The whole family gathered for a reunion meal. After the meal, Xiao Muchen invited the men to the study to discuss official matters.
The Old Madam was advanced in age and couldn’t handle fatigue, and Mingxi, being pregnant, wasn’t suited to keep disturbing her either. So she returned to the manor first. Madam Xu also took her leave. With that, the women had all gone, leaving only Duan Huirou behind.
Mingxi looked at Duan Huirou’s composed manner as she stayed behind—she did have a bit of the boldness Mingxi herself had when she first returned to the capital.
The two sisters sat facing each other. Duan Huirou didn’t beat around the bush and spoke directly: “There’s something I want to tell you, but I don’t have any evidence yet. I’m also unsure in my heart and can’t make up my mind.”
“What is it?” Mingxi had Xiangxiang bring fresh tea and looked up at Duan Huirou as she replied.
After a half day of commotion, even she felt somewhat tired.
Seeing this expression on Mingxi, Duan Huirou hesitated. “Should I come another day and tell you then?”
“If you plan to come to me another day, I’m afraid it won’t be very convenient.”
Duan Huirou thought about it and agreed. By rights, her husband was currently quite favored, and her mother-in-law was also very influential in the inner palace. She ought to be able to stand tall now.
However, when facing Duan Mingxi’s especially calm face, she still lacked confidence. Who knew when things might change?
She hadn’t been married into the royal family for long and didn’t yet know many of its inner workings.
Qi Momo was someone close to Consort Gui. As for many of the palace’s secrets, if they could be spoken of, she would speak of them—but if not, she wouldn’t. After all, her loyalty lay more with the Consort and Jin Wang.
Duan Huirou had tried to win her over but found it very difficult. Later, she recalled something Duan Mingxi had once said to her, and in order to avoid drawing Qi Momo’s displeasure, she gave up on the idea.
Cheng Momo, on the other hand, was her own person, but she acted and spoke with great caution. If she wasn’t completely certain, she wouldn’t say a word more than necessary. As a result, Duan Huirou herself became even more careful.
These past few months in Jin Wang’s manor had been even harder than a year at her maiden home.
Now she finally understood that marrying up was no easy task. That Duan Mingxi had managed to gain a firm foothold in such a short time—beyond admiration, it was the first time Duan Huirou truly felt the urge to learn seriously and stand tall on her own.
Duan Huirou was still afraid of Duan Mingxi deep down. She always felt that her little schemes couldn’t be hidden from her, so she simply laid everything bare and told her in detail about her time at Jin Wang’s manor.
After hearing everything, Mingxi looked at her and said, “You did the right thing. Since Qi Momo can’t be won over, it’s better to coexist peacefully with her. Don’t provoke her displeasure or give her reason to speak ill of you in front of the Consort or Jin Wang.”
“I thought the same.” Duan Huirou sounded a bit helpless. She couldn’t help thinking that if it had been Duan Mingxi, Qi Momo would have already been brought to heel.
“So, what did you want to tell me?” Mingxi had listened to her go on and on about household matters but still hadn’t heard the real point.
Duan Huirou: …
She had just been trying to build up to it.
“Recently, Side Consort Qian’s behavior has been so restrained it’s making me uneasy.” Duan Huirou didn’t dare to beat around the bush anymore. No point in a long preamble—it was useless.
When Mingxi heard this, her expression turned serious. “Tell me everything in detail.”
Duan Huirou now understood that all her earlier rambling had been a waste of breath.
She steadied herself, took a deep breath, and looked at Mingxi. “During the first month after I married in, Side Consort Qian was frequently unwell. Every few days something would come up. Whenever Wangye heard, he’d immediately go to her, though about half the time Qi Momo would manage to persuade him to return.”
Mingxi saw the frown forming between Duan Huirou’s brows and asked, “Jin Wang must have been frustrated. Was he taking it out on you?”
