Perhaps it was Mingxi’s earnest expression, but the old Marquis and his two sons were momentarily stunned. Deqing Marquis was known as a rigid traditionalist, someone who always adhered strictly to propriety. Such a person would hardly do anything that could tarnish his reputation.
Meeting their gazes, Duan Mingxi suddenly realized something—the scandal of Deqing Marquis favoring his concubine over his wife wouldn’t be exposed until Fu Hongxiao tried to steal Fu Jingshu’s marriage.
At this moment, in everyone’s eyes, Deqing Marquis was still regarded as a principled and honorable man.
She paused for a moment, organizing her thoughts, before speaking slowly: “Fu Hongxiao collaborated with the Crown Prince to frame Duan Wang. The token she held is either fake or real. If it’s real, there’s no way it came from the assassins themselves.”
Her words set everyone’s thoughts in motion.
Dingyuan Marquis wasn’t particularly ambitious and had never been adept at understanding such political maneuvers. He had always been content to live as a carefree and law-abiding hedonist.
Hearing this, he looked at his daughter skeptically and asked, “What does she gain by doing this?”
From his perspective, there seemed to be no benefit to such actions.
Second Master Duan glanced at his older brother and, unable to hold back, said, “How could there not be any benefit? She’s trying to enter the Eastern Palace as a liangdi. Gaining the Crown Prince’s favor benefits her greatly.”
Dingyuan Marquis nodded in sudden realization and slapped the table. “How outrageous! How could she do such a thing?”
Everyone else: …
Having long since resigned themselves to the Marquis’s limited understanding, they silently agreed it was best for him to continue being a simple, rule-abiding nobleman.
Third Master Duan turned to Mingxi, his expression serious. “Mingxi, what exactly do you know?”
Duan Mingxi smiled faintly. “Deqing Marquis favors his concubine over his wife and plans to designate a concubine’s son as his shizi.”
What?
The others were stunned. Deqing Marquis? Doing such a thing?
“Mingxi, how do you know this?” Second Master Duan asked.
“All of Deqing Marquis’s Madam’s dowry properties have ended up under the name of Fu Hongxiao’s mother, Madam Xu. Are we to believe Deqing Madam gave them to a concubine willingly?”
“How do you know about such matters?” the old Marquis asked.
“Grandfather, don’t forget—I come from a merchant family.”
Realization dawned on the group.
A cat knows the ways of cats; a mouse knows the ways of mice.
Those in commerce, naturally, had keen insights into such dealings.
“You plan to use this as your leverage?” the old Marquis asked, understanding Mingxi’s intent.
Mingxi nodded slightly. “Fu Hongxiao has always been hostile toward me. During the Dragon Boat Festival, she even acted on behalf of the Crown Prince to target me. If she isn’t dealt with, once she enters the Eastern Palace, she will undoubtedly become a significant threat to me.”
“Wouldn’t she be a threat to the Crown Princess instead?” Dingyuan Marquis asked naively.
Mingxi decided it wasn’t worth responding.
Second Master Duan patiently explained, “Older Brother, don’t forget Mingxi is poised to become Duan Wangfei. The Crown Princess is the face of the Eastern Palace and can’t dirty her hands with underhanded tactics. That’s precisely what makes Fu Hongxiao, as a liangdi, a perfect tool for the Crown Prince.”
She was nothing less than the Crown Prince’s weapon.
Realizing his intellectual shortcomings, Dingyuan Marquis refrained from speaking further, determined to avoid dragging his daughter down with his remarks or actions. If he made a misstep, he was fairly certain his daughter wouldn’t hesitate to have him disciplined by their father.
“But all these years, Deqing Marquis Madam has stayed silent. I doubt she’d speak up now,” Third Master Duan noted.
“Exactly. Since Old Master Zhang passed away, his son is merely a Commander of the Guard. Deqing Marquis Madam has likely remained silent because of her family’s weakened influence.”
Mingxi smiled. “No one supported the Zhang family before, but now they have someone. If the Zhang family gains confidence, do you think they’ll stand up for their daughter?”
