Xiao Muchen turned to look at Mingxi. At that moment, they understood each other completely. Both knew this was the Empress’s trick to divert the Emperor’s attention.
The scheme was crude but effective—after all, it involved a royal scandal.
Xiao Muchen stepped forward and grasped Mingxi’s hand. He knew what she was about to do and simply said, “Be careful.”
Mingxi smiled, returning his grip. “You too, Wangye.”
Then, they parted ways.
Mingxi went directly to find Chu Qingying.
Chu Qingying had just received the news herself and was discussing countermeasures with her younger brother. Upon hearing that Mingxi had come, she immediately left the house to meet her. Mingxi pulled her onto a carriage, heading straight for Yu Wang’s residence.
Chu Qingying didn’t even have time to leave instructions at home. She only sent a maid back to inform her brother so he wouldn’t worry.
“Mingxi, will it help to go see my sister now?” Chu Qingying was seething with rage, wishing she could curse out the entire Xingan Marquis family. They were absolutely shameless.
“Of course. At this moment, everything depends on Yu Wangfei,” Mingxi said in a deep voice.
Chu Qingying looked confused, but she trusted Mingxi’s intelligence. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just get me into Yu Wang’s residence quietly so I can meet the Wangfei,” Mingxi replied.
It was only then that Chu Qingying noticed Mingxi had disguised herself as a maid. She had been too focused on the situation to realize it earlier.
She instantly understood and said, “No problem, that’s easy.”
Mingxi took out a small mirror and darkened her complexion slightly with powder, thickening her eyebrows to change her features. At a glance, she looked quite convincing.
Chu Qingying was impressed—though she had to admit, Mingxi had made herself rather unattractive.
When the carriage arrived at Yu Wang’s residence, Chu Qingying led Mingxi out. Mingxi kept her head lowered, following closely behind. As expected, the gatekeeper merely asked a question before letting them through.
Mingxi followed Chu Qingying past the residence gates. With servants leading the way, Chu Qingying didn’t speak to Mingxi, keeping a stern, hurried expression—no acting required.
Yu Wangfei was just about to leave for the palace when she saw her sister arrive. She had been planning to send word to her and their brother.
She welcomed them in and said, “Why are you here so soon? I was just about to send someone to inform you and our brother.”
“Sister,” Chu Qingying said as she stepped aside, revealing Mingxi.
Yu Wangfei was visibly startled but quickly composed herself. She glanced at her trusted aides. “Leave us. I have matters to discuss with Second Miss.”
Her confidante nodded and led the others out, personally standing guard at the door.
“Mingxi, why are you here? What’s the matter?” Yu Wangfei lowered her voice, thinking Mingxi needed her help.
“I apologize for the sudden visit, Wangfei,” Mingxi said, bowing slightly.
Yu Wangfei took her hands. “Why so formal? In a few months, we’ll be family. Sit and talk quickly—I need to leave for the palace soon.”
Mingxi nodded. “Is Her Highness Consort Xian summoning you?”
Yu Wangfei’s expression changed. She looked at Mingxi. “You already know?” Then she let out a bitter laugh. “Of course, this kind of thing can’t be kept quiet.”
Even though she found it humiliating, she didn’t bother putting on a dignified front. Her eyes reddened.
Mingxi suddenly grasped her hands. “Wangfei, this is a great opportunity for you!”
Yu Wangfei froze. “What?”
What opportunity?
She hadn’t even finished feeling humiliated yet, and now Mingxi was talking about an opportunity?
Chu Qingying was equally baffled. “How could this be an opportunity?”
Mingxi met Yu Wangfei’s gaze. “Has it occurred to you why Yu Wang’s affair with He Wanyi was exposed at this particular moment?”
Yu Wangfei’s heart sank. She slowly sat back down, her expression turning serious. Thinking about the recent events, her face darkened. “You mean…”
Mingxi nodded slightly. “If you let this incident create a rift between you and Yu Wang, if you fall out with Consort Xian, you’ll be playing right into their hands.”
Chu Qingying’s mind worked quickly. She wasn’t as sharp as her sister, but she wasn’t foolish either. She began to grasp Mingxi’s meaning, her face paling. “Mingxi, are you saying this is a ploy to help ‘that one’ escape?”
Mingxi tilted her head and said, “It’s always better to have the knife at someone else’s throat than at your own.”
Chu Qingying’s face turned white, and her legs went weak. She looked at her sister in alarm. “Sister, what do we do? Are we really going to let He Wanyi into the residence to disgust you every day?”
Mingxi recalled how, in her past life, He Wanyi had indeed become a side consort to Yu Wang. Once she entered the household, she stirred up endless trouble. With the backing of the Xingan Marquis family and the new Jingyuan Marquis, she made Yu Wangfei’s life miserable.
With her natal family under her stepmother’s control, her husband’s heart divided, and her siblings struggling, Yu Wangfei had gradually been overshadowed by He Wanyi. By the end, she was nothing more than a nominal wangfei, enduring a miserable life.
But this time, Mingxi was giving her a chance—to choose a different path.
Yu Wangfei stared at Mingxi. “What should i do?”
Mingxi smiled. “That depends on what you want.”
Yu Wangfei clenched her teeth. “I don’t want He Wanyi in my house.”
“That’s possible. But if you insist on keeping her out, Yu Wang will resent you. If it’s not He Wanyi today, it’ll be someone else tomorrow.”
Yu Wangfei understood what Mingxi meant. The tension she had been holding since receiving the news suddenly seemed to crack, and her expression darkened.
“I didn’t know they were involved with each other.” She let out a bitter laugh. Her husband and the niece of her stepmother—where did that leave her?
Mingxi gazed at her. “It’s unlikely that Yu Wang is truly fond of He Wanyi. Xingan Marquis must have promised him something. With the current tension between the Crown Prince and the other princes, if Yu Wang wants the support of court officials, he has to offer something in return.”
Yu Wangfei was taken aback. “So what are you saying?”
“What if Yu Wang was set up? Right now, you should stand by his side. A husband and wife must weather storms together, never abandoning each other. If you do this, Yu Wang will be deeply moved. And in the future, others will find it much harder to shake your position.”
Chu Qingying took in a sharp breath. What a ruthless move.
“He was set up?” Yu Wangfei sneered, clearly unconvinced.
“Whether he was or not, in front of Consort Xian and Yu Wang, you must believe it to be true.”
Yu Wangfei’s gaze grew resolute. Yes, she couldn’t afford to gain nothing from this. She only had one title—Yu Wangfei—and she had to hold onto it tightly.
After this incident, whether or not Yu Wang appreciated her, the world would see her as a loyal and devoted wife. Even if he wanted to betray her, he’d have to consider the court’s opinion.
Mingxi was offering her a protective charm. it was up to her whether she dared to take it.
For her own sake and her younger siblings—she had to find the courage!
