“The Emperor has already relaxed his stance. If we don’t open the vault and check the inventory soon, it will be too late.”

Guan Ju, acting according to her duties as a senior palace maid from the Xiangyang Palace, had to urgently remind her mistress, “Your Majesty, don’t you see? Now that Ms. Fu is willing to go so far as to cut ties with the Fu family and even renounce her aristocratic status, she is taking extreme measures. I fear that if we delay until tomorrow, she might even go to the provincial governor’s office to publicize that the Empress owes her.”

Guan Ju didn’t dare to finish her sentence.

Empress Yu suddenly realized that Zanying was behaving like a madwoman, doing anything shameful and relying on the influence of the Grand Marshal, making it impossible for anyone to touch her.

If she didn’t cut a piece of flesh now, the next bite might very well come from her own flesh.

She had been scheming for days, only to find herself having to bow to that wretched woman in the end.

Empress Yu gritted her teeth in frustration.

“Good dog, I’ll feed you first, then lure you into a corner, and give you a good beating.”

The list brought back from the palace by the Crown Prince was something she had never intended to return, so she hadn’t looked at it closely before.

Now, faced with no other choice, she found the list to be more extensive and detailed than she had imagined.

She glanced at one line and was stunned, “Forty-eight pounds of fragrant incense, does this palace really need so much fragrance?”

Guan Ju awkwardly reminded her, “Your Majesty, you mentioned before that Tang Ji’s Seven Treasures Rhinoceros Horn Incense is unique. Over the years, some of it has been given away as rewards, and some was taken by the young Ms. Yu.”

The charm of Tang Ji’s incense lay in its unique secret recipe, making it irreplaceable.

If the Xiangyang Palace was to return the exact amount listed on the silk fabric, it would have to be purchased from Tang Ji’s shop and sent over.

However, the news from the palace eunuchs was even more shocking. “Your Majesty, three days ago, the price of Tang Ji’s Seven Treasures Rhinoceros Horn Incense suddenly soared from a thousand coins per tael to ten thousand coins per tael.”

Ten thousand coins per tael meant that one pound was worth one hundred thousand coins, and forty-eight pounds amounted to a total of four thousand eight hundred taels.

Where was she to get these four thousand eight hundred taels?

Empress Yu clenched her teeth, suddenly realizing that the girl had already set a trap for her.

And this was only the most insignificant item on the long list.

As twilight approached and the heat of the day lingered, Yuan Cong arrived at Wuyi Lane under imperial order.

The Fu family, including the elderly matriarch and her grandchildren, were still kneeling in place.

The heavily armored guards from the North were standing in strict formation.

Despite their full armor, not a drop of sweat was visible.

Lanterns had been added to light up the area for the onlookers, revealing Old Madam Fu, who had long since collapsed from exhaustion.

Her lips were pale, sweat pouring down her face, and her chest heaved like a broken bellows.

No matter how anxious Fu Ze’an was, it was of no use.

When Yuan Gonggong arrived, Fu Ze’an, with red-rimmed eyes, quickly asked about his second uncle.

Old Madam Fu, hearing the commotion, struggled to lift her head and croaked out a question.

“Is the Lord still there? Please, ask the Lord to speak a few words to His Majesty. My son has always been diligent and respectful.”

Yuan Cong, covering his nose with a handkerchief, frowned and spoke with a tone of detached indifference. “Master Fu is still kneeling in front of the Taiji Hall. Old Madam, what you’ve caused today is unprecedented in Jiankang for a century. It’s not something as simple as resigning from office that can resolve it. Whether there will be any punishment afterward remains to be seen.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Fu let out a despairing cry and collapsed to the ground.

“Grandmother!”

Yuan Cong frowned.

Though he had scolded her, he turned to the Military Advisor.

Before coming, he had received a hint from His Majesty that he should plead for some leniency from the Grand Marshal’s people, as it would not look good if someone actually died kneeling.

Lin Rui, hearing that Yuan Gonggong was trying to plead, smirked. “Does Yuan Gonggong understand the General’s temperament? He is not one to show leniency. If you fail to complete your task, you might only face a few reprimands from His Majesty. But the General’s orders are severe—death is possible.”

He showed his white teeth in a grin. “Otherwise, why not go personally to the Western Mountain Palace and ask the Grand Marshal?”

Yuan Cong felt a shiver run through him.

Indeed, it was clear that the type of people one had would determine the type of soldiers they commanded.

He dared not provoke such a fearsome figure.

Pleading was merely a secondary task for Yuan Cong.

He forced a smile, laughed twice, and then set aside the matter of interceding.

It was more important to deliver the items to Miss Fu.

He held the sandalwood box and knocked on the Fu residence’s door, which was opened by the steward, Manager Du, himself.

Standing on the steps, Manager Du greeted him with a forced smile and said, “Oh, what wind brought the Grand Imperial Eunuch here?”

Yuan Cong was resigned to being rebuffed today but still had to appease them.

He smiled and said, “His Majesty heard that Miss Fu has suffered, and has specially sent me to visit her.”

