The Great Empress Dowager quietly observed Mingzhu, wanting to know her attitude towards the Great Empress Dowager’s refusal to seek medical treatment, and whether she had guessed her secret. Yes, she was in a hurry; she wasn’t sure when she would suddenly die in her sleep, and she still had so many important matters unfinished.
So even if it’s rushed, even if it might cost her life prematurely, she doesn’t care. Because she’s a dying person, and the dead don’t need an escape route.
Mingzhu intended to make a final negotiation with the Great Empress Dowager. “I know you must have already taken action against him, at the Jishan Camp. This time, you must be giving it your all, with no room for retreat.”
The Great Empress Dowager didn’t reply, but there was a glimmer of light in her cloudy eyes.
Mingzhu didn’t need the Great Empress Dowager’s response. She revealed the matter she had been holding back: “Do you think County Prince Sien’s death was orchestrated by the Regent and Huayang Wang?”
Finally, the Great Empress Dowager spoke, “What if it was?”
Mingzhu sat beside her sickbed, “Naturally, it’s someone else. This person is beyond your imagination.”
The Great Empress Dowager asked, “So what?”
“Let’s make a deal. You tell me about your arrangements at Jishan Camp, and I’ll tell you who this person is and how they did it.” Mingzhu’s palms were sweaty, unsure if the Great Empress Dowager would agree to her proposal. At the same time, she felt like crying because even though she was desperate, she had no way of knowing what had happened at Jishan Camp.
The Great Empress Dowager closed her eyes and remained silent.
The chamber fell into dead silence.
Mingzhu thought that was all she could do. Originally, her bargaining chip was very weak and couldn’t be used for negotiation, but she couldn’t give up without trying.
But the Empress Dowager said lightly, “You’ll know the specific arrangements at Jishan Camp tomorrow. Knowing more now won’t help. You can’t fly there; it’ll only keep you awake and emotional. As for my goal, you can figure it out without me saying — only one of us can live. Who that person is and whether you’re willing to speak is up to you.”
Mingzhu clenched her fists, squeezing her palms hard. She spoke softly, “That person has been by your side all along. County Prince Sien once adored her, treated her as family, trusted her, and even remembered to hunt a golden pheasant for her before his death.”
After a pause, the Great Empress Dowager asked, “She had no reason to do that.”
“Someone found a vial from her containing medicine used by the late emperor, capable of causing unconsciousness and temporary paralysis of the limbs. And on that morning, she was the one managing County Prince Sien’s meals.”
Mingzhu hadn’t mentioned this before because there was no solid evidence and she didn’t think it was the right time. But now, she decided to do something for herself and her children. If Yuwen Chu didn’t return, the rift between the Great Empress Dowager and Fu Zifei would be one of her opportunities, albeit not a significant one. So, evidence was no longer the priority; what mattered was letting the Great Empress Dowager know about this.
The Great Empress Dowager chuckled lightly, a chilling sound in the empty chamber. But she didn’t pursue the topic further. Instead, she said, “So, Mingzhu, let’s pray for our respective fates. If he wins, I die. If I win, he dies.”
At this point, Mingzhu had nothing else to do. Jiang Zhouzi was by Yuwen Chu’s side, as were his guards. She and her children, along with the Fu family, seemed safe for now. All she could do was wait.
A sleepless night passed, and as the drums sounded at the fifth watch, the palace gates opened wide. Mingzhu had someone bring a basin of cold water. Washing her face with cold water could dispel any remaining fatigue in an instant. She carefully dressed herself, looking refreshed and composed.
The Great Empress Dowager watched her every move in silence. When Mingzhu finished preparing, she had someone help her up, changed into a new outfit, and applied a little rouge to her lips.
Mingzhu issued her first command: “Open the gates of Changxin Palace. Anyone who wants to come in, let them in.”
The first to arrive were the Great Empress Dowager’s people. After Min Hongwen succeeded, they rushed to spread the news as fast as they could. The method of delivering the news was quite ordinary because the Great Empress Dowager’s most abundant manpower was her internal monitoring. When they presented the daily necessities to the Great Empress Dowager, they also reported this news to her. It didn’t need to be said explicitly; a glance and a few simple words were enough.
The Great Empress Dowager chuckled, full of satisfaction. She smiled at Mingzhu and whispered softly, “You’ve lost. Even if he’s not dead right now, he’s about to die.” Seeing Mingzhu about to speak, she waved her hand, “I know you’re going to mention Jiang Zhouzi, and yes, Jiang Zhouzi is here. But he doesn’t treat the dead, does he? Old Six is overly suspicious and cautious. I’ve thought of many ways, but none of them worked. I was at my wits’ end and didn’t know where to turn. So, I devoted myself to finding a medicine, a poison with no antidote. Just a tiny amount would be enough for the Sixth Prince to seek forgiveness from the late emperor. Fortunately, I finally found it. Luck favors the bold, and I seized that luck. Justice is in people’s hearts. Unfortunately, the crossbows and gunpowder didn’t end his and Old Seven’s lives, or it would have been cleaner.”
The Great Empress Dowager smiled and gestured to the palace servant who delivered the message, “Come, tell the Regent Wangfei about what happened.”
The palace servant dared not look directly at Mingzhu, keeping their head down as they stumbled through the account.
Xia Xue, Dong Hui, and others were dumbfounded. After waiting for a day and a night, was this the outcome they received? After all the bustling activity, was the story about to end like this? Tears welled up in Mingzhu’s eyes, but a voice inside her kept reminding her to stay calm and strong. Not until the last moment should she panic or show weakness, otherwise, the situation would become chaotic.
Ye Xiu hadn’t replied yet. Why should she believe her opponent’s words? Mingzhu forced back her tears and said calmly, “Yes, that’s how it looks, but the result may not be certain. I’m not in a hurry, and neither should the Great Empress Dowager be. Let’s wait a little longer.”
However, the Great Empress Dowager couldn’t wait. In her view, there was no suspense in the situation anymore. “Immediately send this news to the Emperor!” she exclaimed, her spirit rejuvenated. “Rest assured, I won’t harm you and your children. After all, with so many soldiers on the border being deceived by Old Six, this is a critical period. We need you to stabilize the military. For the sake of the two children, you won’t refuse me, will you?”
