Mingxi left happily, and the cloud cast over by Duan Huirou’s marriage matter completely dispersed at that moment.
Sitting in the carriage, Mingxi thought: as long as Duan Huirou stayed sensible, kept her composure, and genuinely learned a few useful skills from Yang Yiniang, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to maneuver her way through the future.
Mingxi herself had grown up in a merchant family and never looked down on anyone lightly.
Although Yang Yiniang was merely a concubine, she had her own strengths.
As for a legitimate wife learning skills from a concubine — it all depended on how those skills were used, and on whom.
If they were used for malicious purposes, naturally it would be unacceptable. But if it was for self-preservation, then there was nothing wrong with it.
Now, she could only hope that Duan Huirou would be smart enough not to get crushed by Side Consort Qian at the first encounter.
If Side Consort Qian were smart, she should realize that having a gentle-natured principal wife like Duan Huirou was actually a rare blessing — and living harmoniously would do her no harm.
Easy to handle, easy to coax.
She had a bit of scheming in her, but not much; a bit of ruthlessness, but after running into so many walls, she had become much more honest.
Compared to people like He Wanyu, she was much better. Side Consort Qian was never destined to become Wangfei; even for the sake of her own child, she ought to know how to behave.
But human greed is insatiable. She had always enjoyed Jin Wang’s favor and likely wouldn’t easily tolerate others.
Still, for now, all of this was just speculation. They prepared for the worst, but if Side Consort Qian could behave courteously and everyone could be happy, that would naturally be best.
The carriage came to a stop.
“What’s going on?” Mingxi asked.
“Wangfei, it’s me.”
“You Sanping?” Mingxi lifted the curtain. “Why are you here?”
“You asked me to take care of something. It’s done.”
“Really?” Mingxi’s eyes lit up. “Come back to the residence with me first, and we’ll talk.”
You Sanping hesitated for a moment but still followed her into the carriage.
A guard behind them handed over a horse for You Sanping to ride alongside the carriage. He rode beside them and glanced at Mingxi. “I heard about what happened today.”
Mingxi had expected that; You Sanping was always well-informed. She looked at him and said, “I knew it would come to this, so I made preparations early.”
It was just a pity that the Empress had retreated quickly, giving her no chance to fully deploy her plans. Once the Emperor’s decree came down, even if the Empress was dissatisfied, she couldn’t openly defy it. The backup plans Mingxi had prepared had no place to be used.
But she had always been the type to prepare for every eventuality.
You Sanping saw that Mingxi had a smile in her eyes, clearly not bothered by today’s events. He couldn’t help but smile too — of course, with her personality, how could she be worried about something like this?
Once they arrived at the residence, Mingxi stepped down and brought You Sanping in. She had someone lead him to the reception hall to rest while she herself went to find Xiao Muchen in the study.
Xiao Muchen was bent over his desk, writing quickly. When he heard a sound, he didn’t even lift his head and said, “Everyone out!”
Mingxi paused, then smiled. “What are you busy with?”
Hearing Mingxi’s voice, Xiao Muchen was startled. He immediately looked up. “You’re back so soon?”
Mingxi’s gaze fell to his legs. “You kneeled for so long outside Chongzheng Hall — how are your knees? Because of Duan Huirou’s matter, I had to rush to the Marquis Household estate to talk with them, and couldn’t take care of you.”
As she spoke, she walked over, bent down, and reached out to lift Xiao Muchen’s trouser leg.
Xiao Muchen grabbed her hand at once. “I’m fine. I only knelt for a short while before Ding Zhao came out with a message.”
Mingxi clearly didn’t quite believe him, but she didn’t push. She would see for herself tonight anyway.
She slowly withdrew her hand and said, looking at Xiao Muchen, “You Sanping is here. There’s something we need to discuss with him. Should we call him to the study or go to the reception hall?”
Hearing Mingxi say “we,” Xiao Muchen’s expression softened. He packed away his writing materials and said, “Have him come to the study.”
Mingxi nodded and sent someone to deliver the message.
Very soon, You Sanping arrived. He entered the study and saluted Duan Wang.
“Steward You, no need for formalities. Sit and speak.” Xiao Muchen’s attitude toward You Sanping had improved significantly — after all, back in Yuxiang City, You Sanping had been a great help.
This was a man who was both educated and capable, and who knew when to bend — even Xiao Muchen admired him.
“Thank you, Wangye.” You Sanping sat down at a spot to the side across from the two.
Mingxi said to Xiao Muchen, “The Crown Prince has long been trying to use the matters of the inner courtyard to control me and drag me down. It’s been so tiresome. So, I decided to learn from His Highness the Crown Prince and send him a beauty.”
Xiao Muchen was stunned. “Send a beauty?”
Mingxi nodded. “Exactly. What do you think?”
Xiao Muchen hadn’t expected Mingxi to come up with such a move. After thinking about it, he said, “But it won’t be easy for a beauty to enter the Eastern Palace. The Empress keeps tight control.”
“True love can’t be bought, but desire surely can. As long as the Crown Prince is tempted, the rest will follow.” Mingxi’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at Xiao Muchen. “Besides, both mother and son will definitely be tempted.”
Xiao Muchen was immediately intrigued. “Why do you say that?”
“Back then, why did the Empress and the Crown Prince want to pull me into the Eastern Palace? Was it really because the Crown Prince liked me?”
Of course not.
What the Crown Prince wanted was the Duan family’s wealth!
Money?
Xiao Muchen: !
“You…”
You’re incredible!
“But where did you find someone? If she enters the Eastern Palace and gets close to the Crown Prince, can you still control her?” Xiao Muchen asked seriously.
“No need to worry, Your Highness,” You Sanping spoke up calmly. “The person is in our hands. We’ll never let things get out of control.”
“Steward You, tell me more.” Xiao Muchen said.
“To avoid suspicion, the person I found is from Xuanzhou, from the Xie family, who are silk merchants. I wonder if Your Highness has heard of them?”
Xiao Muchen shook his head — naturally not. How would a merchant family’s name reach his ears?
“I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of the Xie family, but Your Highness must have worn their silk. Back when the Xie family was at its peak, six or seven-tenths of the palace’s silk came from them.”
Xiao Muchen was quite surprised. “Is that so? But in recent years, the Xie family hasn’t been seen around the Internal Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau.”
Otherwise, Duan Pingchang wouldn’t have been able to take over the business.
Thinking of this, Xiao Muchen’s mind stirred, and he looked toward Mingxi.
Mingxi smiled at him.
“So when you seized control of the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau’s contracts, you were already making preparations?” he asked.
“Not exactly,” Mingxi said with a smile. “Only after the Eastern Palace meddled and caused my Father to lose the bureau’s business did I start planning.”
Xiao Muchen rubbed his forehead. In the end, it was still about helping his other father-in-law vent his anger.
“Then what exactly is going on?” he asked.
Mingxi looked at You Sanping. “You explain.”
You Sanping nodded and said to Duan Wang, “After the Master won the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau’s business, Wangfei had people investigate the previous suppliers. At that time, it was just to gather information and stay prepared.”
Later on, the Duan family managed the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau’s business smoothly, so they put the matter aside. But when the Eastern Palace maliciously intervened and caused the Duan family to lose the business, Wangfei had me investigate why the Xie family originally lost their control over the bureau.
Once I looked into it, I discovered that the Xie family had indeed encountered a major incident — internal strife between the legitimate and concubine-born branches severely weakened them. At that critical moment, a rival family seized the opportunity to snatch away the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau’s business. The Xie family collapsed and lost their leading position in Xuanzhou.
“And then?” Xiao Muchen felt the matter was far from that simple.
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