Chapter 611 Eye for an Eye
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Mingzhu casually remarked, “Ninth Sister, you flatter me. Actually, I think Ninth Sister also has good methods.” It seemed that the Wusun Princess was going to change her previous demeanor of a complaining woman and adopt a fierce appearance instead. However, Mingzhu wasn’t afraid. When it came to being fierce and unreasonable, no one had more experience than her.
“I will definitely work hard to live up to Sixth Sister’s praise.” The Wusun Princess smiled faintly, daring to turn around and ask Dai Wangfei, who was staring blankly, “Does Fourth Sister have a mirror and hot towels here? Please arrange a place for me to freshen up so we can sit down and talk.”
Dai Wangfei had just closed her mouth when she opened it wide again, shocked. This…this…this had just happened, and she could still calmly sit here, washing her face and combing her hair, and continue discussing matters with them? Her trusted maid reacted quickly and busied herself with hot water and towels, smiling as she said, “Please, two Wangfeis, come to the adjacent room to freshen up.”
Huayang Wangfei’s clothes had been disheveled by the Wusun Princess, but her hair was still intact. She simply tidied her clothes a bit and sneered, “No need, I’m fine like this.”
However, the Wusun Princess didn’t go to the adjacent room. She calmly said, “Please ask Fourth Sister-in-law to bring the hot towels and towels here. I’ll freshen up here, so I can listen to what the sisters-in-law have to say.”
She didn’t want them to talk behind her back. Dai Wangfei was amused. Given her usual demeanor and grace, she didn’t say it out loud. However, Huayang Wangfei couldn’t help it and coldly sneered, “Preventing slander is more important than preventing floods. Ninth Sister speaks Mandarin fluently, but does she understand the meaning of this phrase?” At this moment, you’re so guarded against us speaking, can you guard against others speaking like this for the rest of your life?
The Wusun Princess earnestly said, “I don’t understand. I only remember a saying passed down by our Wusun ancestors, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ Whoever makes me uncomfortable, I will make them uncomfortable!” She said this with a serious and earnest expression, with a hint of hysterical hostility between her brows, sending chills down the spine of Huayang Wangfei.
Huayang Wangfei’s trusted maid advised her softly, “Why bother arguing with such an uncivilized person, Your Highness? She injured you. Even if it’s for the sake of the Wusun King, you should still show some mercy. If you injure her, both the Empress Dowagers won’t forgive you.”
Mingzhu gently comforted Huayang Wangfei’s hand and silently pondered, could it be that anyone who spent more time with Yuwen You would become so unrecognizable? The Wusun Princess wasn’t like this in her past life, but now she had become like this. But thinking about it, although she was solitary in nature at that time, she wasn’t as annoying as the Wusun Princess. If others didn’t like her, she would just leave. Out of sight, out of mind. But she didn’t do so many annoying things to annoy others.
The Wusun Princess indeed sat down to comb her hair and wash her face on the side, smilingly saying, “Aren’t sisters-in-law going to discuss how to handle the Winter Solstice banquet? Let’s discuss it. Although I don’t understand, I’ll listen and learn.”
Dai Wangfei quickly regained her senses, cleared her throat, and asked Fu Wang’s Concubine Ji, “Second Sister, you are the eldest sister-in-law. Why don’t you start?”
Fu Wang’s Concubine Ji chuckled self-deprecatingly, “I’m the youngest here and married in the latest. I’ve never attended the Winter Solstice banquet before, so what can I say? Sisters, just tell me what needs to be done, and I won’t refuse.”
Mingzhu also said, “Fourth Sister-in-law has attended the Winter Solstice banquet the most times here. Fourth Sister-in-law, you lead the way. We’ll all listen, and anyone who dares to be disobedient and not follow orders, I won’t spare them.”
Dai Wangfei nodded, solemnly saying, “Then I’ll take the lead. If there’s anything wrong, please correct me. Also, let’s not have too many ulterior motives. During the Winter Solstice, His Majesty will go to worship the heavens and ancestral temples. Members of the royal family will attend, representing the dignity of the Yuwen clan. The sacrificial offerings and rituals will be handled by the Ministry of Rites. We only need to manage the banquet in the palace. With so many members of the royal family and their wives entering the palace, some are old and might be attending for the last time, while others are attending for the first time and don’t know anything. Someone needs to take care of and guide them to prevent mistakes or unpleasantness. It must be considerate and meticulous. This is the dignity of the royal family, and everyone has a responsibility to maintain it…”
Mingzhu listened intently on the side, realizing that this was the experience she lacked. To be a qualified Ying Wangfei, it wasn’t enough to just be strong, fight, kill, and do some good deeds. She must be able to handle big occasions and manage them. The so-called “strategy from the couch, commanding as if sitting on pins and needles” wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight; it required accumulation, starting from small things.
The Wusun Princess also listened attentively. What Yuwen Cong said to her was correct. She should have learned from Mingzhu a long time ago. Behind Mingzhu stood the Fu clan and Ying Wang, while behind her stood the entire Wusun clan. No one dared to easily make a move against her, including Mingzhu. Otherwise, it would mean that the two countries would tear their faces apart, and the alliance would break. Even though she lost today’s battle, it wasn’t a big deal. She would gain more experience in the future. As long as someone made her uncomfortable, she would make them all uncomfortable. She could do it.
The group roughly discussed the regulations in the mansion and budgeted how much the entire Winter Solstice banquet would cost. They also submitted a report to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager received them very graciously. Mingzhu and the others entered the Zhaoyang Palace together and saw Empress Dowager Min sitting on the phoenix throne. Consort Xiao was seated on her left, while Anle County Princess was seated on her right, and behind her stood Min Baoyun.
Anle County Princess smiled faintly, while Consort Xiao and Min Baoyun glared at Mingzhu with hatred, as if they wanted to bite her to death on the spot.
Dai Wangfei and Mingzhu exchanged a glance and knew that this Winter Solstice banquet was bound to be a disaster. Sure enough, after smiling and asking about their plans, Empress Dowager Min pushed Consort Xiao forward. “I heard from Old Nine’s wife that you’re not very familiar with the personnel arrangements in the palace, so I’ve asked Consort Xiao to help you. Back in the days, during the reign of the Great Empress Dowager, it was Consort Xiao who helped prepare the Winter Solstice banquet. Later on, I often asked her to help. If you want to know who’s the know-it-all in the palace, it’s her.”
Consort Xiao suppressed the hatred in her eyes, smilingly saying, “Getting old, getting old. I hope the Wangfeis won’t despise me.”
Consort Xiao was clearly referred to as an old-timer by Empress Dowager Min, so naturally, everyone had to give her face. Fu Wang’s Concubine Ji immediately declared on the spot, “Thank you for the guidance Consort Xiao.”
Empress Dowager Min then pushed Anle County Princess forward, saying, “Everyone knows that Anle will enter the palace in the future. I must pass on this set of knowledge to her. I also ask you sisters-in-law to lend a hand and teach this child. In the future, she will remember your kindness.”
Anle County Princess stood up to bow to Mingzhu and the others, expressing many humble words.
Just when everyone thought it was over, another person arrived, dressed in purple, it was Fu Zifei.
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