Chen Chang stole a glance at the Crown Prince before cautiously continuing, “The Imperial Kitchen happens to be short a Zhangsi.”
The Crown Prince lifted his eyes to the distance. So, his impending marriage had allowed Duan Mingxi to profit—securing a Zhangsi title for nothing.
“Send word to Mao Jun. The Imperial Kitchen needs a good cleaning out.”
“Understood,” Chen Chang replied. “However, Your Majesty, even if you want to clear house, this isn’t the time. At least wait until after your wedding.”
The thought of Duan Mingxi’s opportunism left the Crown Prince fuming. But if the Imperial Kitchen hadn’t caused such trouble, she wouldn’t have had the chance to benefit in the first place.
Without further comment, the Crown Prince gestured for Chen Chang to leave.
Second Master Duan did not publicly announce his appointment to the Imperial Kitchens as a Zhangsi. The Dingyuan Marquis Manor merely held a private family banquet to celebrate, without making any outward statements.
Since the appointment involved the Twenty-Four Bureaus, well-connected families had already caught wind of the news, prompting many to sigh in admiration—when one person rises, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
Ever since Miss Duan became engaged to Duan Wang, the Dingyuan Marquis Manor had been flourishing.
People still remembered what Second and Third Master Duan were like in the past, yet now, they had both secured official positions—and were performing surprisingly well.
Especially Duan Yu, who, despite his young age, had been personally promoted by the Emperor to serve as a langzhong in the Military Selection Division. Though luck certainly played a part, being able to seize an opportunity when it arose was a skill in itself.
No one was happier about this than Second Madam. Beaming with pride, she turned to her husband and said, “See? I always knew Mingxi was a good child. Fortunately, I had sharp judgment back then and sided with the right person.”
Second Master Duan, feeling exhilarated by his recent success, nodded at everything his wife said. Thinking back on it now, he still found it hard to believe—he had truly secured the position of Zhangsi.
Mingxi had been right: without effort, nothing would come of anything. The hardships he had endured at the estate over the past six months had all been worth it.
The entire Marquis Manor was brimming with joy—except for Madam Jiang, who was visibly displeased but dared not voice her discontent.
Upon hearing the news, Duan Huirou thought to herself that her second uncle and aunt would now be even more inclined to support Duan Mingxi.
***
Duke Zhen’s Manor
Early in the morning, Bai Shixi was awakened—it was her wedding day.
Under the careful service of her maids, she bathed, changed into her wedding attire, and had her makeup applied.
Just her bridal makeup alone took a full hour as she sat in front of the dressing mirror. Dark circles loomed under her eyes—yesterday, Bai Zhiwei had returned to the manor, and the two had quarreled once again. As always, their parents had taken Bai Zhiwei’s side.
Though Bai Shixi had long since numbed herself to such treatment, she still couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.
Once her makeup was complete and she was fully dressed, the attendants helped her into her wedding gown.
The servants attending her today were not from Duke Zhen’s residence but were sent from the palace, which brought an unusual quiet to her surroundings.
The crown princess’s wedding dress was luxurious and grand, with intricate layers upon layers. The golden crown she wore was crafted from solid gold, with a phoenix spreading its wings, adorned with delicate hairpins and a central gemstone. Once her lips were painted, her imposing aura became unmistakable.
Palace attendants supported Bai Shixi as she stepped out. Outside, Duchess Zhen and others were already waiting. Bai Zhiwei had also come. As she looked up, she saw Bai Shixi in her trailing wedding gown, adorned with a towering golden hairpin, and the striking phoenix on her crown, ready to take flight.
The smile on Bai Zhiwei’s face froze instantly. When she married Gao Zhan, she had worn a phoenix crown too, but it was nowhere near as opulent as this one.
She was instantly overshadowed.
The family members of Duke Zhen crowded around, showering Bai Shixi with compliments.
Bai Shixi kept a faint smile, playing the part of a shy bride, which made everyone laugh even more warmly.
After some cheerful moments, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only the palace attendants, Duchess Zhen, and Bai Zhiwei in the room.
Sitting on her chair, Bai Shixi’s expression lost its earlier softness. She turned to the palace attendants and said, “Momos, you’ve worked hard. Please, go have a cup of tea and take a rest.”
The momos understood that the crown princess wanted to speak privately with her family. Smiling, they excused themselves and left.
Once the palace servants were gone, Bai Zhiwei spoke first. “Little Sister, you seem so grand today.”
Bai Shixi shot her a cold look. “What? Jealous?”
“How can you talk to your sister like that?” Duchess Zhen scolded with a frown.
Bai Shixi replied indifferently, “Indeed, after today, I’ll be the legitimate Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace. It wouldn’t be proper to address her this way anymore. After all, she’ll need to bow and greet me in the future. Without my summons, she won’t even be allowed through the gates of the Eastern Palace.”
Duchess Zhen suppressed her anger and said, “You are sisters. You should support one another…”
“What have you done to support me?”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?” The Duchess’s voice grew stern. “Did I raise you all these years just for you to hold a grudge?”
“Just as you differentiate between close and distant among your daughters, once I marry, I will naturally differentiate between who is close and who is not.”
Bai Shixi had no intention of holding back today. She had endured silently in this household for years, and today, she could finally stand tall.
After stepping out of this door, she would no longer be the neglected second daughter of Duke Zhen, the daughter her parents ignored, or the insignificant girl who was always overshadowed by Bai Zhiwei.
“Bai Shixi, don’t think that becoming the Crown Princess means you can do whatever you want. If people hear that you’re unfilial to your parents…”
“Unfilial?” Bai Shixi scoffed. “Don’t worry. On all the proper holidays, I’ll send gifts befitting a married daughter. That’s my duty. But as for anything beyond that—just as you used to tell me, what isn’t mine will never be mine. Now, I’ll return those words to you. What isn’t yours will never be yours. In the future, don’t try to compare yourselves to me. Each of us has our own fate, so let’s live our separate lives.”
Bai Zhiwei sneered. “You’re just marrying into the Eastern Palace. Do you think you’ll be the only one by the Crown Prince’s side? Whether you can hold your position is still uncertain, yet you’re already planning to cut ties with your family. Don’t regret it later.”
“Cut ties with my family?” Bai Shixi laughed coldly. “Don’t think I don’t know about your little attempts to secretly contact the Crown Prince.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Bai Zhiwei’s face darkened.
Duchess Zhen turned livid. “What kind of nonsense is this?”
“Bai Zhiwei dared to do it, and you even tried to have her replace me to marry into the Eastern Palace. If not for a bit of luck and fortune on my part, you might have succeeded. You knew I was your daughter too, yet you still did such a thing. If you had the nerve to act, why shouldn’t I have the nerve to speak? Shameless people have no right to lecture others.”
