Chapter 596 - 596 593 Mutual Affection_1

Chapter 596: Chapter 593: Mutual Affection_1 Chapter 596: Chapter 593: Mutual Affection_1 “This matter still needs to be thoroughly investigated by Master Fang. Make sure to prove my mother’s innocence.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness! I will handle it immediately and shall not fail Your Highness’s trust!”

After speaking, Master Fang rose, bowed to the Crown Prince, and hurriedly left.

As soon as Master Fang left, a young eunuch came running in and whispered in Quan Yu’s ear. Quan Yu nodded and motioned for the young eunuch to leave. Then he entered and greeted, “Your Highness, Master Tan and Minister Shen from the Ministry of War have arrived.”

“Help me change clothes!” The Crown Prince’s voice carried fatigue. He felt the burden of his position heavily.

Bai Qingyan returned to the mansion and had Wei Zhong summoned. She wanted Wei Zhong to secretly assist the people from the Crown Prince’s residence in finding the servants sold by the Fu family and the Empress’s family back then. They must ensure the Crown Prince’s investigation succeeds.

Wei Zhong agreed, just before he could leave the Qinghui Courtyard, a message was delivered from the front courtyard that Madam Fu had come to see Princess of Zhen.

Chun Tao brought hot tea and snacks to Bai Qingyan, placed them on the small table, and then busied herself helping Bai Qingyan change clothes with deep concern, “Miss has just arrived home and hasn’t had a hot meal, and you’re still busy.”

Bai Qingyan wore her outer garment and smiled lightly as she straightened her cuffs, “When Grandfather and Father were alive, wasn’t it always like this?”

“But back then, when the King of Zhen and the Duke of Zhen were around, they only managed external affairs. The household matters were taken care of by the Mistress. Now, you have to handle both inside and outside matters, which is much harder,” Chun Tao said as she helped Bai Qingyan put on her shoes, sighing, “Miss, at least have a few snacks to tide you over.”

“It’s not proper to keep Madam Fu waiting. Put it aside, I will eat after meeting her,” Bai Qingyan said, turning to leave.

The maids quickly lowered their heads and held the curtain, and Chun Tao ran to follow behind Bai Qingyan as they left the Qinghui Courtyard.

Madam Fu sat restlessly in the main hall, completely uninterested in the hot tea brought by the maids, constantly craning her neck to look outside.

This time, Fu Ruoxi had caused a big trouble.

Sending the words “wait for an opportunity” to Dadu City might be forgivable, but brandishing a sword at the Crown Prince in public was beyond explanation.

Madam Fu heard that Bai Qingyan had saved Fu Ruoxi, so she came to plead with Bai Qingyan on behalf of Fu Ruoxi.

The Fu Mansion was already surrounded. If it weren’t for Patrol Camp Commander Fan Yuhuai who was overseeing it, Madam Dong would never have gotten out.

Fan Yuhuai had a personal relationship with the Fu family. He found a loophole in the Crown Prince’s orders, claiming that although the Crown Prince ordered the siege of Dong Mansion, he did not prohibit the exit and entry of its members. Thus, he secretly brought Madam Fu to see Bai Qingyan.

However, Fan Yuhuai said Madam Fu had only half an hour, and afterward, regardless of the situation, she must return, or it would be difficult for him as well. Hence, Madam Fu was anxious and worried like a fire.

Madam Fu knew Fu Ruoxi could not be saved for attacking the Crown Prince, but she desperately needed to protect her grandson and the entire Fu family.

Seeing Bai Qingyan enter the main hall, Madam Fu hurried to her and bowed in thanks, “Greetings to Princess of Zhen! Thank you, Your Highness, for pleading on behalf of my son!”

“Madam Fu, please rise!” Bai Qingyan quickly helped Madam Dong up, “Madam Fu, you are a senior; such a great courtesy is unnecessary.”

Madam Fu stood up, tears streaming down her face, “I have come today, regardless of my dignity, to beg Princess of Zhen to plead to the Crown Prince. Fu Ruoxi deserves to die for attacking the Crown Prince, but my daughter-in-law and grandson are innocent!”

“Please sit, Madam Fu,” Bai Qingyan said, helping Madam Fu to a seat. She ordered the maids to leave and grasped Madam Fu’s hand, saying, “Madam Fu, I have a question, and I hope you can answer truthfully.”

“Please ask, Your Highness! I will answer truthfully without reservation!”

“Years ago…did General Fu and the Empress have a marriage agreement? Were they truly in love?”

Bai Qingyan didn’t tell Madam Fu she had a witness. She wanted to see if Madam Fu would be honest.

If Madam Fu was honest, Bai Qingyan could plan on saving the remaining members of the Fu family. If not, Bai Qingyan would stand by and let the Crown Prince handle it.

Madam Fu tightened her grip on her handkerchief, bit her lip, and tears continued to fall, “I wouldn’t dare to deceive the Princess of Zhen. They were indeed in love and had a marriage agreement. Before the Empress married the Emperor, she came to the Fu family after hearing news and asked my son to propose. But my son felt our family wasn’t as illustrious as hers and couldn’t compete with the Imperial Family over a woman. For this, he felt deeply guilty towards the Empress!”

Madam Fu did not hide anything. She clutched Bai Qingyan’s hand tightly and cried, “Back then, I believed the Empress had feelings for my son, but later she only used him!”

Bai Qingyan nodded and continued, “Madam Fu, General Fu cannot be saved for attacking the Crown Prince.”

Madam Fu’s heart broke at these words. She hunched over slightly but still nodded firmly, “I understand! But my daughter-in-law and grandson must not be implicated by this unfilial son!”

Saying this, Madam Fu couldn’t bear it. She leaned her forehead against Bai Qingyan’s hand, crying out in pain and unable to straighten her back.

Bai Qingyan admired Madam Fu for her decisiveness, unlike ordinary women who only begged to save their son’s life.

The courage to cut off one’s limb to save oneself is rare, let alone when Madam Fu had to give up her own flesh and blood, her son.

“Madam Fu’s ability to make decisions, showing the courage of a hero, is admirable!” Bai Qingyan genuinely respected Madam Fu. She squeezed Madam Fu’s hand and whispered, “Madam, the Crown Prince already started investigating the past between General Fu and the Empress. If Madam can stand by justice and help the Crown Prince resolve his troubles, he might spare the lives of the Fu family members. But it will only be their lives! Please make necessary preparations in advance, and the future days won’t be all suffering.”

Bai Qingyan’s remark immediately cleared up Madam Fu’s mind.

The entire family could avoid death, but to uphold the law… the men of the Fu family would at least be exiled, possibly even their properties confiscated. Bai Qingyan was hinting that Madam Fu should prepare now, spend some money to ensure the children’s comfort. After the new emperor takes the throne and grants amnesty to the world, there would still be a chance for them.

Madam Fu, rejuvenated by these words, nodded, “Princess of Zhen is right!”

“Madam Fu, it’s best to head to the Crown Prince’s residence immediately,” Bai Qingyan advised.

Madam Fu thanked Bai Qingyan again and hurried out towards the Crown Prince’s residence.

Watching Madam Fu’s carriage disappear in the distance, Bai Qingyan stood with her hands behind her back, recalling Madam Fu’s words… believing that back then the Empress had feelings for Fu Ruoxi, but later only used him.