Mingxi didn’t rush her. Each person had to walk their own road. She had said all she could, out of shared sympathy for another who had suffered a similar fate. How Fu Jingshu chose to act, Mingxi would not interfere.
Fu Jingshu’s mind was in turmoil, caught between sorrow and clarity. She wanted to sympathize with her mother’s struggles, but Mingxi’s words had torn away the illusion.
She knew the truth but couldn’t help feeling heartbroken.
Her mother did, indeed, love herself more than her children.
But there were moments of care—her mother had stayed by her bedside when she was sick, made her favorite pastries, and sewn her beloved dresses stitch by stitch. Those gestures weren’t false.
Fu Jingshu’s eyes reddened. “Thank you for your advice, Miss Duan. She is still my mother. My brother and I are willing to give her one more chance.”
Mingxi nodded. Perhaps this was the difference between her and Fu Jingshu.
She didn’t agree, but she wouldn’t stop her from trying.
After all, in Mingxi’s past life, Deqing Marquis Madam had eventually fought against Xu Yiniang for her daughter’s sake.
What the Marchioness thought now didn’t interest Mingxi.
But in the end, she was slightly better than Madam Jiang.
The two parted ways at Yuxian Tower. Mingxi didn’t return to the Marquis residence but sent someone to inquire at an apothecary about the origins of the Yuteng Pills.
Fu Hongxiao couldn’t have obtained such a thing on her own; it must have come from Xu Yiniang.
Where the medicine came from had to be thoroughly investigated. This evidence could serve as a crucial piece in the case. If they traced its origins, it would deal a severe blow to Xu Yiniang.
For several days, the capital was unusually quiet.
The assassination at Longhu seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Mingxi suspected that the situation had shifted. She could guess some of what Consort Shu and Duan Wang were plotting, but ultimately, it depended on the emperor’s stance.
Clearly, the emperor didn’t want to escalate matters.
For Mingxi, however, this incident was a wake-up call. She couldn’t help recalling how, in her past life, the crown prince had ultimately seized the throne.
This time, she would make sure he didn’t.
Mingxi stayed home for several days, her mood subdued. Even those in the Marquis residence avoided disturbing her. She was excused from paying respects at Rongan Hall and allowed to rest.
As the golden sun dipped westward, painting the sky with hues of red, hurried footsteps broke the stillness of dusk. Mingxi looked up from her book. Qiancao entered, carrying a letter.
“Miss, a letter from Miss Fu.”
Mingxi took it and opened it. A slight smile tugged at her lips as she read the brief note inside.
Recently, Zhang He had accused Deqing Marquis’s favored concubine of murdering his wife, but the Shuntian Magistrate hadn’t immediately brought the case to trial, citing insufficient evidence.
Mingxi had been busy investigating the Yuteng Pills with You Sanping. Now that they’d found a lead, she had informed Zhang He, who seemed to have secured evidence.
The Zhang family had been in chaos for days. Even though Mingxi hadn’t left home, she knew the challenges Zhang He was facing.
Seeing Mingxi smile, Qiancao felt a bit relieved. “Miss, Li Quan sent word that Deqing Marquis went to the Zhang family today to persuade the Marchioness to return, but Madam Zhang stopped him. Li Quan said the Marquis looked quite displeased. If this continues, it might not end well. Do you think there will be a good outcome to all this?”
Qiancao and a few others, knowing the truth, felt deeply for Fu Jingshu and her brother. The injustice they faced was heart-wrenching.
Mingxi glanced out the window at the reddening sky and said softly, “The key to this matter lies with Deqing Marquis Madam. If she can stand firm, victory won’t be hard to achieve.”
Qiancao frowned, understanding the Marchioness’s nature, and sighed, “That might be difficult.”
“Not necessarily,” Mingxi replied with a smile.
With Wang Buming involved, if gentle persuasion cannot sway Deqing Marquis Madam, he will likely resort to intimidation.
Her guess was accurate. At that moment, You Sanping was meeting with Wang Buming.
Although Wang Buming couldn’t see Miss Duan directly, he treated You Sanping with utmost respect, knowing he was Mingxi’s trusted steward. He reported the progress at Deqing Marquis’s residence in meticulous detail. Over a few days, the two had become quite close.
Wang Buming’s appearance was unremarkable, but his eyes were a deep, impenetrable black. His expression now carried a sharp intensity as he said to You Sanping, “Tomorrow, I will resubmit the petition, rallying public support to pressure the Shuntian Office to hold a trial.”
You Sanping didn’t find anything unusual about his words and simply asked, “Are you confident?”
“Eighty percent,” Wang Buming replied.
“That’s sufficient.”
Wang Buming nodded but added, “There is one issue. I’m concerned about Deqing Marquis Madam wavering.”
You Sanping was aware of this as well. “Do you have a solution?”
Wang Buming dusted off his sleeves. “Lord Zhang He has shown firm resolve, but if Deqing Marquis Madam changes her testimony during the trial, it could cause significant trouble. However, there is a way to address this.”
“What way?”
“Given my low status, I cannot meet with someone as esteemed as the Marchioness. I must rely on Steward You to pass along a message.”
“Go ahead,” You Sanping said, scrutinizing Wang Buming. He saw ambition and desire in the man’s eyes.
He knew Wang Buming intended to use this case to build his reputation. This made him less afraid of Wang’s schemes, as his self-interest ensured he would do his utmost to succeed.
“Spread a rumor that the Eastern Palace intends to grant the title of shizi to Deqing Marquis’s concubine-born son.”
You Sanping frowned. “Is that true?”
“Of course not,” Wang Buming replied with a sly smile.
You Sanping was startled by his audacity. “Do you realize the consequences of spreading such a rumor? If it leaks, your life will be at risk.”
“Why would it leak?” Wang Buming chuckled coldly. “A noblewoman like the Marchioness values her dignity above all. Without an imperial decree, she wouldn’t dare confront the Marquis directly, but the seed of doubt will fester in her mind.”
The Marchioness was well aware that her primary leverage in the household was her legitimate son and the unassigned heir title. As long as the heir remained unnamed, the concubine and her son dared not overstep.
But what if that delicate balance were disrupted?
You Sanping, who considered himself ruthless, found himself viewing Wang Buming in a new light.
No wonder Wang Buming was a renowned litigator; his mind was sharp, his hands capable of deceit, and his heart colder than most.
You Sanping personally relayed the suggestion to Zhang He, ensuring the message carried weight.
Coming from You Sanping, backed by Mingxi and Duan Wang, Zhang He accepted it without question.
That evening, the Zhang siblings argued fiercely behind closed doors. Neither Fu Yan nor Fu Jingshu slept well that night, and their faces were shadowed by dark circles the next morning.
Before the Shuntian Office opened its gates, Wang Buming had already orchestrated a demonstration, leading a crowd to block the entrance.
The Shuntian Magistrate, still half-asleep, was roused by his subordinates, who informed him that citizens had surrounded the prefecture. Startled, he nearly fell flat on his face.
Bold scoundrels! Do they have a death wish?
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