“Who said she’s fine?” Xiao Yan rolled her eyes. “I heard that He Wanyi deliberately tried to frame her and rammed into her. Yu Wangfei was knocked over.”
Mingxi’s face darkened. “How could that happen? Didn’t the lady-in-waiting sent by Consort Xian protect her?”
“They did protect her, but He Wanyi charged with so much force that even the maid was knocked over. That’s how Yu Wangfei got dragged down too.”
Xiao Yan snorted, “Otherwise, why do you think His Majesty made them kneel as punishment?”
Mingxi felt a chill in her heart. “How is Yu Wangfei now?”
“I don’t know. Yu Wang was punished to kneel in the palace, He Wanyi was thrown into another courtyard by Consort Xian, and the gates of the Yu residence have been shut tight. No one knows what’s going on inside.” Xiao Yan sighed.
Just as Mingxi was about to speak, Ning Qin Wangfei entered and overheard the last sentence.
“She’s out of danger now and has regained consciousness,” she said.
Mingxi immediately rose to greet her. “Greetings, Royal Aunt.”
Ning Qin Wangfei personally helped her up. “No need for such formality. Sit down and let’s talk.” Then she turned to her daughter. “I haven’t appeared yet—people might ask after me. Go out and cover for me.”
Xiao Yan understood that her mother wanted her gone. “Alright, I’ll go. Once you’re done with me, just kick me out.”
Ning Qin Wangfei lightly poked her daughter. “You… go on.”
“Sister-in-law, I’ll head out first. Let’s chat more later.”
“Okay, go ahead,” Mingxi said with a smile.
After Xiao Yan left, Ning Qin Wangfei glanced at her trusted maid, who withdrew and stood guard outside.
Mingxi looked at her. “Royal Aunt?”
“Mingxi, something has happened.” Ning Qin Wangfei tightly grasped her hand, her voice trembling.
Mingxi was startled. “What is it?”
“Fengcheng Marquis is being blackmailed by the Crown Prince’s faction. They’ve caught hold of an old incident—when he raised military funds by taxing the region around Yuxiang City. They’re using it to force him to side with the Eastern Palace. He refused. Now, they’re preparing to impeach him.”
Mingxi was momentarily stunned by the news. “Didn’t the court tacitly allow local grain and tax collection when military funds were short?”
“You said it yourself—it was tacit approval,” Ning Qin Wangfei sighed.
Without an official decree, it counts as an unauthorized action.
In wartime, no one cared. But now… it’s a deadly sword!
Mingxi was stunned. “Didn’t the Marquis request an official document?”
“He did, but only received a verbal directive.”
Verbal orders were easily manipulated.
Mingxi’s face turned grim. “Is that why you held this banquet today?”
Ning Qin Wangfei shook her head. “Partly, yes—to see you. But there’s something even more urgent. Xiao Lin managed to get hold of a strange official document. He sent it by fast horse to the capital for Duan Wang.”
“I couldn’t visit you directly, nor meet you in secret. This banquet was the only excuse. Ever since the last incident, the emperor has become even more wary of Wangye. He can no longer leave the capital.”
Mingxi was surprised. “Why? Hasn’t Royal Father always held Royal Uncle in high regard?”
Ning Qin Wangfei gave a bitter smile. So many things she couldn’t even begin to explain.
“Take this.” She quietly slipped an envelope into Mingxi’s hand. “Later, we’ll stage a fight. I’ll throw you out.”
“What? Royal Aunt, it’s come to this already?”
“Yes. You must remember—whenever we meet from now on, we must pretend to be on bad terms.”
“But shouldn’t there be a reason? We can’t just fall out without cause.”
“The reason is easy to come by—aren’t those usual back courtyard matters? Just say I tried to persuade you to let Duan Wang take a concubine, and we parted on bad terms.”
Ning Qin Wangfei looked at Mingxi as she spoke. “As for the side consort spot at Duan Wang’s manor, the Empress is bound to make a move sooner or later. Rather than wait for her to act and disgust you, we might as well stage a scene first.”
Mingxi realized then that if Ning Qin Wangfei would go so far as to cause a rift between them publicly, just to make a point, whatever was in the envelope Xiao Lin obtained must be of great importance.
She took a deep breath. “Alright. I’ll follow your lead, Royal Aunt.”
Ning Qin Wangfei patted her hand. “Good child. It’s a grievance for you—I fear this commotion will invite criticism.”
“I’m not afraid. Wangye made a ten-year promise not to take any concubines. Let people say what they will,” Mingxi said. “You needn’t feel guilty. The truth will come out eventually. When that time comes, everything we do will be easier.”
Ning Qin Wangfei also longed for peaceful days. But when would such days arrive? She clutched Mingxi’s hand tightly. “Tell Duan Wang to be strong!”
Mingxi understood—this was her formal confirmation that the Ning Qin household was now fully aligned with Duan Wang’s faction.
She nodded heavily. “Don’t worry, I’ll pass on your words.”
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had been excited to catch up with Mingxi, but suddenly heard that her mother had had a falling out with Mingxi. She was stunned.
She lifted her skirt and rushed out, with Liu Yunhua quickly following.
Originally, she was supposed to stay home and embroider her dowry today. But her mother had asked her to accompany her sister-in-law, and thank goodness she did.
When she arrived, Xiao Yan was already questioning Ning Qin Wangfei. Liu Yunhua’s head immediately throbbed with dread. “Sister-in-law, please, let’s talk this through calmly.”
Xiao Yan’s eyes were red with fury. She turned to Liu Yunhua. “How can we talk calmly? My mother actually tried to persuade Mingxi to let Duan Wang take a concubine—this is outrageous!”
What?!
Liu Yunhua was dumbfounded too. She looked at Ning Qin Wangfei. “Aunt, didn’t Duan Wang promise not to take a concubine for ten years? Why push for this now?”
That would just be creating enemies for no reason.
Ning Qin Wangfei sneered, “I’m doing this for the Wangfei’s own good. If it weren’t for her saving Yan Er, I wouldn’t bother with this. Duan Wang did promise—but can she really believe that? What man doesn’t have a few concubines?”
Xiao Yan couldn’t take it anymore. She snapped, “Then why don’t you send a few concubines to your son-in-law?”
Ning Qin Wangfei: ……
Her chest ached with rage!
Definitely her own daughter—that stab was ruthless and precise!
“You silly girl, how can that be the same?”
“Why not? Just because I’m your real daughter and Sister Xi isn’t?”
Word spread quickly. Among all the guests at Ning Qin Wang’s manor, no one had expected to witness such a scandal.
As for the chaos back there, Mingxi saw none of it. She had already sent someone to deliver a message to Qi He, asking him to relay it to Xiao Muchen.
With an angry face, she returned to Duan Wang’s manor, ordered the doors shut to guests, and waited in the study for Xiao Muchen’s return.
That’s when Duan Ning suddenly arrived.
Mingxi was surprised but still welcomed him inside. “Second Brother, why have you come all of a sudden?”
