The letter was indeed from Shen Ruilin. Its content was similar to what Fu Mingzheng had sent to the prime minister’s residence, with one addition: Shen Ruilin had found Fu Mingzhao and was protecting him well.
Shen Ruilin didn’t comment on Fu Mingzhao’s role in the war. He simply asked Mingzhu how she wanted to handle the situation. If she wanted Fu Mingzhao to live, he would continue to hide him and try to send him to the relatively peaceful southwest. Whatever she decided, he would support her and wouldn’t despise her for wanting to help her brother escape punishment.
Mingzhu sat in a daze by the lamp.
She burned Shen Ruilin’s letter to ashes, afraid to share the secret with anyone, especially not with Yuwen Chu. Her elder brother was right; Fu Mingzhao’s obsession with weapons was well known. Even if he had been entrapped by someone exploiting his weakness, to the citizens and soldiers who died, he had failed in his duty.
If she were a relative of those citizens and soldiers, she too would think he deserved to die, to answer for his failure. But he was her second brother, who loved her like a daughter. Although he hadn’t intended to err, he had been trapped by his own aunt.
Dying on the battlefield held more value than being executed. Mingzhu admitted to herself that she was being selfish, but she couldn’t just do nothing and let her brother die, especially under Yuwen Chu’s order. The thought would be a constant thorn, impossible to forget.
Zhuangzhuang and Millet were already asleep. Mingzhu instructed Donghui to stay and watch the children, taking only Xia Xue into the palace herself. She had to do something to find peace.
The path to the palace was clear. Changxin Palace wasn’t as heavily guarded as before. The palace staff didn’t even announce her arrival, letting her in directly.
Sang Shen was surprised to see Mingzhu. “Why has Wangfei come?”
Mingzhu signaled for her to wake the Great Empress Dowager. “I need to speak with her urgently.”
Sang Shen frowned. “The Great Empress Dowager has taken a sedative; it may be hard to wake her.”
Mingzhu raised her voice, her tone firm. “I told you to wake her up! Stop dithering!”
Sang Shen hesitated but then went to wake the Great Empress Dowager, leaning over and softly calling, “Your Highness, Your Highness, Wangfei needs to see you.”
The Great Empress Dowager opened her eyes, her gaze cold in the candlelight. She smiled at Mingzhu without surprise. “I knew you would come back.”
Mingzhu couldn’t suppress her anger. “Was it you?” Although she and Fu Cong had suspected the Great Empress Dowager’s involvement, they had no concrete proof. Now, with the news about Fu Mingzhao, all her grief and anger surfaced.
The Great Empress Dowager signaled for Sang Shen to help her sit up, allowing her to look directly at Mingzhu. “What do you mean? I’m old and confused, can you be more specific?”
Mingzhu took a deep breath, lowering her voice. “About the Tongzhou affair.”
“Oh, the Tongzhou affair.” The Great Empress Dowager pretended to think and then shook her head. “I don’t know. Has your second brother been found? Is he still alive? Poor Zhao, even if he escaped this time, old six won’t let him go.”
Mingzhu had never hated the Great Empress Dowager more. “Why? Why would you harm your own nephew? Is the throne more important than the country’s safety?”
The Great Empress Dowager laughed coldly. “Ask Yuwen Chu why he keeps coveting his nephew’s position. Is the throne more important than the country’s safety? Why couldn’t he just be a content regent and assist the emperor? Why does he have to be a thief? If he wants something that isn’t his, he has to pay the price. You should understand this.”
Mingzhu shouted, “It’s completely different!”
The Great Empress Dowager raised her voice hysterically, “How is it different? He is a thief! I’m protecting my family and grandson from thieves, upholding the rightful order. What’s wrong with that? It’s you who betrayed me! Don’t be naive! At this point, what’s the use of talking? Do you want me to have a sudden change of heart and spare your brother?”
Indeed, her elder brother was right; the Great Empress Dowager was beyond reasoning with. Mingzhu took a deep breath. “What will it take for you to spare my brother?”
The Great Empress Dowager smiled. “Ah, you are indeed my favorite, Mingzhu, unwilling to let your family suffer. I was right about you.” She pondered for a while before speaking softly, “Actually, I didn’t involve myself in the Tongzhou affair, but I do have a way to save Zhao. I can take all the blame myself, ensuring Zhao’s life, but it depends on whether you’re willing.”
Mingzhu raised her eyebrows, silently waiting for her to continue.
The Great Empress Dowager’s voice was light and drifting: “I want one of Yuwen Chu’s hands. Just one hand is enough. I know you can do it. You are the person closest to him, and he trusts you the most. If you can do this and vent my anger, I will take all the blame upon myself and ensure that Ah Zhao survives. Will you do it?”
Mingzhu’s lips trembled: “How can you say such a thing!”
The Great Empress Dowager smiled slightly: “I can’t fight him. I’m old and frail, and even dying isn’t a relief because of this pent-up anger. I don’t need you to cut off his hand or disable him; I just want you to stab him or shoot him with an arrow, clearly injuring him. That’s all I ask. Not too much, right? If he truly loves you and cares for your family, he shouldn’t mind a little pain, should he?”
Mingzhu glared at the Great Empress Dowager, refusing without hesitation: “I don’t believe you. Your real goal is to drive a wedge between us.”
The Great Empress Dowager laughed heartily: “You don’t believe me but trust him? In the end, your second brother is far less important to you than he is. You value him so highly, but he might not feel the same about you. He will kill Fu Mingzhao, just watch. He definitely will! Remember, it’s not that I refuse to help, but that you refuse to help him!” Her voice became like a curse: “Mingzhu, you’re just selfish. In your heart, your husband and power are far more important than your own brother.”
