Chapter 75 Entering the Palace (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
Several days passed, and the day of the talent show finally arrived. That morning, Fu Mingzi got up very early and went straight to the backyard.
It had been arranged long ago that he would send his two nieces to the talent show.
There's nothing we can do about it. Now that Fu Zechen has taken the job, he's the only one left in the Fu family who's not really in a position of authority.
When Fu Mingzi arrived at the Wen family's courtyard, Fu Mingzhu had already arrived with Mu Xueqing and Mu Xuexi. Mu Zhenyun was also there, and he was talking to Mu Xuexi with red eyes.
Mu Xuexi gently comforted her younger brother. When she saw Fu Mingzi enter, she hurriedly pulled Mu Zhenyun to bow.
Fu Mingzi waved his hand, disregarding the formalities, but his eyes were fixed on Mu Xueqing.
She looked very calm, with her head slightly lowered, appearing quiet.
Fu Mingzi went to see Fu Yunjia again. She had been staying in the Wen family compound for some time and was present today as well. However, she looked somewhat listless and sat close to the Wen family, not giving anyone else a second glance.
Fu Mingzi knew that ever since the Mu family arrived, Fu Yunjia had been avoiding Mu Xueqing, except for exchanging a few words with Mu Xuexi. Now, at the final moment, she was being so cautious, which meant she was indeed frightened by Mu Xueqing.
The thought flashed through his mind for only a moment before Fu Mingzi smiled and bowed to Madam Wen and Fu Mingzhu, saying, "Sister-in-law, elder sister, I'm late."
Madam Wen gave him a reproachful look: "You dare to be so lazy when it comes to doing serious work? Be careful your older brother finds out and punishes you."
Fu Mingzi chuckled shamelessly, "I know my sister-in-law loves me, so she definitely won't tell my brother."
A smile crept onto Wen's reproachful face as she tapped his forehead.
Fu Mingzhu watched with a smile and said gently, "You're not late, there's plenty of time."
Ms. Wen shook her head: "You all spoil him." It was as if she, the one who pampered Fu Mingzi the most, hadn't done anything at all.
Fu Mingzhu smiled and didn't refute, but looked at Fu Mingzi and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you today."
Fu Mingzi smiled and shook her head: "Why are you being so polite with me, big sister? The talent show is a big deal. I'm glad I can help."
After saying that, she glanced at Mu Zhenyun again: "Are eldest sister and Yun-ge'er going too?"
Fu Mingzhu nodded: "She is, after all, Yun-ge'er's own sister, so it is only right to see her off."
After speaking, Fu Mingzhu glanced at Mu Zhenyun again. At this moment, Mu Zhenyun hurriedly stepped forward and bowed like a little adult: "Thank you for your trouble, Fifth Uncle."
Fu Mingzi smiled and helped the man up: "Yun-ge'er is all grown up now. When he grows up, he will be able to protect his sister and mother on his own."
"I've remembered what you said, Uncle. I will never let my sister and mother suffer again." Mu Zhenyun looked at Fu Mingzi with a determined expression, and the redness in his eyes had faded a little.
Fu Mingzi was stunned. This child, who used to seem childish, now seemed to have a certain composure.
After bidding farewell once more, the group left the Wen family's courtyard. A carriage was already prepared by the second gate, with several women sitting inside, while Fu Mingzi and Mu Zhenyun rode alongside on horseback.
Mu Zhenyun rode a small pony, trotting along in front of Fu Mingzi, and couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, can I ride a big horse?"
Fu Mingzi didn't even turn her head: "With your physique, you should probably give up. If you startle a horse in the middle of the city, that would be a big problem."
Mu Zhenyun could only swallow his complaints and continue following behind Fu Mingzi.
The group arrived at the foot of the imperial city. Seeing that there were more and more carriages for the imperial concubine selection, Fu Mingzi dismounted and led her horse alongside the carriage. Mu Zhenyun followed suit and also dismounted, following behind Fu Mingzi and the flow of carriages towards the palace gate.
The people in front and behind them were all people Fu Mingzi didn't know very well. After looking closely, Fu Mingzi realized they were probably from out of town, so she avoided a lot of small talk.
But before his luck could run out, he heard someone calling out to him from afar: "Brother Fu, you're here too!"
The voice was filled with surprise, but it completely wiped the faint smile off Fu Mingzi's face. He slowly turned around and saw a young master from a prominent family walking towards him from afar. It was Xia Zezhen.
"So it's Young Master Xia." Fu Mingzi smiled perfunctorily.
Xia Zezhen didn't notice Fu Mingzi's coldness at all, and still greeted Fu Mingzi with a smile: "Brother Fu, I remember you don't have any women of marriageable age in your family, why did you come here?"
Fu Mingzi was getting impatient, but she couldn't afford to fall out with Xia Zezhen here, so she could only suppress her anger and say, "She's my niece. Young Master Xia seems to know quite a bit about our family's affairs."
These words were sarcastic, but Xia Zezhen seemed not to notice and continued to smile, saying, "I see. Since she is Brother Fu's niece, she must have a bright future. I also have a younger sister who is of marriageable age. When she enters the palace, we can take care of each other."
Fu Mingzi gave a forced smile: "Young Master Xia, you're too kind."
Seeing that Fu Mingzi was indeed difficult to deal with, Xia Zezhen stopped talking, cursed inwardly, and said goodbye to Fu Mingzi with a smile.
Looking at Xia Zezhen's retreating figure, Mu Zhenyun asked somewhat bewilderedly, "Uncle, don't you like that young master?" Mu Zhenyun, the child, could sense the rejection and indifference in Xia Zezhen's voice.
