Chapter 192:

Emperor Jing was reading memorials when he heard that Laifu had something to report. He frowned slightly.

“Come in.”

Laifu knelt down properly, his face devoid of its usual casualness. “Your Majesty, there’s news from the secret guards outside the palace. A fire broke out at Fu Mansion. Lady Fu and her elderly maid were burned to death.”

The Emperor paused his brushstrokes and looked at Laifu. “Were there any others?”

“Your Majesty, a total of three people perished in the fire. Besides Lady Fu and the elderly maid, there was another female corpse. According to the secret guards’ confidential report, the third person is very likely to be Lady Gui.”

Emperor Jing put down his brush.

“So she finally avenged my mother!”

Laifu dared not delve deeply into the meaning behind these words and simply waited for the Emperor’s orders.

Emperor Jing glanced at Laifu. “You may rise. Keep a close watch on Fu Mansion.”

Laifu acknowledged and withdrew.

Meanwhile, Fu Jinyao in Zhuxuan heard the news, and the teacup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.

“What did you say?”

Yunlan bit her lip and repeated what she had heard.

“Your Highness, I heard that for some unknown reason, a fire broke out in the mansion, and the Lady was burned to death.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Jinyao swayed unsteadily, feeling as if her entire world was collapsing.

Yunxue hurried over to support her.

“Your Highness, please hold yourself together. The truth of the matter is yet to be confirmed…”

Though she said this, Yunxue knew well that this couldn’t possibly be false. Otherwise, who would dare spread such a rumor, even with the boldest of hearts?

“Mother, mother… I must see the Emperor. I must return to the mansion…”

“Your Highness, please calm yourself!”

Even if something had indeed happened, it was impossible for the mistress to rush back to the mansion recklessly; it simply wouldn’t be appropriate.

Fu Jinyao immediately slapped her, and Yunxue fell to the ground.

“Who gave you the right to stop me? Your audacity grows by the day. What use do I have for servants like you? Get out! All of you, get out!”

Saying this, she rushed toward the door herself. Seeing this, Yunxue tightly hugged Fu Jinyao’s legs and endured several kicks.

“Your Highness, please calm yourself! It’s not that I dare to stop you from seeing the Emperor, much less to interfere with you. I’m only thinking of your well-being! If you go like this, the Emperor will surely be displeased. Please calm yourself down first, and then request an audience with the Emperor. Don’t act so impulsively!”

With the Emperor’s current disfavor toward the mistress, and the third young mistress already in the palace, the position of the second young mistress had already become quite awkward. Now that the Lady was gone, the young mistress was still so impulsive and rash. What would become of her in the future?

Fu Jinyao wept bitterly. “Mother was the only one in the mansion who truly loved me!”

Despite this, she ultimately did not leave.

Yunxue let out a sigh of relief and got up.

After a long while, Fu Jinyao finally stopped crying and seemed to have calmed down.

She ordered the two maids to help her wash her face and tidy herself up slightly. Then, with a blank expression, she said, “Come, accompany me to see the Emperor.”

Though Fu Jinyao had finally calmed herself, upon arriving at Xuanning Hall and seeing Fu Jin Yan kneeling there in tears, a surge of anger rose in her heart.

It wasn’t even her mother. What was she doing here pretending to mourn?

Could it be that she was using her mother’s death to gain favor with the Emperor?

Thinking thus, she felt unwell again, glaring fiercely at Fu Jin Yan.

Fu Jin Yan caught a glimpse of her expression and sighed inwardly.

To her, Lady Fu indeed had no real affection, but regardless of feelings, she still bore the title of her official stepmother.

Yet looking at Fu Jinyao, she seemed to have misunderstood again.

Emperor Jing observed her expression and guessed her thoughts somewhat, his face darkening.

This Fu Jinyao always failed to understand the situation.

“Since Princess Hui is also present, there is no need for Us to inform you separately. Your mother passed away in an accident. Once the funeral arrangements are finalized, both of you may return home to pay your respects.”

This was already a great favor.

Yet Fu Jinyao seemed far from pleased with this arrangement. She wanted to say something, but Yunxue, who followed behind her, took a great risk in tugging at her robe.

Fortunately, Fu Jinyao ultimately kept her mouth shut. After thanking the Emperor, she looked at him without leaving, clearly hoping for some comfort from the Emperor.

Seeing her like this, Emperor Jing’s tone was filled with annoyance. “If there’s nothing else, you may withdraw.”

As the two sisters left the hall, Fu Jinyao sneered at Fu Jin Yan. “It’s not even your mother. What are you pretending to be so filial for? Perhaps you’re secretly delighted that my mother met her fate. Maybe it was even that lowborn concubine of yours who arranged it.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Jin Yan trembled with anger. In the past, she had yielded to her out of respect for their father’s instructions. But seeing her like this today, she was nothing but a vulgar and foolish woman. Her expression turned cold. “Second elder sister, please don’t speak recklessly. This is the palace, not your playground.”

Saying this, she turned and left, unlike her usual behavior.

“Who gave you permission to leave?” Fu Jinyao sneered.

Fu Jin Yan turned around and sneered, “I am the esteemed Princess Xian. Must I seek permission from a consort of lower rank than me to leave? How audacious of you.”

