Ninth Imperial Glorious Phoenix Chapter 304

Chapter 304: Save Me

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Hai Momo had already been stripped of her clothes, lying on the ground like a dead dog, being beaten. She was plump and fair-skinned. Every time she was hit, she trembled. At first glance, she looked like a pig with its hair removed. Her mouth was gagged, unable to scream. The palace people who were beating her were Eunuch Rong’s subordinates and hated her deeply, so they didn’t show any mercy. Each blow was delivered with full force, using the most brutal methods to make her suffer but not die immediately, ensuring that she would suffer a painful death in the most humiliating manner.

He Zhengtu understood these matters best. He endured Yuwen Bai’s beating with some sorrow, then quietly kowtowed to Yuwen Bai and said softly, “I obey the decree.” Looking up, he pleaded with the Great Empress Dowager, his eyes full of supplication.

Honestly, for Mingzhu, He Zhengtu was someone she disliked more than liked. Firstly, when the Fu family was in trouble, Mingzhu once begged him to intercede for her family, but he always flatly refused, showing no mercy or willingness to help, not even a word of kindness. Even though it was the duty of a servant, Mingzhu could never have any goodwill towards him. She had every reason to detest and resent He Zhengtu.

Secondly, she now knew that He Zhengtu didn’t truly want to be a loyal servant. His loyalty was limited and selective, such as to Yuwen Chu. He was very respectful and flattering towards Yuwen Chu, with a different kind of eye contact and communication between them, obviously conspiring and conniving. Even if Yuwen Chu didn’t say anything, Mingzhu could see it. So, someone like He Zhengtu who couldn’t even be a loyal servant couldn’t possibly win her favor.

Whether to help or not was just a matter of words. Helping might be more beneficial to Yuwen Chu, but not helping didn’t benefit herself at the moment either. If someone else took over, who knows whose person they would be? Looking at Hai Momo, who was already dead, and Yuwen Bai, who was biting people like a mad dog, and thinking about what Yuwen Chu was doing now, Mingzhu decided to help He Zhengtu. She lowered her head and whispered in the Great Empress Dowager’s ear, “He once helped me out. Let’s just beat him half to death.”

The Great Empress Dowager’s expression didn’t change. “Beat him until he can’t speak.” But she didn’t say he had to be beaten to death.

The Empress Dowager’s expression remained unchanged: “Hit him! Hit him until he can’t speak anymore.” But she didn’t say it had to be fatal. 

Given the chance to survive after being publicly beaten or to die with dignity, which one would you choose? Mingzhu calmly stared at He Zhengtu. 

He Zhengtu quietly bowed to the Great Empress Dowager and was then dragged away to calmly accept his punishment. Yuwen Bai noticed the difference in this, suddenly lifted his head to look at Mingzhu, who casually glanced at him before casting her gaze into the distance. 

By saving He Zhengtu’s life, Mingzhu would inevitably raise doubts in Yuwen Bai’s mind about He Zhengtu’s loyalty. Whether He Zhengtu could escape this ordeal and regain Yuwen Bai’s trust to resume his role as the Grand Steward depended on his own abilities and luck, something she couldn’t control. 

The execution process was long and agonizing to wait for. When the first light of dawn appeared in the sky, the palace attendants finally stopped, and Hai Momo was dead, leaving He Zhengtu with only half his life. The expressions of Empress Dowager Min and her son were grim, but the Great Empress Dowager was very satisfied. Rising to her feet with a lazy smile, she said, “Well, it’s about time. The slave has been executed. Let’s leave it at that. It’s time to attend to affairs ahead.” Then, she glanced back at Yuwen Bai and casually said, “Emperor, come along with me.”

Yuwen Bai couldn’t refuse to go. Obviously, the Great Empress Dowager had become more dominant, and if he didn’t go, if he didn’t care about political matters, he would probably become increasingly marginalized. He certainly couldn’t accept that, so without a second thought, he followed the Great Empress Dowager.

The Great Empress Dowager never glanced at Empress Dowager Min throughout, nor did she show any intention of inquiring about her. With the palace attendants accompanying the carriage, they quickly left, leaving someone to deal with Hai Momo, and He Zhengtu had his own disciples take him away to recover from his injuries and await punishment. In the courtyard of Changxin Palace, only Empress Dowager Min and Mingzhu were left.

Empress Dowager Min squinted, looking Mingzhu up and down, then suddenly smiled, “They say a woman truly blossoms after marriage. I can see, little sister, you’re becoming more beautiful. Old Six treats you well, doesn’t he?”

Mingzhu stood upright, neither humble nor overbearing as she replied, “He’s alright. Our lord is a good person.”

Empress Dowager Min chuckled, “Of course, Old Six is a good person. It’s just a pity he doesn’t please the Great Empress Dowager. I really worry for you.”

Mingzhu found her annoying, and bluntly retorted, “There’s no need for the dowager to worry. The Great Empress Dowager also thinks our lord is a decent person. She just reprimanded me earlier, telling me not to become arrogant due to favoritism, and to live peacefully with our lord.”

Empress Dowager Min paced leisurely for a few steps, then suddenly said, “I misspoke.”

Huh? Even someone like her can admit to being wrong? It’s like seeing the sun rise in the west. Mingzhu waited vigilantly for Empress Dowager Min’s next move, responding with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “How could that be? Your Majesty never makes mistakes.”

“Older people always have various thoughts, especially someone like the Great Empress Dowager, who is sick and frail. She tends to overthink and worry, and having a bad temper is common. So, it’s not that she doesn’t trust Old Six, she just has too many concerns. Right?” Empress Dowager Min smiled cunningly, her eyes gleaming.

Sure enough, there’s a trap. No wonder this morning the Great Empress Dowager handled the palace attendants who witnessed her illness like that. It seems there are no secrets in this palace. But Empress Dowager Min’s various probes probably aren’t about confirming the Great Empress Dowager’s illness, but rather hearing rumors without confirmation, hence the attempt to deceive her own self. This convoluted scheme, as long as one loses focus for a moment, or lacks vigilance, and if the Great Empress Dowager is angry about Yuwen Chu not being liked, one could easily fall for it and reveal the Great Empress Dowager’s illness.

Deliberate denial or rebuttal would expose the flaw, so it’s better to scold her and feel relieved. Mingzhu immediately turned hostile, glaring at Empress Dowager Min angrily, “What do you mean, sister-in-law? How can a daughter-in-law speak like this? My aunt is fine, why are you cursing her? Even if she just scolded you and punished the evil servants around you, making you unhappy, hating her, you can’t be disrespectful like this, right? As the emperor’s Mother, the example of the nation, cursing the mother-in-law for trivial matters like this is unacceptable anywhere! Aren’t you afraid of disappointing everyone?”

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