Chapter 70: Understanding
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After hearing Mingzhu’s account of what happened in the palace, Fu Cong didn’t get as angry as the Great Empress Dowager. He simply said, “Your aunt asked if it was Yuwen Chu who taught you to do that?”
Mingzhu nodded. “Yes.”
“Then, did he tell you to do it?” Fu Cong glanced at Mingzhu seemingly casually, but in fact, he observed every subtle change in her expression.
Neither he nor the Great Empress Dowager believed that Mingzhu acted alone in this matter, nor did they think it was just a coincidence. They both believed that someone was behind her actions. Since Yuwen Chu had helped Mingzhu yesterday and had contact with her alone, they suspected him. If it was indeed Yuwen Chu’s doing, then he was truly terrifying. Especially since Yuwen Chu had also requested to annul the engagement with Jiang Shanshan at this critical moment. Even though it wasn’t the first time, it made people think deeply.
Mingzhu shook her head firmly. She couldn’t splash this dirty water on Yuwen Chu. Even though she had suddenly regretted her marriage last time and had brought back the remnants of the blueprint for the bed crossbow and also dealt with the Geng family, these things had greatly surprised and puzzled her father and brothers. If she showed too much difference from the past this time, it would make her family even more surprised. She actually needed a gradual process, and Yuwen Chu would be a good excuse. But if she splashed this dirty water on Yuwen Chu, it would probably involve more people and things.
Her goal was only to deal with the group led by Empress Dowager Min, not Yuwen Chu. If her father and aunt were misled by her and turned to deal with Yuwen Chu, would Yuwen Chu be forced to stand against them? The current situation of friend or foe was unclear, so it was not good to do this.
Mingzhu shouted, “What’s wrong with you guys? Do I look stupid to you? Do I have no brains in your eyes?”
Fu Cong, who was very good at observing words and expressions, believed that this matter had nothing to do with Yuwen Chu when he saw Mingzhu’s actions. He sighed in relief, but when he heard Mingzhu’s words, he couldn’t help but smile faintly.
In Mingzhu’s eyes, this smile was equivalent to confirming that “she really has no brains.” Although she understood that this evaluation was not unfounded for herself, she still felt hurt by the truth and said indignantly, “Even if father thinks his daughter is stupid, he should cover up a bit. Why make me so painfully aware of it?”
Fu Cong laughed heartily, but when he saw that Mingzhu was already very angry, he stopped laughing and said seriously, “Sit down, I have something to tell you.” After Mingzhu sat down, he said gently, “Do you know what you did wrong today?”
Being too conceited was also not good. Mingzhu lowered her head and said softly, “Actually, I do. I just pity the Second Prince and the others, who are so young but living worse than ordinary children. Also, I know Empress Dowager Min helped Yuwen You, so he was able to cause such a big incident in my room. I also think, since she doesn’t want me to marry well, maybe yesterday’s disgusting incident had her hand in it. She disgusts me, so I want to disgust her.”
Although she had some childish arrogance, she still understood some things. Fu Cong said calmly, “You’re right, but you’re oversimplifying things. She doesn’t want you to marry well because she’s afraid that our family’s power is too great, which will shake the foundation of the Emperor. So, marrying Yuwen You, who has a feud with us, is best for her. She treats the princes poorly and imposes many restrictions because she’s afraid they’ll threaten the Emperor’s stability.”
Stopping here, he glanced at Mingzhu, who understood he was teaching her, so she quickly added, “Yes, what else?”
“She’s very dissatisfied with your aunt because your aunt doesn’t let her go too far. Now, you suddenly say that your aunt wants those princes to come and pay respects, which indicates that your aunt is dissatisfied with her and wants to use this to pressure her. If you continue to provoke this situation, she will think that she’s being targeted, and neither side will be peaceful anymore. You started the conflict, and you will be criticized. Do you understand?”
After all, the young Emperor was placed on the Dragon Throne by the Great Empress Dowager and the Fu family’s support. Of course, another person could be chosen. The Great Empress Dowager wanted to maintain her power and position, so she had to fight this battle.
Mingzhu smiled slightly. “So she’s feeling guilty. Why is my aunt dissatisfied with her? Is it because she does too many things behind my aunt’s back? I think the Second Prince and the others are very good. Anyone would be better than that guy.”
“Impudent!” Fu Cong was horrified by Mingzhu’s casually spoken words about replacing the Emperor, unable to bear it and rebuked, “Who gave you such audacity to dare to say such treasonous words? Aren’t you afraid of death, let alone dragging our whole family down to die?”
Some words cannot be said, and some things cannot be done. Mingzhu said seriously, “Father’s lesson is understood. From now on, even in front of father, I won’t casually say such things.”
Fu Cong couldn’t help but smile and sigh, “What do you understand? This kind of thing involves the fate of the country. The legitimate heir is fundamental, and the opinions of the people are not so simple.”
It seems like I’ve missed something. Actually, back then, Father wasn’t hesitant or unable to rebel, but rather, he never even considered it, right? Mingzhu furrowed her brow and said seriously, “Dad, let me ask you one more treasonous question, even if it’s disrespectful. People say you’re a treacherous official, wielding power for personal gain, and even plotting rebellion. But in reality, you never even entertained such thoughts, did you?”
“What nonsense.” Fu Cong smiled lightly. “I owe the late emperor a great debt, and I don’t want to leave a bad name for generations to come. How could I do something that would break the backbone and harm our ancestors? Moreover, the Yuwen clan’s fate is not over yet.”
“I understand.” So, she must find a way to replace the person on the throne and then replace Empress Dowager Min.
Seeing the unprecedented seriousness on her daughter’s face, Fu Cong couldn’t help but remind her again, “You must remember, if someone teaches you to do this, they must have sinister intentions, wanting to provoke conflict and benefit from it. And using an ignorant girl like you, they are not a decent person.”
Mingzhu repeated, “I understand. If it was Yuwen Chu who incited me, then he must not be a good person, but a sinister one.”
Fu Cong smiled wryly, but couldn’t help feeling worried. If Yuwen Chu had really set his sights on Mingzhu, then this person, who was so deep-minded, would be a hundred times more terrifying than Yuwen You and Yuwen Long combined if he harbored evil intentions. Perhaps he should find an opportunity to understand what Yuwen Chu was really thinking.
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