Chapter 59: Wan Ru
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Yuwen Chu said, “Why should I bother being a good person? Knowing that you regard seeing me as if seeing a ghost, unwelcoming and distrustful, thinking that I have sinister intentions, why would I seek boredom willingly?”
Yuwen Chu’s words left Mingzhu speechless. She was determined not to admit that she disliked him. “Where did that come from? You’re misunderstanding! You’ve helped me several times, and I’m grateful to you. How could I not like you?”
Yuwen Chu smiled wryly, “Didn’t you say you ran into a ghost and were scared? After thinking about it, the only ‘ghost’ you could have run into is me.”
Petty! Mingzhu couldn’t argue with him and felt very annoyed.
Turning around, she walked towards the pavilion, then sneakily looked back to see if Yuwen Chu would follow. But to her regret, he had really walked away alone.
She regretted it immediately, wanting to run after him, but she was unwilling. She couldn’t help feeling nervous and scared, looking around.
After a while, the palace servant who had accompanied her, Ning Zhi, came running over panting, complaining, “Where did Miss go? In just a moment, you disappeared. You scared me to death.”
Seeing him, she felt relieved and calmly said, “How did you know I was here?”
Ning Zhi lowered his eyes and said, “It was His Highness Ying Wang who told me. His Highness has something to attend to, so he must leave immediately.”
“Come over here and don’t make a sound.” Mingzhu thought to herself, he has his own business, why should he explain to her? They went to the pavilion, anxiously looking towards the direction of the artificial rocks.
After a while, Yuwen Long came out pretending to be alone, stood at the intersection and looked around, coughed a few times softly, but seeing no one guarding outside, he looked surprised and alarmed. He called out again, “Kuan Shou?” But no one answered, so he left quickly with a pale face.
Mingzhu sat still, waiting patiently, but the woman hidden among the artificial rocks didn’t come out. She thought the woman probably sensed that something was wrong and didn’t dare to come out, trying to give the impression that there was no one there.
Smart move. But she had personally heard the woman’s voice and couldn’t let it go without seeing her. So, she patiently waited for about two incense sticks’ time before a young palace maid cautiously walked out and quickly left.
It turned out to be Palace Maid Wan Ru, who served the Empress Dowager.
Ning Zhi only now realized that something was wrong, looking at Mingzhu with a pale face. Mingzhu gave him a sinister smile, “Don’t worry, you don’t know anything, you didn’t see anything. Now, let’s wait a little longer and then go see Changhua.”
Princess Changhua was three years older than Mingzhu, quiet and generous in nature, not one to cause trouble, which made them get along well. Seeing Mingzhu coming in, she smiled, “Liang Xia and I were just talking about you, and here you are.”
Mingzhu sat down beside her, “You’ve been ill, and I’m worried. I had to come and see for myself. Are you feeling better now?”
Changhua smiled, “It’s not a big deal, just don’t want to spread the illness to others, so I dare not go out.” Holding Mingzhu’s hand, she sighed lightly and complained, “You, on the other hand, are getting bolder and bolder.”
Mingzhu knew she was talking about Yuwen You and smiled faintly.
Chang Hua said, “That’s fine, otherwise I’d always be worried about you.”
“Do you also think it’s inappropriate, older sister?” Since her rebirth, Mingzhu had seen Changhua for the first time, and thinking of how she had never left her side in her previous life, she felt deeply moved and couldn’t help but want to talk to her more.
“Of course it’s inappropriate.” Chang Hua turned away and coughed lightly a few times, saying softly, “No matter how others see it, I think it’s a good thing that you’ve come to terms with it. You deserve better.”
Better? Where can I find better? Mingzhu smiled dismissively and changed the subject. They talked for a while longer before a palace servant came to deliver a message, “Madame Fu is speaking with the Great Empress Dowager in the palace. She’s summoning Miss Fu to leave the palace.”
Mingzhu stood up to bid farewell to Princess Changhua, “The uncle in the clan’s shop received a batch of fans from Fusang, and they looked quite good to me. I asked him to set aside a few for us. Once we get them, I’ll have someone deliver them to older sister and Xiao Gu. As for Older Sister Yunshu, I’ll have someone bring them to her.”
Princess Changhua, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, coughed a few times softly, a sickly blush appearing on her snow-white face, “Thank you for your kindness.” There were plenty of such good things in the palace, but as a princess without parents or siblings to support her, she was forgotten by everyone. Even if she received them, it was the worst outcome.
Mingzhu sighed, “It’s nothing, older sister doesn’t need to be so polite. Just take care of yourself for now, and I’ll come to see you again in a couple of days.”
Changhua smiled, “Then I won’t see you off.”
As Mingzhu exited the palace gate, Liang Xia, the maid by Changhua’s side, followed her out. “Miss Fu.”
Seeing her hesitate, Mingzhu asked Ning Zhi and the others to go ahead, then smiled, “What’s the matter?”
Liang Xia frowned and said with a worried expression, “I heard that the princess is going to be bestowed a marriage… could you… perhaps help out a bit, inquire about it, or try to influence it, and strive for a good marriage?”
In her previous life, Changhua was married off to the northern state as a political marriage, and she lived quite well there. Their communication had never ceased. After the Fu family encountered trouble, Mingzhu had sent her mother and nephew to Changhua’s place to avoid disaster, through the help of An Xiaogu in the capital and Cai Mingshu in Jiangnan, with the assistance of another friend. Mingzhu knew what was going on, but she couldn’t tell Liang Xia, so she could only reassure her, “I know, I’ll find out for you.”
Liang Xia thanked her and left. Mingzhu then followed the palace servants to Changxin Palace, where the Great Empress Dowager resided. Outside the hall, she happened to meet Wan Ru, who greeted her with a smile, “Miss, please come in quickly. The Great Empress Dowager has been asking about you several times.”
Seeing Wan Ru, Mingzhu couldn’t help but feel nauseous. Who would have thought that such a gentle and lovely girl was the one who betrayed her benefactor and had an affair with Yuwen Long, hiding in the artificial rocks? She was truly a hypocrite. Seeing Mingzhu staring at her with a stern face, Wan Ru felt a chill and couldn’t help but touch her temples nervously, asking, “What are you looking at?”
Mingzhu smiled brightly, “Nothing, it’s just been a while since I last saw older sister. Suddenly, I feel like you’ve become even more beautiful, especially with that rosy complexion and vibrant lips. No amount of cosmetics could achieve that.”
Wan Ru, being naturally confident in her appearance, was reassured by Mingzhu’s words and smiled somewhat complacently, “Miss is teasing us maids again. Even if it’s true, it’s all thanks to the Great Empress Dowager’s care. If Miss wants to look like this, you should come and stay in front of the Great Empress Dowager for a few days. I guarantee you’ll become fair and beautiful.”
The Great Empress Dowager chuckled from inside, “This girl Wan Ru, whenever I mention Mingzhu a few times, she always finds ways to persuade the person to come and stay with me.”
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