In the blink of an eye, winter had arrived. The weather grew colder day by day, and it was nearing the end of the year, requiring many preparations for the upcoming festivals. Mingzhu felt lonely, so she invited An Xiaogu and others, along with some relatives, to the Regent’s Mansion for a barbecue. They sat around the fireplace, roasting meat, eating, playing, and listening to music, enjoying themselves immensely.
During a break, An Xiaogu took Mingzhu’s hand and invited her to go with her to the restroom. Huayang Wangfei sneered at the two of them, “Why don’t you two just wear the same pants? It’s been so long since you’ve seen each other? You need to go together even to the restroom?”
An Xiaogu laughed, “We’d be happy to. What do you say?” With a grin, she pulled Mingzhu away and whispered to her away from the crowd, “When I was in the street, I saw Ji Hui’s servant, Ji Feng, who shot your carriage with an arrow. He was driving a carriage out of the city, so I followed out of curiosity. Guess what? Ji Hui was in the carriage. One of the palace eunuchs followed them all the way outside the city and stopped the carriage for a long time. Later, Ji Hui came out personally and only managed to leave after threatening to cut her own throat with a pair of scissors. What’s going on between her and His Majesty? Won’t he bring her back again?”
“Since she’s left, His Majesty won’t pursue her anymore.” Mingzhu told her what she knew, “The truth came out at that time, and both Fourth Brother and I speculated on how she would handle the situation. It seems that His Majesty advised her to give up the child, and her wet nurse advised her every day. At first, she said she would think about it, but later she refused, saying she would raise the child herself. Anyone who tried to persuade her was considered her enemy. She did indeed take great care of the child after it was born. I thought she would stay in the capital for a long time, but I didn’t expect her to leave.”
An Xiaogu sighed, “What a sin. I was afraid to ask you at the time, but how did she handle that person?”
“She killed him.” Mingzhu said flatly, “Whoever it was, they had to die. She didn’t see that person, but she asked about what happened through the door. After confirming, she had Ji Feng kill him.”
An Xiaogu shook her head, “That’s really… let’s forget about this matter. Do you know that His Highness has won another battle?”
Mingzhu smiled slightly, “I know.”
An Xiaogu chuckled, “Can His Highness come back for the New Year?”
Mingzhu shook her head, “According to my father’s meaning, I’m afraid not.”
The court’s army had crossed Weishui and gradually advanced towards the Northern Territory. Without the support of the Xiongnu cavalry, Zhongshan Wang was like an arm cut off. His once proud Northern Territory cavalry, when faced with the heavily armored cavalry carefully crafted by Yuwen Chu, no longer had the advantage and could only retreat steadily. Around the beginning of winter, they withdrew from the Goose Ridge, and the imperial army regained control of the area, implementing a policy of clearing and garrisoning, preparing to advance further.
According to Fu Cong’s analysis, this was likely to be a protracted war. After all, Zhongshan Wang had been operating in the Northern Territory for decades, and all of his subordinates were composed of Northern Territory people. The people of the Northern Territory were fierce and brave, and nearly half of them had participated in this rebellion. They were likely to fight to the death, making it extremely difficult to deal with.
Originally, Mingzhu hoped that Yuwen Chu could come back for the New Year, but now she didn’t expect it anymore. She only hoped that he would be safe and that the war would go smoothly, and that her father could endure through the winter.
Thinking of Fu Cong’s illness, Mingzhu’s previously good mood became heavy again. After the onset of winter, Fu Cong’s illness worsened day by day, and Jiang Zhouzi had tried everything with little effect. It was said that one could only do their best and leave the rest to fate. Perhaps he could survive this winter for a while longer. If he couldn’t…
Seeing Mingzhu’s unhappy face, An Xiaogu guessed that she was thinking of Fu Cong’s condition again, so she comforted her by hugging her. “If you’re happy every day, Uncle’s mood will be very good, and if his mood is good, his illness will improve.”
Mingzhu rallied, “That’s right. I’ve already arranged it. I invited you all to have fun today, and tomorrow I’ll go back to my mother’s house for more fun. In any case, we must live our lives well.”
No one expected that moment to come so quickly.
The next day, Mingzhu took the children back to her mother’s house. The whole family sat around Fu Cong, chatting and laughing for a long time until Fu Cong said he was tired and they dispersed. She was just in Madam Cui’s room for a few words when Fu Lin sent someone to call her, saying that Fu Cong was not doing well.
Mingzhu had never run so fast before. She forgot everything and only remembered that the person who called her “my little girl” was about to leave. Along the small path of the Fu family’s mansion, she left everyone behind and ran forward frantically. This path was a shortcut. When she missed Fu Cong as a child and was annoyed by the maids who watched her too closely, she always sneaked out through here, then stood arrogantly outside Guanhai Residence, hands on hips, and let the servants pass the message to her father, “Tell Dad I’m here!”
No matter how busy or troubled he was, Fu Cong would always let her in, either giving her something to play with or some food to quiet her, letting her sit by his side while he discussed important matters with his advisors and subordinates. He had her in his old age, cherishing her like a precious jewel, loving her more than his own life, wishing he could offer her the best in the world. Even in serious illness, he still planned for her future. His lifelong wish was nothing more than peace in the world and the health and happiness of his children.
Mingzhu threw herself in front of Fu Cong’s bed, crying bitterly, feeling as if her heart had been ripped out. Fu Cong opened his eyes, smiling as he tried to lift his hand to touch her head, but he had lost all his strength. He had to signal An Rushan to help. With tears streaming down his face, An Rushan trembled as he lifted Fu Cong’s hand and placed it on Mingzhu’s head. Fu Cong sighed in satisfaction and softly said, “Don’t cry, I am very well. There is no better moment than now.”
Mingzhu bit her lip hard, struggling to hold back her tears and sobs. “Father, I am still young. I can’t live without you. I can’t be without my father…”
Fu Cong was amused and laughed. “No, you have grown up. Father is proud of you.” He asked Mingzhu to hold his hand, then looked at Fu Mingda, Fu Mingqing, and Fu Mingzheng, signaling them to place their hands on top. With all his remaining strength, he squeezed their four hands together and softly said, “Work together with one heart.”
Fu Mingda, trembling, whispered, “Father, don’t worry. I will take good care of my younger siblings.”
Fu Cong nodded and looked at Fu Mingzheng. “Live your life well.”
Fu Mingzheng choked up and couldn’t speak, he could only nod desperately. Fu Mingqing cried loudly like a child, “Father, I’m sorry, I’ve been unfilial, I’ve disappointed you.”
Fu Cong sighed, “You were never good at politics, I don’t blame you.”
Fu Mingqing was stunned, crying even more pitifully and loudly.
Fu Cong found Lady Su kneeling on the outskirts through the crowd. “Old Second… after I die, give half of my private wealth in the treasury to Lady Su… Treat her and the children well…”
Lady Su covered her face and cried heartrendingly, while Fu Cong gestured for Madam Cui to come closer, smiling and saying, “I’m leaving now, take your time, don’t rush, when you come to the underworld in the future, you can tell me about the children and grandchildren. Don’t be clueless.”
At the end of the winter of the third year of Jianxing, Fu Cong passed away.
