Chapter 497: Are You Convinced?
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Yuwen Chu shook his head, comforting Mingzhu, “Do you still remember what I said to you just now? Even the worst situation can be turned into an advantage if handled properly. The Great Empress Dowager wants to make friends with various vassal princes and make preparations for County Prince Sien’s fame, but it also depends on what the various vassal princes think. If they want to use my money for disaster relief, I’ll use that money to gain a good reputation. In the end, who will benefit is uncertain. As for Zhongshan Wang Shizi, whether she acts or not, I will act. People’s hearts are the most difficult to grasp, Zhuzhu, you must remember this.”
Mingzhu was tired, resting her head on his chest and whispering softly, “I’m afraid you’ll spend all the money, and I’ll feel uncomfortable. Otherwise, since I have money, I won’t open a charity hall and just spend it on you.”
“I have money, I don’t need your money.” Yuwen Chu felt warm in his heart, but he couldn’t express it in other ways. He interlocked his fingers with Mingzhu’s and held them tightly together, feeling a bit better. Full stomachs breed lecherous thoughts, and he couldn’t help but fantasize. The more he thought about it, the more unbearable it became, his whole body felt hot, and he wanted Mingzhu to help him solve the problem. But when he looked at Mingzhu, she had already fallen asleep.
He had no choice but to hold Mingzhu’s hand and rub it a few times before Mingzhu hummed and turned over, facing away from him, muttering softly, “Tired, so tired.”
Yuwen Chu could only endure it and pressed against her tightly before falling asleep.
The next morning, Mingzhu woke up first, staring blankly for a while with her eyes open. Slowly, she remembered what happened last night, and seeing Yuwen Chu still asleep with his eyes closed, she crawled up and kissed him twice. Yuwen Chu pulled her over with his eyes closed, grabbed the back of her head, and fiercely kissed her, pressing down hard until Mingzhu’s lips and tongue went numb and she begged for mercy before he let her go.
After taking a short break, Mingzhu’s mischievous spirit arose again. Like a wriggling worm, she crawled into the blanket, playing around for a while. Yuwen Chu almost went crazy with her antics and was about to punish her on the spot, but Mingzhu proudly emerged, her face red and her hair messy, and laughed at him, “Your Highness, you have such great stamina, you’re not even tired.”
Yuwen Chu glanced at her with narrowed eyes, almost gritting his teeth, “Just you wait and see. I don’t believe you can hold off on giving birth forever. Come on, let’s settle this. Who was it that made a bet with me that day? Since everyone’s free these days, let’s settle the score?”
“We bet on whether Teacher Lin was Teacher Zhu, right? Now we can only prove that he’s suspicious, not necessarily Teacher Zhu.” Mingzhu suddenly felt breathless and guilty, nervously counting on her fingers, “There are still many things to do today. We need to move Funing to Shangqing Garden, and we need someone to check if anything is missing…”
“And also, we need to handle Zhou Nushi’s matter, and we need to return to Xiang mansion…” Mingzhu glanced at Yuwen Chu, seeing his expression getting worse, she immediately dropped the rascally attitude and crawled over, as usual burying his face in her chest, teasingly said with a smile, “Alright, alright, I’m just kidding. You’re so petty.”
In the warmth and fragrance, Yuwen Chu’s anger dissipated completely, but another kind of desire relentlessly burned from within, incessantly, making him hungrier than if he hadn’t eaten at all. So, under the dim light of dawn, he flipped the person beside him, fearing he might tire or hurt her, he tossed and turned himself enough, sticky and sweaty, finally tired enough to stop his wandering thoughts.
A ray of sunlight penetrated through the window, Mingzhu opened her eyes and rolled over. Yuwen Chu, exhausted from his earlier exertions, was deeply relaxed and fast asleep. She didn’t have the heart to wake him, so she quietly got out of bed, put on her clothes, and left the room.
Su Lan and the others had been waiting, and as soon as she got up, they orderly brought hot water, clothes, shoes, and socks. In a moment, they dressed her up festively and beautifully, then surrounded her as they headed to the Northern Garden to handle affairs.
Li Quanxin trotted alongside, asking for Mingzhu’s opinion on various matters in the mansion one by one. Mingzhu made arrangements one by one, then emphasized, “You personally go to Shangqing Garden, don’t be stingy with money, make sure everything is taken care of properly, and if anything is missing, replenish it. Also, send a few capable maidservants to take care of her. If there’s any movement, report it immediately.”
Li Quanxin remembered everything, and Mingzhu reminded him again, “That guy, Guan Jiapo, who came back with us yesterday, you make him learn to handle things, don’t just put him in important positions right away. Start from the lowest messenger position, do well, then gradually promote him, be strict, don’t slack off. If he doesn’t listen and makes mistakes, he should be punished, whether it’s by hitting or fining.”
No matter how talented Guan Jiapo was, he couldn’t reach the sky in one step. If he couldn’t even do the basics well, she’d rather not have him. People often don’t cherish things that come too easily. Only when they know how difficult it is will they cherish the opportunities given to them.
“Got it.” Li Quanxin conveyed these instructions one by one, and he himself also prepared to go to Shangqing garden to arrange for Princess Funing. When Mingzhu arrived at Zhou Nushi’s residence in the northern garden, the entire Ying Wang Mansion was busy but not chaotic.
As soon as the courtyard gate opened, Zhou Nushi was already kneeling barefoot in the center of the yard, bowing her head in apology. Seeing Mingzhu come in, she deeply bowed and whispered, “This servant knows she has made a grave mistake, and is willing to accept any punishment the Wangfei deems fit, without a word of complaint.”
Ignoring Zhou Nushi, Mingzhu went straight to the main room, sat in the main seat, and motioned for the serving maids to bring her breakfast. She slowly finished her meal, rinsed her mouth, wiped her hands clean, dismissed the servants, and rewarded Su Lan and the others with the food.
Stretching lazily, she strolled into the courtyard and spoke to Zhou Nushi, “Are you convinced?”
Zhou Nushi knew she was asking about yesterday’s failed attempt to frame Ping Nushi. She had fallen into Mingzhu’s trap. She smiled bitterly and said, “This servant has thought it over all night. I am convinced. The Wangfei is not only lucky but also clever. This servant admits defeat wholeheartedly.”
Mingzhu chuckled, “I am indeed very lucky, but honestly, I’m not smart. At least not as smart as you and others. What I rely on is not intelligence, but boldness, and His Highness’s trust. I know you’re still not convinced, that’s why you look down on me, and that’s why you made the mistake yesterday. You must be thinking, if His Highness trusts you and gives you a chance, you can do better than me. Am I right?”
Zhou Nushi didn’t admit it, “Not at all. This servant is truly convinced.” His Highness didn’t love her, didn’t trust her, no matter what she did, it was wrong. With her fate in someone else’s hands, she could only accept it.
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