Chapter 500: Girls turn outwards
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Madam Cui sighed helplessly, “What kind of trouble has the Great Empress Dowager caused? Maybe she’s even hoping that Zifei will resent us. Alright, I understand. Just relax, if there’s less worry, just worry less. It’s not like the sky won’t fall down without you.”
Mingzhu just smiled and sweetly spoke a bunch of words, coaxing Madam Cui into a smiling mood. The dinner was very sumptuous. For the first time, Fu Cong drank a few more cups, and the Fu family’s men insisted on pouring wine for Yuwen Chu, much to Mingzhu’s dismay, “His Highness has just recovered from a serious illness and can’t drink so much wine!”
The more anxious she got, the more Fu Mingzheng and Fu Mingqing teased her, “His Highness hasn’t said anything, why are you so anxious? Truly a girl who turns outwards.”
Fu Mingqing even composed a poem on the spot, forcing Yuwen Chu to drink. Fu Mingda gently intervened, “His Highness is a refined person, unlike us rough people. How about this, Father will drink as much as he does. It’s not about drinking contests, but about joining in the festive atmosphere. Let’s all be happy.”
Mingzhu couldn’t say anything more and went to watch Fu Cong, “Father, you can’t drink too much. Don’t forget what Dr. Tang said to you last time. Drinking too much is not good for your health.”
Even Fu Mingzhao couldn’t bear to see it. He filled a glass with wine and handed it to Yuwen Chu with both hands, saying, “Your Highness, this glass of wine is a toast from me.” After saying this, he didn’t say anything else, just stared at Yuwen Chu with a meaningful look, meaning will you drink it or not.
Yuwen Chu smiled slightly, raised the glass and drank it all in one gulp. Then he took the wine jug again and, starting from Fu Cong, went around to each of the four brothers of the Fu family, then came over to toast the women, except for Lady Ai, everyone else drank.
Yuwen Chu’s words were pleasant, he had excuses for everyone, but the central idea was the same: thanking them for marrying Mingzhu to him, that he and Mingzhu were doing very well, and then praising each person involved, finding their most outstanding and admirable qualities to praise.
Mingzhu watched as each person was praised to the skies by him, feeling that they all thought, “He’s such a good person, Mingzhu really hit the jackpot!” She couldn’t help feeling resentful, she was pretty good too, wasn’t she? Well, now she could finally say this confidently.
Wenwen saw Mingzhu’s changing expression, looked at Yuwen Chu, then at her, and whispered in her ear, “Aunt, I know why you were so protective of Uncle just now.”
Mingzhu smiled, “What did you figure out, little girl? Tell Auntie.”
Wenwen blushed slightly and said shyly, “Aunt, you could have just let it go. Grandfather, father, and uncle all have their limits and wouldn’t have let Uncle get drunk. But with you causing a fuss like that, it created a lively atmosphere and made Uncle very happy. He felt that you were on his side, willingly letting him drink, and then everyone was happy. Isn’t that the reason?”
Mingzhu smiled with satisfaction, “You’re quite clever, little girl. That’s my winning strategy! Learn from it, in the future, when you go to your husband’s house, you won’t suffer.”
While Mingzhu was boasting, she saw Yuwen Chu holding a glass of fruit juice and standing in front of her, smiling meaningfully, “I’ll also toast Wangfei, you’ve worked hard.”
Mingzhu didn’t know how much Yuwen Chu had heard just now, but she pretended as if he hadn’t heard anything and drank it with a flattering tone, “Your Highness’s juice is really delicious, but Your Highness should still drink less alcohol, it’s not good for your health.”
Yuwen Chu’s eyes were full of smiles as he glanced at her and then walked away.
Wenwen couldn’t help but laugh, “Auntie, I can’t learn this trick from you. This is also Uncle’s way of understanding and flattering you. If I meet someone who doesn’t know what’s good for them, they might even blame me for losing face, and nag at me for interfering in everything. What am I supposed to do then?”
Mingzhu smiled, Wenwen was right. Her luck lay in having a good husband like Yuwen Chu. Previously, Yuwen You was someone who didn’t know what was good for him, right? She solemnly told Wenwen, “If you meet someone like that, let others beat him with a big stick until he wakes up. Don’t feel sorry or interfere, just stand aside and watch quietly. When he wakes up, feels pain, and wants comfort, then you can comfort him, and then you’ll be his savior.”
Wenwen listened attentively, “I’ll remember Auntie’s words.”
Fu Mingzheng came over, “Don’t listen to your aunt’s nonsense, her methods may not work for you.” Then he grinned at Mingzhu, “Mind your own business, or else I’ll send beauties to your house every day.”
Mingzhu rolled her eyes at him and ignored him. She had already decided on this matter. When Fu Mingzheng walked away, she whispered to Wenwen, “Wenwen, I have a task for you. See if any of your friends are friendly with the daughter of the Commander of the Central City, Miss Li, and try to bring her to our mansion to play.”
Wenwen had vaguely heard the elders in the family mention this matter these days and was also interested in joining in the fun, “Okay, the circles in the capital are so small, I’m sure I can find someone I know. I’ll definitely bring her to Auntie’s presence. Which day is it?”
“The sixth day of the month.” Mingzhu whispered to Wenwen, “You’re not young anymore, do you have any plans?”
Wenwen blushed and whispered, “My plan is just to listen to my parents.”
Mingzhu shook her head, “That’s not right, you have to have your own thoughts about what kind of life you want. What others think is good might not be what you want. Think about it carefully and tell me later.”
Wenwen murmured almost inaudibly, and she was too shy, so she ran off to play with others.
On the sixth day of the month, Mingzhu sent someone to the palace early to pick up Princess Changhua. She also sent someone to bring a New Year’s gift to Yue Guo Gong’s mansion and waited outside. She was afraid that Yue Guo Gong’s wife wouldn’t allow An Xiaogu to come out, after all, this time the Great Empress Dowager had appointed An Xiaogu’s younger brother to accompany Yuwen Fu’s studies, and she was afraid that Yue Guo Gong’s mansion would be even more cautious. But unexpectedly, the Yue Guo Gong Madam cooperated very well. When the people from Ying Wang Mansion arrived, she sent An Xiaogu out, along with many return gifts.
Changhua would take a little longer to come out of the palace, so An Xiaogu arrived first. Mingzhu received An Xiaogu at the second gate and was surprised to find that she hadn’t been out for a while, so she had become much fairer. She couldn’t help but take An Xiaogu’s hand and smile, “You’re going to be a bride after all, you look so good.”
An Xiaogu gave Mingzhu a glare, complaining, “You heartless person, I thought you forgot about me.” Then she reached out to touch Mingzhu’s belly, and exclaimed in surprise, “Why is it still so small?”
Zheng Momo on the side laughed, “The young lady is young and inexperienced, our Wangfei is pregnant for the first time, with a good physical foundation, so she’s carrying it tight. Later, it will get bigger.”
An Xiaogu’s nurse, Lady Hua, reminded her in a low voice, “Miss, how did Madam instruct you before going out? If you don’t understand, don’t speak recklessly.”
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