Mingzhu regretted speaking to Yuwen Chu because he was too good with words, always able to catch her flaws and press her relentlessly, leaving her no way out. Yes, even when she was angry, she couldn’t help but worry about him and feel sorry for him. It seemed to have become an instinct.
But at the moment, she was ready to pick a fight, so she prepared for battle. “I’m fine. With so many people taking care of me, what could I possibly lack?”
Yuwen Chu smiled, “I have many people taking care of me too, but without your care, I feel like I lack everything, very lacking.”
Mingzhu didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
Yuwen Chu tactfully didn’t press further but continued with his work.
As the night wore on, he showed no intention of resting. Mingzhu, unhappy, said, “Keeping the light on. I can’t sleep.”
“Alright.” Yuwen Chu tidied up the table a bit, extinguished the light, then quietly laid down beside Mingzhu. He didn’t speak, nor did he make any further movements, simply sleeping.
Mingzhu slept with complex emotions. Just as she fell asleep, she heard Wei Tiande reporting something to Yuwen Chu outside the window in a low voice. She felt angry and grabbed something to throw at the window, cursing, “Do people even want to live? It’s only midnight, can’t you wait until morning? Is the sky falling down?”
There was silence, then after a while Wei Tiande said, “This servant knows his mistake. This servant will take his leave.”
Yuwen Chu, in his single layer of clothing, quietly watched Mingzhu, his emotions difficult to discern.
Mingzhu stared back at him without flinching. “Speak if you have something to say. Otherwise, why do you keep staring at me? Are my eyes bigger than yours?”
Yuwen Chu’s lips curled up little by little, gradually blossoming into a big smile. “Fu Mingzhu, you’re really rude. To say such things. But I like it,” he said. Because I know you’re always worrying about me.
Mingzhu was annoyed. “Don’t give me that. I’m just annoyed by the noise, not what you think.”
“What do you think I think?” Yuwen Chu dressed and combed his hair under Xiangli’s care, then washed up, standing in the morning light looking back at Mingzhu. “Zhu Zhu, you can’t figure it out, I understand. I don’t want you to agree with me immediately, or everything to go my way. You understand the reasons better than anyone else. I won’t say more, I just hope you’ll be happier when I come back.”
Then he walked out without looking back.
Mingzhu laid stiffly in bed, staring at the canopy until her eyes felt sore and tears flowed freely.
Fu Mingzheng entered the city at noon, too rushed to change clothes, and hurried to see Yuwen Chu. By the afternoon, everyone knew that Fu Mingzhao would never return. He disappeared without a trace in Tongzhou, neither seen alive nor found dead.
Rumors spread like wildfire in the capital, with some shocked, angry, and incredulous, believing there must be hidden motives behind it, some mocking and watching jokes, and some preparing to curry favor with the Regent Wangfei and the Fu family, preparing to confirm that Fu Mingzhao had died in Tongzhou, while others prepared to persuade the Fu family to arrange a proper burial.
Because everyone knew that Fu Mingzhao being alive wasn’t a good thing, at least not for the reputation of the Fu family. Only the Fu family remained calm, closing their doors and not receiving any visitors. Fu Lin, responsible for sending away guests, remained calm and composed, saying, “My second uncle has not been found yet, nor is there any definite news. How dare we speak lightly of life and death? Let’s leave it to fate.”
Just this sentence silenced everyone.
When Yuwen Chu heard this sentence, he said to Fu Mingzheng opposite him, “The Fu family has someone to carry on.”
In front of him and Fu Mingzheng was a map, filled with markings of the vital military intelligence places that Fu Mingzheng had discovered in the north. Fu Mingzheng silently put away the map and said, “Your Highness wants me to go to the north?”
Yuwen Chu shook his head without hesitation. “No, you will watch over the capital for me.”
Fu Mingzheng pressed his lips tightly. He knew what the capital would be like after Yuwen Chu went to battle. Most likely, it would be a scene of chaos, with demons and monsters rampant. If Yuwen Chu won this campaign, everything would be resolved, but if he lost, there would be no turning back.
Yuwen Chu stood up. “I’m going out of the city to train the troops. Fourth Brother-in-law, you should go home first.”
But Fu Mingzheng hesitated to leave, as a palace servant approached to announce: “The Great Empress Dowager is very concerned about General Fu’s news and requests Lord Fu to come to the palace for a meeting.”
Fu Mingzheng went to Changxin Palace expressionlessly.
The Great Empress Dowager, also expressionless, summoned him. “Have you seen your second brother? Why didn’t you bring him back?”
Fu Mingzheng smirked coldly. “I haven’t seen Fu Mingzhao. My heart is willing, but my ability falls short. I can’t bring him back.”
The Great Empress Dowager suddenly smiled. “Really? You can deceive others, but not me. Let me tell you something, and you listen. After hearing it, see where you went wrong, and then correct me.”
She took a breath and smiled. “I know Mingzhu and An Xiaogu are close. Yue Guo Gong and Marquis Runan are both military men. If she wants to save Mingzhao, she will inevitably use their power, such as passing on messages. But there must be someone in the distant northern region to follow her arrangements, dedicated to finding and protecting Mingzhao. And that person can only be Shen Ruilin, who grew up with her. Mingzhu is a soft-hearted person and wouldn’t want Shen Ruilin involved, so she had to turn to you.”
She glanced at Fu Mingzheng and whispered, “Let me guess, is Mingzhao on his way to Ji Country now?”
Fu Mingzheng coldly replied, “I don’t know what the Great Empress Dowager is talking about.”
The Great Empress Dowager shook her head. “You understand, and you understand very well. Ji Country is far away, Changhua’s position is unstable, and even she struggles to survive. How could she have time to take care of Mingzhao? It’s better to go back to your hometown. You young people always leave your homeland easily, not understanding that although the world is vast, there’s no place like home.”
Fu Mingzheng looked at her coldly. Did she mean she had sent someone to intercept Fu Mingzhao on his way to Ji Country? Unfortunately, Fu Mingzhao would never go to Ji Country in his lifetime.
The Great Empress Dowager smiled. “You may leave. If there’s good news, I’ll inform you.”
Fu Mingzheng didn’t want to shatter her last beautiful dream and turned to leave.
Under the shade of a tree stood a beautiful and pure-looking woman, whom Fu Mingzheng recognized as Ji Hui. He walked over to her. Ji Hui’s face was somewhat pale. She took a step back, then steadied herself and bravely looked up at Fu Mingzheng, giving him a proper greeting. “The humble one greets Lord Fu.”
Fu Mingzheng silently examined Ji Hui for a moment, nodded lightly, then turned and left. Ji Hui watched his retreating figure, quietly wiping away the cold sweat from her palm. Not far away, wet nurse Xiao walked over in high spirits and whispered, “Master’s letter has arrived.”
