Feng Yu Heng looked at Fu Ya and was able to roughly guess Yao shi’s request. Sure enough, she saw Yao shi move to Fu Ya’s side and hold Fu Ya’s hand, saying to her: “Allow my daughter to move into the residence and accompany me.”
Although she was discussing this with Feng Yu Heng, her tone was resolute and would not accept refusal. In truth, Feng Yu Heng really wanted to ask, did she really not view her as her daughter? The protection that I provided on the way back to the capital from the Northwest, the imperial order that I had obtained to allow you to get a divorce from Feng Jin Yuan, and all of the protection that I had provided for you to allow you to live a better life, what was it all for?
But she was unable to ask this question. She thought that perhaps this was the best possible outcome for Yao shi, right? Fu Ya was someone that could provide sustenance for Yao shi’s heart. The love between mother and daughter that she could not get from her, Yao shi would be able to get from Fu Ya.
Feng Yu Heng smiled bitterly, “Since you recognize her as your daughter, whether or not she stays with you is not up to me. Rather, it’s up to her. Madam should ask her.”
After she said this, she turned around and returned down the path that she had come. While walking, she said: “You two talk it through. You just need to send someone to tell me. I will take care of everything else. I definitely will not allow you to suffer any grievances.” Without stopping, she left the courtyard and returned to her own.
Yao shi watched Feng Yu Heng’s back and let out a visible sigh of relief. Only after Feng Yu Heng left the courtyard did she turn to ask Fu Ya: “A-Heng, how about coming back to live with mother? Mother really missed you.”
Fu Ya furrowed her brow and looked at her. After looking for a while, however, a feeling of pity that she also felt toward Wu Li Sheng appeared. She nodded and said to Yao shi: “Alright.”
Feng Yu Heng returned to her own courtyard, and Qing Yu went to busy herself with the stores. Wang Chuan and Huang Quan, however, remained at her side while feeling frustration. This was especially the case for Huang Quan, as she could not keep her words to herself. Upon entering the courtyard, she immediately began speaking: “As I see it, that Fu Ya should not have been brought back to the capital. Or she should not have been living in the manor. Isn’t this just causing trouble?”
Wang Chuan shook her head and said: “You, whenever you speak or act, it lacks consideration. If you could think a little more, you should understand why Fu Ya was brought back and not left in the North.”
“Hm?” Huang Quan was puzzled, “Why do you say that?”
Wang Chuan looked at Feng Yu Heng. Seeing her nod, she continued: “That Fu Ya resembles young miss so closely that even madam was mistaken. Say, if this sort of person appeared in public and was taken advantage of by someone else, how much trouble would that cause us?”
Huang Quan froze and thought for a bit. She could not help but inhale sharply, “That’s right! How could I have not thought of this. If Fu Ya was captured by some bad guys, and they insisted that she was imperial daughter Ji An, the effects on the world would be enormous, but…” She shook her head once more and said: “Young miss is in the capital after all. With the real person here, won’t any rumors be dispelled on their own?”
Wang Chuan reached out and poked her head, “This brain of yours only thinks of one side without considering the other. If things happened in the North, rumors would take many months to reach the capital. To then rely on this side to dispell those rumors, many things can happen over the course of those months.”
Huang Quan heard this and could not help but feel afraid, only saying: “It was me that thought too lightly of it. It’s a good thing that Fu Ya was brought back.”
Feng Yu Heng smiled bitterly, “With the fake pretending to be real, the real becomes fake. When one pretends that they have something that they do not, what they do have will disappear. To be able to deny any rumor is good. What’s truly worrisome is the day when the fake becomes real and can no longer return to their original state.” She faintly sighed, entering her room and sitting down on a chair. She then said: “Go and bring Fu Ya in. She should have come to the courtyard.”
After saying this, the two servants turned around. Sure enough, they saw Fu Ya walk through the winding hall and pass through the gates of a few courtyards.
Wang Chuan quickly went forward to receive her, bringing Fu Ya over to the hall. Huang Quan had someone bring tea up. Only then did they hear Feng Yu Heng ask Fu Ya: “Do you feel very surprised?”
Fu Ya smiled wryly, “Having already experienced the matter with Li Sheng, it’s not too surprising. It’s just that I never thought that there would be someone that would make a mistake when it came to recognizing their own daughter. Also, when imperial daughter stood in front of her, she actually could not tell the difference.” Fu Ya spoke while feeling her own face, “Could it be that we really look so similar?”
In truth, Feng Yu Heng had asked herself this question before. When she had first met Fu Ya, she was able to notice some difference very easily. But if it was in the eyes of others, the majority thought that they looked exactly the same.
Feng Yu Heng did not reply to Fu Ya’s question. She just told her: “My mother once suffered from a very severe illness. After that, her mind has always been a bit muddled. Fu Ya, I will just ask you. Do you want to use my name and accompany her in her residence?”
Fu Ya did not reply immediately. She just looked at Feng Yu Heng. Who knew what she was thinking.
Feng Yu Heng continued: “I know that both of your parents are no longer alive, and there is no way for me to provide you with any additional care. It seems that my request is rather presumptuous, but you can treat it as me being filial to my mother. If you agree, the other conditions will be up to you.”
