Facing Duan Huirou’s lost expression, Duan Mingxi fell silent.
And the moment Duan Mingxi stopped speaking, Duan Huirou grew even more nervous and couldn’t help but look at her sister-in-law.
Madam Xiao: …
Why look at me?
She didn’t know what to do either!
Still, Madam Xiao couldn’t ignore Duan Huirou’s plea for help. After all, they had gotten along quite harmoniously these past months. She cleared her throat and said, “Mingxi, what do you think we should do about this?”
Mingxi was feeling a headache coming on. She didn’t know how to handle Duan Huirou.
In a way, it was because of her that Huirou was going to be Jin Wang’s second wife — and being a second wife was no easy task, especially when that Side Consort Qian was pregnant and far from kind. With Huirou’s soft nature, she wouldn’t even be a match for her.
“I’ll think about it,” Duan Mingxi said after a moment. She looked at Duan Huirou. “This marriage likely can’t be changed anymore. You need to prepare yourself mentally.”
Duan Huirou nodded. “I understand.”
She had never imagined she’d end up as someone’s second wife.
Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Madam Xiao quickly tried to lighten the mood with a smile. “Marrying into the Jin Wang household is still a great fortune. So many women have their eyes on the position of Wangfei — who would’ve thought, by a twist of fate, it would fall to Huirou?”
What else could she say? She couldn’t have Huirou crying before even entering the palace. If she greeted Jin Wang with tears, what man would like a woman like that?
Madam Xiao could only try to comfort her, hoping Huirou would come to terms with it.
Duan Huirou tried to force a smile but found she simply couldn’t. In the end, she gave up. She looked straight at Duan Mingxi. “What if Side Consort Qian is really that powerful and I can’t beat her?”
Mingxi looked back at her. “Already surrendering before the battle even begins? You’re really something.”
If only she had shown even half the fire she had when dealing with Mingxi in the past, she wouldn’t be this timid now.
Duan Huirou dropped her head again.
Duan Mingxi: …
She took a deep breath. Never in her life had she thought there would come a day when she and Duan Huirou would have to band together as sisters.
If they turned on each other now, she would truly have no place in Jin Wang’s household.
“The people from your family aren’t strong enough to help you control Side Consort Qian once you enter the estate,” Duan Mingxi said.
Madam Xiao added, “Mainly because our family doesn’t have anyone familiar with palace rules. Huirou will have to be careful — Side Consort Qian has been entrenched there for years. I’m afraid if she’s careless, she’ll suffer greatly.”
“I’ll figure something out,” said Duan Mingxi.
Madam Xiao was overjoyed. “Then we’ll have to thank you, little sister. If this issue is resolved, Huirou’s path will be much smoother.”
Instead of returning directly to her own home, Mingxi escorted them back to the Marquis Manor. As soon as the news spread, the whole manor was stunned.
Shock, then joy — but it was joy no one could quite smile over.
Second Madam and Third Madam exchanged heavy looks. This wasn’t a simple matter. That Side Consort Qian was infamous.
Originally, Jin Wang had intended to marry her as his official wife, but Consort Gui had objected, forcing her into the position of side consort instead.
The former Jin Wangfei, who had beauty, strategy, and schemes, fought Side Consort Qian for years but never fully defeated her.
Could Huirou succeed?
Seeing everyone’s grim faces, Duan Huirou sat stiffly like a wooden figure until Duan Qingyin nudged her gently with an elbow.
She turned her head. “What?”
“Second sister, I believe in you.”
“Huh?” Duan Huirou was stunned. Believe in what?
She didn’t even believe in herself.
If she were capable, would she have ended up in this situation?
Duan Qingyin’s eyes were bright, her face full of smiles. She said softly, “Second sister, even someone as capable as eldest sister — you still managed to get this far with her. Could Side Consort Qian really be worse?”
That… made sense. Was there anyone more terrifying than Duan Mingxi?
The moment she opened her mind to that idea, Huirou’s eyes lit up.
Did Side Consort Qian have Duan Mingxi’s skill at hitting people without leaving a mark?
No!
Did Side Consort Qian have Duan Mingxi’s ruthless way of flaying someone alive without leaving scraps?
No!
Did Side Consort Qian have Duan Mingxi’s endless piles of silver to back her up?
No!
Most importantly, when facing Side Consort Qian, her heart wouldn’t pound or her breath quicken — she could stand tall!
Duan Huirou grabbed Duan Qingyin’s hand. “You’re right!”
She had wronged Duan Mingxi and felt guilty — that’s why she lost confidence in front of her. But she hadn’t done anything to Side Consort Qian!
Seeing that Duan Huirou was finally showing some signs of life, Duan Qingyin quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Remembering what her eldest sister had told her, she calmed herself and continued, “Second sister, once you marry in, you’ll be Wangfei. No matter how favored Side Consort Qian is, she’s still only a side consort. As long as you hold your ground, what can she really do to you?”
“Hold my ground?” Duan Huirou found that difficult. Surely Side Consort Qian wouldn’t sit still once she entered the household — what if she started causing trouble?
Even a lump of dough wouldn’t let itself be stabbed with knives.
And she wasn’t a lump of dough.
Only in front of Duan Mingxi did she have to be one.
Because she owed her.
“To deal with someone like Side Consort Qian,” Duan Qingyin whispered, “no one’s better than my mother.”
Duan Huirou: …
Thinking of how Yang Yiniang had thrived for so many years… Duan Huirou glanced at Duan Qingyin with some hesitation and whispered, “I’m the official wife. Can I really use the tricks your mother used?”
She was afraid if Duan Mingxi found out, she’d peel her skin off for disgracing the family!
Duan Qingyin watched the wild changes in Duan Huirou’s expression and knew she was tempted, but terrified her eldest sister would scold her for lacking dignity.
She coughed lightly and said in a low voice, “Evil people are best dealt with by other evil people. If that Side Consort Qian doesn’t provoke you, why would you mess with her? But if she deliberately seeks trouble with you, you can’t keep losing. It’s called being prepared. Best if you don’t need it, but if you do, it could save your life.”
Duan Qingyin carefully repeated the words her eldest sister had instructed her to say. If she hadn’t heard them herself, she wouldn’t have believed her upright eldest sister would say such things.
Ah, the eldest sister really had it tough — such a proud and straightforward person, yet she was worrying herself sick over Second Sister.
Duan Huirou twisted her handkerchief fiercely. Losing to Duan Mingxi — she could accept that. But losing to others? She couldn’t stomach it. Why should she? She owed them nothing!
Seeing Second Sister’s expression, Duan Qingyin knew things were going well. She added another sentence, “Second Sister, don’t be afraid. Eldest Sister is fiercely protective. As long as you don’t do anything wrong, she’ll definitely stand by you.”
Duan Huirou caught onto the key part — “as long as you don’t do anything wrong.”
Duan Mingxi had said it herself — Huirou becoming Jin Wangfei was because of her involvement. She would definitely look after her. But if she deliberately messed up, given Duan Mingxi’s temperament, she might just team up with Side Consort Qian to kick her into a pit.
Her restless heart quickly calmed down.
Thinking back to how Yang Yiniang had provoked her mother for years without suffering any consequences, Duan Huirou decided — she would definitely go learn a few tricks from Yang Yiniang.
She wouldn’t make mistakes, but she also wouldn’t let herself be bullied.
In this life, the only person she could afford to lose to was Duan Mingxi!
