Ultimately, Madam Jiang couldn’t confront Duan Mingxi but instead comforted Duan Huirou and even spent her own money to make her a couple of extra outfits.
Madam Xiao wasn’t surprised. Just one banquet attendance had gained Duan Mingxi an invitation from Chu Qingying. Only the most reputable young ladies of the capital played polo, and Duan Huirou’s spiteful interference with the sewing room could have backfired, leaving her as the one reprimanded, not Duan Mingxi.
Receiving Madam Xiao’s message, Duan Mingxi smiled lightly.
See, in her past life, Madam Xiao had been close with Duan Huirou. But now?
Since Duan Mingxi was unaware of the marriage talk, the Old Madam and Madam Jiang both took the stance that there had been a misunderstanding. Whether or not Madam Jiang had upset Duchess Gao, the outcome was that the marriage alliance was off.
The explanation given to Duan Mingxi was that it was merely a misunderstanding, and both families had come to an understanding, with no further mention of the matter.
Meanwhile, at Duke Zhen’s residence, after Bai Zhiwei’s scandal, the Duchess was furious. Duke Gao’s household and Duke Zhen’s were evenly matched, so they directed their anger toward Marquis Dingyuan.
However, the Old Madam had already approached Old Madam Bai. While she had taken a softer stance, her words were firm: if Duke Zhen’s family insisted on placing blame on Marquis Dingyuan’s household, then they would break off relations.
In the end, it wouldn’t be Duan Mingxi who suffered, but Bai Zhiwei.
If Bai Zhiwei’s reputation was completely ruined, Duke Gao might reconsider the marriage altogether. Bai Zhiwei would lose her place in society.
Still, Marquis Dingyuan was willing to step back. If Duke Zhen’s household successfully arranged the marriage with Duke Gao, they would support the public narrative that the families had only been meeting for a marriage discussion, and the incident had been a mere misunderstanding.
Duan Mingxi knew that protecting someone wasn’t impossible; it was merely that they had been unwilling to go to the effort.
But now, by taking matters into her own hands, she could force them to act.
The grievances between Duke Gao and Duke Zhen were a longstanding feud. But for Bai Zhiwei’s sake, Duke Zhen reluctantly took a step back. Rumor had it that a substantial dowry had convinced Duchess Gao to agree to the marriage.
It should have been Duke Gao pursuing Duke Zhen’s family, but Marquis Dingyuan’s stance turned the tables, putting Duke Zhen’s household in a position of having to back down.
Both families announced the marriage publicly, putting an end to the scandal at Peony Terrace.
Although Marquis Dingyuan’s household didn’t escape unscathed and had strained relations with both ducal families, the two families would not openly retaliate. The outcome would depend on their ability to maneuver behind the scenes.
The day soon arrived for Duan Mingxi’s polo match, and she was likely the happiest person in the household.
Duan Min and Duan Rong insisted on joining the fun. Unsurprisingly, Duan Huirou, whose relationship with Duan Mingxi was strained, did not go along.
Since she wasn’t going, Duan Qingyin had little choice but to decline as well.
But Yang Yiniang managed to convince the marquis to order Duan Mingxi to take Duan Qingyin along.
The marquis’s feelings toward his daughter, Duan Mingxi, were now complicated. Her actions were too bold, and whatever remnants of guilt he had felt when they first reconciled had all but faded away.
Duan Mingxi didn’t care how they treated her; her previous life had already made that clear.
As the faint light of dawn broke, blurring the boundary between night and day, Duan Mingxi rose early, washing up and dressing. Outside the courtyard, the bustling sounds of activity began to stir.
Chu Qingying had chosen a polo field at the foot of the mountains outside the city, a journey that would take some time, so they needed to set out early.
After breakfast, Duan Mingxi went to Rongan Hall to pay her respects to the Old Madam. Shortly after she arrived, Duan Qingyin and a few others also showed up, making the room lively.
The Old Madam, aware that they were heading out early, reminded them not to cause trouble while outside. As she spoke the last two words, she glanced at Duan Mingxi.
Lowering her head, Duan Mingxi kept her gaze down, feigning ignorance.
The Old Madam sighed, visibly troubled. This granddaughter was one she could neither discipline harshly nor indulge gently, someone difficult to handle no matter the approach.
Since they were leaving early, the other madams had yet to arrive to pay their respects, and Duan Huirou was nowhere to be seen. The four girls bid farewell to the Old Madam and boarded their carriage to leave.
The carriage rolled through the city streets in the soft morning light. Inside, the four girls chatted and laughed, their riding outfits lending them an air of charm and vigor.
As the carriage approached the city gate, Duan Mingxi lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside. In the distance, she caught a glimpse of another carriage speeding past, its appearance oddly familiar. But she couldn’t immediately recall where she’d seen it before.
Once outside the city, the carriage picked up speed. Along the way, they encountered several other carriages and riders, which surprised Duan Mingxi.
“Why are there so many people heading to the polo field today?”
Duan Min shook her head. “I’ve been to the field before, and it’s never been this crowded. Maybe it’s just coincidence.”
Duan Rong, being younger, didn’t know much, but Duan Qingyin thought for a moment and said, “Those riders are all sons of noble families in the capital. Their attendants carry bows and arrows, so perhaps they’re going hunting?”
Duan Mingxi froze for a moment. The polo field was situated on open land at the base of Yuguan Mountain, and behind it lay the mountain itself—a well-known hunting ground where noble sons often ventured for sport.
It seemed their plans had coincided with the hunting parties.
“Is there a special occasion today?” Duan Mingxi asked Duan Qingyin.
Duan Qingyin shook her head. “Not that I’ve heard.”
But Duan Min suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, I just saw Liu Shizi!”
Duan Qingyin immediately responded, “It’s his birthday today.”
“How do you know that, Yin Jiejie?” Duan Rong asked curiously.
Blushing slightly, Duan Qingyin replied, “Last year, during Liu Shizi’s birthday, there was quite a commotion. That’s why I remembered.”
Duan Min clapped her hands. “Right! Last year, Liu Shizi made a bet and lost, so he celebrated his birthday on Eighth Street and ended up getting chased and beaten by Duke Rong. Yes, yes, yes, it’s today!”
Duan Mingxi’s heart skipped a beat. No wonder her right eyelid had been twitching all morning.
In her previous life, Liu Yan had nearly lost his life today.
She wanted nothing to do with such trouble, but fortunately, they were only going to play polo.
The carriage slowed and eventually stopped. Before they could disembark, Chu Qingying’s laughter rang out.
“I’m telling you, we can’t lose today. Isn’t it just hunting? We can’t let them make a fool of us!”
Duan Mingxi’s brow furrowed, a sense of unease creeping in.
After helping her younger sisters off the carriage, Chu Qingying immediately waved her over and asked loudly, “Duan Mingxi, do you know how to hunt?”
Having grown up in the Duan family, Duan Mingxi’s father had often been away on business, and before her mother bore a younger brother, Duan Mingxi had been raised with the intention of managing the family business. As a result, her upbringing had been strict, and she had learned a wide array of skills.
Even after her little brother was born, her father believed that having a few practical skills wouldn’t hurt a girl. So, she continued to learn.
Later, when she returned to the capital, she found herself trapped, suppressing those “unrefined” skills to avoid being deemed coarse and to spare the family from embarrassment.
But in this life, she no longer wanted to live for others.
Still, now was not the right time to show her hand.
Liu Yan’s trap this time could easily drag her into life-threatening trouble.