Fu Ya helplessly let out a bitter smile, “It’s as you said, both of my parents have passed. What conditions can I have? I also view madam Yao as being very intimate. I’ll view it as accompanying my own mother! If imperial daughter does not feel at ease, just send me and madam to that residence. I can’t do anything else, but I can keep madam company and chat with her. I…” She paused for a moment and suddenly thought of something; however, it was a bit hard to bring up, and she was hesitating on her own.
Feng Yu Heng saw the hesitation and did not hurry to ask. She just quietly sat there while waiting for Fu Ya to say it on her own. This pause lasted for the time of a cup of tea before Fu Ya finally asked: “I see that you all have hidden guards at your side. That residence should also have people protecting it, right?”
Feng Yu Heng nodded, “Naturally.”
Wang Chuan also added: “That residence was prepared by the old master. Aside from the servants that work there, there are also some imperial guards that were sent over by the imperial daughter. They can ensure that nothing will happen.”
Fu Ya heard this and hesitated once more.
Feng Yu Heng, however, was able to gain a bit of an understanding, taking the initiative to ask: “Perhaps the protection you are wanting is not from a normal guard, right?”
Fu Ya was startled and rubbed her hands together. After a long time, she finally said: “Yes.” She said to Feng Yu Heng: “The person that saved me outside Guan Zhou City, I want his protection.”
“No good!” Someone suddenly let out a shout. That person was Huang Quan. She knew that the person that had saved Fu Ya on that day was Ban Zou. Now that she heard Fu Ya ask for him, she immediately became angry: “That is a hidden guard gifted by his Highness to young miss. Aside from her, he does not care for anyone else’s life.”
Fu Ya was just a weak little girl. How could she endure Huang Quan’s loud and aggressive shouting. In regards to Ban Zou, she did not have much hope to begin with. Now that she heard Huang Quan say this, she was not too surprised. She just quickly said: “If it’s no good, then forget about it. It’s fine. I, I just wanted to bring it up.” She then looked toward Feng Yu Heng, “I will still go and accompany madam. After all, my mother said at that time that you are our family’s benefactor. No matter when, this grace needs to be repaid.” She stood up and bowed to Feng Yu Heng. She did not say anything else before sadly leaving.
Seeing her leave, Huang Quan quickly ran over to Feng Yu Heng and repeatedly said: “Young miss, you absolutely must not send Ban Zou over to that side. We also can’t be missing Ban Zou on this side. If there is some mishap, what would we do? Although this manor is not lacking in other hidden guards, they cannot compare to the one that we have gotten used to. You think so too, right?”
Feng Yu Heng and Wang Chuan smiled while looking at Huang Quan. Both of them understood her feelings. The corners of their lips curled up uncontrollably. Their smiles caused Huang Quan’s face to feel hot. “What are you two laughing at me for? I am thinking for young miss. What I said was the truth.”
“I know.” Wang Chuan put aside her smile, “I know that you are thinking for the good of young miss. We are all acting for young miss’ sake.” She then said to Feng Yu Heng: “Huang Quan is correct. Others cannot compare to Ban Zou.”
Feng Yu Heng nodded, “I am clear on that. Whether or not he goes is not up to me. In the end, it will depend on what Ban Zou thinks.”
Once this was said, a very discontent voice came from the air: “I won’t go!”
Feng Yu Heng facepalmed, “Come out to speak. Don’t fool around as though you’re a ghost.”
Once this was said, a person’s figure appeared with a blur. Ban Zou had come out from who knew where. “I said I won’t go, so I won’t go. If you insist on sending me there, I will run back even if it means I will be executed.”
Feng Yu Heng shook her head, “Who would have you executed?”
“His Highness!” Ban Zou spoke very seriously, “His Highness said that when he sent me to your side, you became my master. In the future, if there comes a day when you tell me to assassinate him, I will need to go and do it. Otherwise, he will have me killed.”
Wang Chuan and Huang Quan nodded in unison, “His Highness did indeed say that. We are the same.”
Feng Yu Heng naturally understood the feelings that Xuan Tian Ming felt for her. It was just that she truly hoped that Fu Ya could wholeheartedly accompany Yao shi. If a feeling of estrangement was to be caused by this matter, it would not be good.
Seeing her hesitate, Wang Chuan said: “How about we think a little more. Let’s see what other ways we can supplement Fu Ya?”
Ban Zou figure swayed and disappeared once more. Right before leaving, he left behind: “You can do what you want, but I won’t go.”
Huang Quan happily smiled, saying to Feng Yu Heng: “Young miss will need to give up on this now. It’s Ban Zou himself that does not want to go.” But she was also tangled, “What else could Fu Ya want?”
“Forget it.” Feng Yu Heng waved her hand, “Let’s move this matter to the side. At least for the time being, Fu Ya had agreed. Every day that passed would be a day. Who knew when the madam would no longer recognize her.”
At this moment, she wasn’t even willing to call her mother. This caused Huang Quan and Wang Chuan to gasp; however, there was nothing that they could do.
On that day, the imperial palace was in a hurry to deal with Winter Moon Palace. A group of construction workers worked on repairing it. The court was also in a rush to handle the investigation, while the Empress was intensely fixing up the inner palace.
But that night, Fang Yi brought a piece of news to the Empress that was not too surprising, “Concubine Jing has died.”