Chapter 43: In The End, The Flower Can’t Escape From Withering.

In his hands, Fu Yi held a mahogany food box inlaid with golden foil. When they collided with each other, they looked into each other’s eyes in astonishment. But then, Fu Yi smiled: “Lizhu, you have returned from the border?”

Mu Zhiming’s mood was complicated, but in the end, he forced himself to make a distinguished bow: “Greetings, Your Highness King Su.”

Unexpectedly, Mu Zhiming’s words made Fu Yi’s pupils suddenly shrink. However, since Fu Yi had always shown himself as a calm person, even when a storm had broken out inside his heart, his words and actions never exposed anything unusual.

After suppressing the astonishment present inside his heart, Fu Yi smiled and said. “Did you just go visit the Noble Consort at Fengyi Palace?”

Without noticing anything from Fu Yi, Mu Zhiming stood upright and replied: “Yes.”

Fu Yi observed Mu Zhiming, carefully examining his eyebrows, as Fu Yi was able to feel the hostility and indifference present in Mu Zhiming’s words. Then, Fu Yi slowly opened his mouth and said: “Lizhu, I think there’s a misunderstanding between us.”

“A misunderstanding?” Mu Zhiming sneered. “Does His Highness King Su mean that when he was rude to the Noble Consort by referring to her by name, it was because I misunderstood you?”

Suddenly, Fu Yi stepped forward and pressed his hand down on Mu Zhiming’s shoulder. The grip was so strong that Mu Zhiming felt some pain. Due to this, Mu Zhiming couldn’t help but frown. Seeing this, Fu Yi smiled slightly and said: “I’m not going to waste my time explaining that to you, but I want you to know that I really miss the days of our childhood, when we were closer. Now that I have been given the title of King, I’m living outside the Imperial Palace. In my Residence, your favorite cakes and tea will always be ready, waiting for you to come visit me at any time! Lizhu, in this life, we should have a good long talk.”

After saying that, and without waiting for Mu Zhiming’s reaction, Fu Yi released his shoulder. Then, Fu Yi waved goodbye and walked away with long strides.

When Fu Yi entered the Fengyi Palace, he took a look at the courtyard that was covered with the plum blossoms, looking extremely beautiful. The red flesh of the plums shone as brightly as the blood that was spilled on the white jade steps of the East Palace that year. Fu Yi went forward, bent a branch of the plum tree, and played with it. While smiling, Fu Yi said to himself: “Although I have been given the title of King, I only got it yesterday and it hasn’t been announced yet. Lizhu, did you really call me ‘King Su’ because you were well informed, or….? Hmm, interesting.”

As he spoke, Fu Yi looked up, only to see that Physician Kuang was coming out of Fengyi Palace. Fu Yi didn’t go forward to greet him. Instead, he waited until the Physician left to walk inside the Fengyi Palace.

After a Palace servant reported his presence, Fu Yi was led into the main hall, where the Noble Consort was leaning on a sofa that had peonies carved into the wood. When she saw Fu Yi approaching her, the Noble Consort held the clay figure in her hand to show it off: “Yi’er, look! Lizhu gave it to me.”

Fu Yi handed over the branch with a single plum blossom to a maid and instructed her to place it in a vase of water. After greeting the Noble Consort, Fu Yi placed the food box on the low table that was positioned right in the middle of the sofa: “If you like clay figures that much, I can send someone to bring you a few from the border.”

Noble Consort Niangniang smiled and said: “You know very well that what I like isn’t the clay figures, but Lizhu’s intention in bringing them to me. What’s this?”

“Sesame cakes.” Fu Yi opened the lid of the food box.

“Ah! Is this the sliced sesame cake from the pastry store outside the Imperial Palace?! I used to eat them when I was a child!” The Noble Consort recognized them at first sight and smiled happily. “I really haven’t loved the two of you in vain. Each of you knows me very well. Xiao-Yan, take out the things that were packed this morning from the inner hall.”

Xiao-Yan, the maidservant, hurried to go into the inner hall. When she came back, she brought over a wooden box the size of half an arm, and handed it to Fu Yi.

Although Fu Yi already knew what was inside the box, he still pretended to be puzzled: “What’s this?”

Noble Consort Niangniang dismissed the servants and said: “Gold, silver, and jewels. I saw the rewards His Majesty gave to Ji’an for his title of King. What’s the difference with Ji’an’s rewards? Tell me how much you lack and I’ll make it up to you.”

Fu Yi replied: “Niangniang, you don’t have to do this. I have long been used to this. Ji’an has been bright and clever since he was a child, and has always been loved by His Majesty. It’s only natural for His Majesty to give Ji’an more rewards.”

Noble Consort Niangniang sighed: “Yi’er, fortunately you understand the situation. Take it anyway, it’s my gift to you. If you don’t accept it, I will be very angry!”

Fu Yi smiled: “Thank you, Niangniang. I respectfully accept your gifts.”

Noble Consort Niangniang bent her eyes, reached out, took a sesame cake, and put it in her mouth. In that instant, the only thing she could feel was the sweet taste as well as the soft and sticky texture of the cake. As she tilted her head slightly, her eyes suddenly fell on the branch of the plum tree that Fu Yi had just cut. Her heart suddenly sighed with emotion.

It was a solitary plum blossom. Even if you try to grow it with fresh water in a pottery pot, in the end, the flower can’t escape from withering.

Fu Yi is suspecting Mu Zhiming again……