Chapter 390: A Good Thug
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Mingzhu felt much better after having hot food. She slept on Imperial Consort Min’s bed for a while and woke up feeling refreshed. Then she realized that she had been here for so long and hadn’t heard a sound from Funing. Remembering that Yuwen Chu had mentioned sending Funing out of the palace, she asked Imperial Consort Min, “Is Funing doing well lately?”
Imperial Consort Min’s gaze shifted slightly. “She’s asleep.” Funing had caused such a commotion that it reached the ears of the Great Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Min separately. Both of them sent people to scold her. The Great Empress Dowager scolded her along with Funing, while Empress Dowager Min used Funing’s punishment to indirectly embarrass her.
To prevent her from causing further trouble and attracting disaster, Imperial Consort Min secretly gave Funing a mild sedative and added it to her food. Funing indeed spent most of her time in a daze after taking it. Although it brought peace, Imperial Consort Min felt even more guilty towards Funing, as she couldn’t find a way to compensate her.
Mingzhu saw that Imperial Consort Min didn’t want to talk about it and didn’t ask further. Suddenly, a palace maid came to invite her. “Her Majesty invites the Wangfei to Zhaoyang Palace for a chat.”
Imperial Consort Min became nervous and worried, looking at Mingzhu. “Why don’t I accompany you?”
Mingzhu knew that Imperial Consort Min had been avoiding trouble these days. Otherwise, if something happened to her or Funing, Yuwen Chu would be helpless outside the palace, and the Great Empress Dowager had made it clear that she wouldn’t help them again. In such a situation, having Imperial Consort Min accompany her to Zhaoyang Palace would undo all their previous efforts. Moreover, Mingzhu didn’t believe that Imperial Consort Min could help her. So she politely declined Imperial Consort Min’s offer. “It’s okay, I can handle it.”
Imperial Consort Min hesitated for a long time but still saw Mingzhu off. “Be careful then.”
“Okay.” Mingzhu walked out of Guangming Hall and saw that Zhaoyang Palace Min had sent a sedan chair for her. She pursed her lips and smiled, “I’ve slept too long and don’t feel comfortable all over. I’d better walk around.”
She was being silly. If the person carrying the sedan chair accidentally slipped and fell, falling from such a height, how could this pregnancy be stable? Even if they killed the palace attendant, what would be the use?
The maid sent to fetch her from Zhaoyang Palace smiled nonchalantly, “This is the Empress Dowager’s kindness.” It meant that whether she wanted to sit or not, she had to sit.
“Thank you for Niang Niang’s kindness.” Mingzhu pretended to thank the maid and then gave her a cold look. “Your name is Taozhi, right? I remember you have a sister outside the palace?”
Thanks to her good memory and the intensive research she had done during this period, she had a rough idea of the prominent figures in Zhaoyang Palace and Consort Xiao’s palace. This question was like a blatant threat. Those who were sensible would shut up immediately, while those who weren’t would await their doom.
Taozhi shrank her neck, feeling a little scared but still mustered up the courage to try to manipulate Mingzhu. Mingzhu sneered, brushed past her, and suddenly stumbled. She grabbed Dong Hui to steady herself and pointed at Taozhi sternly, “Wretched slave! How dare you trip me! Speak, who instigated you to sow discord between me and Her Majesty? Give me a beating!”
Taozhi hadn’t figured out what was happening yet, but she had already received two heavy slaps on her face. These slaps were different from the ones usually delivered by the palace maids. They felt like iron sand palms, but just two strikes were enough to make her stagger and fall to the ground, seeing stars in her eyes, ears buzzing. Two warm things flowed down her nose, and when she touched them with her hand, it was all blood.
She glared angrily at the maid who had just hit her, but the maid didn’t even look at her. She calmly wiped her hands, turned around, and continued to help Mingzhu. “Wangfei, let’s go.”
“You wait for me! I’ll go tell Her Majesty to deal with you! How dare you plot against me!” Mingzhu felt extremely pleased. Dong Hui was indeed a good thug. Just two strikes were so intimidating. Look at these blind fools, who would dare to throw themselves into the fray now?
Even ghosts fear evil people. Taozhi retreated in frustration, leading a group of palace maids and carrying an empty sedan chair, following Mingzhu to Zhaoyang Palace.
Mingzhu felt proud of her strong body at this moment. She said she needed to take care of herself, but she didn’t need to lie still all the time, right? It’s good to be active. Look at her walking this long distance without panting or feeling exhausted. When she followed Yuwen Chu into the deep mountains and forests to explore the Great View, it was tiring, but she didn’t complain or couldn’t move.
Zhaoyang Palace, unlike the cold and deserted Changxin Palace of the Great Empress Dowager, had many royal ladies sitting inside chatting. When they saw Mingzhu come in, they stopped and looked at her. Empress Dowager Min smiled with a malicious intent, “We were just talking about your illness. In just half a day, from Changxin Palace to Guangming Hall, and then from Guangming Hall to Zhaoyang Palace, you don’t seem to be out of breath. It seems like you’ve recovered well.”
Mingzhu smiled and bowed to her, “Thanks to Her Majesty’s blessings, I’m much better now. But I still have occasional morning sickness, and I can’t find a good solution.” Then she added, “There’s something I need Niang Niang to help me with.”
Empress Dowager Min already knew what had happened, knowing that Mingzhu had beaten Taozhi. She smiled falsely and asked, “What is it?”
Mingzhu said, “Just now, Her Majesty kindly sent a sedan chair to pick me up, but unexpectedly, that Taozhi actually tripped me and caused me to fall. Thanks to the alertness of the maid beside me, who helped me, otherwise I would have been in a miserable state by now.”
The people present had different expressions. Some believed that Empress Dowager Min couldn’t help but take action, while others thought Mingzhu wasn’t a good person either. However, they all agreed that both sides were really fighting hard. Considering their own interests, they each had their own considerations.
“What? Such audacity! That wretched slave! How dare she commit such a heinous act!” Empress Dowager Min also couldn’t help but exaggerate. She immediately ordered, “Bring Taozhi to me, I will personally punish her!” Since she was just a palace maid, if Mingzhu publicly punished Taozhi, all the blame would fall on Fu Mingzhu.
Mingzhu smiled, “It’s a big festival. Let her live. I’ve already taught her a lesson on behalf of Her Majesty. As long as Her Majesty doesn’t fall for someone else’s instigation and blame me for meddling in her affairs, that’s fine.” Don’t push too far when you’ve gained an advantage. Seeing the situation, she understood.
However, Empress Dowager Min didn’t want to let it go. She smiled meaningfully and said, “Yes, a big festival should be joyful. Unfortunately, the maid who had a stomachache just now is dead.”
Mingzhu had already cleared up this matter with the Great Empress Dowager before and had thought it through. Therefore, she wasn’t afraid of Empress Dowager Min’s deliberate provocations. She pretended to sigh, “This illness is really aggressive! Her Majesty is really tired. She has to worry about big and small matters in the palace. Even for such a small maid, Her Majesty cares about her. It’s really too kind of you. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself, don’t tire yourself out. Otherwise, it will be heartbreaking for everyone.”
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