The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 48

48: Catching Up with the Crown Prince

“No!”

Concubine Jue slammed the table and stood up, refusing without hesitation.

Qi Ren clicked his tongue in annoyance. “I already promised her. She’s our sister-in-law, after all. How am I supposed to explain this to her?”

“Who told you to promise her? You agreed to it—you figure it out yourself!” Concubine Jue shot him a glare. “Her father is a wicked man and a loyal follower of the Crown Prince. And you want me to help him? In your dreams!”

Qi Ren pressed on stubbornly. “You said it yourself—it’s her father, not her. Tan Zhiqi doesn’t even want to see that bastard. Just find a way for her to meet her mother, that’s all!”

“Why should I go out of my way for her? Her father has schemed against Yao’er countless times, openly and behind the scenes. Why would I help her?”

Seeing that he couldn’t persuade her, Qi Ren grew even more frustrated.

I shouldn’t have agreed to this in the first place. Whatever, I’ve delivered the message. If she won’t help, there’s nothing I can do.

“I thought you came to see me for something important.” Concubine Jue said coldly. “If I’d known it’d be something this unpleasant, I wouldn’t have called you two here at all!”

“Fine, fine.” Qi Ren waved a hand impatiently. “If you don’t want to help, forget it. I’ll figure it out myself later. Where’s Yu’an?”

Concubine Jue took a sip of tea and gestured outside with her chin. “With Yao’er, picking things out from the storeroom.”

Qi Ren glanced outside, then frowned. “Why are you so good to him? Last time, you gave him so many treasures, and I heard his dowry when he married into the general’s residence was also provided by you?”

At his words, Concubine Jue’s movements paused briefly before she regained her composure. “You’re family now. What’s mine is yours—why are you being so calculative?”

“That’s not what I meant. It’s not about the things.” Qi Ren shook his head. “I’m just curious. It’s not like you to pity him just because of his tragic past, is it?”

“Of course it’s tragic! He lost his mother at such a young age and was constantly bullied by the Crown Prince. It’s a miracle he even survived this long!”

Qi Ren’s chest tightened uncomfortably. The thought of Yu’an suffering so much as a child made his heart ache.

He never told me. He never once complained to me.

“Actually, Yu’an was the one who begged me, so I came to ask you.” He steeled himself and lied through his teeth. “Since you feel for him, I doubt you’d want to disappoint him. Just agree to it, alright?”

Concubine Jue saw right through him. “Liar! Just now, you were insisting you were the one who promised. Now it’s suddenly Yu’an? Can’t you at least put some effort into your lies?”

“I’m not lying! It’s not like I’m asking you to break someone out of prison. Just have Yao’er visit the jail and take her in to see her mother. That’s all! Besides, if I weren’t pretending for your sake, I could’ve done it myself! Why would I even need to sit here and listen to your scolding?”

“No! This isn’t up for discussion! Even if you weren’t faking your condition, I’d never let you get involved in this mess!”

“Must you be so heartless?”

“No way!”

…

Meanwhile, while the siblings were at a tense standoff, the atmosphere in the storeroom was one of harmony.

Fu Yangyao personally held a lantern for Fu Yu’an, asking him what he wanted.

Fu Yu’an wore an awkward expression as he looked at the dazzling array of treasures on the shelves—each one priceless—and found himself at a loss for words.

Wasn’t it just supposed to be a look around? Why was he now being forced to pick a few to take away?!

Concubine Jue was truly generous.

He glanced left and right but couldn’t find anything remotely inexpensive. After a long pause, he could only force a smile and say, “Our home lacks nothing. These items look far better displayed here.”

Fu Yangyao rubbed his nose. “Just pick a few at random! Otherwise, I won’t be able to explain myself to Mother!”

The two exchanged glances, both at an impasse.

“Ah, how about this—since we can’t decide on anything suitable right now, why not let Concubine Jue choose a few items herself later? I’ll send someone to fetch them then. How does that sound?” Fu Yu’an suggested.

Fu Yangyao finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Excellent! Then tomorrow, I’ll have them delivered to the General’s Manor.”

“Excellent, excellent!”

The two looked at each other and smiled in satisfaction.

A voice announced from outside that Qi Ren had arrived.

The moment he entered, he let out an exclamation of amazement. Striding over to Fu Yu’an’s side, he swept his gaze around the room and sighed, “As expected of the imperial Concubine favored by His Majesty! With a room full of treasures like this, think of how much military pay you could distribute to the troops!”

Fu Yangyao bowed to him and modestly waved a hand. “Mother is frugal. Much of what His Majesty bestowed was given to other Concubines. Just the other day, the newly favored Concubine Sun received a considerable share!”

“Concubine Sun?” Fu Yu’an recalled the lively young woman and asked, “The almond-eyed Noble Lady Sun?”

Fu Yangyao nodded. “That’s her. Now that she’s with child, she’s been promoted to Concubine Sun and is currently being carefully tended to!”

Qi Ren seemed to recall something at these words and let out a scoff.

The two looked at him in confusion, and only then did he wave his hand in explanation. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking how effective His Majesty’s elixirs are…”

Fu Yu’an: “…”

Fu Yangyao: “…??”

“Is His Majesty still taking those elixirs?” Fu Yu’an asked. “Are the effects still good?”

“Extremely good! He’s full of vigor. A while ago, wasn’t that one official—what’s his name, Tan—exposed for corruption? Father threw his prayer beads so hard in court they nearly flew out of the Xuanzheng Hall!”

Qi Ren nodded, glanced outside, and lowered his voice. “With Tan’s imprisonment, the Crown Prince must have suffered a heavy blow. Be careful of him acting out of desperation.”

“I’m well aware. At the time, the Crown Prince even vouched for Tan, but when the truth came out, he didn’t dare utter a word. Still, he was placed under house arrest and has been avoiding visitors ever since.”

Qi Ren sneered. “At least he has some self-awareness. Meeting anyone now would only give people more to criticize. The Empress must have drilled it into him—otherwise, he’d never have the patience.”

“Patience…” Fu Yu’an murmured. “By the way, what did Concubine Jue say? Did she agree?”

Fu Yangyao: “To what?”

Fu Yu’an smiled faintly. “It’s nothing major. It’s just that my elder brother’s wife happens to be Tan’s daughter. Now that her birth mother has also been imprisoned, she wants to visit her.”

“Then Mother definitely wouldn’t agree.” Fu Yangyao said. “Her father is part of the Crown Prince’s faction. There’s no way she’d allow them to meet.”

Fu Yu’an nodded. “Concubine Jue naturally wouldn’t dare, but she could plead with the Crown Prince. After all, they’re tied together in this.”

Qi Ren was baffled. “Plead with him? Would he agree?”

But Fu Yangyao suddenly understood. Exchanging a glance with Fu Yu’an, he grinned. “He’ll agree.”

Qi Ren: “??”

I’m just a simple man—stop speaking in riddles!

“Alright!” Fu Yu’an patted his hand and naturally looped his arm through Qi Ren’s. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Crown Prince. Since we’re free this afternoon, why not pay him a visit and catch up?”

Qi Ren immediately frowned, pulling him closer with a bump. “Why go looking for him? Haven’t you suffered enough from his bullying before?”

“You’ll come with me, won’t you? With you here, what do I have to fear?”

He smiled up at him, his tone brimming with trust and a hint of unconscious coquetry.