Mingxi shook her head, “You are a county princess, so on that day, we won’t be able to come. However, Nanxi and I plan to go to Duke Rong’s residence to observe the ceremony and enjoy the wedding feast.”
“That’s fine then.” Xiao Yan also understood that their royal family was somewhat different, “The closer the date gets, the more nervous I feel.”
“You’re afraid of what? Your mother-in-law is your own aunt, she couldn’t love you more.”
“That’s true.”
Duan Mingxi thought to herself, having a mother-in-law like that would indeed be a blessing.
Before the two could say their goodbyes, unexpectedly, Yao Yunyi and Chu Qingying arrived, and the group became even livelier.
“Well, well, you two came secretly, why didn’t you say anything to us?” Yao Yunyi looked at Xu Nanxi and asked.
Xu Nanxi retorted, “Didn’t you two also not inform us?”
“How is that the same?”
“How is it different?”
Chu Qingying, too lazy to join in their banter, pulled Mingxi to sit down and took out the wedding gifts she had brought for Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan had someone bring tea and pastries, and the five of them sat together talking.
“Mingxi, you’re really something, in order to support Duan Wang, you’ve probably exhausted your family’s wealth, right?” Yao Yunyi gave Mingxi a thumbs up, as not everyone could do such a thing.
For ladies like them, let alone before marriage, even after marriage, it would be rare for them to offer their dowries to their husband’s family.
Mingxi’s bold gesture was truly shocking—spending tens of thousands of taels of silver without expecting a return. She simply gave it away.
Mingxi said quietly, “I couldn’t just watch the soldiers lack clothing, food, and horses. I’m different from you all. My adoptive father is a merchant, making money is a bit easier.”
“There are many merchants, but none as generous as you,” Chu Qingying said, “Mingxi, you don’t know, how many young ladies in the capital admire you now.”
Mingxi truly didn’t know this and looked confused.
Yao Yunyi chuckled and said to Mingxi, “You don’t leave your home much and hardly attend banquets in the capital, so naturally, you wouldn’t know what others say about you. The way people view you now is different from before; this is the power of money.”
Xiao Yan snorted, “They’re always gossiping about this and that, holding onto a few dozen taels of monthly allowance as if they’re something special, yet they look down on my Sister Xi. Why don’t they look in the mirror?”
“You’ve got a sharp tongue. It’s a good thing no one else heard that. If it got to the ears of Ning Qin Wangfei, you’d be in trouble,” Chu Qingying warned.
“My mother wouldn’t mind,” Xiao Yan laughed.
Chu Qingying turned to look at Mingxi, “I visited my older sister the other day. She’s doing well, gained some weight, and her complexion is good.” She paused, then added, “The Crown Princess sent someone to visit her a few days ago, which was quite surprising.”
Mingxi understood from Chu Qingying’s words that it was likely Yu Wangfei who had passed on a message to her. Bai Shixi had sent someone to visit Yu Wangfei?
Thinking about the miscarriage of Jin Wangfei, Mingxi’s heart tightened. She looked at Chu Qingying and slowly said, “Yu Wangfei’s pregnancy was not easy; she should be taking good care of herself. It would be best if she closed the doors and didn’t meet anyone.”
Chu Qingying didn’t know about the miscarriage of Jin Wangfei, but she nodded in agreement with Mingxi’s suggestion, “I think so too. However, my sister also has her difficulties. She can’t just lock herself away.”
Yao Yunyi, hearing this, tilted her head and said, “My mother says that a pregnant woman should rest well, and I think Yu Wangfei should ask Consort Xian to speak on her behalf.”
With Consort Xian’s endorsement, no one would dare disturb Yu Wangfei’s pregnancy.
Xu Nanxi glanced at Mingxi. Some things she knew more about than Yao Yunyi and the others. She knew Mingxi was worried about something, and after thinking for a moment, she casually said to Chu Qingying, “We don’t know when Yu Wang will return to the capital, but after Jin Wangfei’s miscarriage, Yu Wangfei’s child is the emperor’s first grandchild, so it must be cared for with the utmost attention.”
Mentioning the miscarriage of Jin Wangfei, everyone’s expression subtly changed.
Yao Yunyi sighed, “It’s truly unexpected that Jin Wangfei got pregnant so suddenly and then miscarried.” She lowered her voice and continued, “Do you know about Side Consort Qian’s situation?”
Xiao Yan asked, “What happened?”
Xu Nanxi explained to her, “Side Consort Qian also had a miscarriage before.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Xiao Yan looked at everyone, puzzled.
Chu Qingying cleared her throat, “There’s a rumor that Side Consort Qian’s miscarriage was related to Jin Wangfei, but no one knows if that’s true.”
Xiao Yan was shocked, “You all know everything?”
She had never heard of this.
Xiao Yan’s shock was so great that even Mingxi thought they were a bit too gossipy.
Yao Yunyi said, “You don’t go out much, you don’t attend banquets, and no one comes to tell you these things. We’re all in contact with various families, so it’s hard not to know.”
Xiao Yan had nothing to say, “It’s not that I don’t want to go, but my mother doesn’t let me. However, once I’m married, it will be fine. I’ll be able to go wherever I want.”
After saying this, she looked at everyone and asked, “Did Side Consort Qian’s miscarriage really have something to do with Jin Wangfei? It’s hard to believe. Jin Wangfei seems so gentle.”
“Whether it’s true or not, we can’t say, but the coincidence of Jin Wangfei’s pregnancy and miscarriage does seem suspicious,” Chu Qingying said. “Also, it’s no secret that Jin Wang favors Side Consort Qian, and the daughter of Xingan Marquis…”
Chu Qingying snorted coldly.
Xiao Yan naturally thought of the scandal involving He Wanyi and Yu Wang. She wasn’t sure how to respond.
She turned to look at Mingxi, “Sister Xi, what do you think?”
Mingxi smiled, “These things haven’t been confirmed by Jin Wang’s household; they’re just speculations. Whether they’re true or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that Jin Wang has already lost two children.”
She looked at Chu Qingying and said, “So, Yu Wangfei must be extra cautious with this pregnancy.”
Chu Qingying instinctively became tense and immediately said, “I’ll go to the royal residence tomorrow to remind my older sister to be careful.”
The group chatted for a while longer before getting up to leave.
Xiao Yan invited them for a meal, but everyone declined. With the wedding date approaching, the royal residence must have many tasks to take care of, so they didn’t want to be a burden.
After leaving Ning Qin Wang’s residence, Chu Qingying after bidding farewell with Yao Yunyi and Xu Nanxi directly got into Mingxi’s carriage.
Mingxi: …
Xu Nanxi and Yao Yunyi also smiled and parted ways with the two before getting into their respective carriages.
Mingxi got into the carriage, and Chu Qingying sat down next to her, lowering her voice and saying, “I was planning to invite you out tomorrow, but I didn’t expect to run into you today. My sister asked me to pass a message to you.”
Mingxi asked, “What did Yu Wangfei want to say to me?”
Chu Qingying lowered her voice, “A few days ago, the people around Consort Xian went to visit my sister at Yu Wangfei’s residence and mentioned something about this year’s summer fabrics in the palace being different from previous years. My sister said that your adoptive father received an order from the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau. Isn’t he doing this kind of business? She asked me to remind you about it.”
Mingxi’s expression instantly turned serious. The previous matter had not yet been resolved, and there was still no news from Consort Shu’s side.
There was no movement on her father’s end either, so how had summer silks already appeared in the palace?
Where did they come from?
Who sent them in?
Whose hands had they passed through?
If it was from the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, Xu Donglin should have communicated about it.
