As soon as she said this, she and Xu Nanxi exchanged glances, both showing subtle expressions.
Xu Nanxi said, “Do you think it’s because Jingyuan Marquis Madam already knows that Yu Wangfei won’t be able to look after her sister this time…”
If He Wanyi truly had ulterior motives after entering Yu Wang’s residence, she would certainly leverage her status to oppose Yu Wangfei at every turn. That would make life in the manor extremely difficult for her.
With her own struggles, how could she still protect her younger siblings as she had before?
Xu Nanxi’s face darkened. “If that’s really the case, then that’s shameless.”
Duan Mingxi’s heart sank.
She didn’t know the exact reasons why Jingyuan Marquis Madam schemed against Chu Qingying in her past life, leading to her eventual marriage to Xie Jingyang. But in this life, it was clear this was a deliberate setup.
Xu Nanxi, seeing Mingxi’s grim expression, also grew uneasy. “We need to let Qingying know about this.”
Mingxi nodded. “I’ll leave that to you.”
Xu Nanxi immediately said, “Consider it done. No time to waste—I’ll go right now.”
Mingxi walked her to the carriage, instructing as they went, “Tell Qingying not to leave the house for now. If Jingyuan Marquis Madam really has malicious intent, then the moment she makes a move, Qingying will be in danger.”
“You’re right. if she really harbors ill intentions, all it takes is one move, and Qingying could be trapped,” Xu Nanxi agreed.
Just like He Wanyi—once a young lady’s reputation was ruined, even becoming a side consort carried a stain.
Let alone marrying a widower.
Mingxi saw Xu Nanxi off and turned to Qi Dongchun, saying, “Spread the word first. The rest will depend on what happens in the palace.”
Qi Dongchun hesitated. “But if news of Yu Wang and He Wanyi’s situation spreads too quickly, won’t that be bad?”
Mingxi sneered. “They were so in love they couldn’t resist meeting privately. Such a great love story—shouldn’t it be properly celebrated? But make sure to focus on He Wanyi.”
Then, she lowered her voice and said, “He Wanyi becoming a side consort isn’t just about love. I suspect it’s actually a step in a larger scheme—to pave the way for the son of Jingyuan Marquis Manor to seize the shizi position…”
Qi Dongchun: …
The aristocracy really was a deep pool of treachery. This was terrifying.
“But even if the shizi’s position is won, what does that have to do with He Wanyi? Is it really worth her ruining her own reputation and marriage prospects for this?” Qi Dongchun couldn’t understand—it seemed too foolish.
Mingxi chuckled. “How could there be no benefit? If both Chu Yaonian and Chu Qingying are taken down, Yu Wangfei will be left completely isolated. With Jingyuan Marquis Manor and Xingan Marquis Manor backing her, who’s to say He Wanyi couldn’t take Yu Wangfei’s position?”
Qi Dongchun: …
This was even more terrifying.
Were they actually plotting to remove Yu Wangfei altogether?
Thinking carefully, he murmured, “Miss, you’re right. As long as Yu Wangfei is there, the shizi and Miss Chu’s positions are unshakable.”
“But Miss, what benefit do you gain from this? It seems more dangerous than anything,” Qi Dongchun said, unwilling to see his young miss step into peril.
Mingxi smiled. “How could there be no benefit? Just do as I say.”
Hearing this, Qi Dongchun felt reassured. Even if he didn’t understand the benefits, he trusted that Mingxi had her reasons. All he needed to do was follow her orders.
For someone running a restaurant, spreading rumors was the easiest thing in the world.
By noon, the scandal of Yu Wang and He Wanyi’s affair was no longer a secret.
As the news spread, many households finally learned what had happened. Meanwhile, Mingxi instructed Qi Dongchun to subtly spread speculation about the schemes of Xingqin Marquis Madam and Jingyuan Marquis Madam. As rumors took root, the situation began to ferment.
The battle for the heirship of Marquis Jingyuan’s household had been ongoing for a long time. Many believed the dust had settled, but who could have expected that the marquis madam would still refuse to give up and resort to such tactics?
Xu Nanxi had just returned home when her mother summoned her before she could even catch her breath.
“You’ve been running around all day. What exactly are you busy with?” her mother, Madam of the Duke Wei household, asked, scrutinizing her.
Xu Nanxi knew she had been out for a long time but didn’t dare tell her mother the truth.
Ever since her mother lost to Mingxi in their last confrontation, the entire household had avoided mentioning anything related to Mingxi in front of her.
Her cousin liked Mingxi, and the position of Duan Wangfei was set in stone. For the sake of peace, no one in the household dared to antagonize Mingxi anymore.
Now that her mother was questioning her, Xu Nanxi’s mind turned quickly. She feigned anger and said, “Mother, haven’t you heard the rumors outside?”
“What rumors?” Her mother, weary from dealing with Feng Wenxuan’s marriage, frowned.
“It’s about Yu Wang and He Wanyi.” Xu Nanxi lowered her voice.
Duchess Wei dismissed it indifferently. “That’s hardly a big deal. Yu Wang will simply take her into his household.”
Xu Nanxi was dumbfounded. “It’s not a big deal?”
Duchess Wei, still preoccupied with her niece’s wedding, replied absentmindedly, “Regardless of Yu Wang’s status or He Wanyi’s background, this situation must be resolved properly. The best solution is for He Wanyi to enter the household as a side consort, which would smooth things over. Yu Wang is a royal; his reputation must remain intact. He Wanyi, as the daughter of Xingan Marquis and the younger sister of Jin Wangfei, cannot afford to have her name tainted either.”
“What other solution is there? If there’s no alternative, this is the only way.”
Xu Nanxi knew her mother was right, but her mother’s cold indifference made her uncomfortable. Unable to hold back, she blurted out, “Isn’t the most aggrieved person in all of this Yu Wangfei?”
Didn’t anyone care about her feelings?
Duchess Wei glanced at her daughter and said, “You’re too naive. So what if she’s aggrieved? Which Wangye doesn’t have side consorts? It’s only a matter of time. If she’s smart, she’ll use this opportunity to help Yu Wang save face, which will only strengthen her position as his wangfei. If she causes a fuss… tell me, does she even have the power to fight?”
“Why can’t she fight?” Xu Nanxi asked instinctively.
Duchess Wei’s gaze turned sharp. “The matter of Jingyuan Marquis shizi has already severed her ties with her stepmother. Tell me, who would support her?”
“If Jingyuan Marquis truly cared for her, would his wife have dared to make such a move? You’re still young. You don’t understand how these things work. Men are fickle—no matter how good the old one is, how can she compare to a fresh face by his side?”
Xu Nanxi’s heart clenched. No wonder Mingxi was so invested in Chu Qingying’s affairs. She must have realized how precarious her position was and wanted to support her.
Mingxi hadn’t even known Chu Qingying for long, yet she had done everything to help her. Meanwhile, how many noblewomen in the capital had Chu Qingying treated with the utmost courtesy? And what had it gotten her?
At times like this, people only calculated personal gains and losses. Who, apart from Mingxi, would genuinely help her?
