Chapter 538 Apology (Part One)
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Lady Qian couldn’t quite figure out what was going on in between, it seemed that Mingzhu’s personality could indeed do such things, but she also dared not fully believe Fu Zifei’s words, so she said, “Get up and wash your face first, let’s talk slowly. Crying like this at the front door is not appropriate if someone sees it.”
Suddenly, the gatekeeper ran in and said, “His Royal Highness, Ying Wang, has arrived.”
Then, with a cold face, Yuwen Chu walked in from outside. Seeing this scene, he frowned, but did not intervene much. He politely nodded to Lady Qian and said, “I’m here to see my mother-in-law and fourth brother-in-law. Is my father-in-law available? I have something to discuss with him.”
Lady Qian hurriedly had someone help Fu Zifei up and greeted Yuwen Chu, saying, “Your father-in-law is in the study, I’ll have someone inform him.” She also had someone call Fu Lin and Fu Mingcheng to accompany Yuwen Chu. Yuwen Chu said, “Sister-in-law, there’s no need to be so polite, we are family. I know the way myself, you can go about your business, no need to worry about me. Also, don’t bother preparing meals, I’ll leave shortly.”
Fu Zifei stood up, wiped away her tears in a hurry, and greeted him respectfully, “Zifei pays respects to Uncle.”
Yuwen Chu nodded at her and then turned around and strode into the house.
Lady Qian pulled Fu Zifei inside and said, “First wash your face and see what you’ve become. If it’s really a misunderstanding, then let it not be true. Your aunt will come to understand eventually, and the Great Empress Dowager won’t blame you for such a small matter.”
Fu Zifei suppressed her tears, feeling embarrassed, “It’s all my fault, causing trouble for Aunt. ” She obediently followed Lady Qian to wash her face and comb her hair, and then asked Lady Qian to accompany her to visit Madam Cui.
Madam Cui laid on the bed, her forehead bruised, her eyes closed tightly, unconscious. Fu Mingcheng sat beside her, quietly shedding tears, while Fu Lin was very busy, managing everything. When Yuwen Chu arrived, he invited him in and had someone set up a curtain for him to see Madam Cui. He whispered, “Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been administered, but there’s been no improvement.”
Yuwen Chu couldn’t stay in the inner room for long, so after seeing Madam Cui, he went to the outer room to listen to Tang Chunlai’s report on Madam Cui’s condition. Tang Chunlai just shook his head, “The old lady is getting older, this fall must have caused internal bleeding, it’s difficult.”
“Do your best, I want you to spare no effort to keep her alive.” Yuwen Chu’s heart sank. If Mingzhu knew, she would definitely be very sad. This postpartum period won’t be easy, and if not properly cared for, there may be lingering health issues in the future.
If Madam Cui really can’t recover, besides Fu Cong, all the male members of the Fu mansion would have to announce mourning, which would be equivalent to severing half of his ties with Fu Cong. At the same time, because Fu Cong supported the overall situation, the Great Empress Dowager wouldn’t interfere too much, which would give opponents greater room to maneuver.
Seeing Lady Qian accompanying Fu Zifei outside, Yuwen Chu knew they were avoiding him, so he got up again to see Fu Mingzheng. Fu Zifei respectfully greeted him as usual, looking both aggrieved and sad, hesitating to speak. Since it didn’t concern him anyway, Yuwen Chu didn’t mind and continued on his way.
Fu Mingzheng only had flesh wounds, but they were severe enough. His buttocks were cracked, and his tailbone was injured, making it impossible for him to walk, so he could only lie in bed. There weren’t many attendants in his room, just a few maids and servants for daily chores, so Yuwen Chu felt more comfortable staying here than in Madam Cui’s room.
Outside, Fu Cong was busy dealing with matters and receiving guests, so he temporarily couldn’t attend to him. He simply had someone make a pot of tea for him and sat with Fu Mingzheng, saying, “Since you’re already injured, let’s make the situation sound even worse when talking to outsiders, lure the hidden enemies out. This time, I want to get rid of Zhu Wenhan. We can’t let them get away with it.”
Fu Mingzheng was somewhat regretful, especially when he thought that Madam Cui was still unconscious. His mood soured, “It’s my carelessness.”
Yuwen Chu said, “You’re overthinking it. Your reaction was already fast enough. Anyone else might not have handled it better. This was just an accident, not your fault.”
Fu Mingzheng looked gloomy, “Your Highness doesn’t understand.” There was always a barrier between a step Mother and her stepson. He wasn’t a demanding person and knew Madam Cui had treated him well, so he had a special respect for her. But he didn’t expect Madam Cui to encounter trouble because of him.
Perhaps because Mingzhu often mentioned it in his ear, Yuwen Chu suddenly felt that Fu Mingzheng seemed a bit pitiful. He was all alone, separated from his step Mother, brother-in-law, nephews, and nieces by a layer of estrangement. Even though there were people to take care of him when he was injured or sick, it just didn’t feel the same. It was like when he fell ill last time, Mingzhu showed so much concern and thoughtfulness, things that servants couldn’t do.
Yuwen Chu made up his mind silently. When he had free time, even if it meant trickery or coercion, he would bring Li Shumei to take care of Fu Mingzheng. That’s what it meant to live together. Otherwise, someone like Fu Mingzheng, busy his whole life, would lose half his life without anything to show for it afterwards. What would be the point?
He found an excuse to go outside and called Fu Mingzheng’s personal attendant, Han Cheng, over. “Has Fourth Young Master met Miss Li from the Li family recently?”
Han Cheng, tight-lipped, pretended to be ignorant, “Your Highness, you must be joking. Fourth Young Master is a decent person and would never do anything inappropriate.”
Indeed, how could the people around Fu Mingzheng be loose-lipped? Yuwen Chu didn’t press Han Cheng further and said lightly, “I’m thinking about Fourth Young Master’s well-being. He’s too pitiful alone.”
Han Cheng awkwardly replied, “Indeed.”
As they were talking, they heard footsteps nearby, and it was Fu Zifei again.
“Really sorry, Uncle, always driving you away, bothering you,” Fu Zifei bowed her head almost to her chest, looking both shy and uncomfortable.
Lady Qian apologized, “The Great Empress Dowager is still waiting for Zifei to reply. Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare to do this. Please forgive me, Your Highness…”
People who came out from the palace to handle affairs couldn’t stay outside for long, especially with such a big incident at the Fu mansion, the Great Empress Dowager was anxious to wait for news. Yuwen Chu didn’t think too much about it, just nodded slightly at them and went on his way.
But Fu Zifei stopped him, “Uncle.”
Yuwen Chu remembered her quietly reminding him about the secret medicine the Great Empress Dowager was taking last time. For that, he had gained the upper hand in several confrontations with the Great Empress Dowager. Therefore, he gave her some face, stopped and looked at her, “Do you have something to say?”
Fu Zifei suddenly knelt down to him, “I apologize to Uncle.”
Yuwen Chu felt surprised and looked at Lady Qian. Lady Qian was also taken aback by Fu Zifei’s sudden move, and when she reacted, she hurried forward to help Fu Zifei up, “Zifei, what are you doing? Speak properly.”
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