Meanwhile, in Zhangle Palace.
Tang Jinyan lay on the soft couch, her eyelashes fluttering lightly as she awoke. A lingering chill and lingering fear still clung to her body. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw the Empress sitting by her bedside. Her voice was hoarse and weak as she whispered, "Mother…"
Seeing her finally awake, the Empress felt her heart settle at once. She quickly responded in a gentle tone, "Yan'er, Mother is here. You're finally awake. How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Mother, I am fine. I just feel a bit cold, and my head is heavy."
Hearing this, the Empress let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good. When I saw you fall into the water earlier, I was terrified."
She paused, her gaze softening as it swept over the embroidered quilt covering her daughter. In a gentle, probing tone, she continued, "Since you are fine, tell Mother, what exactly caused you to fall into the lake? Was it the palace servants' negligence, or… did someone push you?"
Tang Jinyan looked into her mother's eyes, filled with genuine concern. Her voice still carried a faint tremor. "Mother, it wasn't an accident. Someone… someone pushed me from behind."
As soon as the words left her lips, the warmth vanished from the Empress's face. "What?! Someone deliberately tried to harm you? Did you see who it was?"
Tang Jinyan shook her head. "I didn't look back. I don't know who it was. I just suddenly felt a push on my back, and then I fell into the lake…"
The Empress held her daughter tightly in her arms, gently stroking her hair. Suppressing her rising anger, her voice remained tender yet firm. "My poor Yan'er has suffered. Don't worry, your mother and your Imperial Father will investigate this thoroughly. We will definitely find this audacious villain and give you justice. We will not let you endure this fright for nothing."
After a pause, a trace of gratitude flickered in the Empress's eyes. She continued softly, "Today was also fortunate. Thanks to that Zhuangyuan, Chu, who fearlessly jumped into the water to save you. If he had been even a moment later, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
Upon hearing this, Tang Jinyan's body stiffened slightly. Her previously muddled thoughts suddenly cleared, and the hazy memories from the moment she fell into the water flooded her mind.
It was Chu Moqing.
In this life, she had intended to avoid all encounters related to him, to sever their entanglement completely, allowing him a smooth life and freeing herself from the regrets of her past life.
Yet fate seemed determined to entangle them.
She had only just taken her first step into the depths of the palace, not yet having the chance to plan her avoidance, and he had already leaped into the icy lake at her most desperate moment, saving her life.
The surging guilt and helplessness in her heart pressed down on her, making her nose sting. Tang Jinyan sighed softly and asked in a low voice, "Then… how is he now? Did he catch a chill or get injured?"
"He is fine. It's just that… he was almost forced by those old ministers in Linde Hall to become a Fuma."
Tang Jinyan's heart tightened abruptly, her expression changing slightly. "Fuma?"
Seeing her reaction, the Empress's eyes held a deeper amusement. She sighed with a mix of helplessness and amusement. "Yes, those pedantic old ministers kept harping on about 'men and women should not touch each other.' He publicly jumped into the water to save you, with physical contact and sharing the same water. According to propriety, it was unavoidable. So they all petitioned the Emperor to appoint him as Fuma, to preserve both of your reputations."
"No!" Tang Jinyan exclaimed suddenly, her voice trembling with urgency, her eyes filled with panic.
Having been reborn, she had exhausted all her efforts precisely to help Chu Moqing avoid this marriage, allowing him to smoothly advance in his official career. How could she once again trap his future with the title of Fuma?
The Empress was startled by her intense reaction, the playful smile instantly fading from her face as she looked at her daughter in surprise. "Yan'er?"
Tang Jinyan then realized she had lost her composure and hurriedly suppressed her agitation, lowering her lashes as she softly explained, "Mother, what I meant was… how can a marriage be hastily decided just because of a single rescue? The Fuma I marry in the future must be someone who truly loves me and shares mutual affection. A marriage forced by propriety and rules would be unfair to both him and me."
Seeing her slightly nervous demeanor, the Empress gently reassured her, "That is why your Imperial Father did not make a decision in court. He only said the matter would be discussed later, temporarily quelling the ministers' discussions."
Pausing, she set aside her smile and lightly stroked the back of Tang Jinyan's hand, her tone growing more solemn. "Yan'er, you reacted so strongly just now. Do you have other plans in mind?"
Tang Jinyan's heart tightened. After a moment, she spoke, "Mother, I only wish to find someone who truly cares for me and understands my heart. Lord Chu has grand ambitions for the world and a bright future ahead. He should not be hindered by the identity of a Fuma."
The Empress was slightly surprised. "Yan'er has grown up, now considering others' futures before her own. Since you feel this way, I will keep it in mind. His Majesty never wished to wrong you, nor to casually hinder the career of a talented scholar from a humble background. As long as your resolve is firm, this marriage will not be left to the whims of the ministers."
Only then did Tang Jinyan's anxious heart settle slightly, and she let out a soft sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mother."
Seeing her like this, the Empress couldn't help but smile again, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Alright, don't stay so tense—it will wear you out. You've just woken up and are still weak. Focus on resting peacefully for now. Leave other matters to your mother and Imperial Father."
Watching her mother's retreating figure, the hall finally grew quiet.
Tang Jinyan slowly released her grip on the brocade quilt. Although the heavy stone in her heart had lifted, a faint sense of confusion began to stir.
She leaned back against the soft couch, closed her eyes, and replayed the conversation in her mind over and over.
"Lord Chu has grand ambitions for the world and should not be hindered by the identity of a Fuma."—these words she spoke sincerely, yet deep in her heart, the guilt from her past life remained hidden in the deepest recesses, along with a lingering affection she dared not examine too closely.
She feared acknowledging it, and even more, she feared that this sentiment would once again drag him into an abyss.
On the way out of the palace, Zhang Bu, the Tanhua who had also ranked first in the imperial examination, hurried to catch up with Chu Moqing, who was soaked through and draped in an imperial cloak.
"Brother Chu!" Zhang Bu caught up in a few steps, lowering his voice as he leaned in. "I just heard that in the Linde Hall, the ministers nearly persuaded His Majesty to arrange a marriage between Her Highness the Princess and you?"
Chu Moqing paused briefly, his tone betraying no emotion. "It was merely the ministers' discussions constrained by propriety. His Majesty did not consent, so the matter is settled."
Zhang Bu was taken aback but couldn't resist pressing further, "But she is a Princess of the highest nobility. If an imperial marriage decree were truly issued, making you a Fuma, many would long for such an opportunity… Brother Chu, are you truly unmoved at all?"
Chu Moqing gently adjusted the imperial-granted cloak, his tone resolute and without the slightest hesitation: "I, Chu Moqing, endured years of diligent study to realize my ambitions, not to climb the social ladder by marriage. Moreover… the Princess is noble and precious, destined for her own rightful place. As a humble scholar from a poor family, I dare not aspire so high."