“isn’t she making a fuss about divorce? The divorce is fake—what she really wants is to force Duchess Gao to yield. in that case, let her turn the fake into reality.”
“Turn the fake into reality?” Mingxi instinctively wanted to object.
With how well-matched Bai Zhiwei and Gao Zhan were, they should stay together for eternity, lest they go on to harm others.
“You have a different idea?” Xiao Muchen asked as he noticed her frown.
Mingxi was momentarily lost in thought before shaking her head. “I was just thinking that neither Bai Zhiwei nor Gao Zhan are good people. if they divorce and remarry, that would just bring harm to others.”
Xiao Muchen was amused by her reasoning. “You do think things through thoroughly. But if they really do divorce, their reputations in the capital will be completely ruined. Even if they were to remarry, it would be difficult for them to find a good match.”
Mingxi recalled how, in her past life, Gao Zhan had waited for Bai Zhiwei for ten years. If they divorced and Duchess Gao became the villain in the story, Gao Zhan might even end up feeling guilty towards Bai Zhiwei.
It would be better to bind them together tightly. With Duchess Gao constantly stirring things up between them, endless arguments would ensue. Mingxi was curious to see just how far Gao Zhan and Bai Zhiwei could go.
Thinking of this, she looked at Duan Wang and said, “Bai Zhiwei is different from ordinary women. If she divorces, she’ll escape from the Gao family’s pit of fire. She could easily turn things around and make Gao Zhan feel guilty toward her. Rather than letting her manipulate Gao Zhan, it’s better to keep them together. Besides, Gao Zhan isn’t stupid. if Bai Zhiwei really does something behind his back, when the truth comes to light one day, that would be even more entertaining.”
A dog-eat-dog situation was exactly what she wanted to see.
Xiao Muchen only wanted to kick Bai Zhiwei out so he wouldn’t have to deal with her antics, but since Mingxi had a different plan, he didn’t mind. “We’ll go with your idea. As long as you’re happy.”
Mingxi glanced at him. The way he said that made her sound like a capricious person acting on a whim.
Once they finished discussing business, Xiao Muchen looked at Mingxi and asked, “Regarding our wedding, do you have any thoughts or anything you’d like?”
Hmm?
Mingxi looked at him, then shook her head. “No.”
Xiao Muchen’s gaze darkened. “Nothing at all?”
Perhaps it was the hint of disappointment in his tone that made Mingxi pause. After a moment, she slowly said, “Our marriage was decreed by His Majesty, and the three letters and six rites will follow the royal protocols. I naturally cannot break the rules. Besides, for me, a wedding according to royal customs is already a great honor.”
Xiao Muchen was not satisfied with this answer. He felt that Mingxi was skirting around the issue—she should have understood what he meant, yet she was avoiding it.
As he was thinking this, Mingxi continued, “Putting aside royal customs, if I could make one request of you personally, there is something I would like.”
“Speak,” Xiao Muchen’s eyes lit up slightly.
Meeting his gaze, Mingxi hesitated. Ever since she had accepted this engagement, Xiao Muchen had treated her with care and consideration.
The words lingered on her tongue before she finally said, “I hope that, whether it’s the betrothal gifts or the engagement ceremony, you will personally come to the Marquis Manor.”
In royal engagements, the Ministry of Rites usually handled the formalities, and only on the wedding day would a prince personally appear to escort the bride.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Muchen immediately smiled. “Alright.”
She wanted him to be personally involved in everything, which meant she still looked forward to this marriage.
That was enough.
After having a meal at Yuxian Tower, Xiao Muchen escorted Mingxi back to the Marquis Manor before returning to Duan Wang’s residence.
Back at the residence, Xiao Muchen summoned Chen Xiao and instructed, “Zhong Yuqing is planning to impeach Duke Wei, and it all stems from Qiu Yun’s case. Go quietly to see Duke Wei and inform him.”
“Yes.” Chen Xiao immediately accepted the order. “Wangye, Duke Wei is a stubborn man. if he learns that Zhong Yuqing is going to impeach him, he might not back down.”
“If he backs down because of this, he wouldn’t be Duke Wei,” Xiao Muchen said. “Tell him that the person who fed the information to Zhong Yuqing was the Crown Prince.”
Chen Xiao’s expression turned serious. “Wangye, is this information accurate?”
They hadn’t caught wind of anything yet, which showed just how secretively the Eastern Palace was operating this time.
“What do you think?”
Chen Xiao didn’t dare to question further. He quickly saluted and ran off.
Wangye was in a good mood today. Normally, if he had asked such a question, he would have gotten a kick in response.
Chen Xiao changed into plain clothes and discreetly went to see Duke Wei.
Once Chen Xiao left, Xiao Muchen summoned Qi He. “Do you have any connections with Zhong Sheng?”
Qi He was stunned for a moment before recalling, “Wangye, do you mean the eldest son of Zhong Yuqing?”
Xiao Muchen nodded slightly.
Qi He thought for a moment before replying, “I don’t actually have any connections with him.”
The prince’s residence and the Censorate had little association. Usually, their people were the ones targeted by the censors. Who would dare maintain contact with them?
They avoided them like the plague.
“Wangye, do you want to meet Zhong Sheng? That’s simple, I can just go directly to his house and find him,” Qi He suggested.
Xiao Muchen gave him a long look.
Qi He immediately tensed up, realizing his mistake. If this was something they could do openly, why would the Wangye be handling it so discreetly?
Realizing his slip, Qi He quickly corrected himself. “If you have any instructions, just say the word. Even if I don’t know him personally, I can get the job done.”
Wangye had first asked if he had connections with Zhong Sheng, which meant that when they met, it had to be done without causing offense. Noted.
It was strange, though. Since when had Wangye started handling things so tactfully?
“Pass on this message to him,” Xiao Muchen instructed. “The Crown Prince is meddling in the Qinan affair and aims to eliminate Duke Wei first. Right now, everything concerning Duke Wei that lands in Zhong Yuqing’s hands is just a ploy to use him as a blade to murder.”
Qi He’s expression changed. “Wangye?”
Xiao Muchen waved him off and continued, “Xiao Lin is still under Marquis Fengcheng’s command. if Duke Wei falls, Marquis Fengcheng will be left to fend for himself, and Xiao Lin will be in danger. Deliver a message to Ning Qin Wang.”
Qi He’s smile instantly disappeared, and he said solemnly, “Your Majesty, if that’s the case, Ning Qin Wang will certainly do his best to mediate for his son’s sake. But Censor Zhong is a man of unwavering integrity—he may not be willing to back down.”
The evidence was solid, and it was a censor’s duty to impeach.
“That’s why i’m telling you to find Zhong Sheng.”
Qi He was still somewhat confused. Could Zhong Sheng actually stop his Father?
If he could, then Zhong Yuqing wouldn’t have such a formidable reputation as the most unyielding censor.
But since his lord had given the order, he would follow through.
Knowing the urgency of the matter, Qi He immediately set off at full speed.
Xiao Muchen sat in his study, picked up a brush, and wrote down four names: Duke Wei, Zhong Yuqing, Ning Qin Wang, and finally, the Crown Prince.
Zhong Yuqing was the sharp blade—where the blade struck depended on the abilities of Duke Wei and Ning Qin Wang.
Xiao Muchen stared at the names for a long time before picking up the paper, lighting a fire starter, and tossing it into a bronze basin, watching it burn to ashes.
To be safe, he still needed to enter the palace.
No matter what, he couldn’t let the Crown Prince succeed.
