Chapter 290: Keeping Score
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Even in late autumn, even if the sun was shining brightly, it wasn’t necessarily hot. Yuwen Chu appeared composed, but his nose was slightly sweaty. Mingzhu thought he must have heard about her trouble in the palace and was anxious. So when she saw Yuwen Chu come in, she greeted him with extra joy and called out coquettishly, “Your Highness.”
Yuwen Chu smiled at her and softly asked, “Are you okay?”
Mingzhu couldn’t stand it when people were nice to her. Immediately, she exaggerated, tears welling up in her eyes, “No, they all bully me.” Empress Dowager Min was an old witch, and the little emperor was a little b*stard who bullied her. Even the Great Empress Dowager didn’t want to see her, let alone his own mother.
Yuwen Chu squeezed her hand and turned to look at Imperial Consort Min.
Imperial Consort Min had been facing the door, but when he came in, she turned away as if she didn’t want to see him at all. Could she not afford to provoke her daughter-in-law, let alone her son?
This was her way of sulking. Yuwen Chu thought for a moment and understood. He didn’t ask what had happened to Mingzhu but walked over to greet Imperial Consort Min with a smile, “Son pays respects to Mother.”
His voice was loud enough for everyone inside and outside the hall to hear, so Imperial Consort Min couldn’t pretend she didn’t hear it.
However, Imperial Consort Min was genuinely angry and turned away, refusing to acknowledge him.
Yuwen Chu had never been an obedient person. He stood up on his own and went to drink the tea Mingzhu had drunk and eat the plum blossom cakes from the plate, complaining, “It’s so busy. I had breakfast in the mansion early in the morning, and I haven’t eaten lunch yet. I haven’t even had tea.”
Imperial Consort Min deliberately ignored him, but Mingzhu took it seriously and angrily said, “How did Wei Tiande serve you? Couldn’t find food or tea? Just wait until I go back and deal with him!” She was going to find the gugu who manages things in the Guangming Hall and prepare some warm food for Yuwen Chu.
Comparing Imperial Consort Min’s attitude, she seemed very heartless, not caring about her son’s life or death. Imperial Consort Min felt aggrieved, her face stiff, “Since Wei Tiande can’t serve well, why keep him? Just bring him over and beat him to death.”
Mingzhu was shocked. The always gentle and kind Imperial Consort Min actually said such words? She was even more malicious and unreasonable than her!
In Yuwen Chu’s heart, it was as clear as a mirror that Imperial Consort Min was deliberately testing Mingzhu. Seeing Mingzhu looking silly, with a bewildered and surprised expression, completely unaware of what Imperial Consort Min was up to, he couldn’t help but want to laugh. He smiled warmly and said, “It’s not that Wei Tiande didn’t serve well, but the food delivered didn’t suit my taste, and I was too busy, so I missed mealtime.”
Imperial Consort Min’s complexion became even more unsightly. She pulled out an envelope from her sleeve and tossed it on the table, saying sternly, “Someone asked me to give this to Your Highness. You can handle it yourself! It’s getting late, and it’s not good to keep you overnight in the palace. You can go!”
Yuwen Chu took the envelope, glanced at the blank cover, and calmly opened it. Inside were two sheets of paper, one detailing the method of making glass, and the other describing the method of making fragrant soap. He had seen this handwriting once before, written by Jiang Shanshan herself. Without a change in expression, he quietly folded them back and put them back into the envelope. He didn’t say much to Imperial Consort Min, only stating, “The Great Empress Dowager will soon issue a decree for Funing’s marriage. Mother can start preparing her dowry for her. If it’s too busy, you can send for Mingzhu to help. She’s capable of handling these trivial matters and can save you a lot of effort.”
Seeing that he wasn’t worried or ashamed because of his mother’s anger, and instead praising Mingzhu like this, Imperial Consort Min was infuriated to the point of feeling pain in her liver. She wanted to say some harsh words, but felt that it didn’t fit her gentle and polite image. So she remained silent with a stern face.
Yuwen Chu placed the envelope back on the table and said very politely, “Mingzhu and I will take our leave. Mother, please rest early and don’t overexert yourself.” He then sternly instructed Xia Yan Gugu and the others, “Make sure to take good care of the Imperial Consort. Otherwise, I won’t forgive you.”
“Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured. We servants will definitely take good care of Her Majesty the Imperial Consort.” Xia Yan Gugu, seeing that he didn’t take the envelope, became anxious and reminded him indirectly, “Your Highness, you forgot something.”
Yuwen Chu glanced at her, his gaze as sharp as a blade. Xia Yan Gugu trembled with fear and didn’t dare to meet his eyes. She quickly bowed and respectfully sent him and Mingzhu off without daring to say another word.
Yuwen Chu withdrew his gaze and gestured to Mingzhu, “Let’s go.”
As they walked out of the hall, they heard Imperial Consort Min’s sobbing from behind, “What sin have I committed to raise such an unfilial child?”
Although she didn’t mention Mingzhu at all, Mingzhu knew that Imperial Consort Min’s dissatisfaction was all directed at her. The reason she didn’t mention her or scold her was because she didn’t dare to provoke the Great Empress Dowager, so she let Yuwen Chu take all the blame. Mingzhu felt a little guilty, but she couldn’t agree with Imperial Consort Min’s point of view or listen to her words.
She glanced quietly at Yuwen Chu and saw him walking forward calmly and steadily, as if each step was measured with a ruler, orderly and unaffected by Imperial Consort Min’s influence at all. Mingzhu quietly approached him and reached her hand into his wide sleeve, gently holding his hand.
Yuwen Chu noticed her small gesture and immediately gently held her hand back. His hand was warm, dry, and powerful, just the right size to envelop her hand completely. Mingzhu felt very safe, warm, and comfortable. She couldn’t help but lean closer to him and whispered, “I’m not a virtuous person.”
Yuwen Chu smiled faintly, “The definition of virtue as I understand it may be different from what others think.”
Mingzhu immediately felt relieved again. If he didn’t care, why bother worrying about what others thought! She was very satisfied and chatted with him incessantly, “I didn’t oppose Royal Mother. I didn’t like what she said, but I didn’t argue with her. I just listened quietly.”
But he didn’t listen, still expressionless, looking dissatisfied. Yuwen Chu had seen how she dealt with people who annoyed her but couldn’t afford to provoke them, so he could understand Imperial Consort Min’s mood. It was difficult for her to endure finally being a mother-in-law after so long, but encountering such an unreasonable daughter-in-law who didn’t care about her was truly frustrating.
However, he believed that he had enough ability to manage the affairs of the harem and didn’t need his birth mother to worry about them. Naturally, he praised Mingzhu, “Indeed very sensible. If you could be tolerant and not argue with the old lady and not hold it in your heart, it would be even better.”
Mingzhu made Imperial Consort Min cry, and he didn’t say a word to defend himself. She also felt a little embarrassed and said, “Won’t mind, won’t mind. Why bother arguing with your own elders?”
Yuwen Chu was even more satisfied. He asked her softly, “What reward do you want?”
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