He then presented the box containing the estate ledgers, lowering his voice. “The national prestige is hard to change, but these two royal estates are among the finest lands. I hope Miss Fu will accept them.”

Manager Du, with a solemn expression, twirled his mustache thoughtfully.

Both sides knew that while the palace had sent someone under the guise of consolation, the real purpose was to balance the accounts of the royal ceremonial items.

Whether this transaction would be accepted depended on Miss Fu’s response.

Manager Du said, “Please wait,” and went inside to consult.

Yuan Cong could only manage a bitter smile.

In the East Courtyard, the courtyard lamps were bright and tranquil.

The green porcelain sheep-shaped lamps in the hall reflected the light, casting rippling reflections on the wide, flat maple floor.

Miss Fu Zanying was sitting gracefully, brewing tea.

Her long, soft sleeves draped beside her knees, blending with the gentle white edges of her garment, adding a touch of delicate, flower-like beauty to her slender figure.

When she heard Uncle Du’s report, she turned her face and considered for a moment, then said, “Yes.”

In truth, the heavy, rusted bronze cauldrons and the cracked old ceremonial items were symbols of the state and had no practical use for her.

The large note at the beginning of the ledger was meant to clarify her resolve and to firmly challenge the imperial family’s prestige.

Now it seemed that the imperial family still wanted some face, so they naturally had to pay the corresponding price.

The royal estates, with their practical benefits, were much more valuable.

A look of satisfaction appeared in her eyes.

Once Yuan Cong received her approval, he sighed with relief and promptly handed over the items, leading the maidservant to the East Hall’s corridor.

He did not dare approach too close and bowed respectfully from a distance.

“May I respectfully greet Miss Fu?”

Zan Ying ignored him, lowering her long lashes over the wind stove, and used a bamboo ladle to scoop out a spoonful of boiling tea, which she poured into a turquoise porcelain cup.

Yuan Zong waited in silence for a long time without receiving a response, and he couldn’t help but look up.

Under the light, the scene was of a lady with lowered brows, her long lashes like feathers, gently stirring tea, her slender fingers poised like orchids.

The faint glow of the candlelight cast a serene and beautiful hue on the side of her face.

He quickly looked down, perplexed by the difference between the Ms. Fu he had seen in the palace, who was also graceful but did not possess the same serene demeanor as now.

This demeanor didn’t seem to have been cultivated under Empress Yu’s guidance, but rather was somewhat reminiscent of Empress Wei.

He felt a shiver in his heart and dared not think further, forcing a smile as he said, “How have you been lately? His Majesty has often mentioned you these days, missing the excellent tea you make. He would like you to visit the palace when you have time, as it will always be your home.”

Yuan Zong’s words came to an abrupt halt.

When he mentioned the word “home,” Zan Ying’s actions paused momentarily, then she picked up the tea cup in front of her and deliberately poured its contents onto the ground in a slow and deliberate line.

This was an offering to the dead.

Yuan Zong’s face changed color.

Zan Ying lifted her gaze, her expression unmoved, and asked, “Is His Majesty here to punish me? Where is the imperial decree?”

Yuan Zong struggled to force a smile, “These are just His Majesty’s casual words, without any coercion or punishment. There is no imperial decree, please don’t misunderstand His Majesty.”

“Since there is no imperial decree, I shall not keep you any longer,” Zan Ying said, looking at the person outside the door with a hint of curiosity, her tone still soft and harmless. “Does Master Yuan have any other messages?”

Yuan Zong dared not stay any longer and bowed deeply to leave.

As he turned, he wiped his temple, which was actually damp.

Recalling Ms. Fu’s brief words, each was polite, but they left him with an inexplicable sense of unease.

…….

In the middle of the night, the entire Fu residence was as silent as a tomb.

The old lady, who had gone out to offer incense since noon, had not returned, and the head of the family, Fu Xiao, had not returned either, nor had Fu Ze’an.

The large residence was now being held up by the second wife, Sun Shi.

The main hall was brightly lit as she repeatedly sent people to inquire outside the palace gates and sent family members to the officials connected with the Fu family, asking for help.

In the brightly lit main hall, Fu Zhuangxue, who lived in Xunmei Pavilion, closest to the old lady’s quarters, only knew that her grandmother and elder brother had not returned home by nightfall but did not understand what had happened.

She sent her maid A Yuan to find out more, but Sun Shi was unwilling to provide details, simply saying, “It’s nothing, please, Second Miss, go to bed early.”

Fu Zhuangxue was increasingly anxious, and A Yuan, a young girl with a naive disposition, comforted her, “Perhaps the old lady is delayed coming back to the city, and Second Master and the eldest brother went to pick her up. Maybe the carriage broke down on the way, causing the delay. Second Miss, don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

Fu Zhuangxue shook her head with a pale face.

How could A Yuan understand her feelings?

No, no one could understand.

Since the moment Zan Ying’s engagement was broken off, everything had diverged from her original intentions.

Fu Zhuangxue never wanted to ruin the Crown Prince’s marriage to Zan Ying.

She had never imagined making Zan Ying leave the Fu residence.

She couldn’t bear to.