After the Crown Prince’s wedding, the preparations for Duan Wang’s marriage were officially underway. Just as he had said before, the wedding was set for March, when spring was in full bloom.
Dingyuan Marquis Manor became busier than ever. The entire process of arranging the marriage, from the betrothal letters to the ceremonial gifts, required a great deal of time. As the bride-to-be, Mingxi naturally had to reduce her outings. Even though she didn’t need to embroider her own dowry, she still had to at least put on a show of doing so.
Once the twelfth lunar month began, Duan Ning and a few others returned from Songshan Academy, making the manor even livelier.
They brought gifts for their family members, with an extra portion for Mingxi, making her share even more generous.
Duan Ning, upon returning this time, would not be going back. He planned to prepare for next year’s imperial exams in the spring. He had greatly benefited from studying under Master Chen at the Songshan Academy and felt deeply grateful to Mingxi for her recommendation back then.
While Duan Ning focused on his exams, the question of whether Duan Jin would return to Songshan Academy next year sparked differing opinions in the family.
Having turned seventeen after the new year, his engagement to the Ma family couldn’t be delayed indefinitely. Madam Ma had stayed in the capital throughout winter specifically for this marriage arrangement.
Previously, the Second Madam had been angered by Madam Ma’s attitude, but in recent months, the Ma family had adopted a more earnest approach, which made her hesitant.
The Second Master didn’t concern himself with household affairs but thought since Ma Qi hadn’t outright refused the engagement, there was no reason to delay it any longer.
For a man like Duan Jin, waiting another year wouldn’t matter much, but for Ma Minyi, further delay could start to raise eyebrows.
After being summoned by the Old Madam and spoken to privately, the Second Madam seemed to relent. The very next day, a matchmaker from the Ma family arrived to discuss the engagement.
With this, both Duan Ning and Duan Jin were no longer attending Songshan Academy. Duan Heng, left without companions, also refused to return, frustrating his mother, the Third Madam, to no end. After scolding him thoroughly, she eventually conceded.
Without his brothers around, the Third Madam’s worries deepened. She inquired whether Duan Qi could ask Scholar Zhou if he was still accepting students.
When Madam Jiang found out, her expression darkened, but Duan Qi readily agreed to help ask the scholar.
However, as the year-end approached, the Hanlin Academy grew busier, and Zhou Ying only responded after some time. He requested that Duan Qi bring Duan Heng over for an assessment before making a decision.
This made the Third Madam anxious, and she kept a constant watch over her son’s studies, much to Duan Heng’s dismay.
Meanwhile, Mingxi, worried about Duan Sirui, took some time to return to the Duan residence. Her younger brother had also come home and was delighted to see her, eagerly sharing amusing stories from the Songshan Academy.
Mingxi listened quietly, her smile impossible to suppress.
Watching her sharp and perceptive brother, now healthy and talkative, the shadows of their past life began to fade.
They would only get better from here.
On the day of Laba Festival, the palace distributed congee, and the Dingyuan Marquis’s family received a share. The Old Marquis led the family in accepting the congee with gratitude before dividing it among them.
The eight-treasure congee was brought out from the palace and delivered to the noble families, arriving slightly cool by the time it was consumed.
Out of respect for the Emperor’s kindness, everyone ate it despite its temperature, then quickly followed it with a warm cup of tea to ward off the chill.
Not long after Laba, Fengcheng Marquis’s memorial reached the capital. The Qinan forces had provoked conflict once again, and the marquis had already engaged in several battles, requesting reinforcements from the Emperor.
The request for reinforcements sparked heated debate in the court. As the prospective Father-in-law of Kang Wang, Fengcheng Marquis’s involvement inevitably implicated Ning Qinwang, especially since Xiao Lin was serving under him.
With Ning Qinwang drawn in, the Crown Prince and the other royalty quickly followed suit.
Inside the softly cushioned and heated carriage, with the warm glow of a brazier, it felt like spring despite the howling winds outside. Duan Mingxi sat across from Xiao Muchen.
