At that moment, Zhang Mingde requested an audience.
Ding Zhao’s eyelid twitched.
“Your Majesty, Zhang Mingde from the Empress’s side requests an audience.”
The Emperor frowned, clearly knowing why Zhang Mingde was here.
Ding Zhao hunched lower, waiting for the Emperor’s command. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Duan Wang kneeling outside the hall.
He quickly withdrew his gaze and continued to wait quietly.
The Emperor sat on his throne, face dark. His once-bright eyes, now clouded with age, looked through the open doors toward Duan Wang.
Among all his sons, this one had the worst and hardest temper.
Consort Shu had such a gentle and cautious nature, yet she gave birth to such a stubborn son!
The Emperor absolutely refused to admit that this stubbornness came from him.
Thinking again of what Consort Shu had casually mentioned to him a few days ago, a flash of helplessness passed through his eyes. He sighed lightly and said to Ding Zhao, “Go tell Zhang Mingde: a golden promise cannot be easily changed. Since Duan Wang has made a ten-year promise, let him be.” He paused, glanced at his stubborn son, and added, “Tell Duan Wang to kneel for one hour, then he can get lost!”
Ding Zhao’s eyes lit up slightly. He immediately raised his head and said earnestly, “Your Majesty is wise. I will deliver the message at once.”
Ding Zhao walked out briskly. As soon as he exited the hall, Zhang Mingde quickly came up to him. “Steward Ding, is His Majesty available to see me now?”
Ding Zhao maintained a polite smile and said regretfully, “His Majesty is busy right now. But since you’re here, His Majesty asked me to pass a message to you.”
Disappointment flickered across Zhang Mingde’s face. The Emperor’s refusal to meet him meant his request had likely failed. “Please, Steward Ding, deliver the message.”
Ding Zhao faithfully repeated the Emperor’s words. He watched Zhang Mingde’s expression change several times before Zhang Mingde thanked him and turned to leave.
Only after Zhang Mingde had gone did Ding Zhao turn back to Duan Wang. “Your Highness, His Majesty said that once you’ve knelt for an hour, you may leave.”
Duan Wang nodded to Ding Zhao. “Thank you for the trouble, Steward Ding.”
“I dare not claim any credit. It is my duty,” Ding Zhao said with a small bow before returning to the hall to report back.
Xiao Muchen was a little surprised. He had thought he would have to kneel for at least half a day today, but unexpectedly, his Royal Father only required an hour…
This unexpected leniency unsettled him. He lowered his head to conceal the deep thoughts in his eyes.
When Zhang Mingde relayed the Emperor’s decree, the entire garden fell silent.
The Empress could barely contain her awkwardness and anger. She had thought the Emperor would take this chance to suppress Duan Mingxi — how had it ended up like this? What had happened?
Why had the Emperor changed his mind?
Clearly, when she had discussed it with him earlier, he hadn’t objected, which had been tacit consent.
Now she had been left hanging alone — was her face as Empress worth nothing?
Duan Mingxi was also somewhat surprised, but the result was in her favor. She raised her head and met the Empress’s gaze; sparks seemed to fly between them.
The gathered noble ladies had mixed expressions — some joyful, some disappointed — as their varied gazes all fell on Duan Mingxi.
Qi Wangfei could hardly believe her ears. How could Duan Mingxi be so lucky!
She had been sure the Empress would force her to accept a concubine into her household today, yet the result was entirely different.
Why did every other household have to accept concubines, while she was the only exception?
Consort Shu’s eyes gleamed, and she immediately stepped forward with a bright smile. “Such heavenly grace from His Majesty — Mingxi, why haven’t you given thanks yet?”
“Yes.” Mingxi immediately knelt toward the direction of Chongzheng Hall and kowtowed.
Consort Shu had only instructed her to thank the Emperor, not the Empress. After bowing, Duan Mingxi stood up directly and looked at the Empress. “Your Majesty’s kind intentions are too great for me to accept. I can only regretfully decline your gracious decree.”
Anyone could deliver snide remarks — Duan Mingxi wouldn’t miss such a perfect chance to slap the Empress’s face.
The Empress gave a cold chuckle inwardly but said on the surface, “His Majesty values his promises. I hope Duan Wangfei will have good fortune always. But who knows what will happen after ten years?”
If she couldn’t force her way in openly, there were always other methods.
What if Duan Wang fell for another woman later?
The Empress did not believe there was any cat in the world that didn’t steal fish.
Duan Mingxi had nothing to be smug about now. If Duan Wang wasn’t after the Duan family’s wealth, would he be so willing to humor her?
Just wait — her day of crying would come eventually.
Women shouldn’t be too naïve; once they hit a wall, they would finally understand pain.
After all the uproar, the Qixi Banquet finally resumed. After the palace feast, the Empress left first, and everyone else gradually took their leave.
Zhenbei Wangfei was very happy — Gan Ying had avoided falling into the trap. But when she saw Li Peilan, her mood soured again. Watching her cling reluctantly to Duchess Cao, she flicked her sleeves and ignored her, taking Gan Ying away.
Li Peilan had been putting on airs, thinking Zhenbei Wangfei would come to invite her to leave together. Now she was completely embarrassed.
Duchess Cao, seeing this, was furious and nudged her daughter. “I told you this was a bad idea. Zhenbei Wang’s family are all stubborn bones. You’d better catch up quickly before more trouble arises. How will you and your husband live otherwise?”
“What else can we do?” Li Peilan was so angry her teeth itched, but she didn’t dare tell her mother the truth — that ever since she married, aside from the wedding night, she and her husband had not slept together.
Gan Hao, that useless man, only knew to listen to his mother. After one quarrel, he had moved to the study.
Was she supposed to beg him to move back?
Li Peilan couldn’t bring herself to lose that much face!
“I’ll just go back home with you for a few days. I miss Father,” she said bitterly.
If they didn’t want her, fine — it wasn’t like she had nowhere to go!
Duchess Cao looked at her daughter’s aggrieved face, and though she had wanted to refuse, she swallowed her words. Thinking of the Empress and Crown Prince behind them, she felt less afraid and took Li Peilan home.
Many ladies present saw this scene. Naturally, Duan Mingxi saw it too. But she only led Madam Xiao and Duan Huirou to bid farewell to Consort Shu and personally escorted them out of the palace to prevent any more trouble.
Consort Shu wanted to say something to Mingxi but held back when she saw Madam Xiao and Duan Huirou present.
On the way out of the palace, Duan Huirou walked with her head lowered behind the two women.
Duan Mingxi looked at her and didn’t know what to say for a moment. Only after they boarded the carriage back to Duan Wang’s manor did she speak. “Sister-in-law, this matter is no small thing. When you return home, you must explain it clearly to the family.”
Madam Xiao nodded seriously, her face full of worry as she looked at Duan Huirou. “Jin Wangfei may seem glorious, but there’s a concubine, Side Consort Qian, in the Jin Wang household. The previous Jin Wangfei suffered greatly at her hands.”
With Duan Huirou’s temperament, wouldn’t she just be completely manipulated after marrying into that household?
Duan Mingxi turned her head to look at Duan Huirou. “What do you think about it yourself?”
Duan Huirou’s face was full of confusion. What could she think?
Was this even something she had a choice about?
She had no say at all.
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