Chapter 387 Bird’s Nest Soup (Part Four)
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Seeing Mingzhu’s expression, although she didn’t yet know what had happened specifically, the Great Empress Dowager felt that it must be a serious matter. She sternly asked Liang Youyi, “What’s going on?”
Liang Youyi calmly held the palace maid’s chin, carefully examining her mouth and eyes, then released her and signaled for his subordinates to carry her away. “It’s nothing serious, just a case of food poisoning. Please call the imperial physician to come and treat her.”
Hua Yang Wangfei’s eyes welled up with tears. “And me, what about me…” She suddenly remembered that this bowl of bird’s nest soup was a gift from the Great Empress Dowager, so she couldn’t easily accuse it of being problematic. She looked at Mingzhu in a panic.
Mingzhu couldn’t quite describe her feelings at the moment. It seemed that she should feel fortunate to have narrowly escaped danger due to her caution, yet she should also feel saddened by this bowl of bird’s nest soup. But she found herself smiling, reassuring Hua Yang Wangfei in a relaxed tone, “Don’t listen to her. She’s just trying to shift the blame for her misdeeds onto someone else. There won’t be any problem. Just wait and see.”
They couldn’t afford to panic. Who knew what was really going on with this bowl of soup? Was it someone’s attempt to sow discord between them? Mingzhu instinctively rejected the idea of the Great Empress Dowager wanting to harm her. She would rather believe it was Sang Shen’s doing. Even if it was indeed the Great Empress Dowager’s doing, she couldn’t say it was, or else the Fu family would really fall apart, resulting in greater losses.
She grabbed Hua Yang Wangfei’s hand, noticing that it was covered in cold sweat, so she handed her a handkerchief to wipe it and said with a smile, “Look at you, you’re scared like this.”
Her calmness helped Hua Yang Wangfei calm down too. She believed Mingzhu’s words. After all, how could the Great Empress Dowager, who doted on Ying Wangfei so much, want to harm her? Even if she did want to harm her, she wouldn’t be so foolish as to tamper with the bird’s nest soup and explicitly state, ‘I made this for you, go ahead and eat.’
Hua Yang Wangfei apologized shyly, “I lost my composure.” Then she begged Mingzhu, “Please speak a few good words for me in front of the Great Empress Dowager. I didn’t mean it.”
Mingzhu comforted her, “It’s okay. The Great Empress Dowager is magnanimous and won’t hold it against you.” Then she looked at Liang Youyi. “Right, Chief Liang?”
Liang Youyi looked at Mingzhu with a deep gaze and smirked, “Indeed. During big banquets, there are always palace maids sneaking alcohol and snacks. Serving at banquets is already exhausting, and if they stand in the wind, they might develop illnesses out of nowhere. If the food doesn’t agree with them, they’ll embarrass themselves on the spot. This old servant has seen it all.”
This kind of scenario described by Liang Youyi did exist, but the maid involved would be very unlucky. Usually, they wouldn’t survive, and they would also drag down their superior, the managing Gugu, too.
Hua Yang Wangfei became even more embarrassed, blushing.
Liang Youyi didn’t let the matter rest and pressed on, “If Hua Yang Wangfei is still worried, this old servant can invite the imperial physician to come and check on you.”
Hua Yang Wangfei waved her hand, “No need, no need.” Although she still had suspicions, she was perfectly fine, both mentally and physically.
Liang Youyi watched as the palace maid’s mess was cleaned up, then bowed and went to report to the Great Empress Dowager.
Mingzhu looked silently at the Empress Dowager. She saw the Empress Dowager lift her head in her direction, looking anxious, and then saw the gloating expression on Empress Dowager Min’s face. Suddenly, she felt that perhaps it wasn’t the Great Empress Dowager after all. Even if she had misjudged Yuwen You in her past life, it didn’t mean she could misjudge everyone. She wasn’t that blind or naive.
With this in mind, Mingzhu raised her head confidently and returned Empress Dowager Min’s taunting smile. Even if she and the Great Empress Dowager had a fight, it would be behind closed doors. In front of others, they were still family.
Empress Dowager Min pursed her lips, muttered something under her breath, and then walked away.
Mu Gugu walked over, looking very worried, and said to Mingzhu, “The weather is cold, and we still have to wait for Her Majesty to return to the palace for the family banquet. Why don’t you go back to where you used to live and rest for a while?” She looked at Mingzhu hopefully, afraid she would refuse.
Regardless of the truth of today’s events, the Great Empress Dowager would surely have to give her an explanation. Mingzhu nodded and agreed, “Okay, I’ll go.”
Mu Gugu went back and spoke to the Great Empress Dowager. When the Great Empress Dowager lifted her head and looked at Mingzhu, her expression softened.
Since they had to wait for Yuwen Bai and others to return from their ancestral worship before joining the evening banquet, the palace arranged a resting place for the princesses and imperial consorts. Those with mothers went to their own mothers, and those without were placed together.
Imperial Consort Min had received Yuwen Chu’s instructions early, so she personally guarded the clean food and drinks. She sent Cui Lan Gugu to welcome Mingzhu. Princess Changhua also stood by, waiting for Mingzhu, and anxiously said, “Do you want to come to my palace? I’ll personally make some noodles and soup for you to eat. I’ll go talk to the Great Empress Dowager and say I have something to tell you in private.” She smiled again, “You won’t find another opportunity like this. After the New Year, you won’t see me again, and you won’t get to eat anything I’ve made.”
Mingzhu felt warm in her heart. Even if Imperial Consort Min was sometimes unreliable, she was dependable in crucial moments. Changhua herself was in a similar situation, yet she dared to risk it all to help Mingzhu. Mingzhu gently hugged Princess Changhua and whispered, “I will come, but not now. I have other matters to attend to.”
Princess Changhua’s eyes became slightly red. “Okay, come whenever you can.”
Seeing this, Cui Lan Gugu knew that Mingzhu was definitely going to Changxin Palace. She said, “The Imperial Consort is waiting for you. Whenever the Wangfei wishes to go is fine.”
“Please thank Royal Mother for me and tell her I’m fine. Tell her not to worry about me.” After instructing Cui Lan Gugu, Mingzhu, along with Zheng Momo and others, went to Changxin Palace.
Mu Gugu greeted her in the corridor and quietly led her to the rear hall.
The Great Empress Dowager had changed out of her formal attire and was reclining in a chair lost in thought. Mingzhu observed that the Great Empress Dowager looked even older and more haggard than she had at the banquet. Her skin seemed much looser, making her truly seem like an old woman at the end of her days.
“Aunt.” Mingzhu stood at the doorway and called out, not entering immediately. She rarely called the Great Empress Dowager “Aunt”; usually, she addressed her as “Niang Niang.” However, today she wanted to discuss not their roles, but their relationship.
The Great Empress Dowager naturally noticed the difference and sat up straight, inviting Mingzhu in. “Are you tired? Come over here and sit.”
Mingzhu walked in and sat down on the chair, instinctively protecting her abdomen with her hands, her eyes fixed on the charcoal basin without speaking.
The Great Empress Dowager carefully began, “I did ask someone to make the bird’s nest soup for you.”
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