Chapter 143: The Disaster of Beauty
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Calling you auntie means considering you as the primary figure, but if we call you Shenniang, it emphasizes uncle. Mingzhu had never thought she was so clever and insightful at this moment. She unexpectedly understood Yuwen Fu’s meaning in an instant and couldn’t help but feel a little pleased. “It’s all the same. Call me whatever you want.”
Yuwen Fu pursed his lips, smiled sweetly at her, and then forcefully placed something in her palm, whispering, “This is a wedding gift from my mother.” With a respectful bow, he returned to the side of the Great Empress Dowager.
Mingzhu wanted to see what it was, but the Great Empress Dowager urged her, “Go quickly. You’re married now, don’t think it’s the same as when you were a girl before. He respects and values you; that’s your blessing. Don’t get arrogant.”
Mingzhu could only bow and leave. When she walked out of the hall, Yuwen Chu stood facing her, admiring chrysanthemums in the corridor. Upon hearing her footsteps, he said, “Let’s go see my mother now. The Great Empress Dowager probably will summon you if she has something. It will rain later if we delay.”
Mingzhu looked up at the clear blue sky and smiled, “I don’t see any signs of rain.”
Yuwen Chu just smiled and said nothing, leading the way forward.
If he didn’t want to talk to her, then so be it. Mingzhu pouted at him and lowered her head to look at the thing in her palm—a translucent jade cicada tied with a red string. The string looked a bit old, even rough near the hole.
It’s strange. If he wants to give her something, why would he hesitate to use a good rope? Even if times are tough, it’s not like he couldn’t find a decent piece of silk rope, right? But this thing is indeed good. Just as Mingzhu was about to put away the jade cicada, she saw Yuwen Chu approaching and asking, “Isn’t this the beloved item of royal brother in his early years? Where did you get it from?”
Annoyed that he wouldn’t tell her how he knew it would rain, Mingzhu retorted, “Isn’t Your Highness supposed to be clairvoyant? You guess.”
Yuwen Chu pretended to stroke his chin and said, “I remember this thing was a gift from the royal brother to Consort Li. Fu Er just whispered to you, so it must be his thank-you gift to you. Thank you for meddling, not only did you pull him out of Yihe Palace, but you also saved his life and set him on a good path by sending him to the Great Empress Dowager’s side. This kid is not bad, and it seems that this thing is the most precious to him. Being by Consort Li side, this must be his most treasured item. Not changing the rope is because it was given by the late emperor, and he couldn’t bear to change it.”
Mingzhu couldn’t help but glare at him, “I didn’t ask you to tell me how smart you are! I can figure it out myself.”
“Yes, you’re very smart,” Yuwen Chu smiled, intimately unfastening the purse hanging from her waist and putting the jade cicada inside. “Don’t be mad at me. I observe the stars, so I knew there would be heavy rain today.”
Alright, he had to come and tell her how smart he was and that he observes the stars. Pretty impressive though.
Mingzhu smiled at Yuwen Chu and pulled him forward, “Then does my husband know how to read divination? Help me figure out where the earring I lost the other day went?”
Yuwen Chu made a motion as if to flick her forehead and scolded, “Alright, you’re treating me, a dignified prince, like a fortune teller?”
Mingzhu glared at him, “A dignified prince acting so invisibly and making a scene in the palace, what kind of decorum is this?”
Yuwen Chu chuckled, “Touche.”
“I came at the wrong time and disturbed both of you.” Princess Funing approached with two palace maids, her tone first critical and disdainful as she raised her chin to glance at Mingzhu, “Royal Mother got up early and waited for you. She was so scared by what happened earlier, and you deliberately delayed coming. It’s a pity, causing her worry for no reason. Is this your filial piety? Or do you consider no one in your eyes?”
Such a fool, even refusing to call her sister-in-law, thinking it would embarrass her, but not realizing it would embarrass Yuwen Chu as well. Time to teach this stubborn little idiot a lesson! Mingzhu hugged Yuwen Chu’s arm affectionately and raised her chin proudly in response to Princess Funing’s challenge. She didn’t say anything but signaled Yuwen Chu to walk faster.
Provoked by Mingzhu’s defiance and taunt, Princess Funing couldn’t help but get angry. She rushed forward, forcefully pulling Mingzhu’s hand apart and angrily exclaimed, “How dare you behave so wantonly in broad daylight! Where did your manners and etiquette go? Aren’t you afraid of embarrassing my sixth brother!?”
Indeed, she was quite foolish, having been repeatedly taught yet never learning. Mingzhu immediately obediently let go of Yuwen Chu’s arm, taking advantage of the force from Princess Funing’s push to stumble and fall to the ground.
Sure enough, Yuwen Chu quickly supported her, and with a dark expression, he glared at Princess Funing and coldly demanded, “You immediately apologize to your sister-in-law. Right now!”
When did Fu Mingzhu become so delicate? Princess Funing was stunned for a moment, then her eyes reddened, and she angrily retorted, “I won’t! I won’t apologize!”
Mingzhu stood on the side, took advantage of Yuwen Chu’s distraction, and triumphantly curled her lips at Princess Funing, full of disdain and mockery. She knew that quarreling with such a fool was boring, but if she let this fool trample all over her, it would be even more boring. As sworn enemies from two lifetimes, they couldn’t reconcile anyway. Since she couldn’t avoid it, she might as well make Princess Funing fear her.
Princess Funing was indeed deeply provoked. She wanted to rush up and cause trouble for Mingzhu, but she was also afraid of Yuwen Chu. Not going up there was really infuriating, but she couldn’t help but cry out loudly, “Sure enough, after marrying a wife, you forget your mother and sister! She’s just a shameless fox spirit! Second Sister Jiang is such a good person, and you just let her down! You’ve been dragging her for so many years, and now you just want to discard her as you please, making Second Sister Jiang almost sick to death for you!”
“I’m telling you to apologize to your sister-in-law right away.” Yuwen Chu repeated his words from just now, his expression indifferent, his pressure palpable.
Princess Funing was somewhat frightened. Her lips trembled for a moment, and when she met Mingzhu’s mocking and disdainful gaze, she couldn’t help but stomp her foot and burst into tears again, “I won’t! I won’t! Do you dare to kill me?”
Yuwen Chu remained silent, looking coldly at Princess Funing. She took a step back, not daring to meet his gaze. Although she felt extremely wronged, she seemed to be on the verge of surrendering.
Was it enough to just give in like this? That wouldn’t do. Mingzhu timely cleared her throat and whispered, “Let it go. After all, we’re family. It’s not good to make a scene and let others laugh at us.”
Princess Funing suddenly exploded like a lit powder keg, turning around to confront Mingzhu, roaring, “Shut up! You have no right to interfere! Be careful, I…” Before she could finish her threat, she was harshly slapped by Yuwen Chu. Although it wasn’t very loud, for these siblings, it was earth-shattering.
Mingzhu couldn’t bear to look, was this really okay? On the first day of their marriage, she forced him to send away the personal maid gifted to him by Imperial Consort Min, then provoked the young emperor to anger, and now caused his younger sister to lose control… She truly was a disaster for those around her, but it felt so satisfying.
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