Yuwen You thought of the Great Empress Dowager’s resentful and helpless expression and couldn’t help but feel relieved.
The Great Empress Dowager was sure that Yuwen Chu wouldn’t dare to kill her, so Changxin Palace was now unguarded. He was familiar with the palace and went straight in. He briefly explained the situation to the Great Empress Dowager, regardless of her attitude, and then grabbed Jiang Zhouzi and left. He only heard the Great Empress Dowager curse at him viciously from behind, “You will have a bad death.”
A bad death was a bad death; he had long been tired of it. Going to the front line to command troops was such a rare opportunity! However, it was also crucial what kind of troops to command and what kind of battles to fight. To expel the Xiongnu and kill Zhongshan Wang and gain merit, he also needed Yuwen Chu to give him the opportunity. So he was very grateful to Mingzhu for giving him this opportunity to strengthen his relationship with the Huayang couple and to express his loyalty to Yuwen Chu.
In Lansheng Pavilion, Yuwen Chu placed the report sent by Fu Mingzheng on the table expressionlessly. Fu Mingzheng always spoke the truth and told him without concealment about the mistakes Fu Mingzhao had made, as well as informing him that Fu Mingzhao’s whereabouts were unknown. However, judging from Mingzhu’s appearance, she clearly knew about Fu Mingzhao’s whereabouts. So, was she the one manipulating this matter alone?
Who would help her unreservedly? Only Shen Ruilin.
Yuwen Chu leaned back in his chair, feeling that Shen Ruilin always being single wasn’t a good thing. A single man, when busy, wouldn’t have idle thoughts, but when idle, he would inevitably think about things he shouldn’t. So, who would be suitable?
Mei Yusi briskly entered from outside, looking very ugly. “Your Highness, His Highness Linan Wang is in the suburbs of the capital, training troops. Huayang Wangfei is having a difficult childbirth and Wangfei asked for help. She urgently needs Jiang Zhouzi to save her. Wangfei rode into the palace and forcibly took Jiang Zhouzi away.”
This was something Mingzhu would do, and Yuwen Chu didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. Since the Huayang couple was his people, he had the obligation to take care of and protect them. Mingzhu did a good job. Yuwen Chu asked Mei Yusi casually, “Was there a conflict with Changxin Palace?”
Mingzhu doesn’t know martial arts, and the Great Empress Dowager is unreasonable. They must have had a heated argument and clashed. It’s up to him to resolve it. Yuwen Chu stood up, ready to clean up the mess for Mingzhu. But Mei Yusi looked a bit embarrassed and said, “It was Linan Wang who took away Jiang Zhouzi. Wangfei didn’t enter the palace, she just waited outside the palace gate, and then the people hurried back. Right now, Linan Wang should be going to His Majesty to plead guilty.”
Yuwen Chu was a little puzzled, but then he smiled as if bathed in a spring breeze. “Linan Wang finally knows what’s sensible.”
It was clearly a smile of relief, but to Mei Yusi, it seemed to carry a hint of gritted teeth. He dared not look up, keeping his head down and remaining silent. This kind of thing couldn’t be kept from His Highness. Everyone knew, except His Highness, and he would be the unlucky one. But it wouldn’t be good to tell His Highness either. His Highness was good at everything, but he was touchy about this matter. You couldn’t disrespect or displease the Wangfei, but not everyone could try to please her. At least, people like Little General Shen or Linan Wang were not acceptable.
But Linan Wang had a point, and he did it openly and aboveboard. He hasn’t come to trouble His Highness yet; instead, he’s passed the buck to His Majesty. What can His Majesty do? He can only minimize the situation. So not only can His Highness not lash out at Linan Wang, but he also has to praise him. If there are any issues, he had to help Linan Wang resolve them. So, the frustration in your heart must be released. Who better to release it to than himself?
Just as Mei Yusi was thinking this, he heard Yuwen Chu ask, “Was the Great Empress Dowager frightened?”
Mei Yusi replied, “Yes, she vomited blood.” With the Great Empress Dowager’s temperament, she would stir up trouble even when there was none, let alone when such an opportunity was delivered to her doorstep.
“Oh, she’s had a history of vomiting blood. Jiang Zhouzi said she had gastrointestinal problems, and he told Jiang Youyuan to remind His Majesty to send some good bird’s nest and medicinal herbs to soothe her nerves.” Yuwen Chu sat down expressionlessly, preparing to write.
Mei Yusi breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to slip away, Yuwen Chu said, “Just send someone to do it; you come and grind the ink.”
Mei Yusi felt a sense of unease, realizing that this was connected to his previous attempt to curry favor with the Regent Wangfei. However, he didn’t dare to say anything. He obediently went forward to grind the ink. And then, he knew he’d be grinding ink all day.
Although everyone knew what had happened, the formalities still needed to be observed. Yuwen Guang punished Yuwen You before the censors and orthodox factions could make a fuss, first punishing him to bow and apologize to the Great Empress Dowager, then to reflect at home, docking his pay for a year, and rebuking him.
Yuwen You publicly admitted his mistake with great remorse, taking full responsibility for it. He even specifically stated that the Regent Wangfei had repeatedly urged him to consult with the Great Empress Dowager and not to alarm her, but he acted rashly. Therefore, all the blame fell on him, and he willingly accepted the punishment.
Linan Wang handled the matter beautifully. Everyone knew the Great Empress Dowager was unreasonable and indifferent to life, while the Regent Wangfei was courteous and respectful. It was not wrong for her to seek help for Huayang Wangfei, who had been saved by the doctor. The only mistake was the rashness of Linan Wang. As for Yuwen Chu, he had no involvement at all.
So, although the censors and orthodox factions clamored about disrespect and insubordination, they didn’t dare to push it too far. After all, the Great Empress Dowager wasn’t on her deathbed yet, but Huayang Wangfei was in critical condition.
Mei Yusi clearly saw Yuwen Chu’s face darken. Although he didn’t say anything, he made three consecutive mistakes in writing, which was extremely rare for the wise and martial Regent, indicating how unsettled he was at the time.
Mei Yusi wasn’t worried at all; on the contrary, he was quite happy because it meant that the Regent would definitely go home early tonight, which meant relief for him.
Sure enough, as the sun began to set, Yuwen Chu threw down his pen and said lightly, “Prepare the horse, let’s go home.”
Mei Yusi saw Yuwen Chu off and then went to his room, rubbing his sore hands from grinding ink. He was tired too and needed to eat, drink tea, and rest. The Regent was too diligent in his work, and his subordinates were as tense as a drawn bowstring, never getting a moment’s respite.
A maidservant stood in the shadow and bowed respectfully as Mei Yusi passed by, saying, “Steward Mei, my lady requests your presence.”
Mei Yusi smiled faintly at the Momo. “So it’s you.”
