Chapter 649: The Final Showdown (Part 1)
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Fu Mingzheng declined Mingzhu’s offer to escort him out of the palace, “I know the way. If you have things to do, finish them quickly. What if Father wakes up and looks for you?”
Mingzhu, realizing the urgency, hurriedly parted from Fu Mingzheng and took a sedan chair back, anxiously urging the bearers to move faster, feeling they were too slow.
Arriving at Guangming Hall, she found Funing already back, crying in each other’s arms with Imperial Consort Min. Not wanting to disturb them, she asked Su Momo to take her to where Jiang Shanshan was being held.
Jiang Shanshan was confined in a side room of Guangming Hall. When Xia Xue opened the door and saw Mingzhu, her eyes reddened with grievance, “Wangfei, Xia Lu was so pitiful.” She and Xia Lu had grown up together, trained together, and worked together, closer than sisters. Xia Lu’s sudden death was a heavy blow.
Mingzhu hugged Xia Xue tightly, whispering, “I know, I’ll avenge her.” Just then, a heavy snort sounded from Jiang Shanshan.
Mingzhu looked over to see Jiang Shanshan bound and curled up in a corner. The dim light of the room obscured her expression, but Mingzhu could instinctively feel Jiang Shanshan’s malicious gaze and hostility.
Xia Xue, filled with hatred, kicked Jiang Shanshan, cursing, “You wicked woman, you’re utterly rotten.”
Jiang Shanshan sneered, “Fu Mingzhu, the winner takes all. I lost to you, and I have nothing to say about it. But didn’t you teach your maid? If they’re going to kill me, of course, I’ll fight back. Otherwise, I’d be dead. Why can’t they accept their loss?”
Mingzhu responded calmly, “Since you understand the concept of winners and losers, you should also accept the consequences of your defeat. Being beaten by the victors is normal, isn’t it? I’m in pain all over from your attacks. What’s the point of complaining? Does it help? Give her another slap!”
Su Momo smiled contentedly and punched Jiang Shanshan in the face. “Your Highness, I think her skin is too thick. A slap isn’t enough; a punch works better.”
Jiang Shanshan spat out two bloody teeth, glaring hatefully, “Fu Mingzhu, you will die a horrible death.” She couldn’t believe that despite everything, Fu Mingzhu had survived and now stood before her, looking radiant. She couldn’t accept it.
Mingzhu sat down and said, “Then I’ll die after you.”
Jiang Shanshan sneered, “Why pretend? Don’t think I don’t know you’re worried and in pain. Has your father’s poison been cured?”
Mingzhu shot up, “Was it you?”
Jiang Shanshan, seemingly resigned to her fate, laughed maniacally, “Whether it was me doesn’t matter. What matters is your father is truly unlucky, ha ha ha…”
Mingzhu, furious, initially wanted to rush at Jiang Shanshan but stopped herself, realizing this might be a trap. Instead, she grabbed a stool and threw it at her.
Jiang Shanshan, unable to retaliate, laughed even more crazily after being hit, “Also, do you know why Yuwen Cong was so determined to capture you? Want to know why? I told him you knew more than I did, were more powerful than me. With you, he could conquer the world. So, how does it feel to be coveted like that? Do you feel good seeing me like this, thinking I got what I deserved? Well, you’ll get what you deserve too!”
This woman is truly crazy, Mingzhu thought, frowning. “I have never provoked you first. If anyone committed wrongdoing, it was you! You deserve the consequences of your actions!”
Jiang Shanshan retorted furiously, “How dare you say that! You stole everything from me! Men, honor, identity, status, all of it should have been mine! It’s you! Why do you even exist? Your very existence is a mistake! Why don’t you just die? If not, you should have married Yuwen You properly. Why did you break off the engagement?”
So, simply being alive was a mistake? Mingzhu had never heard anything like that before. She remained silent for a moment, realizing it was impossible to reason with such a madwoman. It was better to infuriate her instead. She smiled sweetly and said, “Even if I hadn’t broken off the engagement and married Yuwen You, what difference would it make? His Highness still wouldn’t love you. He has never loved you, not once! Don’t you get it? If you hadn’t insisted on this marriage, you wouldn’t have disgraced yourself.”
Jiang Shanshan was driven to madness by hatred. “If it weren’t for the Fu family, what would you be? Without you, he would naturally love me. You probably don’t even understand how realistic men are! Who would remember a dead person forever? As long as I can give him what he wants, he won’t let me go!”
So, even if she hadn’t married Yuwen Chu in her previous life, Jiang Shanshan still wouldn’t have spared her? Mingzhu softly asked, “If I had married Yuwen You and you had married Ying Wang, would you have spared the Fu family and me?”
“Of course not!” Jiang Shanshan shouted. “I would still have killed you! I would still have brought the Fu family to ruin and slaughtered them all! I would have made Yuwen You despise and humiliate you until you died without a place to be buried!”
It was just as she thought. Mingzhu then asked, “Aren’t you afraid His Highness will find out about your deeds? Who would love a woman with a heart like a snake?”
Jiang Shanshan scoffed, “Why would I let him know? Do you think I’m as stupid as you?” If she could do it all over again, she would make sure Fu Mingzhu never got to this point; she would have killed her long ago.
“I’m not as smart as you, but you still lost to me.” Even though it was just the two of them talking, many things could no longer be verified, and many things hadn’t yet happened but were already at their end. Mingzhu felt a sense of finality; this feud would soon be over.
Jiang Shanshan, dejected, said, “Yes, I ultimately lost to you.” Being promised the position of empress didn’t come true. Was it because she came from another world, and Fu Mingzhu was an unexpected variable?
The phrase, “Emperor Wu married the Jiang family with deep respect,” felt like a curse, suffocating her. No, that’s not right. Her eyes brightened—it only mentioned marrying, not that she was the empress. So, she wasn’t the one who ultimately accompanied Yuwen Chu to the throne?
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