Chapter 553 Soft and Hard Madam Li
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Mingzhu wanted to pull the quilt over her head and pretend that Fourth Brother wasn’t her brother. Shouldn’t such things be ignored and just married home without a fuss? But thinking about Fourth Brother’s temper, this kind of thing really seemed like something he could do. She could almost imagine how Fu Mingzheng would explain this matter.
First, when he met Li Shumei, she was dressed as a man, and he only asked her to suck out the venom, not intending to take advantage of a young lady. Second, Li Shumei saved his life, so he repaid the favor, but he wouldn’t do anything like offering himself as gratitude. Third, even if he did like Li Shumei, not marrying her into the family was for her own good. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be unlucky following him?
Even so, as his sister, she had to speak up for him. Otherwise, before they even got married, her in-laws would have a stomach full of grievances against him. How could they get along well in the future? Mingzhu sighed and said seriously to Madam Li, “I have considered going to your mansion to propose marriage, and I have inquired indirectly several times. But every time, it was blocked by the Fourth Brother. The reason is not that he had any improper intentions, but that he had his own difficulties.”
“You also know, a few days ago he encountered some trouble. This matter, whether big or small, if it weren’t for good luck, he could have lost his life. And the incident before, it was also thanks to Sister Shumei saving him. Otherwise, it’s uncertain if he could have come back alive. So, Fourth Brother is afraid of burdening Sister Shumei, not that he doesn’t want to take responsibility.”
“We also know about this. My husband has already talked to Shumei. That stubborn girl just won’t listen. If Fourth Master Fu is worried about this, there’s no need.” Madam Li listened to Mingzhu’s words, and the resentment that had been lingering in her heart finally lessened a bit. Although Li Dazhong’s official position was only fifth rank, the Li family was not the kind of family that wanted to climb the social ladder by any means necessary. They saw that Fu Mingzheng’s surroundings were clean, without even a concubine, and he behaved properly when he went out. Moreover, he had saved Li Haixing’s life, so Madam Li felt sorry for her daughter and wanted to give it one last try no matter what.
Now that the matter was out in the open, it was easy to handle. Mingzhu said, “Madam, rest assured, I will discuss this matter with my father. We must give your family an explanation no matter what.”
Madam Li didn’t linger for long, she got up and bid farewell, saying, “I’m not afraid of the Wangfei laughing at me. I told my daughter before leaving that this is the last time I’ll help her. If it doesn’t work out, she shouldn’t come here randomly again, but listen to her father’s arrangements and marry far away to avoid embarrassment.”
Madam Li was soft yet firm. Mingzhu didn’t dare to say much, she smiled and asked Su Lan to come in and help her see off the guest. Then she waited quietly for Yuwen Chu to come back so she could discuss how to set a trap for Fu Mingzheng.
Outside, it was still lively. Such times were usually good for building relationships. Many conspiracies and major events that subverted history were often plotted during such times. Mingzhu believed that Yuwen Chu would definitely not miss this opportunity. She had someone bring Zhuang Zhuang over and put him by her side, then had someone bring in the gifts from the palace for her to see.
Sometimes, these gifts could reveal many things. For example, the gifts from the Chongzheng Palace were the usual jade pendants, gold and silver, which Mingzhu had seen a lot of and were all the same. They were convenient for the emperor to give as rewards. She casually threw the gifts given by Yuwen Bai into the box, showing no respect for the imperial gifts.
Next, she looked at what Empress Dowager Min had sent, which were slightly more thoughtful, such as swaddling clothes and toys for infants. She wouldn’t use these things for Zhuang Zhuang, so she pushed them aside.
Finally, she inspected the gift from the Great Empress Dowager, a six-jin-eight-liang golden calf, adorable and cute, with eyes made of black pearls and white glass, looking like they could speak. It was golden and heavy, shining dazzlingly and Zhuang Zhuang was born weighing six jin and eight liang.
In fact, the Great Empress Dowager had good intentions. No matter how much she disliked Yuwen Chu or Zhuang Zhuang, the gift was well thought out. Mingzhu looked at the golden calf and fell silent.
Zheng Momo tentatively said, “Why not leave this behind, Your Highness?”
Mingzhu withdrew her gaze and whispered, “Put it away.” She remembered the set of purple sandalwood cups that Yuwen Chu didn’t even allow her to touch. After touching them, he made her wash her hands, and she never saw them again after she came back. Yuwen Chu wouldn’t agree to her keeping this thing with her. It’s always better to be cautious.
Zheng Momo quietly put the golden calf away in the box and said to Mingzhu, “On the second day after the baby was born, the Eldest Miss came to visit Wangfei with Imperial gifts. She brought some good body-strengthening medicines, including a 200-year-old mountain ginseng.”
Was Zheng Momo indirectly speaking for the Great Empress Dowager? Mingzhu’s heart moved, she glanced at Zheng Momo without changing her expression, but saw that Zheng Momo remained calm and collected, and calmly locked the box, then took out a small package to show her, “This was made by Princess Funing when she had nothing to do in the Shanglin Garden under a Momo’s guidance.”
After Funing moved into the Shanglin Garden, all the people around her were arranged by Yuwen Chu. The maids were sensible and not afraid of her causing trouble, and the Momo were even more tough and resourceful. They coaxed, deceived, and intimidated her, and surprisingly, she had improved a lot in many aspects.
Most likely, she had suffered a lot during the time she lived with Min Baoyun. Without Imperial Consort Min’s pampering to back her up, she even picked up needles, thread, and paintbrushes, and began to paint, write, and do embroidery. However, Mingzhu had only heard about it before, and had not seen the real thing. So she asked Zheng Momo to take it out to see. It turned out to be four sets of close-fitting clothes made of thin cotton cloth, with neat and delicate stitches, showing that she had put in effort.
Mingzhu was happy and deliberately left it behind to show Yuwen Chu. As for the ordinary gold, silver, jade, and other items gifted by others, they were not outstanding and were just fine, so she had them brought down and recorded and stored in the warehouse.
When everyone who had attended the Three Washing Rituals had left, Yuwen Chu returned. Mingzhu showed him the gifts from Imperial Consort Min and Funing. Yuwen Chu saw the infant clothes made by Funing and was even happier than if he had received ten thousand taels of silver. He said, “I hope she continues to behave like this. Then I can find her a good husband.”
Suddenly, Mingzhu remembered the good deeds Funing had done in her previous life, afraid that she would get involved with Min Baoyun again. So she said, “The situation is chaotic recently. Your Highness, you should send more people to protect Funing. She’s living alone in the Shanglin Garden, which is not easy.”
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