“No, I refuse. His Highness has the protection of the Nine Golden Dragons. I don’t believe he’ll be easily harmed.” Mingzhu understood the Great Empress Dowager’s intention. Yuwen Chu’s current position wasn’t self-proclaimed; many people supported him. If news of the Regent’s assassination spread now, it would surely cause chaos nationwide, and Zhongshan Wang and the Xiongnu would take advantage of it. The Great Empress Dowager wanted her to stabilize the military to resist Zhongshan Wang and the Xiongnu, but she refused because things weren’t that dire yet.
The Great Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows, showing a fierceness that didn’t match her illness and age. “Do you dare? Zhu Zhu, once you choose this path, there’s no turning back. Don’t you love Zhuang Zhuang and Millet? Don’t you cherish your nephews and nieces? Don’t you respect your parents and siblings? Are you willing to watch as foreign rebels invade and see them suffer?”
“Exactly because there’s no turning back, I don’t intend to turn back.” Mingzhu signaled to everyone, “From now on, no one enters or leaves Changxin Palace. Anyone who dares to act recklessly will be mercilessly killed. If there’s anything, I’ll handle it.”
Wei Tiande rushed in, looking frantic. The fear and sorrow in his eyes couldn’t be concealed. “His Highness urgently summons Wangfei!”
Mingzhu’s hand trembled, and a drop of tea splashed onto her hand from the cup. She stared blankly for a moment, then wiped away the water stain with a handkerchief and walked out steadily. “After I leave, no one is allowed to enter Changxin Palace.”
The Great Empress Dowager was furious. “Who dares? Carry me out! I want to see who dares to kill me!”
Mingzhu said calmly, “The Great Empress Dowager’s condition is too severe. She must take a calming medicine.”
The palace servants understood and immediately went to fetch the medicine. They approached to help the Great Empress Dowager take it. Sang Shen shouted, “Regent Wangfei, you have no conscience! Have you forgotten how caring and protective Her Majesty was of you?”
Mingzhu ignored Sang Shen and walked out of Changxin Palace with a straight back. When she reached an empty place, she couldn’t support herself anymore and crouched down, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, crying silently. Dong Hui and Su Mei approached silently, ready to console her, but she stood up again, walking forward firmly. “Smile, don’t cry. Trust His Highness. His Highness is protected by the Nine Golden Dragons.”
Unlike before, when she said these words jokingly, this time Mingzhu spoke with a serious tone and expression. If she didn’t believe, she feared she wouldn’t have the strength to go on.
Fu Mingzheng and Ye Xiu were waiting for her outside the palace gates. Fu Mingzheng helped her onto the horse solemnly. “Go like this. I’ve already sent the two children away. Don’t worry about the palace or the capital. Your father and elder brother are here. Mei Yusi is watching over the Chongzheng Hall, and Yueguo Gong is still here. Nothing will go wrong.”
Everything seemed under control, but if that person really was no longer around, this calm would be shattered in an instant. And the absence of that person was precisely what she couldn’t accept. Mingzhu’s hands trembled uncontrollably. She whispered, “No, my hands are shaking. I can’t hold the reins steady.”
“You can do it. You must. Think about the children, think about us, think about His Highness, and think about all of us, as well as Dong Hui and the others.” Fu Mingzheng adjusted the reins and saddle while no one was looking and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. His Highness is safe. This is just a play put on for others.”
It was this sudden crisis that woke up Yuwen Chu, reminding him that many people were secretly supporting the Great Empress Dowager. These people were hiding among the crowd and might suddenly emerge to harm him, Mingzhu, and their children. This time he was lucky, or rather, Mingzhu’s vigilance and intelligence saved him. But he might not be so lucky next time. So he had to take advantage of this rare opportunity to eliminate all those hidden enemies.
Since peaceful resolution wasn’t possible, violence would be used instead. There would be no rest until the matter was resolved.
Then she didn’t need to hold on anymore. Mingzhu suddenly felt all her strength drain away. She lost all her energy and collapsed on the horse, sobbing loudly.
Fu Mingzheng was very satisfied with the effect. He sighed, shaking his head, and grabbed Mingzhu, forcing her to sit properly. Roughly, he used his sleeve to wipe her face and angrily said, “Why are you crying? Hurry up and leave!”
He forcefully whipped her mount and then scolded Dong Hui, Ye Xiu, and the others fiercely, “Are you all stupid? Why aren’t you hurrying up?”
Many people witnessed this scene and believed that something major had happened.
Therefore, news spread in the capital that Yuwen Chu had been poisoned and was dying (even if he hadn’t died yet, he was barely hanging on and would die soon). Fu Mingcheng started to make trouble. He led people to the palace, demanding to see the Emperor and the Great Empress Dowager. Initially, it was only him and the orthodox faction causing trouble, but gradually, some people who were worried about the situation also joined in. There were onlookers and troublemakers, and even monsters and demons emerged, making the situation seem out of control. The embarrassed Fu Wang was surrounded by a group of people, ready to come out to take over as the next regent. Chaos ensued, and it seemed like the situation was spiraling out of control.
Some people took advantage of the situation to enter the Chongzheng Hall and demand that Yuwen Guang do something. Yuwen Guang calmly replied to them while teaching Yuwen Nuo, not bothering to lift his head: firstly, he didn’t believe that Yuwen Chu would be so unlucky; secondly, if something really happened to Yuwen Chu, he would just wait and see, there was no need to do anything. As for the matter of Fu Wang preparing to come out as the second regent assisting in governing, he responded with a sarcastic smile and made no further comment.
But people wouldn’t let him off so easily. Yuwen Nuo was persuaded to act as a mediator. “Your Highness, don’t you want to reclaim what rightfully belongs to you?”
Yuwen Guang didn’t answer him. Instead, he took him to the Jiuzhou Terrace outside the Chongzheng Hall and let him overlook the entire capital. “Whenever such turmoil occurs, there are usually instances of looting and plundering. But you see, although there is clamor outside the palace gates, the chaos is confined to the capital. The areas near the capital remain peaceful. This indicates that things haven’t deteriorated to that extent yet. Let’s wait a little longer.”
Yuwen Nuo was too young and didn’t understand these things. He yawned, “We should be prepared for the worst. Second Uncle has always been very good to us.”
Yuwen Guang smiled, “No, Grandmother is already in her final days, and Sixth Uncle has grand ambitions. Although he appears honest and gentle, Second Uncle is not very smart. We won’t survive for long under his rule.”
He had abdicated once and would continue to do so. Yuwen Chu was confident that he could crush him comprehensively, making everyone know that Yuwen Chu was the most suitable person. Fu Wang might not see it that way, being devoid of talent and thus feeling insecure, and insecurity leads to killing.
