The culprit was a high-ranking official in the Censorate. She simply did not know who.
Whoever it was, he was Fan Xiuwen’s superior—someone Fan Xiuwen could never hope to stand against.
In her previous life, if the Grand Secretary had not sent people to find Fan Xiuwen personally, he likely would have died in prison.
Even after Fan Xiuwen was rescued, one of his legs had been left crippled.
In the end, they had never managed to uncover the true culprit.
This time, she would protect Fan Xiuwen and expose the corrupt official hiding in the shadows!
Fortunately, after her last achievement, she had asked the emperor for several personal guards.
They were all exceptionally capable and would be perfect for protecting Fan Xiuwen.
Fan Xiuwen still had to report for duty and could not remain in the palace, so Rongyao could only watch him leave.
She was just about to return when she turned her head and saw Duke Gu Fuzhou, Duke of Zhen.
Duke of Zhen had been acting furtively, but when he saw her, he quickly straightened up and strode over to salute her.
“Your Highness the Grand Princess.”
Rongyao tilted her head back to look at the tall and imposing Duke Gu Fuzhou. She cocked her head, feeling as if she had not seen him in quite some time.
“What brings you here, my lord?”
Duke of Zhen coughed lightly, then bowed and replied, “I was discussing some military matters with His Majesty just now and left the palace rather late. I happened to see Your Highness speaking with Lord Fan, but I was some distance away and did not hear a word.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Rongyao smiled. Then she glanced behind him and asked, “Have you not gone to see Gu Shen’an?”
Duke of Zhen replied, “With Your Highness and the princes looking after him in the palace, I can naturally set my mind at ease. Besides, he will be returning home today. There will be plenty of time for us to see each other once he does.”
“Oh.”
Duke of Zhen hesitated for a moment before saying, “I noticed just now that Your Highness seems to be rather fond of Lord Fan.”
“Yes. Lord Fan is an excellent official. He fears neither power nor authority and speaks up for the people. He is truly an outstanding official.”
Duke of Zhen struggled to maintain his smile. “Lord Fan is indeed an exceptional official. Since he has earned Your Highness’s regard, we will naturally do our utmost to keep him safe.”
Rongyao’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Duke of Zhen: “…Yes, really.”
“Then I shall trouble you, Duke of Zhen!”
Duke of Zhen raised a hand in salute, his expression turning solemn. “Her Highness the Grand Princess saved the lives of my entire family. Anyone Your Highness wishes to protect is naturally someone I must protect as well.”
Rongyao gave Duke of Zhen a broad smile.
“If Your Highness has no further instructions, there is still business to attend to in the army. I shall take my leave first.”
“All right.”
Duke of Zhen saluted once more before turning to leave.
Yet before he reached the corner, he looked back at the Grand Princess’s retreating figure and silently sighed.
He had seen it just now. The feelings the Grand Princess held for Fan Xiuwen were certainly not ordinary admiration.
There was even a sense of kindred spirits between them.
Although the Grand Princess was still young and there were several years before she would choose a prince consort, she had praised and favored Fan Xiuwen so openly. His foolish son probably could not compare with Fan Xiuwen—not even to one of the man’s fingers.
Fan Xiuwen had only just reached twenty. He had never married and had never shown any intention of doing so. Whenever a matchmaker came to his door, he rejected her outright. No one knew what he was planning.
Even if Fourth Son had not said anything, as his father, Duke Fuzhou was not some clueless fool.
His son had entered the palace to become the Third Prince’s study companion, but it was certainly not because he wished to curry favor with a prince.
In the past, Duke Fuzhou had been unable to understand it. Fourth Son had always been proud and high-minded, looking down on everyone and disdaining the idea of currying favor with a prince.
Yet as the years passed, whenever Grand Princess Fuxi left the palace to play, Fourth Son would follow behind her. Whenever he heard anything concerning Princess Fuxi, his ears would immediately perk up.
His wife had even told him that she had found a portrait of Grand Princess Fuxi in Fourth Son’s room!
