Fu Jingshu nodded slightly, her tone tinged with rare melancholy. “The matters of our household—I didn’t expect Miss Duan to know about them. It’s both surprising and a relief for me.”
Mingxi’s hand, holding her teacup, paused briefly. Relief?
“There’s something Miss Duan probably doesn’t know. The Xu woman comes from a lowly background. Before my mother married my father, the two of them had already…” Fu Jingshu, a proper young lady, found herself unable to utter the indecent words.
Mingxi nodded to indicate her understanding. “You mean to say that before the Marchioness entered the family, they were already involved?”
Fu Jingshu’s face flushed instantly. She nodded hurriedly, her movements slightly disordered. “There’s something I’ve kept hidden for a long time. Not even my mother or brother knows about it, but I think it might help if Miss Duan were to know.”
Mingxi’s interest was piqued. “Miss Fu, please continue.”
A trace of conflict flashed across Fu Jingshu’s face, but she quickly made up her mind. Taking a deep breath, she said, “One time, Father and Xu Yiniang were admiring flowers in the back garden. I happened to be there earlier, picking flowers. When I saw them enter, I didn’t want to meet them, so I hid behind the rockery. That’s when I overheard a secret.”
Perhaps because she was talking about family scandals, Fu Jingshu’s face turned pale, and her eyes reddened slightly.
Mingxi calmly refilled her teacup, waiting patiently without urging her.
After taking a moment to steady herself, Fu Jingshu continued. “Miss Duan might know that Fu Qian is just a few months younger than my brother.”
Mingxi actually didn’t know this detail. However, since Fu Qian was ranked second, it was true that he was younger than the legitimate eldest son.
Judging by Fu Jingshu’s demeanor, though, there seemed to be more to the story.
Mingxi nodded. “Since Fu Qian is second, he is, naturally, younger.”
“In truth, Fu Qian is older than my brother. Before my mother became pregnant, Xu Yiniang was already expecting him. However, at that time, my mother hadn’t married into the family yet, and Xu Yiniang couldn’t enter the marquis’s household. To avoid exposing the truth, she claimed to have conceived a few months later than my mother.”
Mingxi frowned slightly, beginning to piece things together.
“Xu Yiniang couldn’t hide her pregnancy forever. Though she claimed poor health and stayed confined to her quarters during her pregnancy, avoiding public appearances, it was harder to conceal as her due date approached.
“Near her delivery, she deliberately wore loose clothing and pretended to accidentally run into my mother while walking. She staged a fall and falsely claimed to have gone into premature labor.”
“The Marchioness couldn’t tell whether she had actually bumped into her or not?” Mingxi asked skeptically.
“Xu Yiniang was very good at acting. She put on such a convincing show in front of my mother, who was unsuspecting and believed it was her fault. After all, both of them were heavily pregnant.”
“So your mother always felt guilty toward Xu Yiniang?”
Fu Jingshu froze for a moment, then shook her head slowly. “Not exactly. At first, perhaps my mother didn’t realize the truth. But later, she must have figured it out. By then, though, it was too late to gather any evidence.”
And so, she could only swallow her grievances in silence.
“Does this help you, Miss Duan?” Fu Jingshu asked, her eyes filled with faint hope as she gazed at Mingxi.
Meeting her gaze, Mingxi felt a fleeting moment of sympathy.
Perhaps Fu Jingshu was inherently kind and reluctant to engage in conflict, but after enduring so much injustice, even she sought justice.
Mingxi nodded. “Yes, it helps. Premarital misconduct and framing the legitimate mistress—if the evidence is solid, Xu Yiniang won’t escape punishment.”
“Really?” Fu Jingshu’s eyes lit up with hope.
Mingxi, captivated by her gaze, thought to herself that if she were a man, she might want to marry such a beauty.
“Trust me.”
“If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have come today,” Fu Jingshu said firmly, showing rare determination.
“Aside from Fu Qian’s matter, you mentioned you had something to say about Fu Hongxiao. What is it?”
Fu Jingshu untied the pouch at her waist, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Mingxi. “Miss Duan, please take a look.”
Mingxi picked up the pouch, embroidered with a double-luck pattern. The colors were elegant, and the needlework was meticulous, a testament to fine craftsmanship. She opened it and took out a small wooden box. Inside was a pale yellow candy.
Bringing it to her nose, she detected a faint, acrid scent. Medicine?
“What is this?”
Fu Jingshu replied, “On the day of the Shangyang Palace selection, Miss Gan fell into the water because she consumed this.”
Mingxi’s expression turned serious. “What is it?”
“Yuteng Pills. After consuming them, a person will lose all strength and feel light-headed for a short period. That day, Miss Gan fell into the water because of this.”
“How do you know that?” Mingxi asked.
Fu Jingshu’s face turned slightly pale as she clutched her handkerchief tightly. “Fu Hongxiao once tried to harm me and ruin my reputation using this very thing. Fortunately, I was cautious and avoided it. After hearing about the incident at Shangyang Palace, I found it suspicious and kept a close eye on Fu Hongxiao. Eventually, I discovered that she was indeed behind it. But I can’t present any evidence. Even showing you this Yuteng Pill is just… showing it. Nothing more,” she finished, looking at Mingxi with guilt. She truly felt useless.
“This is already enough,” Mingxi said, putting the item away. She smiled at Fu Jingshu. “You’ve done very well. You’re brave.”
Fu Jingshu let out a long breath, a smile appearing on her face. Yet moments later, her expression grew forlorn. “I’m just too weak. If I were stronger, I wouldn’t let others bully me like this.”
“How could this be your fault? The Marchioness can’t stand up for herself. When she sees Xu Yiniang, she immediately shrinks back. What could you possibly do?” Mingxi spoke of the Deqing Marchioness with an air of indifference. In certain ways, the Marchioness wasn’t much different from Madam Jiang.
Both were selfish.
Was the Marchioness truly unaware of the grievances her children suffered?
No, she knew.
Why didn’t she protect them, then?
Because she didn’t want to upset Deqing Marquis. In her heart, her husband likely mattered more than her children. Even though this husband didn’t love her, she clung to him.
Madam Jiang’s selfishness, at least, extended to protecting Duan Huirou and her other two sons. Deqing Marquis Madam’s selfishness, however, was purely for herself.
Her weakness and incompetence were merely excuses she used to shield herself.
Thinking of this, Mingxi looked at Fu Jingshu and warned her, “Whether or not this matter succeeds depends heavily on the Marchioness’s stance. Given her feelings for the Marquis, you and your brother together might not be enough to sway her. If she reverses her testimony in court, the consequences would be unimaginable. You and your brother must be prepared.”
Fu Jingshu turned pale and bit her lip. “Miss Duan, do you think that’s likely?”
“Let’s just say I’ve experienced something similar. My mother wasn’t much better than yours.”
Startled, Fu Jingshu quickly said, “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know, but I’m telling you this for your own good. She gave birth to you but failed to protect you. Worse, she’s used the interests of you and your brother to appease your father and his favored concubine. In the hearts of people like her, the only thing they truly care about is themselves. Don’t pin your hopes on her. Instead, be on your guard.”
“You and your brother have long lives ahead of you. Are you willing to let her ruin them? Without the position of shizi, how will your brother establish himself in the future? Xu Yiniang and her daughter surely won’t want you to secure a good marriage that could support your brother. If your marriage turns into a disaster, what will become of your life?”
Mingxi had walked this path herself—it was a bitter one.
Fu Jingshu sat in silence, her face ashen, lost in thought.
