Xiao Muchen looked at Mingxi. “You know I don’t care about that.”
Mingxi rarely saw him being this unreasonable—it must mean he was drunk. She didn’t want to stoop to arguing with a drunkard, so she replied simply, “Does it matter that I care?”
“What do you care about?”
“I care about your reputation, Duan Wang. Is that good enough for you?”
Xiao Muchen shifted his feet slightly. Mingxi immediately took a step back. “Stand still.”
Why was he moving around like that? They were out in public with all eyes on them.
Xiao Muchen stopped where he was. “You’re disgusted by me?”
Mingxi: ?
He really is drunk!
“I’m not.” Mingxi took a deep breath. She couldn’t help wondering—when Duan Wang sobered up tomorrow, would he want to silence her for hearing all this? Was this even something she was supposed to be hearing?
Are all drunk people this unreasonable?
She looked toward Xu Yunhui, who had distanced himself far away, and raised her voice. “Xu Shizi, Wangye is drunk. Please take him back before he catches a chill and wakes up with a headache tomorrow.”
Xu Yunhui: …
If he’d known, he’d have vanished from her sight a long time ago!
With no other choice, Xu Yunhui walked back toward them. As he neared, he heard Duan Wang say, “You’re sending me away? Is it because I came too late?”
Xu Yunhui nearly slapped his own ears. This was the real Duan Wang?
Mingxi’s face flushed red. She grabbed Xiao Muchen’s arm and forcefully shoved him into the carriage. When she saw him about to get off again, she quickly said, “I’m not sending you away. I’m just worried that after such a long journey back to the capital, you’re exhausted. Go rest first—we can talk tomorrow, alright?”
Before he could respond, she dropped the carriage curtain and turned to Xu Yunhui.
The look she gave him made him leap onto the driver’s seat almost instinctively and whip the reins, hurrying the carriage off.
Mingxi: …
Was she that scary?
She just wanted to ask him for a favor!
Once they were out of the alley by the Dingyuan Marquis Estate, the actual coachman caught up and took back the reins from Xu Yunhui.
After hesitating a moment, Xu Yunhui climbed into the carriage.
Inside, he found Duan Wang already leaning against the cushions with his eyes closed.
Well, look at that.
What happened to all that energy when he saw Eldest Miss Duan?
Leaving aside Xu Yunhui’s mutterings as he brought Duan Wang back to the manor, Mingxi returned to the Marquis’ estate, expressionless.
Now the whole household knew Duan Wang had come to see her. Anyone who had doubts about this engagement before—what was there to be afraid of now?
Duan Wang had gone through so much and still made time to visit Mingxi.
With teasing eyes following her, Mingxi maintained a composed face as she returned to her courtyard. Once inside the study, she shut the door firmly behind her.
She hadn’t expected drunk Xiao Muchen to be like that.
***
Next morning when Xiao Muchen woke up, his head was splitting. Slowly, the events of the previous night came back to him, and he froze.
He rubbed his forehead hard—drinking really causes trouble.
Expression stern, he got up. But to his attendants, nothing seemed unusual. After all, their Wangye looked like this three hundred sixty-six days a year.
After washing up and eating a light breakfast, he was still pondering how to invite Mingxi out when a message came from Cuiwei Palace—his mother wanted to see him.
Xiao Muchen entered the palace to visit Consort Shu.
Seeing her son, Consort Shu was delighted and pulled him to sit beside her. “It was hard to speak freely at Kunde Palace yesterday. I called you here today to talk about Mingxi.”
At her words, Xiao Muchen looked at his mother. “What about her?”
“Have you heard what happened with Dingyuan Marquis?”
“I have.” He nodded. Li Quan had already passed on the message.
“What’s your take on it?” Consort Shu asked.
“What do you mean?” he asked, confused.
Consort Shu gave a soft snort. “Do you know what people are saying out there? The Marquis did something so disgraceful, and Mingxi is his daughter—how can she possibly distance herself from it completely?”
“Mother, Mingxi wasn’t raised by the Marquis. What does it have to do with her? Did someone say something to you?” He suddenly thought of the sneaky Xu Yunhui from the day before. Was it him?
From his tone, Consort Shu knew she was right—her son didn’t care at all.
“If you truly don’t care, then let Mingxi know that. Right now, so many people are laughing at her, waiting for you to come back and break off the engagement.”
“Ridiculous!” Xiao Muchen’s face darkened. “Our wedding date is already set.”
Consort Shu said casually, “That’s your view—but not everyone agrees. And Mingxi—talented, beautiful, wealthy, capable—plenty of people are hoping the engagement falls through so they can snatch her up.”
Her meaning was clear. Xiao Muchen frowned deeply.
No wonder Mingxi hadn’t come to greet him yesterday.
Everything she said to him last night—likely half-truths.
She’d always been a strong-minded woman. That probably was a test.
Thank goodness—even drunk, he still remembered her.
Though, his behavior and words last night… were definitely a little too impulsive.
Consort Shu watched her son’s expressions shift again and again, a hint of red creeping into his face. Was he that angry?
“What’s wrong?”
Xiao Muchen shook his head. “Nothing. I just didn’t expect so much to have happened while I was away from the capital.”
“They’ve been eyeing your purse this whole time.”
“Royal Mother!”
“I know, I know—you care about her not because she’s rich. But others don’t know that.” She raised her hands. “This was your own choice of bride, and Mingxi has treated you sincerely. Just make sure you know what you’re doing.”
Xiao Muchen felt a pang of grievance he had no one to share with. Mingxi did treat him well… but probably just so she could divorce him peacefully in ten years.
Still, his mother had reminded him of something important. He knew what he needed to do now.
“I’ll go see Mingxi now,” he said, standing up.
“Good. Go.” Consort Shu didn’t stop him. “Tell her not to care about what others say. I know what kind of person she is. Reassure her.”
“Thank you, Royal Mother.”
“Off you go,” she waved him off, clearly in a great mood.
“Your Highness, Wangye truly seems to care deeply for the young lady,” Hu Momo said with a smile. “I’ve never seen the crease between his brows ease up like that before.”
Consort Shu snorted. “Back then, he tried to analyze the pros and cons for me, preaching all sorts of principles. At first, I thought he had a point. But then I thought it over—how could I not know the kind of son I raised? If he had to marry someone he didn’t like just for the sake of benefits, he wouldn’t agree even if you put a knife to his neck. He only brought up those reasons because he was afraid I’d disapprove and wanted to fool me.”
Hu Momo quickly replied, “Wangye is just being filial, Your Highness. He wanted to be thoughtful. Besides, the young lady is indeed a wonderful person—His Highness made the right choice. You should be happy.”
“Of course I’m happy. But sometimes I can’t help but feel for Mingxi. That child was born into a noble family, yet grew up among merchants. After recognizing her birth family upon returning to the capital, she’s stuck with such parents. Good thing she’s smart and clear-headed. She knows what to do and what not to do, and she managed to win over the entire Marquis household in such a short time. If she were my daughter, I’d treasure her like a pearl in the palm of my hand.”
“Once she marries His Highness, she’ll be family. Naturally, you can cherish her however you please,” Hu Momo said happily.
“That’s true. My son is blessed, and so am I,” Consort Shu said with contentment. “Other people’s daughters-in-law always come with some sort of compromise—either the family’s too humble or the girl herself is lacking in some way. There’s always something that doesn’t sit right.
But this Mingxi child—both I and my son find her flawless in every way. The more you look at her, the more likable she becomes.”
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