If the Zhang family saw an opportunity to rise, they wouldn’t abandon such a lifeline. Once they reached out, everything would become much easier.
“I’ll go see Zhang He,” Third Master Duan declared.
Zhang He was the elder brother of Deqing Marquis Madam.
Mingxi looked at her third uncle. “How will you approach him?”
“How else? By convincing him to stand up for his sister and reclaim the dowry shops taken by Madam Xu.”
“But what benefit does that bring us?”
Third Master Duan stiffened at the question, realizing that indeed there was no direct benefit for their family.
The Old Master glanced at his son and said firmly, “Mingxi must have gathered evidence proving that Madam Xu, as a concubine, has appropriated the legitimate wife’s property. You should urge Zhang He to go to the yamen and beat the drum to file a formal accusation of Deqing Marquis favoring his concubine over his wife!”
Third Master Duan froze for a moment, startled by the ruthlessness of the suggestion.
Dingyuan Marquis shivered in fear.
Second Master Duan clapped his hands in approval. “Exactly! If Madam Xu wants her illegitimate son to become the shizi, Zhang He will certainly fight for his nephew to inherit the title instead. Besides, Deqing Marquis being in Zhang He’s nephew’s hands would surely benefit the Zhang family more. If the Marquis falls, what good end will Madam Xu and her children meet? With a tarnished reputation, how could Fu Hongxiao ever enter the Eastern Palace?”
If Fu Hongxiao couldn’t enter the Eastern Palace, she wouldn’t become the crown prince’s weapon against Mingxi. And since Fu Hongxiao willingly served as the crown prince’s tool, she couldn’t blame them for their ruthlessness.
Third Master Duan’s face darkened. He realized he had been too lenient in his thoughts. Fu Hongxiao had targeted Mingxi multiple times and had gone so far as to orchestrate the assassination attempt, aiming to eliminate Duan Wang entirely.
“Fine, let’s proceed as discussed.”
Third Master Duan agreed decisively before turning to Mingxi. “What do you think?”
Mingxi smiled, her voice soft but resolute. “I’ll follow Grandfather’s lead. Tomorrow, I’ll have the shopkeeper deliver the evidence to Third Uncle.”
Third Master Duan: …
Whatever you say, I’ll just go along with it.
After their discussion, everyone returned to their respective quarters.
Mingxi washed up in her room but couldn’t fall asleep.
Staring at the canopy above her bed, she couldn’t help but think about the tragic fate of Deqing Marquis Madam in her previous life.
Initially, she had merely felt sympathy for the woman, but somehow, their paths had become entwined.
Since that was the case, she decided to help her.
If the woman was wise, she would seize the opportunity to improve her situation.
If she remains stubborn and refuses to see reason, it will depend on how the Zhang family decides to act.
Deqing Marquis Madam had endured for many years, much like she had in her youth at Duke Gao’s manor. Both had something they couldn’t bring themselves to let go of.
At some point, she drifted off to sleep. In her dreams, blinding flames surrounded her, suffocating her with unbearable pain.
She jolted awake to find the sun rising in the east, its light breaking through the darkness.
Her head felt heavy, and she remained lying still.
The faint sounds of maids moving about began to filter through from outside. Mingxi pulled the silk quilt over her head, enveloping herself in darkness, and drifted back to sleep.
By this time, Third Master Duan had already sent an invitation to Zhang He, arranging for them to meet at the Yuxian Tower.
The entire Marquis Residence knew by now that Yuxian Tower was Mingxi’s property. Discussing matters there would naturally be the safest choice.
When Zhang He received Third Master Duan’s invitation, he was puzzled. The two had no prior connection—why would he suddenly want to meet?
After three cups of wine, Zhang He listened to Third Master Duan’s account and was so shocked that he sobered up immediately.
“Is what Third Master said true?” Zhang He’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. His fists clenched tightly as he stared angrily at the other man. “Why are you telling me this? What do you want?”
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