After seeing Qi He off, Duan Mingxi sat in silence for a while, then suddenly stood and went into her room to change. She donned a light-colored, close-sleeved long dress, pulled on a pair of soft leather boots, picked up a riding whip, grabbed a conical hat, and walked out.
Seeing this, Qiancao jumped in surprise and hurried to ask, “Miss, where are you going like that?”
“Out for a ride. You don’t need to follow.” Due to her upcoming marriage, Mingxi hadn’t gone out for quite some time. But this whole affair with Qiao Wan—it didn’t sit right with her. She had to see it for herself.
“Miss, let me go with you,” Qiancao said quickly, trying to catch up.
Mingxi placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “I have business to take care of. If you follow, you’ll only slow me down. Stay here and wait. I’ll be back by evening at the latest. If the elders ask, just say I went to the shop.”
Qiancao quickly grabbed her hand, worried. “This isn’t Jiangcheng, Miss. Please, be careful—don’t act on impulse.”
Back in Jiangcheng, their lady could draw a blade and charge into someone’s doorstep. Now she wielded a whip instead, but Qiancao’s heart still pounded with anxiety.
Mingxi waved her off and strode confidently to the stables. She picked a horse, mounted up, and rode out of the estate.
Just after she left, the Old Master found out.
Steward Chen fretted aloud, “Sir, the young lady went out by herself—aren’t you worried?”
She had a whip and wore traveling clothes—clearly not just out for fun.
Especially after what just happened with the Eldest Madam and Yang Yiniang, she really shouldn’t be acting rashly.
The Old Master opened his eyes and looked at the steward. “You’ve followed me all your life, yet you’re becoming more hesitant in old age. Mingxi is a thoughtful child. She won’t cause trouble.”
Steward Chen thought, That’s not necessarily true. Since her return, the young lady has stirred up no small number of things. But each time, she handled it with precision.
With that in mind, he had to admit—perhaps the old man was right. She hadn’t made a mistake yet. She should be fine.
Meanwhile, Mingxi galloped out of the city, heading straight for the estate.
Specifically, the one the Crown Prince had arranged for Gao Zhan to buy ahead of her.
Wearing her conical hat, she circled the estate from a distance. The property had already been transferred to the Gao family, and Bai Zhiwei had once frequented it.
Thinking of Bai Zhiwei, Mingxi narrowed her eyes.
She carefully memorized the paths around the estate, noting the front and back gates, before turning toward her own property.
Coincidentally, You Sanping was there and greeted her warmly.
“Young Miss, what brings you here today?”
Mingxi was a little surprised too. “And what are you doing here today?”
The two spoke in unison, then chuckled when their eyes met.
“I came to check on the spring water diversion project. After buying that other hill, we found it lacked a spring, so I’m planning to redirect water from this side. I’d like to plant some fruit trees there—makes it easier for you to enjoy fresh produce later.”
Mingxi nodded slightly. She had complete trust in You Sanping handling these matters.
“We also plan to expand the greenhouse this year. Many restaurants in the capital have signed contracts with us. We’re struggling to meet demand—orders are already lined up through the end of the year.”
Mingxi raised her brows. “That many?”
“It’s thanks to your foresight in choosing a place with a spring. Besides ours, only that other estate over there has one. But it’s just sitting there, going to waste.”
Would’ve been nice if they’d sold it to them.
Mingxi turned her head to glance at Gao Zhan’s estate again. After a pause, she asked, “Has there been any activity over there lately?”
You Sanping shook his head. “Nothing unusual. No one from the Gao family has come in a long time. There’s just a steward managing the fields.”
“Weren’t they planning to build a greenhouse over there too? Why’d they stop?”
“Not sure what happened. The work stopped ages ago.”
Since she was already there, Mingxi walked around her estate with You Sanping and even visited the newly purchased hill. It was being managed with great care.
As she was descending the hill, she suddenly paused mid-step.
You Sanping nearly bumped into her but caught himself by grabbing a fruit tree. “What’s wrong?”
“I just saw a carriage enter that estate. Didn’t you say no one’s visited in a long time?”
“Carriage?” You Sanping looked up and saw it too. A carriage parked right outside the estate gate. “That’s strange. No one’s come in a long while.”
Mingxi looked at him seriously. “Send someone unfamiliar over to check things out.”
Sensing the gravity in her expression, You Sanping didn’t ask any questions. He hurried into the estate and picked a clever, young farmhand who hadn’t shown his face much and sent him off.
Mingxi entered the estate and took a seat in the stone pavilion. Though You Sanping offered to make tea, she barely acknowledged him, her mind clearly elsewhere.
The tea came, and just as she finished one cup, the young scout returned.
He faced Mingxi without fear and reported earnestly, “The carriage delivered someone claiming to be here to recuperate. A cousin from the Duke Gao’s household. Apparently he’s suffering from a strange illness. The doctor recommended somewhere quiet, so they brought him here.”
“A sick cousin?” Mingxi frowned. She didn’t remember the Gao family having such a relative in her previous life.
“How many people came with that young master?”
“Seems like just two—an older one who looked like a steward, and a younger servant who attends to him.”
“No maidservants with them?” Mingxi asked again.
The boy shook his head. “I didn’t see any, miss.”
He didn’t say there weren’t any—just that he hadn’t seen them. Honest enough.
Mingxi had You Sanping reward him with a string of coins. The boy kowtowed gratefully, beaming as he left. Just for gathering a bit of news and he got a whole string of coins—the young miss was generous indeed. Felt like he’d struck it rich.
Mingxi played with the teacup in her hands, her brows tightly furrowed.
Seeing her like this, You Sanping thought for a moment and asked, “Shall I go over and take a look?”
“No.” Mingxi shook her head. “You’re here too often, you’d draw attention.”
“Young miss, if you’re investigating something, maybe I can help,” You Sanping offered.
But Mingxi couldn’t bring herself to explain the disgraceful matter involving Eldest Master Duan—it was just too shameful to say aloud.
She looked at You Sanping and said softly, “When night falls, I want to go over and meet this so-called young master cousin.”
You Sanping: …
“This is the capital, not Jiangcheng. You’re about to marry Duan Wang—you can’t afford any mishaps,” he reminded her.
“I know.” Mingxi waved her hand. “No one will notice.”
Her martial skills weren’t just for show. That manor had no guards or capable fighters—she might as well be walking into unoccupied land.
