kvmb Chapter 315 Jingya
Chapter 315 Jingya
The concubine Fu mentioned by the palace maids is Fu Jingya, the daughter of Fu Chi, the commander of the Imperial Guards.
In those years, when the Crown Princess was still undecided, Fu Jingya frequently entered the palace to attend to the Empress. Gossip circulated that Fu Jingya was the Crown Princess chosen by the Emperor and the Empress. At that time, Nanfei said that if Fu Jingya became the Crown Princess, he would let Nanhua resign from his official post and return to his hometown of Youzhou.
After all these years, Fu Jingya not only didn't get married, but she even became the Crown Prince's concubine while she was away? Is An Liangchen so perfunctory in choosing a concubine?
Zhao Ziyu spoke in a rather ingratiating tone: "Jingya is now pregnant with Liangchen's child, and General Fu has made great contributions by leading troops south. The matter of bestowing titles upon her can no longer be delayed."
"Nanhua, you're back. You're still in charge of the harem. Jingya's status isn't the same as Shuxian's; etiquette is paramount. Discuss this with the Ministry of Rites, ensuring everything is handled properly, and absolutely do not disgrace the Imperial Family or the Fu Family."
Fu Jingya touched her flat belly and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, sister."
Although the incident happened suddenly, Nan Hua was not panicked. She was already experienced and had just walked on the edge of life and death, which made her even more indifferent to many things.
After seeing Zhao Ziyu and Fu Jingya off, Nan Hua stood in the courtyard for a while, lost in thought. When she first arrived at Heaven and Earth, she was seriously injured and in poor spirits. One day, she dreamed of a flock of cranes flying around and thought she was going to die.
She went to Luo An and handed him a letter: "If I die, you must tell the Crown Prince that the position of Crown Princess should not be given to Yu Shuxian. This is my will. Remember to give it to the Crown Prince. He should not refuse my last wish."
Luo An found it quite amusing and threw the will into the medicine furnace: "Crown Princess, you're overthinking it. First, you won't die. Second, the Crown Prince will arrange the position of his principal wife himself."
Judging by the timeline, Fu Jingya became pregnant not long after she went to the Heaven on Earth. While her fate at Heaven on Earth remained uncertain, An Liangchen indulged in pleasure in the palace.
Luo An was right; she had indeed overthought things. Luo An understood An Liangchen better than she did, even though they had spent many years together.
Nan Hua sighed and decided to continue catching up on her sleep. Just as she reached the hall, a palace maid announced: Consort Yu has arrived to visit.
One problem after another! Nan Hua was feeling irritated and was about to say he wouldn't see her when Yu Shuxian had already bypassed the palace maids and rushed in.
Yu Shuxian, with snot and tears streaming down her face, said, "Fu Jingya and her father are birds of a feather. Fu Jingya took advantage of His Highness the Crown Prince when he was drunk and forced herself on him. She took advantage of her pregnancy to demand a title from her mother, and her father took advantage of his status as a veteran general to demand a title from His Highness the Crown Prince."
Before His Highness and Mother have even spoken, she's already spreading the word everywhere that she's the Crown Prince's concubine. Pregnancy before marriage is such a shameful thing, yet she makes no attempt to hide it. Who knows if this child is even His Highness's? Sister, you must investigate thoroughly! Royal bloodlines are not to be trifled with.”
Fu Jingya is pregnant, and Yu Shuxian is making a huge fuss? Fu Jingya hasn't even entered the door yet, and Yu Shuxian is already jealous.
After finally getting rid of Yu Shuxian, Nan Hua immediately instructed the palace maids: "If anyone comes again, tell them I am unwell and will not see any guests."
Nan Hua lay there with her eyes closed, rubbing her forehead. She was very sleepy but couldn't fall asleep, and she felt too weak to get up. The incense that An Liangchen had mentioned was still burning, but it seemed to have no effect.
At noon, a palace maid tiptoed in and called out softly, "Crown Princess, Crown Princess."
No movement?
The palace maid lifted the newly changed bed curtains and saw Nan Hua lying motionless, breathing steadily, before quietly retreating.
After noon, An Liangchen lifted Nanhua out of bed, pulled a fox fur coat over her shoulders, picked her up and carried her out of the bedroom, placing her on a chair: "Let's eat."
