The imperial court was in uproar. The Crown Prince’s faction, Duan Wang’s faction, the upright officials’ faction, and Jin Wang’s faction all fanned the flames of discord. The arguing raged from morning until noon, and from noon until nightfall.
Xiao Muchen steadily controlled the pace, gradually exposing the relationship between the Crown Prince and Zhang Guangan. Ministers who had previously been unaware were instantly in an uproar, shocked beyond belief.
With the grain stores and taxation of Qiping Prefecture implicated, how could the Ministry of Revenue come out clean? Shangshu Liu Chuxian had spent his whole life as a miserly official, plucking feathers from flying geese just to guard the imperial treasury and tightly hold the state’s purse strings.
Yet it was his own subordinates who betrayed him—pulling the wool over his eyes with inside and outside collusion. He had been completely kept in the dark. Liu Chuxian was so enraged he vomited blood and collapsed on the spot. After being revived by the imperial physician, he disregarded his frailty and publicly admitted fault before the emperor.
Liu Chuxian had served as a loyal minister all his life. When Duan Wang went to war, the national treasury was nearly empty, and Liu Chuxian scraped together funds for the campaign, offending many for providing too little. He had borne scorn his whole life, wearing the label of “miser” without complaint or regret. But to be stabbed in the back by his own Ministry of Revenue at this moment—this was a blow he couldn’t take.
Blood seeped through his court robes as he knelt trembling on the floor, begging for punishment. When his forehead struck the stone floor, blood quickly poured out. The sight left all present shaken and moved.
At this moment, Duke Cao and his ilk, in order to shield the Crown Prince from blame, shifted all responsibility onto Liu Chuxian. They formally impeached the Ministry of Revenue, accusing it of collusion with Qiping Prefecture officials, of disregarding the people’s suffering, flouting the law, deceiving the throne, and extorting for personal gain…
Led by Duke Cao, the chorus of supporters was vast. Upon hearing this, Liu Chuxian once again fainted from rage, unable to catch his breath.
Seeing this, the faction of upright officials could no longer hold back. They exploded into furious confrontation with the Crown Prince’s faction.
Xiao Muchen: …
This development had been somewhat unexpected.
From a distance, Fengcheng Marquis exchanged a glance with Xiao Muchen and instantly understood. He led his men into the fray, determined to stir the waters until they were completely muddied—so the Emperor could witness firsthand just how many supporters the Crown Prince had. That was no good sign for a sovereign.
***
While the court roared in argument, in Duan Wang’s residence, Mingxi was speaking with her father Duan Pingchang and her mother.
Madam Xu wanted to stay and take care of her daughter, but Mingxi refused.
She could see her mother was uneasy in the royal residence, carrying the inferiority of a merchant background. If she stayed, she would likely never get a good night’s rest.
Seeing his daughter in relatively good spirits, Duan Pingchang finally relaxed.
Father and daughter hadn’t seen each other in some time, and Duan Pingchang looked noticeably thinner. Mingxi couldn’t help feeling concerned. She asked, “What exactly are you doing now?”
Duan Pingchang laughed heartily. “Just managing the horse ranch. Out riding horses all day—how could I not get thinner? Don’t worry about me, I’m doing fine. I’ll find some fine breeding horses soon. Our ranch’s stock will only get better.”
Listening to this, Mingxi suspected only half was true. Looking at her father, she said, “I know you’re keeping things from me so I don’t worry, but I just ask that you take care of your health and safety.”
Duan Pingchang scratched his head. “I know. I’m not a three-year-old. You’re pregnant now—take care of yourself and stop fussing over me.”
After that, he glanced at her cautiously.
Mingxi frowned. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
Duan Pingchang coughed lightly. “I’m short on capable help right now. I noticed You Sanping’s managing things for you here in the capital. He’s too talented for trivial matters. Let him come with me.”
Mingxi: …
Duan Pingchang looked at her flatteringly, his grin blooming like a flower. “You don’t know how troublesome ranch affairs are. Let him sort it out for me, and I’ll send him back once things are settled. Besides, the ranch is yours too. If he’s your steward, it’s only right he helps manage it.”
She had sensed something off earlier. Now that her father was requesting You Sanping, her expression turned serious.
Since her father wouldn’t tell her the truth, she didn’t push. “Fine. I’ll let You Sanping go with you.”
Once he was there, she’d know everything.
Duan Pingchang’s eyes lit up. You Sanping was educated and full of clever schemes. With him around, things would be much smoother.
“If he goes with me, should I find another steward for you?”
“No need. Li Quan has learned a lot from You Sanping. He can manage for now.”
At the mention of Li Quan, Duan Pingchang nodded. “That one’s clever too, just not as well-educated. Fine, let him handle things for now. If he messes up, replace him.”
Li Quan wasn’t as cunning or ruthless as You Sanping, but he was loyal to Mingxi.
Mingxi didn’t continue the topic. She turned to her mother. “Father will be gone for months at the ranch. I think you should go with him and keep him company. When it gets cold, you can come back before winter.”
“No,” Madam Xu refused immediately. “You’re pregnant now, and you need people around. It’s more convenient if I stay in the capital.” Her husband was an adult—he could take care of himself. But this was her daughter’s first pregnancy. It was not to be taken lightly.
Mingxi smiled. “I have experienced nurses like Li Mama and Fang Momo with me. When I get further along, Consort Shu will send a midwife into the estate. I won’t lack help. Look at Father—no one watching him, and he’s gotten so thin. I’m truly worried. If you go and keep an eye on him for me, I’ll feel more at ease. Otherwise, I’ll keep worrying and won’t be able to rest properly.”
Madam Xu hesitated and turned to look at her husband.
Duan Pingchang immediately said, “No, no. Let your mother stay in the capital.”
“It’s just for a few months. She’ll be back when it’s cold. Unless…” Mingxi narrowed her eyes. “You’ve taken a concubine over there and don’t want Mother to see?”
“Nonsense!” Duan Pingchang nearly leapt up. “Child, how can you say such things?”
“Then let Mother go.”
Duan Pingchang: …
If he didn’t let his wife go, it meant he’d taken a concubine. If he did let her go, he worried about his daughter. Being a father was truly bitter.
Madam Xu could see that her daughter was genuinely concerned for her father’s health. After some thought, she looked at Mingxi and said gently, “Alright, I’ll go with him and take a few capable housemaids to help out. I’ll also bring one of our family cooks. Once everything is settled, I’ll come back.”
“No rush. You’ve never been to the horse farm—it’s a completely different landscape from here. Enjoy yourself for a few days. I won’t be leaving the residence for months, so there’s no need to worry about me.”
Looking at her daughter, Madam Xu sighed, “You’re still so young, yet you’re already arranging things for your father and me.”
Mingxi smiled. All she wanted was to see them healthy, happy, and live long lives—always by her side.
What she had lost in her previous life, she would make up for in this one.
“I’ve never been there either. Take a good look for me and tell me all about it when you get back. If I ever get the chance, I’d love to go see it myself.”
Madam Xu paused, realizing that her daughter, now a Wangfei, might not have that chance again. This time, she didn’t refuse.
She would look carefully on her daughter’s behalf.
After sending off her parents, Mingxi wrote a letter to You Sanping and called Li Quan to personally deliver it.
She then noticed Fang Momo standing by with a hesitant expression. Putting down her brush, she said gently, “Momo, if you have something to say, go ahead.”
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