Chapter 382 Winter Solstice (Two)
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The Winter Solstice, apart from the New Year, was the most solemn festival. The female relatives of the imperial clan had to go to the palace to congratulate the two empress dowagers and then attend the Winter Solstice banquet. When Mingzhu’s carriage arrived, about half of the people had already arrived, and Hua Yang Wangfei had just arrived, so the two naturally held hands and entered together.
Hua Yang Wangfei looked at Mingzhu’s flat abdomen and smiled, “I heard it’s very lively?”
Mingzhu smiled, “Yes, how did you know, sister?”
“Ying Wang was looking for remedies for morning sickness everywhere a few days ago. Who doesn’t know?” There was a teasing laughter behind her. Mingzhu turned around and saw Yuwen Xue, who was now the Princess Changqing, and her step Mother, the Shou Wangfei, walking over, talking was the Shou Wangfei. Yuwen Xue followed behind with her eyes half-closed. Although she was dressed very gorgeously, there was no joy on her face.
Mingzhu didn’t know why Yuwen Xue looked like this. She had tried every means to marry into Wusun, and now that she had the opportunity, why didn’t she look happy? Thinking about it, a smile naturally appeared on her face, “It turned out to be Shenniang and Princess Changqing.”
Yuwen Xue gave a slight nod to her and Hua Yang Wangfei, considering it a greeting.
Shou Wangfei exaggeratedly smiled, her gaze scanning back and forth on Mingzhu’s small belly, and said with a smile, “I’ve always said that my nephew’s wife is blessed. Look, it hasn’t been long since you got married, and you’re already pregnant. Judging from this appearance, it must be a boy! This kind of blessing, few people can compare.”
Hua Yang Wangfei’s face twitched a few times. She had been married to Hua Yang Wang for more than two years, but she had never become pregnant. This led to the various arrogance of the two concubines in Hua Yang Wang’s mansion, which was like a thorn in her heart. At this moment, Shou Wangfei’s words undoubtedly poured salt on her wound.
Mingzhu immediately grasped Hua Yang Wangfei’s hand, nodded to Shou Wangfei, and then turned and walked away without hesitation.
Shou Wangfei’s smile froze instantly on her face. She had come with the intention of making friends with Mingzhu, but she didn’t expect Mingzhu to embarrass her. She felt extremely aggrieved in her heart, wanting to explode but not daring to. She could only vent her anger on Yuwen Xue, saying coldly, “You shameless little whore, you’re dragging down the whole family by wanting to die. Look at the trouble you’ve caused. The whole family can’t hold their heads up.”
Yuwen Xue gave her step mother a cold glance, refraining from retorting, and instead, her gaze fell on Mingzhu’s back. She always felt that Fu Mingzhu seemed to know something, and the look in her eyes was both alert and pitiful. When spring came, she would set off to marry into the Wusun tribe. She had chosen her path and had to follow it even if she had to kneel. But leaving her elder brother here alone and helpless, she couldn’t rest assured. She had to find a way for her elder brother.
Seeing that Mingzhu didn’t give face to Shou Wangfei, Hua Yang Wangfei’s suppressed resentment dissipated a bit. So she asked Mingzhu, “You, really have an unchanging temper. Even if you don’t like her, there’s no need to embarrass her in public. It’s not good to offend people everywhere.”
“I don’t care about her, she’s just a gossip.” Mingzhu never liked Shou Wangfei, and knowing that Shou Wangfei was a jinx, she was even more dismissive. On the other hand, Hua Yang Wangfei had always been her sister-in-law, and if she could improve their relationship, it would be a help in the future if Hua Yang Wang was willing to stand on Yuwen Chu’s side. She had thought about it in recent days. She couldn’t control everything, but she couldn’t sit idly by either. She had to do her best to support Yuwen Chu and her family, and a grand banquet like the Winter Solstice was an opportunity.
Hua Yang Wangfei felt the goodwill Mingzhu was extending to her and didn’t say much. After a moment of silence, she whispered, “Actually, I envy you for being able to be so free.”
Longsheng Great Eldest Princess came over, sneering, “Envy her for what? It’s just luck. She happened to marry the useless softie, Old Six, that useless waste of space has really disgraced the Yuwen family!”
Mingzhu was immediately angered when she heard this. This was clearly an attempt to tarnish Yuwen Chu’s reputation. She couldn’t endure it. She knew that Longsheng Great Eldest Princess knew about the rift between her and her aunt and had come deliberately for revenge. But she had to protect the child in her belly and had many concerns, so she couldn’t easily confront Longsheng Great Eldest Princess.
But the anger was so suffocating, she had to find a way to let it out. Otherwise, if she showed fear to Longsheng Great Eldest Princess this time and admitted defeat, there would be more people coming to provoke her next time, and there would be more tricks. Not causing trouble didn’t mean she was afraid of trouble.
Mingzhu stole a glance and saw the phoenix carriages of the Great Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Min approaching one after the other. Immediately, she hugged her abdomen with both hands and smiled sweetly at the Longsheng Great Eldest Princess, “Auntie is always so considerate to the Yuwen family. I heard that Auntie often scolds and beats the consort at will, making him too scared to even enter Auntie’s room and has to be chased and coerced to go there. I heard that another beautiful maid died in your mansion a few days ago? Oh dear, how pitiful. Just because she rubbed ink for Lord Cui for a while, she lost her life. So pitiful.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” The Longsheng Great Eldest Princess’s face turned red with anger, rushing over to slap Mingzhu, “Who taught you to treat your elders like this? You’re so uncultured! Watch as I give you a good lesson on behalf of your parents today.”
Mingzhu quickly hid behind Donghui and shouted loudly, “There’s a saying that a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. Auntie, you know I’m pregnant, yet you maliciously scold and beat me like this. Are you trying to kill the child in my womb?”
Her voice was crisp and loud, heard by all the royalty present, who turned to look at the two of them, whispering to each other with various expressions. The Longsheng Great Eldest Princess’s hand couldn’t go down anymore, her face flushed as she scolded Mingzhu, “You’re twisting right and wrong…”
Mingzhu caught sight of Qi Wangfei coming over and remembered that Yuwen Chu had mentioned that the Qi Wang’s Mansion owed them a large sum of money. She immediately ran behind Qi Wangfei, hiding tightly behind her, with only her head exposed, and pitifully said, “Auntie, please save me! I don’t know how I offended Auntie, she wants to kill me and the child in my womb!”
Qi Wangfei couldn’t ignore it, so she put up a smile and talked to Longsheng Great Eldest Princess, “Children, why bother with them? It’s a good day, let’s not make everyone unhappy.”
But Longsheng Great Eldest Princess was determined to see how far the relationship between the Great Empress Dowager and Mingzhu had deteriorated, so she didn’t give Qi Wangfei any face and arrogantly said, “You go away, it’s none of your business! If the younger generation doesn’t listen, they must be taught a lesson, otherwise the children in the imperial family will be led astray!”
Qi Wangfei lost face, and she was unhappy, “Longsheng, I’m not saying you, but you’re so old, it’s time to cultivate your character. It’s not good to make such a scene. What’s the benefit to you?”
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