What else was there to misunderstand? His Fourth Son was clearly harboring designs on Grand Princess Fuxi!
At first, Duke Fuzhou had thought the boy was being outrageously insolent. How dare he profane the most honored Grand Princess? He had nearly taken up a blade and cut the boy down himself, lest he bring disaster upon the family.
He had even considered petitioning the emperor to prevent Fourth Son from returning to the palace as a study companion and instead take him along to the military camps for training.
Yet somehow, Fourth Son had learned of his intentions. He tore up the memorial and stared at his father with such a strange look that it was as though Duke Fuzhou were his sworn enemy.
No! He was his father! How could he possibly be his sworn enemy?
In any case, Duke Fuzhou had never been able to forget that boy’s gaze.
It was as if, should Duke Fuzhou prevent him from remaining in the palace, Fourth Son would fight him to the death.
That damned boy had even come up with a lofty-sounding excuse.
“Father, I entered the palace to repay a debt of gratitude. Grand Princess Fuxi saved me and rescued our entire family. I must repay her, and the only way I can protect her is by entering the palace.”
What nonsense about protecting her! The palace was full of people protecting Princess Fuxi. She was the emperor’s most beloved daughter and had no shortage of protection. She certainly did not need one half-grown brat more.
But the boy had been far too stubborn and determined, so Duke Fuzhou had been left with no choice but to let the matter drop and allow him to continue serving as the Third Prince’s study companion.
He had no demands of his son. He only asked that the boy stop embarrassing the family.
And yet, for the sake of a few ounces of silver, the boy had thrown away the entire family’s dignity!
A few years ago, Duke Fuzhou had heard that the brat had been tinkering with some novel inventions and making money from them. He had never expected them all to be fake! Heaven only knew where the money he had given his son had been squandered. The boy lived in poverty, ate and drank at others’ expense every day, and pinched every penny so tightly that people began to think his father did not even give him a monthly allowance.
Quite a few officials had privately spread rumors that Duke Fuzhou was stingy and unwilling to give his son money, damaging his reputation in the process!
With his behavior, how could he possibly win the Grand Princess’s affection?
He could not compare to Lord Fan in the slightest!
In Duke Fuzhou’s opinion, Princess Fuxi preferred officials like Fan Xiuwen—civil officials who served their country and people and kept the common folk in their hearts.
From what he had seen, the two of them seemed to have met kindred spirits in each other.
In any case, it was obvious that Princess Fuxi greatly enjoyed being close to Fan Xiuwen. She had even disregarded the boundaries between men and women and taken his hand!
If things continued this way, his son might not even be able to remain one of the guards at the Grand Princess’s side.
Gu Fuzhou rubbed his forehead and sighed. He decided that when Fourth Son returned home next time, he would have a talk with him.
The boy should stop dreaming and leave the palace to join the army as soon as possible.
…
Rongyao felt that Duke of Zhen had been acting strangely, but she could not quite say why.
Since she could not figure it out, she decided not to dwell on it and returned to the Palace of Eternal Joy.
Her mother was drinking tea, but the moment Rongyao saw the tea set in her mother’s hands, her eyes widened.
She hurried over, snatched the glazed glass bowl from her mother’s hands, and examined it carefully for a long while before asking anxiously, “Mother, this… where did you get this glass bowl?”
Cui Huaiyin looked at her daughter, who had rushed over in such excitement, and replied, “Your second uncle sent it over today. He sent an entire chestful—bowls, plates, cups, and all sorts of other things.”
“How did Second Uncle get so much glassware?”
“This stuff began appearing in the capital a few days ago. Though it is expensive, many of the capital’s nobles like using it. Your second uncle found it novel, so he bought a great deal and sent it to us to play with.”
Rongyao lowered her head and stared at the glass bowl in her hands.
It was icy cold to the touch. But compared with the chill of the glass, it was nothing beside the fear of the unknown.
In her previous life, glass bowls had also appeared in the capital.
But those glass bowls had been made at the behest of Princess Shengping.
