Led by palace attendants, the two made their way toward Kunde Palace, which was already lively with activity.
The pregnant Crown Princess and Yu Wangfei were already present. They hadn’t attended the grand wedding at Duan Wang’s residence yesterday, but since Mingxi was formally being introduced today, they couldn’t miss this occasion.
As for Consort Shu, she was dressed especially solemnly today. The Empress glanced at her a couple of times, but she acted as if she didn’t notice.
After all the times the Crown Prince had tried to sabotage Duan Wang, she couldn’t just sit back and take it.
She used to show deference to the Empress because, at the very least, the Empress maintained a façade of fairness. But now… Consort Shu knew she couldn’t carry on like before. If she kept swallowing her pride, not only would she suffer, but so would Mingxi.
So now that Consort Shu had lifted her head high, Mingxi could stand tall as well in the palace.
Bai Shixi had layered on thick powder and sat upright next to the Crown Prince, but a faint cold sweat was visible at her temples. She maintained her composure, discreetly dabbing it away with a handkerchief, so no one noticed.
In contrast, Yu Wangfei sat beside Consort Xian, who looked after her attentively. Though she was further along in her pregnancy, she looked far healthier and more radiant than Bai Shixi.
Just then, an attendant announced: “Duan Wang and Duan Wangfei have arrived.”
The laughter and chatter in the hall instantly stopped, and everyone turned toward the doors.
Duan Mingxi entered side-by-side with Xiao Muchen, walking directly to the front and bowing before the Empress.
“Your son greets Royal Mother.”
“Your daughter-in-law greets Royal Mother,” Mingxi said in unison with Xiao Muchen.
The Empress smiled warmly. “Rise, both of you. Truly a perfect match. Duan Wang certainly went to great lengths to win his bride.”
There was a hint of something deeper in her words. Consort Shu, hearing this from the side, immediately interjected, “Her Majesty is quite right. A man should marry someone he truly loves—only then will life be harmonious and joyful.” Then she added pointedly, “His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are also a fine couple. Before long, Your Majesty will be holding your first royal grandchild—what wonderful news.”
Everyone present knew how the Crown Prince’s marriage had come about. The Empress had originally chosen Gan Li as the bride.
So when Consort Shu called them a “fine couple,” both the Empress and the Crown Prince’s expressions turned a bit odd.
Bai Shixi, however, maintained a calm demeanor, lowering her eyes just enough to give off a bashful, demure air.
Duan Mingxi, observing silently, thought to herself that since entering the Eastern Palace, Bai Shixi’s acting skills had clearly reached another level.
Afterward, Xiao Muchen led Mingxi in paying respects to the four consorts. Consort Gui was the first to present a generous meeting gift.
The Empress, caught up in verbal sparring with Consort Shu, had momentarily forgotten the gift protocol.
But she recovered her composure quickly. After the other four consorts had given their gifts, she instructed Lu Momo to present Mingxi with hers, along with a formal exhortation: to abide by palace rules and to bear Duan Wang many heirs.
Mingxi accepted everything with a smile, replying with utmost respect. As the head of the six palaces, the Empress had every right to offer such guidance.
Once the ceremonial circuit was completed, the couple took their seats.
Then, unexpectedly, the Crown Prince spoke up: “I, too, offer blessings to my Fourth Brother and his wife. May you live in harmony and grow old together.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” they both said, rising slightly in acknowledgment.
But Mingxi noticed the Crown Prince’s gaze lingering on her a moment too long. A wave of displeasure rose in her chest. She immediately lifted her head and looked straight at him, catching his gaze dead-on.
The Crown Prince, caught in the act, didn’t flinch. Instead, he offered her a refined, courteous smile—graceful, cultured, exuding magnanimity. As though he had absolutely nothing to hide.
Mingxi looked at the Crown Prince, who seemed completely unbothered, thinking to herself, “Tsk,” with a feeling of disdain. What was more frightening than a scholar flaunting their knowledge was a scholar with thick skin.
