Chapter 86: Kneeling Penalty
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The Wusun people brought fur-hooded eagles and horses, seeking silk, tea, iron, and food from our dynasty. Wait, there was one more thing… Oh yes, shortly after Mingzhu and Yuwen You’s wedding, they had a disagreement. She ran back home and refused to return. Yuwen You brought a falcon as a gift to coax her back. The falcon was magnificent, and she was delighted. She asked him where he got it, and Yuwen You sarcastically replied, “It was a gift from Wusun, from Kundu Wang. They wanted to marry a beautiful princess and thought I, Linan Wang, could help, but little did they know the falcon was sent for nothing.”
Later, the Wusun indeed made this request, and the Great Empress Dowager agreed. However, for some reason, they didn’t take a princess but instead took a relatively unknown county princess, Yuwen Xue. Yuwen Xue was beautiful but very timid. Mingzhu never liked such people much, so she only exchanged a few words with this county princess.
The county princess later died in Wusun, causing quite a stir and making both sides very unhappy, which led to criticism and attacks on Father and the Great Empress Dowager.
What exactly was the uproar about? Mingzhu furrowed her brows, trying hard to remember, but couldn’t recall, and blamed herself for being so useless. In her early years, she only cared about indulging in pleasures and entertaining men, never paying attention to anything useful.
But regardless, since she knew that the outcome of Princess Yuwen Xue’s marriage to Wusun wasn’t pleasant, she should find a way to sabotage it. Mingzhu then asked Madam Cui, “Will the palace host a banquet for the delegation?”
Seeing her inquire about this, Madam Cui became very alert, “What do you want to do? Last time, you caused such trouble in the palace. It’s only been a few days since the Great Empress Dowager sent you out, and now you want to misbehave in the palace again?”
Of course, Mingzhu wouldn’t admit it, “How could that be? I was just asking casually. I mentioned last time that I wanted to give gifts to Older Sister Changhua and An Xiaogu, and now I can give them to them and have a chat.”
Madam Cui sighed, “You still have the face to say that. Changhua is a princess and can’t leave the palace casually, especially when she’s sick. It’s understandable that she didn’t come to see you. As for An Xiaogu, she’s just idle. You were sick for so long last time, and now you’ve caused trouble and been sent back home, but she didn’t come to see you or even greet you. Why? Because she’s avoiding you, afraid that you’ll tarnish her reputation and offend the Great Empress Dowager because of you. Why are you so useless?”
In her past life, someone had said similar things to Mingzhu, but unlike Madam Cui, that person deliberately tried to sow discord between her, Cai Mingshu, and An Xiaogu.
At that time, she didn’t pay much attention, and now knowing the result, she cared even less. Instead, she tried to persuade Madam Cui, “Mother, you’re thinking too much. An Xiaogu’s family is strict. Although she didn’t come to the palace last time, she secretly sent something to me. It shows that she doesn’t dislike me but finds it inconvenient.”
Seeing her daughter not listening, Madam Cui had no choice but to coax her, “Even if there’s a banquet in the palace, you’re not allowed to go. If you’re bored at home, you can ask your fourth brother to accompany you out of the city for a stroll. Ruilin is also idle, you can invite him too.”
When Madam Cui mentioned Shen Ruilin, Mingzhu laughed awkwardly, “Let’s forget it. The sun is too hot, and it’s too lazy to move.” She found an excuse and went back, waiting until Fu Mingzheng returned in the evening before intercepting him, “If I want to apologize to Auntie, will she allow me to enter the palace?”
Fu Mingzheng vaguely knew about the recent turmoil and mocked, “You foolish pig head, you can’t even behave properly at home. I’m embarrassed to call you my little sister.”
Mingzhu felt embarrassed, glaring at him, “I didn’t ask you about that! I’m asking about something important!”
Fu Mingzheng glanced at her, “What nonsense are you thinking of now?”
Mingzhu said hurriedly, “It’s nothing. I heard that the Wusun delegation has arrived and brought many rare items. I just want to go and see.”
Fu Mingzheng turned and walked away.
Mingzhu quickly grabbed his sleeve and pleaded, “But there’s another thing. I’m afraid Auntie will be angry with me, and if someone whispers in her ear, she might marry me off casually.”
Fu Mingzheng stopped, imperiously saying, “I’ve been talking all day in the yamen and my throat is dry. I just want to drink some tea.”
Mingzhu hurriedly brewed some tea for him, trying to please him, “Fourth Brother, moisten your throat. Take your time to speak.”
Fu Mingzheng sipped his tea leisurely, wanting to see her anxious expression, but when he saw that she wasn’t in a hurry despite trying to please him, he felt bored, “Why aren’t you in a hurry? You used to be very anxious.”
Mingzhu pretended to be anxious, “I’m very anxious, extremely anxious. Fourth Brother, please tell me.”
“Idiot! Are you really an idiot or do you think I’m an idiot? Who are you pretending to be stupid for?” Fu Mingzheng slapped the back of Mingzhu’s head and observed her expression, “Your worry isn’t unreasonable. These past few days, Yuwen Long has been hovering around Father and the Changxin Palace like a fly. I also heard something rare: Ying Wang, who has always been reserved and dignified, seems to have done something to anger the Great Empress Dowager, and she was furious. He was punished to kneel outside the Changxin Palace several times in a row, and even the Imperial Concubine didn’t speak up for him.”
“Is this in the past few days?” Mingzhu couldn’t help but feel anxious. She knew exactly why Yuwen Chu had angered the Great Empress Dowager.
“Otherwise, what do you think? Since the day you were kicked out of the palace until now, it’s already the fourth time. This time, he knelt from yesterday night until this morning, kneeling all night until he couldn’t even walk.” Fu Mingzheng saw her change in expression and added fuel to the fire, “And there’s something even more peculiar. When the Marquis Changxing heard about this, he fell ill.”
One refusing to annul the engagement, the other insisting on it, Changxing Marquis naturally had only the option of feigning illness to avoid it. Mingzhu felt even more disturbed.
Fu Mingzheng chuckled lightly, “I probably know a bit about that night too. Don’t tell me you think he did it for you? Don’t be so presumptuous. I heard about this and made inquiries. Turns out, Ying Wang was extremely displeased with this marriage arrangement from the start. He’s been punished for kneeling numerous times, not just once or twice. It’s just that the Imperial Consort was mediating everywhere, and the Grand Empress Dowager was pressing, and the Changxing Marquis’s family felt embarrassed, so it didn’t leak out. Otherwise, why do you think he’s been engaged for nearly four years but still hasn’t married Jiang Shanshan?”
Mingzhu, feeling agitated, said, “I wouldn’t presume such a thing.”
Fu Mingzheng continued, “It’s best if you don’t. Actually, I think he might really detest Jiang Shanshan too much but has no other choice. So he wanted to use you to break off this marriage. Once successful, let’s see if he’ll pay more attention to you…”
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