Yao Yunyi, realizing she couldn’t get through to her, stopped trying. Everyone has their own fate, and she had done her best.
Before long, Chu Qingying and Xu Nanxi arrived, adding to the lively atmosphere under the pomegranate tree. Not long after, a servant girl brought in He Wanyi and her sister. Chu Qingying’s expression darkened the moment she saw them.
He Wanyi glanced at Chu Qingying but remained polite, greeting everyone with a smile. When she reached Chu Qingying, she said warmly, “It’s been a while, Second Young Miss.”
By then, Chu Qingying had already suppressed her displeasure and replied with a faint smile, “Second Young Lady He, likewise.”
He Wanyi maintained her composure, unaffected by the response, and turned to Duan Mingxi with a smile. “Eldest Young Miss Duan, it’s been some time since we parted ways at Yuguan Mountain. How have you been?”
Duan Mingxi smiled faintly. “Thank you for your concern, Second Young Lady He. I’ve been well.”
Just as He Wanyi was about to continue, a commotion broke out nearby. It turned out Li Peilan had arrived, surrounded by an entourage, accompanied by Zhang Yaojun. The group exchanged surprised glances.
Wasn’t it rumored that the Empress and the Noble Consort were currently at odds? Why were Li Peilan and Zhang Yaojun together?
Li Peilan, being the empress’ niece and coming from the powerful Duke Cao mansion, was naturally the center of attention, instantly becoming the focus of the crowd.
Zhang Yaojun, standing across the crowd, made eye contact with Duan Mingxi. She flashed a graceful smile, and Mingxi responded with a smile in return.
With Li Peilan’s arrival, the crowd seemed to naturally divide into two factions.
Li Peilan ignored Mingxi, and Mingxi did not make any move to approach her either. Observing this, the onlookers began to ponder. Those who didn’t want to offend Li Peilan naturally kept their distance from Mingxi.
“Look at her arrogant attitude,” Chu Qingying whispered to Mingxi, clearly irritated by Li Peilan’s presence.
“Why are you angry?” Mingxi asked nonchalantly. “Anyone with a royal aunt who is an empress would have the confidence to act like that.”
“She’s deliberately giving you the cold shoulder. Aren’t you mad?”
“I’m not mad.”
Chu Qingying was convinced but thought about it for a moment and nodded. “When a dog bites a person, should the person bite back?”
“I heard from my sister that regarding the Longhu incident, His Royal Highness was reprimanded by His Majesty. Li Peilan must be venting her anger on you.”
This involved the matter of Duan Wang’s command, though His Majesty had refrained from further investigation, and the Crown Prince had been reprimanded. Clearly, the emperor had made his judgment, but to protect the crown prince’s reputation, the matter was suppressed.
Li Peilan must have heard something from the empress, and now she seemed to harbor resentment towards Mingxi, the future Duan Wangfei.
Mingxi was a little surprised. “His Majesty reprimanded the Crown Prince?”
Chu Qingying lowered her voice even more. “Yes, my sister told me. She asked me not to speak of it, but you’re not an outsider.”
Mingxi understood. No wonder the empress and the Crown Prince had been so quiet recently. She had thought the emperor was protecting the crown prince, but it seemed he had reprimanded him.
It was clear now that the emperor, despite his ill health and desire to support the Crown Prince, had been displeased with the empress and the Crown Prince’s attitude, prompting him to take action.
Never mind. A small crack can eventually destroy a whole dam. I just need to plan carefully. Over time, small grievances will turn into irreparable rifts.
While the empress and the Crown Prince were acting, they should have considered the consequences.
Yao Yunyi and Liu Yunhua returned from the other side, both of their expressions unpleasant. Liu Yunhua was especially furious but managed to restrain herself, remembering the occasion. She took a sip of tea to calm herself, avoiding saying anything inappropriate.
Yao Yunyi whispered, “How did Mingxi offend Li Peilan? Why is she slandering her so much?”
Chu Qingying furrowed her brow. “What did she say?”
“Well, she only keeps bringing up Mingxi’s early years when she was kidnapped,” Yao Yunyi said, her face darkening. “Be careful.”
The reason they could all get along was because of their similar social backgrounds, with each of them having ties to the royal family.
News from the palace often leaked out. Since the incident with her younger brother, Yu Wangfei had grown wary of her husband, Yu Wang.
Whenever palace affairs came up, she would be extra cautious, which was why her younger sister reminded Mingxi, and Chu Qingying knew even more details.
Suddenly, Xu Nanxi, who had been silent, spoke up, “Let’s see if she dares to come over to Mingxi. She’s just trying to show off her petty power.”
Mingxi looked at Xu Nanxi and immediately sensed her troubled mood. Upon hearing her words, Mingxi realized she had guessed correctly.
But with so many people present, Mingxi didn’t ask further, instead smiling and saying, “I won’t take it to heart. You don’t need to worry.”
Xiao Jing was busy attending to the guests and noticed something was wrong. She asked a maid to go fetch the eldest miss, worried something might happen.
Xiao Ling arrived quickly after receiving the message. She smiled as she greeted Li Peilan and the others, and after chatting briefly, she invited them to the front hall.
Li Peilan hadn’t planned to leave and had intended to stay and provoke Duan Mingxi. However, Xiao Ling’s enthusiastic invitation made it hard for her to refuse. Despite her cold expression, she followed with her companions.
Once they had settled in the front hall, Xiao Ling returned, her face full of guilt as she apologized to Mingxi. “I’m sorry you had to endure this. It’s my fault for not hosting properly. I didn’t expect Li Peilan to behave like that.”
“It has nothing to do with you,” Mingxi shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
Xiao Ling sighed. “We’re real relatives, you don’t have to comfort me. I know exactly what’s going on.”
Yao Yunyi urged her, “Li Peilan is supported by the empress. Who would dare offend her? Mingxi is right. This is not your fault.”
The other girls, including Duan Qingyin, were observing the situation. Although they didn’t understand exactly what had happened, they could see Li Peilan’s hostility.
At this moment, Duan Min spoke up, “Older sister, you don’t need to worry. If Li Peilan really tries to cause trouble, we’re not afraid of her.”
“That’s right, we’re not afraid,” Duan Rong quickly agreed.
Chu Qingying pinched Duan Rong’s little face. “What do you know? Just saying ‘not afraid’ isn’t enough.”
Duan Rong quickly covered her face, hiding behind Duan Min, and poked her head out to reply, “Sister Chu, I know, but I won’t tell you.”
Everyone laughed, and the mood lightened considerably.
Xiao Ling couldn’t stay long as she still had to attend to guests. Before she left, she said, “When the banquet starts, I’ll make sure to separate your seating. Don’t worry.”
Mingxi nodded. “Go ahead and take care of it.”
As Xiao Ling left, Xiao Jing went ahead to the front hall, fearing Li Peilan and the others might intentionally cause trouble.
Duan Huirou stared at Duan Mingxi, unable to understand why Mingxi wasn’t afraid.
Their family was just a noble household, while Li Peilan was the legitimate daughter of a duke, with the empress as her aunt and the Crown Prince as her cousin.
Even Duan Huirou had to be respectful in front of Li Peilan.
She looked at Duan Mingxi from a distance, her expression filled with confusion, as if she was trying to understand but only becoming more puzzled. She didn’t know what she was thinking at all.
Did Duan Mingxi really have no fear?
