Chapter 173: Any Disappointment?
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Mingzhu glared at Su Jin hatefully, “What do you mean? Are you saying I’m stupid?”
Su Jin lowered her head and whispered, “The maidservant meant that the Wangfei is straightforward and wouldn’t do such sinister things.”
“That’s more like it.” Mingzhu continued satisfactorily, “Of course, I’m not that kind of person, and His Highness shouldn’t think that way either. I’m just worried that the person behind the poisoning is too cunning, forcing us to think more.”
The story just now was true, not something she made up. In a previous life, after Min Baoyun took control of the Inner Palace, something similar did happen, but it involved another consort favored by Yuwen Bai and palace servants. Empress Dowager Min demanded severe punishment for those involved, and Min Baoyun enjoyed a period of prestige, but it was ultimately revealed to be a scheme staged by the Min family. Yuwen Bai couldn’t do anything to Empress Dowager Min or the Min family, so Min Baoyun had to bear the consequences alone. From then on, they never entered the Yongchun Palace where Min Baoyun resided. However, she did encounter Min Baoyun once later on. Min Baoyun probably had no one else to confide in and tearfully told her that she truly hadn’t done those things.
Regardless of whether Min Baoyun had done it or not, the current situation was very similar to that back then. She couldn’t help but think more about it.
The maidservants fell silent, and Mingzhu wasn’t in a hurry. Seeing her pale lips in the mirror, she applied some rose lip balm and then dabbed on some peach blush, satisfied, “Now my complexion looks much better. Give me a phoenix bun and that set of bright red silk dress embroidered with melons and dewdrops.”
Su Ju said anxiously, “Is the Wangfei going out? Su Lan hasn’t returned yet. I wonder what His Highness plans to do.”
Mingzhu said, “Let’s get ready first.” She regretted a little. When she woke up earlier and saw Yuwen Chu dressed so dignifiedly, she thought it was just his habit and didn’t think much of it. She even dressed up so beautifully, not realizing that she had been asleep for a day and night, and today was the day to return to the mansion. He should have been waiting for her to wake up and accompany her back. She had offended someone, so she had to go and apologize.
Su Lan walked in and said softly, “Steward Zhu said that the carriages and gifts were already prepared originally. He said that if Wangfei woke up this morning and was fine, we would all return together. If Wangfei couldn’t make it, he would go alone with the gifts. We’re waiting for the master’s instructions. Since the mansion hasn’t heard from us for so long, they sent someone to inquire. The person is waiting in the teahouse. What should we do, Wangfei?”
See, Yuwen Chu, that petty man, was waiting for her to apologize. Mingzhu inserted a hairpin with pearls and phoenix motifs into her hair bun, adjusted the pearl flowers on her temples, and smiled, “It’s okay. I’ll go ask His Highness personally. If the mountain doesn’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain. To err is human; to forgive, divine.” After a while, she finished dressing up. Feeling radiant, she thought even if she wanted to flirt and coax someone, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing. Then she took a sedan chair to find Yuwen Chu.
Su Lan had already heard Su Jin recounting Mingzhu’s remarks earlier and couldn’t help but blame her, “Since the Wangfei knows it’s troublesome, why deliberately provoke His Highness by siding with the person who harmed you?”
In fact, it was obvious that Mingzhu was just playing her part excessively. She didn’t know she could take advantage of the situation to appear pitiful and weak to curry favor, even pretending to be sick wasn’t proper, but she still provoked Yuwen Chu to anger and make him leave. Didn’t it perfectly fit the instigator’s plan to sow discord between them?
Mingzhu sighed, “If I’m domineering and kick people out, you’re not happy, saying I’m ignorant, jealous, and overbearing, lacking foresight, and foolish. If I yield and speak heart-to-heart with him, not even mentioning driving people away, just asking him to endure a little, I try my best to be gentle and kind, the result is still unhappiness. It’s really hard to please people.”
Su Lan sighed and led the way with her head down, “Wangye is currently in the southern prison. There are many men outside, so we need to walk slowly to let the people in front clear the way and avoid contact.”
It seemed that the couple had completely different thoughts, but she couldn’t figure out what was right. From a selfish perspective, of course, she hoped the two could harmonize, but with Mingzhu’s temperament, if she fell in love with Ying Wang despite everything, and Ying Wang… what would they do then? It’s better not to worry for Mingzhu, as worrying won’t help. Fortunately, Mingzhu is an open-minded person who can’t hide things in her heart and isn’t too foolish. Over time, she will figure it out on her own.
After walking for a while, Zhu Changsheng came panting. He first greeted Mingzhu with great joy and then, hearing Mingzhu’s call, tactfully suggested, “The prison is dirty, and I am afraid it will offend the Wangfei’s eyes. How about the Wangfei go ahead to the Watch Moon Pavilion and have a cup of hot tea, and I’ll go invite His Highness to come over? How about that?”
Mingzhu knew she was new here, and many things in the mansion wouldn’t be casually disclosed to her. Zhu Changsheng was just protecting her on behalf of Yuwen Chu, so she didn’t insist and just smiled, “Lead the way, Steward Zhu.” Thinking of how he had applied eye medicine for her that day, she glanced at him a few more times.
