Xiao Muchen wore a robe of moon-white silk, shadows dancing gently in his eyes under the dappled light. The sunlight fell on him, softening his usual cold demeanor, giving him a touch of warmth.
Mingxi walked over and stood beside him under the tree.
The two stood side by side—one stunningly beautiful, the other calm and aloof—bathed in golden sunlight. They looked every bit the perfect couple.
“What brings Wangye here?”
“A big event like this happened. I couldn’t rest easy unless I saw you. Are you alright?” Xiao Muchen looked down at her. Her expression was calm as usual, but her eyes betrayed the difference.
Mingxi shook her head. “I’m fine. Just didn’t expect this.”
Xiao Muchen took her hand. Mingxi blinked in surprise and looked up at him.
He didn’t let go and said, “You asked Qi He to come. Do you suspect this has something to do with the Crown Prince?”
Mingxi nodded. “Not suspect—I’m certain.” Her voice carried a sharp edge of anger. “I just didn’t expect he’d treat human life like it’s worthless. Yang Yiniang may be of low birth, but she gave birth to two children for the Marquis Household. To kill her just like that—what are people to him?”
“Any stone blocking his path is kicked away,” Xiao Muchen said, gripping her hand more tightly. “Tell me what you want to do. I’ll do it.”
Mingxi looked at him, seeing he wasn’t just trying to please her—he was serious.
But it was precisely because he was serious that she hesitated.
After a moment of thought, she spoke softly, “I want you to help me with one very important thing.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
“Interrogate Qiao Wan and those maids, get their confessions, and then lock them up separately.”
That one word—separately—said everything. Xiao Muchen understood immediately. She didn’t want them to have a chance to coordinate their stories.
No wonder, earlier, he had noticed all of them had their mouths tightly gagged.
So she planned to keep them alive after interrogation—clearly to use them against the Crown Prince later. Not that she might need to, but in case she did—she didn’t want to lose the opportunity.
“Leave it to me. You can rest assured,” Xiao Muchen agreed without hesitation. “Is there anything else?”
Mingxi looked at him. “Yes, but I’d like Wangye to step aside for now.”
Xiao Muchen immediately understood. She was going to settle the score herself. She had always been one to repay grievances personally.
He stepped to the side, giving her a clear path, and said gently, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
Mingxi gently pulled her hand free, glanced at him with a soft smile, “Alright.”
Xiao Muchen watched as Mingxi walked into the courtyard. Soon after, Qiao Wan’s voice rang out: “You dare! You can’t do this—!”
Then it fell silent.
A moment later, Mingxi’s voice came: “I told you—everything you did to them, I will return to you one by one. I, Duan Mingxi, always keep my word.”
“Qiao Wan, I know you have someone backing you, and I even know who it is. But so what? Call him here right now—I want to see if he dares to come!”
“You’re nothing more than a pawn to him. Do you believe that if you disappeared for a few days, he’d come looking for you? Why don’t we make a bet?”
“And as for you old women, don’t worry, I won’t let you die so easily. Ending you all with one stroke would be letting you off too lightly. I’ve got a special place prepared for you.”
Qi He looked at Duan Wang in the distance, whose expression remained calm as usual, and he couldn’t help but feel admiration. The Eldest Miss really is someone who can’t tolerate even a speck of dust in her eyes. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to handle her—only their Wangye could.
Soon after, Duan Mingxi walked out again. Qi He and the royal guards silently entered and dragged out the few people lying on the ground like dead dogs, without disturbing the two.
“What do you want to do next?” Xiao Muchen asked, looking at Mingxi.
“Of course, return to the Marquis Household. Something this serious, I have to report to Grandfather and Grandmother.” Duan Mingxi rubbed her forehead—she was genuinely worried the old couple might be driven to death by anger.
“Shall I come with you?”
Mingxi shook her head. “After all, this is a family scandal. It wouldn’t be appropriate for Wangye to be present. Our elders do care about appearances.”
Xiao Muchen chuckled softly. Seeing that Mingxi could still make such playful remarks, he felt a bit of relief. “As for the Eastern Palace, leave that to me.”
Mingxi had initially planned to handle it herself, but since Xiao Muchen was willing to help, she didn’t refuse out of politeness. She nodded. “Then I’ll trouble Wangye.”
Xiao Muchen sighed inwardly. She was still so polite with him.
He had thought that, after she’d given him so much silver and paved him a golden path, he’d become someone different in her eyes.
But clearly, he still had work to do.
“I’ll escort you back to the manor,” he said firmly. After all, he needed more opportunities to prove himself.
Mingxi hesitated at the look in his eyes, but didn’t refuse.
Just as they were about to leave, Yingliu came running, flustered. “Miss! Please wait!”
Duan Mingxi stopped and looked toward the breathless girl. “What is it?”
“Miss, Madam has awakened and would like to see you,” Yingliu quickly reported.
Mingxi shook her head. “No need. I have matters to attend to. Please tell Madam and Yang Yiniang to take care of themselves. Since there’s no one managing the household right now, I’ll mention it to Grandmother.”
That was her way of saying someone would be sent over to take charge for a few days.
Yingliu was a little disappointed that the Miss wouldn’t see the Madam, but she understood—after all, Madam had never treated the Eldest Miss kindly. If not for the Eldest Miss, who knows what might have happened this time.
Remembering this, Yingliu dared not plead on the Madam’s behalf. She quickly said, “Thank you, Miss. Please rest assured—I’ll take good care of Madam and Yang Yiniang.”
Mingxi nodded and looked over at Li Mama and Wan Mama in the distance. The two women immediately followed as the group headed out.
Yingliu watched the Eldest Miss’s back as tears began to fall uncontrollably. People said the Eldest Miss was cold and unfeeling, but when the Madam was in trouble, didn’t she still come immediately?
She quickly wiped her tears and went to see Madam.
Madam Jiang’s complexion was waxy yellow, and she seemed short of breath even leaning against her pillow. When she saw Yingliu return alone, she frowned slightly. “She refused to come?”
Yingliu smiled, “Madam, the Eldest Miss still needs to deal with Qiao Wan and the others, and she must return to the Marquis Household to report to the Old Madam. She’s too busy to spare the time. But she specially instructed this maid to serve you well, showing that she still cares for you.”
Madam Jiang gave a soft cough and lowered her eyes. She didn’t speak for a long while.
This time, having escaped death, she was truly frightened.
She hadn’t thought Qiao Wan could be so vicious.
“How is Yang Yiniang?” Madam Jiang suddenly asked.
Yingliu quickly answered, “Yang Yiniang nearly died. The physician said even if her life is spared, she’ll need careful care from now on—and even then, it may shorten her lifespan.”
Madam Jiang pursed her lips and looked at Yingliu. “Go to the Jiang family and say I’ve fallen seriously ill. Ask my mother to return the century-old ginseng I sent her, for emergency use. Once I’ve recovered, I’ll replace it with another one.”
Yang Yiniang nearly lost her life because of her. She couldn’t just do nothing.
