Chapter 714: Carrier Pigeon
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Yuwen Cong suddenly stood up, glanced at Mingzhu, who was already sleeping soundly with her back to him, and called a servant, giving detailed instructions before quickly walking out.
Living long without dying is for thieves. This old hag of a Great Empress Dowager was truly relentless in her efforts to overthrow Yuwen Chu! Huan Wang’s position was crucial, and Yuwen Cong couldn’t allow him to be bought off by the Great Empress Dowager.
When Mingzhu woke up, the room was quiet. The maid guarding her was busy calling for Jiang Zhouzi, “Sir, Madam is awake. Please come and check on her.”
Following the routine, Jiang Zhouzi examined Mingzhu’s pulse and said, “The pulse doesn’t look good. It’s better not to take any medicine for the sake of the fetus. Just rest.”
Mingzhu signaled for paper, ink, and brush and said, “Staring at the white wall all day is boring. Sir, why not teach me something useful?”
Jiang Zhouzi was silent for a moment before writing, “I made a solemn oath to Jing Song to accept disciples from all over the world and do good deeds. Since that’s the case, why not become my first disciple?”
What did he need to be a master for when he had nothing to do? At her level, becoming a disciple wasn’t a simple matter anymore; it involved titles and many complications. Mingzhu smiled and said, “I know my own abilities. Learning medicine depends on talent. If I don’t learn well, it will only tarnish your reputation. The title of master and disciple isn’t that important. Just consider it teaching a friend.”
He wanted to make an exception and accept her as a disciple out of guilt, but she didn’t even look at him that way. Jiang Zhouzi was very unhappy, but considering Mingzhu’s special status, he reluctantly accepted it. Since she could endure hardships so calmly, he couldn’t fall behind her and decided to teach her to the best of his ability. So he patiently started teaching her the most basic pharmacological knowledge. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered something and wrote quietly, “If you learn this, you won’t have to worry about someone tampering with your food and drinks.”
Mingzhu smiled knowingly.
Jiang Zhouzi’s mind stirred. So she was doing it on purpose.
Mingzhu said softly, “With many skills, there’s no burden on oneself. I must live well. There’s no reason for bad people to live better and longer than me.”
“What a good girl!” Seeing her diligent efforts, Jiang Zhouzi felt the burden on his shoulders lighten, and he wrote with enthusiasm, “If it weren’t for you, I would have left long ago.”
Mingzhu rolled her eyes at him and snorted, “Then why don’t you leave? Do you think my Highness is a fool? Wouldn’t he notice if I disappeared? If you dare to run, just wait to be skinned alive and have your tendons pulled out.”
Jiang Zhouzi rubbed his hands and laughed, suddenly feeling that the spring scenery outside the window had become even more vibrant.
In the misty rain, a gray pigeon landed on a green branch, cooing as it preened its feathers. A sleeve arrow flew over and pierced its chest just as it was about to take off, causing it to crash to the ground.
A young servant in gray ran over to pick it up, took off the small bamboo tube attached to its leg, and ran back, presenting it with both hands to Yuwen You, who was sitting tall on horseback. “Your Highness, there is indeed a message.”
Yuwen You, dressed in ordinary green clothes, took the bamboo tube and took out the piece of paper inside. Then his brows furrowed, “Another blank sheet.”
Ruan Qingshang, the Changshi of the Linan Wang’s Mansion, who had been reinstated under the Great Empress Dowager’s operation, was also dressed as an ordinary commoner. After receiving the note, he read it carefully and said solemnly, “Your Highness, we’ve shot down three carrier pigeons these days, each carrying a blank sheet like this. Even if we can’t decipher the secret, we can guess that something big is happening.”
Yuwen You looked towards the nearby Qi County and said softly, “I have a strange premonition. This matter should be related to her.”
Previously, Fu Mingzhu had accompanied Jiang Zhouzi out of the capital in a high-profile manner, heading east to search for that elusive medical book. At first, he believed it, as it was quite normal for a large entourage to follow closely, serving her personally, considering the usual style of indulgence of both Yuwen Chu’s love and his beloved wife Fu Mingzhu. After all, there was no war in the east, and it could fully support her leisurely enjoyment along the way.
But then he began to feel that something was amiss, stemming from a meeting with Fu Zifei earlier in the year. Fu Zifei had expressed her desire to become the Empress, to listen to the Great Empress Dowager, and to unite with the orthodox faction to protect Yuwen Guang. Naturally, he followed suit, saying many flattering words to express his full support for Fu Zifei.
Fu Zifei said something very strange at the time: “The Great Empress Dowager really cares about Auntie, even though she’s so ill, she still worries about her. But it’s strange that the officials in the east didn’t report such a big event of the Regent Wangfei traveling. Why wouldn’t it be mentioned in the official reports? Why wouldn’t the Great Empress Dowager know where Auntie went? Could there be a war in the east too? Or is this matter so confidential that not even the Great Empress Dowager can know?”
Shortly after, the Great Empress Dowager summoned him again, indicating that she would arrange for him to secretly go to Yicheng to win over Yuwen Qian. As long as Yuwen Qian was willing to stand on their side, he would be rewarded with vast lands and generous wealth. He was somewhat skeptical, thinking it was like driving away one wolf only to let in another. But this was a rare opportunity for him to expand his power, so he agreed without hesitation.
Later, upon carefully considering Fu Zifei’s words, he discovered a clue — Fu Mingzhu was very likely not in the caravan heading east. That was just a decoy. She must have gone elsewhere. He immediately dispatched his men to investigate the matter. He didn’t know how many people Fu Zifei had told this to, because his men discovered many others with similar intentions while investigating Fu Mingzhu’s true whereabouts.
Then came the incident of the Regent Wangfei’s convoy being ambushed, and he soon learned that Fu Mingzhu was not on the road heading east. He couldn’t know exactly where she went, but now, he thought he knew where she was.
Fu Mingzhu should be in Qi County or Yicheng, and it was very likely that she had fallen into the hands of Yuwen Qiang. These carrier pigeons, flying one after another with blank papers tied to them towards the direction of the capital, should be delivering this information to Yuwen Chu. There must be top-secret information recorded on the blank papers, but his people just hadn’t mastered the method to reveal the writing.
“I’m really looking forward to this meeting.” Yuwen You’s lips curled up, and he ordered Ruan Qingshang, “No matter what method you use, you must find a way to decipher it.”
If he could capture Fu Mingzhu, he would definitely not let her appear in front of the world again, unless one day he could stand in the Chongzheng Hall and sit in that position. At that time, he would probably consider her attitude and give her some position. Thinking of this possibility, Yuwen You immediately felt full of strength, wishing he could grow wings and swiftly arrive in Qi County.
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