. Please, forgive me." He could let go of everything else—the defeat in the struggle, the loss of imperial power—but now, the only thing he couldn't forgive was the missed opportunity. The words he had kept hidden in his heart for years finally escaped his lips before parting, his eyes filled with fervent trepidation, a plea like that of a dying man.
But now, what's the point of seeking forgiveness?
You Tong gave him a deep look, the hatred and regret in her eyes vanishing in an instant.
"The person who loved you so deeply is long dead." After saying that, she turned and left without looking back.
Xu Chaozong stood there, stunned, watching Fu Yu and You Tong embrace and leave, his face ashen. A cold wind blew, swirling up the snow-covered trees, chilling him to the bone. Unable to bear it, he stumbled back a few steps and collapsed onto the snow-covered ground below, sitting there like a wooden chicken.
In the nearby Penglai Palace, the imperial physician, who had rushed over, treated You Tong's wounds and took the opportunity to check his pulse.
To everyone's surprise, after taking his pulse, he delivered some good news.
Chapter 125 Double Happiness
Penglai Palace is located on the banks of Taiye Pond, built by the water. It is cool and pleasant in summer, but quite damp and cold in winter. There was a brazier burning inside, so it wasn't very warm. You Tong hadn't even taken off her cloak. After bandaging her wounds, she extended one wrist to take someone's pulse. Her mind was still on what had just happened. She wondered if Xu Chaozong could understand and prevent Fu Yu from making a big fuss.
Upon hearing the imperial physician's congratulatory words, she was momentarily stunned, wondering if she had misheard.
"You just said..."
"This is a pregnancy pulse." The imperial physician, who had long served in the palace and frequently traveled between the high-ranking residences of the capital, was extremely skilled in gynecology. He smiled and said, "Madam's pulse is smooth and round like a pearl, quite different from before. In my humble opinion, it is undoubtedly a pregnancy pulse. These days, the weather is freezing cold, so you should take good care of yourself and not be careless, lest you harm the fetus."
These words were spoken clearly and distinctly.
You Tong suddenly realized what was going on, and her heart leaped with joy. She looked up and saw Fu Yu striding in.
Their eyes met, and You Tong's chest pounded wildly. Fu Yu had obviously heard these words as well, and his face showed surprise and delight.
This Imperial Physician Sun is quite capable; he has frequently helped You Tong diagnose and treat her recently. Since he dares to say this, he must be absolutely certain. The good news came too suddenly. Fu Yu suppressed his excitement, maintaining the dignified demeanor of someone in charge of the court in front of others, but the corners of his lips couldn't help but turn up. After asking a few more questions, he asked Du He to escort him out of the palace and invite him to the Dan Gui Garden later to discuss the matter of nurturing the pregnancy in detail.
Du He obeyed the order, politely seeing the imperial physician out and closing the palace door behind him.
With all the outsiders gone, leaving only the couple, Fu Yu abandoned his composed demeanor, turned around, and pulled You Tong into a tight embrace. His excitement was palpable; his smile stretched almost to his ears. He kissed her firmly on the forehead, his voice filled with incredulous joy, "What he said, is it all true?"
“I don’t know how to take a pulse, but—” You Tong smiled and looked into his eyes, “my period is indeed late.”
At first, I thought it was because she was too tired lately and the weather was getting colder, so I didn't pay much attention to it. But now it seems that's the reason. Last night, when the two of them mentioned Fu Lanyin who was about to give birth, Fu Yu even pressed her down and asked her when she would have a child. Who knew that this good news would come out so soon.
Their joy turned into laughter, and the two sat facing each other, chuckling.
A moment later, Fu Yu's hand caressed her lower abdomen. "Is it here?"
"Hmm. Move it up a little." You Tong guided his hand and moved it up slightly.
Unable to discern the difference through the layers of winter clothing, Fu Yu couldn't help but explore his surroundings.
You Tong laughed and pressed him down, "Don't move!"
Fu Yu indeed stopped moving, carefully pressing himself against her, his lips close to her ear, his voice low and gentle, "We have a child now. Are you happy?"
"Of course I'm happy!" You Tong couldn't stop smiling.
Fu Yu kissed her cheek. "Really?"
How could it not be real? When she came into this world, her family wealth and background, when you really think about it, weren't really hers. What she truly possessed was pitifully little. Running that hot pot restaurant wasn't just about making a living; it was also because she always felt uneasy and wanted to create something that belonged to her—even if it wasn't done well in the future, at least it would be a true trace of her.
Now, she has this child, her child with Fu Yu.
When she first married him, she never dared to imagine these things.