Chapter 589: Are You Unwilling?
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Fu Zifei was so frightened she couldn’t even speak, trembling in fear as she covered her mouth, forgetting to plead for mercy.
Yuwen Bai squatted down, looking her in the eye with a grin. “Who are you?”
Fu Zifei didn’t know if Yuwen Bai really didn’t recognize her. She had been in the palace for almost a year now, and they had encountered each other on various occasions, especially since she had been selected to be his concubine. He couldn’t possibly not recognize her. But Yuwen Bai had never actively caused trouble for her. He had never spoken to her, never looked at her directly. Perhaps he knew of her existence but had never paid attention to her?
Yuwen You smiled and said, “Miss Fu, His Majesty is asking you a question. Not answering is a serious offense and will be punished.”
Only then did Fu Zifei regain her senses, respectfully bowing to Yuwen Bai and tremblingly saying, “Your Majesty, I am the daughter of the Marquis Huaiyin, Fu Mingcheng, named Fu Zifei.”
“It’s you, the eldest daughter of Master Fu.” Yuwen Bai lightly lifted Fu Zifei’s chin, staring at her face. He was actually younger than Fu Zifei, but he had grown much taller. However, he was all bones and no flesh, with a gloomy look, making him seem particularly harsh.
Fu Zifei felt the two fingers holding her chin were cold and clammy, like a poisonous snake, making her shiver all over. She desperately refrained from moving, fearing that if she couldn’t help it, she would shake off that hand. It was too disgusting, too scary.
“Smack!” Yuwen Bai suddenly slapped her, then pulled back his hand and asked a servant for a handkerchief to wipe his hand, coldly saying, “You’re bold, aren’t you? I ask you a question, and you dare to show such disrespect to me! Do I need to kill your entire family, or do you wish for me to kill your entire family?”
Fu Zifei realized that she had accidentally revealed her disgust earlier. She trembled in fear, squatting on the ground and tremblingly saying, “Your Majesty, I was just startled when I saw your majesty’s face. I was overwhelmed by the dragon’s might and too overjoyed, so I lost control.”
The people of the Fu clan were all proud, from the Great Empress Dowager to Fu Lin, who broke his legs and hands at the end of last year, and Fu Mingzhu. They were all very proud. Only Fu Zifei, who came from Jiangnan and spoke with a soft Wu accent, seemed a bit more timid and weak. Yuwen Bai probably saw that Fu Zifei was different from other members of the Fu clan, and his mood improved slightly. “I didn’t expect you to be quite eloquent.”
Fu Zifei whispered, “I dare not.”
“Why don’t you dare? I think you’re very brave.” Yuwen Bai suddenly felt a bit playful and whispered, “I had a sudden thought just now, and I really wanted to kill you.”
Fu Zifei’s body shook like a sieve. If she had known that this trip would bring such a disaster, she would have listened to Mu Gugu’s words and stayed honestly in Changxin Palace. Thinking that she would never see Yuwen Chu or Yuwen Fu again, and would never enjoy the bright side of this world, she burst into tears and begged Yuwen Bai, “Your Majesty, please spare me.”
Yuwen You suddenly said, “Your Majesty, this child is quite pitiable. She hasn’t done anything wrong, so please don’t tease her. She will be one of your four concubines in the future. If things get too ugly, it won’t look good for Your Majesty either.”
Yuwen Bai gave Yuwen You a peculiar look and whispered, “Ninth Uncle, don’t you think she resembles Cousin Mingzhu a bit?”
Yuwen You replied impassively, “No, I don’t see it.”
Yuwen Bai circled around Fu Zifei, sighing repeatedly, “Strange, I’ve seen you a few times before, but never have you looked as much like Cousin Mingzhu as you do today.” He suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Ah, it’s your goose yellow and smoky purple palace dress—Cousin Mingzhu has worn one like that before. And the multicolored gemstone hairpin in your hair, she wore that too. No wonder I thought you looked so similar.”
Fu Zifei murmured, “These were gifts from Ying Wangfei.”
Yuwen Bai scrutinized her silently for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Where are you going?”
Fu Zifei dared not say she was going to intercept Yuwen Chu. She lied, “Ying Wangfei asked me to check if Imperial Consort Min is available to receive guests. If she is, I’m to invite her over.”
“Is this the way to Guangming Hall? I surprisingly can’t remember,” Yuwen Bai sneered at the eunuch, who whispered, “We can also go from here.”
Fu Zifei quickly said, “This road is lined with osmanthus flowers, reminding this humble servant of her hometown…”
“What a cunning woman with a silver tongue,” Yuwen Bai’s expression fluctuated, and he said lightly, “It wouldn’t be difficult for me to spare you. Come, my boots got dirty from kicking that dog slave just now. You come and wipe them for me.”
This wasn’t too difficult. Fu Zifei had heard palace maids say that Anyang Wang, Yuwen Long, had also once helped the young emperor put on his boots. As she was supposed to be his future consort, wiping his boots wasn’t a big deal. She obediently agreed and took out a handkerchief to prepare to wipe Yuwen Bai’s boots. But she saw Yuwen Bai retract his foot. She couldn’t understand and asked, “Your Majesty?”
Yuwen Bai looked down at her condescendingly. “Lick it with your tongue.”
Fu Zifei’s face instantly flushed red, and anger burned in her chest. Although she was timid and lacked skills, she was no less proud than any other Fu clan woman. How could such a malicious person be an emperor? How was he worthy? He wasn’t any better than a pig in a pigsty. No, pigs could at least be eaten, but he was useless, only capable of wasting food!
Seeing the hatred in her eyes, Yuwen Bai sneered, “Are you unwilling? Don’t want to live? Perhaps you haven’t heard of the consequences of defying me?”
Fu Zifei didn’t dare to say “unwilling.” She deeply resented the Great Empress Dowager for pushing her into this predicament. Why should Fu Mingzhu live freely, marrying the best man in the world, and Fu Wenwen could marry into the Qi Wang Mansion and become the future mistress of the Qi Wang Mansion? Why should she be trapped in this muddy pit, unable to live or die?
If she really licked Yuwen Bai’s boot, she would never be able to lift her head in the palace again, and the Great Empress Dowager wouldn’t spare her. But if she didn’t lick it, she might be tortured to death on the spot. Being alive was always better than being dead. Fu Zifei reluctantly took a step forward, closed her eyes, and prepared to lick Yuwen Bai’s boot.
Yuwen Bai watched Fu Zifei’s actions with a mix of satisfaction and disappointment. She looked somewhat like Fu Mingzhu, but her courage and temperament were too small.
Yuwen You frowned and emphasized, “Your Majesty, Miss Fu will be one of your four concubines in the future. This has been decided by the two empress dowagers, and it’s not easy to change. Scaring her like this will upset the empress dowagers.”
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