Duan Huirou hurriedly nodded. “Alright, I’ll take care of it as soon as I return.”
Mingxi, seeing her pale face, softened her expression slightly. “Did Cheng Momo stay by your side and assist you last night?”
“If it weren’t for Cheng Momo, I wouldn’t have known what to do!” Duan Huirou said quickly.
“In that case, be sure to reward her handsomely,” Mingxi instructed.
“Of course, I definitely will,” Duan Huirou promised.
On the side, Kang Wangfei quietly remarked, “For Cheng Momo to know to help you take control of the household management even in such a chaotic situation shows she has some real ability. With her around, Fourth Sister-in-law, you shouldn’t worry too much.”
“Better to rely on yourself than on others,” Mingxi said, looking sternly at Duan Huirou. “Don’t slack off just because Cheng Momo is capable. You must manage Jin Wang’s household yourself. If you don’t know something, ask — but you must not wash your hands of it.”
Duan Huirou: …
“I understand,” she said, lowering her head. She didn’t dare be lazy anyway — not with Lan Jiang keeping an eye on her on behalf of Mingxi.
Ah, her days now were even harder than before she got married.
Kang Wangfei watched as Mingxi coached Duan Huirou like raising a daughter — word by word, step by step — and felt a complicated tangle of emotions.
They had once nearly broken ties as sisters, and now Mingxi was willing to put aside old grudges to wholeheartedly support her. If Duan Huirou still couldn’t appreciate it and refused to strive for better, Kang Wangfei herself would feel like giving her a whipping.
Having such a sister was truly a blessing earned over several lifetimes.
Soon, palace maids came to deliver a message: Consort Shu was leaving, and Mingxi took Kang Wangfei with her. Before leaving, she told Duan Huirou: “Tell Consort Gui everything about last night truthfully.”
“Yes,” Duan Huirou nodded firmly.
Only then did Mingxi leave at ease.
Someone like Consort Gui, who had survived in the palace for decades, had seen all sorts of people. A girl like Duan Huirou was like a blank sheet of paper in her eyes, easy to see through. Being straightforward and honest would actually win her some favor.
Sure enough, just as Mingxi had predicted, after they left, Consort Gui summoned Duan Huirou and asked about last night. Upon hearing the details, she flew into a rage.
She immediately had Song Momo summon an imperial physician to Jin Wang’s residence to check on Side Consort Qian, then turned to comfort Duan Huirou: “You are a good child. It was your wedding night, and you still had to care for her. It has been hard on you.”
Away from Mingxi’s sharp eyes, Duan Huirou grew a bit bolder and softly said: “It was no hardship, Royal Mother. Seeing Side Consort Qian in so much pain last night, I truly worried for her. Please don’t be angry — surely she didn’t intend to fall. The injury on her belly was so alarming that it made me tremble with fear. Side Consort Qian cried so much that my heart nearly broke for her.”
Consort Gui glanced at Duan Huirou and fell silent.
Was there really such a naive fool in the world? Did she truly believe it was an accident?
After all these years, she knew exactly what kind of person Side Consort Qian was.
How could someone as shrewd as Mingxi have such a foolish little sister?
Suddenly, Consort Gui thought about how the two sisters had been at odds before. Maybe this girl wasn’t truly foolish — just trained into submission by Mingxi.
She massaged her forehead. What a mess.
Still, a simple-minded one was easier to deal with than a scheming one.
“I heard Cheng Momo by your side was found by Duan Wangfei?” Consort Gui asked again.
“Yes,” Duan Huirou immediately answered. “My sister said I didn’t know palace etiquette and worried I would make a fool of myself, so she specifically asked Consort Shu to find a Momo to teach me.”
Saying she might “make a fool of herself” so bluntly…?
Once again, Consort Gui didn’t know what to say. Could this girl not at least polish her words a little?
Even Mingxi, who usually acted straightforwardly, should have spared her younger sister some dignity.
Consort Gui began to suspect that her new daughter-in-law might not be as easy to manage as she seemed.
Why didn’t she have the same luck with daughters-in-law as Consort Shu?
It was truly infuriating!
At that moment, Song Momo hurried in to report, “Niang Niang, the Emperor has allowed the Wangyes to return to their residences.”
Consort Gui immediately asked, “How is Jin Wang?”
“The Wangyes knelt almost all day — they had to be carried back,” Song Momo said, her voice choked with emotion.
Consort Gui’s face turned even more grim. She then asked, “And the Crown Prince?”
Song Momo shook her head. “When the Wangyes left the palace, the Crown Prince was not among them.”
Consort Gui was stunned. The Crown Prince wasn’t seen?
Suddenly, she remembered Consort Shu’s words earlier and her heart sank.
At that moment, Duan Huirou softly said, “Royal Mother, if you have no other instructions, may I return to the residence? I fear Wangye will need someone by his side.”
“Yes, go,” Consort Gui said, pulling her thoughts back to her son. She softened her expression and said warmly, “Good child, you’ve suffered greatly. Once this storm passes, Jin Wang must properly reward you.”
Duan Huirou looked worried and said, “Royal Mother, this is all my duty. Wangye needs support the most right now; naturally, I must fulfill my role as his wife.”
Consort Gui nodded, very satisfied with Duan Huirou’s attitude, and even instructed Song Momo to personally escort her back — an extraordinary show of favor.
On the other side, Mingxi and Kang Wangfei also exited the palace. Duan Wang and Kang Wang were both carried back in sedan chairs, and the two women were quite worried.
They parted ways outside the palace, each boarding their own carriage back home.
Mingxi returned directly to Duan Wang’s manor and went first to the study. As expected, Xiao Muchen was inside discussing matters with his advisors. She didn’t disturb them and quietly withdrew.
She then headed to the rear courtyard, fetched some medicinal salve, and sent Qiancao to deliver it to Miao Sheng, instructing him to apply it to Xiao Muchen’s knees first. She also sent someone to summon Ren Mian to wait at the manor.
Meanwhile, she had the kitchens prepare some light meals. By the time she finished handling everything, her back was already soaked with sweat. Only then did she finally have a moment to return to her chambers and change clothes.
Xiangxiang followed her inside, helping her undo the elaborate hairstyle she had worn into the palace — tightly wound and high, painful after many hours. For ladies with thinner hair, they even had to weave in hairpieces, which was even more uncomfortable.
Mingxi changed into casual wear, let her hair down, and had Xiangxiang simply gather it into a bun secured with a jade hairpin. The whole process left her feeling greatly relieved.
Leaning against a soft pillow embroidered with ink patterns, she looked at Xiangxiang and asked, “Are they still busy out front?”
“Yes, Wangfei. Earlier, Lord Qi sent word that Wangye said you need not worry. He’ll come as soon as he finishes,” Xiangxiang quickly replied.
Mingxi nodded. Since Xiao Muchen immediately closed himself in with his advisors upon returning, it was definitely about the Qiping case. Clearly, something significant had happened that she hadn’t yet learned about, and he was moving to press the advantage.
After a day of holding herself taut, Mingxi finally let herself relax — and instantly felt exhaustion seep into every bone.
Since Duan Huirou’s marriage was arranged, she had barely had a moment of ease. Now, at last, she could catch her breath.
Leaning against the soft pillow, she dozed off in no time.
Xiangxiang carefully covered her with a quilt, then carried a sewing basket to the doorway, quietly making shoes.
When Xiao Muchen arrived, the rear courtyard was silent. Seeing Xiangxiang about to rise and salute, he waved his hand to stop her, then lifted the curtain and entered softly.