Zhu Changsheng noticed her gaze and turned back to smile ingratiatingly, saying, “Is the Wangfei feeling better? I heard you were sick, and it really worried me. His Highness didn’t even close his eyes for a day and night… His Highness’s concern for the Wangfei is beyond words.” Too bad you managed to anger him so quickly, quite impressive.
Mingzhu snorted, “There’s a saying that trouble lasts for a thousand years. Of course, I’m not so easily going to die. Are you disappointed?” There’s the notion of affinity between people, and she had never liked Zhu Changsheng from the beginning. She always felt that he was too scheming, his smile particularly fake. He thought he was so considerate, but she could tell just by looking at his eyes that he not only didn’t like her but also looked down on her, found fault with her, thought she was stupid, and didn’t deserve Yuwen Chu. Why? Just because he’s a mansion steward, and he’ll have to rely on her for his livelihood in the future. Why should she show him a good face?
Zhu Changsheng couldn’t force a smile and said dryly, “Wangfei is really fond of joking.”
Mingzhu smiled, “Yes, Steward Zhu is right. I do love to joke, so if I play a joke on you or something, don’t take it seriously.”
“No, no, if the Wangfei jokes with me, it’s my blessing. We’ve arrived at the Watch Moon Pavilion. Please!” Zhu Changsheng took two quick steps and came to the sedan chair, respectfully offering to help Mingzhu down.
Who asked you to help? Don’t dirty my hands. Mingzhu dodged slightly, placing her hand on Su Lan’s hand and said with a smile, “The Watch Moon Pavilion is a nice place.”
The Watch Moon Pavilion had a broad view, with purple bamboo planted behind the house, and a winding stream in front. The colorful stones in the water were interesting, and the chubby koi fish swam leisurely, adding to the charm. Mingzhu enjoyed the scenery as she walked and said with a smile, “Is this stream the one that flows through the North Garden?”
Even if she had done domineering and overbearing things, it didn’t seem to matter much. Hhe didn’t know whether Yuwen Chu was tolerating her because he didn’t want to pursue it or because of the Fu family’s power, or perhaps because she had been poisoned and it wasn’t convenient to pursue it. But judging from her attitude just now, he couldn’t gain favor with her. Zhu Changsheng pondered for a moment and deliberately flattered, “Wangfei is indeed clever, it’s that stream.”
Mingzhu glanced at him with indifference and said, “So, in Steward Zhu’s eyes, this counts as cleverness.”
Zhu Changsheng felt a bit embarrassed but didn’t show it on his face. He smiled even more pleasantly, “Please, Wangfei, this way. The scenery is best here. His Highness often rests here when he’s tired.”
Entering the room, Mingzhu looked around and saw the simple and elegant decorations. Especially the wicker rocking chair by the window looked particularly comfortable. She walked over and lay down comfortably for a few swings. Seeing Zhu Changsheng about to say something with a shy face, she simply drove him away, “Didn’t you say you were going to invite His Highness? Why aren’t you leaving?”
Zhu Changsheng hurriedly smiled and retreated. Su Lan looked at his stout back through the window and disagreed, “Why did the Wangfei provoke him? After all, he’s the chief steward from outside, one of His Highness’s most trusted people. Even if he’s not that great, there’s no need to be so obvious.”
Mingzhu coldly snorted, “He looks down on me, but I have to please him? What a joke! Is he the master, or am I the master? You guys are too tender-faced, and some things are not easy to say. If I argue with him, I’ll lose my identity. When I go back this time, remember to remind me to bring a particularly old and powerful Momo, specifically to deal with him.”
She should have had an old and wise Momo accompanying her, but she had had enough of the losses from her nurse, Geng Momo, and didn’t like having an old nanny bossing her around. So although she had brought four Momos as customary, they were all gentle, reserved, and skilled in some craft. They could only manage chores like managing maids, preparing herbal medicines, and passing messages inside and outside. Now it seemed necessary to have a tough and powerful old Momo to suppress him.
Zhu Changsheng left the Watch Moon Pavilion and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He looked gloomy and signaled to the accompanying servant, Que Er, “People from the Fu Mansion have arrived. I’ll go bring them over first to wait, so His Highness and the Wangfei don’t have to wait to find someone. You go to the prison and inform His Highness, saying the Wangfei is waiting at the Watch Moon Pavilion.”
Que Er hesitated, “Shouldn’t Steward Zhu go to see His Highness, and I’ll go invite the people from the Fu Mansion?” The Ying Wang Mansion was heavily guarded in three places: Yuwen Chu and Mingzhu’s residence, the Yinghui Hall, Yuwen Chu’s study, the Listen Snow Building, and the prison. The prison involved too many secrets and bloodshed, heavily guarded. The division of labor in the Ying Wang Mansion was clear, even Zhu Changsheng couldn’t casually enter. If there was something to do, he had to inform someone outside. What kind of face did he have to go in? He was afraid he couldn’t even get in the outer perimeter. This division of labor seemed thoughtful, but in reality, there were many problems. If the two masters quarreled over it, Zhu Changsheng was an old man with the Imperial Consort’s support, but the unlucky one would be him, a little shrimp.
Zhu Changsheng laughed at Que Er’s annoyance, then slapped his head hard, “You little brat, you’re getting cocky, daring to teach me how to do things?”
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