Xiao Muchen followed Consort Shu into the hall, speaking as they walked. “The Crown Prince’s choice of Duan Mingxi as a secondary consort might have other motives.”
Consort Shu halted in her tracks. “What motives?”
She was well aware of the state of the Dingyuan Marquis household. The Marquis, while holding a title, was complacent and aimless.
The Marquis’s shizi was nothing more than a Sanwu Cloud Cavalry Officer, and their second and third sons didn’t even hold positions.
If not for the old Marquis still being alive, the Dingyuan Marquis household would have long faded into obscurity.
Wait…
Given this, why would the Empress and Crown Prince choose Duan Mingxi as a secondary consort?
“Do you know something?” Consort Shu asked her son in a low voice, her gaze sharp.
Xiao Muchen responded nonchalantly, “Royal Mother, you seem to have forgotten. Ever since Miss Duan returned to the Marquis’s Household, she has saved three noble ladies. Among them are the sister of Xian Wangfei, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, and now the daughter of Zhenbei Wang.”
Consort Shu’s eyelid twitched. “So it’s her?”
She hadn’t connected the dots initially. In her mind, these incidents had been fragmented and unrelated because she hadn’t cared much.
But now, if the Empress and the Crown Prince wanted to bring Duan Mingxi into the Eastern Palace, the situation was different.
A life-saving debt…
Suddenly, the matter felt more troublesome.
“We cannot let the Empress and Crown Prince succeed,” Consort Shu immediately declared.
“The Empress and Crown Prince are determined. Once they report to Father, the decision will be set in stone. Stopping it may already be too late,” Xiao Muchen replied calmly.
“She may have earned fame for saving lives today, but it would be better if I granted her a marriage.” Gritting her teeth, Consort Shu contemplated acting swiftly to petition the Emperor, preempting the Empress and Crown Prince.
“That works,” Xiao Muchen nodded. “But Mother, you’ll need to choose the match carefully. The family’s standing, reputation, and character must all align. Otherwise, it might tarnish your name.”
Consort Shu frowned deeply, finding the situation increasingly vexing.
While Duan Mingxi’s act of saving Gan Li was advantageous to their side, the complications arising from it diminished Consort Shu’s goodwill toward her.
“Who does Royal Mother consider for my marriage?” Xiao Muchen shifted the topic. “The Crown Prince, Jin Wang, and Xian Wang are increasingly at odds. My choice of bride mustn’t appear too prominent, lest it rouses the Crown Prince’s suspicions.”
Displeased, Consort Shu retorted, “Marriage is a significant matter. To avoid their suspicions, must I choose someone from a minor household and wrong you? I won’t allow that!”
“The Crown Prince currently enjoys Father’s favor, but Xian Wang and Jin Wang’s rivalry with him has strained Father’s patience. Father’s recent involvement in picking consorts for the princes is a warning in itself.
“If I were to marry a high-ranking noblewoman, it would never pass Father’s scrutiny. The candidates Mother has in mind likely won’t work either. Please reconsider.”
Xiao Muchen placed Consort Shu’s list of candidates back before her. “Since I’ve already moved out of the palace to establish my own residence, I shouldn’t stay here too long. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Wait.” Consort Shu stopped him. “Do you have anyone in mind yourself?”
Xiao Muchen shook his head.
Consort Shu’s brow furrowed. “Then what kind of person are you looking for?”
“Someone with a clean family background, not too conspicuous. They must have integrity, resilience, and a sense of independence—not someone who merely parrots others’ opinions.”
Consort Shu: …
“Are you choosing a wife or recruiting an advisor?”
“Royal Mother, once married into the royal family, especially given the current state of palace politics, can a timid and incapable woman be of any use?”
Certainly not.
Consort Shu sighed. “Perhaps you should marry Yao Jun.”
“Cousin Yao Jun is perfect in every way, but with Grandfather as a Cabinet Elder, Father would never agree,” Xiao Muchen said with a hint of regret.
Consort Shu’s expression darkened. As the Emperor’s health declined, his support for the Crown Prince became increasingly evident.
Even the unwed Wangye’s marriages were now treated as political maneuvers.
In retrospect, Xian Wang and Yu Wang were fortunate. When they married, the Emperor had been in good health and matched them with noble daughters from illustrious families.
The more Consort Shu thought about it, the more frustrated she became. “Let me think about this carefully. Finding someone to meet your criteria is no small task.”
Xiao Muchen said, “Thank you for your efforts, Royal Mother. But before that, consider what to do about Miss Duan. This matter can’t wait, or the Empress and Crown Prince might act first.”
Consort Shu waved her hand dismissively. “Understood.”
Only then did Xiao Muchen leave. As he departed, he cast a glance at Hu Momo.
Hu Momo lowered her head respectfully, watching the Wangye go.
Once he was out of sight, she brewed tea and brought it to Consort Shu, speaking softly, “Your Highness, this old servant suggests marrying Miss Duan to Kang Wang.”
“Kang Wang?” Consort Shu said, startled.
“Indeed. Kang Wang is neither favored by His Majesty nor influential. His mother, Qian Jieyu, is also meek. Even if Miss Duan marries him, it would have no adverse effects.”
Consort Shu shook her head. “That won’t do! Kang Wang has been getting close to Kunde Palace. If he marries Duan Mingxi, the Empress will undoubtedly use it to pull him to her side. That would be handing her a gift on a silver platter.”
“If you choose an outside family, Your Highness, you’ll need to consult them first. Given Miss Duan’s involvement in saving Gan Li, most families would fear offending the Empress and Crown Prince.
“Even if you enforce the match, it could backfire, souring relationships instead of strengthening them.”
Consort Shu’s face darkened further. “This Duan Mingxi is truly…”
“Your Highness, don’t be angry. Why not focus on Wangye’s match instead?”
Thinking of her son’s stringent criteria gave Consort Shu a headache. “That makes it even harder! He wants a woman from a humble background who’s clever, brave, and opinionated. Where am I supposed to find someone like that?”
Girls from humble families rarely had the opportunity to stand out. Without seeing them, how could she possibly choose?
Suddenly, Hu Momo let out a soft “Oh” and said, “Niang Niang, didn’t Wangye himself say that Duan Mingxi couldn’t enter the Eastern Palace? Based on her reputation for saving lives, wouldn’t she bolster the Eastern Palace’s influence?”
“Exactly. That Duan Mingxi really does know how to save people,” Consort Shu replied irritably.
“A humble background.”
“Brave.”
“Opinionated.”
“I’m not sure about her cleverness, but doesn’t she meet Wangye’s requirements?”
“What?” Consort Shu was taken aback. “What nonsense are you spouting? A merchant-raised girl from Jiangcheng, marrying my son?”
“Your Grace, the palace’s current situation is complicated. Wangye is someone with great ambitions. A Wangfei can be married and, if necessary, dismissed in the future. For now, it’s merely a means to navigate the present circumstances. There’s no need to take it to heart.
Wangye has a point. We cannot allow the Empress and Crown Prince to gain the upper hand. Besides, Wangye also went into the water that day—it was he who used a bamboo pole to pull Miss Duan and Miss Gan ashore.
Given this, you can use Miss Duan’s reputation to justify having Wangye marry her. It would be entirely appropriate. If Wangye marries Miss Duan instead of Miss Gan, His Majesty will undoubtedly be pleased.
Niang Niang, this will not only thwart the Empress and Crown Prince’s schemes but also win His Majesty’s favor. Additionally, Miss Duan has saved lives in several prominent families. The gratitude they owe her will eventually benefit Wangye. This marriage works to Wangye’s advantage—why not proceed with it?”
