“Eldest Miss Duan, since you’ve brought me this news, what is it that you want?” Ning Qin Wangfei asked, suppressing her anger.
Duan Mingxi calmly lifted the teapot and poured tea for Ning Qin Wangfei. Slowly, she said, “If I claimed I wanted nothing, you wouldn’t believe me. After all, I am not a bodhisattva, reincarnated to deliver salvation.”
Ning Qin Wangfei raised her brows in slight surprise. This girl was quite interesting.
“I only want justice, nothing more.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“The poisoning incident at the Mid-Autumn banquet—though I was not the one who poisoned the food, the truth is that County Princess Muhua was poisoned because of me.”
“You need not dwell on that matter. Though I love my daughter dearly, I am not so weak as to lash out at the innocent.”
“Wangfei is gracious and magnanimous, a testament to your character. But I cannot simply let this go. If it happens once, it will happen again. This time, I was fortunate enough to escape unscathed—next time, I may not be so lucky.”
“You’ve found the true culprit?” Ning Qin Wangfei asked, eyes sharp.
Mingxi shook her head. “I believe Wangfei already knows the outcome. Sui Er committed suicide, the trail was cut off, and the case was closed. But surely, neither you nor Ning Qin Wang truly believe that two mere palace maids’ personal grudges led to an attempted poisoning.”
Ning Qin Wangfei’s face turned icy. “Of course not.”
“What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing.”
“How did you find out about my son’s departure from the capital?” Ning Qin Wangfei asked.
“Naturally, Duan Wang informed me.”
Ning Qin Wangfei: …
“I’ve long heard that Duan Wang treats you differently. Today, I finally believe it.”
“It is my fortune that His Highness Duan Wang favors me. He treats me with sincerity, and I shall naturally return the same sincerity.”
Ning Qin Wangfei smiled. “So, you had your brother keep an eye on this matter? How did you predict that someone would secretly intervene?”
“I am not particularly talented, just made some personal speculations and happened to guess correctly.”
“Miss Duan, I do not believe in mere coincidences in this world.”
“You flatter me,” Mingxi replied sincerely. “I simply want to know—what does Wangfei intend to do about this?”
“And what about you? What is your plan?”
“The one behind this wants to kill two birds with one stone—both preventing Xiao Shizi from leaving the capital and pushing my brother into a trap. If our marquis manor fears them, they will only become bolder in the future.”
“That is quite reasonable.”
“If my information is correct, Xiao Shizi is meant to serve as a lieutenant under Fengcheng Marquis. After a few years of experience, if Great Chu and Qinan engage in war again, he will have the opportunity to earn military merit. With merit to his name, he can return to the capital with honor.”
Ning Qin Wangfei looked at Mingxi with increasing seriousness. She did not believe Duan Wang would have explained things to her in such detail.
This had to be her own deduction.
“And so?” Ning Qin Wangfei asked again.
“Official documents follow strict procedures. Now, someone has clearly spread false information, setting a trap by exploiting a time gap to deceive superiors and ensnare both Xiao Shizi and my brother. But what if we turn the tables on them?”
“Turn the tables?”
“Yes—using their own methods against them.”
Ning Qin Wangfei suddenly stood up. “Do you realize that if this fails, you will only bring disaster upon yourself?”
“How could it fail? Since His Majesty has permitted Xiao Shizi to leave the capital, then today’s plan has at least a seventy percent chance of success—enough for us to take the risk.”
Ning Qin Wangfei took a deep breath. “You truly are a fearless young cub. The younger generation is formidable indeed.”
“I simply have no other choice.”
Ning Qin Wangfei sat back down, her expression turning solemn. “If this succeeds, you must understand that many people will be involved.”
“Isn’t that all the better? The more chaos, the greater the opportunity.”
Ning Qin Wangfei gave Mingxi a deep look before decisively saying, “Very well, let’s proceed as planned.”
Mingxi knew she had convinced Ning Qin Wangfei. As a mother, how could she remain indifferent when both her son and daughter had suffered harm?
As for Ning Qin Wang….
Ning Qin Wangfei would surely have her own way to persuade him.
The two parted ways at Yuxian Tower. Ning Qin Wangfei’s carriage departed quietly through the rear exit of the restaurant, while Mingxi also returned to the Marquis Manor in her own carriage.
On her way back, she took a detour to wait outside the Military Selection Division for Duan Yu.
Duan Yu hurriedly slipped out of the office, spotted Mingxi’s carriage, and immediately got in. Before even sitting down, he asked, “Why are you here?”
Mingxi glanced at her elder brother. She usually conveyed messages through her sister-in-law,, so the two siblings hadn’t spoken directly in a long time.
“Eldest Brother, did you report this matter?” Mingxi asked.
Duan Yu shook his head. “Lord Zhao has not yet returned, and I certainly cannot bypass my superiors to report it.”
“Brother, have you considered that perhaps Lord Zhao is being deliberately delayed?”
Duan Yu froze. “You mean…”
“That’s why, Brother, you should take the official document and deliver it directly. Lord Zhao is a smart man—he will understand at a glance.”
Duan Yu hesitated and looked at Mingxi. “But what if Zhao Xun doesn’t want to take the risk?”
“That will depend on your skills, Brother.”
Duan Yu: …
What skills?
Mingxi met his gaze and slowly said, “Brother, if you want to make a name for yourself, you need not only profound knowledge but also courage that others lack.”
Duan Yu felt like his sister was calling him a coward in a roundabout way.
“You don’t want to remain a yuanwailang forever, do you?”
Of course not, Duan Yu thought.
“Then seize this opportunity.”
Duan Yu’s expression darkened slightly before he said firmly, “I understand. I will take the document to the Ministry of War right away.”
If he couldn’t find Zhao Xun, he would expose the matter directly in the Ministry of War. With so many people present, someone would have to take responsibility.
Mingxi watched as Duan Yu got off the carriage. At least he had some resolve—it was worth supporting him. She then ordered the coachman to head back to the Marquis Manor.
Upon arrival, she found someone from the Old Master’s side waiting at the gate. As soon as they saw her, they escorted her away.
The Old Master saw Mingxi and pointed to a chair. “Sit down and talk.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.” Mingxi took a seat. “What instructions do you have for me?”
The Old Master looked at Mingxi. “Someone from Ning Qin Wang’s household came by just now.”
Mingxi was genuinely surprised this time. Ning Qin Wangfei had acted swiftly.
“So, you already know, Grandfather?”
“Why didn’t you discuss this with me first?”
“Grandfather, your health is not good. I felt that this matter had not yet reached the point where you needed to intervene. When the time comes, the sharpest blade should strike at the crucial moment.”
The Old Master: …
That made it hard to stay angry.
“You are incredibly bold. Do you think Ning Qin Wang is someone you can just form an alliance with?”
“In the past, perhaps not. But now that both his son and daughter have been harmed, Ning Qin Wang cannot simply sit back and do nothing. Grandfather, if His Majesty did not suspect him, would Xiao Shizi have to leave the capital?”
“And what of it? That is only temporary. Ning Qin Wang holds a special place in His Majesty’s heart—far above most others. Once the situation settles, things will become unpredictable.”
“Grandfather, Duan Wang sending Xiao Shizi out of the capital—if Ning Qin Wang consented, it means he acknowledges his son has boarded Duan Wang’s ship. Even if they cannot fully cooperate, he will not harm his own son. In the future, he may remain a bystander, but he will not deliberately sabotage things.”
The Old Master sneered, “In this world, kings are kings, subjects are subjects, Fathers are Fathers, and sons are sons. Until the very last moment, who can truly know how things will unfold? You are still too young!”
