Chapter 592: Approval
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Fu Zifei cried as she returned to Changxin Palace, where the Great Empress Dowager berated her harshly. When asked why she left Changxin Palace without permission and where she intended to go, she couldn’t answer. She could only use the same excuse she used to deceive Yuwen Bai before: “There are osmanthus trees along that road, and I thought Grandmother and I both grew up in Jiangnan, so we both must like osmanthus cakes. Therefore, I wanted to pick some osmanthus flowers and make osmanthus cakes for you.”
The Great Empress Dowager naturally didn’t believe her words and stared at her in silence for a long time before saying, “You miss home, don’t you?”
Fu Zifei followed suit and replied, “Yes.”
The Great Empress Dowager sneered, “Is that blaming me that I brought you into the palace?”
Fu Zifei’s cold sweat came down. She cried and said, “No, no, why won’t Grandmother believe me?”
The Great Empress Dowager ignored her, leaving her aside. It was Yuwen Fu who heard the crying and came in, staying by the Great Empress Dowager’s side for a long time. He whispered, “Grandmother, it’s because I’ve noticed you haven’t been eating well these past few days. I discussed with Sister Zifei about making some osmanthus cake for you. It’s not Sister Zifei’s fault; she just had bad luck.”
Only then did the Great Empress Dowager’s expression soften a bit. “Stand up. If you are being wronged, I will naturally help you. But if you seek death yourself, no one can stop you.”
Fu Zifei, still crying, kowtowed several more times to the Great Empress Dowager. Yet she heard the Great Empress Dowager coldly say, “I do not want to hear about incidents like you licking someone’s boots. Otherwise, I will kill you first!”
Fu Zifei’s heart sank into an icy pit, leaving her speechless. Yuwen Fu, alarmed, ran over and pulled her hard, saying with concern, “Sister, let’s go out. Don’t disturb Grandmother’s rest.”
Fu Zifei woodenly stood up with Yuwen Fu, looking at the Great Empress Dowager sitting with her back to her by the window, feeling a deep chill in her heart. Even though she had fallen out with Fu Mingzhu, when Fu Mingzhu saw her faint, she still defended her, beating Min Baoyun until she dared only cry and not retaliate. But the Great Empress Dowager? She would rather have her die over a matter of pride? Did she really see her as nothing but a tool? Fine, if you are heartless towards me, don’t blame me for being ungrateful.
“Sister, sister?” Yuwen Fu saw the despair on Fu Zifei’s face and had to softly persuade her, “Don’t be angry with Grandmother. She’s confused because of her illness.”
Fu Zifei shook her head. “I’m not angry. Your Highness is truly kind to me.”
Yuwen Fu, a bit embarrassed, said, “You were kind to me first.”
In Chongzheng Hall, Yuwen Bai was lounging, eating a pomegranate, and asked Yuwen You, “Are you sure that method you mentioned will work?”
Yuwen You bit into a blood-red pomegranate seed and confidently said, “Trust me, Your Majesty. That Fu Zifei is rebellious and lacks vision and scope. After today’s incident, if she doesn’t go mad, I’d be surprised. If the old crone were gentle and kind to her, it might be different. But since the old crone is seriously ill and bound to be extremely harsh, Fu Zifei will only wish for her death. How could she still have any loyalty towards her?”
Yuwen Bai laughed contentedly, “The old lady has been manipulating people’s hearts all her life. How does it feel to be outsmarted in the end? I can’t wait to see her expression. Do you think she’ll be infuriated to death?”
“It would be best if she were. It would save us a lot of trouble,” Yuwen You recalled the scene when Mingzhu slapped Min Baoyun decisively and felt amused, “Fu Mingzhu is becoming more and more arrogant. She actually dared to slap Miss Min in the palace. Won’t His Majesty intervene?”
“That fool? If she can’t fight back on her own, does she expect me to help her?” Yuwen Bai didn’t have any concept of protecting Min Baoyun. He had already given her enough face by not bothering her, and as for being beaten up, that was her problem. He urged Yuwen You, “Didn’t you say you wanted to give Fu Cong a lesson? Why is he still fine after all this commotion?”
Yuwen You smiled faintly, “Your Majesty, be patient and wait for good news.” He didn’t know how Yuwen Cong managed this gunpowder incident, but it cost so much, yet only injured a few of the Fu family’s people, while others died. It was strange. Once he left the palace, he would have to find Yuwen Cong.
“Well, hurry up then, I can’t wait,” Yuwen Bai, having eaten and drunk his fill, laid back comfortably. Suddenly, He Zhengtu rushed in, saying urgently, “Your Majesty, someone has knocked on the Dengwen Drum to lodge a complaint.”
Yuwen Bai lazily said, “Let them go find the old lady. I’m busy.”
He Zhengtu whispered, “It’s the relatives of the deceased at the Fu Mansion, accusing Xiangye of abusing power, embezzlement, miscarriage of justice, inciting public anger, and causing assassins to break in, resulting in the death of court officials.”
Yuwen Bai’s eyes lit up, “What a good thing! Why didn’t you say so earlier? Of course, I have to deal with this! Come on, Ninth Uncle, come with me to see what’s going on outside. This time, we’ll investigate thoroughly and make the old man lose face!”
Yuwen You instinctively felt something was wrong, “Your Majesty, this matter is suspicious. It’s better to wait and see before acting.”
Yuwen Bai couldn’t wait, “What’s there to see? Why wait? If you won’t go, I’ll go myself.” With that, he left first.
Yuwen You had no choice but to follow.
In Guangming Hall, Mingzhu and Yuwen Chu accompanied Imperial Consort Min. Imperial Consort Min showed them the little clothes, shoes, and hats she had made for the child during this time. “I haven’t seen the child, so I don’t know if the clothes fit well. If the size is wrong, let someone alter them.”
Yuwen Chu said, “Mother, wait a little longer. I will find a way to take you out. When the time comes, you can see the child however you like. You should rest more and do less of these things. You already support so many people with needlework. Do you still need to make these clothes and shoes?”
Imperial Consort Min shook her head, “Children’s things are better made personally. Don’t use what others make. I’m just idle. If there’s nothing else, I’ll just pass the time.” She took out two sets of inner clothes and handed them to Mingzhu, “These are made for you. Try them on and see if they fit?” Then she said to Yuwen Chu, “You can make yours later.”
Mingzhu felt a little embarrassed, “I haven’t made anything for Mother.” She wasn’t good at needlework, so she really hadn’t made anything for Imperial Consort Min, not even for Yuwen Chu. Imperial Consort Min making inner clothes for her personally meant she truly accepted her, and Mingzhu understood this. She felt very happy.
At this point, Imperial Consort Min had nothing to be picky about. “You’re not having it easy either. You have to take care of the child and manage so many things inside and outside. How can you have time for this? Funing has caused you a lot of trouble, hasn’t she? It’s my fault for not teaching her well. If she were half as sensible as you, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
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