That night, Xiao Muchen didn’t return to the inner courtyard. Instead, he had Miao Sheng deliver a message: an urgent matter had come up, and he had entered the palace under the cover of night.
Mingxi, with much on her mind, didn’t sleep well. On one hand, she was worried about Xiao Muchen, and on the other, she kept thinking about the Side Consort Qian situation.
The next morning, she had a message sent to Ren Mian, asking him to investigate.
Ren Mian, being a court physician familiar with all the major pharmacies, would find it easier to gather information.
It was well past noon when Xiao Muchen finally returned. Seeing how tired he looked, Mingxi immediately asked if he had eaten. Learning he hadn’t, she quickly had food prepared and led him to the inner room. Once he was settled with a cushion behind him, she asked, “What was the matter? Why did they keep you all in the palace so long?”
Xiao Muchen leaned against the soft cushion, looking at her worried expression, and said, “There’s trouble again in Yuxiang City. Several officials have submitted petitions requesting Fengcheng Marquis to go and stabilize the situation. Royal Father is still hesitating.”
Mingxi fell silent at those words.
The Emperor’s suspicion, which had already been alarming, had grown even more terrifying after the Crown Prince was placed under house arrest.
Fengcheng Marquis had been trapped in the capital all this time, and even after the Crown Prince’s confinement, he still couldn’t leave.
She looked at Xiao Muchen and said quietly, “I fear Fengcheng Marquis won’t be able to make the trip.”
Xiao Muchen’s expression darkened. “Royal Father still hasn’t let go of the matter with the Crown Prince. Since Fengcheng Marquis was involved back then, he’s also been dragged down by association.”
Mingxi let out a soft sigh. “Then who will be sent to take charge in Yuxiang City?”
Xiao Muchen didn’t answer—he just looked at Mingxi.
Mingxi’s heart skipped a beat. “Don’t tell me… it’s you?”
“The court officials recommended me. I’ve commanded troops in Yuxiang City before, and I’m the most suitable choice. But I’ve already refused in front of His Majesty. I can’t wade into muddy waters on my own initiative.”
Mingxi understood what Xiao Muchen meant. If he agreed immediately after the court suggested it, how would the Emperor see it? How would Consort Gui and her son see it?
“You did the right thing.” Mingxi breathed a slight sigh of relief. She had been worried Xiao Muchen might accept out of concern for the situation in Yuxiang City, regardless of the risk.
“Xiao Lin is still in Yuxiang City. Holding on for a few more months won’t be a problem.” Xiao Muchen held her hand. “You don’t need to worry too much.”
“It’s the people who suffer in the end from these court disputes. What’s the point?” Mingxi shook her head. “If Fengcheng Marquis can’t go to Yuxiang City, then we’ll have to prepare another plan.”
“Mm. A man with a treasure invites trouble. If Fengcheng Marquis can’t be moved from his current position, it won’t bode well,” Xiao Muchen said with a deep frown. “But right now, there’s no appropriate post for him in the capital either. If we propose sending him north at this time, it probably won’t be accepted.”
Sending Fengcheng Marquis to guard the northern borders at such a sensitive time—what would the court say?
The Emperor wouldn’t risk giving people that kind of ammunition. It would look like using someone and discarding them, like a worn-out mule.
Mingxi said slowly, “Some things are better handled with patience. Let’s wait and see. Fengcheng Marquis has a good relationship with you. We don’t need to be in a hurry—others surely will be.”
Xiao Muchen seemed to grasp something. He suddenly stood and embraced Mingxi tightly. “Like a word that wakes a dreamer—what you said is exactly right. Rest well. I’ll head out now.”
He turned and left without hesitation. Mingxi could only laugh helplessly.
She had just been thinking that Consort Gui and her son weren’t the type to stay calm. Fengcheng Marquis had finally gotten a light post in the capital—if he returned to Yuxiang and took up military command again, they wouldn’t be able to control him. Since he was friendly with Duan Wang, they would be the ones growing restless.
As long as they had ulterior motives, they would make a move.
What she feared was not what they would do—but if they did nothing at all.
