Chapter 108: Ambition
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
Mingzhu lazily remarked, “Alright, I understand what you mean. You’re afraid I’ll get upset and make a fuss, right? But what’s there for me to make a fuss about? In other people’s eyes, I’ve already benefited. Making any more fuss would be excessive.” Seeing the servant trembling with fear, she instructed Su Jin, “Give him ten taels of silver.”
The servant, who had been terrified by Su Mei’s words earlier, was relieved to receive a reward from Mingzhu without any repercussions. He even became a little arrogant, swallowing his saliva and saying in a flattering tone, “There’s another saying. It’s just that I’m timid and dare not say.”
“Speak. If you say it well, I’ll reward you generously.” Mingzhu held a heavy gold ingot in her hand, smiling as she coaxed him, “Just speak freely, but remember, if you tell a lie, I’ll take half your life. Understand?”
“Don’t worry, young lady. If I tell a lie, you can cut out my tongue.” The servant looked at the gold ingot with eager eyes and continued, “It’s said that Ying Wang is greedy and lustful, seeking power and favor. He knows that our young lady has a rich dowry and admires her beauty, so he wants to please the Great Empress Dowager and Master by marrying our young lady.”
Mingzhu found this extremely uninteresting. This explanation probably wasn’t believed by many. Instead, they might think that she had set her eyes on Yuwen Chu first and tried to seduce him. But then the servant continued, “It’s also said that he has too great ambitions, cunning and sly… He previously interfered with the engagement between the young lady and Linan Wang. Otherwise, why were they getting along well before, and why did they start quarreling after encountering him at the Jade Emperor Temple? Linan Wang even went to make a scene with him, accusing him of sinister intentions, sowing discord, and seizing another man’s wife. He has too great ambitions…”
Mingzhu sat up straight. Few people knew about what happened at the Jade Emperor Temple, and she didn’t know what Yuwen Chu had said to Yuwen You at the time. But that didn’t matter. As long as she was engaged to Yuwen Chu, these two brothers wouldn’t get along. What truly surprised her was the phrase “too great ambitions”.
Just imagine, a prince already of the highest status, where else could his ambitions lie? Of course, it was the throne that was above all.
Yuwen You is trying to push Yuwen Chu to his limits. With Empress Dowager Min’s already suspicious nature, won’t she end up hating Yuwen Chu to death? Mingzhu couldn’t help but feel a bit pleased. Now that Yuwen Chu is involved in this mess, Empress Dowager Min will have to be cautious of Fu’s retaliation against her and her son. This will inevitably lead to Empress Dowager Min taking action against Yuwen Chu, who will have no choice but to stand with Fu, thereby giving Fu more power.
Yuwen Chu may seem quiet, but he’s quite cunning. Mingzhu suddenly became very curious about how he would deal with Empress Dowager Min. So, she became excited and couldn’t wait to get married. When she heard that Madam Cui had sent someone to call her to choose fabric for her wedding dress, she eagerly went along. Seeing her enthusiasm, her whole family breathed a sigh of relief.
The wedding is scheduled for September. Both of them have been betrothed before, and the Court of the Imperial Clan has long since made all the necessary preparations. Therefore, the whole set of elaborate and grand ceremonies does not seem rushed due to time constraints. Everything is well-organized and grand. Apart from Yuwen You causing a bit of trouble at the beginning, some strange remarks from the imperial family, and an incident involving the imperial censors, everything else seems calm and peaceful.
Yuwen You’s bad temper was well-known, and his dissatisfaction with the marriage proposal to Mingzhu was evident. However, he had fallen out of favor, so no one took his tantrums seriously; they simply viewed it as a spectacle. The real victim, the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion, didn’t complain but instead spoke many good words. Yuwen Chu showed no signs of displeasure either. What else could others say? It was just a spectacle to watch.
Mingzhu knew she was in a precarious situation. Departing from her usual habit of rarely going out, she stayed at home, avoiding trouble and not seeing outsiders, which brought her some peace. However, Empress Dowager Min, after her previous failed attempt to harm Mingzhu, now openly and covertly thwarted the marriage proposal, resenting Yuwen Chu and his mother for daring to covet the throne. She tried to stir up trouble, using Mingzhu’s upcoming birthday in August as an excuse to advocate for a grand celebration.
Naturally, some advised the young emperor against it, considering Empress Dowager Min’s simple and unpretentious nature and the lack of previous extravagant celebrations for birthdays. But the young emperor was adamant, unable to create a scene in front of the Great Empress Dowager Min and Fu family, so he picked on others, causing trouble here and there, and spreading harsh words.
Many sought the Great Empress Dowager’s intervention, but she merely smiled and said, “If she wants to do it, let her.”
Empress Dowager Min achieved her goal but remained cunning. She said, “It wouldn’t be right to bypass the older generation. During Imperial Consort Min’s birthday celebration, relatives from the royal family, nobles, and female officials above the fourth rank all attended. I’ll just follow that example.”
Imperial Consort Min was just a consort. If it weren’t for her friendship with the Great Empress Dowager, there wouldn’t have been such a grand celebration. It was just a matter of paying respects to close relatives and having a private meal with favored palace concubines. Despite Empress Dowager Min’s modesty in words, discerning individuals could detect the underlying tension. By comparing herself to Imperial Consort Min, Empress Dowager Min’s veiled hostility was apparent.
Imperial Consort Min, always cautious, felt compelled to visit the Zhaoyang Palace upon hearing this. First, she presented gifts to show submission and then assured them of her and her son’s lack of ambition.
Empress Dowager Min didn’t press her further, merely smiling and saying, “Imperial Consort Min is too polite. I wasn’t planning to celebrate the birthday. With the Great Empress Dowager and the emperor showing filial piety, I couldn’t disobey, or I’d spoil the mood. It’s no big deal; it’ll be as lively as last time.”
The conversation shifted, and Empress Dowager Min looked at Imperial Consort Min, saying, “I haven’t congratulated you yet. You’re fortunate to have two outstanding females. The first, Second Miss Jiang, I won’t mention much about. She’s a talented and virtuous girl, unfortunately lacking luck with Ying Wang. As for Mingzhu, my cousin, she’s even better. She’s exceptional in every aspect. In the future, Imperial Consort Min will enjoy great fortune.”
Imperial Consort Min’s smile was faint. “It’s fate. As long as my children are well, I have no complaints.”
Empress Dowager Min intended to make her uncomfortable, but that wasn’t her true purpose. “Come to think of it, Mingzhu has grown up and become more sensible and shy. I haven’t seen her since the marriage proposal was made. I happen to have some nice things and want to give them to her personally. Imperial Consort, you won’t forbid her from coming, will you?”
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
