Before Xiao Muchen even returned to the capital, the emperor had already issued an edict for the Ministry of Rites to begin preparations for Duan Wang’s wedding.
The date was set for the sixteenth of June—a day personally selected by the Imperial Astronomer.
Mingxi: …
It was all very sudden.
Back when the wedding was postponed, although the emperor claimed it was due to the war, there had been plenty of murmuring behind closed doors. Some suspected the emperor was dissatisfied with the match, and a few even tried to subtly probe Consort Shu for confirmation.
Duan Wang had always kept a low profile and was quiet by nature. Among the imperial sons, he wasn’t considered particularly outstanding—just slightly better than Kang Wang.
But after he insisted strongly on marrying Duan Mingxi, he suddenly drew everyone’s attention. No one had expected such a quiet man to act with such decisiveness.
What’s more, ever since their engagement, he had treated Duan Mingxi with the utmost respect and consideration. Many households were now regretting not giving him a second look back then.
Duan Mingxi seemed to attract drama wherever she went.
Take last year’s Dragon Boat Festival race, for example—or the time when Duan Pingchang donated 500,000 taels of silver to reopen the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau. Or the 400,000 taels she gave Duan Wang as military funds. And this year, there was yet another stir around the Dragon Boat Festival.
Talented, beautiful, wealthy, and capable—the only “flaw” was that she had once been abducted and raised in a merchant household.
But Duan Wang didn’t care about that at all.
The emperor’s delay in announcing the wedding had fueled rumors—some claimed that now that the Wangye had proven himself, the emperor had lost interest in the match.
Especially the House of Marquis Xingan, which took the opportunity to spread malicious gossip.
Now the tables had turned. The Wangye wasn’t even back in the capital yet, and the emperor had already fixed the wedding date.
Still, some sore losers insisted that it must’ve been Consort Shu begging the emperor.
There were plenty of rumors flying around—but ultimately, it all came down to one thing: Duan Wang had won great military honors and become highly sought after.
And that prize had landed squarely in Duan Mingxi’s lap.
Now that it was clear no one could take it from her, the bitterness was redirected at her instead.
When Mingxi heard Xiangxiang report the gossip outside, she didn’t take it to heart.
This? This wasn’t even a real problem.
She’d heard worse in her past life.
If the talk is unpleasant, just don’t listen.
If the task is hard to do, just make it succeed.
In this world, the one with the strongest fist and the greatest skill wins in the end.
Mingxi didn’t care, but that didn’t mean the rest of the marquis’s household didn’t.
The second and third madams were furious when they heard, and they’d been attending banquets left and right, trying to clear Mingxi’s name.
Only Madam Jiang had shut herself away at home, not stepping outside her courtyard.
The old madam was beyond angry with her now. She turned to the marquis and said, “She’ll regret this one day. Bitterly.”
The old marquis leisurely poured her a cup of tea and said, “Once a heart leans off course, setting it straight again requires humility. Eldest daughter-in-law can’t lower herself enough, so she’ll just have to live with the consequences.”
Madam Jiang was waiting for Mingxi to come beg her personally.
But she was dreaming.
With Mingxi’s temperament? Not a chance.
Duan Min and Duan Rong had also been accompanying their mothers to social events. Duan Rong, still young and less emotionally steady, had come home crying after hearing some harsh words.
When Mingxi found out, she specially sent Qiangcao to buy some of Duan Rong’s favorite rose jelly and went to cheer her up.
Duan Rong was a little embarrassed, but Duan Min laughed and said, “Look at you, acting like a baby. You should learn from Big Sister—stay calm no matter what.”
“I just can’t swallow it! I can’t stand hearing them talk bad about Big Sister!” Duan Rong said, neck stiff with emotion.
Seeing her cheeks flush with anger again, Mingxi laughed. “Can their gossip stop me from marrying into Duan Wang’s residence?”
“Well, no,” Duan Rong replied.
“Can their gossip take a piece of flesh off me?”
Duan Rong: …
“But, Big Sister, their lies still damage your reputation.”
Mingxi looked at Duan Rong and Duan Min and said, “You must remember—even sages and gentlemen have slanderers. So how could we expect any better? The calmer we stay, the angrier it’ll make those who can’t do anything about it.
People stir trouble and speak poison in hopes we’ll panic and lose our footing—that’s when they’ll strike. How can we give them that chance?”
Duan Rong looked thoughtful.
Duan Min turned to her sister and said, “They’re only gossiping now because Duan Wang is about to return. Don’t take it to heart, Big Sister.”
If this were an arranged marriage between strangers, Mingxi might have been worried.
But no one understood how this marriage came about better than she did—there wouldn’t be any sudden twists.
Still, her younger sisters didn’t know that. Seeing Duan Rong cry herself silly and hide in her room, Mingxi felt both exasperated and touched.
After cheering them up, Mingxi returned to her own courtyard. Just as she entered, Duan Qingyin arrived right behind her.
Mingxi had just changed out of her formal wear into a more comfortable goose-yellow home robe.
Seeing her elder sister come out, Duan Qingyin quickly rose and greeted her.
Mingxi reached out to steady her. “What brings you here now?”
Duan Qingyin sat across from her. Xiangxiang brought over tea and snacks, smiling. “Third Young Lady, have some tea.”
Duan Qingyin smiled back. “You even prepared my favorite white jade cakes. Thank you.”
“Third Miss, you’re truly fond of joking. This is merely what a servant ought to do,” Xiangxiang said with a smile, bowing as she exited.
Seeing the worry between Duan Qingyin’s brows, Duan Mingxi looked at her and asked, “Are you here because of the recent events outside as well?”
Duan Qingyin shook her head. “I know Eldest Sister wouldn’t be bothered by such things. Whatever those people say is meaningless. The marriage is an imperial decree, and the wedding date was personally set by His Majesty. All they can do is act petty and try to disgust others with lowly tactics.”
“Then what are you troubled about?” Mingxi asked again.
Duan Qingyin was twisting her handkerchief into knots. She took a deep breath before saying, “Second Sister said something to me unintentionally, and it’s left me uneasy these past two days.”
Duan Huirou?
Mingxi and Duan Huirou had long been at odds. Now, the two sisters were like strangers—silent, but distant.
However, Duan Huirou had been keeping a low profile for a while. As long as she didn’t cause trouble, Mingxi was willing to pretend she didn’t exist.
Duan Qi and Duan Huirou were close siblings, and since Duan Qi had been behaving more like a younger brother to her lately, Mingxi was also willing to give Huirou a bit of leeway—for Duan Qi’s sake.
But only if Duan Huirou knew her place and didn’t do anything to anger her.
“What did she say?” Mingxi asked Duan Qingyin.
If it were something minor, Qingyin wouldn’t be this conflicted.
Duan Qingyin sighed lightly. “Eldest Sister, you know that I’ve been spending more time with Second Sister recently.”
Mingxi did know. Though she was at odds with Huirou, she had never forced Duan Qingyin to take sides. Chaos at home was not what she wanted.
Besides, Qingyin was a concubine-born daughter. She had to survive under Madam Jiang, and getting closer to Duan Huirou benefited her.
