“Recently, I’ve discovered something—Gao Zhan has been visiting the Eastern Palace more and more frequently. He’s already resigned from his former post and has been making frequent trips outside the capital.
“I suspect he’s secretly doing things for the Crown Prince that can’t be made public. I ask for Wangye’s direction—should we have someone follow him?” Qi He asked.
“When did he resign from his post?” Xiao Muchen hadn’t yet received this news.
“He went on long-term sick leave a month ago and submitted his resignation yesterday. Since it was Wangye’s wedding yesterday, I didn’t report it.”
“Yesterday?” There was a trace of suspicion in Xiao Muchen’s voice before he chuckled softly. “What a conveniently chosen day.”
He turned to look at Mingxi. “What do you think?”
“You think Gao Zhan deliberately chose yesterday?” Mingxi asked.
Xiao Muchen nodded. “We were all busy yesterday—no one had the time to care about him.”
Mingxi knew that in her past life, Gao Zhan had secretly done all the Crown Prince’s dirty work. In this life, she had thought his relationship with the Crown Prince had grown distant after the Bai Zhiwei incident. She hadn’t expected him to fall back into old patterns.
But this time, without her fortune to support him, she wondered where Gao Zhan would find another “God of Wealth” for the Crown Prince.
“I think we should keep an eye on him,” Duan Mingxi said, looking at Xiao Muchen.
Right now, Xiao Muchen doesn’t take Gao Zhan seriously, but that’s just because Gao Zhan hasn’t shown his abilities yet.
Previously, Gao Zhan didn’t make any moves, and Mingxi thought it was because of Bai Zhiwei that he had developed a mental block against the Crown Prince, which was why he hadn’t taken action.
But now, she just found herself thinking her assumptions were somewhat laughable.
In the previous life, Gao Zhan was deeply troubled by not being able to marry Bai Zhiwei, which became a mental block for him. That’s why he worked hard to make progress, striving to make accomplishments.
But this time, she helped them, thinking that after Gao Zhan got what he wanted, he would calm down. Unexpectedly, he was still following the same path.
So, these kinds of men, when they say they endure hardship and carry burdens for deep love, it’s all a lie.
Love is just a trick he plays on himself and others.
Xiao Muchen turned to Qi He. “Keep an eye on him.”
Qi He nodded. “Yes, I’ll arrange for someone to keep watch. If Wangye has no other orders, I will take my leave.”
Xiao Muchen waved his hand, and Qi He left after bowing.
After Qi He left, Mingxi looked at Xiao Muchen and asked, “Duke Wei has repeatedly targeted the Eastern Palace. Do you think Royal Father will be displeased?”
“It’s hard to say, which is why I’m testing the waters.”
Mentioning this, Xiao Muchen’s expression also darkened. In the Emperor’s heart, the Crown Prince was different from his other sons.
Mingxi knew she couldn’t rush it; the time wasn’t right yet. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Since Qi Wang and Xingqin Marquis have other plans, why not let them be?”
Xiao Muchen looked at Mingxi and smiled. “That’s a good idea.”
Wasn’t Qi Wang trying to sit back and watch the Crown Prince and I fight each other?
Then he could drag him into the water.
Mingxi smiled too. “Wangye has finally won the heart of a beauty. You and I are newlywed. How could we care about such matters in court?”
She wanted Xiao Muchen to step back from the battle with the Crown Prince. If Qi Wang wanted to take advantage, then let him handle it himself.
Although the Emperor was ill, he was not foolish. He still intended to support the Crown Prince. If Xiao Muchen acted too obviously, it wouldn’t be good.
Better to withdraw at the peak of the struggle. With Duke Wei in the open, Xiao Muchen in the shadows, and Qi Wang stirring the pot, things would get lively.
In this way, the Empress and the Crown Prince couldn’t openly target Xiao Muchen anymore.
Xiao Muchen approached Mingxi, “What Wangfei says is right. I should enjoy the beauty and ignore the wind and rain.”
Duan Mingxi: …
Mingxi was pulled back to the backyard by Xiao Muchen, where they each went to change and bathe.
Fang Momo had already prepared hot water. When she saw the two masters return, she immediately had people send it in, smiling and waiting outside with Li Mama, eagerly looking forward to having a little master soon.
Xiao Muchen, dressed in his inner robes, came out of the bathroom and saw Mingxi sitting on the edge of the bed, resting on a soft pillow. She wore a bright red robe, her black hair flowing down her back, cascading over her shoulders, half concealing her beautiful face.
The room was filled with bright red, a festive mood. Xiao Muchen walked over to Mingxi, sat beside her, then lowered the bed curtains, blocking the light from outside. Inside the curtains, the atmosphere became hazy, gradually heating up.
Xiao Muchen leaned toward Mingxi, extending his long arm to pull her into his embrace.
Duan Mingxi: …
What kind of habit is this!
Before she could react, Xiao Muchen kicked the other set of bedding aside.
She didn’t know how to express her feelings at this moment. She just thought Xiao Muchen seemed a bit childish for once.
Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Xiao Muchen leaned closer to her. They could feel each other’s breath as he softly asked, “What are you laughing at?”
Mingxi had been tense, but she wasn’t sure if it was because Xiao Muchen seemed so relaxed that she began to relax as well. Before he could speak, she leaned against his chest and softly said, “I just think your kick just now was quite interesting.”
Xiao Muchen replied seriously, “In this kind of weather, there’s no need for that.”
“You’re right, Wangye. Tomorrow, I’ll tell Fang Momo.” Mingxi laughed more and more. She was just teasing Xiao Muchen. If Fang Momo and the others really found out, she would lose all her face.
Xiao Muchen pulled Mingxi tighter into his embrace, their skin touching. Mingxi could even hear her heartbeat pounding like drums.
Xiao Muchen’s kisses rained down, pressing her into the soft blanket. Her shoulders became cool as her clothes were removed.
His hot lips and tongue landed on hers, then her neck, causing her skin to tremble. The goosebumps rose one after another. Duan Mingxi had no place to lean on, so she wrapped her arms around his back, moving with him within the bed curtains.
She didn’t know how much time passed, but Mingxi, breathing lightly, pushed Xiao Muchen away. It wasn’t that she was being pretentious; it was just that tonight, he was completely different from last night.
Compared to their wedding night, where he had restrained himself, today he was fully letting go. Though she was strong, she was still a newlywed wife and couldn’t handle it.
Xiao Muchen’s eyes were as dark as ink. When Mingxi pushed him, he didn’t move, staring at her. Sweat dripped from his jaw, falling onto her disheveled clothing.
“I’m afraid it’s not possible.”
Hearing this, Duan Mingxi’s face turned red. She simply closed her mouth and said nothing, letting him do as he wished.
Time passed, and Xiao Muchen showed no signs of stopping. Mingxi, usually able to remain calm, was starting to feel overwhelmed and kicked him.
Xiao Muchen chuckled softly, then quickened his pace.
Soon, the sounds within the curtains gradually disappeared, and the evening breeze gently blew through the window. Mingxi was so tired she didn’t want to move a finger, thinking that tomorrow she would have to follow Bai Shixi’s example and put more powder on her face.
