Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C116

In a mere instant, the three of them were drenched in a cold sweat.

Even after it was clear that the person inside had changed, and the normal Emperor had returned, the three did not relax.

Fusheng took a breath and stepped forward, saying, "The cause was Consort Hui..."

In truth, it was all about the struggles within the harem, but no one expected it to involve Emperor Qianwu himself this time.

The most audacious of all was the Empress.

Only a handful of people knew that Emperor Qianwu was ill, and the Empress was one of them. The reason he kept her was because 'Princess Consort Wei' could not die again. It was also because the Empress was clever, never hindering Emperor Qianwu. On the contrary, in her capacity as Princess Consort Wei, she did many things beneficial to the Prince Wei's mansion.

Therefore, Emperor Qianwu kept her around. He never expected that she would be so audacious as to try to use his illness to eliminate her own major worries.

Emperor Qianwu was so intelligent; if Fusheng could understand it, there was no way he couldn't. Therefore, even though Fusheng was simply stating the facts without adding any of his own subjective opinions, he made the Emperor understand the Empress's scheme.

After listening, he said nothing, and Fusheng didn't say much either.

Perhaps in the past, he would have dared to say something witty in front of His Majesty, but as His Majesty's illness worsened, although His Majesty tried his best to suppress it, the other personality had gradually influenced His Majesty, causing His Majesty's temperament to change drastically, becoming unpredictable. He really didn't dare to say anything more now.

Emperor Qianwu then looked at Song You.

Song You smiled wryly, "Your Majesty, this subject has recently been researching a medicine, but whether this medicine will be effective is truly unknown..."

Emperor Qianwu raised his hand, and Song You quickly shut his mouth and stepped back.

Fulai reported on two government affairs that had only been submitted that afternoon and also mentioned the Privy Council's proposed solutions.

Since Emperor Qianwu ascended the throne, he knew that his illness made it impossible for him to handle everything personally. In order not to affect the operation of the court, he established the Inner Cabinet on the basis of abolishing the Central Secretariat and the Chancellor system.

The Inner Cabinet only had the power to deliberate, not the power to make decisions or administer. The administrative power was distributed to the Six Ministries and Three Offices, while the power to make decisions was held by Emperor Qianwu. After reading the memorials submitted from various places, the Inner Cabinet ministers had to write their proposed solutions on a small piece of paper and attach it to the memorial, which was then submitted to Emperor Qianwu for approval, called "endorsing in red."

The reason why Fulai gained the reputation of a powerful eunuch in just one short year was because he had been in charge of the power of "endorsing in red" for more than a year.

In fact, how the memorials were approved was still up to Emperor Qianwu. He approved most of the memorials himself, and for a small portion, Fulai would report them, and Emperor Qianwu would say how to handle them, and he would endorse them in red on his behalf.

After finishing the government affairs, Fulai left.

In just a short while, Emperor Qianwu was driven to a splitting headache by the incessant nagging of 'Where is she?' in his mind.

He had grown accustomed to this pain, yet a sense of sorrow arose within him at the same time.

The one who used to bicker and argue with him had, as the illness gradually worsened, slowly devolved into an unconscious will. 'He' had not spoken for a long time, yet today, he had said so much.

Wasn't it just a person he wanted?

He was the Emperor, possessing all under Heaven; what person could he not have?

"Go and bring that person into the Palace."

Fusheng was taken aback.

Emperor Qianwu, his face taut, said: "It is what 'he' wants. If 'he' wants it, then give it to him."

Upon hearing these words, Fusheng nearly burst into tears.

His Majesty actually knew that he wanted someone?

He naturally understood the meaning within these words, and so his hands trembled slightly, with excitement. He hastily said, "This old servant, this old servant will go and take care of it at once."

***

After returning, Mei Wushuang lost all her strength.

She lay in bed for most of the day, skipping not only lunch but also dinner.

Meifang brought dinner, wanting to persuade her to eat a little, but she was clumsy with words.

She had always stuttered, and spending her days with Wushuang in this small courtyard, where Wushuang was also a woman of few words, resulted in her often not speaking more than a few words for days. Some in the mansion even thought that the Second Madam's maid was mute.

Seeing Meifang trying to persuade her, yet anxiously not knowing how to speak, Wushuang rose from the bed.

There were still people in this world who cared about her, and even if it was just to keep Meifang from worrying, she should eat something. She wiped the tears from her face, deciding that this would be the last time she would cry over this matter. There was no hurdle in this world that could not be overcome. Her fate had been fraught with hardship, but had she not made it through to this day?

And so, she even specially revealed a smile, and asked Meifang if she had eaten. If she had not, then she would eat with her.

The mistress and servant ate some food, by which time it was already dark.

Having finished eating, with nothing to do, Wushuang planned to continue sleeping, while Meifang cleared away the dishes.

