The next day, Yuwen Chu and Mingzhu first went to the palace to greet Imperial Consort Min and Empress Dowager Xu, then went to Mingzhu’s family together. It had been a year since Fu Cong passed away, and the Fu Mansion was still in mourning. All the bright and lively items were put away, creating a solemn atmosphere. After Yuwen Chu paid his respects to Fu Cong, he handed Fu Mingzhao’s ashes to Fu Mingda before visiting Madam Cui.
Madam Cui had become increasingly confused. When she saw Yuwen Chu, she mistook him for Fu Mingzhao. “It’s the second son who’s back! Mother heard that the army had returned to the capital, so I asked your wife to prepare your favorite food and drink as much as you want. Don’t let her stop you.”
Madam Cui took Yuwen Chu’s hand, speaking with great seriousness. “You’re not leaving this time, right? Mother has missed you so much. It’s been years since you left, and your daughter got married without you here. Oh, right, your wife was ill. She suffered a lot. I asked the regent to let you stay at home for a few years and not go to war. Your father has passed away, and he was most worried about you. I’m almost…”
Everyone shed tears uncontrollably, but Madam Cui remained oblivious, smiling and saying, “Look, everyone’s crying tears of joy because you’ve come back…”
Yuwen Chu spoke softly. “Yes.”
Madam Cui was satisfied and looked around. “Where’s the regent? Didn’t he come back too? Mingzhu, Mingzhu, where’s His Highness?”
Mingzhu wiped her tears and took Yuwen Chu’s other hand, placing it in Madam Cui’s. “Mother, he’s right here.”
Madam Cui exclaimed, staring at Yuwen Chu for a moment before realizing, “I’m getting forgetful. Your Highness, please don’t be angry…” She hurriedly looked around for Fu Mingzhao. “Where’s second son? I just saw him here. Hurry and ask him to come talk to His Highness and take a break…”
Lady Su couldn’t contain her grief and ran out, followed by Li Shumei, who gestured to everyone to relax, assuring them she would take care of Lady Su. Mingzhu smiled with red eyes. “Second brother hasn’t come back, Mother. The Northern Territory still needs him to guard against the many Xiongnu people. It won’t do without him.”
Madam Cui turned to Yuwen Chu. “Your Highness, it’s up to you now. Let him rest…”
Yuwen Chu lowered his eyes and whispered, “Alright…”
Madam Cui was satisfied. “His Highness’s words must be kept, or else this old woman will be angry with you.”
“Today, Wen Wen is coming home too, it’s almost time. Mother said she has something to tell her?” Lady Qian quickly changed the subject, and Fu Mingda and Fu Mingzheng took the opportunity to lead Yuwen Chu away. “Father has something for Your Highness, please come this way.”
Seeing Fu Mingzhao’s two sons standing aside, Yuwen Chu said, “You come too.”
After returning from the Fu Mansion, Yuwen Chu used the excuse of being too tired to rest and didn’t leave the house or show his face for three whole days, ignoring all inquiries and rumors. Some thought he had ulterior motives and went around asking questions, but he paid no attention, focusing only on spending the New Year with Mingzhu and the children.
On New Year’s Eve, he brought out the gifts he had prepared for Mingzhu as usual, meticulously selected golden pearls. Mingzhu compared them to the ones she received before and found that they were almost the same in size and shape. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Your Highness really knows how to choose. They’re almost identical in size.”
Yuwen Chu leaned on the pillow, chin in hand, watching her with a smile. “That’s because I’m serious about what I do. I kept the dimensions, anything that didn’t meet the standard was rejected, so it’s rare.”
Mingzhu counted them. “You’ve given more this year than in previous years.”
Yuwen Chu said, “That’s because I haven’t spent New Year’s at home for two years, so I’m making up for it.”
Mingzhu picked up the mirror with a smile and gestured, “Enough to make a set of jewelry. I’ll draw some designs another day. Your Highness, would you care to give me some advice?”
Yuwen Chu pulled out a drawing from under his pillow. “I’ve already prepared this for you. Just follow this.”
The drawing on the blueprint depicted a phoenix crown. It was exquisitely shaped, with smooth lines and intricate details. After countless revisions and refinements, it was flawless. Mingzhu looked up at Yuwen Chu, who smiled slightly, then took out a large bead and gestured with it. “Would you like this bead set here?”
Mingzhu nodded seriously. “Of course, I love it. But I have to ask Your Highness, how many phoenix crowns have you prepared in total?”
“Only this one, no more.” Yuwen Chu placed the bead in her hand and held it tightly. “After all that has happened, you should understand my intentions. After the spring, let’s restart the construction of Ruyi Platform.”
His eyes twinkled like stars, and Mingzhu felt like she was back on the night she first met him in the Jade Emperor Temple. She nodded solemnly. “Yes.”
Yuwen Chu extinguished the lamp. “It’s late, let’s sleep.”
In the dark, he gently untied her clothes and tenderly discussed with her, “Whatever the medicine is, it’s still medicine. Overusing it can harm your body. Why not stop?”
Mingzhu chuckled, knowingly asking, “What medicine? My health has always been excellent, and I hardly ever take medicine.” Before she could finish her sentence, Yuwen Chu pinched her waist, making her squirm with ticklishness. She let out a soft cry. “I haven’t taken any medicine.” Since Yuwen Chu left, she hadn’t taken the contraceptives prescribed by Jiang Zhouzi, and now that the political situation had stabilized, Zhuang Zhuang and Millet were old enough, they could have another child.
“Mmm.” Yuwen Chu buried his head in her, murmuring indistinctly. “So obedient.”
In the spring night, the first cherry blossom in front of the palace quietly bloomed. Yuwen Chu whispered, “Next year will be a good year.”
Mingzhu wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiling. “With you here, every year is a good year.”
After the New Year, Yuwen Guang issued an edict, temporarily allocating one million taels of silver to build a mausoleum for the Great Empress Dowager, which was met with opposition from many old ministers. Although this was expected by many, bringing it up again now stirred up many rumors. The most widely circulated rumor was that Yuwen Chu deeply resented the Great Empress Dowager and did not want her to be buried with Emperor Wen, but also did not want to bear the infamy himself, so he forced the young emperor to issue the decree.
Mingzhu was afraid that Yuwen Chu would feel uncomfortable after hearing these rumors, so she specially invited him to drink and chat. Yuwen Chu didn’t care much. “I don’t intend to deal with this matter. If the argument wins, the mausoleum will be built in Luzhou; if not, she’ll be buried with the late emperor, which will save the treasury some money, and I’ll have less criticism.” He looked at Mingzhu. “But if it goes that way, it will disappoint my father-in-law.”
He didn’t intervene in this matter out of consideration for Fu Cong. If asked what should be done about the Great Empress Dowager’s burial, his answer was to do whatever needed to be done. Did he hate the Great Empress Dowager? At least he couldn’t love her. The Great Empress Dowager had repeatedly tried to sow discord between him and Mingzhu, and even set up assassination attempts on him several times. He couldn’t kill her while she was alive, but he couldn’t let her have her way or die peacefully either. If there really was an afterlife, he would prefer her to continue living alone and never see glory again, because that was the life she had always wanted him to live.
