Without waiting for Mingzhu’s response, Yuwen Chu lightly tapped her hand, gently rubbing it as he spoke. “Don’t worry. Under the sun, anyone might be ridiculed for not being man enough, but no one dares to laugh at me that way. I’m about to do something that will shut up anyone who wants to ridicule me.”
Mingzhu’s heart trembled again. “What are you planning to do now?”
“Collect rent,” Yuwen Chu said with a smile, picking up his chopsticks and quickly starting to eat. “Let’s eat first! There are rules in the military camp, and mealtime cannot exceed the burning of one incense stick.”
Mingzhu thought to herself, are you planning to starve me again?
“Of course, I couldn’t bear to let you go hungry. Even if they say whatever about me, I’ll bear it. You can eat as much as you want for as long as you want.” Yuwen Chu smiled at Mingzhu, revealing a row of neatly aligned white teeth.
When it came to setting an example, Mingzhu could only sigh and resignedly pick up her chopsticks to eat. There wasn’t anything particularly good in the military camp, but these dishes were unexpectedly light and refreshing, and they didn’t ruin her appetite despite the hot weather.
With food in her stomach, her mood naturally improved a lot. Mingzhu glanced at Yuwen Chu’s waist, intending to ask if he still felt pain, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask directly. So, she changed the subject tactfully. “The Great Empress Dowager scared me, saying she found a highly poisonous drug without an antidote for you…”
Yuwen Chu stared at her intently and whispered, “Are you scared?”
Of course she was scared, scared to the point where her heart felt twisted into a wrinkled ball, almost suffocating. Mingzhu avoided the topic, looking into the distance and saying calmly, “Can you tell me what’s going on?”
Yuwen Chu persisted, “You must have cried for me.”
“No, I haven’t. I’m not that easily scared,” Mingzhu denied firmly.
Yuwen Chu squatted down in front of her, took her hand, and whispered, “I know you told them I have nine golden dragons protecting me, right?”
“But you were still terrified. I’m very grateful to you.” Yuwen Chu looked up at Mingzhu’s eyes, “It’s not just gratitude, it’s heartfelt appreciation. You are grateful to the heavens for giving you a second chance, and I am grateful to the heavens for giving me this opportunity. With you, I am complete and truly alive. You mean more to me than anything.”
Mingzhu couldn’t handle his words and muttered softly, “You speak better than you sing, but when it’s time to act, you’re just as ruthless.”
Yuwen Chu fell silent, lowering his eyes and turning her hand over in his.
Mingzhu felt a bit regretful but didn’t want to take back her words. She continued with the previous topic, “Your Highness still hasn’t told me about the poison.”
Yuwen Chu smiled, “Well, fairness lies in people’s hearts, so I escaped the danger.”
Min Hongwen and Min Shunyi, father and son, represented the attitudes of the court towards him and the Great Empress Dowager. Min Hongwen believed that an uncle shouldn’t seize his nephew’s inheritance; taking it would be unjust, and assisting the rightful heir was a duty.
Min Shunyi, on the other hand, thought that if the uncle could save the world and worked tirelessly for it, why should he not only receive no praise but also die due to the schemes of women and children? The Great Empress Dowager and the orthodox faction neglected the common people and soldiers for their own interests, allowing the Xiongnu to massacre the city. This alone was disgraceful. There was only one Regent; if he were killed, would the Xiongnu and Zhongshan Wang be allowed to advance unopposed? It was intolerable!
So, Min Shunyi usually behaved like a dutiful son, following orders precisely. But at the crucial moment, he made a switch.
He explained to Yuwen Chu, “To be cautious, two identical daggers were made, both intended to be coated with poison. However, the poison was scarce. Dividing it between two daggers would dilute its lethality, so the Marquis suggested focusing on one dagger. The other dagger was left unused, giving me the opportunity to switch it. Early in the morning, when my father got up and summoned me to serve him, I swapped the daggers at the last moment.”
He saved Yuwen Chu and his own life and family’s—except for Min Hongwen.
Yuwen Chu was in a good mood, “The assassination happened in the military camp, using the bed crossbow and gunpowder we made together. The assailants were my soldiers, and Min Hongwen, whom I treated well, was involved. This made me very upset and angry. Min Shunyi appeared just in time to prevent another potential disaster.”
“What potential disaster?” Mingzhu temporarily forgot her disagreements with Yuwen Chu and focused on him, sharing his joy.
The potential disaster of killing all the orthodox faction. Yuwen Chu wouldn’t tell Mingzhu how angry and vengeful he had been, considering killing all his enemies. But now, he would only order the main culprits to be punished and let the others go. That would be the end of it.
“Just know that I’m fine, you’re fine, and everyone is fine.” Yuwen Chu called for someone to add hot water, “I’ll sit next door while you bathe. You can wear my clothes for now, and change into yours when they arrive.”
Mingzhu enjoyed a warm bath, cleaned herself up, and sat on Yuwen Chu’s bed to dry her hair, tidying up his bed in the process. Despite having attendants, men were never as meticulous and thoughtful as women, especially someone as particular as Mingzhu.
When Yuwen Chu returned, he saw the room and bed transformed. Everything was in its rightful place, his frequently used items were within easy reach, and the bed was impeccably neat.
Mingzhu, wearing his loose robe, was brushing her hair with her back to him. The oversized robe made her look even more delicate, but he knew the strength within her slender frame. He approached and hugged her, resting his chin on her head, whispering, “It’s good to have you here.”
Mingzhu silently put down the comb and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, careful of his injury. Yuwen Chu felt her tenderness, and his heart softened. He held her tightly, kissing her hair, “Zhu Zhu, forgive me.”
Mingzhu’s initially stiff body gradually relaxed. Leaning against him, feeling his warmth and heartbeat, she realized how much she loved this man. The weak submit to destiny, but the strong challenge it. They were together in this.
