The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 304 - 301: You Were Born in the Fourteenth Year of Da Jin, Spring
The sky was dark and overcast, and white lanterns were hung throughout the Imperial Palace. There was light, but the sound of sobbing was carried by the wind from afar. The lanterns swayed wildly in the rain, the candle flames seemed ready to extinguish at any moment, and white curtains billowed in the air, adding to the eerie fear.
"What depressing words are you saying!"
Duke Zhongyong frowned.
He glared at Gu Fuju, then advised Wei Zhao.
"For these days while the Crown Prince lies in state, there are three rites daily—morning, noon, and night. Everyone from princes to fourth-rank officials must attend the ceremonies, accompanied by the women of the court."
"Now that something has happened, it’s unlikely anyone can leave the palace today."
"You should go. It’s late at night, and with the rain coming down harder later, the roads will be difficult to traverse."
"With your mother at Duke Shun Mansion, it’s the same. No need to worry, your uncle, aunt, and grandmother are also there. I will also have Huaian’s mother keep an eye on things."
Wei Zhao concealed his emotions and thanked him.
As he watched Wei Zhao leave, Gu Fuju did not draw back his gaze.
The Crown Prince has passed, and the whole nation mourns together. There will be much to keep busy with in the coming days.
After Wei Zhao had left, Duke Zhongyong looked at Gu Fuju with a strange expression. He was as close as brothers with Wei Fengxing, and considered Wei Zhao as half a son.
"Why don’t you appreciate such a good son-in-law? Why curse him for no reason?"
"Isn’t Gui Zhi your most valued student? When he abandoned literature for martial arts back then, you bore a grudge for a long time. When some tutors at the Imperial College wanted to dissuade him, it was you who stopped them, saying this child makes his own decisions and does things steadily, and that he wasn’t acting on a whim. You said that no matter what path the Wei Family’s descendants took, they’d make a successful future."
Gu Fuju sneered coldly.
"Yes, his health is not good now; he looks worrisome. I also have a daughter and can understand you."
"But the two are already married. Do you still hope for your daughter to become a widow?
Duke Zhongyong added insult to injury: "It seems the Yu Family isn’t very close with you, no? Where were you all those years? It’s just her luck she met Gui Zhi. She’s already a married woman, with someone to protect her, and now you suddenly jump out and claim to be her father."
Gu Fuju had to admit that the words were sharp but true.
Duke Zhongyong put his hands behind his back, bid him farewell, and headed toward the Eastern Palace: "Without Gui Zhi, she couldn’t have come to Shangjing. You might never have seen her in your lifetime. Appreciate it."
Gu Fuju’s face darkened.
He should indeed thank Wei Zhao!
For delaying him so many days before he found Yaoyao!
Suddenly, he thought of something.
He couldn’t care for anything else, and hurriedly chased after.
The rain blurred his vision; he didn’t use an umbrella, getting thoroughly soaked. He finally stopped the carriage just as it was about to leave the palace gate.
Shunzi was startled.
Without a word, as this was the Grand Tutor, he quickly jumped down to hold an umbrella for him.
Yu Tingwan heard the commotion, lifted a corner of the curtain, and met the gentle yet disheveled gaze of Gu Fuju.
At this moment, he seemed no longer the powerful minister capable of causing storms in court, but merely an ordinary father.
Yu Tingwan hesitated for a moment: "Do you... need something?"
Gu Fuju, having aged, coupled with his civil official status, was slightly out of breath from the hurried walk. Though he usually cared most about appearance, he overlooked it now: "Your birth date isn’t today."
"You were born in the fourteenth year of Da Jin, in spring."
"Child, it was three days ago."
He spoke tentatively, afraid to see rejection on Yu Tingwan’s face: "I’ll discuss the specifics with you later, okay?"
Yu Tingwan was stunned.
Three days ago?
Wasn’t that the day she went to Changdu Temple with Ning Suxuan?
It was also the day Princess Jiasan was praying at the temple.
