Chapter 704: Relocation
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Mingzhu immediately sat up, grabbed Dong Hui’s arm, and looked at her earnestly, “Alright, don’t tell your Yang Dianjun about this, or you and I won’t be on the same side.” The image she had painstakingly built in front of Jing Song and the others these days couldn’t be ruined by such a trivial matter.
Dong Hui nodded with a suppressed smile, “Got it, I won’t tell him.” Wangfei was indeed on the same side as his highness. She was dignified and upright in front of others, but petty and narrow-minded behind their backs. Well, it’s not like she’s unbearable, so be it.
Mingzhu laid back down and lamented, “Am I getting too fat? I’ve even gotten sunburned. There’s no chance to take care of my face and hands. By the time I go back, I might turn into an old lady…”
Dong Hui had lived with Mingzhu day and night for many days and understood her temperament very well. She reassured her with a bunch of sweet words, trying to prove that even if she gained fifty pounds, she would still be much more attractive and endearing than Fu Zifei. Mingzhu listened with pursed lips, enjoying Dong Hui’s complaints about Fu Zifei. Even if she couldn’t scratch Fu Zifei’s face up close, venting her anger verbally was satisfying enough.
She knew Fu Zifei had a bad conscience and harbored resentment, but she didn’t expect it to stem from this. Truly, a beautiful disaster! Nestled in the blanket, she pondered how to make these women who coveted Yuwen Chu kill their thieving hearts and stop trying to seduce him. It was certain that she had to train herself diligently, but she also had to start with Yuwen Chu.
Mingzhu tossed and turned in bed until late into the night, finally falling asleep grudgingly. Someone knocked on the door lightly, and Dong Hui got up to open it, finding Jing Song standing outside. “The situation is not good. We must relocate. I’ve already arranged it. We’ll leave in a while. Go wake up Wangfei,” he said.
Dong Hui quickly agreed and gently nudged Mingzhu awake.
Mingzhu was dreaming of a joyous gathering with Zhuangzhuang, Yuwen Chu, and her family when she was suddenly awakened. It felt like falling from the clouds to the mud. However, she didn’t say anything and quietly got up to pack her things. Clutching her bundle, she sat silently in the darkness.
Dong Hui couldn’t bear it. Wangfei, who used to throw tantrums when woken up before, was now so quiet and disciplined. It was all because she was forced. Feeling even more hatred towards the Great Empress Dowager, Dong Hui couldn’t help but recall how Mingzhu hadn’t mentioned the Great Empress Dowager at all since receiving the letter. She couldn’t help but ask Mingzhu softly, “The Great Empress Dowager has ulterior motives. Aren’t you sad, Your Highness? Don’t you feel it’s unfair?”
Mingzhu replied, “It’s chilling, but I already knew before leaving that no matter how powerful the secrets were in Jiang Zhouzi’s book, it wouldn’t be possible to open a living person’s head, remove something from inside, and still ensure the patient’s safety. So, this trip isn’t entirely for her. It’s for His Highness, for my parents, and for myself. So, I don’t feel it’s unfair.”
The Great Empress Dowager probably knew there was little hope, right? That’s why she acted so quickly after catching her breath. Maybe she sent Wangfei out of the capital to separate her from His Highness, intending to sow discord. Dong Hui sighed and felt she couldn’t speak more about the Great Empress Dowager to avoid upsetting Mingzhu. Instead, she tried to make Mingzhu feel happy and said, “Fortunately, the Great Empress Dowager sent this letter, or we wouldn’t have known our whereabouts were leaked.”
“Yes,” Mingzhu whispered, “Lately, I’ve been thinking, although she has done many things, she has also sheltered me many times. Let’s count it as me repaying her.”
Jing Song knocked on the door twice from outside. The two of them quickly got up, grabbed their bundles, and walked out. Jiang Zhouzi and Su Momo were already waiting outside. When they saw them coming, Jiang Zhouzi reached out to take the bundle from Mingzhu’s hands and said, “The most important thing for a pregnant woman is to avoid emotional upheaval. First, don’t be sad, and second, don’t be scared. Everything else will be fine.”
Before dawn is the darkest time, and it’s when people sleep the deepest. A few individuals took advantage of the cover of night and quietly made their way along the wall to the back door of the inn. A young lad, resembling a monkey, agilely emerged from the shadows and curiously scrutinized Mingzhu and the others. Jing Song instructed Mingzhu, “He’ll take you to a new temporary residence. I still need to take care of packing up the carriages and other items, so I can’t go with you for now. We’ll meet outside the pass on the fifteenth.”
It was unavoidable. Although Mingzhu wanted to move together with Jing Song and the others, it wasn’t feasible to take the carriages and other items with them. With more people, the target was larger, and everyone would be in danger. It was better for her to quietly listen to the arrangements. So, she sternly reminded Jing Song, “Please be careful, brother. Money and belongings are just worldly possessions.”
Jing Song smiled with relief and urged them to hurry.
The alleys of Qi County were long and winding. The lad led the way with his head down, constantly urging Mingzhu and the others, “Hurry up. Someone will come to pour night incense soon. It’ll be troublesome if we’re caught.”
Mingzhu knew she was the one slowing them down and had to use all her tricks to keep up. Dong Hui and Su Momo were very worried. “It’s okay to walk slower. It’s even more troublesome if you get upset and affect the baby,” Su Momo said.
Jiang Zhouzi said, “No worries, just keep walking.”
Dong Hui glared at him, and he didn’t back down. “Do you understand, or do I?”
He looked contemptuously at Dong Hui and Su Momo. “Two women who have never given birth even dare to challenge me?”
Su Momo was furious. “Have you given birth?”
Mingzhu quickly stopped them. “Alright, alright. Whoever says more, don’t follow me anymore, so as not to be burdened by me.”
So, everyone pursed their lips and didn’t speak, burying their heads and quickly walking through the alleys for about half an hour. Finally, the lad stopped at a corner gate that looked like it belonged to a wealthy family. Almost simultaneously, someone opened the gate from inside, and a thin old man peeked out. “Here? Come in.”
Mingzhu was about to step forward when Jiang Zhouzi took the lead and walked in, shielding her behind him. Seeing this, Dong Hui secretly signaled to Su Momo, indicating that Jiang Zhouzi was still reliable.
The courtyard was very quiet, with no one living there. The thin old man muttered to himself as he walked, “This is our master’s old house. No one comes here during leisure time. Just stay here and don’t go out. There’s no trouble staying here for three to five days.”
Adhering to the principle of saying less to avoid trouble, everyone didn’t respond to the old man’s words. He led them to a side courtyard and pointed to the residence, saying, “There’s firewood, rice, and bedding in the kitchen. Fresh vegetables will be delivered every morning. Just let us know if you need anything.”
The lad who led the way bid farewell after they were settled. Dong Hui sent Mingzhu to rest, while she and Su Momo took turns patrolling and ventilating. One went to wash the pots and pans to prepare breakfast.
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