Chapter 430: Late Night Visit (Two)
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Mingzhu ignored it. What was he pretending for? Did he think she didn’t know he was as strong as a bull? He was perfectly fine when she left in the morning. She didn’t know how much food he had eaten from Zhou Nushi. Was it indigestion? Or maybe he had drunk too much wolfberry and pig kidney porridge, leaving him deficient.
After Yuwen Chu finally stopped coughing, he said softly, “Originally, I was going to send you off, but I didn’t. It’s because I remembered our earlier agreement to put on a show, make people think we were really angry about this, so we could make arrangements later. I didn’t come during the day and didn’t send anyone to ask because of this reason. But you left angrily, and I couldn’t stop worrying, so I came quietly to see you. Misunderstandings need to be clarified. I was afraid you would hold your anger, can’t sleep, and hurt your own body.”
As he spoke, he coughed violently again, his face flushed red.
It didn’t sound like pretense. Mingzhu couldn’t help but cast a sidelong glance at him. Several times she wanted to ask him what was going on, but because she was holding her anger, she just didn’t ask. This man was so cunning, he must be pretending to be sick to soften her heart.
Yuwen Chu sat silently for a while, still not hearing Mingzhu speak, so he stood up and said, “Since you’re fine now, I’m relieved. I’ll go first.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Mingzhu said insincerely, making a slight bow.
“No need. It’s cold and slippery outside. I rode a horse here precisely to avoid disturbing too many people,” Yuwen Chu coughed a few times. He tried to hold it back, but couldn’t help it, so the coughing got worse, and he even bent over.
If you don’t need escorting, then I won’t bother. Mingzhu, sitting upright in her chair, coldly watching Yuwen Chu, wondered how long he could keep up the act.
The smile on Yuwen Chu’s face faded more and more. He stood silently for a while, then gently opened the door and left.
Suddenly, Mingzhu felt a bit uneasy. She stood up, walked to the door, and looked outside through the crack. Unexpectedly, she met a pair of bright eyes—Yuwen Chu was standing there, quietly watching her.
When their eyes met, Yuwen Chu smiled at her. Mingzhu, embarrassed and angry, pushed the door open forcefully. She heard Yuwen Chu outside let out an “ouch,” as if he had been bumped or something.
After hesitating for a moment, Mingzhu opened the door.
As soon as she opened it, Yuwen Chu squeezed in, holding her hand with one hand and closing the door with the other. His eyes were bright, but he didn’t step closer. He whispered softly, “I’m afraid I caught a cold and don’t want to give you it.”
The implication was that he was really sick. Mingzhu looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he wasn’t pretending after all. Yuwen Chu sighed, “Do I seem like someone who would fake illness? I’ve never stooped to such childish things.”
That was hard to say. Mingzhu rolled her eyes. “How did you get sick out of the blue?”
Yuwen Chu smiled and said solemnly, “I know what you’re worried about. There won’t be another incident like Mr. Meng’s in the future.”
Mingzhu thought for a moment and asked, “Did you drive him away? No, that’s not right. He knows your important matters; you wouldn’t just let him go.”
Yuwen Chu smiled, “Then guess what I did to him?”
“Killed him?” Mingzhu quickly denied this possibility, “With your love for money and talent, even ordinary guards in trouble must be visited personally by you. How could you do something as cruel as this? At most, you would just scold him.” Anyone could scold others. After being scolded, she would still do what she wanted to do.
Seeing her incredulous expression, Yuwen Chu sighed, “Not scolding. Mr. Meng has a straightforward temperament and isn’t afraid of being scolded. I thought of another way. In any case, he won’t do it again in the future.”
Being deliberately elusive, it was clear that he wanted to lead her to ask more questions and talk more with him, but even though Mingzhu was very curious, she refused to ask, “Alright, since you caught a cold, you should go back early. Let Tang Chunlai come to give you medicine, drink it and go to sleep, don’t stay up late.”
Even if he was showing off, someone had to play along. Yuwen Chu said uninterestingly, “Then I’ll leave. Don’t be angry.”
It had to be said that Yuwen Chu’s late-night visit was still effective. Mingzhu glanced at him and felt much better in her heart, “Originally, I was going back in a couple of days, but since Your Highness promised to wait and see, then I’ll wait until you’ve sorted things out before I go back.”
Yuwen Chu smiled, “I’m really leaving.”
Mingzhu let go of his hand, indicating that she didn’t rely on him to live, “Your Highness, take care. If you’re not feeling well, let Zhou Nushi take care of you. She’s been absent for so long, she’ll definitely do her best to take care of you. If you’re not feeling well, you can have a bowl of wolfberry and pig kidney porridge tomorrow morning.”
“… ” Yuwen Chu looked at her gloomily, then turned and left without saying a word.
Fu Cong came in and said, “When did you become so generous and considerate? The arrangement was quite proper.”
She was being sarcastic! Mingzhu angrily twisted her handkerchief and whispered, “How could Father just leave me alone like this? It’s bad enough that you left me, but you also came to eavesdrop on our conversation.”
“This is my house, where else can I go? Your voices were so loud, I didn’t want to hear but I had to.” Fu Cong gestured for her to sit on the chair opposite him, “Are you tired? If not, let’s chat. It’s been a while since we’ve talked.”
If the old master had spoken, could she refuse? Besides, Mingzhu really didn’t feel tired. After getting through the morning sickness, she ate well and slept well, feeling full of energy and very spirited. Mingzhu sat down, “Father, please speak.” Because she was afraid Fu Cong would ask about the matter again, and she would have to repeat the lie, she declared in advance, “Don’t plead for him, I don’t want to hear it.”
“You know everything, what do you need me to say?” Fu Cong handed her a cup of warm boiled water and placed a plate of pastries in front of her, “Eat, I know you’re hungry now. These are your favorite water chestnut cakes. I want to talk to you about the Great Empress Dowager and Zifei.”
“Home is still the best.” Mingzhu felt warm in her heart and rallied, “Father, please give your orders.”
Fu Cong frowned deeply, “The Great Empress Dowager is very ill, do you know?”
Mingzhu nodded, “Yes. She has severe vertigo. I’ve seen her having an attack before.”
“The imperial physicians can’t cure her. A few days ago, I brought in a doctor for her. This doctor is very good at treating vertigo, but he never came out.”
Mingzhu didn’t understand what “he never came out” meant for a moment. Fu Cong sighed, “Liang Youyi said he was sent out of the palace, but he couldn’t be found at all. Later, your Fourth Brother found him on a chaotic burial mound in the suburbs of the capital. He was killed and had suffered severe torture before he died. There wasn’t a single good piece of flesh left on his body.”
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