After sending off the emperor, Consort Shu finally relaxed, her tension ebbing away as she sat down on the warm couch, her back and palms slick with cold sweat.
She didn’t believe for a second that the emperor’s words were casual; someone must have been whispering in his ear.
Recalling his suggestion to pick secondary consorts for her son, she scoffed.
Someone must feel threatened by Duan Mingxi’s capabilities and had started plotting to sow discord between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Not a chance!
In her eyes, the stronger and more capable Duan Mingxi was, the better. Her son was a man of low ambition in the emperor’s eyes—he needed a strong and talented wife to balance things out.
The Dragon Boat Festival incident alone had proved Duan Mingxi’s worth; she’d handled things with poise and boldness well beyond her years.
A Wangfei, no matter how skilled, was still a woman—not a threat to the crown prince’s position.
However, if the Wangye becomes too powerful, that won’t do either. The Emperor currently holds the Crown Prince in high regard, and any action by his other sons that poses a threat to the Crown Prince would surely earn the Emperor’s disapproval.
The more Consort Shu thought about it, the more pleased she became. Just look at the daughter-in-law she had chosen—one snatched away from both the Empress and the Crown Prince. The more she looked at her, the more satisfied she felt. Her son truly had excellent taste.
That said, this incident served as a wake-up call for Consort Shu. Today, she relied on her deep devotion to the Emperor to refuse selecting concubines for her son. But next time, this excuse might not work as well.
She herself had never experienced even a shred of happiness in her life. Stepping into the treacherous mire of the imperial harem, she could only hope that her son might find the happiness she never had.
***
Duan Mingxi received an invitation from Xiao Muchen. Considering the current state of affairs in the capital, she decided to meet with him.
The meeting was set at a small tavern by Longhu. With its lakeside location and excellent views, the establishment had a modest storefront that sold wine to go. The second floor was never open to the public.
Duan Mingxi sat on the second floor, with Xiao Muchen seated across from her.
“Yesterday, Royal Father summoned us brothers and asked about the dragon boat races in the capital,” Xiao Muchen said.
Duan Mingxi looked at him in surprise. His deep, unfathomable black eyes seemed to hold a storm brewing within them. A single glance felt as if it might pull her in entirely.
“The Emperor already knows about it so soon? I thought it might take a few more days.” Duan Mingxi had anticipated the matter would eventually reach the palace, but she hadn’t expected someone to be so impatient. “What did His Majesty say?”
Xiao Muchen had thought that Duan Mingxi was fearless, but seeing the worry on her face, a trace of amusement flickered in his deep-set eyes.
“Someone advised Royal Father that Royal Mother does not favor you.”
“Huh?” Duan Mingxi looked at Duan Wang with suspicion. Why bring this up? The two matters are completely unrelated.
“Royal Father suggested that Royal Mother should select two women she likes to serve as my side consorts.”
Duan Mingxi’s face froze, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
If this were arranged by the Consort Shu herself, it would be a considerable complication.
However, the fact that Duan Wang could sit here calmly discussing this with her meant that Consort Shu had likely refused the suggestion.
Thinking it over, she felt her tense thoughts relax slightly. Her mind working quickly, she looked at Duan Wang and said, “Is His Majesty testing Niang Niang?”
Xiao Muchen was surprised by Mingxi’s quick deduction. He had wanted to tease her a bit longer, but now it seemed he had no such chance.
“Indeed,” Duan Wang nodded.
“What is the Emperor trying to test? To see if your love for me is unwavering?”
Xiao Muchen caught the heavy sarcasm in her words as she spoke the last four characters, but her expression was entirely sincere.
This left him in an odd predicament, unable to either laugh or scold.
How could someone use the most earnest expression to say the most provoking things?
“What do you think?” he countered, deciding not to indulge her with a direct answer just yet, savoring the opportunity to put her in a tight spot.
Duan Mingxi gave him a skeptical look, sensing something a bit malicious in his gaze.
Lowering her head slightly, her long lashes veiled her black eyes as her fingers traced the rim of her tea cup. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow over her figure. Her dark hair gleamed like fine silk, accentuating her exquisite features.
Xiao Muchen averted his gaze slightly, letting his eyes rest on the shimmering lake surface outside the window. The sparkling water under the sun was almost too brilliant to behold.
It seemed both long and fleeting—an elusive moment.
“I’m not thinking anything,” Duan Mingxi finally spoke, breaking the atmosphere. “Whatever Wangye says it is, that’s what it is.”
Xiao Muchen felt inexplicably stifled, his expression going through a range of reactions.
In this exchange, neither truly won or lost, leaving both slightly dissatisfied.
Nevertheless, when Mingxi reflected on what Consort Shu had done—whether for her son’s sake or for other reasons—it was ultimately to Mingxi’s benefit, and she silently noted this debt of gratitude.
It was an unexpected gesture. Mingxi had never imagined someone like Consort Shu, who had spent half a lifetime in the palace, would go out of her way to shield her. Her feelings were complex.
After all, in her previous life, she had been the daughter-in-law of the Gao family, with Gao Zhan as the Crown Prince’s right-hand man. Naturally, she was tied to the Crown Prince’s faction.
She remembered every palace visit, how Consort Shu would lift her chin slightly, her eyes full of disdain. At social gatherings, Consort Shu would occasionally target her with sharp remarks, embarrassing the Gao family Madam.
The fact that she had grown up in a merchant family was a convenient weapon others used to attack the Gao family.
Yet in this life, things had turned. She was now on Consort Shu’s side, and the consort was actually defending her.
Compared to how the Gao Madam had treated her in her previous life—seeing her as nothing but a disgrace to the family and seizing every chance to put her down—the contrast was stark.
Some things shouldn’t be dwelled upon. Some people shouldn’t be compared.
But when the comparison was made, the difference was striking.
With this in mind, Duan Mingxi found herself viewing Duan Wang in a slightly better light.
At the same time, Xiao Muchen was shaking off the slight discomfort he felt earlier. Why was he bothering to squabble with a young woman?
After mentally talking himself down, he refocused the conversation on the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival race.
This time, both approached the discussion with more sincerity, making the conversation much smoother.
At one point, they both paused and exchanged a glance.
It was an odd feeling.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Duan Mingxi quickly broke the moment. “… That’s the gist of it. The weaving bureau is the key. However, to avoid drawing attention, Wangye best not place any bets there.”
Xiao Muchen: Why does this feel like I’m being dismissed?
“Alright,” he agreed, nodding. “Are you planning to establish yourself through the weaving bureau?”
Talking to someone smart saved a lot of effort. Mingxi nodded. “Given Wangye’s current status, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to interact with officials too much. But I’m different. My foster father is a merchant.”
“Having once been cheated by people from the weaving bureau, it’s perfectly natural for him to have dealings with them now. This Dragon Boat Festival, Xu Donglin is bound to make a fortune—openly and legitimately. Later, if my father builds connections with other departments among the eighteen bureaus, Xu Donglin will likely lend a hand. Helping others while gaining a good reputation for himself—isn’t that the best outcome?”
Xiao Muchen studied Duan Mingxi intently. So, she had been planning this for a long time?
And this was when she had just entered the capital.
Tsk. The Wangfey he had chosen for himself thought ten steps ahead with every move. She was simply too clever.