In truth, logically speaking, this kind of work should have been done by the little maids. It was just a pity that everyone in the mansion knew that the Second Madam was out of favor. Therefore, the maids and old women below would always judge people by their status. They were rarely seen, and even if they occasionally showed their faces, they would make excuses and refuse to do any work. Over time, Meifang stopped asking for help, and she did everything around Wushuang herself.

Wushuang had just gotten into bed when Meifang returned, with Granny Huang following behind her.

Today, they had already torn away all pretenses of cordiality. Wushuang still harbored resentment in her heart, so she did not get out of bed, but leaned against the headboard, watching Granny Huang.

"Is there something?"

Granny Huang's expression was somewhat strange. Not only was she not angry at Wushuang's lack of etiquette, but her eyes even contained a hint of apprehension.

"Someone from the palace has arrived, summoning you to the palace."

Wushuang's face instantly paled.

The room was frighteningly silent. Meifang anxiously went to check on Wushuang.

Wushuang clenched her hands tightly, biting her teeth as she said, "Then what is Granny here for? Are you planning to send me to the palace? Did Granny come on your own, or are you representing the Madam?"

Granny Huang's expression was a little unsightly.

"Second Madam, what are you saying? This old servant is just here to deliver a message." She forced a smile.

Wushuang glanced at her, barely suppressing the urge to vomit.

"I understand. You may leave."

Granny Huang nodded in satisfaction, and was just about to leave when she realized that Wushuang had no intention of getting out of bed.

"Second Madam, are you not going? That is a decree from the Emperor!"

"That is why I am asking Granny, did Granny come on your own, or are you representing the Madam?"

Granny Huang was now enraged.

"Why must Second Madam be so insistent on this? Is there a difference between this old servant coming on my own and representing the Madam?"

"Of course, there is a difference."

What difference?

Wushuang understood, and Granny Huang understood as well.

Granny Huang was Chen shi's confidante, and to a large extent, she could represent Chen shi, the Madam of Duke Zhao's Mansion, but in the end, she was not Chen shi herself, merely a servant.

Why didn't Chen shi come herself, and instead sent Granny Huang?

Wasn't it just to maintain a semblance of decency? Everyone knew that the Second Madam was timid by nature, as fearful as a mouse. If Wushuang entered the palace without question, then Wushuang would be shameless and debased, eager to curry favor with the wealthy. Chen shi would naturally have her excuses in the future.

But if Chen shi sent Wushuang into the palace, the meaning would be different. It would mean that the enormous Duke Zhao's Mansion couldn't even protect its own daughter-in-law, and now they were presumptuously sending their daughter-in-law away to ensure their own peace.

Seeing Granny Huang speechless, Wushuang smiled wanly and said, "Actually, Granny doesn't need to worry about Wushuang. No matter how useless Wushuang is, she is still the Zhao family's daughter-in-law, the Second Madam of Duke Zhao's Mansion. Even if the one in the palace is depraved and tyrannical, he cannot bypass the Duke's Mansion and forcibly summon me into the palace."

"Trouble Granny to bring a message to Madam, tell her not to worry that Wushuang will do anything to disgrace the family. Wushuang will now seek a white silk ribbon to end this life, and will absolutely not allow my husband or the Zhao family's reputation to be tarnished."

Meifang was a silly girl; how could she understand the meaning behind Wushuang's words? Hearing that her Miss was going to end her own life, she hurriedly hugged her and shook her head vigorously.

This performance also frightened Granny Huang.

Of course, she could see that Wushuang didn't really want to end her own life, but rather wanted to force the Mansion to give a clear answer, something she couldn't decide. She instructed the people she brought to keep a close watch on the Second Madam and left in a hurry, clearly going to find Chen shi.

***

Chen shi, upon hearing that Wushuang was being so coercive, felt dizzy and ached in her chest.

"What does she want to do? She wants the lives of our entire family! The people from the palace are waiting outside the door, and now she's telling me she's going to hang herself to show her chastity. What exactly does she want to do?"

The others in the hall also hadn't expected Wushuang to react this way.

Eldest Son Zhao Jianqi said, "She is quite virtuous and unyielding."

Upon hearing these words, Chen shi became even angrier, pointing at her husband and son with a trembling finger.

"Do you want to anger me to death!" Saying this, Chen shi burst into tears, "Who am I doing this for? Am I doing it for myself? When nothing happens, everything is wonderful, but once something happens, it's all my fault. Who am I doing this for..."

Zhao Rui frowned, but didn't say anything.

Zhao Jianqi wanted to say something, but ultimately held back.

He hadn't known about this matter at all at first. It was only today, after his mother returned from the palace, that he learned that his father and mother had actually done such an absurd thing.

