My reborn husband and son are thinking about how to kill me every day.

Besides Emperor Zhou Gong spreading rumors to tarnish Ji Yunshuang's reputation, plotting against Fu Ci to frame Ji Yunshuang and confirming that she was the one who caused the plague and kept monsters, there were also people talking about how Minister Yan went to Fu Jiayou to try to persuade him to join forces against Ji Yunshuang, but Fu Jiayou directly sent him to Ji Yunshuang instead.

After news spread throughout the city that Fu Jiayou refused to collude with Minister Yan and even took the initiative to arrest people and hand them over to Ji Yunshuang, Fu Jiayou's reputation improved.

Many people say that Fu Jiayou is the most promising of all of Prince Xuan's sons. He is a truly good official who serves the people, and his character and abilities far surpass those of his father.

These rumors also reached Fu Jiayou's ears.

Although it was a compliment, Fu Jiayou didn't feel happy after hearing it. He sighed and ordered a servant to bring up a pot of wine.

Looking at her young master, Chu Yi asked with some confusion, "Young master, why didn't you cooperate with Minister Yan back then? Minister Yan has Emperor Zhou Gong behind him. If you had cooperated with Minister Yan... what if you had succeeded one day?"

Fu Jiayou looked at him and asked, "Do you think they can defeat the Empress?"

After thinking for a moment, Chu Yi honestly replied, "The chances are slim."

Fu Jiayou said, "Even you can see that their chances are slim. Do you think I can turn the tide if I join?"

At the beginning, he was indeed arrogant and thought he could take back his fiefdom on his own. He even dreamed of eventually sitting on the throne.

But what happened later made him gradually realize reality and understand that he wasn't cut out for it.

Chu Yi had always been by his side, and he clearly saw what his young master had been through. He had to admit that his young master's current choice was the most rational one.

Seeing the young master's dejected appearance, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and said, "Young master, why don't we leave here? The world is vast, there's bound to be a place for us."

To avoid being in this sorrowful place, constantly thinking about the past, and being judged and compared by others.

Fu Jiayou shook his head and said, "Actually, this is quite good too."

He took a sip of wine and said, "Although I no longer have those grand ambitions, and I'm no longer some prince, it feels pretty good to be down-to-earth and do things for the people."

After taking office in the government, he went to the countryside every day to implement new policies and got closer to the lives of ordinary people. Only then did he realize how difficult it was for the people at the bottom of society.

Previously, he had never paid attention to the hardships of the common people. He had always lived a life of luxury as a prince, and all he thought about every day was vying for power.

Now, although he has lost his former glory, he seems to have found new meaning in the process.

It's just that sometimes I feel a little sad when I think about the past.

Just then, a guard rushed in and said, "Sir, His Majesty has sent someone to ask you to come over."

Fu Jiayou hurriedly put down his wine glass, tidied his appearance, and rushed out the door.

Meanwhile, Ji Yunshuang has already determined that Fu Ci's injury was unrelated to Fu Jiayou.

Although the snake came out of the tunnel he had dug before, he was not involved in this incident.

It's all because the person who dug the tunnel for him was someone Yan Zhengquan had placed there. Yan Zhengquan knew the exact location of all the tunnels.

She reviewed Fu Jiayou's work during his tenure and felt he had handled things fairly well. His initiative in bringing Minister Yan to her was, in the eyes of outsiders, a form of surrender.

She had to make a statement that let people know that no matter who they had served before, as long as they pledged allegiance to her, they could be given important responsibilities.

This will make it easier for her to recruit talent.

After thinking about it, she decided to promote him to a higher official position.

When Fu Jiayou arrived, Ji Yunshuang said, "I've seen your performance since you took office, and it's very good."

Many policies started as ideas without considering the actual situation at the time.

You took the actual situation into full consideration when implementing your plan, and you did a very good job. Therefore, I plan to promote you to the position of prefect of Shengcheng. Are you willing?

This was the first time Fu Jiayou had heard someone affirm and praise his abilities in such a way.

When he was still in the manor, he was no match for his elder brother in any way. His father only had eyes for his elder brother and would entrust everything to him.

His mother always looked at him with disappointment in her eyes.

He was very resentful at the time, feeling that his father was biased.

But later, his elder brother disappeared, and his father passed away. He tried to do things on his own, but he encountered setbacks everywhere.

He thought he was truly hopeless and was on the verge of giving up when Lu Yinheng found him and gave him a position. Working alongside Lu Yinheng, he slowly recovered.

He never thought about getting a promotion.

He thought that with his status, he would remain in this position for the rest of his life. He never expected that His Majesty would be so sure of him and even promote him.

He touched his forehead to the ground and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, I am willing! Thank you! I will certainly perform my duties well and make achievements in Shengcheng, and I will not let Your Majesty down."

Ji Yunshuang said, "Alright, get up! Go and prepare first, hand over your work properly, and then head to Shengcheng to take up your post!"

"Yes!"

After expressing his gratitude, Fu Jiayou returned to his residence with the reward given to him by Ji Yunshuang.

Chu Yi and the others learned that their master had received a reward from His Majesty and had also been promoted. The servants knelt on the ground and loudly congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! Your talent has finally been appreciated by His Majesty."

Fu Jiayou was also very excited.

He instructed the steward, "Reward them! Give everyone an extra month's salary."

The servants thanked them in unison, and the mansion was filled with joy.

Chu Yi said, "My lord, should we take a look at His Majesty's reward before putting it away?"

Fu Jiayou finally snapped out of his excitement and went to look at the gifts Ji Yunshuang had given him.

Ji Yunshuang didn't bestow many gifts, but they were all things he had never seen before.

Fu Jiayou and his servants looked at the gifts bestowed by Ji Yunshuang as if they were something rare.

Everyone looked on with curiosity, but dared not make a move.

After all, they had never seen any of these items before, so they didn't know what they were for and were worried about damaging them.

After a long while, Chu Yi finally asked, "My lord, what are these things that His Majesty has bestowed upon us?"

Fu Jiayou shook his head; he didn't know either.

Chu Yi praised, "As expected of a deity, the gifts bestowed upon us are all different."

"But how do we use all these magical artifacts?" Chu Er scratched his head, looking troubled for his master.

Just then, the gatekeeper rushed in and said, "Sir, someone from His Majesty's side has arrived. He said that the items His Majesty bestowed upon you are all trendy gadgets, and he was afraid you wouldn't know how to use them, so he came to explain their uses and functions to you."

"Your Majesty is so thoughtful!" Chu Yi said happily.

Fu Jiayou personally went to the door and politely invited the person in.