Jin Wang was still kneeling outside Chongzheng Hall when Consort Gui led Duan Huirou forward to pay respects to the Empress.
The Empress gave Duan Huirou a cold glance, her face indifferent as she said, “Though you are a secondary wife, you must still be generous and virtuous, managing the household properly. Side Consort Qian is pregnant; you must take extra care of her. Do not act recklessly and disturb the household order.”
Hearing this, the smile on Mingxi’s face gradually faded, but she remained quietly seated beside Consort Shu, only lifting her head slightly to glance at the Empress before lowering it again.
The Empress was clearly taking this opportunity to publicly label Duan Huirou as merely a secondary wife — a slap in the face for Mingxi.
Mingxi wanted to see how Duan Huirou would handle it.
Duan Huirou bowed deeply and said respectfully, “It is only thanks to Your Majesty’s great favor that this humble daughter was able to marry into Jin Wang household as a secondary wife. Without Niang Niang, such good fortune would never have come to me. I will certainly heed Your Majesty’s teachings, uphold proper conduct, and manage the household with integrity.”
Duan Mingxi looked at Duan Huirou in great surprise. Huh, this girl actually had two faces — acting like a meek kitten in front of her, yet now capable of snapping back at others.
Well said.
At this moment, Duan Mingxi had already forgotten that when she first returned to the capital, Duan Huirou hadn’t exactly been an easy person to get along with either.
The Empress belittled Duan Huirou by saying she was just a secondary wife, but Duan Huirou bluntly pointed out that this marriage was bestowed by the Empress herself — it wasn’t something she had wanted. It had been forced upon her.
Surely the unfortunate one shouldn’t also be blamed and humiliated?
Originally, Duan Huirou had been fearful, but hearing the Empress’s words made her feel aggrieved. It wasn’t as if she had insisted on marrying into Jin Wang household as a secondary wife.
She had been a perfectly fine young lady. Even if she didn’t marry into the royal family or nobility, with her family background she could have easily married into a good household as the principal wife. But now, after being shoved into this pit by the Empress, she still had to endure being ridiculed?
It was simply unbearable — she wasn’t that easy to bully.
Even Duan Mingxi had never been this disgusting toward her!
At this moment, Consort Gui was gripping her handkerchief tightly, trying hard to hide her lifted, uncontrollable smile. She hadn’t realized that this new daughter-in-law actually had a bit of backbone. Not bad — much better than the previous one, who only knew how to kiss up to the Empress.
Consort Xian merely furrowed her brow slightly and said nothing.
However, Consort De gave Duan Huirou a deep look, then glanced at her own daughter-in-law beside her, feeling increasingly stifled and her expression worsening.
The Empress looked at Duan Huirou’s shy and reserved smile, her anger stuck halfway — neither able to rise nor fall. Her eyes swept over Duan Mingxi, who had her head lowered submissively. Hmph, the two sisters really were the same breed!
The Empress ordered Lu Momo to give Duan Huirou a meeting gift and couldn’t be bothered to say another word. Her mind was still preoccupied with matters at Chongzheng Hall, restless and uneasy, yet she was forced to deal with the guests here, utterly impatient.
Consort Gui then led Duan Huirou around to greet the other consorts. Consort Shu was the most generous with her gift; Consort De and the Consort Xian were more reserved. Afterwards, Duan Huirou greeted her new sisters-in-law.
The Crown Princess was warm and pleasant; Qi Wangfei, under Consort De’s gaze, didn’t dare act up; Kang Wangfei naturally welcomed her with smiles. Only in front of Duan Mingxi did Duan Huirou act extra restrained and docile.
Consort Gui sensed something was off but couldn’t immediately figure it out.
Later, it finally dawned on her — although they were sisters, now that Duan Huirou was marrying the eldest prince, she technically became Duan Mingxi’s eldest sister-in-law.
As an eldest sister-in-law now acting like a junior to her younger sister-in-law, how could it possibly feel right?