To cooperate with Consort Changhui was akin to seeking skin from a tiger, and they even used their own daughter-in-law as a raft. Yes, the Second Young Master's wife was disliked, loathed by the entire family, but she still bore the title of the Second Young Master's wife. Once something went wrong, they would be in this current predicament, caught between a rock and a hard place.

'"What's with all the crying? The most urgent thing is to come up with a plan. The palace people are still waiting outside! This time, it's not just anyone, but Chamberlain Fu's apprentice. You all know the stakes!" Zhao Rui said suddenly.'

Chen shi immediately dared not cry anymore.

But what plan could they devise? The palace had suddenly sent someone to summon a person into the palace. Amidst their shock, they dared to be angry but remained silent, able only to seek a solution as a family. They had already calculated everything. Since the palace had sent someone in person, they would simply swallow this bitter pill. They certainly wouldn't dare to anger that person, lest they give him an excuse to settle accounts.

To show her importance, she even sent Granny Huang, but what did that lowly thing report back? She was actually putting on airs!

What did she want to do?

In truth, Chen shi understood in her heart that the lowly thing wanted her to lower her head, preferably beg her. But she was her mother-in-law. Couldn't she leave her, her mother-in-law, some face?

"And you as well. Since you knew the situation was not right, why did you have to lecture her after returning? Now, it's all for naught. Who knows how she caught that person's eye? Now that she's being summoned into the palace, she's the one giving you trouble," Zhao Rui added.

Chen shi nearly couldn't catch her breath!

"You know the stakes involved. Do as you see fit. I've said it before, at worst, our whole family will just bow our heads and die. It's not a big deal."

Zhao Rui sighed and left.

Seen from behind, in just a few short years, his figure had become hunched, and his hair had turned gray. One must know that Zhao Rui was not even fifty years old this year.

Chen shi, with red eyes, stood up: "I'll go. Isn't she just wanting me to go?!" Having said that, she didn't delay and, supported by Granny Huang, left.

Zhao Jianqi and his wife, Meng shi, also walked back.

Halfway there, Meng shi suddenly said, "Shouldn't we tell the Second Brother about this? That... that is, after all, his wife."

Zhao Jianqi glanced in the direction of Fufeng Yard, sighed, and said, "Things are already chaotic enough. If he finds out, it will only add to the chaos. Anyway, anyway, he doesn't like that Mei shi."

In truth, Mei Wushuang didn't intend to force Chen shi. She simply didn't want the other party to treat her like a fool. She also wanted to provoke the Zhao family, hoping to gain their protection.

Although the chances were slim, she still wanted to try.

What she didn't expect was that Chen shi would come in person, grabbing her and launching into a torrent of weeping, lamenting how difficult things were for the Duke Zhao's Mansion, lamenting the family's circumstances, lamenting how her two sons were...

That sentence was still not explicitly stated to her, but Wushuang already understood.

She rose and allowed Meifang to assist her in washing her face. She didn't change her clothes, only added a cloak over them, and then, supported by Meifang, went outside.

During this, Granny Huang interjected, asking if she wanted to change clothes and dress up a bit, but Wushuang ignored her.

Arriving at the main gate, a luxurious carriage with a canopied roof was waiting for her.

Besides the carriage, there were also a dozen Imperial Guards cavalrymen on horseback.

This dissolute and unprincipled Emperor, his actions were utterly unconcealed, was he not afraid the world would condemn him!?

Just as she was about to get into the carriage, Wushuang couldn't help but shed a tear.

The young Chamberlain leading the group said nothing, but Little Quanzi, who was helping her into the carriage, smiled at her after she entered and said, "Madam, please don't cry. This is a great honor. After this one morning, Madam's status will be different from what it was before."

Little Quanzi was the young Chamberlain who escorted Wushuang out of the palace today, and he had come along this time as well.

Wushuang didn't say it aloud, but in her heart, she thought, what different status? It's still being at the mercy of others.

Little Quanzi seemed to see through her thoughts and said to her with a smile, "Madam, this one is not afraid to say something presumptuous, but that family of yours was never any good. Before, when Madam took the wrong path in the palace, was it truly a mistake? Although this one is deep within the inner court, I also know some things about the capital. Let this one say, your husband is nothing but a useless good-for-nothing, just letting you suffer bullying here? Our Emperor is different, wise and martial, full of vigor and vitality… truly the best man under Heaven…"

Seeing him rack his brains to say good things about that dissolute and unprincipled Emperor, even using several words incorrectly, Wushuang felt a sense of amusement amidst her sorrow. At the same time, seeing that even people in the deep palace knew her situation, a wave of sadness welled up in her heart. Perhaps she truly was a complete joke.

As for Little Douzi, who was sitting on the carriage shaft, he nodded in agreement, feeling that this boy was also a talent. He should blow it up like this, it would be best to make this woman dizzy and willing to go to His Majesty's dragon bed.