The relationship between Mingxi and Bai Shixi was somewhat complicated, so this letter couldn’t be written too casually.
First, there was the possibility that the Crown Prince might see it. Second, she couldn’t allow Bai Shixi to get dragged down with her.
Although Bai Shixi was the Crown Princess, it was clear that the Crown Prince had little affection for her. She had always left herself an escape route, which was why she lent a hand to Mingxi last time in the Eastern Palace.
Mingxi laid out everything about Jiang Sujie to Bai Shixi, especially pointing out that the Jiang family’s matriarch had once planned to have Jiang Sujie become a side consort to Duan Wang.
Didn’t the Jiang family care so much about appearances?
If they could do such a thing, why should Mingxi cover for them?
It would be best if the Crown Prince saw this letter. Back then, he had wanted Mingxi to enter the Eastern Palace as a side consort, but Consort Shu got ahead of him, and Mingxi was betrothed to Duan Wang instead.
Now Jiang Sujie had first tried and failed to become a side consort to Duan Wang, only to throw herself into the Crown Prince’s arms.
The Crown Prince had suffered repeated defeats at Duan Wang’s hands—what man could tolerate that?
If Jiang Sujie dares to strike first, then she shouldn’t blame Mingxi for striking harder in return!
Mingxi made two things explicitly clear throughout the letter:
First, that the Jiang family was her enemy—they had harmed her adoptive father and even tried to use Duan Huirou to make Jiang Sujie a side consort to Duan Wang. So there was no familial affection between her and Jiang Sujie whatsoever.
Second, Jiang Sujie was now so eager to invite Duan Huirou to the Eastern Palace—could it be that she still pined for Duan Wang and was hoping Duan Huirou could act as a go-between?
The Crown Prince was using Jiang Sujie to try and control Duan Huirou, thereby threatening Duan Mingxi.
It was a roundabout strategy, but if it succeeded, it would become a major threat.
Last time, Duan Huirou had rejected Jiang Sujie. This time, despite multiple invitations, she still hadn’t accepted. No matter what, she now stood firmly with the Marquis household.
Mingxi couldn’t allow her reputation to be harmed because of this. Besides, Duan Qi had told her that Duan Huirou hadn’t known Jiang Sujie was trying to become Duan Wang’s side consort at the time, and that she and Madam Jiang had both refused the idea.
No matter the reason for the refusal, the outcome was what she had hoped for, and that was enough.
Although she and Duan Huirou did not share a close sisterly bond, she couldn’t just push her onto Jiang Sujie’s boat.
Therefore, in this matter, Huirou needed to be protected and portrayed as an innocent, naive little rabbit.
Just thinking about this gave her a headache. If Huirou had even half of Duan Qi’s resolve and decisiveness, she wouldn’t have been constantly targeted by Jiang Sujie and the Jiang family, always used as a breakthrough point.
After finishing the letter, Duan Mingxi took a deep breath. Even though she had long let go of the past, thinking about it still left her with lingering resentment.
She instructed someone to deliver the letter to the Crown Princess, then turned back—and saw that Xiao Muchen had already returned and was speaking with Duan Ning.
When the two saw her enter, Xiao Muchen immediately got up and walked to her side. “Finished writing the letter?”
As he spoke, he gently pulled her to sit beside him.
Duan Ning’s gaze swept over the two of them. Judging by Duan Wang’s familiarity and natural demeanor, it seemed this was how they usually interacted—something he hadn’t noticed before.
He quietly picked up his tea and drank it, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
Once they were seated, Mingxi looked at Xiao Muchen and asked, “Second Brother has already told you everything, right?”
Xiao Muchen nodded. “Ning Qin Wang was scolded by Royal Father at court today.”
Mingxi frowned. “Why?”
“Royal Father wanted Royal Uncle to leave the capital and inspect the river embankments, but Royal Uncle refused.”
“Inspect the rivers?” Mingxi was surprised.
Duan Ning interjected at this point, “River inspections are an annual responsibility for the court. If a riverbank breaks and floods, it can cause devastating damage. So it’s a matter of great importance, and every year there’s competition over who gets sent.”
