“You forgot—what Gao Zhan did, the Crown Prince never knew,” Xiao Muchen said with a smile.
Mingxi thought for a moment, then pressed her fingers to her forehead. “You’re right, I forgot. Gao Zhan is quite something—he hid it so well. If he really goes to Dongjiang…”
Her eyes rolled with calculation as she stared silently at Xiao Muchen.
Xiao Muchen: …
“Just say what you want to say.”
“I’m the kind of person who always pays back a grudge.”
Xiao Muchen nodded solemnly. “What a coincidence—I’m the same.”
Mingxi couldn’t hold back her laughter and collapsed into Xiao Muchen’s arms, thinking that life with him was becoming more and more interesting.
“Back in the Qiping case—you kept evidence, right? Proof that Gao Zhan betrayed the Crown Prince?”
“I always leave myself a way out.”
“You think if Gao Zhan found out, he’d betray the Crown Prince?”
“Worth a try.”
Mingxi laid against Xiao Muchen’s chest. As she laughed, her eyes glistened.
In her past life, Gao Zhan had taken her money to pave the way for himself and the Crown Prince, helping the Crown Prince ascend the throne—only to turn around and abandon her once he succeeded.
After ten bitter years, she had become a joke.
In this life, Gao Zhan would walk a path completely different from before—soon to betray the very prince he had once been most loyal to.
Truly, Heaven spares no one.
All debts must be repaid in the end.
Xiao Muchen didn’t know why Mingxi was so emotional, but thinking about the dirty things Gao Zhan had done back then, he could understand her feelings.
“Let Gao Zhan go to Dongjiang first. Once he establishes himself there and has his run-in with Tan Yingtai, I’ll have someone contact him.”
Mingxi nodded. “You handle these matters as you see fit. I only care about the outcome.”
There had been no news from Bai Zhiwei for a while—no one knew how she was doing at the Duke Gao’s residence.
Sigh, she really was too kind. If only she were a bit more ruthless—if she’d constantly provoked the Duchess, she could have easily turned that mother- and daughter-in-law pair into bitter enemies.
The East Sea affair had stirred the court for over a month. Everyone’s attention was on the confrontation between Tan Yingtai and Fengcheng Marquis, and no one noticed that the coastline of the East Sea was quietly expanding.
This year, the Empress fell ill again during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The palace banquet was hosted by the three consorts. Consort Zhang also claimed illness and didn’t attend.
The various princesses came to the palace to go through the motions. Mingxi saw Bai Shixi, and as usual, they merely exchanged greetings and sat separately.
However, this time, Bai Shixi brought Xie Liangdi into the palace to pay respects to the Empress. Though they didn’t attend the banquet, they had at least shown their faces in front of the Empress.
Mingxi knew the reason behind it. That was why, this time when Gao Zhan went to Dongjiang, he took 150,000 taels of silver from the Eastern Palace—silver that Xie Muhua had handed over.
After the Qiping Prefecture case, the Crown Prince’s foundation had been damaged. The dirty silver was all confiscated into the national treasury, and he had little left on hand. Relying solely on his annual stipend, he could support the Eastern Palace itself, but not its many retainers.
The Xie family’s silver came like an eastern wind, solving the Crown Prince’s urgent needs.
When the Crown Prince later learned that Fengcheng Marquis was building a seaport in the East Sea, what was 150,000 taels? Tossing that much in would barely make a splash. By then, in order to seize control over the seaport’s authority, the Crown Prince would surely act again.
Mingxi was waiting for that very moment.
In the palace, from a distance, she saw Xie Muhua obediently following behind Bai Shixi. Ever since entering the Eastern Palace, she had treated Chen Liangdi and Jiang Sujie coldly, but had always shown great respect to the Crown Princess—just as Mingxi had advised her.
