Chapter 647: Missed Opportunity
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Hearing Imperial Consort Min cough, Mingzhu immediately separated from Yuwen Chu. Just as she was about to explain a few words, Yuwen Chu earnestly told Imperial Consort Min, “Mingzhu is saddened by the news about her father.” Then he added, “When you were missing before, she was also very upset. When she saw me, she cried and said she didn’t take care of you well.”
Alright, he had said everything, so Mingzhu decided to remain silent, lowering her head to wipe away her tears. Imperial Consort Min understood very well and gently comforted her, “Good fortune follows the virtuous. It will get better. You don’t need to worry too much. When I was kidnapped by bandits, it wasn’t your fault.” She specifically informed Yuwen Chu, “Originally, Mingzhu was supposed to stay with me all the time. I wanted peace and quiet, so I sent her away.”
“Yes,” Yuwen Chu naturally understood all of this process. It was just to make Imperial Consort Min feel comfortable, so he could be even better and more considerate towards Mingzhu.
Imperial Consort Min glanced at the sky and urged Yuwen Chu to leave, “There are so many things waiting for Your Highness outside, especially during this period of mourning. You shouldn’t always stay here. Be careful not to let people talk…”
“I’ll come back later to see you.” Yuwen Chu gave Mingzhu a deep look and then walked out.
Imperial Consort Min cleared her throat and said to Mingzhu, “You’ve worked hard and suffered. Go rest. I’ll have the palace attendants massage you with medicinal oil. After a nap, the pain will be relieved.”
Seeing her looking radiant, Mingzhu thought of what Yuwen Chu said about being “prosperous.” Although she found it amusing, she couldn’t laugh. “As long as I see you safe, Mother, I’ll be relieved. I want to go see my father.”
“You should. Let’s go together,” Imperial Consort Min suggested.
Mingzhu shook her head. “The Great Empress Dowager’s palace is busy and chaotic. It’s better for Mother not to go.” Otherwise, the Great Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Min would definitely argue again. It was better to avoid trouble, so she would go alone.
There were no obstacles on the way, and the palace attendants at Changxin Palace were surprised to see Mingzhu return. Mu Gugu greeted her, “Is Ying Wangfei here to visit Minister Fu?”
Mingzhu choked up and said, “Yes, I’ve been unfilial, I haven’t gone to see him.”
Mu Gugu led her to a courtyard in the corner of Changxin Palace. “It’s quiet here, suitable for recuperation. So, Niang Niang ordered Minister Fu to be placed here, and several royal physicians take turns to look after him. You’ve come at the right time. Your family will come later to take Minister Fu back.”
“Is my father’s condition suitable for moving?” Mingzhu expressed doubt. “Who will come to pick up my father?”
Mu Gugu said somewhat helplessly, “Originally, staying in the palace would have been best. The medical care and herbs are all convenient here. But someone objected, saying that no minister had ever stayed in the harem, so it must be avoided. After discussing with Niang Niang and Ying Wang, it was decided that it would be better for Minister Fu to return home for recuperation. Having family members taking care of him at home would be more intimate than palace attendants. Perhaps there will be a turnaround. As for who will pick him up, I don’t know.”
Mingzhu thought it over. It would be good for Tang Chunlai to come and see. Maybe that would help.
The courtyard where Minister Fu was housed was heavily guarded, and casual visitors were not allowed to enter. The leader only allowed Mu Gugu to enter upon seeing her. Several royal physicians were sitting around the fireplace, looking distressed. When Mu Gugu entered, they pleaded, “Please plead with the Great Empress Dowager on our behalf, Mu Gugu. We’ve tried everything, but there’s really no solution.”
Mu Gugu gently said, “Don’t worry, gentlemen. Ying Wangfei is here, and you can tell her anything.”
The royal physicians exchanged glances but dared not speak further. Dealing with patients’ relatives was sensitive, especially with someone of high rank and temperamental. A few words out of place could result in a severe beating.
Mingzhu didn’t care about their thoughts and hurried to see Minister Fu. The attendants were wiping Minister Fu’s face and limbs. Although the room was filled with incense, it couldn’t completely mask the faint stench of decay. Mingzhu leaned in to take a look and saw Minister Fu’s arm fully exposed, with bandages wrapped around the upper arm, indicating where the wound was.
Feeling something was amiss, she asked the royal physicians, “What’s going on?”
Among them, Doctor Zhang, who was best at treating injuries, had dealt with her before and was naturally pushed forward to explain the situation. “The arrow and the wound were both treated well, but for some reason, the wound hasn’t healed. There are signs of decay. We’ve removed the decayed flesh around it, but it still hasn’t improved. We’ve administered many detoxifying medicines, but they haven’t been effective. In fact, the situation seems to be getting worse, so we dare not do anything.”
So, bringing her father back home had another meaning behind it? Was it to let him breathe his last at home? Why had so many things changed? Why, even at this stage, couldn’t her father escape this disaster? Mingzhu’s vision went dark, and she knelt in front of Minister Fu’s bed, unable to utter a word in her heartrending pain. She grabbed Minister Fu’s good hand and pressed her forehead against it, too upset to say anything.
After a while, she regained her senses and hurriedly said, “Aren’t we supposed to send him out of the palace? Hurry up and do it. Let Tang Chunlai come and take a look at him.”
Mu Gugu didn’t speak, and Doctor Zhang whispered anxiously, “Doctor Tang has already come, but he also has no good solution, so he went to consult books for ideas.”
So, there was no solution left? No, there must be a way. Mingzhu’s eyes turned red, and she asked sternly, “Are there no other options?”
Doctor Zhang whispered, “Perhaps there’s one person who might have a solution— Jiang Zhouzi. Unfortunately, no one knows where he is or how close he lives.”
In other words, even if Jiang Zhouzi had a solution, finding out where he was and whether he lived nearby were uncertain. Could Minister Fu hold on until then? Mingzhu understood and hurriedly asked Mu Gugu, “Has anyone been sent to find Jiang Zhouzi?”
Seeing her in a panic, Mu Gugu quickly reminded her, “Are you confused? Didn’t Madam Fu faint, and people were sent everywhere to inquire about Jiang Zhouzi’s whereabouts? Especially in these past few days, everything that Her Majesty and His Highness could think of has already been tried.”
On the matter of Fu Cong, both the Great Empress Dowager and Yuwen Chu shared a rare moment of agreement—they both wanted to cure him. Even though the Great Empress Dowager often disagreed with Fu Cong, she didn’t want her own brother to die.
Was there really no way to save him? Would she just have to watch her father die? Mingzhu stared blankly at Fu Cong’s gaunt face, feeling that she owed him a great deal. She had thought she was doing her best, but now she felt she hadn’t spent enough time with her father and had missed out on so many precious moments.
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