With so many people present, it was clear to everyone what was happening.
Li Peilan had wanted to humiliate Duan Mingxi, but Mingxi turned the situation around, making a counteroffer that left them at a stalemate.
Either way, both winning and losing would be embarrassing.
A fifty-fifty split, then.
Li Peilan found herself stuck, unable to back down. Just as she was about to grit her teeth and agree, Xiao Yan’s voice suddenly rang out— “Sister Xi, so this is where you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Her voice shattered the tense atmosphere. The people around them subtly relaxed, feeling the cold sweat on their backs.
“What’s wrong?” Mingxi looked at Xiao Yan running toward her and asked with a smile.
Xiao Yan grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “Come with me quickly! My kite is stuck in that tree over there. You have to help me get it down—those people are so useless!”
Everyone followed Xiao Yan’s pointing finger and saw a large kite tangled in the upper branches of a tree. A few eunuchs were preparing to set up a ladder to climb up.
Mingxi casually bent down, picked up a small stone from the ground, and flicked it effortlessly. Before anyone could fully process what was happening, there was a crisp “crack”—and the branch holding the kite snapped, sending it tumbling to the ground.
“Now you can pick it up,” said Duan Mingxi calmly.
Xiao Yan immediately shouted at the eunuchs, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pick up the kite!”
The eunuchs quickly and carefully retrieved the kite and delivered it to Xiao Yan, who took it and smiled at Duan Mingxi. “Sister Xi, what do you think of this kite? Is it well-made?”
Mingxi glanced at the painting on the kite and, against her true feelings, complimented, “It’s decent.”
Xiao Yan lowered her voice and added with a smile, “My cousin made it for me.”
Liu Yan?
Liu Yunhua, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chime in, “My brother stayed up all night making that kite. I’ve never seen him put so much effort into anything, not even his studies.”
Duan Mingxi noticed the joy on Xiao Yan’s face and thought to herself that it made sense why Xiao Yan was so insistent on retrieving the kite—it was a gift from someone she held dear.
Curious about the gathering, Xiao Yan looked around at the crowd and asked suspiciously, “What are you all doing here? Is there something fun going on?”
Before anyone else could answer, Zhang Yaojun immediately responded, “We were just here to admire the flowers, nothing more. Would the little county princess like to continue flying her kite?”
Xiao Yan’s focus shifted immediately. “No, I’m done.” She handed the kite to her maidservant and instructed, “Take it back and store it carefully. Make sure not to damage it.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” replied the maidservant, who was one of the favored attendants of Ning Wangfei. While others could not bring eunuchs or maids into the palace, Ning Wangfei was an exception—a mark of the emperor’s special treatment of his brother.
Even the empress couldn’t object to it.
While Xiao Yan was distracted, Zhang Yaojun discreetly directed others to remove the ink, paper, and brushes from the tables and replace them with tea and refreshments.
Mingxi glanced around but didn’t interfere. As she did, she noticed Bai Shixi letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
Xiao Yan, sitting closely beside Mingxi, chatted with her in an unusually intimate manner. Others looked on in surprise, unable to understand why the county princess was so fond of Duan Mingxi.
“I’ve always wanted to go hunting in Yuguan Mountain, but everyone forbids me, saying it’s too dangerous. Sister Xi, can you take me there next time?”
“Without Wangfei’s approval, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. As a noble county princess, any mishap could bear heavy consequences. I wouldn’t dare take on such a responsibility,” Mingxi replied bluntly.
Xiao Yan: …
All hope was dashed.
Noticing her crestfallen expression, Mingxi chuckled and offered, “There’s no need to visit dangerous places to have fun. You could go boating at Longhu, enjoy flowers at Jinrui Garden, or take a leisurely trip to a countryside estate.”
“It’s boring. I’ve been to all those places already,” Xiao Yan replied, shaking her head.
Mingxi lowered her gaze slightly and said nonchalantly, “If that’s the case, there’s not much I can suggest. After all, I’m new to the capital and not very familiar with it. Perhaps you could ask Miss Li instead—she’s known for her creative ideas. I’m sure she could think of something.”
That “creative ideas” remark was loaded with hidden meaning.
Li Peilan: …
I really must thank you.
Xiao Yan turned toward Li Peilan but then sighed, “Never mind. Judging by her expression, she doesn’t seem too eager. I’d better not trouble her.”
Li Peilan’s composure faltered for a moment. If it weren’t for her aunt’s warning not to offend Xiao Yan, she might have reacted differently….
He Wanyi cast a mocking glance at Mingxi and sneered silently. Without Xiao Yan’s presence, Mingxi would be nothing more than someone relying on borrowed power.
Meanwhile, Liu Yunhua noticed that Li Peilan had stopped targeting Mingxi and felt a slight sense of relief. Li Peilan, backed by the empress, was not someone easily offended in the palace. However, Mingxi had the strong support of Ning Qin Wang, and behind him was the emperor himself.
Yao Yunyi commented to Liu Yunhua, “You’re clever.”
Liu Yunhua replied softly, “You’re quick with information.”
The two exchanged smiles.
With Xiao Yan sticking closely to Mingxi, Li Peilan found herself out of ideas and stood there with a sullen expression. It seemed that the task her aunt had assigned her was unlikely to succeed today.
On the other side, Bai Shixi sat quietly in a corner, looking as if she were detached from the situation. However, her gaze occasionally darted between Li Peilan and Mingxi. After a while, a subtle smile appeared on her face—it seemed she had made the right choice in passing on the information.
When the palace attendants came to summon the guests to the banquet, the group headed toward Kunde Palace.
The empress had been waiting for updates, but none had come from Li Peilan, making her realize that something had likely gone awry. Unable to delay further, she decided to proceed with the banquet.
When the young ladies returned to the main hall and took their seats, the empress noticed Xiao Yan holding hands with Duan Mingxi. A faint frown appeared on her brow.
In contrast, Consort Shu was in an excellent mood. She was aware of Xiao Yan’s fondness for Mingxi but hadn’t expected it to be this close. Seeing how Mingxi had won over Xiao Yan, Consort Shu felt pleased. Watching the empress’s forced smile only added to her delight.
The highlight of the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet was the moon-viewing feast in the evening, which was more of a family affair.
Since Mingxi was unmarried, she wasn’t expected to attend. After the luncheon, she planned to leave the palace with Madam Jiang and the others.
However, an imperial edict arrived, summoning several future Wangfeis, including Mingxi, to stay for the evening banquet.
Madam Jiang looked at Mingxi, visibly displeased.
Duan Mingxi didn’t understand why Madam Jiang reacted this way, but she didn’t bother to guess. Instead, she focused on why the emperor had suddenly issued such an order.
She had noticed the empress’s brief look of surprise earlier, indicating that even she hadn’t been informed in advance.
Madam Jiang was required to leave the palace while Mingxi stayed behind. Before departing, Madam Jiang hesitated for a moment before advising, “Don’t cause any trouble while you’re here.”
Mingxi glanced at her coolly.
Feeling awkward, Madam Jiang stopped talking and left with the others.
Mingxi chuckled softly. People never change.
Not that she had ever expected anything from Madam Jiang in this life.