She had only offered a small hint, but judging from Xiao Muchen’s reaction, once the matter landed in his hands, it might not remain simple.
In the following days, the court continued to quarrel fiercely over Yuxiang City. Xiao Muchen returned home late each day. To avoid disturbing Mingxi too late at night, he simply rested in the front courtyard.
Before the issue of Fengcheng Marquis had been resolved, Ren Mian brought news.
“Pregnancy medicine?” Mingxi asked Ren Mian. “Nothing unusual at all?”
“Yes,” Ren Mian replied. “That’s how the prescription reads, but whether the actual herbs match the prescription, I can’t say.”
Some wealthy families were full of secrets, with countless ways to harm others. There were precedents of prescriptions not matching the herbs that were actually dispensed.
Seeing Duan Wangfei lost in thought, Ren Mian added gently, “It would be best to get hold of the medicinal dregs. That way we can confirm whether the ingredients match the prescription.”
Mingxi nodded. “I’ll find a way.”
Ren Mian hesitated for a moment, then quietly said, “Judging from the prescription, the patient’s pregnancy seems unstable. The dosage is higher than usual for such medicine.”
Mingxi froze. “Truly?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell from the prescription whether the pregnancy can be carried to term?”
“I haven’t taken her pulse myself, so I can’t say for sure. But based on the dosage, there’s still uncertainty. If she finds a skilled physician, it’s not impossible to sustain the pregnancy.”
Mingxi’s heart sank. If Side Consort Qian truly wanted to protect the child, she would have sought an imperial physician from the palace. But she hadn’t.
Instead, she was secretly taking pregnancy medicine from outside sources. That likely meant she didn’t intend to keep the child—or something was abnormal about the pregnancy that made it impossible to keep.
Mingxi had Li Mama see Ren Mian out and sent him off with a generous pouch of silver.
Then she instructed Li Quan to quietly summon Lan Jiang.
Lan Jiang was in charge of the outer court affairs for Duan Huirou and could easily slip away. Upon seeing Mingxi, he stepped forward to salute. “Greetings, Wangfei. I pay my respects.”
“Rise. It’s been a while. Steward Lan, how have you been in Jin Wang’s manor?”
“Thanks to Wangfei’s favor, I’m currently managing the outer court for Jin Wangfei, and all is well,” Lan Jiang replied with a smile.
Mingxi nodded slightly. “With you and Cheng Momo helping her, I can feel more at ease. How are you getting along with Cheng Momo?”
Lan Jiang was her person—but Cheng Momo was not.
“She’s very proper,” Lan Jiang replied. “She consults me on matters and understands protocol.”
Mingxi frowned slightly. “So after all this time, neither of you has been able to get her to devote herself fully to her duties?”
Lan Jiang quickly explained, “Cheng Momo is getting on in years. Her heart is set on retiring to her hometown, so she tends to be more cautious in her actions.”
“She wants to return home?” Mingxi was surprised.
“Yes. Her nephew wrote to say he’d take care of her in her old age. Naturally, she was moved,” Lan Jiang said.
Mingxi nodded. “That’s understandable. But with that mindset, I’m afraid she’ll just try to protect herself in that murky Jin Wang’s household—and that won’t benefit Jin Wangfei.”
Apparently, Duan Huirou hadn’t told her about this. Mingxi didn’t know whether she hadn’t noticed or had her own ideas.
Thinking of this, Mingxi asked, “What’s your wife doing now?”
Lan Jiang froze for a moment before replying, “She just returned from Jiangcheng. Madam had someone send word during the New Year, and since she missed her family, she went home with them for a while.”
“So in other words, your wife is currently without a post?”
Lan Jiang nodded. “She originally had one, but once I started serving in Jin Wang’s manor, Madam had her return home to rest.”
“Well, that’s convenient. Let your wife go serve by Jin Wangfei. Since Cheng Momo has other plans, the Wangfei needs someone of her own beside her, and your wife is the most suitable choice.” Mingxi faintly felt that she had overlooked something, but couldn’t put her finger on it for now, so she could only patch this loophole first.
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