Chapter 701: Unwillingness in the Heart
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
Wei Tiande cautiously closed the palace door and faithfully carried out the tasks given to him by Mingzhu: “Your Highness, take a rest for a while. Without good health, how can you do good deeds? Zhuang Er is waiting to greet you tomorrow morning.”
Thinking of little Zhuang, who had just learned to call him daddy, a hint of smile appeared in Yuwen Chu’s eyes. But when he thought of Mingzhu and her child walking on an unknown journey in the wind and snow, he fell into silence. He quietly put down his brush, got up to wash, and Wei Tiande helped him lie down, extinguishing the light and preparing to leave. Suddenly, he heard Yuwen Chu’s low voice in the darkness, “In the future, don’t let Fu Zifei come near me. If she comes, say that I’m not here. If it’s unavoidable, then be prepared for punishment.”
Wei Tiande was overjoyed, “Your Highness is wise.”
Yuwen Chu coldly remarked, “There was nothing between me and her in the past. It was just that she once mentioned some trivial matters from the Changxin Palace to me. Wangfei is also aware of it. You don’t need to bring up these trivial matters with Wangfei.”
“Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will not speak out of turn.” Wei Tiande broke out in a cold sweat. His Highness was truly perceptive; he even saw through Wei Tiande’s slight scheming just now. If someone else tried to instigate Wangfei, wouldn’t His Highness suspect him? No way! He hadn’t had enough of the good life yet!
Yuwen Chu arrogantly declared, “I’m not afraid of your loose lips. Even if you wanted to gossip, do you have anything substantial to gossip about? Go on, you should take a nap while you can.”
Well, it’s like getting a sweet reward after a slap in the face, but Wei Tiande was fine with it. He eagerly went to sleep on the bedding in the outer room.
Fu Zifei returned to the Changxin Palace. Thinking it was late and the Great Empress Dowager must have already been asleep, she was about to retire on her own when she saw Sang Shen standing by the road, saying, “The Great Empress Dowager is waiting for you.”
Fu Zifei felt a bit guilty. She always felt like the Great Empress Dowager had discovered her thoughts. She pulled Sang Shen aside and asked in a low voice, “It’s so late. Why is the Great Empress Dowager still awake? Is there something wrong?”
Sang Shen shook her head, “I don’t know, the Great Empress Dowager just said she wanted you to come back.”
Fu Zifei entered the inner hall nervously. The Great Empress Dowager was lying on the bed, seemingly asleep. But as soon as she approached, the Great Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes and just stared at her without saying a word. Fu Zifei was frightened and tried to smile, “Grandmother, aren’t you sleeping yet?”
The Great Empress Dowager said lightly, “I sleep all day long. I can’t tell the difference between day and night anymore. What do you feel?”
Fu Zifei was puzzled, “Granddaughter doesn’t understand what the Great Empress Dowager means.”
The Great Empress Dowager smiled coldly, “Tonight, I deliberately gave you a chance to fulfill your obsession. How do you feel now?”
Fu Zifei fell to the ground in shock, trembling and stuttering, “What is grandmother talking about?”
The Great Empress Dowager said, “What am I talking about? You naturally understand in your heart. You must be wondering why, since I know your thoughts, I still want you to be the future Empress?”
Fu Zifei prostrated on the ground, terrified and unable to speak. It turned out the old lady knew everything but pretended not to, what did she want to do?
The Great Empress Dowager stared at the canopy above and spoke softly, “Because I trust Yuwen Chu too much, he will never fancy you. There must be someone from the Fu family in the harem, and none of them, including Wenwen, can compare to you…” She paused and asked, “Now, have you figured it out? What do you want to do?”
Fu Zifei remained silent for a long time, whispering almost inaudibly, “I want to become the Empress.”
“Good!” the Empress Dowager praised loudly. “You’ve finally come to your senses.”
Tears welled up in Fu Zifei’s eyes. How could she not come to her senses? Yuwen Chu didn’t want her, he wouldn’t even spare her a glance. Even if he did want her, in the current situation, he couldn’t have her. With Fu Mingzhu alive, the Great Empress Dowager alive, and Yuwen Guang alive, he was only the Regent. He wouldn’t risk it for her. Besides, he truly didn’t like her.
“Come here.” The Great Empress Dowager gently beckoned to Fu Zifei. Fu Zifei crawled over, choking, “Grandmother.”
The Great Empress Dowager placed her thin hand on Fu Zifei’s head and whispered, “Fight for yourself. If it were based on looks and talent alone, you were long surpassed by Mingzhu. Yuwen Chu will never notice you unless you stand on equal footing with him. Child, I need you.”
Fu Zifei blinked, tears streaming down, heart twisting like a knife. This wasn’t the fate she wanted. She wanted to be by that man’s side, showered with love and freedom.
The Great Empress Dowager viciously pinched her face, lowering her voice, “This is your fate. I’m reluctant to act against Mingzhu, but not necessarily against you. Do you want to try? Acting treacherously, daring to play tricks with me?”
Fu Zifei trembled in fear, “I dare not, I dare not.”
The Great Empress Dowager sneered, “Who doesn’t dare? Everyone dares!”
Since Rong Ming’s death, it seemed that there was no one left by her side who could be used. Mu Gugu was always against her, Liang Youyi belonged to Zhongshan Wang, and Mei Yusi belonged to Yuwen Chu. Choosing Fu Zifei to stay by her side, she was just a woman who had never seen a man before. Her son, Fu, had died in vain. Yuwen Guang, who she had raised, was nothing more than an opportunist who ate from inside and out. Should she just let Yuwen Chu benefit for free? She refused. The situation was irreversible, what else could she do?
“Since he doesn’t want you, then be prepared. I will arrange for you to marry the Emperor as soon as possible,” the Great Empress Dowager said. “Otherwise, do you want another chance?”
Fu Zifei dared not meddle with this anymore, shaking her head desperately, “Granddaughter dare not.”
“I will inform Fu Mingzhu of what you did tonight. Guess how she will treat you? Remember, from now on your fate is closely tied to the Emperor. As long as he lives, you will live; if he dies, you will die.” The Empress Dowager instructed Fu Zifei to leave, muttering to herself, “Late Emperor, though the child is young, urgent matters require prompt attention. Let him start a family early, establish his career, and mature sooner.”
Fu Zifei returned to her residence, crying bitterly. With no way out, once Fu Mingzhu ascended the throne, she would be at a disadvantage, leaving her with only one dead end. Otherwise, if she wanted to survive, she could only rely on Yuwen Guang retaining the throne, while she ascended and retained her position as Empress.
At dawn, Fu Zifei, with red eyes, came out and quietly instructed the palace servants waiting outside the hall, “Report to the Great Empress Dowager that I want to see Linan Wang.”
The news reached the Great Empress Dowager’s ears, and she smiled faintly, handing a letter to Sang Shen, “Find a way to pass this letter to the Regent Wangfei. Also, inform Peng Liang to arrange for Linan Wang to meet Miss Fu.”
Sang Shen respectfully took the letter and whispered, “Niang Niang, Mu Gugu is ill.”
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
