After Consort Shu left, the Emperor did not immediately get up.
Regarding the dragon boat race, there were many things Consort Shu didn’t understand—but he did.
Xingan Marquis had tried to put Mingxi in a difficult position, planning to recover those 400,000 taels through the Dragon Boat Festival.
They assumed that once news reached him, he would develop suspicions about Mingxi.
What they hadn’t expected was that Mingxi would react so swiftly, immediately donating the money again.
Not only that, but she also called on the public to contribute to the war effort, redirecting attention back to the battles in Yuxiang City and away from the hidden power struggles during the festival.
The Emperor let out a cold chuckle.
Did they really think he had grown too old to see through their schemes?
Xingan Marquis…
Who was backing him?
The Emperor narrowed his eyes.
***
Xingan Marquis emerged from the Eastern Palace drenched in sweat, his back completely soaked.
He truly hadn’t expected Mingxi to be so ruthless!
Who in their right mind treated money like a rock and threw it away so easily?
Their entire plan hinged on the fact that Mingxi had just donated 400,000 taels and must have been short on funds. Naturally, she would want to recover some money.
The dragon boat race was the perfect opportunity—a perfectly legitimate way to earn. With such a golden opportunity laid before her, how could she possibly resist?
Yet, not only did she resist, but she also flipped the entire table over.
Their carefully orchestrated scheme had completely backfired.
It was like trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead—an utter disaster.
How could someone like Mingxi even exist?!
Xingan Marquis was furiously scolded by the Crown Prince. After all, the plan had been his idea.
But back then, the Crown Prince had fully supported it. Now that it had failed, the blame was solely on him.
Seething with anger, Xingan Marquis returned home with a dark expression.
At that moment, his wife was equally distressed. Upon hearing that he had returned, she immediately rushed to the study.
“Husband, Wanyi sent a letter! We must find a way to bring her back quickly,” Xingan Marquis Madam said urgently, unaware of the storm brewing on her husband’s face.
“Find a way? I already told you—she’s supposed to leave the capital with Yu Wang. If Yu Wang doesn’t return, she can forget about coming back!”
Xingan Marquis Madam finally noticed that her husband’s mood was off today. She looked at him and said, “What’s wrong with you? I’m just talking to you about our daughter. If it works, great. If not, we can discuss it further. Why are you shouting?”
Xingan Marquis was already overwhelmed with trouble and had no patience for this conversation. He looked at his wife and said, “She has everything she needs with Yu Wang—food, drink, servants. Why should she return to the capital? Just to bow and serve tea under Yu Wangfei’s command?”
Seeing that her husband had no intention of discussing the situation outside, Xingan Marquis Madam knew he wouldn’t say more. Frustrated, she retorted, “Yu Wang only cares about his pregnant consort in the capital now. He was sent away because of Wanyi, and the two of them don’t get along at all. Why make our daughter suffer?”
“A married daughter is like spilled water—once she enters her husband’s household, she’s bound to face hardships. At least she’s far from the capital now. If she returns, there’s still Consort Xian in the palace. Her life would only be harder then.”
Xingan Marquis grew furious and snapped, “The past was disgraceful. If she wants to return to the capital with dignity, she needs to bear a child first. Otherwise, if Yu Wang returns one day and she remains childless, her days will be even more miserable.
“Tell her to be smart, to know what she should and shouldn’t do. Her future is in her own hands. She’s already come this far—there’s no turning back. No matter how bitter it gets, she must endure.”
Xingan Marquis Madam, enraged by her husband’s rebuke, could no longer hold back her anger. She shouted, “If you hadn’t made her do that in the first place, she could have married decently! Now look at her suffering! And here you are, speaking so righteously, not caring whether she lives or dies!”
The argument escalated, and in a fit of rage, Xingan Marquis stormed off, leaving Xingan Marquis Madam to bury her face in her hands and cry.
But there was nothing she could do. With her husband unwilling to help, she had no way to bring her daughter back to the capital alone. All she could do was write letters to comfort her—repeating the same words her husband had said: bear a child and secure Yu Wang’s favor first.
If she returned to the capital in the future, Consort Xian would at least give her some respect for the child’s sake. Then, plans could be made.
Kunde Palace.
The Empress, having learned the whole story, was momentarily at a loss for words.
This Duan Mingxi was truly a thorn-covered rose—impossible to handle.
The more it was like this, the more the Empress regretted her hesitation back then, which led to Duan Mingxi being married to Duan Wang instead.
If she had acted decisively and taken Duan Mingxi into the Eastern Palace as a side consort, then the current favorable situation would belong to her and her son.
“Excessive meddling ruins everything. Consort Shu is not as easy to fool as Consort Xian. Let’s leave it at that for now. Do not mention this matter before your royal father,” the Empress said, looking at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince frowned. “Royal Mother, are you saying that Consort Shu will slander me before Royal Father?”
“Hmph! She always shields her own. Just this morning, she has already spoken with your Royal father.”
“She moves fast!” The Crown Prince was displeased. “Are we just going to let this go?”
“Of course not. But if we mention it now, we’ll only confirm her accusations in your Royal father’s mind. It’s better to stay silent—your Royal father will be less biased that way.”
Feeling frustrated, the Crown Prince stood up. “I will take my leave.”
“Wait.” The Empress stopped him. “How has the Crown Princess been lately?”
The Crown Prince wasn’t particularly interested in his wife and simply replied, “Everything is fine.”
The Empress frowned. “I know you don’t like her much, but she is the Crown Princess, and she has Duke Zhen’s House behind her. Meanwhile, Yu Wangfei is already pregnant, while the Crown Princess has yet to conceive. You should pay more attention to this matter.”
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment before saying, “I understand.”
After he left, the Empress leaned wearily against her embroidered cushion.
Lu Momo approached softly and said, “Your Majesty, please don’t worry. His Highness has always been cautious.”
“Hmph! I think he’s getting too distracted. Always eyeing someone else’s bowl—what’s that supposed to mean?” the Empress snapped.
Lu Momo shivered at her words, understanding the implication but not daring to think too deeply. Instead, she subtly suggested, “The Crown Princess is well-mannered and proper in conduct, but perhaps too rigid, which may be why His Highness doesn’t favor her much.
“Perhaps Your Majesty could select a few lively young ladies for the Eastern Palace? It might bring some joy to His Highness. After all, the Eastern Palace only has one Crown Princess—it’s a bit too empty.”
The Empress nodded slightly. “You have a point.”
However, the previous scandal involving Fu Hongxiao had caused enough trouble that the Empress was reluctant to bring anyone new into the Eastern Palace for now.
Besides, since the Crown Princess had not yet conceived, bringing in some seductive playthings would be unwise.
But choosing a few well-bred young ladies as side consorts might be acceptable. Looking at Lu Momo, she ordered, “Bring me the name list. I want to take a careful look.”
Then, a thought struck her—wasn’t there still an unmarried daughter in the Dingyuan Marquis household?