Fu Mingzi smiled to himself, thinking that if you knew what Xia Zezhen would do in the future, you would probably hate Xia Zezhen even more than he did.
However, he simply said casually, "He is the Sixth Prince's tutor, and we have never gotten along well."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zhenyun pursed his lips, walked to the carriage, and knocked on the carriage: "Sister, did you hear that? When you enter the palace, you must never associate with any woman surnamed Xia."
A soft laugh came from inside the carriage: "Yun-ge'er, what childish behavior are you acting now? Your sister knows what's going on." It was Fu Mingzhu's voice.
As the sound rang out, the curtain of the carriage window was lifted, revealing Fu Mingzhu's beautiful face: "You and the Xia family are at odds, but I've never heard you mention it before." She stared intently at Fu Mingzi.
Fu Mingzi raised an eyebrow: "Does eldest sister have connections with the Xia family?"
Fu Mingzhu slowly shook her head: "When I was still a young lady, I hated the daughters of the Xia family the most. They were all pretentious and really annoying."
Fu Mingzi immediately thought of Xia Zezhen dressed as a woman and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Indeed annoying."
Fu Mingzhu didn't know what he was thinking about again, but she sighed and said, "Even if you hate the Xia family, you don't have to wear your emotions on your face like that. You'll definitely suffer for it in the future."
Fu Mingzi waved her hand dismissively: "Of course I know that."
Fu Mingzhu could tell that he hadn't listened, but she just sighed and didn't say anything more.
As the carriages gradually entered the palace gates, it was finally Fu Mingzi and his group's turn.
The eunuchs guarding the gate knew from their imposing manner that these were people they couldn't afford to offend. When Mu Xueqing and Mu Xuexi handed over their selection tokens, the eunuchs became even more respectful. They only casually checked the bundles they brought in before respectfully saying, "Please come inside for a physical examination, my two young ladies."
Mu Xuexi turned to look at Fu Mingzhu, her eyes almost filled with tears, and slowly bowed: "Mother, your daughter is leaving."
Fu Mingzhu's eyes were also red, and she nodded while holding back her tears: "Go ahead, be careful in everything in the palace."
Mu Xuexi nodded and, without further hesitation, went straight inside.
Throughout the process, Mu Xueqing remained silent, following Mu Xuexi like a ghost as they entered the palace gates together.
Watching them disappear, Fu Mingzi stepped forward and patted Fu Mingzhu on the shoulder: "Big sister, don't be sad, let's go back."
Fu Mingzhu picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her eyes, hummed in agreement, and turned to get into the carriage.
Fu Mingzi knew that she probably wouldn't be able to let go of it anytime soon, so she didn't say anything more and turned to get her horse. Unexpectedly, when she turned around, she saw Mu Zhenyun standing behind her with a pair of eyes looking at her.
Looking at Mu Zhenyun, who was crying like a rabbit, Fu Mingzi was both amused and exasperated. She stepped forward and gave him a hard slap on the head: "You were just saying you wanted to be a man, and now you're crying."
Mu Zhenyun turned his head away sharply, somewhat defiantly saying, "I didn't cry, I just got sand in my eyes."
Fu Mingzi couldn't help but chuckle: "Alright, alright, I wronged you. Quickly wipe your eyes, let's go home."
Mu Zhenyun quickly turned around to take the horse's reins, revealing his bright red ear tips. Fu Mingzi laughed out loud again, quite shamelessly. This kid is quite concerned about his image.
The group hurried back, and as they came out, they bumped into the Xia family entering. Xia Zezhen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to Fu Mingzi, who returned the greeting with a cold face, but was very annoyed. He pulled on the reins and brushed past the Xia family.
When they returned to the Fu family, the old man called Fu Mingzi over and asked her about it. Hearing that nothing had gone wrong that day, he let it go lightly, only saying, "The results of the imperial concubine selection will probably not be available for a few more days. Be vigilant these next few days and keep the affairs of the palace in mind at all times. If anything changes, be sure to inform the family."
Fu Mingzi nodded: "I understand." Then she paused and said: "Father, I have an idea. Would you like to hear it? It's about the Fourth Prince."
Duke Jingguo was taken aback and looked at Fu Mingzi: "What are you trying to say?"
Fu Mingzi smiled and said in a low voice, "I was escorting my two nieces to the palace today when I ran into the Xia family."
Fu Mingzi hesitated, but the Duke of Jingguo understood most of it and couldn't help but frown: "That Xia family's daughter is aiming for the position of the Sixth Prince's principal wife. I'm afraid the Emperor won't..."
Fu Mingzi smiled: "Father, the Xia family and the Fourth Prince have already made connections. If they could marry their daughter to the Fourth Prince, why wouldn't they be willing? It's just that they are afraid that others will see through their plans and that the Emperor actually loves the Fourth Prince the most, so they dare not openly marry their daughter to the Fourth Prince. But if we give it a push, even if the Emperor is wary of the powerful families, he might be willing for the sake of his son's future."
The old Duke fell into deep thought, and after a long while said, "In that case, if the fourth prince really ascends the throne in the future, I'm afraid the aristocratic families will rise from the ashes again."
Fu Mingzi's face was cold: "I will not let this happen. Moreover, I have no intention of letting the Xia family's daughter really become the principal wife. A concubine is just right to be on par with Mu Xueqing. At that time, in order to stabilize her position, Mu Xueqing will probably not care about the Duke of Qian's mansion."
The old Duke's expression hardened, and he looked at Fu Mingzi with some surprise: "What are you going to do?"
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "It's just an idea right now, and the details haven't been finalized yet. You can take a look."
The old Duke's expression was complicated, but he didn't ask any further questions.
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