Yu Wangfei thought of something her younger sister had told her. A flash of coldness flickered in her eyes, though her expression remained warm and gentle.
“This daughter-in-law has never dared to question Wangye’s actions. However…”
“However what?” Consort Xian asked, frowning at her daughter-in-law’s hesitant demeanor.
Yu Wangfei sighed softly. “The bride Gao Zhan is marrying is the Crown Princess’s older sister. The two sisters have caused quite a stir in their household recently. I also heard something else: Young Master Gao seized an estate belonging to Duan Mingxi.”
Consort Xian knew a bit about the Bai sisters, but she hadn’t heard about Gao Zhan taking an estate from Duan Mingxi. “Why would Gao Zhan seize Duan Mingxi’s estate? Did he take it?”
“I only heard a bit of gossip,” Yu Wangfei said with feigned uncertainty. “Apparently, Miss Duan had her eye on an estate, but Young Master Gao stepped in and bought it from the seller before she could.”
Consort Xian chuckled lightly. “What’s the big deal? If the sale wasn’t finalized, anyone could step in. But what kind of estate could possibly compel Gao Zhan to seize it?”
“I heard it’s a hot spring estate,” Yu Wangfei replied. While her tone was deferential, inwardly, she couldn’t help but mock the Consort’s attitude. Snatching others’ property was brushed off as trivial—no wonder Yu Wang’s stance on her family was inconsistent, given that he had inherited his mother’s disposition.
Upon hearing that it was a hot spring estate, the Consort raised her eyebrows in mild surprise but quickly dismissed it. “I thought it might be something important—just a hot spring estate. Did these two have prior grievances?”
Yu Wangfei nodded slightly. “It seems so.”
Consort Xian recalled the scandals that had once erupted involving the Gao Duke’s household, the Dingyuan Marquisate, and Duke Zhen’s family. She smirked coldly. “Duan Mingxi must have offended someone, and Gao Zhan is simply exacting his version of justice.”
Yu Wangfei’s eyes darkened slightly, but her expression remained humble. “Royal Mother is absolutely right.”
After leaving the palace, Yu Wangfei couldn’t fathom why Duan Mingxi had prompted her to visit the Consort. Nevertheless, trusting her little sister’s close friendship with Duan Mingxi and her claim that aiding the Duan family would benefit them, she decided to comply this time.
Sitting in her carriage on the way back to the Yu Residence, she couldn’t shake her worry. The matter of the shizi title remained an unresolved knot in her heart.
Until the title rested on her little brother’s shoulders, she would not find peace.
Upon arriving at the residence, her attendant, Sheng He, immediately approached her with urgency. “Wangfei, there’s been an incident.”
“What happened?” Yu Wangfei froze mid-step.
“The Gao household held their wedding today, but the rear courtyard kitchen caught fire.”
“A fire?” Yu Wangfei’s voice rose slightly. “How severe was it? Is Wangye unharmed?”
“There were no injuries, but the fire delayed the ceremony, leaving the entire Gao household in disarray. Even the banquet was a mess.”
Yu Wangfei’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Sheng He. “Is that so?”
Sheng He nodded. Lowering her voice, she added, “Rumors are swirling. Some say it was Bai Shixi retaliating against her older sister, others say Gao Zhan offended someone and faced retribution, and still others claim it was simply the kitchen staff’s negligence. It’s chaos.”
“Did Jin Wangfei attend?”
“She did,” Sheng He confirmed.
Yu Wangfei felt unsteady as she entered her chambers. Duan Mingxi had urged her to visit the Consort today, conveniently steering her away from the Gao household.
Was it merely coincidence?
Suppressing her swirling thoughts, she turned to Sheng He. “Send a message to Second Young Miss. Tell her to visit me tomorrow.”
She needed to question Qingying.
***
Xiao Muchen examined the thin sheet of paper in his hand, which had been retrieved from Gao Zhan’s study.
The fire had been nothing more than a smokescreen.
“Wangye, Gao Zhan’s study was heavily guarded. If not for the fire distracting his men, it would’ve been nearly impossible to acquire this.”
“Deliver this to Kang Wang,” Xiao Muchen instructed.
Qi He was stunned. “Wangye, Kang Wang is a timid man. Even if he receives this, he may not act on it.”
“Let’s see if he wants to save Fengcheng Marquis,” Xiao Muchen said flatly.
The opportunity was there. If Kang Wang couldn’t seize it, he would have no more chances in the future.
“Understood,” Qi He replied, recognizing the gravity in Xiao Muchen’s tone. He quickly took the paper and left.
After Qi He departed, Miao Sheng stepped forward. “Wangye, Miss Duan has invited you for tea at Yuxian Tower.”
Xiao Muchen nodded and left without hesitation.
***
At Yuxian Tower, Xiao Muchen sat opposite Duan Mingxi as she prepared tea with practiced elegance. Her serene demeanor seemed unaffected by the chaos outside.
The tea was golden, with a mellow aftertaste.
After taking a sip, Xiao Muchen placed the cup down. “Tribute tea?”
“Just the surplus not sent to the palace,” Duan Mingxi replied calmly.
Who would dare touch the actual tribute tea?
Xiao Muchen raised an eyebrow. The surplus of tribute tea was scarce, coveted by many noble families in the capital. He had noticed before how Duan Mingxi’s lifestyle was exceptionally refined, reflecting the Duan family’s meticulous care in raising her.
“The fire at the Gao household—was it your doing?” Duan Mingxi asked with a faint smile, her expression as tranquil as ever.
Sunlight streamed through the window, enveloping them in a golden glow, lending their features a dreamlike quality.
“Yes.”
Hearing Xiao Muchen’s succinct admission, Duan Mingxi smiled slightly.
Xiao Muchen was momentarily taken aback. It was rare to see her smile so genuinely, her features animated and seemingly brimming with vitality.
“Did you uncover anything?”
Xiao Muchen’s gaze deepened. “How did you know about Fengcheng Marquis’s affair?”
Duan Mingxi responded without hesitation. “I deduced it from the incidents involving Qian Jieyu and Kang Wang.”
Xiao Muchen: ….
“Explain.”
Duan Mingxi cast him a sidelong glance before elaborating. “Wangye already knows the answer. Why make me waste my breath?”
Denied.
Xiao Muchen realized he couldn’t summon any irritation toward her. If anyone else dared to speak to him this way, they wouldn’t keep their head.
“I simply didn’t expect you to connect the dots so quickly.”
“Recently, the shizi title in the Jingyuan Marquisate has been a contentious issue,” Duan Mingxi said casually.
Understanding dawned on Xiao Muchen.
Mingxi and Chu Qingying were friends, and Chu Qingying must have confided family matters to her. It just so happened that her brother-in-law, Yu Wang, had been associating closely with the Jin Wang recently.
Yet even with this information, how had Duan Mingxi linked Jin Wang and Yu Wang to a conspiracy?
Noticing his lingering doubt, Duan Mingxi added, “Before Qian Jieyu’s incident, someone saw Jin Wang and Yu Wang meeting privately at that hot spring estate outside the city.”
That explained everything.
Xiao Muchen regarded Duan Mingxi with newfound respect. He had always known she was intelligent, but her ability to piece together fragments and act decisively to disrupt a scheme was extraordinary.
Even his closest advisors sometimes hesitated to act so decisively.
“I’ve had the item we took from Gao Zhan sent to Kang Wang.”
Duan Mingxi was momentarily stunned, looking up at Xiao Muchen.
This man was ruthless—throwing Kang Wang into the fire to roast.
