Hearing Consort Shu’s firm tone, Mingxi’s tense expression softened. She whispered, “I appreciate Your Highness’s effort.”
She knew that Consort Shu was capable. Now that this leverage had been handed to her, she would undoubtedly use it to strike a heavy blow against the Empress.
But she hadn’t expected her to agree so readily—without even making it seem like a favor. The warmth of this gesture took her by surprise.
Consort Shu had Hu Momo put everything away, then looked at Mingxi with a smile. “How are things outside the palace? It’s hard to say when Duan Wang will return to the capital. Your wedding date is set, but we don’t know if he’ll make it back in time.”
“Wangye is fighting for the empire. We can’t rush it,” Mingxi replied. Speaking of her own marriage, she seemed somewhat shy in front of Consort Shu.
Seeing this, Consort Shu chuckled. No matter how capable the girl was, she was still unmarried.
Thinking of Mingxi’s background, Consort Shu couldn’t help but feel a touch of sympathy. Reaching this point in life had been her own accomplishment.
Thinking this over, Consort Shu decided to send a message to reassure her.
“No reports of battles from Yuxiang City have reached the capital yet. With Duan Wang’s wedding approaching and a solid foundation of 800,000 taels of silver, some are now using the wedding as an excuse to recall him.”
Hearing this, Mingxi cursed inwardly—how shameless! They were trying to reap the rewards without doing the work!
“Your Highness, this must not happen,” Mingxi immediately responded.
That 800,000 taels of silver were hers—how could she let someone else benefit from it?
That “someone else” was likely the Empress and her son. That made it even worse.
She would rather feed stray dogs than let them take advantage of it.
Consort Shu gazed at Mingxi and said, “If the battle at Yuxiang City drags on, your wedding may be delayed. There will be a lot of unpleasant talk.”
“I’m not afraid,” Mingxi said immediately. “Those people are just jealous that I landed such a good marriage.”
Consort Shu couldn’t help but laugh. This child… She was so blunt, yet it was refreshing.
“You’re right. Since we’ve spent the money, we can’t let someone else take the credit. It seems we, as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, need to be a bit thick-skinned.”
Mingxi: …
Her face turned red again.
Consort Shu was too bold!
“I’m telling you this so you won’t overthink it when you hear rumors. If anyone suggests that the wedding is delayed because they want to replace the bride, don’t believe it.”
“I understand,” Mingxi said.
She hadn’t expected Consort Shu to tell her this, but of course, she wouldn’t believe those rumors. Duan Wang had made a promise to her.
The position of Duan Wangfei was not one that just anyone could take.
Mingxi was truly touched by Consort Shu’s consideration.
Consort Shu then had Hu Momo bring out two boxes. She smiled at Mingxi and said, “One is for Dingyuan Marquis Madam, and the other is for your foster mother.”
Mingxi quickly stood up. “Your Highness, this is…”
“The Duan family contributed such a large sum of silver. His Majesty should have rewarded them, but no news has come, likely because someone persuaded him otherwise.” At this, Consort Shu’s expression grew cold.
Mingxi’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Consort Shu and said, “Since neither Ning Qin Wang’s household nor the Fengcheng Marquis’ household received any rewards, the Duan family naturally doesn’t expect one.”
Consort Shu sighed. “It’s all because of Ning Qin Wang. The Empress is up to no good, and the Crown Prince’s men have been whispering slander. His Majesty is bound to have doubts.”
After this incident, Ning Qin Wang would likely be even more disappointed in the Emperor.
But that was fine. The more things turned out this way, the more Ning Qin Wang would be determined to support his son.
Still, these were not words she could share with Mingxi just yet. Instead, she said, “This is my personal reward. I originally intended to give it only to your foster mother, but although the Dingyuan Marquis Madam has been unkind to you, she is still your birth mother. I must give you this courtesy.”
“Your Highness…”
“I know you find it difficult, but in this world, there are many things to consider. You are going to be Duan Wangfei soon. Look at how deep the waters in the palace run, and think about what happened to your foster father. In the future, you must be even more cautious.”
Mingxi understood that Consort Shu was advising her. No matter what her relationship with Madam Jiang was like, she would have to keep it within the Dingyuan Marquisate and not let outsiders use it against her.
By giving Madam Jiang a way out through this reward, Consort Shu was also giving Mingxi an opportunity to smooth things over.
Mingxi’s eyes grew slightly red. She hadn’t expected Consort Shu to be so considerate.
She had already decided to treat Madam Jiang as if she were invisible. As long as Madam Jiang didn’t act foolishly, they could coexist peacefully.
However, after hearing Consort Shu’s advice, she realized that the Emperor’s thoughts were unpredictable. If she were unlucky enough to get caught up in a plot, someone could easily use this against her.
Consort Shu was not afraid of the Empress or the Crown Prince. She was wary of the Emperor, who was growing more suspicious due to his failing health.
In this struggle against the Empress and the Crown Prince, their success or failure depended entirely on whom the Emperor favored.
Thus, Duan Mingxi could no longer afford any weaknesses that could be exploited. Her relationship with Madam Jiang had to be beyond reproach.
This would be difficult.
But not impossible.
Just as she was thinking this, Consort Shu suddenly said, “Did you know that Jin Wangfei recently suffered a miscarriage right after discovering her pregnancy?”
Mingxi was shocked. She shook her head. “I did not. There were no rumors about this in the capital.”
“Of course not,” Consort Shu sneered. “The Empress suppressed the news. Who would dare spread it? They’d have a death wish.”
Mingxi felt that Consort Shu wouldn’t mention this for no reason. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I saw Jin Wangfei at the Crown Prince’s Spring Banquet not long ago. She didn’t seem pregnant at all.”
If she had known she was pregnant, she probably wouldn’t have attended the banquet.
Consort Shu smirked. “Do you know who noticed it?”
Mingxi shook her head. On that day, Jin Wangfei had shown no signs of pregnancy, and she likely hadn’t even known herself.
Who had such sharp eyes to notice?
As she was pondering, Consort Shu answered, “The Crown Princess.”
Mingxi’s pupils contracted, and she looked up at Consort Shu.
“The Crown Princess noticed something unusual and informed the Empress. Jin Wangfei lost her child before she even knew she was pregnant. She only found out after she miscarried. Don’t you think that’s ridiculous?”
Mingxi didn’t know if it was ridiculous, but at this moment, she felt a chill run down her spine.
Seeing Mingxi’s pale expression, Consort Shu added, “Do you remember what happened to Side Consort Qian of Jin Wang’s household?”
Mingxi nodded. “Wasn’t she said to have miscarried?”
“Yes,” Consort Shu said coldly. “But isn’t it strange? Jin Wang’s household just can’t seem to keep a child.”
At this point, how could Mingxi not understand Consort Shu’s meaning? Jin Wang, as the Emperor’s eldest son, had been married for years, yet no child of his had survived…
So, was it that the Empress wanted the Emperor’s first legitimate grandson to be born from the Crown Princess? Did this mean that before Bai Shixi gave birth to the legitimate heir, no other Wangye’s wife would be allowed to bear a son?
Mingxi recalled what Consort Shu had said—this matter was reported to the Empress by the Crown Princess.
Bai Shixi…
Mingxi felt an increasing heaviness in her heart.
Was this Bai Shixi’s own doing, or was she following the Crown Prince’s orders?
If Bai Shixi had acted on her own, it was simply unbelievable to Mingxi.
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