Yu Tingwan’s hand, holding the curtain, tensed slightly.
She pressed her lips together, her gaze clear.
She indeed needed to know why the fire that year started at the Yu Family.
"Alright."
Shunzi drove the horse, the sound of rolling wheels drowned by the heavy rain.
Only then did Gu Fuju open his umbrella and slowly make his way back.
He Xuran arrived hastily at this time. Seeing him drenched, he frowned and said: "Brother-in-law should first change into dry clothes to avoid catching a cold."
Gu Fuju: "Mm."
He Xuran glanced at the street. Through layers of rain and mist, he could no longer see Duke Shun Mansion’s carriage. So he walked along the main road with Gu Fuju.
Thinking of Wei Zhao’s face, he couldn’t help but anxiously blurt out: "In Ze County, I inquired about Tingwan many times, wondering if she would consider remarrying should something happen to Wei Zhao."
Gu Fuju looked over but didn’t ask, waiting for He Xuran to continue.
He Xuran: "She said no."
"She has long decided on him."
"Said if Wei Zhao died, she’d spend her life with his memorial tablet."
"I tried to persuade her, and she got upset."
He Xuran: "But indeed, not to mention anything else, Wei Zhao’s face alone is enough... along with his knowledge, his abilities, what young girl wouldn’t be dazzled."
Gu Fuju closed his eyes, accepting this fact.
He started to speak of serious matters.
"How is it?"
He Xuran looked around, speaking softly: "We’ve searched the Eastern Palace, and there’s nothing suspicious about the Crown Prince’s death."
Is there truly nothing suspicious?
But it seems too coincidental.
Gu Fuju sighed and didn’t dwell on it, his expression grave: "I overthought it."
With such bad news, the Holy Emperor was deeply grieved. Many of the funeral rites must be organized by him in conjunction with the Ministry of Rites.
"Xuran."
Gu Fuju continued walking: "...Look after Ah Wu for me."
"Yes."
————
The funeral bells rang, deep and distant.
Upon hearing the sound, the citizens of Shangjing were startled, hastily dressed, and went to their courtyards to count.
One ring.
Two rings.
...
Eight rings.
Finished.
Eight rings of the funeral bell, for the Crown Prince’s death.
The populace was in a state of fear. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
"The Crown Prince is dead; the new Crown Prince will be the Fifth Prince, right?"
"The Fifth Prince is not bad. But his uncle even embezzled disaster relief grain, leading to so many deaths in the famine years. Although he eventually hung himself out of guilt, his sins were heavy, deserving of a thousand cuts."
Someone retorted: "The embezzlement was done by his uncle. The Fifth Prince was still young at the time; what would he know? He shouldn’t be implicated."
"That’s easy for you to say."
"His uncle gained countless profits from it. How could he not have benefited the Fifth Prince? The water in the Imperial Palace and court is deep and murky. Over the years, do you think the Fifth Prince hasn’t spent a penny from it? Whether or not he knew, spending it is equivalent to eating blood-soaked bread."
"Fine, so according to you, the Fifth Prince isn’t virtuous enough for the position. Looking across the Imperial Palace, who else could become the Crown Prince?"
Meanwhile, Yu Tingwan had already left the Imperial Palace with Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao, contrasting his frail appearance in the palace, fluidly brewed tea.
"The Grand Tutor has sent He Xuran to investigate the Crown Prince’s cause of death."
Yu Tingwan: "Will they trace it back to you?"
Wei Zhao: "No."
Yu Tingwan: "Oh."
"Your health is poor, and you didn’t leave your seat halfway. The Wei Family has always been loyal to the Royal Family, so it wouldn’t be you."
Wei Zhao just finished brewing the tea and handed it to her.
Yu Tingwan took a sip; it was her favorite floral tea. Listening to the rain outside, her thoughts were scattered. She spoke softly: "To kill the Eastern Palace’s Crown Prince without anyone noticing, husband, you are truly terrifying."
