“Of course not,” Mingxi said seriously. “I happened to go to the manor and saw you.”
Xu Heng frowned. “Do you own property in that area as well?”
“It seems the young shizi isn’t too familiar with the city’s recent events,” Mingxi said with a faint smile. “Previously, I had intended to purchase the very estate where you and Bai Zhiwei met today. Unfortunately, Gao Zhan intercepted it midway, forcing me to settle for another property nearby.”
Xu Heng hadn’t heard about this matter before. Hearing Mingxi’s explanation, his expression turned strange. “Gao Zhan took your property?”
“Not mine—just one I intended to buy,” Mingxi corrected him.
Xu Heng thought to himself, what’s the difference?
“Do you and Gao Zhan have a grudge?”
Otherwise, why would he snatch something she wanted?
After a brief silence, Mingxi asked, “Have you only recently returned to the capital?”
Xu Heng nodded. “Yes, I was stationed at the barracks until recently.”
Mingxi finally understood. No wonder.
“This is a long story,” she said before briefly summarizing the events that had transpired.
Xu Heng: …
He hadn’t expected such a complicated grudge to exist.
His expression shifted subtly, but before he could say anything, Mingxi continued slowly, “Xu Shizi, don’t take offense at my directness. I only came here because I’ve had past entanglements with Gao Zhan and Bai Zhiwei. Knowing their character, I was genuinely shocked to see you and Bai Zhiwei visit the estate one after another.”
Xu Heng was still perplexed. “Even if that’s the case, this is still my personal matter.”
Was it really worth it for Miss Duan to come and question him in the middle of the night?
Mingxi looked at Xu Heng and said, “Do you truly think it’s your personal matter? You must know that Bai Zhiwei recently had a huge dispute with Duchess Gao, nearly escalating to the courts. At such a time, instead of lying low at the Duke’s mansion, she chose to meet with you. Back then, I was the one who passed along the word regarding your engagement with Second Miss Xiao. I don’t care about what’s going on between you and Bai Zhiwei, but you absolutely cannot let Second Miss Xiao down.”
Xu Heng: …
So that’s what this is about. It startled him.
“I have never done anything to betray Second Miss Xiao,” Xu Heng immediately said. “I agreed to this engagement of my own accord, so of course, I wouldn’t stoop to such dishonorable behavior.”
Mingxi glanced at Xu Heng after hearing this.
Xu Heng inexplicably felt that her gaze carried a heavy sense of threat. After hesitating for a moment, he said to Duan Mingxi, “There are other reasons for my meeting with Bai Zhiwei, but it’s inconvenient for me to explain.”
Mingxi stared at Xu Heng. She knew that Duke Wei was a loyal and upright man, but Bai Zhiwei’s interference couldn’t be ignored.
She looked at Xu Heng and said slowly, “How much do you know about Bai Zhiwei?”
Xu Heng frowned. “What does this have to do with you?”
“I’m just reminding you, Xu Shizi. While I may have personal grievances with Bai Zhiwei, I disdain underhanded tactics. However, since Second Miss Xiao is your fiancée and a close friend of mine, I must warn you. If you’re determined to step into the mud, that’s your choice. But don’t drag Xiao Ling down with you. If you are secretly involved with Bai Zhiwei, I advise you to call off the engagement with Xiao Ling now.”
“Miss Duan!” Xu Heng was genuinely angry this time. “You’re being unreasonable and overstepping your boundaries!”
Mingxi gave a faint smile. “I never meddle in others’ business, but when it concerns my family and friends, it’s a different story.”
Her expression turned cold. “Especially since I was the one who facilitated the engagement between you and Xiao Ling. I must ensure that she remains unharmed.”
“You’re being completely unreasonable! When have I ever wronged her?” Xu Heng’s chest heaved with anger. He was so furious that he wished he could draw his sword and challenge her. She was infuriating!
“Xu Shizi, a man of your stature, taught by Duke Wei himself, should act openly and honorably. Yet you assume that everyone in the world is as pure-hearted as you.”
Xu Heng’s expression softened slightly at her words, though he thought to himself, No amount of flattery can undo the offense you’ve caused me.
Mingxi’s ears twitched subtly, her sharp gaze briefly sweeping toward the window before pretending not to notice someone eavesdropping. She continued, “I have some things to tell you about Bai Zhiwei. Listen to what I have to say before making your decision.”
Though still somewhat irritated, Xu Heng’s tone eased a little. “I know you have a personal grudge against Miss Bai, but you don’t need to target her like this.”
“She’s no longer just Miss Bai; she’s the wife of Duke Gao shizi. Don’t you think your address for her is already inappropriate?”
Xu Heng frowned. “What’s the difference?”
“It makes a huge difference. By calling her ‘Miss Bai,’ you treat her as an unmarried woman. But she’s already married. Are you pretending that Gao Zhan doesn’t exist?”
Xu Heng: …
If Gao Zhan heard that, he’d probably challenge you to a duel!
“Calling a married woman ‘Miss’—don’t you find it ambiguous? Or is it that you truly harbor feelings for Bai Zhiwei? Or perhaps you’re dissatisfied with Gao Zhan and want to sow discord between him and his wife? But everyone in the capital knows that Gao Zhan and Bai Zhiwei share a love that moves the heavens. Xu Shizi, think carefully before you act!”
“Miss Duan, you’re being unreasonable!”
“Xu Shizi, you’re the one whose actions are improper, yet you want to silence others and play the victim. Do you think you can silence the entire world?”
Xu Heng: …
He finally understood the saying, A scholar encounters a soldier, and reason goes out the window.
And he was the soldier! Facing Duan Mingxi made him want to draw his blade!
She was infuriating enough to kill him!
Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself not to stoop to her level. As a man, he could afford to give her some leeway.
“What was it you wanted to say earlier?”
Mingxi observed that, despite her relentless words, Xu Heng still maintained courtesy. A gentleman bullied with reason—perhaps it was this very quality that had led to his tragic end in a past life.
Her heart softened slightly, but her tone remained firm. “I must clarify something with you. When I first returned to the capital, Dingyuan Marquis Madam did discuss a marriage alliance with Duchess Gao involving me.”
“You didn’t mention that earlier,” Xu Heng said indignantly.
He could at least tell whether Bai Zhiwei was lying to him, but Duan Mingxi had outright deceived him just now!
“Dingyuan Marquis Madam and Duchess Gao discussed it privately, without my knowledge. However, Gao Zhan was aware. Despite knowing about the potential match, he still secretly met with Bai Zhiwei. I caught them in the act. At the time, Bai Zhiwei and Gao Zhan conspired against me, even attempting to frame me. Although I was raised in a merchant family in Jiangcheng, my adoptive parents taught me to live honorably and with a clear conscience. Xu Shizi, haven’t you noticed how similar your situation is to mine?”
“What?” Xu Heng was stunned.
“You and Second Miss Xiao aren’t just in discussions; you’re already engaged. Yet under broad daylight, Bai Zhiwei meets with you in private, showing no regard for appearances, and you don’t find anything wrong with that. Let me put it this way: If Second Miss Xiao secretly met with another man behind your back, how would you feel? Even if, as you say, you and Bai Zhiwei are innocent, wouldn’t you be upset if Second Miss Xiao claimed the same with someone else?”
Xu Heng: …
