Chapter 272: Tailor-made
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Li Quanxin’s blows knocked Liansheng off balance, but when she got up, she still showed no signs of weakness. She looked straight at Mingzhu and shouted, “Fu family, the traitors should all be punished! Five years ago, during the flood in Cangzhou, it was your father and brothers who embezzled and misappropriated state funds, which caused the breach of the Han River and the flooding of Cangzhou! Tens of thousands of lives were lost! Fu Mingzhu! You lived a life of luxury at the expense of the people, with no remorse or guilt. My whole family died in that flood, leaving only me alive. I only wish I could kill you myself, so what’s a curse to you? Do you want to kill us? Come on! This just proves that you are a vicious, arrogant, and selfish person! Your Majesty, Ying Wang, you are just a spineless opportunist!”
Her words were venomous, and Mingzhu couldn’t help but worry for Yuwen Chu. She had endured enough of these insults. Even more vicious words had been said to her before, but not to Yuwen Chu. She doubted he had ever heard anything so harsh. She looked at Yuwen Chu sadly, wanting to comfort him, but couldn’t find the right words. She couldn’t just say, “I know you’re not a spineless opportunist,” could she?
Yuwen Chu noticed her gaze and gave her a reassuring look before saying calmly, “Originally, a slave like you didn’t deserve even a bit of attention from me or the Wangfei, just a punishment according to the rules. But since you’ve tarnished the reputation of the Wangfei and her family, I can’t stay silent.”
He looked around and said loudly, “The flood in Cangzhou was during the reign of Emperor Wenzong. It was a matter of the former emperor’s trust in Yang Zizhou, who failed to dam the Han River, leading to the flood in Cangzhou. At that time, Minister Fu submitted three memorials, urging the former emperor to dredge the Han River instead of blocking it, but the former emperor was deceived by villains and refused to heed Minister Fu’s advice, resulting in a great disaster. Because of this incident, the former emperor was always unhappy and, before his death, held Minister Fu’s hand and said that he shouldn’t have trusted Yang Zizhou and should have listened to Minister Fu’s advice. The villain who caused this calamity, Yang Zizhou, and his accomplices have long been punished. You, little girl, know nothing, yet dare to speak out and slander innocent people!”
Wasn’t it said that children shouldn’t be blamed for their parents’ mistakes? Well, he didn’t care, speaking so readily about the former emperor’s mistakes. Mingzhu couldn’t help but smirk. She was young when the flood in Cangzhou happened and didn’t know the details. Even if she wanted to defend her father and brothers, she couldn’t find any strong evidence to convince others. But he explained it clearly and straightforwardly.
Now that he had proven that her father and brothers were not traitors, then he certainly wasn’t a spineless opportunist. How subtle. Mingzhu suddenly found Yuwen Chu particularly pleasing to the eye, and the unpleasantness caused by Zhou Nushi was completely gone. Who doesn’t have a bit of trouble in their family? Locked up in this backyard, representing various factions, their engagement was unwanted by many. How could there be no disturbance? She should be more generous. With monsters around, she’s not afraid. When she beats them all down, he’ll still take care of her.
Thinking this, Mingzhu reached out and lightly hooked Yuwen Chu’s little finger, giving it a gentle shake.
Yuwen Chu’s eyes flashed with a hint of a smile, but his expression remained dignified and inviolable. “Li Quanxin, in such a situation, according to the rules of the mansion, how should this be handled?”
Li Quanxin said, “In response to Your Highness, in such a situation, the punishment should be severe for betrayal and ingratitude. Liansheng should be beaten to death with sticks and her body abandoned in the wilderness. As for Zhou Nushi, we need to see if she was aware of the situation and if she condoned the wrongdoing of her servant. If so, her rank should be stripped, she should receive twenty strokes, and be sentenced to hard labor. If not, she should still bear some joint responsibility.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Nushi, who had been prostrate on the ground without moving, finally reacted. She lifted her head, looked at Mingzhu with pleading eyes, and tremblingly said, “Wangfei, Wangfei, I was wrong, I was wrong. I didn’t know anything. Please give me a way out! Please give me a way out! I will surely remember your great kindness in the future! Whatever you ask me to do, I will do.”
She didn’t seek forgiveness from Yuwen Chu but only from Mingzhu. It was because she had just realized that his heart was like iron, that man in the high position, his thoughts were unpredictable. She had originally thought that he might have some sentimentality towards her, but once she made a mistake, he abandoned her like an old shoe. It was better to seek forgiveness from Mingzhu, the pampered noblewoman, although she had a temper, her heart was the softest. Despite her dominance, she hadn’t truly harmed anyone’s life during all this time.
Ping Nushi frowned when she saw this. She had been waiting for Zhou Nushi to make a mistake like this. If she didn’t take the opportunity to deal with Zhou Nushi now, it would be difficult to handle her later. She immediately said, “Zhou Nushi, stop pretending! Liansheng has been with you since she was nine years old, learning from you how to read, sew, and manage household affairs. She has always been loyal to you. Dare you say you didn’t know anything about this?”
Zhou Nushi was filled with hatred, but wisely chose not to argue with her. She just looked at Mingzhu pleadingly and said, “Please, Your Highness, give me a way out. I am willing to do anything for you.”
She had been so proud before, not even bending when thrown into the water. But now, she suddenly abandoned all her dignity and begged like this. Was it because she had given up hope on Yuwen Chu? Even if Mingzhu spared her, Zhou Nushi would never be able to hold her head high among these concubines again, let alone become a leader. At the same time, Mingzhu could gain a reputation for kindness and benevolence. With no legitimate son born yet, it seemed that Yuwen Chu had no intention of having one with Zhou Nushi.
Was she going to take this opportunity to get rid of Zhou Nushi, or was she going to handle this impartially? Mingzhu pondered for a long time and finally made up her mind. She looked at Yuwen Chu and said, “Your Highness, I would like to handle this matter personally. What do you think?”
“This is an internal matter of the mansion. Please feel free to handle it, Wangfei.” Yuwen Chu gestured to her, indicating that he wouldn’t interfere.
Mingzhu smiled slightly at him, then composed herself and said solemnly, “Today’s matter involves many people. We cannot simply judge who is guilty and who is innocent based on one side’s words. Liansheng, don’t take us all for fools. You, a servant girl, cannot dare to do such bold things alone. Let’s investigate according to the rules. Once we find out the truth, whoever is guilty will be punished accordingly. Don’t come to me for mercy. Although I am softhearted, I will not condone evil. The innocent won’t be wronged, and the guilty won’t escape punishment. That’s all.”
Yuwen Chu half-closed his eyes, as if he was about to fall asleep, but there was a happy smile on his lips. This was the Fu Mingzhu he liked—she didn’t take advantage of others’ lives for personal gain, nor did she let evildoers off the hook due to a moment of weakness. With proper rewards and punishments, one could truly gain respect. It was just like she was tailor-made for him, perfectly suitable.
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