The Duke’s expression darkened. “Ding Zhao said His Majesty is unwell and sent me away.”
The Duchess turned pale. She sat beside her husband and said through gritted teeth, “Fengcheng Marquis hasn’t returned to the capital yet, and already these people are eyeing his military command. Just because you spoke up for him, they went after Heng Er? His Majesty claimed illness and refused to see you—could he be implying something? Husband, if that’s the case, what are we to do?”
“Ding Zhao’s words may not be untrue.”
“What? Are you saying His Majesty…l?”
Duke Wei tightly grasped his wife’s hand. “His Majesty hasn’t attended court for two days. The Crown Prince is managing affairs, and Jin Wang and Qi Wang are making moves. The Eastern Palace is targeting the Fengcheng Marquis’s military command. If they can’t get it this time, I fear things won’t go well for Kang Wang.”
The Duchess expression shifted multiple times before she finally said, “Siyu hasn’t yet married Kang Wang. If the Crown Prince wants to win over the Fengcheng Marquis, he won’t let Siyu suffer injustice.”
The Duke had always been loyal to the emperor and stayed out of the power struggles among Wangyes. Over the years, several princes, including the Crown Prince, had tried to win him over, but he never budged.
But this time—Xu Heng was his only son, and they had dared to attack him so ruthlessly. That was a direct threat to his life.
Thinking of the emperor’s current state, the Duke realized he must now prioritize the wellbeing of the Wei household—for the sake of his son.
He had always been willing to sacrifice for his ruler and country, but he couldn’t just watch his son die at the hands of political schemers.
“I’ll go see Duan Wang.”
His wife grabbed his hand. “You… you’ve thought this through?”
The Duke held her hand tightly. “The Crown Prince is too ruthless. After all these years, I never supported the Eastern Palace. With his narrow heart, even if I turn to him now, he won’t truly trust me. And once he ascends the throne, the Wei household may still meet a grim end.”
When the rabbit dies, the hound is cooked.
If the Crown Prince were sincere, he wouldn’t have targeted his only son.
This wasn’t recruitment—it was coercion.
“If you’ve decided, then go.” The Duchess didn’t stop him.
Among the other Wangyes, if she had to choose one, she would also choose Duan Wang.
Though he acted low-key, his military actions during the Yuxiang campaign proved he was anything but passive.
Besides, Eldest Miss Duan had sent life-saving medicine. She was to be the future Duan Wangfei.
Their family always repaid kindness.
Duke Wei secretly went to see Duan Wang.
Duan Wang had already heard of Xu Heng’s severe injury and was surprised that the Duke sought him out so soon. Thinking the Duke came for medical help, he said, “Duke Wei, don’t worry. I’ll go to the Imperial Medical Institute myself.”
The Duke was briefly stunned. “Wangye didn’t know?”
Xiao Muchen was confused. “Know what?”
“Heng Er’s wife went to her parents’ home to ask for medicine. Marquis Fuchang got it from the Dingyuan Marquis Madam, who in turn got it from Lady Duan. I thought this was Wangye’s arrangement,” the Duke explained.
Xiao Muchen froze, then shook his head. “I had no idea.”
The Duke’s expression grew complicated. He had assumed… and now realized he’d been mistaken.
He thought it was a political move by Duan Wang, but it turned out Eldest Miss Duan hadn’t even consulted him before giving away such a rare ointment. He felt ashamed.
Seeing the Duke’s expression, Xiao Muchen understood. Thoughts swirled through his mind as he said, “Eldest Miss Duan and your daughter-in-law are close, and she has often praised the Young Shizi as a brilliant young man. She admires talent and couldn’t bear to see him in danger. This truly had nothing to do with me. If you came because of this, please don’t take it to heart.”
The Duke shook his head. “I’m truly ashamed. I’ve spent my life on the battlefield, loyal to my emperor and country. I dare not claim great merit, but my loyalty is true. To think that because of it, my son nearly lost his life—I feel great sorrow.”
At this point, Xiao Muchen already understood why Duke Wei had come.
It truly was like a pie falling from the sky—Mingxi really was his lucky star.
She sowed the seeds of kindness, and he reaped the fruit.
But thinking about it, the two of them would be husband and wife in the future, so it didn’t really make a difference.
Getting to the main point, Duan Wang invited Duke Wei into the study and laid out the whole matter of the Crown Prince manipulating Qiao Wan to harm the Dingyuan Marquis’ household.
Duke Wei was shocked. He hadn’t heard even the slightest whisper of this. He hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to act with such malice.
“No wonder Master Duan was stripped of his title and kicked out of the Marquis’ residence recently. So that girl was sent by the Eastern Palace.” Everyone in the capital already knew that Duan Yu, the shizi of the Dingyuan Marquis, had inherited the title.
People said that Master Duan gave up his title for a beauty. Though mostly said in jest, because Master Duan was never seen as particularly capable, no one really took it seriously.
As for Duan Yu, even though he inherited the title and became the Marquis of Dingyuan, he only got the position of Langzhong at the Military Selection Division purely by luck—no one thought he was particularly outstanding.
Everyone believed it was just a love affair gone wrong and often gossiped about it.
Who would have thought that behind this so-called “debt of beauty” lay the scheming of the Eastern Palace—it was terrifying the more you thought about it.
And then, thinking of how the Crown Prince had gone so ruthlessly after his own son…
Duke Wei’s decision to board Duan Wang’s ship was now fully solidified. He looked at Duan Wang and said, “Wangye, this matter cannot be let go. We must bite a piece off the Eastern Palace.”
Duan Wang sighed lightly. “This Wangye has never wanted to contend with the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince continues to press step after step…”
Duke Wei snorted coldly. “Wangye mustn’t be soft-hearted. With such ruthless actions against the Dingyuan Marquis’ household, what benevolence remains of a Crown Prince?”
He changed the subject. “As for Qiao Yu, leave that to me. I’ll drag him out no matter what.”
Duan Wang looked at him and asked, “What if he’s already been taken into the Eastern Palace?”
Duke Wei chuckled. “Then rest assured, Wangye—I’ll make sure the Eastern Palace spits him out themselves.”
“Then I must trouble you, Duke Wei.”
Duke Wei was different from Xiao Muchen. As a prince, Xiao Muchen had to be cautious; the emperor had not yet given up on the Crown Prince. If he made any move, the emperor might grow suspicious. So he had to be extremely careful in all matters related to the Eastern Palace.
But Duke Wei wasn’t constrained in the same way. He held military power, and with his son seriously injured, he now had the perfect excuse to act. He might even succeed.
Duke Wei quietly left the Duan Wang’s residence through the back gate, and the next day, he went again to request an audience with the emperor, kneeling outside Chongzheng Hall and refusing to leave.
Ding Zhao had no choice but to go inside and report.
The emperor, leaning against a headrest, looked sallow and was wheezing. Seeing Ding Zhao return, he asked, “What is it?”
“Your Majesty, Duke Wei requested an audience yesterday, but because of your health, this servant sent him away. Unexpectedly, he has returned today and is kneeling outside the hall, refusing to leave.” Ding Zhao was sweating profusely.
“Duke Wei?” The emperor’s clouded eyes shifted toward the outside of the hall.
Duke Wei was always someone who understood propriety. If it weren’t a serious matter, he wouldn’t act this way. The emperor coughed and spat out thick phlegm.
Ding Zhao quickly held a spittoon to catch it, then handed it off to a junior eunuch and brought tea to the emperor to rinse his mouth.
After drinking a mouthful, the emperor’s breathing eased slightly, and he finally said, “Summon Duke Wei.”