Mingxi glanced at Duan Ning. It seemed he truly had invested a great deal of effort in understanding court affairs—he could explain such matters clearly and in detail.
“What Second Brother said is true,” Xiao Muchen agreed.
Mingxi smiled faintly at how naturally Xiao Muchen had called him “Second Brother.”
“Then why did Royal Father specifically appoint Ning Qin Wang this year?” Mingxi asked.
“I didn’t understand at first either,” Xiao Muchen replied slowly, “but now I have some idea.”
“You’re saying it’s related to the impeachment attempt? But that memorial hasn’t even been submitted yet.”
“There’s always word that leaks out. After all, even you and I know about it already.”
Naturally, the Emperor was more well-informed than they were. Mingxi frowned slightly. “If that’s the case, why would Royal Father still appoint Royal Uncle to inspect the rivers? A test?”
Xiao Muchen looked at her. “Xiao Lin is currently serving under Fengcheng Marquis.”
Mingxi understood instantly and sighed lightly—His Majesty’s paranoia was getting worse.
He used to trust and favor Ning Qin Wang so much. But now, with his health declining, the Crown Prince acting frequently, and the other princes growing restless, his suspicions only grew deeper.
And this sort of situation would only increase going forward.
Thinking this, Mingxi looked at Xiao Muchen and said, “Royal Uncle was right to refuse. With Xiao Lin still outside the capital, everything must be done with his safety as the priority. So long as he is safe, Fengcheng Marquis must remain protected.”
Xiao Muchen nodded. “I’ll inform Duke Wei. Since that’s the case, we’ll have to act first and reveal the truth about Qiao Wan.”
“Will Jin Wang cooperate?”
Xiao Muchen nodded. “He can’t just wait until the knife is at his throat to act.”
“What about Yu Wang?”
Xiao Muchen paused.
Mingxi rubbed her forehead. “What? He’s still stuck in He Wanyi’s trap and doesn’t want to get out?”
“I really don’t know what he’s thinking. He insists He Wanyi is pregnant and that Yu Wangfei is jealous and trying to harm her and the baby. He staged an entire drama and got himself punished by Royal Father.”
Mingxi was silent for a moment, then couldn’t help saying, “Yu Wang must have a rock in his brain.”
Xiao Muchen and Duan Ning both chuckled at her words.
Duan Ning added, “Is it possible that Side Consort He had long planned this performance and arranged everything in advance, so what Yu Wang saw was very different from what we know?”
That wasn’t out of the question.
Mingxi nodded—there was logic to that. After all, when Yu Wang was previously demoted and sent out of the capital, part of the reason had been the scandal caused by his wife. Their relationship had already fractured, and it wouldn’t take much for someone to drive a wedge deeper.
“In that case, let’s set Yu Wang aside for now,” Mingxi said.
“That’s all we can do,” Xiao Muchen agreed. “But Yu Wang might still have a chance to step in. Once the Qiao Wan matter explodes, Xingan Marquis will surely be thrown under the bus by the Crown Prince to take the blame. That might be an opportunity for Yu Wang.”
Mingxi twitched the corner of her mouth. That so-called “opportunity” was just a chance to stomp on Xingan Marquis while he was down.
“In any case, we must take down Xingan Marquis this time,” she said, clearly fed up. That entire family stirred up trouble everywhere they went. And backed by the Crown Prince, they were like cockroaches—impossible to kill.
This time, even if they didn’t die, they’d at least have to shed a layer of skin.
Seeing Mingxi’s disgusted expression, Xiao Muchen knew how much she despised Xingan Marquis’s household. “Once the Qiao Wan incident is exposed, it’ll cause an uproar. Using courtesans to control court officials has already crossed Royal Father’s bottom line.”
Duan Ning’s face turned grim at those words. He would see for himself how His Majesty would handle it this time.
His mother’s great vengeance was still unresolved—he would make sure to stomp hard on Xingan Marquis’s neck!
