Chapter 224 Passing the Responsibility
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In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the engagement between Yuwen You and the Wusun Princess, a day auspiciously chosen by the Imperial Observatory. The weather was fine, with clear skies and crisp autumn air. Because it concerned the friendship between two nations, the ceremony was particularly grand.
In fact, this so-called engagement ceremony was just a public announcement of who the Linan Wang Wangfei was, followed by presenting various gifts to the Wusun people, and then the ceremony would be completed, waiting for the actual wedding day. The external ceremonies had to be meticulously carried out, and the palace ladies also needed to gather to witness the event.
Yuwen Chu was a deputy envoy, and he disappeared before dawn. Mingzhu leisurely got up, washed, and had breakfast before finally entering the palace when the sky had brightened. She was here just to watch the excitement. The palace ladies involved in the matter would only report to the Great Empress Dowager’s palace after the ceremony was over. Coming too early would only disturb the Great Empress Dowager’s peace.
After walking slowly and steadily, she finally arrived at the palace. There was still some distance to Changxin Palace. Laughter and chatter could be heard from inside, and palace servants like Sang Shen were waiting outside. When they saw her coming, they greeted her cheerfully, “The servant pays respects to the Wangfei.”
Seeing Mingzhu waive her formalities, Sang Shen stood up and went to support her. “The Great Empress Dowager was fretting about you last night, afraid that she might forget, so she kept instructing Mu Gugu to make delicious food for you. She woke up early this morning and sat waiting for you. When the sun was already high, and you hadn’t arrived yet, she got anxious and asked Mu Gugu if you had overslept again. It’s really annoying that Ying Wang doesn’t remind you! So, she had us waiting outside, and finally, you’re here!”
Mingzhu felt somewhat ashamed. Because of the poisoning incident earlier, her aunt had been worrying about her. Although there were rumors circulating among the palace staff, the concern of someone close, no matter how well others spoke of it, was never as good as seeing it with one’s own eyes. Originally, she wanted her aunt to rest a while longer, but she didn’t expect to make her worry instead. If she had known, she would have gotten up early with Yuwen Chu and come to accompany her aunt. So, she quickened her pace and walked into the palace.
Most of the people in the main hall had already arrived, as it involved a foreign princess, there were many more foreign palace ladies present, and even a few older grand princesses were present. The Great Empress Dowager was sitting high on the main seat, chatting with a few peer Great Chang Princesses and the wives of old nobles. Empress Dowager Min didn’t take a seat but stood behind the Great Empress Dowager, massaging her shoulders dutifully.
Imperial Consort Min was seated further away, with Funing standing behind her. There were also the Consort Xiao and several other consorts and concubines with sons, whispering softly. Further down were the consort Wangfeis of the previous generation, and even the Consort Ji of Shou Wang was present. Consort Ji’s face didn’t look good, with faint shadows under her eyes, but she still smiled and whispered to the people beside her.
Then there are the Wangfeis of her generation. The third and fifth princes of Yuwen Chu have long been executed for treason, leaving nothing behind, so naturally there is no place for their wives here. The fourth prince, Dai Wang, died early due to illness, leaving his consort sitting there like a wooden statue, as if covered in a layer of dust even on her new clothes. Then there’s the second prince, who lost his consort and got a concubine instead, sitting there always seeming a bit lower than others, with a constrained body and face. As for the princess consort of the seventh prince, she still has a round face full of childishness but likes to maintain the demeanor of a princess consort of a prince, stiffening her body and face without a trace of smile, as if afraid that smiling would tarnish her image. As for the eighth prince, Yuwen Long, and the ninth prince, Yuwen You, one hasn’t settled on a main consort yet while the other is in the process, so naturally, there are no traces of their female partners here.
Further down were a group of children from various large mansions, all laughing and chatting, eating and mingling with each other. They didn’t bother to look up when someone entered; they just continued playing. Mingzhu scanned the room but didn’t see Yuwen Xue’s shadow. It was a pity; it seemed she wouldn’t see her until after Yuwen Xue married the Wusun.
“Mingzhu, come over here! Look at yourself, you’re the last one to arrive among all these people! How should I punish you?” Empress Dowager Min was the first to notice Mingzhu. She immediately stopped and waved at her with a smile, exuding endless warmth and intimacy.
Mingzhu knew that Empress Dowager Min was afraid that the Great Empress Dowager would blame her for the poisoning incident from some time ago, so she quickly expressed her closeness to dispel any suspicion. Therefore, she walked over readily and coquettishly complained, “Empress Dowager, don’t be angry. I wanted to be the first to enter the palace, but who made me live the farthest away?”
What Mingzhu said was not wrong. Among all the mansions, Yuwen Chu’s Ying Wang Mansion was the farthest from the Imperial City. It was said that when Emperor Wen chose locations to build mansions for his fourth, fifth, and sixth sons, he allocated the land in one go. But by building so many at once, suitable places became scarce. Everyone wanted their mansion to be closer to the Imperial City because the closer it was, the more expensive it was, indicating favor and wealth. Only the less favored princes would be sent far away, because the Emperor didn’t want to see them, so he let them live farther away.
Emperor Wen wanted to treat everyone fairly, but he couldn’t ask other old ministers or royal relatives to make way for his own sons, but he also didn’t want his sons to complain that he was biased. Just as he was in a dilemma, Yuwen Chu took the initiative to suggest that he was the youngest and should give way to his two older brothers. Emperor Wen was pleased and gave him a large piece of land a little further away, built a decent mansion there, and left the other two princes near the Imperial City. The palaces of the other two princes were not as good as Yuwen Chu’s Ying Wang Mansion, both being old mansions renovated into new ones, and were very narrow.
And that’s not all. When Emperor Zhengqian ascended the throne, fearing that his brothers wouldn’t listen to him, he ruthlessly beheaded the third and fifth princes for not obeying him, confiscated their titles and properties, and killed their wives and children. Then, to appease his obedient brothers, Yuwen Chu’s mansion was brought up as an example of “honoring elders,” and Emperor Zhengqian, with a stroke of his pen, ordered a reconstruction of Yuwen Chu’s Ying Wang Mansion at public expense. So, Yuwen Chu’s Ying Wang Mansion outstripped other mansions by a large margin, shining with gold and jade, beautiful scenery, and spaciousness.
All the royal mansions were envious and resentful, thinking that Ying Wang was really living it up? Even though they said his mansion was far from the Imperial City, it wasn’t that far, still a prime location. When Mingzhu brought up this topic, the eyes of the other Wangfeis suddenly changed. Wasn’t she indirectly showing off? Here we are, all crowded together, barely able to turn around, and you two live so spacious and still complain it’s far!
Empress Dowager Min noticed the gazes of the others and immediately laughed, “This girl, trying to be coy even when she’s gotten the upper hand! Why don’t you ask your aunts and sisters-in-law if they’re willing to swap houses with you?”
“I don’t mind at all, but unfortunately, I’m not in charge. You should ask His Highness.” Mingzhu lightly shifted the responsibility onto Yuwen Chu, then turned around with a smile and bowed to the Great Empress Dowager.
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