Mingxi looked at the Old Patriarch and said, “Grandfather, if we let this matter go, next time the Empress will be even more reckless. If it weren’t for Consort Shu arriving just in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable. What if no one can reach us next time?”
Madam Jiang’s face changed slightly when she heard Mingxi’s intention to make a big move. She immediately said, “Are you trying to bring down the Empress? Who in our family can do that? Do you want to drag everyone down with you?”
Mingxi didn’t even look at Madam Jiang, just waiting for the Old Patriarch’s response.
Second Madam wasn’t in favor of taking such risks either, but hearing Madam Jiang’s words was a bit irritating. She immediately spoke up, “Eldest Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Mingxi was almost killed, and you, as her mother, didn’t care, but now you’re saying this?”
Third Madam’s face wasn’t good either, and she added, “Second Sister-in-law is right. Eldest Sister-in-law, even though Mingxi didn’t grow up with you, you don’t have to be so heartless.”
Madam Jiang’s face turned green with anger. She gritted her teeth and sat back down, “Stop adding fuel to the fire. You know I didn’t mean it like that. In the end, I’m still thinking about the good of the family.”
Third Madam sneered, “What does Eldest Sister-in-law mean? Are we all blind? Don’t use the Marquis residence as a shield. Second Sister-in-law and I are not afraid.”
Afraid? Of course, they were afraid!
But since Mingxi wanted to be the wife of Duan Wang, she would eventually have to face the Empress and the Crown Prince. It was inevitable, so it was better to take a bold approach.
Madam Jiang, like this, didn’t want to take risks, only wanted to gain the benefits. It was truly wishful thinking.
Dingyuan Marquis also looked embarrassed. He glared at Madam Jiang, “If you can’t speak properly, then be quiet. I’ll make the decisions here. Just listen.”
Madam Jiang was so angry that her face turned blue. She bit her lip and sat back down. Fine, one by one, they didn’t appreciate her good intentions. Was she wrong in what she said?
At this moment, the Old Madam spoke, “Mingxi just returned and is tired. Everyone should leave. Let the child rest first. We’ll discuss how to handle this later.”
The old madam gave the order, and everyone stood up to leave.
As they left Rongan Hall, Madam Jiang, unable to hide her displeasure, immediately turned and walked ahead.
Second Madam rolled her eyes and said to Third Madam, “To have a mother like that for Mingxi, it’s truly… unlucky.”
Third Madam whispered, “Don’t say more, it’s already chaotic enough.”
Second Madam, still angry, said, “I’m just speaking my mind. Mingxi came back from the palace, and instead of comforting the child, she first distanced herself. What kind of mother is that?”
Although Second Madam lowered her voice, there were only a few people present, and as they walked out together, no one could avoid hearing her.
Dingyuan Marquis looked even more displeased. He glanced at his daughter, opened his mouth as if to say something comforting, but when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know how to continue.
Now that his child had returned home, he hadn’t spent much time with her. Looking back, he felt his face burn with shame.
While hesitating, Second Master Duan spoke up first, “Mingxi, no matter what you decide, your second uncle supports you. This matter probably won’t work, but though I may not have much ability, I can still run errands for you. If you need anything, just say it.”
Dingyuan Marquis:…
He felt even more ashamed as a Father.
“Thank you, Second Uncle.” Mingxi smiled and replied, “If I need your help, I won’t hesitate to ask.”
“Good.” Second Master Duan nodded. “You should rest early. Your second aunt and I will leave now.”
“Alright.”
Third Madam also said, “Mingxi, I won’t bother you anymore. You go back quickly, and we can talk later.”
“Goodbye, Third Aunt.”
After seeing off Second Master Duan and his wife, as well as Third Madam, only Mingxi and Dingyuan Marquis remained. There really wasn’t much for them to say.
“Marquis, I will leave first.” Mingxi said without hesitation.
Dingyuan Marquis gave a forced smile, “Mingxi, don’t take your mother’s words to heart…”
“I don’t take it to heart. She doesn’t treat me as a daughter, so I treat her as the Marquis wife.” Mingxi said, turning and walking away.
Dingyuan Marquis:…
He watched his daughter’s retreating figure, his expression hardening. After a while, he lowered his head and walked away.
***
Kunde Palace.
Lu Momo and Zhang Mingde were kneeling in the hall. The Empress looked furious, and the Crown Prince sat beside her with a gloomy expression.
“It’s just a small matter, and you’ve messed it up this badly!” The Empress waved her hand, knocking the teacup off the table. Her temples throbbed with anger. “Now, it’s all gone wrong, and Ding Zhao will investigate. Who knows what he’ll uncover?”
Zhang Mingde cautiously said, “Your Majesty, please rest assured, the Punishment Bureau has already arranged everything. It won’t implicate Kunde Palace.”
Lu Momo hurriedly added, “The Punishment Bureau’ Grand Momo, even the concubines in the palace are afraid of her. This old servant never expected that Duan Mingxi would not be afraid, and actually dared to act. I was careless; please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
The Empress sat on the throne, turned to look at the Crown Prince, and asked, “How about your side?”
The Crown Prince, with a hint of amusement, slowly said, “Royal Mother, even if the Punishment Bureau investigates, what can they do? No matter how capable Ding Zhao is, he can’t pry information from the mouth of a dead person.”
“You want to silence them?” The Empress asked in surprise. “Consort Shu managed to keep some people alive, and now they are in Ding Zhao’s hands. It won’t be easy to act against them.”
The Crown Prince let out a scoff. “Mother, the people of the Punishment Bureau fear us more than anyone. If they want to keep someone’s mouth shut, they don’t necessarily have to take their life. There are plenty of ways to hold something over them and control what they say.”
The Empress was taken aback for a moment before she chuckled lightly. “That’s true. I was just too flustered to think straight.” She turned to look at Lu Momo and Zhang Mingde. “We’ll let this matter go for now. That Duan Mingxi grew up in the countryside and doesn’t act according to common sense. Next time you encounter her, be extra careful.”
Lu Momo and Zhang Mingde both let out a quiet sigh of relief, lowering their heads as they replied, “Yes, next time, we will be even more cautious.”
“Leave now,” the Empress ordered with a wave of her hand.
Once they bowed and withdrew, the Empress’s tense expression eased slightly. Looking at her son, she said, “It’s a pity this time.”
“We must not act too hastily, Royal Mother,” the Crown Prince said, his gaze sharp. “Besides, we did not come away empty-handed. Right now, the most urgent matter is to clean up the mess regarding Xiao Yan.”
At the mention of this, the Empress’s anger flared up. She snapped, “Peilan was too bold! To act during the palace banquet—did she not consider the consequences?”
“She was simply blinded by rage,” the Crown Prince reasoned. “Fortunately, Xiao Yan is unharmed. Ning Qin Wang is watching closely—we must not be careless.”
“It was a lowly kitchen maid from the Imperial Kitchens who carried out the act. The serving maids there have always bullied her, so she wanted revenge and used this as an opportunity,” the Empress said dismissively. “It’s just the loss of an informant in the Imperial Kitchens, nothing more.”
The Crown Prince nodded slightly. “With you in charge, Mother, I have no concerns. But Consort Shu and Duan Wang will surely not let this matter go. We cannot let Ding Zhao get a hold of any living witnesses.”
The kitchen maid was not like the hardened interrogators of the Punishment Bureau. Under Ding Zhao’s methods, she would confess everything after just one round of torture.
And only dead mouths could keep secrets.
