Fu Mingzheng’s behavior was quite risky. After all, sending someone to follow Ji Hui, if anything happened to her, the blame would fall squarely on Mingzhu. Qi Wangfei felt it was inappropriate and called him back, “Why don’t I send someone over?”
Fu Mingzheng smiled, “Thank you for your kindness, but I can handle this matter. I have the ability.” He looked at Ji Hui and repeated his words from earlier, word for word, “I will ensure the safe birth of this child. Will you dare to bet?”
Ji Hui gritted her teeth, hating this young man with his bright smile and handsome appearance, “Why wouldn’t I dare to bet?”
Fu Mingzheng slightly bowed, politely saying, “Then, please go ahead. Ruan Momo, it’s up to you now.”
Ruan Momo smiled and bowed, “Fourth Master, rest assured, this old servant will definitely handle this matter well.” With that, she raised her head proudly, following Ji Hui and her servant out with great vigor.
Mingzhu regained her composure and asked curiously, “Where did this Ruan Momo come from? Why haven’t I seen her before? She doesn’t look like a servant from a wealthy family.”
Fu Mingzheng chuckled, “You’ve got a sharp eye! She’s the female warden I pulled out of the prison of the Ministry of Punishments. She’s seen all kinds of dark and dirty things. Having her look after Ji Hui is the most suitable.” Seeing Mingzhu still had a flush of anger on her face, he continued, “Indeed, love is the most misleading. You were quite calm and analytical before. I thought you had transformed into General Fu already, but who knew a few words would reveal your true colors. Let me tell you, even if it were true, it wouldn’t matter. It’s just a case of more people, more chopsticks. Live as you see fit.”
Mingzhu sighed, “Thanks Fourth Brother.”
Fu Mingzheng smiled, “Go live your life peacefully, patiently awaiting their defense.”
Ji Hui cried silently all the way, Wetnurse Xiao couldn’t comfort her, and also ended up crying with her. Ruan Momo smiled and said, “Miss, please calm down. They say a mother’s strength is strong, but if you keep crying like this, you might harm the fetus.”
Ji Hui wiped away her tears, swallowed her grievances, and instead tried to ingratiate herself with Ruan Momo. “Momo is really eloquent.”
Ruan Momo smiled, “Yes, not to hide it from Miss, but in this life, I’ve seen all kinds of things, so I know exactly what to say to different people.”
Ji Hui felt she was very strange, so she didn’t dare say much and just silently contemplated today’s events, wondering if there was anything she hadn’t done well or had overlooked. When they arrived at the gate of the other courtyard, Yuwen Guang refused to get off the carriage. She had to invite him in, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s help. Please come in for a cup of tea and rest for a while.”
She had originally wanted Yuwen Guang to come in with her to discuss countermeasures, but Yuwen Guang refused to get off the carriage, saying, “It’s already late, and it’s not appropriate for me to stay outside for too long. Let’s do it another day. Sister Ji, you go in, and let Consort Jin come out. I’ll wait for her outside.”
Ji Hui knew it was impossible to change anything, so she just smiled and bowed, “Yes.”
Fu Zifei was sitting alone by the window reading a book. When she saw Ji Hui come in, she smiled, “How is it? You look radiant, so something good must be coming. Congratulations.”
Ji Hui felt bitter in her heart, speaking vaguely, “Thank you for the kind words, Your Highness.” Afraid that Fu Zifei would continue to ask embarrassing questions, she hurriedly urged her to leave, “The Emperor is eager to return to the palace, please, Your Highness, quickly board the carriage.”
Fu Zifei affectionately said, “Alright, I’ll leave for now. I’ll come to see you another day.”
With a smile, she went away.
Ji Hui sat down heavily, her mood heavy, feeling that her whole life was gloomy. The steward brought dinner, and she took the opportunity to send Ruan Momo away. “Didn’t Minister Fu say that Momo is knowledgeable about diet and medicine? Please have Momo check if there are any taboos in this meal?”
Ruan Momo smiled and agreed, going to inspect the food at the table. Ji Hui signaled Wetnurse Xiao to come closer. “Did you really see clearly at that time?”
Wetnurse Xiao replied firmly, “Of course, I did. I’m not blind. Miss, don’t be fooled by them. How could there be any mistake in this matter? The regent has immense power. Who would dare to act recklessly in front of him?”
No, there’s no purity in this world, and power struggles are even more complex. Ji Hui recalled the Great Empress Dowager’s earlier advice for her to return north with the army, and then she remembered many details. Suddenly, she shuddered.
Was Yuwen Chu really someone who dared to do but dared not to bear the consequences?
“Based on my understanding of the regent, if it were true, you would have been dead long ago, and the only reason you’re still alive is because the child isn’t his.”
Fu Mingzheng’s words echoed in her ears again, and Ji Hui hugged her head, crying in pain.
Suddenly, Ruan Momo called out, “Oh my, my girl, what time is it? You’re still crying, and there’s a problem with this food!”
Ji Hui instantly forgot her tears, and Wetnurse Xiao rushed over. “What’s the problem?”
Ruan Momo instructed a young maid who had come with her, “Quickly find a pregnant dog or cat.”
The maid agreed and rushed out like the wind. In just a quarter of an hour, she brought in a pregnant female dog. Ruan Momo solemnly placed a bowl of meat soup on the ground, and the pregnant dog wagged its tail and quickly devoured it.
Ji Hui grabbed Wetnurse Xiao’s hand tightly. “It didn’t seem like anything happened.”
Ruan Momo smiled. “Don’t worry, miss. Let’s wait a little longer.”
Sure enough, the pregnant dog started barking wildly. First, it paced anxiously in circles, then it began vomiting, and then it kept turning to sniff its lower body. It spun around its tail frantically, but suddenly couldn’t move anymore, collapsed on the ground, gasping heavily, tears in its eyes, and began whimpering pitifully. Bright red blood soon flowed out…
Ji Hui covered her mouth, screamed in horror, “Ah…” and fainted.
Wetnurse Xiao burst into tears, pinched her middle finger, and shouted, making a scene. Ruan Momo remained calm, first had the maid take care of the dog, then checked Ji Hui’s pulse. “She’s just exhausted, nothing serious. Let the doctor come and prescribe some medicine to protect the fetus. Next, detain all the cooks and servers, and question them carefully.”
Wetnurse Xiao shouted angrily, and the remaining Ji family servants rushed out to cause trouble. Ruan Momo sighed, “There’s really no discipline here. No wonder no one knows when someone slept with someone else. It’s confusing and pitiful. I’ll have to intervene personally.” She whispered a few words to the maid, and in a short while, people rushed in and arrested the cooks and servers from the other courtyard. The steward was also taken away, still loudly proclaiming when he was arrested, “I am a servant of the imperial family. Who dares to touch me?”
The answer to him was a resounding slap.
Late at night, in the interrogation room of the Ministry of War where special prisoners were questioned, Fu Mingzheng, dressed in official robes, questioned a row of prisoners kneeling below, “Confess honestly. Go home for the New Year, resist to the end, or be skinned alive and drawn and quartered. Speak! Who ordered you to do this?”
