Save herself?
Jin Wangfei easily understood Duan Mingxi’s meaning—she wanted them to tear into the Empress and the Eastern Palace.
Even now, she was still playing mind games with her.
Jin Wangfei slowly stood up. “I truly underestimated you.”
She had thought Duan Mingxi was only good at earning silver. How could someone like her understand palace intrigue? With just a flick of her finger, she could make her lose face.
She had been too arrogant.
She hadn’t expected Duan Mingxi to be so cautious, so direct. Even more, she hadn’t expected her to be so unlike other women—those who’d retaliate subtly after being wronged.
She wasn’t like that. She’d rip your skin off right on the spot.
“I don’t deserve your praise, Jin Wangfei. I simply have a clear conscience and don’t fear evil.”
Jin Wangfei couldn’t even get angry anymore. She stared at Duan Mingxi. “You think this is enough to bring me down?”
“I never wanted to bring you down,” Mingxi replied with a smile. “One shouldn’t be too arrogant. Sooner or later, you’ll hit a wall.”
Unable to win in argument or insult, Jin Wangfei sneered and turned to leave. But after a few steps, she suddenly spun around and glared at Mingxi.
“Just one Qiao Wan? Let’s wait and see.”
“Take care, no need to see you out.”
Mingxi watched Jin Wangfei’s retreating back. The smile on her face slowly faded.
Yes, just one Qiao Wan. They had never expected to topple the Crown Prince. Their true target had always been Xingan Marquis.
“Wangfei, are you alright?” Fang Momo came in with a bowl of bird’s nest soup, placing it gently at Mingxi’s side.
“I’m fine. Momo, the wicked in this world always believe they’re the victims.”
“There’s no point arguing with such unreasonable people,” Fang Momo said gently.
“You’re right.” Mingxi let out a long breath. The wicked never see themselves as wicked. They just wonder—if I want to hit you, why won’t you offer your face?
“Momo, go do your work. I’m fine. No need to worry.”
Fang Momo nodded and gave a few instructions to Qiancao before finally leaving.
Qiancao lifted the lid of the bird’s nest soup and held it up with both hands. “Wangfei, please have a sip.”
Mingxi wasn’t in the mood to drink it, so she shook her head. “I’ll take a walk in the garden. You drink it instead. Don’t waste Fang Momo’s kind intentions.”
She walked out of the reception hall and strolled slowly along the corridor. The fact that Jin Wangfei came here in such a rage to hurl insults—and even brought up the events surrounding her wedding—showed she was grasping at straws, trying to drag Xiao Muchen down with her in a desperate struggle.
How could she fall for that?
Jin Wangfei had clearly been advised by someone. Mingxi already had a good guess who that might be.
The Empress had indeed spent decades in the palace. Her skill at misdirection and manipulating perceptions was well-practiced.
She wondered how things were going on Xiao Muchen’s side.
It was already dark when Xiao Muchen returned to the residence. Before he could even say a word to Mingxi, Qi He came again to summon him—Qi Wang had arrived.
Mingxi had no choice but to let him go handle it. When she heard that Qi Wang would stay for dinner at Duan Wang’s residence, she instructed the kitchen to add more dishes and deliver them to the front hall.
She dined alone, then took a book and sat on the heated couch. After a short while, Xiangxiang came in to announce that Qi He requested an audience.
Mingxi’s eyes lit up. She quickly fixed her appearance and went out to the main hall to meet him.
“Greetings, Wangfei,” Qi He saluted. “Wangye knew Wangfei must be anxious about the matter with Xingan Marquis, so he instructed me to report to you as soon as I returned.”
Mingxi smiled. Xiao Muchen truly understood her—she thought she’d have to wait until Qi Wang left, but he had been thoughtful enough to send someone to update her first.
“Sit and speak. You’ve worked hard today,” she said, turning to Xiangxiang. “Serve Lord Qi some tea.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Qi He replied quickly.
Mingxi gestured to the chair, and Qi He had no choice but to sit and immediately reported, “You wouldn’t believe it, Wangfei, court was lively today. Xingan Marquis had committed too many crimes—now that he’s fallen, everyone’s jumping at the chance to kick him while he’s down.”
Mingxi looked at him. “Really? That’s quite satisfying to hear.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Qi He agreed.
“What about Qiao Wan? How did His Majesty deal with that?”
“The evidence against Qiao Wan was irrefutable. He had trafficked young girls and forced them into prostitution. The Crown Prince didn’t directly get involved, and Xingan Marquis was ruthless enough to take all the blame himself. Even when others tried to drag him down, he kept quiet. He willingly claimed the crimes as his own, clearly trying to protect the Crown Prince’s name.”
“The Marquis may have fallen, but he still has an entire family behind him. One daughter is Jin Wangfei, the other is side consort to Yu Wang. He probably wanted to shield them as well, so he didn’t dare implicate the Crown Prince.”
“Exactly. Still, while the Crown Prince was spared, Duke Cao wasn’t so lucky. One of the things Qiao Wan confessed to did involve Duke Cao. Unfortunately, she was too young at the time and didn’t know the full details, so he escaped major punishment—but he didn’t walk away unscathed.”
Mingxi sneered. “Since Duke Cao was involved, how could His Majesty not know it also implicated the Eastern Palace? We just haven’t found stronger evidence yet. And the Emperor doesn’t want to depose the Crown Prince, so he naturally won’t dig further. At most, he’ll scold Duke Cao a little and let Xingan Marquis take the fall.”
“Wangfei is wise. The Marquis has been stripped of his title and exiled to the border. Duke Cao was docked a year’s salary.”
Mingxi felt a bit of regret, but their original goal had been to bring down Xingan Marquis. With Duke Cao penalized as well, it was an unexpected bonus.
Xingan Marquis had been a major support to the Crown Prince. Losing him was far more serious than when Liang Xun fell from power.
“Is there anything else?” Mingxi asked.
Qi He nodded. “Regarding the Qiao Wan matter—Madam and Yang Yiniang nearly lost their lives. To appease them, His Majesty had the Empress issue rewards. The second young master stepped forward to expose Qiao Wan and seek justice for his stepmother. The Emperor greatly praised him and promoted him to a Dianji (Court Archivist).”
Mingxi was overjoyed. “Truly?”
“Congratulations, Wangfei. The Hanlin Academy is one of the hardest places to advance in. Thanks to you, the second young master has now risen steadily. It’s like a blessing from heaven,” Qi He said, full of admiration. The second young master was truly fortunate.
Last time, because the Wangfei had donated 400,000 taels for the military, the Emperor didn’t reward her directly—as a woman—but instead bestowed honors on Duan Ning. Originally just a probationary official, he should have waited three years for a chance to stay in the Academy.
But he was immediately retained as a ninth-rank editor.
Now, having spoken up for his stepmother, he was credited again and promoted from ninth rank to eighth-rank Dianji—all within a year, advancing faster than most could even dream of.
Although Mingxi looked happy, she was slightly worried.
The Emperor had promoted her second brother because he saw Duan Wang’s involvement. Was this an act of appeasement… or a warning?
One doesn’t enter the Grand Council without first being in the Hanlin Academy. All who endure and rise within it eventually become prime ministers.
The path Duan Ning was on was moving so fast, it unsettled her.
