Chapter 124: Disbelief
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Very clever people know to strike at the heart of the matter from a young age. Unfortunately, in her past life, she and her father only saw this person as cruel and ruthless due to his young age, without noticing his cunning and sinister nature.
Mingzhu replied indifferently, “Your Majesty is the emperor, so you can do as you please.”
The young emperor stared at her for a while before suddenly saying, “It’s interesting. Ninth Uncle is so bold in helping you, yet you’re going to marry Sixth Uncle.”
He knew that Yuwen You had helped her? Mingzhu met the young emperor’s probing gaze and suddenly realized that he was repeatedly testing her. He didn’t actually know about Yuwen You’s actions behind the scenes.
She furrowed her brows unhappily, “Your Majesty, you clearly know that I and Linan Wang are incompatible, yet you deliberately say such things. Could it be that you’re pleased if Ying Wang and Imperial Consort Min misunderstands me?”
This remark was somewhat impudent, but the young emperor didn’t blame her. Instead, he chuckled, “I heard that Auntie has been much more disciplined lately. From what I see, there’s no difference from before. Don’t worry, if Sixth Uncle treats you poorly, I’ll support you.”
Mingzhu didn’t take his words seriously, but still smiled, “With Your Majesty’s assurance, I feel much more at ease.”
The young emperor, mimicking adults, paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, then suddenly asked, “Auntie, why haven’t you come to see me lately?”
Since her rebirth, Mingzhu had only seen the young emperor today, partly because she had kept a low profile since her rebirth and rarely visited the palace. Secondly, because of those unpleasant memories, she deliberately avoided the young emperor. But she couldn’t say this, so she said somewhat embarrassedly, “I haven’t been feeling well lately, Your Majesty also knows, always causing trouble, even the Great Empress Dowager is tired of me. How could I dare to roam around? Even my usual favorite banquets and outings have stopped. I spend all day at home reading and learning etiquette.”
What she said was true. The young emperor fell silent for a moment before coldly laughing, “I thought you were scared by the last incident, thinking I was as cruel as others say.”
Mingzhu took a moment to connect the dots. It was right after he tortured that innocent palace maid in front of her that she was reborn, and they hadn’t seen each other since then. Cruel people never liked being called cruel. Mingzhu looked at the young emperor tenderly, “How could that be? I don’t know what others say, but I only know that Your Majesty is still the same as when you were young, always saving me some of the best food. Even today, I know you punished Princess Funing so severely for my sake. It’s just that the world is too treacherous, which is why things have turned out like this.”
Even if she knew that Yuwen Bai’s severe punishment of Funing was actually to make Imperial Consort Min and Funing hate her more, to make Yuwen Chu uncomfortable, and to smoothly arrange for her to send camel soup to Yuwen Fu, so what? Didn’t Yuwen Chu teach her to learn how to speak and act? Then she would try it out.
For a moment, the young emperor’s expression changed unpredictably. Several times he seemed like he wanted to say something but held back. Finally, he said angrily, “Yuwen You dares to disregard the Great Empress Dowager and me, I’ll make him regret it!”
Mingzhu didn’t even ask him what he intended to do with Yuwen You, she bowed and escorted him into the main hall of Changxin Palace.
It’s unclear what Empress Dowager Min and her son talked about with the great Empress Dowager, but Empress Dowager Min cried so much that she almost fainted. Even after being supported by palace attendants, she continued to cry bitterly all the way.
The young emperor, Yuwen Bai, on the other hand, appeared indifferent, only glancing at the second prince, Yuwen Fu, who stood nervously by the palace door to bid farewell to the imperial carriage. He smiled maliciously and said, “I’m busy, I can’t personally attend to Grandmother Empress. Second Brother, you must take on more filial duties on my behalf, it’s going to be tough.”
Yuwen Fu’s gaze blank, slowly bowed down, his voice flat and weak: “I obey.”
Yuwen Bai laughed heartily as he departed. Mingzhu heard him instructing palace attendants along the way, “Spread my decree: Linan Wang is lawless, disrespectful, and arrogant. He is to receive fifty strokes of the cane!”
Fifty strokes of the cane, heavy blows that could kill.
Mingzhu looked up at the sky; only a trace of twilight remained. The dark blue was creeping up, soon spreading across the entire sky, engulfing the palace grounds. She leaned against a pillar in silence for a long time before turning to enter the main hall.
The hall was already lit up with countless candles, and the Empress Dowager was reclining on her couch watching the second prince write. Seeing her enter, she instructed the second prince to withdraw and asked, “Are you here to plead for Linan Wang?”
Mingzhu shook her head. She wished he would die. Considering the bigger picture and not killing him immediately was already showing considerable restraint. How could she plead for him? But thinking of the past, of the fresh blood he had just shed, she inexplicably felt a sense of melancholy.
Seeing her melancholy, the Great Empress Dowager said, “There’s nothing wrong with being softhearted. After all, he has done you a great favor today; he hasn’t completely lost his conscience.” She paused. “There’s no point in saying this now. If you want to plead for him, I’ll grant you this one last favor.”
Why did everyone think she couldn’t bear to part with him? Mingzhu analyzed calmly, “He won’t die. He has already allied himself with Empress Dowager Min. He will be a sharp weapon. Empress Dowager Min won’t easily kill him; even if she severely punishes him, it’s only to make him hate us more and remember the lesson. Ying Wang won’t let him die either; otherwise, he would become someone who kills his brother for his wife. Ying Wangg probably wouldn’t want that reputation.” And sitting in front of her, the Great Empress Dowager wouldn’t easily let Empress Dowager Min kill someone and blame it on the Fu family. Yuwen You won’t die.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes brightened. “You finally understand. Your father didn’t do so much in vain. I was worried before that you couldn’t outplay the sixth prince, but now, I’m not too worried.” She glanced around, indicating to the accompanying Mu Gugu, “I have something to discuss with her. You stand guard at the door.”
Mu Gugu lowered her eyes and withdrew, patrolling around to confirm that no one was eavesdropping before standing guard at the door. The Great Empress Dowager gestured for Mingzhu to come forward and whispered, “Do you believe Auntie’s words?”
Mingzhu nodded, “Of course, I do.”
“You must remember Auntie’s words…” The Great Empress Dowager held Mingzhu’s hand, staring into her eyes. “You must remember, Yuwen Chu doesn’t have Fu’s blood flowing in his veins. Even if he treats you well, he can’t override his ambition. Even if the emperor needs to be replaced by someone, it should be someone with Fu’s blood, like Little Two and the others. Don’t believe his sweet words, but try to capture his heart. That way, you can live well.”
Mingzhu was astonished, “Auntie means?”
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