After the Qixi Festival, everything seemed to calm down.
Although Consort Shu had proven her innocence after the poisoning incident involving Tan Guiren, Tan Guiren had not fallen out of favor.
This made it clear to Mingxi that whether or not the Emperor truly liked Tan Guiren was irrelevant—what mattered was that he wanted to use Tan Yingtai to keep Marquis Fengcheng in check.
She couldn’t help but reflect: if she hadn’t proposed building a port at the East Sea, would all this trouble have been avoided? Would Tan Yingtai have ignored them?
But what was done was done. Now the only option was not just to build the port—but to build it well. It had to become the number one port in the North, fully cementing Marquis Fengcheng’s status in the East Sea.
After hearing her reasoning, Xiao Muchen pondered for a long time and then said, “It’s a good idea. I don’t know much about commerce, but from what you’ve said, if this succeeds, it could increase tax revenue and fill the state treasury, while also improving the lives of the people. That’s a noble cause.”
More tax for the state, more profit for merchants, more peace for the people—it was a win on all fronts.
Xiao Muchen tightly held Mingxi’s hand. “Once the East Sea is fully stabilized and the treasury is filled, the war in Qinan won’t be such a burden anymore.”
Step by step, Qinan would become a full territory of Great Chu!
Mingxi knew Xiao Muchen had grand ambitions. She smiled and said, “That day will come. But for now, we need to get rid of Tan Yingtai—he’s in the way of everything.”
His watchful eyes made everything difficult.
She looked at Xiao Muchen. “So we can now confirm that Tan Guiren is one of the Empress’s people?”
Xiao Muchen scoffed, “Just a dying struggle. The more the Empress and Crown Prince act like this, the more it will anger Royal Father.”
“But this time, Royal Father only gave a mild punishment,” Mingxi said.
Xiao Muchen looked intently at her. “Because Royal Father is watching to see how Marquis Fengcheng will strike back.”
Mingxi: …
Her expression nearly broke. “Is that really necessary?”
“Or perhaps,” Xiao Muchen said, “Royal Father wants to see how I and the Crown Prince will face off.”
Mingxi’s heart trembled. “Does Royal Father know about your connection with Marquis Fengcheng?”
“Even if he doesn’t have full proof, he’s at least halfway convinced,” Xiao Muchen replied. “Before, he favored the Crown Prince because he was born of the central palace and had legitimacy. But now, he’s not giving up on the Crown Prince simply because he hasn’t yet found another son to take his place. So I have to step forward myself.”
Mingxi understood.
She looked at him and said, “Alright. I understand.”
So, the East Sea port project had unintentionally become the turning point in the power struggle between Xiao Muchen and the Crown Prince—a twist Mingxi had never expected.
“So then,” she said, coming to a realization, “Royal Father’s favor toward Tan Guiren—was that also deliberate, to stir the waters?”
Xiao Muchen smiled faintly. “Perhaps. But it doesn’t matter now. Tan Yingtai won’t be able to protect himself, and once he falls, Tan Guiren’s wings in the palace will be clipped. She’s just another stepping stone for the Empress.”
If one becomes a pawn, one must accept the risk of defeat.
Mingxi looked at Xiao Muchen. “Then now, we just have to wait for news from Marquis Fengcheng.”
The report from Marquis Fengcheng came neither early nor late—it arrived right on time. Just as the newly entered Xie Liangdi from the Eastern Palace announced her pregnancy, an attack occurred.
Tan Yingtai’s jurisdiction was attacked at night by pirates who came ashore to burn, kill, and loot, causing heavy losses to the coastal villages.
As luck would have it, Marquis Fengcheng was patrolling the sea that night and saw the great fire from afar. He immediately led reinforcements ashore, saving countless civilians and slaying the pirate leader. By the time he drove the pirates back to sea, Tan Yingtai arrived late—only to question Marquis Fengcheng for landing without permission and violating court regulations.
At court, this caused a heated argument. But this time, Xiao Muchen did not remain in the shadows—he stood up and openly challenged them in front of everyone.
“Was Marquis Fengcheng supposed to stand by and watch while pirates slaughtered our people? If so, would Governor-general Tan have then submitted a memorial accusing him of negligence? You officials are the pillars of this nation—if it were you in his place, what would you have done?”
The recovering Duke Wei sneered, “Shameless scholar! Good only at talking. Send them to the East Sea, and they’ll come crawling back home crying for their mothers!”
Since the return of Duke Wei to court, his temperament had drastically changed, giving even the Emperor quite a headache. Though his words were biting, every sentence he spoke was true. As much as the Emperor found him vexing, he could not punish him.
Moreover, last time Duke Wei had nearly lost his life for speaking out frankly in court. The Emperor, to some extent, still harbored guilt over it.
In addition, Duke Wei had a good relationship with Fengcheng Marquis, a fact known throughout the court. So now that he was speaking on Fengcheng Marquis’s behalf, no one suspected him of taking sides with Xiao Muchen.
The court was in an uproar over the matter of the Eastern Sea.
At this moment, Kang Wangfei sat before Mingxi, looking dejected. “Even Xie Liangdi is with child now, but my belly still shows no sign. His Highness has no other women beside me, and even the imperial physician says we’re both perfectly healthy. I truly don’t know what else to do.”
Even the sharp-tongued Qi Wangfei was pregnant—how could Kang Wangfei not be anxious?
Mingxi didn’t know how to console her. Ren Mian had checked her pulse too, and confirmed both she and her husband were in good health. The fact that she had still not conceived was indeed worrying.
Mingxi gently offered, “You can’t rush things when it comes to children. As Ren Mian said, there’s no issue with your health. Perhaps fate has not yet arrived.”
Kang Wangfei looked visibly more worn lately. On top of that, with her Father now under impeachment, she was anxious both inside and out, having lost a great deal of weight.
Hearing Mingxi’s words, such a strong woman as Kang Wangfei couldn’t help but shed tears. “I don’t know what will happen to my Father this time.”
Mingxi, confident that Fengcheng Marquis would come out unscathed, tried to comfort her. “Fengcheng Marquis put the people first. Even if some vile characters try to cause trouble, surely there will be righteous officials who will speak on his behalf.”
Kang Wangfei nodded, though her gaze was somewhat vacant.
Seeing her like this, Mingxi said gently, “Why don’t we choose a good day and go to Dazhao Temple together?”
Kang Wangfei shook her head. “I’ve already prayed at every temple and shrine in and around the capital. I doubt going again would change anything.”
Mingxi understood her desperation. Among all the royal wives, only she had not conceived. Kang Wang had no other women—only her—so the pressure she felt must have been immense.
Just as Mingxi was thinking this, Kang Wangfei suddenly said, “My mother thinks I should choose a concubine for His Highness. But I don’t want to. Mingxi, do you think I should do it?”
Mingxi was silent for a moment before replying, “Marquis Madam wants to see if another woman could bear Eighth Brother a child. If no one else conceives either, people won’t blame you too much. But if someone does get pregnant, your situation will become even more difficult.”
“I don’t care about that. Ever since I married His Highness, we’ve lived in harmony. I… I truly don’t want to bring in a concubine at a time like this.”
Mingxi understood. When a couple shared deep affection, there was no room for a third person.
“Have you asked Eighth Brother how he feels?”
