CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 23: A FAILED SCHEME BACKFIRES

Hence, Fu Shinian went out again with Fu Mingzhu.

Sure enough, people had already started to return one after another.

Fu Changqin came back with a fox, excitedly saying, "Mingzhu, Shinian, although I didn’t hunt a deer this time, I caught a fox, just enough to make you each a scarf."

"Wow!" Fu Shinian praised, "Brother is amazing! I see that other brothers hunt for themselves, but only my brother thinks of his sisters."

Fu Changqin was overjoyed by Fu Shinian’s praise.

Every time there was a hunting event, there was a competition to see who hunted the most.

The one who hunted the most would receive a reward from the Emperor.

The reward was secondary; the key was to gain recognition from the Emperor.

But people like Fu Changqin, who hunted less, wouldn’t join the fun.

Fu Changqin couldn’t help asking Fu Shinian, "Shinian, do you think I am incapable? I only caught a fox. Others caught many and went for the calculation in front of the Emperor."

Fu Shinian shook her head, "Not at all, others are hunting for the Emperor’s reward and their future. But brother cares only about us."

"Although the family sent brother to study under Mr. Changshan at the Marquis’s residence, hoping brother could achieve fame, brother’s future is to be pursued through earnest and sincere means. That is enough. In brother’s heart, family will always be first, which makes me very reassured."

"Of course, you all are the most important." Fu Changqin immediately said.

However, he sacrificed his life for Lin Qingqing in the original book.

Fu Shinian wonders if her brother thought of his family at that time?

She couldn’t understand why Fu Changqin, who has always prioritized his family, would do something so out of character.

Fu Shinian looked intently at Fu Changqin, "You must always remember this."

Fu Changqin was stunned for a moment, not understanding why Fu Shinian suddenly became so serious. He nodded awkwardly, "Okay, I’ll remember."

"Brother, shall we go see how much others have hunted?" Fu Shinian suggested.

"Okay."

When they arrived, they saw Xiao Fengxing emptying his catch.

A pheasant and a deer.

Not that much.

Xiao Fengxing had his calculations; he certainly couldn’t surpass the Second Prince, but also couldn’t go home empty-handed, so he hunted just a bit.

The First Prince, born tall and strong, came over, making Xiao Fengxing look like a tiny chick in comparison.

They saw the First Prince carrying two large bags, walking to the center of the clearing, and dumping out the game from the bags.

"Three pheasants, one fox, and one deer!"

"Not bad," Emperor Jiawen praised admiringly.

Just then, the Second Prince returned as well, and seeing the Second Prince coming over with only one bag, the First Prince couldn’t help but feel smug, "Second brother, how much did you catch?"

The Second Prince smiled slightly, threw the bag in his hand to the ground, and said, "Father, your son hunted quite a bit, so I asked someone to help carry it back."

Chen Yuan’an also dragged a bag over, "Your Majesty, this bag is also the Second Prince’s."

"Father, I also caught a wild boar," the Second Prince finished saying.

Then two people carried over a wild boar.

The wild boar was tied up, restrained on a pole, almost the size of a person.

No one had ever seen such a large wild boar, and they all looked on with surprise.

In terms of either quantity or quality, the Second Prince had more.

Originally, this hunting event was a contest between the First Prince and the Second Prince.

No one really dared to outshine them.

Emperor Jiawen nodded, "Not bad, then today this King of War Bow is yours."

"Thank you, Father!" The Second Prince exclaimed in excitement, and then declared loudly, "Father, I have one more thing."

"Oh?" Emperor Jiawen said, "What is it, tell me."

"Your son knows that Father has been troubled by the inability to deliver supplies to the military on time," the Second Prince said, "Your son boldly volunteers to take the position of overseeing and escorting the supplies, personally ensuring their delivery to each army."

"With your son overseeing, there will be no loss of supplies. If there is an unavoidable natural disaster, your son will take full responsibility for the decisions," the Second Prince stated, "Your son may be unworthy, but believes that with him in charge, situations of embezzlement can be prevented. In the event of a natural disaster, decisive action can be taken to avoid delays caused by indecision beneath him."

Emperor Jiawen was silent for a moment, then said, "Originally, I was going to speak about this in court."

"But since it’s brought up today, I’ll address it today," Emperor Jiawen said, "This issue has already been resolved. I’ve decided to entrust it to the Cheng family."

Cheng Family?

What Cheng Family?

Everyone looked around; there were indeed people named Cheng in the court.

But Lord Cheng quickly shook his head, he didn’t know.

"To speak of it, Fu Minister, the Cheng family happens to be your in-laws too."

Mr. Fu immediately stepped forward, "In response to Your Majesty, indeed. However, to avoid suspicion, I did not participate in this matter."

"You need not worry, I know," Emperor Jiawen said, "The Cheng family was recommended by Marquis Changping, and I have sent people to investigate, confirming that the Cheng family is indeed suitable."

"The Cheng family does business on the frontier, therefore they have trading posts and warehouses at the border, allowing for resources to be dispatched to the military nearby, avoiding the numerous variables in long-distance transport."

The Second Prince bowed his head, struggling to manage his now uncontrolled expression, saying, "So Father already has such a good method, which suddenly makes your son’s idea seem shallow."

"You need not belittle yourself," Emperor Jiawen comforted, "Having this intention is already commendable."

The First Prince returned to his tent, laughing gleefully, "Did you see the look on the second prince’s face? Hahahahaha! He planned to use today’s first-place opportunity to make a big splash, but who would have thought he’d fall on his face instead!"

"Congratulations, Your Highness, there’s no need for Your Highness to make a move, the Second Prince brought disgrace upon himself," a retainer flattered.

The First Prince sneered, "Though Father doesn’t say it, he knows full well what the Second has in mind. This time, the Second Prince really ended up with nothing."

The Second Prince, ridiculed by the First Prince, returned to his tent angrily, immediately saying, "Tell Xiao Fengxing to come see me!"

After a short while, Xiao Fengxing cautiously entered the tent, "Your Hi..."

Before the word "Highness" was out, the Second Prince threw a teacup forcefully at Xiao Fengxing.

Xiao Fengxing did not dare to dodge and could only take the hit.

"You dare to play me!" the Second Prince shouted angrily.

"I wouldn’t dare!" Xiao Fengxing hurriedly said.

"If I remember correctly, the Cheng family is your fiancée’s maternal family, right?" the Second Prince said coldly.

Xiao Fengxing hesitated, "Yes."

"Your fiancée’s family took on such an important task, and you claim not to know?" the Second Prince walked up to Xiao Fengxing, questioning, "Did you intentionally set me up?"

"Your Highness, I truly didn’t know!" Xiao Fengxing was both nervous and anxious.

The Second Prince grabbed Xiao Fengxing’s throat, questioning fiercely, "Tell me, are you the First Prince’s spy?"