Chapter 110: Why
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“You old thing! Why are you speaking up for her?” Empress Dowager Min stared sharply at Hai Momo and demanded, “Speak! Did she bribe you?”
Hai Momo hurriedly knelt down and presented a delicately carved box from her bosom, saying, “This is a gift from Second Miss Jiang to Your Majesty.”
A pigeon egg-sized, perfectly round golden pearl emitted a radiant glow from within the box. Empress Dowager Min fell in love with it at first sight, but pretended to disdain it, saying, “What’s this? Just a pearl? My son owns everything in the world. What do I need that I don’t have?”
Hai Momo understood her temperament well—greedy for wealth yet pretending to be noble. So she persuaded, “The item itself may not be valuable, but it represents Second Miss Jiang’s filial piety.” She added, “Shouldn’t Your Majesty consider not letting Fu Mingzhu have her way? She has already stolen someone else’s husband, can’t she at least tolerate someone else becoming a concubine? Moreover, according to regulations, a prince should have one primary wife and two concubines, among other attendants.”
Indeed, she couldn’t let the Fus’ be complacent, nor could Fu Mingzhu be too comfortable.
Empress Dowager Min said, “That makes sense. Letting her occupy the position of the main wife is already generous enough. We can’t let her go too far, can we? It’s just that it benefits Yuwen Chu! If he gets Fu Mingzhu and then Jiang Shanshan, won’t his wings be even stronger? Unacceptable.”
Hai Momo smiled, “It won’t benefit him. Fu Xiang and the Changxing Marquis won’t let it slide. This Second Miss Jiang is not one to be trifled with either. With wives and concubines fighting, it’ll be interesting. It’s best if it causes a life or death situation. Otherwise, if Mingzhu suppresses everyone, what’s the point?”
Didn’t Yuwen Chu want to leverage Fu’s power? Since she couldn’t stop him anyway, why not introduce another old prestigious family like the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion? Let them fight each other to the death, and best if they can’t even have a son, let’s see how he can compete!
Empress Dowager Min smiled, “You’re absolutely right. I’ll find a way to make it happen.”
Hai Momo smiled and put the box on the table, finding an excuse to leave. She instructed her trusted palace servant, “Go tell Second Miss Jiang that both matters she mentioned have been taken care of. She can rest assured.”
After the palace servants withdrew, Hai Momo touched the jade bracelet on her wrist and pondered.
She found Jiang Shanshan quite interesting. Despite her dignified and virtuous appearance, her heart was so vicious and cunning. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it. However, both the plot against Fu Mingzhu’s marriage and the upcoming events showed Jiang Shanshan’s intelligence and skill. It wouldn’t be wise to offend her. However, Hai Momo didn’t understand why Jiang Shanshan was only willing to provide ideas but reluctant to let the Empress Dowager know who came up with them. Nevertheless, it worked out well, as the Empress Dowager clearly relied more on her lately.
“I hope we can cooperate happily, Second Miss Jiang.” Hai Momo smiled, almost able to foresee how lively the future would be in Ying Wang’s Mansion.
Meanwhile, after leaving Zhaoyang Palace, Imperial Consort Min went straight to Changxin Palace. When she met the Great Empress Dowager, she said, “Earlier, the Empress Dowager summoned me.”
The Great Empress Dowager already knew and wasn’t surprised. “What did she want you for?”
Imperial Consort Min replied, “She discussed the matter of the Great Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration. She said she didn’t dare to overstep her elders and compared it to my previous time. She also said she has a few good things she wants to personally give to Mingzhu but is afraid she might be shy as the wedding approaches, so she wants me to invite her.”
The Great Empress Dowager thought for a moment and said, “Since that’s the case, just go along with her.”
