Kang Wangfei nodded. “He doesn’t want it either. He keeps saying we’ll have children in the future, and tells me not to worry. But how can I not? The more he tries to comfort me, the more guilty I feel.”
Mingxi thought carefully and then said, “If that’s the case, why not take a trip together? Sometimes, a change of environment can help. There’s a common saying among the people about that.”
Kang Wangfei’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Her growing anxiety over not conceiving in the capital was already noted by Ren Mian, who had said it was detrimental to pregnancy.
Better to take her out of the capital. Once her mind and spirit were relaxed, perhaps the child would come.
The more Mingxi thought about it, the more it made sense. She looked at Kang Wangfei and said, “Fengcheng Marquis has just been impeached. You could tell Eighth Brother you’re worried about your Father and want to go visit him in the East Sea.”
“I’ll go try. But His Highness still has duties in the capital—it might not be easy for him to leave.”
“Eighth Brother’s position can be set aside temporarily.”
It wasn’t an important role anyway. Someone else could fill it for a few months. Who would dare permanently take Kang Wang’s place?
When she heard they could leave the capital and also visit her Father, Kang Wangfei’s mood visibly lifted.
Mingxi said gently, “I’ll speak to Wangye later and ask him to help Eighth Brother find a way to take leave. It’ll be no problem.”
“Fourth Sister-in-law, thank you.” Kang Wangfei was choked with emotion.
“It’s nothing—don’t take it to heart. But how is it that after getting married, you’ve become more and more anxious?”
Kang Wangfei gave a bitter smile. “Life in the royal household is not easy.”
Being a daughter-in-law of the imperial family, those like Mingxi had Consort Shu to rely on, so life was naturally better. But Kang Wang had no one to depend on. Even with Consort Shu’s occasional help, they couldn’t trouble her with everything. They had to walk on eggshells, cautious and overthinking every move.
Mingxi patted her hand. “I understand. Besides, things in the capital won’t be peaceful in the coming days. It’s not a bad idea for Eighth Brother to leave for now.”
Kang Wangfei’s heart skipped. “Fourth Sister-in-law, is this because of my Father’s matter?”
Not wanting her to overthink, Mingxi said, “Of course not. Fengcheng Marquis just got swept into this incident. He saved the people—at most, merits and faults will cancel each other out. You don’t need to worry.”
Kang Wangfei suddenly understood, and her expression shifted.
All the other princes had mothers to protect them—only Kang Wang did not. Qian Jieyu was barely surviving in the palace herself; it was enough that she didn’t cause trouble.
Fourth Sister-in-law clearly saw that his foundation was weak—if any storm hit, he’d be the first to be swept up.
If she had directly told her husband to leave the capital to avoid trouble, he might have refused, not wanting to abandon Fourth Brother.
But under the guise of taking her away to rest…
Fourth Sister-in-law had even prepared a respectable excuse for them.
Kang Wangfei stood and gave a formal bow. “Fourth Sister-in-law, I’ll remember your kindness today.”
Mingxi had no idea Kang Wangfei was thinking so much. She only thought she had come around and said with a smile, “It’s a win-win. Just don’t mention anything else in front of Kang Wang—just say you want him to take you out to ease your mind.”
Their relationship was close. He would surely agree.
Kang Wangfei agreed and, upon returning, told Kang Wang what had happened—only saying the physician recommended a change of scenery. Kang Wang had no doubts and agreed right away.
The next day, when Xiao Muchen returned for a meal, he looked at Mingxi and asked, “Was it your idea regarding Eighth Brother?”
Mingxi smiled. “Did Eighth Brother come to you?”
Xiao Muchen nodded. “It’s already settled. They’ll be able to leave the capital tomorrow. You—always so concerned with other people’s matters.”
“How is he ‘other people’? Eighth Brother has always supported you—looking after them is only right,” Mingxi replied with a smile. “Besides, Eighth Brother is too honest by nature; staying in the capital wouldn’t be good for him right now. Having him leave is just right. And going to visit his Father-in-law—others will say he’s loyal and affectionate. Isn’t that exactly what you’d want?”
Xiao Muchen couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right. I had originally planned to send him to Dongjiang as well, but his status is too conspicuous—I couldn’t think of a good excuse. Now you’ve given me a fine solution.”
“People always say ‘thieves make a couple’—we really are in the same boat.”
Xiao Muchen laughed heartily at that, pulling Mingxi into his arms. “From the first time I saw you, I knew we were the same kind of person—and sure enough, we are.”
Mingxi: …
She had the distinct feeling he was insulting her—but had no proof.
Leaning against Xiao Muchen’s chest, Mingxi said softly, “Xie Muhua is pregnant. The child came quickly and suddenly. She sent me a note, asking to help keep it.”
Xiao Muchen frowned. “Whether the child can be kept or not—doesn’t that depend on her own abilities?”
“You—” Mingxi saw he hadn’t quite grasped her meaning. “You forget, she’s one of ours. If we didn’t want her to have the child, she wouldn’t dare to give birth to it.”
Xiao Muchen’s face darkened. “Am I someone who would harm a child?”
“I know you wouldn’t. But she entered the Eastern Palace alone for the Xie family’s sake—of course she’s anxious. Though it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement between us, the child is innocent. You and I are thinking the same thing here.”
Xiao Muchen snorted, “Just let her give birth, then. But as for matters inside the Eastern Palace, she’ll have to protect herself.”
“Of course,” Mingxi agreed.
Xiao Muchen’s expression eased a little. Looking at Mingxi, he said, “As for the Fengcheng Marquis affair—Tan Yingtai can’t escape blame for his negligence. But he also overstepped his authority. Though his merits balance out his faults, he’s still been impeached by the Censorate. He wasn’t demoted, but the Emperor issued a formal reprimand.”
Mingxi’s eyes held thought. “In that case, it won’t be so easy for Tan Yingtai to stir up trouble in the East Sea again. But was this incident really an accident?”
She was also worried that Fengcheng Marquis, in order to take down Tan Yingtai, might have disregarded the lives of the common people.
Xiao Muchen sighed. “It really was an accident. Fengcheng Marquis did leave a gap for the sea bandits, but he didn’t expect Tan Yingtai to be so arrogant. Why do you think Fengcheng Marquis risked his post to go ashore and rescue people?”
Mingxi said softly, “I come from a merchant family. Since childhood, I’ve known how hard life is for the common people. High officials and nobles fight for power, and the people always suffer for it. How unjust is that?”
Xiao Muchen stroked her hand. “You’ve always been so kind-hearted.”
Mingxi shook her head. “Not really.”
She had suffered too much in her past life—she knew what it was like to be utterly helpless. In this life, since she had climbed this high and gained power, naturally she wanted to do more.
She wasn’t a good person—but neither was she evil.
She just couldn’t bear to watch others suffer what she once had.
“You probably don’t know—Crown Prince sent Gao Zhan to Dongjiang.”
“What?” Mingxi was stunned. “After what Gao Zhan did in the Qiping Prefecture case, the Crown Prince still didn’t notice anything, and now he’s using him again?”
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