Chapter 149 She Disdains
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In the Guangming Hall, Imperial Consort Min looked at Yuwen Chu beside her with emotion. “Funing said you hit her.”
Yuwen Chu remained calm. “Yes. She went too far. Although Royal Mother is fond of her, she shouldn’t pamper her excessively, otherwise it would harm her. Now, the consequences are beginning to show. I heard that a few days ago, because a palace maid accidentally broke her favorite jade cup, she actually ordered the maid’s hand to be crippled?”
“Ah, that wasn’t intentional, it was an accident.” Being accused by her son directly, Imperial Consort Min felt a bit embarrassed and unable to save face. “Because of Consort Zhou, I had a difficult childbirth when I gave birth to Funing. She almost suffocated to death when she was born. She had a tough time growing up, only speaking fluently at the age of three. The late Emperor felt guilty, and couldn’t bear to punish Consort Zhou, so he pampered Funing even more. The Great Empress Dowager also treated her especially well and even suppressed Mingzhu to cater to her. She was spoiled since childhood and had a long-standing conflict with Mingzhu and is sisters with Jiang Shanshan, so she couldn’t accept it. Even if she’s wrong, you should give her some face in front of Mingzhu. Just scold her a few times, why resort to violence? If necessary, you can leave her discipline to me. It’s not a good thing for sister-in-law relations to be so strained. By being so stubborn, you’ll only make her dislike Mingzhu even more.”
“Exactly because of this, I have always been tolerant of her, but she shouldn’t take advantage of this to act recklessly. This is seeking a dead end. If she were just foolish, it would be fine, but she also has a bit of self-righteous cleverness. Last time, she was punished to run around the Zhaoyang Palace and almost died, but she didn’t seem to learn her lesson. Presumably, she wouldn’t listen to Royal Mother’s words either. If reasoning doesn’t work, then we have to resort to force. Pain will make her remember. Royal Mother doesn’t want to see her end up dead, right?” Yuwen Chu said calmly. “In terms of seniority, Mingzhu is her sister-in-law, she is her younger sister. The elder sister should be respected, but she’s arrogant and disrespectful even to her noble sister-in-law. It will be even worse when she marries into another family. Therefore, this rule must be established, otherwise it will cause more trouble in the future. Moreover, in terms of blood relationship, she and I are siblings. No matter how fierce the conflict is, she is still my sister.”
Fu Mingzhu was different. She was always someone from another family, the Great Empress Dowager’s most favored niece. If she went too far, it would alienate everyone. So, it was right for Funing to yield. Since she didn’t understand humility and submission, and wanted to cause trouble maliciously, she should suffer. Imperial Consort Min understood this principle and knew her son’s decision and judgment were correct, but when it involved her own daughter, his words sounded cold and harsh, making her uncomfortable. “Of course, I understand the reason, but… ah, let’s not talk about this. I heard Mingzhu drove away Xuancao this morning… I’m not lamenting the loss of a maidservant, but you were too biased towards her as soon as she arrived. I’m afraid you won’t be able to control her in the future.”
Yuwen Chu smiled. “Royal Mother is overthinking. As long as her and your son work together wholeheartedly, why would I need to control her? Besides, what happened this morning was caused by Xuancao’s own disrespect. It was my order to let Xuancao leave, and it had nothing to do with Mingzhu. If Mingzhu makes a mistake in the future, I won’t spare her either.”
At this point, Imperial Consort Min couldn’t press him any further. She understood her son’s temperament the best – he was the most inscrutable but not unfeeling or disloyal. Since he said he would handle things impartially, he wasn’t deceiving her. He had always been indifferent to matters of romance, managing the concubines in his mansion as required, and despite many years in the mansion, none had received his favor. They were merely maintained in luxury. He had gone to great lengths to marry Fu Mingzhu, so naturally, he cherished her like his own eyes. Even if she, as his mother, lacked tact, she still had to be mindful of his feelings.
Imperial Consort Min remembered the bloody gift presented by the young Emperor in the morning and couldn’t help but sigh again, worrying, “I don’t care about your household affairs. It would be good if you could give me a grandchild early. But you must be careful outside. In the past, you were just a frivolous prince who loved wealth, and they didn’t trouble us, as long as they were willing to spend money. Even the people from Zhaoyang Palace was generous. But now it’s different. You married the daughter of the Fu family, which is equivalent to standing against them. What happened this morning is just the beginning.”
“Royal Mother is afraid?” Yuwen Chu looked at Imperial Consort Min with a burning gaze, his eyes flickering with flames, making him look different from usual.
Imperial Consort Min had seen such eyes in too many people, such as when Emperor Wenzong was plotting for the crown prince position. She was startled and lost her voice, “You, you…”
“What is wrong?” Yuwen Chu sat calmly, smiling lightly. “Is Royal Mother afraid?”
Imperial Consort Min pressed down her pounding heart and took a few breaths before saying, “Tell me the truth. Did you marry her to gain more influence or because you like her more?”
Yuwen Chu shook his head. “I don’t deny that I wanted to gain influence by marrying into the Fu family, but I also genuinely like her.”
