After that small gathering, Mingxi resumed her reclusive lifestyle.
With You Sanping managing the business outside, Mingxi felt much more at ease.
Business at Yunshang’s place was booming as summer approached, and You Sanping had even recruited a new batch of embroiderers from there to the capital. The scale of operations kept expanding.
As expected, Duan Pingchang failed to obtain the order from the palace for the autumn season. Mingxi wasn’t surprised at all.
The Crown Prince held a grudge against her, and the sycophant Xingan Marquis would certainly seize every opportunity to suppress her.
Xu Donglin, however, was still decent—he gave Duan Pingchang a few helpful hints.
Duan Pingchang scheduled a date to discuss things with Mingxi.
Not only did Mingxi come, but she also brought Duan Ning and Duan Qi with her.
Duan Yu was too busy to come along, otherwise he would have joined too.
Madam Xu felt a little awkward upon seeing the two guests, but since Duan Ning and Duan Qi were polite and well-mannered, she gradually relaxed.
She pulled her daughter into the inner room. “Child, why didn’t you say anything beforehand?”
Mingxi smiled and linked arms with her mother. “It was just a coincidence—we ran into each other at the door. When they heard I was coming over, they decided to join me.”
Madam Xu asked in detail about Duan Ning and Duan Qi’s food preferences so she could instruct the kitchen accordingly.
“They’re not picky,” Mingxi said vaguely—she didn’t really know.
But Madam Xu knew her daughter too well to be fooled. She poked her on the shoulder.
Mingxi hugged her mother and acted spoiled. Madam Xu had no choice but to go to the kitchen herself to discuss the dishes with the cook.
When Mingxi returned to the main hall, Duan Pingchang was chatting happily with the two young men. Though he was a merchant, his years of travel and experience had given him a broad perspective. Since becoming an official, Duan Ning had come across many books in the Hanlin Academy, but much he had read about he hadn’t seen firsthand. Talking with Duan Pingchang gave him new insights and interesting anecdotes.
Duan Qi, being younger, simply listened attentively, occasionally chiming in.
Mingxi stood by the door for a moment, smiling before walking in.
As soon as she entered, Duan Pingchang invited her to sit down and pushed her favorite snack in front of her. “The cook just made this—new flavor from Jiangcheng. Try it and see if you like it.”
Noticing Duan Ning and Duan Qi’s surprised expressions, he explained with a smile, “When Xixi was little, I often had to travel for business—sometimes for weeks, even months. Every time I left, she would cry. So I promised to bring her back delicious and fun things.”
“Our cook has been with us for over a decade. He’s picked up dishes from all over, thanks to her picky little mouth.”
Though he spoke of her being picky, the fondness on Duan Pingchang’s face was unmistakable.
Duan Ning and Duan Qi exchanged a glance—no wonder Mingxi had such a hard time adjusting when she returned to the Marquis residence.
With foster parents who loved her this much, it was hard not to draw comparisons. Madam Jiang and Dingyuan Marquis truly came up short.
Mingxi picked up a piece of white jade cake and took a bite. As she ate, she said, “You spoiled me. Let’s talk about you now.”
Seeing her take a big bite, Duan Pingchang quickly poured her tea. “Eat slowly, don’t choke. Here, drink some tea first.”
Mingxi took a sip—it was her favorite flavor.
Then she handed some snacks to Duan Ning and Duan Qi. “Second Brother, Third Brother, try this. It’s our cook’s specialty.”
Home…
Duan Qi felt a pang in his heart and lowered his head to eat the white jade cake.
Duan Ning, on the other hand, remained calm and praised the taste after taking a bite.
“Father, you called me back to discuss the matter with the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, didn’t you?” Mingxi asked Duan Pingchang.
Seeing that she didn’t avoid the topic in front of Duan Ning and Duan Qi, Duan Pingchang nodded openly. “Yes, I wanted to hear your thoughts.”
“With Tong Gaozhuo in the bureau and Xu Donglin wary of the Eastern Palace, he won’t openly oppose him now. I think we should pause our involvement with the bureau’s business. What do you think?” Mingxi smiled.
Her father had already gained a foothold in the capital, so that business wasn’t essential anymore.
Duan Ning frowned. “Is this deliberate targeting of Uncle Duan?”
Mingxi looked at him. “Yes, Second Brother. That’s how the officialdom works. The Hanlin Academy is relatively peaceful, but you’ll need to learn how it really is. It’s likely that, once the Eastern Palace can’t touch Father anymore, they’ll come for you and Eldest Brother. You must be cautious.”
Duan Ning frowned. “Doesn’t the Crown Prince worry about backlash for doing this?”
Duan Pingchang said, “Take the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, for example. Even if the supplier is changed, outsiders won’t say much. Their reasoning is above board—if the colors or quality from the Feng family are preferred by the palace, then choosing them is justifiable.”
“That’s the thing—it’s an open move,” Mingxi added. “We know they’re targeting us, but we have no grounds to complain.”
Duan Qi pondered this, then looked at Mingxi. “So, Big Sister, you gave up the business to avoid direct conflict with the Eastern Palace?”
Mingxi nodded. “Yes—not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t yet.”
The Empress controlled this matter in the palace, and Mingxi didn’t have the power to suppress her. If they continued to fight over the bureau, it would only make things awkward for Xu Donglin and eventually cause him resentment. Better to withdraw cleanly and earn his gratitude. When an opportunity arises in the future, the path through Xu Donglin would be smoother.
That one phrase—“I can’t yet”—made Duan Ning and Duan Qi instantly feel the pressure. They were still too weak, unable to help Mingxi at all.
Mingxi glanced at them—yes, the effect was just right. People need a strong drive to climb upward.
Now they had one.
If you don’t want to be suppressed, you must prove yourself and rise to power.
“What business will Uncle Duan do in the future?” Duan Qi asked again, looking at Mingxi.
Business was unfamiliar territory for him.
Mingxi smiled. “There are plenty of opportunities out there. Just because we leave the butcher behind doesn’t mean we have to eat hairy pigs. If we’re not doing business with the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, there are other ventures. I think the Imperial Horse Bureau is a good one—at least the Eastern Palace won’t be able to interfere there.”
“The Imperial Horse Bureau?” Duan Qi was shocked. “What kind of business can be done there?”
That place was all about raising horses—what kind of business could there be?
Mingxi smiled. “Why wouldn’t there be business? The Imperial Horse Bureau raises horses, but where do the horses come from? And how are fine steeds bred? Doing business with the Imperial Horse Bureau is actually easier than with the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau.”
Hearing this, Duan Pingchang suddenly remembered something. No wonder last year, Mingxi had told him to buy a large stretch of grassland—though it was quite far from the capital, closer to the borderlands.
Father and daughter exchanged a glance, and Mingxi gave a small smile.
Duan Pingchang was inwardly astonished. Had Mingxi foreseen that their business with the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau wouldn’t last long?
