After the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the banquets in various noble households gradually became lively. Since Mingxi was still officially a young lady of the Marquis Manor, all invitations were first sent to Madam Jiang. However, Mingxi had no desire to go out with her and declined them all.
Madam Jiang was happy to have her freedom. Nowadays, she couldn’t scold, hit, or even reprimand this daughter—bringing her along felt more like serving an ancestor than taking a child out.
Since Duan Mingxi refused to accompany her, Madam Jiang took Duan Huirou instead, who in turn invited Duan Qingyin. Madam Jiang had no objections. During the festive period, Yang Yiniang had been unusually well-behaved, greeting her with remarkable deference.
Meanwhile, Madam Xiao, who was pregnant, couldn’t accompany her mother-in-law on outings. She only returned to her maiden home with her husband on the second day of the new year. She had initially wanted to invite Mingxi along, but Mingxi politely declined.
Madam Xiao didn’t insist. She understood that if Mingxi had refused to accompany their mother-in-law, but then joined her, it might displease her mother-in-law. Mingxi was being considerate of her.
However, upon returning from her family home, Madam Xiao brought back several boxes of the latest fashionable pearl hairpins and distributed them among her sisters, including those from the second and third branches of the family. But the most exquisite and beautiful set was reserved for Mingxi—personally chosen by the Fuchang Marquis Madam.
As the Lantern Festival approached, Xiao Yan sent Liu Yunhua to ask Mingxi if she wanted to go out and admire the lanterns.
Mingxi didn’t want to go. The military report from Fengcheng Marquis side had yet to arrive in the capital, leaving her unsettled.
During the festivities, Xingan Marquis’s residence was particularly lively, hosting constant banquets. Not only was the Marquis himself exuberant, but even his wife was acting ostentatiously, as if the incident with He Wanyi had not been an embarrassing scandal at all.
Mingxi’s book remained open in her hands, yet she had not turned a page for a long time. While the Eastern Palace remained silent, Xingan Marquis’s residence was bustling with activity—it was clear that the Marquis was helping the Crown Prince win over court officials.
Did the noble families in the capital truly not see this?
If even she, a young woman, could figure it out, how could those old foxes not?
Though some refused to attend, most still went to the banquets. This indicated that in their hearts, they leaned more toward supporting the Crown Prince.
That was not good news for Mingxi.
—
Xiao Muchen entered Cuiwei Palace under the golden sunlight. Consort Shu, with a cloth pressed to her forehead, reclined against a soft couch. Seeing her son arrive, she beckoned him over.
“Haven’t I told you that you don’t need to come to the palace? Why are you here again?”
Xiao Muchen gazed at her and asked, “Has the imperial physician been here? What did he say?”
Hu Momo quickly bowed and replied, “Wangye, the imperial physician said that Her Ladyship caught a mild cold and just needs a few days of rest.”
“Was medicine prescribed?”
“Yes, a three-day course of decoctions. Please rest assured, Wangye.”
Only then did Xiao Muchen nod. He took a seat on the embroidered stool beside his mother and asked, “You’ve always been careful with your health. How did you catch a cold?”
Consort Shu knew she couldn’t fool her son—this boy was too sharp.
After a brief hesitation, she admitted, “Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. The palace will be decorated with lanterns and host celebrations.”
“This happens every year. Why did you catch a cold this time?”
Consort Shu huffed, “The Empress will surely put on a show for His Majesty. I don’t want to see her hypocritical face.”
So, she was pretending to be ill just to avoid it?
Xiao Muchen’s expression darkened. “There are plenty of ways to avoid going. Why choose this one?”
“What would you, an unmarried boy, understand?” Consort Shu rolled her eyes.
She wasn’t doing this for the Empress—she was doing it for the Emperor.
If His Majesty still held affection for her, he would surely come to visit her upon hearing she was unwell.
If he didn’t come, then she would need to reconsider her strategies and change her approach.
