Chapter 299: Conflict
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The Great Empress Dowager stood outside the Chongzheng Hall, silently looking at the empty space ahead.
The Han white jade floor tiles had been cleaned spotlessly, and nothing could be seen on them. Nearby, the towering Jiuzhou Terrace, built by the Emperor Taizong, faced the Four Seas Terrace on the other side, guarding the Chongzheng Hall in the center. The three buildings connected together always gave a sense of majestic oppression.
At this moment, she felt this sense of oppression particularly strongly. The high terrace required one to strain their neck to look up, and when she was young and stood on it looking down, just a glance made her dizzy and weak.
But Rong Ming had jumped down from above.
He descended like a big bird, smashing his head straight down, clearly meaning he didn’t want to live anymore. And she, watching from afar, was powerless. She couldn’t even rush over to see him one last time. All she could see was the shocking blood on the Han white jade floor tiles, like a sharp invisible dagger, stabbing into her heart, crushing it into pieces, making it painful to breathe.
She felt like she had no heart anymore, like she was a person without a heart or lungs. Her husband was dead, her son was dead, her beloved was dead, yet here she was, still alive, thinking about Fu family’s future, thinking about Yuwen family’s territory, thinking about who should sit on the throne… People like her, were they originally people without a heart or lungs?
She stared at the empty space for too long, and her second son Yuwen Fu, supporting her, felt a little scared and quietly tugged at her sleeve, reminding her in a low voice, “Grandmother…”
The Great Empress Dowager withdrew her expressionless gaze and looked at the people standing silently on the side. The members of the imperial clan all had gloomy faces, seemingly daring to be angry but not daring to speak; the ministers all lowered their heads, seemingly burdened with worries they couldn’t express; the young emperor Yuwen Bai stood aside, his lips carrying a hint of sarcasm, provocatively staring at her; Yuwen Chu stood among the imperial clan, half-closing his eyes, calm and peaceful; Min’s people, although they wanted to pretend to be calm, couldn’t conceal the joy at the corners of their lips.
The Great Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and pointed loudly to the place where Rong Ming had died, “Convey my decree: Rong Ming was loyal to the lord, with great achievements. Pardon the crimes of the Rong family, restore their reputation, and give him a grand burial.”
As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar. Yuwen Bai’s eyelids twitched, his face full of resentment, wanting to speak, but his maternal uncle—Empress Dowager Min’s older brother, Minister of War Shangshu, Min Shixing, immediately cleared his throat and signaled to him with his eyes. Yuwen Bai reluctantly pursed his thin lips, his face darkened, glowering at the officials of the Qingliu faction.
Finally, an imperial censor stepped forward. This was a rising star from a humble background, known for his loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, and commitment to upholding the legitimacy of the imperial lineage. Naturally, he couldn’t tolerate the influence of palace women and the domination of the imperial relatives. Therefore, he spoke out passionately, saying, “Your Majesty, this is not appropriate…”
Before he could finish speaking, the Great Empress Dowager erupted, “How is it inappropriate? Where is it inappropriate?”
The censor wanted to say that this eunuch had caused turmoil in the court, and you cannot openly reward and bury him like this, otherwise it would disgrace the royal family, but in the face of the Great Empress Dowager’s anger and the expressionless Min family and the nearby Fu family, he ultimately didn’t have the courage to say it. As he hesitated with his words, the Great Empress Dowager erupted again, “Guards, take this disrespectful person away and give him forty strokes of the rod!”
No one dared to plead for him, they could only watch as he was dragged away and punished severely. Yuwen Bai raged, hating that this scoundrel was useless and didn’t dare to bravely expose the Great Empress Dowager’s shameful deeds in public, locking her away in the harem once and for all and preventing her from meddling in state affairs publicly.
Min Shixing was also very unhappy, looking at the officials of the Qingliu faction with a gloomy face, hoping that someone would come forward according to the agreement they had made earlier, boldly revealing the Great Empress Dowager’s face. But whoever he saw among them, they all silently lowered their eyes. These unreliable people who didn’t keep their promises! Min Shixing stared at one of the censors known for his eloquence, wishing he could shout out his name and push him out.
Just at this moment, Fu Cong coughed lightly, calmly saying, “We will obey the Great Empress Dowager’s decree. It’s getting late, both the Great Empress Dowager and the Emperor should rest. Let’s disperse.”
So everyone silently bowed and left in succession.
Even if Yuwen Bai was foolish, he knew that the trick he had arranged had been exposed by the Fu family in advance. These people had either been bribed or threatened. In any case, they had betrayed him. His hands trembled nervously, and he pointed his finger at Fu Cong, grinding his teeth, “Fu Xiang!”
Fu Cong had already walked far away, but upon hearing this, he stopped, respectfully bowing to him, and then asked with some confusion, “What orders, Your Majesty?”
Yuwen Bai angrily exclaimed, “How dare you…”
“How dare you?!” The Great Empress Dowager interrupted, stepping forward to stand in front of Yuwen Bai, raising her hand, and decisively slapping him across the face. She stood with her back to the courtiers outside, her grand and complex palace attire covering her actions tightly, except for Fu Cong, Min Shixing, and the remaining Yuwen Fu, no one else knew that Yuwen Bai had received such a resounding slap from her.
Although those who witnessed it wouldn’t spread it, Yuwen Bai couldn’t deceive himself. He, the majestic emperor, had been slapped by an old witch who had usurped his position! And it was a slap across the face, and it was so loud! He couldn’t bear it, he screamed childishly, wanting to rush over and attack the Great Empress Dowager, Yuwen Fu rushed out tremblingly, bravely standing in front of the Great Empress Dowager, his face flushed, opening his arms in fear, trying to stop the mad Yuwen Bai.
Yuwen Bai hated Yuwen Fu to the core. Whenever he saw Yuwen Fu, he would be reminded that this person was constantly preparing to replace him as the emperor, taking away all the love and care from everyone. He really wished Yuwen Fu would die. Since Yuwen Fu gave him this opportunity, of course, he wouldn’t miss it. He staggered and drew his imperial sword, wanting to stab Yuwen Fu.
This move was so unexpected that even Min Shixing didn’t anticipate it, and Fu Cong, even from a distance, couldn’t step forward to help. Yuwen Fu was astonished, his mouth gaping open. He had no idea that protecting the Great Empress Dowager from offense would come at such a great cost.
The Great Empress Dowager was also taken aback. She hurriedly reached out to grab Yuwen Bai, but he agilely avoided her and fiercely grabbed Yuwen Fu’s collar instead. Mu Gugu rushed over, intending to snatch Yuwen Bai’s sword regardless of the consequences, but a hand suddenly reached out, firmly grasping Yuwen Bai’s imperial sword and swiftly separating him from Yuwen Fu.
Yuwen Chu’s voice was calm and gentle, “Your Majesty, please calm down.”
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