Imperial Consort Min hesitated for a moment and then said, “It’s normal for children to feel shy. By then, there may be many people coming, and there will probably be a lot of gossip. Otherwise, should we think of another way to handle it…”
The Great Empress Dowager, being wise, naturally understood that Imperial Consort Min was suggesting there might be trouble, but she didn’t take it seriously. “What’s there to fear? She will have to meet people sooner or later. Even if she doesn’t come this time, does she plan to hide away after the grand wedding in September? Concealing herself would only make people suspect there’s something unspeakable going on.”
Imperial Consort Min knew the Great Empress Dowager wasn’t very pleased with this marriage arrangement, which made her somewhat wary of herself and her son. Therefore, she was even more cautious and knelt down to apologize, “Please do not be angry, it’s all because I haven’t disciplined my son properly.”
The Great Empress Dowager sighed, “Forget it. It’s all fate. Ah Lang hides his thoughts deeply. If he had confided in us earlier, it wouldn’t have involved so many people. Among these children, apart from the late emperor, he’s the one I like the most…”
Ah Lang was the childhood name of Yuwen Chu. Imperial Consort Min couldn’t help but feel emotional when she heard the Great Empress Dowager affectionately calling Yuwen Chu by his childhood name.
She choked up and said, “Who would have thought? He’s so much older than Mingzhu. If he hadn’t delayed for so long and caused trouble repeatedly, I wouldn’t have noticed anything unusual.” She vowed again, “But rest assured, he genuinely cares for Mingzhu. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been stubborn with me for so many years, knowing it would upset you but still insisting on it.”
“It’s nothing. Can I still not trust him?” At this point, even if the Great Empress Dowager was dissatisfied with Yuwen Chu’s hidden thoughts, she wouldn’t push him away. She just sighed, “It’s just a pity for Second Miss Jiang, such a good child. I vacillated, would she hold any grudges?”
Imperial Consort Min also secretly regretted it, but she was afraid the Great Empress Dowager was testing her, so she quickly said, “Marriage is all about fate. You are kind and have already arranged such a prominent marriage for her. She should be content. It’s my fault. If Ah Lang had refused earlier, I shouldn’t have forced him to accept this marriage.” However, at that time, the marriage between Fu Mingzhu and Yuwen You had already been decided by the late emperor, and Jiang Shanshan was the best choice. If she hadn’t decided, would she have let Yuwen Chu miss such a good opportunity? Being a mother wasn’t that easy.
The Great Empress Dowager thought of her disputes with Fu Cong and felt quite unhappy. She said grudgingly, “You may leave.”
Imperial Consort Min returned with a heavy heart. A palace servant came to report, “His Royal Highness Ying Wang has arrived.”
Empress Min entered with a grim expression, “You have the nerve to face me! You’ve completely tarnished my reputation! Thought of being two-faced, feeling guilty in front of the Jiang family, thinking you’ve harmed their daughter, ashamed in front of the Empress Dowager, feeling ungrateful for her kindness and scheming against her, making her suspect more and harm you. You disobedient and ungrateful child!”
Yuwen Chu stood quietly and listened until she finished scolding him before whispering, “When I was young, I loved a sword very much, but Father rewarded it to my eldest brother. You wouldn’t let me argue. You said eldest brother is the crown prince, the future ruler of the country. I am the younger brother, a subject. Even liking it is wrong. I remembered and didn’t argue with him.
Later, Ninth Brother took away the phoenix-headed parrot I raised for five years. You told me if I wanted to live safely, I couldn’t argue with Consort Zhou, couldn’t provoke Father’s displeasure. I remembered and didn’t argue with him. Consort Zhou poisoned me, and you said to endure, pretend it never happened, and I did. Father knew Ninth Brother didn’t like Fu Mingzhu, but he still gave her to him, just to show favoritism and protect his life. He didn’t care if he liked her or if I really liked her.
I’ve been enduring, enduring until Father passed away, enduring until the Great Empress Dowager can make decisions. If Mingzhu had always only cared about Ninth Brother in her eyes and heart, it would have been fine. I couldn’t force her, but if she is unwilling, why can’t I fight for it once? Am I naturally inferior to Eighth and Ninth Brother? I’m obviously much stronger than them.”
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