Imperial Consort Min pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, “Since you have such ambitions, I have some advice for you. If you don’t love her but only care about your ambitions, that’s fine. But since you love her so much, I’m afraid you’ll end up empty-handed in the end. What kind of temperament is Fu Mingzhu? Don’t you know? Just because she was married to you to avenge Yuwen You, she could immediately abandon her past and regard it as enmity. You…”
“I can’t just sit and wait for death.” Yuwen Chu’s eyes dimmed. “If I don’t try, I won’t be content…” He had waited for so many years, almost thinking it was impossible and had given up hope, but heaven had delivered an opportunity to him. How could he miss it again?
“You, you’re just like the late Emperor.” Empress Dowager Min sighed helplessly, speaking softly. “The Great Empress Dowager was wise and capable. The late Emperor respected her, but he didn’t love her. He claimed to favor me, but it was only because I was obedient and knew how to serve him well, making him comfortable and content. It also allowed him to redirect some of the jealousy towards Consort Zhou. His true love was for Consort Zhou. After her passing, he followed soon after… Since you have such intentions, you must understand what matters most. Earlier, Second Miss Jiang sent someone to plead with me, asking me to speak favorably to the Great Empress Dowager on her behalf, begging her not to arrange her marriage with Anyang Wang. I agreed.”
Imperial Consort Min said up to this point, she looked at Yuwen Chu inquiringly, but only saw Yuwen Chu listening expressionlessly, showing no signs at all. She had to make her words clear: “The bracelet I gave to Mingzhu today was originally a pair. Previously, while your engagement with Jiang Shanshan still existed, I gave her one as a reward. I intended to give her the other one after your grand wedding, but things turned out differently. I felt ashamed to ask for it back from her, so I intended to let it go, but since she is unwilling to marry Anyang Wang as the principal wife, she must still have feelings for you… so I thought…”
Yuwen Chu said calmly, “So Royal Mother gave Mingzhu the other one?”
Seeing that he was not pleased, Imperial Consort Min also felt displeased. She angrily threw the teacup aside and said, “You want to scheme for major affairs, right? Do you still think you don’t have enough people helping you? Although the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion is not as influential as the Fu family, it has its own uniqueness. It’s a family with a long history and deep roots. It’s most valuable that the child understands righteousness deeply and wholeheartedly supports you. Even if she changes from the principal wife to the side consort, she doesn’t care. What else do you want? In terms of family background and appearance, she is not inferior to Mingzhu, let alone her talent. Why are you still picky? Anyway, you have to take a side consort. Marrying a wife should focus on virtue. Isn’t it good to have one more person who genuinely cares about you by your side?”
Yuwen Chu frowned, “Royal Mother thought of this herself, or did someone tell you this?” Thinking of the half of the blueprint Jiang Shanshan presented, he remained vigilant. After the incident, Fu Cong or himself, they had investigated whether there was any leakage of secrets regarding the blueprint, but strangely, there was no clue indicating that Jiang Shanshan had the opportunity to contact relevant personnel. From her appearance, it seemed that she had no intention of giving it to anyone else, and she didn’t even think that they had the full blueprint, let alone that they would even make the actual object. It was as if that half of the blueprint was just a sudden inspiration of her own.
“That bracelet was bestowed by the late Emperor, with extraordinary significance! If I don’t give it to her, but Jiang Shanshan has one, what would she think? One for each person, fair and just!” Imperial Consort Min said angrily, “In your eyes, am I and your sister just ignorant fools? Let me tell you, no one told me these things. I was the one who arranged this marriage in the early years because I liked that child and already regarded her as my own. She suffered grievances, and I spoke up for her. What’s wrong with that? Old Six, being a person, must have conscience and morality. She was almost dying, being laughed at and unable to go out, yet she had to endure it. Are you all happy and comfortable, but can’t spare a thought for her?”
Yuwen Chu saw her getting angry, but didn’t argue with her. He calmly said after she finished speaking, “So if she becomes a side consort, and then watches us be happy and comfortable every day, she will be happy and comfortable?”
“You…” Imperial Consort Min was rendered speechless by his rebuttal. She grabbed a nearby cushion and threw it at him in anger, saying, “So everything I just said was in vain? You can’t tolerate her, will you only have Fu Mingzhu in the future? Then what are you scheming for major affairs?” Grinding her teeth, she said, “There’s no such rule in the royal family! I won’t allow it! Even the Great Empress Dowager can’t say that a prince can only have her niece as a consort!”
Yuwen Chu lowered his eyes and adjusted his cuffs calmly. He said lightly, “Then I’m afraid Royal Mother will be disappointed.”
Suddenly, a palace maid whispered outside the hall, “Your Highness, there’s something I need to report.”
Mother and son glanced at each other, both pursing their lips.
The palace maid continued, “I don’t know why, but the Empress Dowager of Zhaoyang Palace summoned Second Miss Jiang to the palace. Princess encountered Second Miss Jiang in the Imperial Garden and had a confrontation with the Wangfei.”
Imperial Consort Min, who had always liked and pampered Jiang Shanshan, felt even more worried and anxious after hearing this. “Is there a conflict?” If Fu Mingzhu had a gentle temperament, it would be fine, but she had a fierce temper and was always instigated by Funing. It was easy to imagine what kind of situation it would turn into.
But Yuwen Chu said decisively, “She won’t cause trouble, she disdains it.”
Imperial Consort Min knew he was referring to Mingzhu, and said irritably, “How do you know?” She quickly called her most trusted Xia Yan Gugu, “Go and see what’s happening!”
Xia Yan Gugu had not yet stood up when the palace maid said, “Wangfei is here!”
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