Chapter 496: Turning Adversity into Advantage
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
Mingzhu felt extremely unhappy. She gritted her teeth and looked around, only to see Yuwen Fu being led by Liang Youyi. He stood in the shadows, looking in her direction. When he saw her looking over, he nodded at her, as if he wanted to come over and talk to her. However, Liang Youyi lowered his head and said a few words to Yuwen Fu. Yuwen Fu then lowered his head and let Liang Youyi lead him away.
Mingzhu frowned, quietly asking Yuwen Chu, “Does Your Highness find Liang Youyi very displeasing? It seems like his shadow is behind everything that’s unfavorable to us.”
Yuwen Chu pulled her out, “So what? Let’s go back first.”
The group left the palace, one by one boarded their carriages, and returned to Ying Wang Mansion by the third watch of the night.
Ping Nushi got off the carriage and started crying, then laughing. She slapped her own mouth, “Look at me, crying for no reason on New Year’s Day? I hope Your Highness and Wangfei won’t blame me.”
Yuwen Chu glanced at her and went in first. He meant for Mingzhu to handle the matter herself.
Zhou Nushi got off the carriage and stood quietly with her head bowed and hands tied. Mingzhu yawned, “I’m so tired. Everyone go rest, and we’ll deal with this matter tomorrow morning.” She handed the white jade plum blossom hairpin back to Ping Nushi, “Take it, don’t lose it again. Be careful and don’t wander around. If something happens, don’t blame me.”
Ping Nushi hugged Donghui in fear, pleading, “Please, Your Highness, let Donghui accompany me for a few days.” She was genuinely afraid that someone from Yuwen Long’s side would suddenly appear in her room and snap her neck with a “click.”
Mingzhu laughed at her antics, “What do you think Ying Wang Mansion is? Anyone who wants to come in can just come in? As long as you stay honestly in your room, no one dares to do anything to you.”
After speaking, she didn’t look at Zhou Nushi, but went straight to Yinghui Hall.
Yuwen Chu had already finished washing up and was leaning against the head of the bed, looking at the secret letter he had just received. When she came in, he said, “Grand Uncle has been appointed as the envoy to Wusun to escort the bride.”
“Whose idea was it?” Mingzhu was shocked again, another event that didn’t match her memory. Yuwen Xue was obviously under the control of Zhongshan Wang, and it was dangerous on the side of the Wusun. If her eldest brother went to escort Yuwen Xue for marriage, who knows what might happen? Thinking of Yuwen Bai’s previous threats, she felt uneasy: “Did His Highness hear what that little brat just said? He said I killed Yang Yizun, he’s not angry with me at all, and he told me not to be angry with him in the future, so that the game would be more fun. Is he planning to go after my eldest brother?”
“It’s the idea of the Great Empress Dowager. Eldest Brother-in-law going to Wusun, he could return in half a year at the earliest, or over a year later. Second Brother-in-law is a military general, and he’ll have to return to Ganzhou to lead the troops after the New Year. Third Brother-in-law is useless, and Fourth Brother-in-law isn’t good at handling political affairs. So it’s perfect to make room for your Eldest Brother.” Yuwen Chu comforted Mingzhu, patting her back, “Don’t worry, as long as we prepare thoroughly, even the worst situation can turn into a good one.”
Mingzhu immediately turned to look at Yuwen Chu, “Your Highness means?”
“I have an idea. Tomorrow, let’s go to your father’s house for the banquet and talk to your father and brothers about it.” Yuwen Chu urged her to go wash up, “Let’s get ready first and then we can talk more leisurely.”
Mingzhu was preoccupied with this matter, so she hurried to wash up. As usual, Yuwen Chu gave her the warmest spot to lie down, blew out the lamp, and let her lie down on his arm before whispering softly, “Do you still remember that Wusun King, Heimo?”
“How could I forget? Even if I wanted to forget, with you always interrupting and making things difficult for me, I couldn’t forget.” Mingzhu recalled how Yuwen Chu had made things difficult for her before, and she couldn’t help but feel sweet now. She couldn’t resist kissing him on the cheek and affectionately said, “If I hadn’t stubbornly held onto your carriage door, would you have really left me there?”
“Of course not. With your Fourth Brother there, how could I give him this chance to be a hero saving a beauty? It was just to scare you a little. Who knew you were such a paper tiger, deflating at the slightest scare.” Yuwen Chu found it amusing to recall the past incident, and now looking at Mingzhu’s current appearance, he felt particularly accomplished. He had raised her step by step, teaching her everything she knew.
Mingzhu teased him, “You shameless person, I’ve never seen someone who loves to tease women as much as you. Have you never seen a woman before?”
Yuwen Chu lightly slapped her buttocks and then praised, “You’re getting smoother and more resilient. You lost in the bet we made before, when are you going to fulfill it?”
Mingzhu immediately said, “Off topic, off topic, let’s talk about serious matters.”
It was unclear who it was, but the mention of Heimo made someone feel blissful as they reminisced about how he had pursued her in the past. He even insisted on confessing his love to her. If he didn’t satisfy her, he didn’t know how she would cause trouble later. Now she was getting serious.
Yuwen Chu sighed helplessly and whispered, “Heimo has also visited that gourmet restaurant, indicating that he had contact with the people of Zhongshan Wang. And if Yuwen Xue was chosen to be sent to his side, it also means that Zhongshan Wang doesn’t trust him. Such a person cannot be talked to about trustworthiness; it’s all about strength.
As a monarch, you can talk about minor trustworthiness, but not major trustworthiness. Minor trustworthiness only involves a small price if lost, but major trustworthiness involves the entire nation as the price. So since Heimo can be bought by Zhongshan Wang, he can naturally be bought by us. Eldest Brother-in-law going there can not only slightly ease the tension between the Fu Mansion and the Great Empress Dowager but also take the opportunity to handle this matter well. This is what I mean by turning adversity into advantage.”
Mingzhu finally felt relieved, “What did you say to the Great Empress Dowager just now? Why did she agree to help me as soon as she came out?”
Yuwen Chu whispered, “It’s still about money. Her idea is the same as the Chongzheng Hall’s, wanting me to spend money on disaster relief and prepare for her birthday banquet. Also, Zhongshan Shizi, Yuwen Hao, has been on the road for some time now. It’s time to make a move.”
Mingzhu was displeased, “Does everything have to be done by you? She just talks and doesn’t give you anything?”
Mingzhu knew the Great Empress Dowager’s thoughts well. She believed that all the troubles stemmed from Yuwen Chu. It was Yuwen Chu who caused the estrangement between her and her niece, nephews, caused the split between her and the Fu Mansion, and if it weren’t for Yuwen Chu keeping useful, assassins would have been sent long ago. The Great Empress Dowager only spoke, and it was all up to Yuwen Chu and the Fu Mansion to act. When there was a benefit, it was for everyone, but once trouble arose, the Great Empress Dowager wouldn’t be able to withstand the pressure from Zhongshan Wang and would definitely throw Yuwen Chu out as a scapegoat.
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
