At Dingyuan Marquis’s residence, Madam Jiang’s face was grim. She didn’t want to attend the Gao family’s wedding banquet, but the Old Madam insisted and even asked her to bring Huirou along.
Duan Huirou, seated beside her, also looked displeased. The mother and daughter were dressed in festive new outfits.
“Can I not go?” Huirou whispered.
Madam Jiang shook her head stiffly.
Huirou fell silent.
As the time approached, the mother and daughter boarded the carriage and headed to the Gao residence.
Mingxi, on the other hand, didn’t care whether they attended the banquet. That morning, Second Master Duan had already left for the estate, engrossed in managing its affairs.
When Li Quan entered the inner courtyard, the sun was high in the sky. He saw the Eldest Miss sitting under the veranda, dressed plainly, sipping tea.
He stepped lightly and approached. “Eldest Miss.”
Mingxi set down her teacup and looked at Li Quan. “How did it go?”
“The message has been delivered, but Duke Wei’s household shows no reaction. Today, their shizi even went to the wedding banquet,” Li Quan replied.
Mingxi narrowed her eyes slightly. “What about Duke Wei himself?”
“He hasn’t left home since returning from court,” Li Quan said.
Duke Wei attended court every morning.
Duan Mingxi pondered. Could she have guessed wrong?
It seemed unlikely. Duke Zhen was no fool. Marrying Bai Zhiwei to Xu Heng must have had its reasons.
The key was uncovering what Fengcheng Marquis had written to Kang Wang. With her current status, there was no way to find out.
She could only rely on Xiao Muchen.
***
In the palace, Consort Shu deliberately visited Qian Jieyu, who appeared terrified.
When Li Zhaoyi learned of Consort Shu’s visit, she hurried over.
“Greetings to Consort Shu. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner,” Li Zhaoyi said, bowing. Her jade-colored flowing gown shimmered with silver light as she moved.
Consort Shu spoke with a calm demeanor. “No need to be so formal, Li Zhaoyi. Please rise.”
“Thank you, Niang Niang,” Li Zhaoyi replied, standing up. Her gaze briefly flickered over to the silent and downcast Qian Jieyu, and a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.
Seated at the head of the room, Consort Shu regarded Qian Jieyu and said lightly, “Do you have any free time lately?”
Qian Jieyu dared not decline and quickly nodded. “What can I do for you, Niang Niang?”
Consort Shu extended her hand, her fingers adorned with recently crafted golden nail guards inlaid with gemstones that gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. She said nonchalantly, “Last year, I received a small embroidered screen from you for my birthday, and I found it quite to my liking. I have a small task for you.”
Qian Jieyu nodded eagerly, her deference absolute.
Li Zhaoyi’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she interjected with a sly smile, “Surely, Niang Niang, there are skilled embroiderers in the palace who could assist?”
Consort Shu cast a sharp glance at Li Zhaoyi. “And who are you to question me?”
Li Zhaoyi’s smile froze in place. “I meant no offense, Niang Niang. I was merely curious.”
“Curiosity is a dangerous thing in the palace, Li Zhaoyi,” Consort Shu said coldly before rising to her feet. “I’ll have someone deliver the materials later. If you lack anything, speak directly to Chen Fu.”
Chen Fu was Consort Shu’s trusted grand steward.
Qian Jieyu dared not meet Li Zhaoyi’s gaze. She kept her head low, murmuring a barely audible acknowledgment.
With a flick of her sleeves, Consort Shu departed. Li Zhaoyi, feeling slighted, turned to Qian Jieyu and sneered, “So, you’ve managed to catch Consort Shu’s favor.”
“Your Ladyship, I wouldn’t dare,” Qian Jieyu said, her face pale. “I had no idea Her Highness would ask me to do something.”
“You’d better not have planned this,” Li Zhaoyi snapped, her disdainful look lingering a moment longer before she stormed off.
Once Li Zhaoyi had left, Cao Momo hurried to support Qian Jieyu. “Your Ladyship, please rise.”
Qian Jieyu, with Cao Momo’s help, sat down on the warm couch, her pale face now tinged with worry rather than the earlier timidity.
Pingxiang entered the room, lifting the curtain, and said softly, “Li Zhaoyi has returned to the main hall, and Xinmei has been taken out of the palace for burial.”
Tears welled up in Qian Jieyu’s eyes. “It’s my fault she’s gone.”
Pingxiang’s eyes burned with anger. “It wasn’t your fault, my lady. Xinmei would never blame you.”
“It was my failure—I couldn’t protect you all,” Qian Jieyu whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Cao Momo interjected, “If there’s anyone to blame, it’s those who did this. Without master, Xinmei wouldn’t have lasted as long as she did.”
Pingxiang didn’t want to see her mistress so upset, so she gently changed the subject, saying, “What does Consort Shu mean by this? Could it be that she’s trying to set you up against the Empress?”
She couldn’t help but think this way. Their mistress had just experienced trouble, and now Consort Shu had come knocking. How could she not be worried?
And earlier, the wary, almost hostile look in Li Zhaoyi’s eyes had been clear as day.
They couldn’t afford to offend either the Empress or Consort Shu.
Cao Momo murmured, “Even if that’s the case, there’s no way for us to avoid it.”
Qian Jieyu pressed her lips together before speaking after a pause, “It’s only a matter of Consort Shu embroidering something; it shouldn’t be an issue.” She then turned her gaze outside the palace. “I wonder how Wangye is doing now.”
Cao Momo and Pingxiang both fell silent. They couldn’t gather any information about what was happening outside the palace.
They knew Wangye had been punished and made to kneel, but they had no idea about his current situation.
“This servant saw Yu Wangfei entering the palace today to pay respects to Consort Xian,” Pingxiang said, trying to lighten the mood and cheer her mistress up. “Once Wangye gets married, you’ll have someone to keep you informed about outside matters.”
The words sounded optimistic, but who could say if it would really be that simple?
If the Empress decided to interfere, it might be that even after Wangye married, Qian Jieyu still wouldn’t get to meet Kang Wangfei.
Qian Jieyu suddenly asked, “Why did Yu Wangfei enter the palace today to pay respects to Consort Xian?”
Both Cao Momo and Pingxiang were taken aback and exchanged glances.
“This servant doesn’t know either,” Pingxiang replied, shaking her head. “Should I quietly try to find out?”
“No, don’t,” Qian Jieyu quickly said.
Pingxiang knew her mistress was worried about her safety. With Xinmei having just lost her life, she was also feeling uneasy.
Changning Palace.
Consort Xian reclined against a soft cushion, looking at her daughter-in-law casually. “Why have you come to the palace today?”
Yu Wangfei smiled and said, “I know Royal Mother likes the scent of plum blossoms. I recently got some plum blossom pastries and thought you might enjoy them.”
Consort Xian nodded indifferently. The palace lacked nothing, including the scent of plum blossoms, but she appreciated her daughter-in-law’s thoughtfulness. “Give them to Huaying to put away.”
Yu Wangfei handed the pastries to Huaying and then said nonchalantly, “The capital is lively today. Duke Gao’s household is hosting a wedding and even invited Wangye to their banquet.”
Consort Xian frowned. “He went?”
That Gao Zhan from Duke Gao’s household had been currying favor with the Crown Prince recently and was enjoying the limelight.