Duan Mingxi couldn’t understand Bai Shixi’s intentions. They had interacted briefly before, so why was she deliberately putting her in a difficult position in front of so many people?
No matter how she answered, she would either offend Jin Wangfei or Sun Yaoqing.
Bai Shixi’s attitude was strange.
But Mingxi wasn’t afraid.
She smiled slightly, neither looking at Jin Wangfei nor at Sun Yaoqing, but fixing her gaze on Bai Shixi as she said calmly, “I am not Miss Sun, so how could I know what she meant? Crown Princess, please don’t make things difficult for me.”
The moment she said the words “make things difficult,” Mingxi noticed a fleeting sense of relief in Bai Shixi’s eyes.
As expected.
Bai Shixi looked at Mingxi, her expression slightly displeased as she said indifferently, “It was just a casual guess. Miss Duan, no need to say such things.”
Mingxi could sense that the gazes around her and Bai Shixi had changed. Since Bai Shixi wanted to put on a show, Mingxi would play along.
“I dare not speculate on others’ thoughts at will,” she said.
Xu Nanxi grew anxious and gently tugged at Mingxi’s sleeve. There was no need to confront the Crown Princess here. With so many people watching, it would be difficult to back down.
Mingxi understood Xu Nanxi’s concern, but since Bai Shixi insisted on acting, she had no choice but to accompany her. There was likely some hidden agenda she was unaware of.
Liu Yunhua was also worried about Mingxi, but since the whole situation had started with Sun Yaoqing, she found herself caught in the middle, feeling like she was being roasted over a fire. Her dissatisfaction with Sun Yaoqing grew even stronger.
“Miss Duan is truly of noble character, quite unexpected. If you don’t wish to speak, then so be it,” Bai Shixi remarked before turning away to chat with others, no longer acknowledging Mingxi.
The issue of Jin Wangfei questioning Sun Yaoqing could not be pursued further at this point. Jin Wangfei frowned slightly, gave Mingxi a glance, and then shifted her gaze elsewhere.
Xu Nanxi’s palms were damp with sweat. She finally leaned in and whispered to Mingxi, “What’s going on?”
Mingxi, of all people, was not one to act recklessly.
Mingxi glanced at Xu Nanxi and then, raising her voice slightly, said, “I simply refuse to go against my conscience.”
Xu Nanxi: …
She met Mingxi’s gaze. Although she didn’t yet understand the situation, she instinctively played along, replying, “With that personality of yours, you’re bound to suffer for it someday.”
Mingxi smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Xu Nanxi dared not press further. She deliberately kept her face taut, though her mind was in turmoil.
Since it was a flower appreciation banquet, flowers were, of course, essential. The Crown Princess led everyone to view the blossoms. Liu Yunhua had to keep an eye on Sun Yaoqing to prevent any further trouble, so she had no chance to speak with Mingxi.
Yao Yunyi was also tied up with He Wanqing, unable to break away, leaving Mingxi momentarily without company.
Xu Nanxi, recalling Mingxi’s earlier words and noticing her unusual behavior, refused to leave her side, as if determined to ensure she didn’t say anything inappropriate.
Even when others tried to strike up a conversation with her, Xu Nanxi remained in place, her eyes fixed on Mingxi, giving off an air of forbidding vigilance.
Mingxi found it amusing. Though Xu Nanxi was unaware of the full picture, she was cooperating with her flawlessly. Her expression remained stern, giving off an unapproachable aura.
At last, they found a moment to whisper in private, and Xu Nanxi lowered her voice, asking, “What’s really going on?”
“Now’s not the time to explain. I still need to observe a little more,” Mingxi replied.
Xu Nanxi pondered over this as they strolled among the blooming flowers. Everywhere they looked, the vibrant blossoms were in full bloom, and the noble ladies in their elaborate gowns made the scene even more dazzling.
The Crown Princess had clearly put a lot of effort into organizing the banquet. Xu Nanxi murmured, “I’d heard that she was not valued in her maiden home, yet this first flower banquet of hers seems quite impressive.”
Then she suddenly paused. “Why haven’t I seen any young ladies from Duke Zhen’s household? Or Bai Zhiwei?”
Mingxi had already taken note of this earlier but hadn’t seen anyone from either family. She speculated, “The Crown Princess isn’t close with her family. She only has an unmarried younger half-sister. As for Bai Zhiwei, her relationship with her sister is strained, so she likely wasn’t invited.”
“Or perhaps she received the invitation but chose not to attend. Either way, it will give people something to gossip about,” she added.
Xu Nanxi frowned. “So what if her younger sister is illegitimate? In this kind of setting, as the Crown Princess’s sister, attending would only highlight their bond.
“As for Bai Zhiwei… well, that’s another story. Her reputation in the capital is in shambles. She and Duchess Gao’s household are practically a laughingstock.”
Mingxi, well aware of the Duchess temperament, gazed into the distance and said slowly, “She brought it upon herself, and she has no one to blame.”
Had Bai Zhiwei and Gao Zhan not conspired against her in the past, Mingxi would not have used their schemes against them.
In her previous life, Bai Zhiwei and Gao Zhan had been secretly involved for years, which was why, even after marrying him, Mingxi had endured years of cold neglect.
Once married, one should remain faithful. But Bai Zhiwei wanted everything—her husband, her lover, and her reputation. Greedy people like her would never find satisfaction, even if she did end up marrying Gao Zhan.
That was simply her nature.
“By the way, why isn’t Qingying here today? Did she not receive an invitation?” Xu Nanxi suddenly changed the subject.
Mingxi shook her head. She didn’t know.
In this city, everyone chased after power and influence.
With Yu Wang exiled and no certainty about when he might return, his prospects of regaining favor seemed bleak.
Although Yu Wangfei had used her pregnancy as an excuse to skip the banquet, to outsiders, it appeared as if she was too ashamed to show her face.
Since even Yu Wangfei had refrained from attending, it was only natural that Qingying was absent as well.
However, the presence of He Wanqing from Xingan Marquis’s family made the Crown Prince’s stance clear. People would take note of this shift in favor.
Seeing Mingxi’s displeasure, Xu Nanxi understood that she was upset on Qingying’s behalf. She sighed softly, “That’s just how people are. Let’s arrange to have tea with Qingying later.”
Mingxi nodded slightly. Just as she was about to speak, a voice called out from the front, “Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”
Mingxi and Xu Nanxi exchanged glances before quickly following the others to greet her.
They hadn’t expected the Empress to truly come!
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
The Empress’s arrival was imposing. Her phoenix robe shimmered under the sunlight, and the grand phoenix coronet atop her head featured a pearl the size of a goblet’s mouth, exuding an aura of majesty.
“Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The crowd stood up and moved to either side.
Standing within the gathering, Mingxi’s gaze passed through the crowd to rest upon the Empress. It had been a long time since she last saw her, yet the Empress remained as composed and dignified as ever, her expression radiant.
The Empress spoke with the Crown Princess and Jin Wangfei, laughter occasionally drifting through the air. The distance made it difficult to discern their conversation.
Mingxi didn’t want to draw the Empress’s attention, so she stayed hidden within the crowd, making no attempt to stand out.
However, a palace maid by the Empress’s side walked toward her, gave a slight curtsy, and said with a smile, “Miss Duan, the Empress invites you over for a chat.”
Duan Mingxi: …
