The Great Empress Dowager was so furious she wanted to slap Fu Zifei. “How dare you say that!”
Fu Zifei argued defiantly, “Why shouldn’t I say it? He was good to me—do you think I’m so heartless I wouldn’t know? I wanted to be good to him too, but his fate was unfortunate. What could I do? If you must blame someone for his death, it should be you, Grandmother!”
The Great Empress Dowager was shocked, “What did you say?”
Fu Zifei, feeling a twisted satisfaction, said, “I said you are responsible for his death! If you hadn’t pushed him to confront those people, would they have wanted to kill him? So, I say you are the one who killed him!”
Fu Zifei repeated three times that the Great Empress Dowager was to blame. Sang Shen could no longer hold back and shouted, “Empress, how can you be so insolent! It’s you who repaid kindness with enmity, harming others and now blaming others for your sins.”
The Great Empress Dowager waved her hand, “Let her speak. It’s a rare opportunity. Let her voice all her grievances; otherwise, she might not have another chance.”
Fu Zifei was pulled back to reality by this comment, her tears flowing even more. She cried out, “Your Highness, Grandmother, Great Empress Dowager, I didn’t mean it that way. I didn’t harm County Prince Sien. He was so good to me—how could I harm him? That would make me a beast!”
The Great Empress Dowager watched her with interest as she cried desperately, almost banging her head against the wall to prove her innocence. Only then did she relent, “I also believe it’s slander meant to drive a wedge between us.”
Fu Zifei let out a heavy sigh, still sobbing, “It is slander! It is an attempt to sow discord! You mustn’t be deceived! Now it’s just you and me.”
The Great Empress Dowager smiled, “Yes, it’s just you and me now. I will soon be gone, but you have to stay. You don’t want to die, right?”
Fu Zifei hesitated for a moment, then said nervously, “It’s not that I’m afraid to die, but my mother and younger siblings still need me. If I die, what will happen to them?”
“Alright, come closer, and I’ll tell you how to survive.” The Great Empress Dowager struggled to sit up, grabbed Fu Zifei’s collar, and whispered a few words. Then, using all her strength, she slapped Fu Zifei hard across the face. Fu Zifei, caught off guard, screamed, and the Great Empress Dowager shouted hoarsely, “Kill her! Kill her!”
Fu Zifei screamed and tried to flee, “Help, Your Majesty, help!”
Yuwen Guang, standing in the shade, had been lost in thought, watching Ji Hui’s room, whose door remained closed. He wondered how she was coping and wanted to visit her after this ordeal to talk and share tea, to tell her he genuinely wished for Yuwen Nuo’s well-being. He felt Ji Hui would understand him.
He didn’t care about the confrontation between the Great Empress Dowager and Fu Zifei until he heard Fu Zifei’s screams. Only then did he turn around.
Fu Zifei, her face swollen and hair disheveled, ran towards him in distress. Jiang Youyuan blocked her, and she fell to her knees, crying, “Your Majesty, save me! The Great Empress Dowager wants to kill me.”
Yuwen Guang, accustomed to Fu Zifei’s usual clever and assertive demeanor, was now at a loss seeing her so desperate. “Isn’t the Great Empress Dowager your grand-aunt? Why would she want to kill you?”
As he spoke, several palace servants rushed out to seize Fu Zifei. She pushed Jiang Youyuan aside and hid behind Yuwen Guang, crying out miserably, “Your Majesty, save me! Save me!”
Yuwen Guang frowned and signaled to Jiang Youyuan, “The Great Empress Dowager is confused due to her illness.”
Jiang Youyuan immediately had the palace servants removed, keeping a wary eye on Fu Zifei, wary of any more tricks.
Fu Zifei clung to Yuwen Guang’s sleeve, crying non-stop, “The Great Empress Dowager must have accused me of leaking her secrets, causing her plans to fail…”
Yuwen Guang knew it wasn’t that simple, but aware of the Great Empress Dowager’s constant tormenting of her, he felt less aversion and more pity towards Fu Zifei. “The Great Empress Dowager is confused due to her illness; don’t take it to heart.”
Fu Zifei seized the moment, crying and kowtowing fervently, “I am guilty, I am guilty. Please spare my family, Your Majesty.” She clung to his sleeve, recounting her story from when she first entered the palace, how Yuwen Bai mistreated her, how Min Baoyun bullied her, and her helplessness after Yuwen Bai’s death. She spoke succinctly yet touchingly, “The Great Empress Dowager said my father is dead… He only pitied his daughter, not wanting her to be humiliated, Your Majesty!”
If Yuwen Guang became the true Emperor, she wouldn’t be humiliated. From this perspective, Fu Mingcheng was blameless. Yuwen Guang had Jiang Youyuan help Fu Zifei up, “Go and live quietly. As long as I do not speak against you, you remain the Empress.”
Fu Zifei’s heart settled. She had Yuwen Guang’s assurance and could live for now. The Great Empress Dowager was right; Yuwen Guang, who cared for his younger brother, was soft-hearted. Seizing this would be enough. She obediently kowtowed again, took a deep look at the Great Empress Dowager’s bedchamber, and turned to leave.
Jiang Youyuan hesitated to speak, and Yuwen Guang said softly, “I know what you want to say, but she is just a pitiable person. Keep an eye on her, give her food, and make sure she doesn’t cause trouble. Given the temperament of Sixth Uncle and his wife, they probably won’t mind.”
Sang Shen came out and bowed to him. “Your Majesty, Niang Niang wants to see Mu Gugu.”
In Yuwen Guang’s memory, Mu Gugu was just a capable and kind person, posing no threat. He waved his hand. “Let her come.”
Jiang Youyuan quietly suggested, “It might be wise to summon the imperial physician. The Great Empress Dowager doesn’t seem quite right. It’s as if she’s wrapping up her affairs and preparing for the end.”
Yuwen Guang, feeling utterly exhausted and wanting to escape, replied, “Do as you wish. When will Sixth Uncle arrive?”
Jiang Youyuan said, “If he’s truly unscathed, he should be back in the capital by tomorrow at the latest.”
A palace servant reported the search results: “We couldn’t find His Highness County Prince Xiangcheng.”
The only place left to search was Ji Hui’s residence. Yuwen Guang decided to supervise this task personally and walked briskly towards her quarters. Ji Hui, dressed simply, came out to greet him, her expression calm and unaffected by the recent turmoil. Yuwen Guang appreciated her composure. “I’m thirsty. May I have a cup of tea here, sister?”