Until the noon banquet, none of the Wangyes detained at Chongzheng Hall were released. The emperor only sent Ding Zhao with a message: the Empress could host the banquet as she saw fit, nothing more.
Everyone ate the banquet meal in a stifled atmosphere. Even the usually flamboyant Qi Wangfei knew better than to stir trouble today.
The banquet ended hastily. The Empress made no effort to maintain appearances, immediately sending everyone out of Kunde Palace before hurrying toward Chongzheng Hall.
Consort De and the Consort Xian left together, whispering as they headed toward Mingxi Palace. Consort Gui and Consort Shu headed straight to Yuchen Palace. Duan Mingxi hesitated only slightly before bringing Kang Wangfei and Duan Huirou along behind them.
Since they hadn’t been explicitly dismissed, it would have been inappropriate to leave on their own.
Inside Yuchen Palace, Consort Gui finally remembered Duan Mingxi and the others were still there. It was too late to drive them away, so she turned to Duan Huirou and said warmly, “This is your first time at Yuchen Palace. Let Feng Momo show you around — you’ll feel more at home after a few more visits.”
Clearly, she was politely dismissing them. The three young women obediently agreed and followed Feng Momo to admire the gardens.
Meanwhile, inside the inner hall, Consort Gui, face serious, pulled Consort Shu aside.
“What do you think is happening at the front? There’s still no word from His Majesty. I’m honestly scared,” she said anxiously.
Consort Shu shook her head slightly. “I don’t know either. No news has leaked from Chongzheng Hall — His Majesty must have ordered absolute silence.”
Consort Gui’s face turned pale. “Today was supposed to be the day my son and daughter-in-law formally recognized their marriage. Yet His Majesty still chose to act… How is my son supposed to face the world now?”
It felt like a public slap across her son’s face — how could Consort Gui not feel distressed?
Consort Shu sighed and said reassuringly, “Perhaps something happened suddenly. His Majesty might have acted in anger without thinking things through. If Jin Wang ends up implicated without cause, His Majesty will surely compensate later. Don’t worry too much.”
But Consort Gui’s heart was heavy with fear. “How can I not worry? Did you see the Empress’s face today? I have a terrible feeling something big is about to happen.”
Consort Shu thought privately — if the rumors about Qiping Prefecture were true, how could it not be serious?
If the emperor turned a blind eye even to something like the Crown Prince embezzling taxes to bribe courtiers, it would be outrageous.
In a low voice, she said, “The matter at Qiping Prefecture has likely been exposed. I heard that both the Dali Temple and Censor Zhong were injured — the Minister’s injuries are quite serious. This must have touched His Majesty’s reverse scale.”
Consort Gui’s eyes flickered. Consort Shu was so well-informed, while she herself knew nothing.
Her son spent all day indulging in women — but what about her own family? Her Father was a Gelao! Surely he should have gotten wind of something?
The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart grew.
Either her Father had deliberately kept the news from her to avoid suspicion, or he had been warned to stay quiet.
And who could possibly warn the Grand Secretary?
Consort Gui’s legs felt weak. She gripped her handkerchief tightly and turned to Consort Shu. “If… if it’s true, what will His Majesty do?”
Consort Shu shook her head. “His Majesty treasures the Crown Prince dearly. He has spent so many years grooming him. It won’t be easy for him to let go.”
Consort Gui’s expression darkened. “If even this time he can’t make a move, it will only get harder in the future.”
Hearing this, Consort Shu changed her tone slightly, “Still, even if we can’t bring him down in one strike, at least we’ve cracked open the door, haven’t we?”
These words only made Consort Gui feel worse. Yes, the door had been cracked open — but if the Emperor still chose to protect the Crown Prince, it would only make everyone even angrier and more frustrated.
Seeing Consort Gui’s worsening expression, Consort Shu leaned closer and added in a whisper, “If the inner palace fails, aren’t there still the courtiers outside?”
Consort Gui trembled slightly—what was Consort Shu planning to do?
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