People like the Crown Prince, once freed from the constraints of manners, ethics, and moral codes, could easily do things without boundaries or limits.
Mingxi slowly withdrew her gaze, and the corner of her eye caught sight of Bai Shixi. She frowned slightly. Why was Bai Shixi wearing such thick makeup?
However, when she noticed Bai Shixi quickly winking at her when no one was looking, Mingxi felt a slight relief.
Suddenly, Jin Wangfei spoke, drawing everyone’s attention to Mingxi. “Why has Duan Wangfei been staring at the Crown Princess? Is something wrong?”
Mingxi turned to Jin Wangfei, “Oh? Why do you say that, Jin Wangfei? I haven’t seen the Crown Princess for a long time. I simply glanced at her earlier. How did that turn into me staring at her all this time?”
Without giving Jin Wangfei a chance to respond, Mingxi pretended to be surprised and said, “How did you know I was staring at the Crown Princess all along? Could it be that you’ve been staring at me instead? But we have no grievances, so I wonder why you would do such a thing?”
Jin Wangfei was at a loss for words. She found herself caught off guard and didn’t know how to explain.
Bai Shixi also frowned slightly and, looking at Jin Wangfei, quietly asked, “Why have you been staring at me and Duan Wangfei?”
Jin Wangfei’s expression stiffened when she noticed the unfriendly gaze of Consort Shu. Realizing that she couldn’t delay any further, she quickly said, “I just glanced over and casually asked. I didn’t expect Duan Wangfei and the Crown Princess to care so much.”
Mingxi feigned confusion. “This is rather strange. The person staring at others ends up accusing the person being stared at of being strange.” She gave an expression as if she couldn’t believe such logic existed.
Xiao Muchen seized the opportunity and turned to look at Jin Wang. “Big Brother, I didn’t realize that you and your wife felt so dissatisfied with us.”
Jin Wang was confused. What was going on?
Why was a big pot suddenly dropped on his head when he hadn’t done anything?
“Old Four, when have I ever been dissatisfied with you?” Jin Wang furrowed his brows.
“Is that so?” Xiao Muchen made a puzzled face, similar to Mingxi’s, and after a brief hesitation, spoke slowly, “If Big Brother has never been dissatisfied with me, then why did my sister-in-law not even enter the bridal chamber yesterday? When the Crown Princess and Yu Wangfei married, my sister-in-law was there, bustling around and making preparations. But when it comes to me, it was different?”
“I thought I must have done something wrong to upset Big Brother. If that’s the case, please let me know, and I will correct myself immediately.”
Mingxi silently applauded Xiao Muchen in her heart. He had timed this perfectly!
This was something she couldn’t ask Jin Wang or Jin Wangfei, or else others would think she was being too bold as a new bride. But Xiao Muchen was different. He had dropped a huge pot on Jin Wang’s head, and just by looking at Jin Wang’s face, it was clear he knew nothing about this.
Sure enough, Jin Wang immediately turned to his wife, glaring at her sharply. “Yesterday, Fourth Brother got married, and as the elder sister-in-law, you didn’t even accompany Fourth Sister-in-law? What happened?”
Yu Wangfei, who hadn’t spoken up until then, immediately added, “Sister-in-law, if I had known you didn’t like Mingxi, I would have gone to the Duan Wang’s residence after the wedding feast. Now, after the banquet, I wonder what people outside are saying about Fourth Sister-in-law.”
Yu Wangfei had long held a grudge against Jin Wangfei over He Wanyi, and now she was striking when the iron was hot.
Yu Wang pulled at his wife’s sleeve, trying to stop her from speaking.
But Yu Wangfei ignored him and turned to look at Consort Xian.
Consort Xian had long been aligned with her daughter-in-law after several setbacks. She glared at her son and then sighed, addressing the Empress, “Your Majesty, it seems this situation is indeed improper. They are all royal daughters-in-law, a family. Any grievances should be cleared up, to avoid causing strife between Jin Wang and his brothers.”
She had never liked the Xingan Marquis’ residence, so this was a sweet moment of justice for her!