The two had not seen each other for a long time. The carriage wheels rolled slowly over the cobblestone, the faint sound of the wind seeping through the thick curtains.
“The Crown Prince has volunteered to lead reinforcements to Fengcheng Marquis’s camp.”
Mingxi was stunned. This had not happened in their previous life.
The brazier’s light cast a warm glow on Mingxi’s face, her surprise even more evident under its illumination.
“What is Wangye’s opinion?” she asked.
Xiao Muchen replied with a question, “What do you think?”
Mingxi shook her head. “The situation at the Marquis’s front is unclear. The Crown Prince’s decision seems impulsive. Perhaps he still holds a grudge over the incident with Xiao Lin.”
The Crown Prince sought merit. Nothing garnered more public respect and admiration for an heir apparent than military achievements.
Xiao Muchen smiled. “I plan to give him a push. What do you think?”
Mingxi was genuinely surprised this time. “Why would you do that?”
“To seize, one must first give.”
Mingxi frowned slightly. “The Crown Prince has Chen Chang by his side and won’t act recklessly.”
“Precisely why I plan to add fuel to the fire.”
Mingxi immediately understood his intentions. “You mean the Crown Prince might not actually intend to go himself.”
“The Crown Prince, as the heir apparent, wouldn’t leave the capital lightly. But he could send someone else.”
A figure flashed in Mingxi’s mind. “Gao Zhan?” she asked instinctively.
“Why would you think of him?” Xiao Muchen looked at her curiously.
Mingxi: ….
She paused before answering calmly, “Gao Zhan has handled many matters for the Crown Prince in secret and is considered one of his close confidants. Such a prime opportunity for earning merit would naturally go to a trusted subordinate, hence my guess. Or does Wangye have other information about who the Crown Prince intends to recommend?”
Xiao Muchen observed her closely. “As far as I know, the Crown Prince does intend to propose Gao Zhan.”
Mingxi: ….
She couldn’t hide her surprise. “Oh, so I guessed correctly? I did think that Bai Zhiwei’s connection to the Crown Prince was unusual. If we haven’t uncovered the full story, then Gao Zhan leaving the capital might serve more than just the pursuit of military merits—perhaps the Crown Prince has other plans.”
Xiao Muchen hadn’t considered this angle before. “Why do you think so?” he asked.
“After the Crown Princess entered the Eastern Palace, Bai Zhiwei reportedly sought multiple audiences but was refused each time. Rumors have spread, and the Crown Prince is bound to act.” Mingxi chuckled coldly.
Xiao Muchen studied her. “If you were the Crown Princess, what would you do?”
Mingxi hadn’t expected this question. After a moment of thought, she replied, “For someone like Bai Zhiwei, to sever ties completely, you’d have to handle it cleanly and decisively. Otherwise, she’d be like a leech, clinging on relentlessly.”
Xiao Muchen understood now. She believed Bai Shixi’s approach was justified.
“But the Crown Princess’s actions have tarnished her reputation. The Empress was so displeased that she summoned her to the palace to reprimand her.”
“To the Empress and the Crown Prince, their own interests come first. Whether the Crown Princess feels aggrieved or not hardly matters,” Mingxi said with a mocking tone.
Hearing her remarks, Xiao Muchen chuckled. “So, the Crown Prince will also pressure the Crown Princess.”
“The so-called ‘pressure’ from the Crown Prince is just about elevating Gao Zhan, allowing Bai Zhiwei to bask in glory?” Mingxi mused, thinking how differently men handled matters compared to women. “Does it mean that Bai Zhiwei, flaunting her newfound status and disrespecting the Crown Princess, would please the Crown Prince and the Empress?”
What a joke.
“Duke Zhen’s stance also holds weight.”
Mingxi frowned and paused before replying, “Partial parents in this world never think they are wrong.”
Just like in her previous life.
Thinking of this, Mingxi turned to Xiao Muchen. “Your Majesty, let’s not beat around the bush. What do you want me to do?”
