During the Mid-Autumn Festival in the fifth year of Jianxing, the first major festival after Yuwen Chu’s ascension, Mingzhu felt that a grand celebration was necessary.
She was already pregnant for several months, heavily pregnant and unable to attend to the emperor’s bed, but she still lived and ate with Yuwen Chu every day, firmly occupying the dragon bed. This made the courtiers very unhappy. They occasionally tried to do something, either by submitting memorials urging Yuwen Chu to select beauties to expand the harem, or by finding ways to invite Yuwen Chu to visit somewhere and sending along some beautiful women. Some even dared to scold her as a calamity to the nation and a jealous witch, which was truly unreasonable!
Su Lan hurriedly came in from outside and whispered in her ear, “The Empress Dowager just summoned a niece from your family, only sixteen years old. It is said that she is as beautiful as a flower, gentle and kind, and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting… There will be a luncheon later, and His Majesty and the Empress Dowager will enjoy family happiness together. Will you go, Your Majesty?”
Mingzhu smiled, “Since the Empress Dowager is so enthusiastic, how can I not go? Su Mei, hurry and find out what this Miss Zhu likes. We must entertain her well.”
Su Mei couldn’t understand. “Your Majesty is really kind-hearted. What if she gets used to it and comes back next time?”
Su Lan chuckled, “If the Empress asks you to go, just go. Why so much fuss?”
Su Mei, feeling helpless, had no choice but to go. Mingzhu stood up and personally opened a black lacquered medicine cabinet adorned with golden phoenix patterns inlaid with mother-of-pearl. After careful consideration, she selected a small jade bottle the size of a thumb and shook it lightly. “Go see if Donghui has returned yet.”
Donghui, dressed in the attire of a fifth-rank palace maid, entered with a smile from outside the door. “What orders does the Empress have?”
Seeing Donghui’s radiant face, Su Lan teased, “Madam Ye must have slept well last night, huh? You look positively glowing.”
Donghui had just married Ye Xiu a month ago, still in the honeymoon phase. She only served in the palace during the day and returned home at night. Blushing at Su Lan’s remark, she didn’t respond, but instead pinched Su Lan playfully.
Since Mingzhu took over as the Empress, Su Lan’s temperament had become much more cheerful. She exaggeratedly exclaimed, “Your Highness, she’s bullying me! Being married really changes people; they become so fierce with someone backing them up.”
Donghui retorted, “How can I compare to Su Lan Gugu’s joyful demeanor? Su Lan Gugu, who is in charge before the Empress, who doesn’t address you respectfully as ‘Su Lan Gugu’? Even we have to be careful not to say anything unfavorable about you in front of the Empress.”
“Alright, enough teasing,” Mingzhu handed the jade bottle to Donghui. “Let cousin taste this good stuff, but make sure no one sees it.”
Donghui didn’t bother asking what it was, she just took the bottle and left. Su Lan was very curious, “What game are you playing, Your Highness?”
Mingzhu smiled, “You’ll know later.”
Footsteps were heard outside the door, and Yuwen Chu walked in. He first smiled and looked at Mingzhu’s expression before saying, “You look good. What good news has made you so happy?”
Mingzhu took the tea handed to her by a palace maid and presented it to him, smiling, “I’m happy on behalf of the Empress Dowager.” She didn’t believe he didn’t know. Knowing the Empress Dowager’s temperament, she must have bypassed her and obtained his consent first. Otherwise, if this jealous empress made any moves, wouldn’t it ruin things?
Yuwen Chu remained composed. “What’s the good news?”
Mingzhu sincerely said, “The Empress Dowager has suffered a lot for us before, always keeping a low profile and avoiding trouble for Your Majesty. Now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne and the court is harmonious, the Empress Dowager can finally enjoy time with her family. Today, with distinguished guests arriving, how can I not be happy?”
Yuwen Chu looked at Mingzhu suspiciously, not believing she knew nothing and yet was so happy. But since she said she was happy, he didn’t need to say anything else. So, he was also very happy. “It’s good that you think this way. Now that you’re pregnant, you don’t need to worry about trivial matters. Just focus on taking care of yourself and doing what you love. I’ll handle everything else. If you’re unhappy, just tell me.”
Mingzhu nodded with a smile. “Your Majesty is too busy. I can handle minor matters myself.” Seeing that it was getting late, she grinned and pulled Yuwen Chu, “Let’s go. Don’t keep the Empress Dowager waiting.”
The couple rode in the royal carriage together to the Emerald Palace where the Great Empress Dowager resided. From afar, they heard Funing’s laughter. As they got off the carriage, they saw Funing leading a sweet-looking girl standing by the road, eagerly approaching them, “Sixth Brother and Sixth Sister-in-law, we’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” She pushed the girl forward, “Haven’t met her, right? This is the youngest daughter of Uncle’s family, our cousin Yingying.”
Zhu Yingying wore a light blue jacket, her hair in a ponytail, her skin fair and delicate. Her eyes were bright, and when she smiled, two small dimples appeared, very cute and sweet. However, when Mingzhu glanced at the amiable Yuwen Chu and then at the shy Zhu Yingying, her mood soured.
Funing stepped forward, pulled Mingzhu’s hand from Yuwen Chu’s arm, and warmly held Mingzhu, smiling, “Sister-in-law, I heard that His Majesty has ordered General Shen Ruilin to return to the capital for a debriefing, and then he plans to give him a marriage. Is this true?”
Mingzhu knew about this, but the bride was not Funing, but the granddaughter of the Grand Secretary of the East Pavilion, Zeng Zixi. She believed that Funing must also know about it. So, was this Funing’s way of threatening her? If she didn’t help Funing catch Shen Ruilin, would Funing push forward someone like Zhu Yingying?
Mingzhu smiled and shifted the matter to Yuwen Chu, “I’ve been busy taking care of the pregnancy and setting up the medical department lately. I only heard about this today when you mentioned it. If you want to know, why not ask His Majesty directly?”
Funing smiled wryly, “His Majesty is also very busy, so I can’t ask him about such trivial matters. Speaking of Sister-in-law’s pregnancy, Royal Mother was very worried before. She was afraid that the Chongzheng Hall was too noisy and not conducive to your pregnancy…”
Mingzhu smiled lightly, “Yes, but this matter is not up to me. We all have to listen to His Majesty, don’t we?”
Funing hit a soft nail and felt annoyed. She glanced at Zhu Yingying, “Yingying, weren’t you curious about what the true Dragon Emperor looks like? Why are you suddenly silent now that you’ve seen him in person?”
Zhu Yingying blushed, bowed to Yuwen Chu first, then to Mingzhu, and both Yuwen Chu and Mingzhu were very friendly to her, “It’s rare to enter the palace. Enjoy yourself.”
Yuwen Chu even asked her, “I heard you’re the youngest daughter of your uncle?”
Zhu Yingying was excited and knelt down, “Yes, Your Majesty knows.”
Mingzhu smiled, “His Majesty knows everything.” As she spoke, she cast a flirtatious glance at Yuwen Chu.
Yuwen Chu was made to laugh by her and said to Zhu Yingying, “You can get up and speak, there’s no need for so much courtesy.”
“Yes.” Zhu Yingying was shy and admired Yuwen Chu. She was about to speak when her expression suddenly changed, and her whole body tensed up.