This only enraged Fu Jinyao even further.

The quarrel between the two sisters was witnessed by many, and within half a day, the news had spread throughout the palace.

Many sneered at Princess Hui’s lack of decorum.

Could it be that this daughter of a noble house had such poor conduct?

It was truly despicable.

In Fengqi Palace,

After hearing the account from Tao’er, Layue’s expression darkened slightly.

No one knew the truth behind the incident, but it was clear that Fu Jinyao was acting recklessly.

When she first entered the palace, Fu Jinyao still had some sense, but now, perhaps due to years of unfulfilled desires, lacking the Emperor’s favor and children, her temperament had become increasingly extreme.

Even more so, Layue even thought that if it weren’t for Fu Jin Yan’s entry into the palace, Fu Jinyao might not have become this way.

Undeniably, Fu Jin Yan’s influence on Fu Jinyao was immense.

“Reporting to the Lady, Eunuch Laixi has arrived, saying that the Emperor has summoned you to attend to him.”

Upon hearing this, Layue quickly got up to prepare herself.

Before long, she arrived at Xuanning Hall.

Seeing Emperor Jing’s weary expression, Layue instinctively went over to massage his shoulders.

“Is Your Majesty unwell?”

Most likely, he had been upset by Princess Hui earlier.

Emperor Jing shook his head. “I’m not unwell, just reflecting on how many things in this world are filled with helplessness.”

“Your Majesty feels this way too?” Layue asked curiously.

Emperor Jing nodded with a bitter smile. “After all, I’m just an ordinary person.”

Layue nodded and continued massaging his shoulders.

“Layue.”

“En?”

Emperor Jing placed his hand over hers. “From now on, Lady Gui won’t be able to come and help you anymore.”

Eh?

Layue was puzzled and looked at Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing pulled her in front of him and naturally had her sit on his lap. “Lady Gui… is gone.”

He then sadly rested his head against Layue’s neck.

Lady Gui had raised Emperor Jing since childhood and had always taken great care of him.

Now that she was gone, Emperor Jing was deeply saddened.

Layue never expected Lady Gui to have passed away. Somehow, she thought of the fire at Fu Mansion earlier that day. A sudden chill ran through her, but she quickly dismissed the thought as being overly suspicious.

“She died. She avenged my mother by personally killing Lady Fu and her maid.”

Emperor Jing revealed the truth, and indeed, Layue was shocked.

She never expected that the Empress Dowager would have a grudge against Lady Fu.

“Your Majesty…”

Emperor Jing continued murmuring. “Even if she hadn’t done this, I would have done it myself soon. I only delayed it out of consideration for the Fu father and son. Lady Gui understood my thoughts and took action on my behalf. Now, I don’t have to bear the burden, and my mother’s revenge is fulfilled. But I’m not happy at all. Truly, I’m not happy.”

Layue listened to all this and gently stroked his back.

“Of course, Your Majesty is not happy. Lady Gui raised Your Majesty since childhood and always treated you with great care, like a family elder. Now that this elder is gone, naturally, Your Majesty feels sad. But the matter has already happened. No matter how sad Your Majesty feels, things cannot be changed. You must still pull yourself together. The deceased can never return, but the living must continue to live. Let’s see if Lady Gui has any remaining family members to take care of. Although it won’t make up for much, it will at least bring her peace in the afterlife.”

Emperor Jing remained silent for a long time before finally speaking after a prolonged pause. “She has no family left. If she had any family, then I suppose I would be her only family?”

His words carried an even more bitter tone.

Layue embraced Emperor Jing. “Since Your Majesty is Lady Gui’s family, then I am too, and so are the children. We must all live well and live happily, so that Lady Gui can rest peacefully in the afterlife.”

“Previously, Lady Gui told me that she believed you would handle the palace affairs very well, and that it wouldn’t matter whether she was there or not. I didn’t think much of it at the time. It turns out she had already decided not to go to Fengqi Palace to assist you. She had already resolved to avenge my mother.” Emperor Jing recalled the past with emotion.

“Your Majesty, since Lady Gui was the one who killed Lady Fu, there will certainly be many matters needing resolution with Chancellor Fu and his son. Your Majesty must not be careless.” Layue hoped that some matters might distract the Emperor and ease his sorrow.

How could Emperor Jing not understand her intentions? He nuzzled his head against her chest.

“My dear Layue. Do you know? My mother’s life was not a happy one.”

Layue did not respond.

Such words were not for her to comment on.

“My mother did not love my father, even though he adored her immensely. Yet still, she did not love him. She loved Fu Yunrui, yet at the same time, she hated him. Isn’t that absurd? Before my mother entered the palace, she had met Fu Yunrui, which is why she could not love my father. But Layue, you had never met anyone before entering the palace, so why can’t you give your heart to me?”

Emperor Jing’s words moved Layue deeply.

She didn’t know how to respond. In fact, with all the affection he had shown her, how could she remain completely indifferent?

The love of a decade from her previous life could not possibly be entirely extinguished.

These days, his kindness had already begun to thaw her frozen heart.

“Your Majesty, give me some time, okay?”

Emperor Jing gazed at her silently for a long time before gently smiling. “Alright.”

As long as you are willing to face it, that’s good enough!