Mingxi looked up at Consort Shu and smiled. “Yes, there is something I wish to report to Your Highness. I wouldn’t have wanted to trouble you, but since this matter concerns Kunde Palace, I had no choice but to come.”
Hearing that it involved the Empress and Crown Prince, Consort Shu’s smile faded slightly. “Go on.”
Could it be that they were causing trouble over the eight hundred thousand taels of silver?
Mingxi reached into her sleeve and pulled out the official document she had received from her father. She handed it to Hu Momo.
Hu Momo respectfully took it and placed it before Consort Shu.
Consort Shu picked it up and skimmed it at first, then furrowed her brows and carefully read through it again. Her expression took on a hint of mockery. “They moved quickly. Looks like they’ve been planning this for a while—it wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“That’s what I thought as well. My adoptive father wanted to just accept it and planned to sell our ancestral estate in Jiangcheng to cover the losses. But I believe we cannot let this matter go so easily.”
Consort Shu found this response very much to her liking. Step back once, and you’ll be forced to step back forever—where would it end?
This future daughter-in-law of hers was not only unafraid but also patient enough to endure when needed. Consort Shu nodded approvingly. “What do you plan to do?”
Mingxi replied, “I know nothing of palace procedures, which is why I shamelessly came to seek Your Highness’ guidance.”
She paused, then looked at Consort Shu and slowly continued, “Originally, the palace provided sample books to the Imperial Weaving Bureau. My adoptive father followed the samples precisely when making his purchases. Now, after acquiring the summer fabrics, the palace is rejecting them, claiming they don’t match the samples. How could that be convincing?”
Consort Shu was surprised. “Your adoptive father still has the sample book?”
Would the Empress really have left behind such a crucial piece of evidence?
Duan Mingxi smiled faintly. “Yes, Your Highness. In business, spoken words mean nothing—everything must be documented. Originally, the Imperial Weaving Bureau only showed my father the sample book and planned to take it back. But my father, worried he might misremember, spent some silver to keep it.”
Consort Shu thought to herself that Mingxi’s adoptive father was indeed different—no wonder he had raised such a clever daughter.
“You brought the item with you?”
“Yes.”
Mingxi took out the sample book.
Hu Momo couldn’t help but comment, “Master Duan is certainly a meticulous person.”
Mingxi smiled at her. “Business requires utmost caution.”
Hu Momo handed the book to Consort Shu with a broad smile. She glanced at it and was momentarily stunned. “This doesn’t look like an official palace registry.”
Consort Shu examined it carefully, frowning slightly. “Bring me the sample book from my study.”
Hearing this, Mingxi straightened her back. As she had suspected, there was trouble. When her father handed her the book, he had paid silver to keep it, thinking it wasn’t too important. After all, the Kunde Palace wouldn’t leave an obvious handle behind.
It seemed she had been right.
Hu Momo returned quickly. Consort Shu gave her a glance and said, “Let Mingxi take a look at the sample book.”
Mingxi stood up, accepted it with thanks, and as soon as she touched it, she could tell the difference.
A silk sample book should either be made from fabric or have detailed illustrations on paper, specifying the type of silk, satin, damask, or gauze—every material, from rough cloth to fine linen, should be clearly marked.
The book Consort Shu handed her was the same as the one she had brought into the palace—both were illustrated.
However, Consort Shu’s version had a finely wrapped silk cover, and each page was carefully mounted, making it thick and sturdy.
The one her father had was noticeably inferior—lacking a cover or mounted fabric.
But the palace silk trim was used for the edges, and the illustrations inside were finely drawn, so Duan Pingchang hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
Without this side-by-side comparison, it would have been hard to know what the palace’s official sample book looked like.
Mingxi looked up at Consort Shu. “Your Highness, does this mean such sample books are not always available?”
The Empress controlled palace affairs. Although Consort Shu did not interfere, she knew a little. Hearing Mingxi’s question, she replied, “Are you saying your adoptive father never received such a book before?”
Mingxi nodded. “Yes, despite doing business with the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau several times before, he never received one.”
Consort Shu’s gaze sharpened. She sighed lightly, “That means the Empress has likely been planning this for a long time.”
Mingxi remained silent. Though she had lived in the Duke’s manor for years in her past life, she had little knowledge of palace affairs.
Otherwise, she might have noticed the difference back then.
Seeing her solemn expression, Consort Shu knew she must be feeling angry. She gently reassured her, “There was never an official decree about whether this should exist or not. Even I only obtained mine last year when I wanted to select some materials.”
The ranking of concubines in the palace varied. As one of the Four Consorts, she had access to many conveniences, but lower-ranked concubines struggled. Some probably had never even seen such a book—let alone those outside the palace.
Mingxi understood the implication. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Your Highness, if that’s the case, retrieving justice may be difficult.”
Consort Shu smiled. “It may not be easy for you, but now that I know, I will see to it.”
Even though Mingxi was her future daughter-in-law, meeting the Emperor was nearly impossible.
This grievance would never reach His Majesty’s ears.
The Empress didn’t need to do much—just hint at something, and there would be plenty of people willing to make trouble for Duan Pingchang.
If not for Mingxi and the powerful connections behind her, they wouldn’t have gone about it in such a roundabout way.
Anyone else would have suffered a loss without even knowing how it happened.
Mingxi was sharp—she had identified the key issue immediately.
Moreover, if handled correctly, this situation could be used to strike a heavy blow against the Empress in front of the Emperor.
However, Consort Shu needed to think carefully about how to present it.
After recent events, His Majesty had become even more suspicious. Just the other day, the Crown Prince had been reprimanded in Chongzheng Hall.
Her son was in the limelight, so she had to act cautiously.
Even if she wanted to get justice for Mingxi’s family, she couldn’t do it openly and risk arousing the Emperor’s doubts.
It was a difficult matter, but not impossible—just required careful planning.
Mingxi had generously supported her son’s military campaign, helping him establish great merit. How could Consort Shu not return the favor and help her out of this predicament?
Mingxi hadn’t expected Consort Shu to take on the entire matter. Startled, she quickly stood and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Your Highness, for seeking justice on my behalf.”
Consort Shu laughed. “Don’t be so tense. Sit down. This matter will take time. Go back and tell your adoptive father to find a safe place to store the rejected palace silk. Later, I’ll make sure the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau takes it back the same way they refused it.”
