This was really unexpected. Mingzhu was startled, hastily sending someone to summon Tang Chunlai, and then bidding farewell to An Xiaogu, she went straight to the Huayang Wang’s Mansion.
The Huayang Wang Mansion was in chaos. One of His Highness’s consorts was hiding pretending to be ill, while the other, Lady Yang, came out openly to greet Mingzhu, directing the servants and midwives as if she were in charge. Mingzhu remained indifferent to Lady Yang’s attempts to ingratiate herself and went straight inside to enter the delivery room.
Lady Yang came from a prestigious family and was also a legitimate daughter in her own home, not inferior to Huayang Wangfei in birth. However, due to circumstances, she was slightly lower in status than Huayang Wangfei, which naturally left her feeling resentful. She had been at odds with Huayang Wangfei for a long time. She had the upper hand before, but after Huayang Wangfei became closer to Mingzhu and gave birth to a daughter, Lady Yang’s position weakened. At this moment, with the rare absence of Huayang Wang and the sudden difficult childbirth of Huayang Wangfei, it was indeed an opportunity.
She didn’t dare to be too overt, just trying to delay things as much as possible, causing a bit of chaos here and there, hoping that if Huayang Wangfei’s luck was bad, one life lost would be enough, or if nothing else, she wouldn’t give birth to a son forever. If all else failed, it would be good to take this opportunity to please the Regent Wangfei.
With such a mindset, Lady Yang hurried to catch up with Mingzhu and advised her, “The delivery room is filthy, not a place for a noble lady like Wangfei to go. I’ve arranged some iced tea in the side chamber, please Wangfei move there to wait for the good news.”
Mingzhu coldly replied, “I am also a woman and have given birth before. There’s no taboo about the delivery room being filthy. Seventh sister-in-law’s family is not in the capital, and as the elder sister-in-law, I should go in and take care of her. You may step aside.”
Lady Yang’s heart sank a bit. Then, seeing a doctor-like figure being hurriedly led in by the servants, she inquired and found out that it was Tang Chunlai, the famous physician supported by the Regent’s Palace. With this realization, she gave up hope and obediently followed Mingzhu’s orders.
Huayang Wangfei’s condition was indeed dire. The baby was too large, causing excessive bleeding, and the amniotic fluid had dried up, yet the baby couldn’t be born due to its improper position. Initially, Mingzhu hoped that Tang Chunlai could induce labor with acupuncture and medicine, with the assistance of the midwife. However, the midwife delivered some very bad news; besides being too large, the baby was also in the wrong position. Continuing like this would suffocate the child within the mother’s body.
Huayang Wangfei’s hands and feet were icy cold. She tightly grasped Mingzhu’s hand and cried, “I probably won’t make it. My daughter is pitiful. Please take care of her for me and let her recognize you as her mother.”
The only person in this world who could save Huayang Wangfei was Jiang Zhouzi.
Mingzhu reprimanded Huayang Wangfei, “The child still hopes for you to save him, yet you speak of not being able to make it first! How can a mother like you say such things? Wait for me here, I’ll bring Jiang Zhouzi to you right away. Tang Chunlai, first stop her bleeding.”
Lady Yang paced outside, extremely anxious. “Can Wangfei and the child be saved? Our Highness is almost in his thirties and still has no son. Just a few days ago, he told me that this child must be a son. When he turns one, he will be his Shizi.”
Huayang Wangfei’s face changed, her blood boiling with anger. Tang Chunlai couldn’t hold back and exclaimed, “Does Wangfei have a death wish?”
Mingzhu walked out and directly ordered, “Gag Lady Yang and tie her up. Throw her back into her courtyard and don’t let her out.” Lady Yang didn’t even have a chance to cry out her innocence before the scene was cleared.
Mingzhu instructed Wei Tiande, “Go to the palace immediately and inform His Highness about what happened here. Ask him to send Jiang Zhouzi no matter what.” After a moment’s thought, she realized this wasn’t appropriate. The relationship between Yuwen Chu and the Great Empress Dowager was at its most sensitive, with countless people waiting to see them make a mistake. This was not something Yuwen Chu should handle; she would have to do it herself. She decided to send Niuniu back to the Regent’s Residence first. Rolling up her sleeves and removing her hairpins, she mounted a good horse and dashed towards the palace.
Yuwen You and several colleagues had just come out of the palace when they suddenly saw Mingzhu and her horse. They couldn’t help but frown upon noticing that she seemed to have the intention of riding her horse into the palace gates. They approached her and grabbed her horse’s reins, asking loudly, “What are you trying to do?”
“Where is Jiang Zhouzi? I need to take him to save Huayang Wangfei,” Mingzhu said, pointing to the token in her hand. The token was given to her by Yuwen Chu earlier, allowing her to enter the palace at any time without obstruction from anyone.
Yuwen You looked puzzled. “The Great Empress Dowager is seriously ill and has summoned him to diagnose her at Changxin Palace.” He didn’t approve of Mingzhu’s actions. The fact that the Great Empress Dowager summoned Jiang Zhouzi clearly indicated that she did not show favor to Huayang Wang. He hadn’t forgotten the incident when Huayang Wangfei, heavily pregnant, was forced to stand for half the night by the Great Empress Dowager. Mingzhu couldn’t fight the Great Empress Dowager, and if she brought people to storm the palace, it would inevitably lead to conflict.
And indeed, as Mingzhu had anticipated.
But since the matter had already escalated, and Changxin Palace wasn’t heavily guarded, and the Great Empress Dowager’s targeting of Huayang Wangfei was because the Huayang couple leaned towards the Regent’s Palace, Mingzhu was determined to save them. She instructed Ye Xiu, “You wait here.” Then she asked Yuwen You, “Are you willing to accompany me into the palace on horseback and bring Jiang Zhouzi out?”
Walking would take too long, and by the time Jiang Zhouzi arrived, Huayang Wangfei might be beyond saving. Riding into the palace was forbidden, and Ye Xiu, being of low status, probably couldn’t bear the punishment. But Yuwen You was different; after all, he was a prince. No matter how severe the punishment, it wouldn’t cost him his life.
Yuwen You remained silent for a moment before suddenly smiling. “Why wouldn’t I dare? But if His Majesty punishes me later, I hope Sixth Sister-in-law will plead for me. A good person will do it to the end; let the villain do it this time. Sixth Sister-in-law, you wait here.”
Mingzhu instructed Ye Xiu to give his horse to Yuwen You and handed him the token given by Yuwen Chu earlier. Without further ado, Yuwen You rode off. The Imperial Guards tried to stop him, but upon seeing the token in his hand, they stepped aside.
Mingzhu patiently waited outside the palace gate. Not long after, Jiang Zhouzi was brought out by Yuwen You, looking disheveled and vomiting after being tossed around on the horse. As soon as he stopped, he started cursing.
Yuwen You looked content. “This is what Wangfei wants, can’t blame it on me.”
Jiang Zhouzi was furious. “You’re seeking revenge!”
Yuwen You chuckled. “I don’t remember having any grudges with you. Mr. Jiang, care to explain?”
“The matter is urgent. Let’s leave immediately now that we’ve settled down,” Mingzhu said, not bothering to ask Yuwen You what he had done in Changxin Palace just now, nor did she care about the consequences. She signaled Ye Xiu to lift Jiang Zhouzi onto the horse and gave his horse a whip before saying to Yuwen You, “I owe you a favor.” With that, she rode off after him.
Yuwen You watched her ride away, then turned around with a smile. “I should go and ask for forgiveness from His Majesty.”