A palace maid knelt down beside her and handed her chopsticks, her voice trembling and on the verge of tears: "Please have your meal, Your Highness."
Nan Hua took the chopsticks and glanced at the kneeling palace maids and eunuchs: "Why are you scaring them?"
An Liangchen said unhappily, "As a palace maid and servant of the Crown Princess, you can't even take care of the Crown Princess's three meals a day. What's the point of keeping you around?"
The palace maids and eunuchs trembled, their heads bowed to the ground, and no one dared to utter a sound.
Nan Hua couldn't stand it anymore: "Why don't you tell them to leave? I can't eat like this."
An Liangchen said, "You can give orders to your servants yourself; my word doesn't count."
Nan Hua held his breath and said gently, "You may all step back."
The palace maids and eunuchs knelt and withdrew, gently closing the door. Only the two of them remained in the room.
An Liangchen's voice softened: "This sweet and sour carp, Longjing shrimp, shark fin soup, and lion's head meatballs are all your favorite dishes..."
Nan Hua put down his chopsticks, picked up a piece of pea flour cake, and held it in front of him: "I didn't wash my face or brush my teeth..."
He wasn't even wearing shoes and socks! Nan Hua could imagine himself disheveled and with his hair all over the place without even looking in a mirror.
An Liangchen insisted, "Eat first. Luo An instructed you to eat well and rest well after you return to the palace, and not to hold a grudge."
Nan Hua stuffed the pea flour cake into his mouth and chewed it slowly: "Don't be angry? Then don't make me angry."
An Liangchen asked, "Are you angry about Fu Jingya's matter?"
Nan Hua looked at him: "Shouldn't I be angry?"
An Liangchen disagreed: "First of all, it is right for me to take a concubine, and secondly, it is also right for the concubine to have children."
Nan Hua was enraged by his matter-of-fact tone and attitude, and said coldly, "Why didn't you say anything when you were at Heaven on Earth? Why didn't you say anything when you came back?"
An Liangchen said slowly, "Are you angry because I didn't tell you?"
Nan Hua was speechless for a moment, picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a lion's head meatball, and angrily stuffed it into his mouth, then... he choked.
An Liangchen sat down next to her, gently patted her back to help her catch her breath, and brought her a bowl of bird's nest soup: "Nan Yue is crossing the Jingjiang River to the north, and Yan Zeyu is stuck at the Xiang River. We need to send reinforcements. I arranged to meet General Fu at my uncle's house to discuss the war, but I ended up drinking too much."
Fu Jingya came to see her father on the orders of Old Madam Fu. Her aunt prepared some hangover medicine and asked her to bring it over. She was wearing a light purple dress that day, similar to what you wore when we went to the market.
There are plenty of witnesses in the Prince's residence; they can't deny it even if they wanted to. It just so happens that you're not in good health, and the affairs of the inner palace need someone to share the burden. I'm afraid Yu Shuxian isn't up to the task. You know Fu Jingya; she's quite talented and learned."
Nan Hua immediately understood: An Liangchen had acted recklessly while drunk, and Fu Jingya had gained power through her son. General Fu was using this opportunity to make demands, and the Empress needed to balance Yu Shuxian's position.
In the capital, officials and nobles could all be traced back nine generations to claim kinship. Speaking of which, the Fu family and the Meng family were related; Fu Yajing's mother, Old Madam Fu, was Meng Dong's maternal aunt.
Fu Jingya had all the advantages: perfect timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships.
Nan Hua said sarcastically, "My aunt is really worrying herself sick."
An Liangchen said, "You'll eventually have to take a concubine. Fu Jingya is generous, proper, and knows how to behave. She's also familiar with you, so she won't go against your wishes. You'll find it easy to get along with her."
It sounds like they're thinking of her best interests; if they keep dwelling on this, it would make her seem petty and inappropriate.
Nan Hua thought for a moment: "How is the war going?"
When the topic of war came up, An Liangchen relaxed. He leaned back in his chair and said lazily, "Nianyao was serving in the Southern Yue army. Xu Sheng took her to Jiangxinzhou, saying he wanted to seize Xiangshui."
Yan Zeyu indeed fell for the trap, personally going to guard the Xiang River and even making a hasty retreat, wasting considerable time. The various armies of Nanyue crossed the river and marched north, occupying various prefectures and counties along the Jingjiang River.