Chapter 779: Defeat
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Although Yuwen Chu quickly made various arrangements, the news that the Xiongnu and Zhongshan Wang had joined forces caused great panic. Originally, the court had already suffered many defeats against either party alone, and now with the fierce and powerful Xiongnu joining in, several key towns were lost in a few battles. The army kept retreating, leading to widespread fear and a flood of refugees, making it seem like the entire court was on the verge of collapse.
Yuwen Chu was troubled. After taking over, he realized that the country had already been riddled with problems for a long time, and such deep-seated issues couldn’t be changed overnight. Decisions made by him often encountered unforeseen changes as they trickled down, causing many battles that should have been won to go awry.
He knew he needed a major victory to restore the confidence of the military and the people, so he mobilized Mingzhu’s second brother Fu Mingzhao, Shen Ruilin, and all his trusted aides. He also gathered all available grain and supplies, planning a significant operation.
His study remained lit throughout the night, with people coming and going constantly. He could only sleep for short periods each day. Mingzhu was deeply concerned but could only try her best to take care of his daily needs and prevent other trivial matters from disturbing him.
During this time, the Great Empress Dowager summoned Mingzhu several times. When they met, she would simply chat about the old days or listen to Mingzhu recount her travels. Occasionally, she would say, “Old Six works hard,” rather than criticizing Yuwen Chu in Mingzhu’s presence.
As a result, over time, the relationship between the two gradually warmed, no longer as confrontational as before. When spring arrived, the Great Empress Dowager wanted to bask in the sun in the courtyard or take a walk in the imperial garden, always requesting Mingzhu’s company. She even unusually invited Imperial Consort Min to join them.
This harmony seemed to extend to the relations between the orthodox faction and the Regent faction, making Yuwen Chu’s work less strenuous. Mingzhu no longer resisted the Great Empress Dowager’s summons, thinking that if her companionship could ease Yuwen Chu’s burden, she was willing.
However, as spring progressed, Fu Cong’s condition deteriorated. He gradually became bedridden and even speaking became increasingly difficult, often enduring sleepless nights due to pain. The painkillers could provide some relief, but he was reluctant to use them, feeling he still had many tasks unfinished and wanted to help Yuwen Chu and the children as much as possible.
Due to the war, the expenses of the charity house increased significantly, leading to an imbalance between income and expenditure, requiring more funds and careful management. Mingzhu dared not slack off because there was a growing sentiment in the court blaming the Regent for poor command and coordination, resulting in the current situation. She feared that if she made a mistake or slowed down, it would give others an excuse to criticize Yuwen Chu, causing him unnecessary trouble.
Hence, she found herself busier than ever, managing household affairs, socializing, and fulfilling her filial duties, all while dealing with business matters. She would rise early to spend time with her children, handle household affairs, and then either visit the palace, her parents’ house, or attend to business matters.
Yuwen Chu was equally busy, leaving them with less and less time to see each other. Initially, Mingzhu insisted on finding time to see him daily, and he made efforts to visit her and the children. But eventually, they both became more lax. Mingzhu didn’t want to disturb his rare sleep or interrupt him while he was working. Similarly, Yuwen Chu didn’t want to wake her when he returned late at night, knowing she was also exhausted. If he had free time, she was often out handling other matters.
Consequently, despite living under the same roof, it became common for them to go three or four days without seeing each other. During the Dragon Boat Festival, Mingzhu learned about the army’s defeat from Fu Zifei.
At that time, she was in the palace delivering festival gifts to the various consorts. When she reached the Great Empress Dowager, she was invited to stay for a chat. The topic, as always, was child-rearing—a subject inexhaustible for mothers. This time, they discussed how to correct picky eating habits. Involving her two children, Mingzhu listened politely, not taking the advice too seriously.
The Great Empress Dowager spoke slowly, sometimes reminiscing about Emperor Zhengqian’s childhood, pausing frequently to reflect and sigh. Halfway through, Fu Zifei arrived. Although she had powdered her face, it was evident she had been crying.
Originally, she had rushed in quickly, but upon seeing Mingzhu inside, she slowed her pace. “Aunt is here too.”
The Great Empress Dowager, interrupted and a bit annoyed, asked, “Did you argue with the Emperor again?”
Fu Zifei shook her head and replied gloomily, “If it were just an argument with the Emperor, that would be fine. I’d rather it was just that…” She couldn’t help but cover her mouth and start crying.
Her breakdown made even Mingzhu feel something was wrong. The Great Empress Dowager frowned and said, “What’s going on? Crying like this is undignified.”
Fu Zifei knelt down, choking on her words, “Grandmother, we lost. The Weishui defense line was completely breached, and even Tongzhou has fallen. The Xiongnu slaughtered the city for an entire day and night, killing more than thirty thousand soldiers and civilians, men, women, and children alike.”
The pomegranate flower in Mingzhu’s hand dropped to the ground.
Tongzhou was the place her second brother was defending. If Tongzhou fell and the Weishui defense line collapsed, it would be a fatal blow to both her brother and Yuwen Chu. She didn’t know if her brother was still alive or how Yuwen Chu was feeling, but she knew she needed to see Yuwen Chu immediately.
She stood up abruptly and walked out quickly. Fu Zifei, still crying, sneaked a glance at her and saw Mingzhu’s hand clenching into a trembling fist, feeling a fleeting sense of satisfaction, which made her cry even louder.
The Great Empress Dowager sighed, rubbing her forehead, “Stop crying, you’re giving me a headache.”
Fu Zifei wiped her tears and whispered, “Grandmother, I heard that Tongzhou’s fall is largely due to Fu Mingzhao’s major negligence. Also, after Tongzhou fell, the prefect died heroically, but the general, Fu Mingzhao, was nowhere to be found. Rumor has it that he fled.”
The Great Empress Dowager’s eyes flashed with a glimmer of light as she coldly said, “Who did you hear this from? How can you believe such things? Mingzhao has always been a good child; how could he do such a thing?”
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