Xie Muhua was a smart woman. She believed that Mingxi had told her to show respect to the Crown Princess because the latter had no direct interest conflicts with her. What she didn’t know was that there was actually a hidden understanding between Mingxi and the Crown Princess.
Mingxi didn’t know if Bai Shixi would sense anything strange about Xie Muhua. But even if she did, she likely wouldn’t do anything.
She had given birth to a daughter in her first pregnancy, which deeply disappointed both the Crown Prince and the Empress. They even used the third-day banquet to target Consort Zhang, never sparing a thought for what might happen if their actions were exposed—whether the Emperor might turn his anger on her and her child.
She couldn’t count on the Duke Zhen’s family, and though the Crown Prince was her husband, she dared not rely on him either. To protect herself and her child, she could only depend on herself.
Mingxi was the only one who had reached out to her in her time of desperation.
From afar, Bai Shixi suddenly turned and met Mingxi’s eyes.
Mingxi gave her a faint smile.
Bai Shixi smiled slightly in return, then turned and walked away.
Xie Muhua’s gaze lingered briefly on the two of them, but she acted as though she hadn’t seen anything and followed after the Crown Princess.
Mingxi went to Yuchen Palace.
Consort Shu had just seen off Consort De. When she saw Mingxi, she invited her to sit. “You don’t need to attend the evening banquet. You can leave the palace shortly.”
Mingxi was a little surprised but also pleased. “That’s fine. I just saw the Crown Princess leave earlier. I suppose she received word too.”
Consort Shu snorted. “Even though the Empress is supposedly convalescing, news still travels fast.”
Mingxi said, “Convalescing is just a better way to lie low. Royal Mother, you must be extra cautious in the palace.”
Because of the affair involving Tan Guiren, Consort Shu harbored some resentment toward the Emperor. Although she later learned from her son that it was due to Tan Yingtai’s rivalry with Fengcheng Marquis, at the time, she herself had been in real danger.
If she hadn’t been prepared, her fate might have been just like Consort Zhang’s.
Noticing the weariness on Consort Shu’s face, Mingxi softly said, “If you’re tired, why not follow the Empress’s lead and ask to be excused due to illness?”
Consort Shu immediately shook her head. “Not yet. At least not until the East Sea situation is resolved. Besides, if I ask for leave now, His Majesty might grow suspicious.”
Mingxi frowned. “Is Royal Father really like this now…”
Consort Shu sighed and patted Mingxi’s hand. “Good child, don’t come into the palace unless summoned. Kang Wang is clever—he knew to take his wife and leave the capital.”
Mingxi smiled but didn’t mention that it had been her idea. She figured Xiao Muchen hadn’t said anything either.
She didn’t stay long before taking her leave. As usual, Consort Shu gave her something to bring back for her beloved granddaughter.
After Mid-Autumn, the days grew colder one after another. Zhiyi was already quite adept at rolling all over the bed. The child was especially mischievous—no one knew who she took after. Her dark, sparkling eyes made people like her at first glance.
As soon as winter began, Tan Yingtai submitted a memorial requesting to lead troops out to sea and suppress the pirates before the harsh winter arrived, to prevent them from raiding coastal areas again in search of food supplies.
Suppressing the pirates was secondary. More importantly, he wanted Fengcheng Marquis to cooperate.
One taking the lead and one following—Tan Yingtai still wanted to seize the initiative over the East Sea.
Naturally, Fengcheng Marquis was unwilling. Xiao Muchen had someone submit a memorial in secret, accusing Tan Yingtai of overstepping his authority. The blade once stabbed into Fengcheng Marquis’s back was now returned in kind.
They had thought the Emperor wouldn’t approve—but to their surprise, he issued an edict ordering Fengcheng Marquis to cooperate with Tan Yingtai.
Xiao Muchen immediately sent Qi He out of the capital overnight, heading straight for Dongjiang to secretly meet with Gao Zhan.
Mingxi took a deep breath. After months of waiting, the opportunity had finally arrived.
