The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 30

30: Trouble in the Palace

Yet it was unmistakably him.

“Next time, I want to kiss like this too!” He pointed arrogantly at the topmost sketch, making his demand.

Fu Yu’an glanced at him, quickly gathered the drawings, and said, “We’ll talk about it next time.”

Which essentially meant no way.

Given how fiercely he acted, if he were to really pin him down on the bed and kiss him like in that drawing—what a disaster that would be!

I wouldn’t dare take that risk, he thought.

…

After the Qixi Festival, the weather gradually became less scorching. Fu Yu’an spent a few more days lazing around the mountain villa before making plans to return to the general’s estate.

He heard that the madam had already gone back. Since he hadn’t informed anyone before leaving this time, he wasn’t sure what kind of trouble awaited him upon his return.

The parrot was still hanging in the mansion. Although he had left a servant to look after it, he couldn’t help but feel a little worried.

Originally, it had been sent as an insult, but the clever little thing had grown on him over time.

Outside, dark clouds gathered and churned, roaring with thunder—it looked like rain was coming.

They had been here for nearly a month, and Qi Ren still hadn’t regained his senses. Every day was spent climbing mountains and swimming in rivers. They had come to escape the summer heat, but in the end, he had tanned a whole shade darker.

Fu Yu’an applied some aloe vera juice to his neck, scolding him, “Stop going shirtless when you go out, understand? Look how sunburnt you are! Anyone would think you’ve been roasted on a spit!”

Qi Ren didn’t take it seriously. Back in Nanjiang, I endured far worse under the scorching sun—since when have I been this delicate?

But then it occurred to him that this was precisely because Fu Yu’an cared about him, so he could only relent and sit obediently, letting him rub the aloe in.

Another flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed shortly by a deafening thunderclap.

Qi Ren felt the pressure on his neck suddenly increase and turned to ask, “Are you afraid of thunder?”

“Not exactly afraid,” Fu Yu’an replied. “It’s just that the sudden noise caught me off guard.”

He set down the porcelain bowl and got up to close the window.

The raindrops finally began to fall, pattering noisily against the roof and splashing into the river.

The sky grew even darker. Even though it was just past noon, it felt almost like evening.

“When are we going back?” Qi Ren asked.

“Let’s wait for the rain to stop! Who knows how long it’ll last.”

It had suddenly turned cold yesterday, and today it rained—autumn seemed to be arriving.

The rain came down fiercely but didn’t last long. By the next day, the sun was already shining.

Xia Xiu was still very reluctant to let him go, whining and begging him to stay a couple more days. Fu Yu’an smiled and refused, saying he could come play at the general’s residence once they returned to the capital.

Only then did Xia Xiu reluctantly let go of his hand.

Watching the two of them so clingy with each other, Qi Ren felt a pang of discomfort.

He quietly walked over to Fu Yanxiao, who was also standing there with a gloomy expression, and muttered, “Aren’t you going to rein in your young master? Look how he’s bewitching my An’an!”

“Why don’t you control yours?” Fu Yanxiao punched him lightly. “Since when are you so unreasonable?”

As the group lingered reluctantly by the carriage, the sound of galloping hooves approached in the distance. A guard-clad man rode swiftly toward them.

Prince Qing recognized him as one of his own and frowned, raising his voice sharply. “What’s the matter? Why the rush?!”

“Reporting to Your Highness, the palace… something major has happened in the palace!”

Fu Yu’an’s heart skipped a beat. Elder Shu was supposed to be in the palace treating the Emperor—how could something have gone wrong?

“It’s the Empress Dowager… Her Majesty… has passed away!”

The Empress Dowager’s health had been failing for years, so her peaceful passing now was not entirely unexpected.

By protocol, Fu Yu’an was also required to enter the palace for mourning. Qi Ren, unwilling to let him go alone, insisted on accompanying him.

The Cining Palace was draped in white mourning silks. concubine Jue had to attend the vigil as well, leaving Qi Ren alone in the Ningchi Palace.

Fu Yu’an knelt among the princes and princesses, keeping his head low to avoid drawing attention.

He had barely interacted with the Empress Dowager in his life, so he felt little grief. His mourning was merely performative, lest he invite criticism.

However, her maternal family had always been close with the Empress’s clan. Now that she was gone, the Crown Prince’s faction would likely face even greater challenges.

“Isn’t Elder Shu in the palace? If the immortality elixirs for His Majesty are so effective, why didn’t he give her a few to prolong her life?”

Fu Yu’an couldn’t make sense of it, so he stopped dwelling on it. Glancing sideways, he noticed a distracted young concubine among the mourning imperial concubines and couldn’t help but let out a quiet scoff.

The concubine noticed him and turned her head curiously. Fu Yu’an quickly averted his gaze, pretending he hadn’t seen her.

“Hey! Which prince are you? I don’t think I’ve seen you before?” The young concubine picked up a small pebble and tossed it into his lap.

“…” She really had no fear—probably newly entered the palace.

Hard to believe the old emperor, at his advanced age, was still taking in concubines. His lustful heart refused to die.

Fu Yu’an pointed to his mouth and shook his head, signaling to her.

The concubine didn’t understand sign language, but she grasped his meaning. Her eyes instantly filled with sympathy, and she whispered, “Oh… you’re mute?”

A moment later, it dawned on her. Covering her mouth, she gasped, “You’re the Seventh Prince?!”

Fu Yu’an nodded, then pressed a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture.

Truly, bad news travels fast.

The mourners ahead wailed incessantly, and the bored concubine began chatting with him intermittently.

Of course, most of the time, Fu Yu’an only nodded or shook his head.

The two of them passed the time like this for who knows how long, until the shrill voice of a eunuch rang out, finally allowing them to rise.

Fu Yu’an rubbed his numb knees and limped away. The young concubine called after him, “Are you returning to concubine Jue’s palace? I’ll come find you later!”

Her eyes shone with unconscious admiration. Fu Yu’an’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly waved his hands in refusal, pointing toward the palace gates to indicate he was leaving.

“My name is Sun Han, Your Highness! We’ll meet again!” She grinned, her smile bright and charming.

Sun Han darted off. Just then, concubine Jue approached with Fu Yangyao in tow and said, “Your Highness is here too—what a coincidence. Would you care to accompany me?”

Fu Yu’an nodded and walked slightly behind her to her right, smiling faintly.

Once the two had walked away, the Crown Prince spat viciously on the ground. “That damned concubine Jue, always meddling in my business! Just wait—if there’s a next time, I’ll chop off his hands! How dare he seduce my woman? Pah! Just like his dead mother, a born temptress!”

“Watch your tongue!” The Empress approached from the side, frowning in reprimand. “With so many people around, control that mouth of yours!”

“Yes, this son knows his mistake,” the Crown Prince replied lazily, showing no real remorse.

The Empress sighed in frustration. But he was her eldest legitimate son—no matter how much he paled in comparison to Fu Yangyao, she still had to support him.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from that Noble concubine Sun? Why did you—”

“Ugh, Mother, I know! It’s not my fault—she’s the one always flaunting herself in front of me…”

“You dare talk back?!” The Empress glared, exasperated, and spent the next while scolding him while jabbing a finger at his forehead before finally letting him go.