Deqing Marquis favored his concubine over his wife.
Fu Hongxiao had attempted to drown Gan Li by pushing her into a lake.
Premature Birth and Illegitimate Child of Concubine Xu
Fu Hongxiao Presents Duan Wang’s Insignia
Each incident by itself would be enough to set the capital abuzz, yet Deqing Marquis’s household found itself embroiled in multiple scandals that left onlookers utterly stunned.
Li Quan, drenched in sweat, rushed into the Qingfeng Pavilion. On the second floor, by the window, sat Duan Mingxi and Duan Wang. One dressed in black, the other in white, their figures side by side looked as harmonious as a celestial couple from a distance.
“Your humble servant greets Wangye and Miss Duan,” Li Quan said, bowing deeply, not daring to look directly at the prince.
Duan Mingxi turned her head, took her seat, and asked Li Quan, “How is the situation?”
Li Quan immediately replied, “Per the Wangye’s orders, the news has been spread everywhere. Now everyone knows the dark secrets of Deqing Marquis’s household. Crowds have gathered outside the Shuntian Office, clamoring for the case to be tried in court.”
Mingxi glanced at Xiao Muchen. “Wangye, your plan has worked brilliantly.”
Public sentiment was easily stirred, especially in cases like this, where a concubine suppressed the legitimate heir. Such actions naturally provoked outrage.
Xiao Muchen met Mingxi’s gaze. “Even without me as a blade, you would always find another one to use.”
Who could have imagined that someone as inconspicuous as Wang Buming would be so effective? In Mingxi’s hands, this small-time figure from the streets not only disrupted a stagnant pool but also wielded a metaphorical blade at Deqing Marquis’s throat.
Mingxi looked at him curiously. “Wangye, what a strange thing to say. When have I ever treated you as a blade?”
Xiao Muchen: …
Might as well let her see him as a blade, then.
Did this mean that in her mind, he wasn’t even as useful as Wang Buming?
Frustrated but unable to show it, Xiao Muchen kept a stoic face and changed the topic. “Will there be a trial today?”
Duan Mingxi replied confidently, “There absolutely will be.”
“Why?” Xiao Muchen asked.
“If the Shuntian Magistrate refuses to hold court, Wang Buming will insult him so relentlessly that he’ll have no choice but to proceed.”
Xiao Muchen: …
So it’s confirmed—Mingxi really has high hopes for Wang Buming!
“Do you have that much faith in him?”
Mingxi didn’t catch the undertone in Xiao Muchen’s words. She gazed intently at Wang Buming, who was standing amidst the crowd delivering a passionate speech. People who strive earnestly to live well often achieve their goals.
If such a person also possesses a bit of skill, it’s like adding wings to a tiger.
Wang Buming has wit, courage, and a silver tongue, coupled with their support—why wouldn’t he succeed?
“Wangye, look at the world. There are many like Wang Buming—people without noble backgrounds but who still live earnestly. They take everything seriously, and that’s why they often succeed.”
Xiao Muchen sneered internally. Why not just say he’s shameless?
He had never encountered someone like Wang Buming before—a person who would discard all propriety, even their own dignity, to achieve their goals.
Everyone he’d met before carried themselves with decorum.
But Wang Buming? He was like a rogue from the streets, except this rogue was surprisingly eloquent.
Infuriating!
Thinking this, Xiao Muchen paused for a moment. That’s right—Mingxi had grown up in a merchant’s household in Jiangcheng and often dealt with people like this. That’s why she could spot talent in the crowd.
Fine, for Mingxi’s sake, he’d give Wang Buming some credit.
“Overthrowing Deqing Marquis is one thing, but transferring the title to Fu Yan will be much harder,” Xiao Muchen remarked. “What’s your plan?”
Mingxi poured tea for Xiao Muchen without responding immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze to Li Quan, who was standing in the corner, looking like he wished he could vanish into thin air.
“You, go find You Sanping and tell him to act when the moment is right.”
“Yes,” Li Quan answered and bolted out the door.
Mingxi: …
Is he being chased by wolves?
After Li Quan left, Mingxi turned back to Xiao Muchen and smiled.
Mingxi’s features were already radiant and striking. In the sunlight, her smile was like a luminous pearl or a blooming peony. Xiao Muchen’s hand, which was fiddling with his teacup, stilled for a moment.
“Deqing Marquis is a clever man. Once today’s case is brought to court, his overconfidence and the numerous faults of Xu Yiniang will come to light. Not to mention that Wang Buming has already secured the midwife who faked her premature delivery years ago. Even the incident of Fu Hongxiao attempting to harm Gan Li will force him to cut ties. If Fu Hongxiao is sacrificed, conflict will inevitably arise between him and Xu Yiniang.”
“Wang Buming is a master manipulator. In such a situation, a few words from him might incite them to turn on each other. With a little push from the sidelines, things might play out as needed. Moreover, Deqing Marquis is selfish. If he has to choose between returning the title to the court or reluctantly passing it to his least favorite legitimate son, he’ll choose the latter.”
“You’re involving the Zhenbei Wang family. They may not cooperate,” Xiao Muchen teased.
“The Zhenbei Wang family?” Mingxi smiled faintly. “Why would we need them to show up?”
Once the source of the Yuteng Pill is exposed, Xu Yiniang won’t be able to cover it up. It will be revealed that she once harmed the Deqing Marquis Madam with it, though the foolish Deqing Marquis Madam is still unaware.
Exposing this matter serves to convict Xu Yiniang and Fu Hongxiao.
As for the Zhenbei Wang family or Gan Li, they don’t need to appear. With Xu Yiniang’s prior actions against Deqing Marquis Madam, Gan Li will become a figure of public sympathy.
Gan Li was harmed by Fu Hongxiao, leading to her disgrace during the Shangyang Palace banquet, which deeply impacted her reputation.
At the time, the Crown Prince and Empress plotted to have Gan Li as the Crown Princess, but the Zhenbei Wang family, unwilling to send their daughter into the Eastern Palace, orchestrated this strategy.
Now that the truth is exposed, the Zhenbei Wang family doesn’t even need to step forward. Their name is cleared, and they become objects of public pity and guilt—a perfect turnaround.
In such circumstances, if the Zhenbei Wang family is smart, they’ll quietly push for Fu Hongxiao’s downfall.
For Mingxi, the Zhenbei Wang family need not appear—just exert their influence.
Xiao Muchen gave Mingxi a long, thoughtful look.
Even a venerable family like the Zhenbei Wang clan had been maneuvered into her plans.
The key was that they owed her a favor for saving Gan Li. Even if they discovered the truth, they wouldn’t hold her accountable.
It was fortunate that he had brought her to his side. If she had entered the Eastern Palace, with her intellect, his household would have been in constant turmoil.
Forget contending with the Crown Prince for the throne—he’d be too busy putting out fires in his backyard, constantly stressed.
Back on Yuguan Mountain, his foresight in recognizing her value had truly been sharp.
Xiao Muchen realized that his greatest contribution to this matter was making everyone think he’d contributed.
In reality, he’d done nothing at all—Mingxi hadn’t needed him.
How depressing.
As Mingxi predicted, the events outside played out as expected. From the second floor of Qingfeng Tower, they could see the scene at Shuntian Office, where Wang Buming successfully incited the crowd. Some people even began pounding on the doors.
The masses were fired up, like a raging inferno, leaving the prefectural magistrate no choice but to publicly announce a court session.
The cheers of the crowd faintly reached their ears, and Mingxi’s eyes sparkled.
Wang Buming truly lived up to his reputation.
