Chapter 746 Fit to Be Empress
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A companion? That’s interesting.
Mingzhu smiled slightly and gestured for Ji Hui to stand up, “Empress Niang Niang speaks interestingly. I see Ji Hui is elegant and noble, certainly not ordinary. With her talent in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she must be cultured and refined, unlike me, a rough person who can’t be her companion.”
Ji Hui lowered her eyes, saying nothing.
Fu Zifei glanced at the Great Empress Dowager and said with a smile, “Aunt doesn’t understand my meaning.”
Mingzhu raised an eyebrow, “Indeed, I don’t.”
Fu Zifei said, “Perhaps the Regent has not mentioned this matter to Aunt. The Jis from the North, with a heritage of a thousand years, are a royal family of the previous dynasty. Ji Hui is the forty-ninth generation direct granddaughter of the Ji family.”
Mingzhu nodded, “I have heard of this, but isn’t there a family rule for the Jis that prohibits descendants from entering the court or participating in politics? Did I remember incorrectly? Or does it not apply to women?”
Fu Zifei grabbed Ji Hui’s arm and pushed her in front of Mingzhu, “The situation forced their hand. Rebels in Zhongshan rose up, causing chaos in the North, forcing the Jis to participate. However, the Jis didn’t want to follow the rebels; they wanted to be loyal and patriotic. So, they sent Ji Hui to the capital, hoping for assurance.”
Assurance? Mingzhu nodded slightly, “With Ji Hui’s background, appearance, and upbringing, even the position of Empress is suitable for her.”
The rest of Fu Zifei’s words were stuck in her throat, her face turning as red as a liver, unable to continue. After a few dry coughs, she said, “Aunt is really good at joking.”
Mingzhu spoke seriously, “I’m not joking. I’m a straightforward person and I like to speak the truth. Lady Ji Hui is truly exceptional and indeed fit to be empress.” As she spoke, she glanced at Ji Hui, who remained with her head lowered, silent and composed. Mingzhu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, thinking that those chosen for such roles were indeed formidable characters. Even now, Ji Hui showed no sign of fear or shock, not even offering an apology.
Fu Zifei was so furious that tears welled up in her eyes. Choking up, she said, “Auntie, do you dislike me that much? Do you think I am unfit to be empress?”
Mingzhu calmly nodded, “The Empress is overthinking this. I simply have not read enough to master the art of flattery. I consider the position of empress to be the highest honor, and with Lady Ji Hui’s unparalleled beauty and noble background, it seemed only natural to praise her in such a way to express my feelings.” She then added, feigning sincerity, “I didn’t expect to offend Your Majesty. It is all my fault. I will kneel and bow to apologize, and I hope you will not hold it against me.”
Mingzhu, of course, did not kneel, and Fu Zifei did not dare to accept it, because Yuwen Guang kept glaring at her with a very obvious warning. Although she didn’t take this little boy seriously, if Yuwen Guang caught her mistake and embarrassed her in public, it would be enough for her. So, she could only swallow her anger and act coquettishly, “Great Empress Dowager, I can’t continue speaking like this. If I do, my aunt will consider me an enemy.”
The Great Empress Dowager signaled her to withdraw, “If that’s the case, take Ji Hui with you.”
Fu Zifei glanced at Mingzhu with hidden pride and amicably led Ji Hui out of the main hall. Before leaving, Ji Hui cast a gentle glance at Mingzhu, then quickly lowered her eyes.
Mingzhu looked at the Great Empress Dowager in silence.
After waiting for a while without hearing her speak, the Great Empress Dowager couldn’t help but sigh, “You are becoming more and more patient.”
Mingzhu smiled without saying a word. Frankly speaking, she hadn’t expected that she could still smile. She already knew what the Great Empress Dowager and the others were up to; they just wanted to hear her say it out loud.
The Great Empress Dowager gestured to Yuwen Guang, “Emperor, you should go back too. You’ve been busy all day and must be tired. Tomorrow you have to attend the morning court. Children who don’t get enough sleep won’t grow tall.”
Yuwen Guang looked at Mingzhu with concern before obediently leaving.
“Come here and sit.” The Great Empress Dowager signaled Sang Shen to bring a brocade stool for Mingzhu, “Come sit by your aunt.”
Mingzhu walked forward slowly and sat down steadily, “When I visited that sage, I mentioned my aunt’s illness. He told me that if you rest quietly, the illness might drag on for a few more years. Perhaps the thing growing in your brain will slowly shrink, alleviating the symptoms. The worst thing is to overthink and worry.”
“Heh….” The Great Empress Dowager chuckled lightly, “Are you advising me, Mingzhu? Advising me to rest and recuperate, not to worry about state affairs, and to not interfere too much so I can live a few more years?”
That was exactly what Mingzhu meant, “After traveling a long distance and going through many dangers, my wish is nothing but for my aunt’s illness to recover soon.”
The Great Empress Dowager responded indifferently, “I know you’ve worked hard, so I didn’t decree Ji Hui as the side consort of the Regent before you arrived.”
Mingzhu coldly asked, “What about now?”
The Great Empress Dowager, with her murky eyes, stared fiercely at her, “Now, it’s not about what I want, but what the people of the North want, what the Ji family wants, and what the world wants! Throughout history, what alliance is the most reliable? Marriage. Two families become one, combining the good names of both, only then can they feel assured. Do you still want to monopolize Old Sixth for a lifetime? Without Ji Hui today, there will be other Ji Huis in the future!”
“But…” Mingzhu abruptly stood up, wanting to argue, but the Great Empress Dowager sternly interrupted, “No buts! You’ve been in the South, out of touch with the news, probably unaware of the situation in the North. Yuwen Feng, cunning and scheming, has been preparing for years and suddenly raised an army. It’s not something easily defeated. In the past year or so, there have been more than thirty battles, big and small, with a 60-40 split. He wins 60%, we win 40%, losing more than winning. Each additional battle costs countless lives.
Gaining the Ji family means winning half the hearts of the people in the North. Refusing means countless deaths. Do you think your love for your husband can withstand the judgment of the world? Do you feel successful and satisfied now? Let me tell you! Once you refuse the alliance with the Ji family, the people praising you today will want to eat your flesh tomorrow, because your refusal will cause their husbands and sons to die. Did you know, the Empress of the former dynasty’s founder even gave up her position for this reason? Do you think she wasn’t suffering? Do you think she didn’t understand jealousy?”
Mingzhu knew the Great Empress Dowager was telling the truth but remained unmoved, “I never knew when the nation’s fate fell on women’s shoulders! I’ve never heard of alliances not seeking the leader but the deputy. I still say, Ji Hui is not bad and is fitting to be the Empress.”
The Great Empress Dowager smiled coldly, “I thought the same, but the Ji family and the powerful figures in the North don’t accept it. Who asked the Regent to do such a good job? Now the world only knows the Regent, not the Emperor. Whoever does more and better work will be remembered. This is unavoidable.”
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