Xiao Muchen didn’t fully understand such tactics, but he didn’t like them. His expression remained stormy as he fell into silence.
Why put yourself through unnecessary suffering?
Do you really have to fall ill for this to work?
Seeing her son’s frustrated expression, Consort Shu felt a wave of warmth in her heart. She knew he was upset because he cared about her.
She smiled gently and said in a soft voice, “I’m just putting on an act; I’m not actually sick. Look at me—I look perfectly fine.”
Xiao Muchen remained silent.
Consort Shu sighed inwardly. Comforting her son was far more difficult than dealing with his father.
“You saw what happened with Yu Wang. His Majesty remains firmly committed to protecting the Crown Prince. Yu Wang was even sent away, and Consort Xian foolishly fell for the Empress’s scheme. This New Year has been a disaster for her, and now she’s trying to challenge the Empress head-on.”
“You already warned Consort Xian back then. She chose to trust the Empress, and now she’s facing the consequences. This outcome is also due to Yu Wang’s excessive ambition,” Xiao Muchen said bluntly.
“Who would have thought that Xingan Marquis would switch allegiance to the Crown Prince? After all, he is the father-in-law of Jin Wang. I’ve heard that there’s discord between Jin Wang and his wangfei. Rumor has it that Xingan Marquis is displeased with Jin Wang for favoring Side Consort Qian while neglecting his Wangfei, which led him to side with the Crown Prince,” Consort Shu said meaningfully.
Xiao Muchen sneered. “A man like Xingan Marquis, who would even send his legitimate daughter to become Yu Wang’s side consort, wouldn’t betray Jin Wang just for his eldest daughter’s sake. That’s just an excuse to cover up his true motives.”
Most likely, Xingan Marquis had already pledged loyalty to the Crown Prince long ago. Now that the truth had come to light, he simply needed a convenient justification.
He had thrown his eldest daughter into the fire without a second thought, never considering how she would face her husband in the future.
For his own gain, Xingan Marquis sacrificed both his daughters to ingratiate himself with the Crown Prince. Such a man had no fatherly love—utterly disgraceful.
Consort Shu looked at her son. “By pushing Xingan Marquis forward, the Empress and the Crown Prince have stirred discord between Consort Xian and Consort Gui, caused conflict between Jin Wang and his Wangfei, and even separated Yu Wang and his Wangfei. Among the four consorts, only Consort De and I remain stable.”
“That’s why the Lantern Festival is important for me. I understand your concern, but I would never act without confidence in my plan.”
She paused, then turned to her son. “Speaking of the Lantern Festival tomorrow, have you invited Mingxi to watch the lanterns with you?”
Xiao Muchen: …
“No.”
Consort Shu looked at her son as if he were a block of wood. “Why not? it’s such a wonderful occasion.”
Xiao Muchen replied seriously, “Mingxi is different from other women. She has declined all banquet invitations this year. How could I ask her to go out on the Lantern Festival? If rumors spread, how would that affect her reputation?”
Consort Shu was surprised. She hadn’t expected Mingxi to be so reserved. A trace of admiration flickered across her face as she looked at her son. “Then let’s leave it at that. Mingxi is certainly a reassuring child.”
Xiao Muchen glanced at his mother and lowered his voice. “Tomorrow night, the military report from Fengcheng will reach the Emperor.”
Consort Shu absentmindedly responded, “A report from Qinan? Why tomorrow…” She abruptly stopped mid-sentence. Her gaze snapped to her son, her expression changing. “You arranged this? How could you leave such an obvious trail?”
“Of course, I didn’t do it directly. I merely gave things a little push.”
Consort Shu lightly smacked her son’s arm. “Do you enjoy scaring me?”
Xiao Muchen’s expression softened slightly. in a low voice, he said, “I know you’ve endured a lot recently. Since you have a plan for tomorrow, as your son, it’s only right that I give you a helping hand.”
Consort Shu: …
A helping hand? More like a forceful shove!