Duan Huirou hesitated briefly, then seemed to resign herself and said expressionlessly, “You once told me that being a wife is like being an official—don’t treat Jin Wang like a husband, treat him like a superior. So I’ve been thoughtful and considerate in every way, even caring for Side Consort Qian. Even if he wants to be biased, he can’t find fault with me.”
Mingxi: …
“…You did well,” she said with a complicated expression.
Jin Wang only had eyes for Side Consort Qian. If Duan Huirou had competed for favor rashly, she would have easily fallen into one of her traps. Retreating to advance was indeed the better tactic. Mingxi had been worried Duan Huirou might not see it clearly and had advised her to treat Jin Wang like a superior—she hadn’t expected her to follow the advice so thoroughly and effectively.
Hearing Mingxi’s rare praise, Duan Huirou let out a small breath of relief. It really wasn’t easy to get praised by her. She hadn’t memorized Mingxi’s words every night before bed for nothing.
She had once dreamed of marrying a man who truly loved her, a sweet and affectionate relationship for life. Who would’ve thought that while she had married a Wangye, the “ideal man” turned out to be someone else’s?
Snapping out of her drifting thoughts, Duan Huirou looked at Mingxi again. “But ever since the new year, Side Consort Qian has been unusually quiet. Every time Wangye goes to visit her, she even encourages him to visit my courtyard instead. Each time, he comes back praising her for being generous and broad-minded.”
To call a side consort “generous and broad-minded” was outrageous—it made Duan Huirou so angry she could explode. “So I felt something was off. It just didn’t match Side Consort Qian’s previous behavior. I had Cheng Momo secretly watch things, and we found that her maid Chunying leaves the manor every few days to visit a pharmacy and get medicine.”
Mingxi raised her brows.
“Cheng Momo asked around—the prescriptions are all standard prenatal medicines. But Wangye’s manor has its own physician, so why is she going outside to get medicine? I don’t feel right about it. That’s why I wanted to ask for your advice.”
“That is suspicious. Did you ask Jin Wang?”
“How could I? That would give away that I’ve been spying on Side Consort Qian!”
“Couldn’t you just say your people happened to run into Chunying at the pharmacy, and you were worried it might be unsafe to use outside medicine, so you mentioned it to him out of concern?”
Duan Huirou froze. “That’s true—why didn’t I think of that? I’ll try it when I get back.”
“Is Chunying’s pharmacy trip on a regular schedule?”
“More or less.”
“Then don’t bring this up to Wangye directly. On the day she’s scheduled to go, find an excuse to ask Wangye to accompany you to the market. Then, lead him to that pharmacy and catch Chunying in the act. You won’t need to say anything—seeing it with his own eyes will be more convincing than anything else.”
Duan Huirou nodded. “That’s a good plan. But even so, we still won’t know why she insists on using outside medicine. Wangye favors her so much, he might not even be suspicious.”
“If it turns out to be nothing, then all’s well.” Mingxi looked at her calmly. “But if Side Consort Qian really is hiding something, and Wangye sees it for himself, she won’t be able to talk her way out of it. I’ll have someone investigate secretly too, to see what I can find.”
Duan Huirou looked at her. “Thank you, Big Sister.”
Mingxi smiled slightly. “How are things for you at Wangye’s manor? Are you getting along alright?”
Duan Huirou wasn’t quite sure how to answer. “It’s… okay, I guess. Wangye only has eyes for Side Consort Qian, but he hasn’t treated me badly either.”
“As he should. For one, Qi Momo is still in the manor, and two, you’re my sister. Wangye has to consider the Duan family.” Mingxi’s tone turned cold. Then she looked at Duan Huirou and reminded her, “All the more reason for you to act with grace and generosity. Especially with anything involving Side Consort Qian—don’t interfere. Always treat her with utmost obedience.”
“I know. I’ve been doing exactly as you said.” Duan Huirou had hit so many walls and suffered so many setbacks that she had learned one thing for sure: listening to Duan Mingxi never went wrong.
