Li Quan arrived promptly.
“Miss, what do you need me to do?”
“Go meet Zhao Xun, a Langzhong from the Ministry of War’s Military Selection Division, and hand him this letter.” Duan Mingxi handed over a sealed letter she had just written. “Remember to wait outside the yamen and make sure to deliver it to him in public.”
Although Li Quan didn’t understand the full context, he accepted the letter, bowed, and left.
Meanwhile, Madam Xiao sent for her husband and explained everything to him in detail.
Duan Yu scoffed, “Does she even have the capability? You’re just overreacting. She’s been raised in a merchant’s household in Jiangcheng and has only been in the capital for a few days. What could she possibly know? Foolish womanly notions.”
Madam Xiao was so furious her face darkened. Holding back her anger, she said coldly, “If you don’t believe Mingxi, then why haven’t you accomplished this on your own? Over the years, you’ve spent plenty of money, yet you still haven’t secured a position.”
And you have the nerve to mock others!
“You…” Duan Yu, exposed, looked embarrassed. “What if she’s lying to you?”
“If she dares lie to me, does she dare lie to Grandfather? Grandfather has taken a particular liking to her and has even declared that her marriage will be decided solely by him. Moreover, he has decreed that Mother, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt will take turns managing the household.”
“What?” Duan Yu was stunned. “Is that true?”
Madam Xiao nodded. “Grandmother was furious with Mother for being too harsh on Mingxi, so she handed over household management duties in anger. Second Aunt and Third Aunt have since uncovered the family’s dire financial state. If they investigate further, what do you think will happen?”
Duan Yu’s face darkened completely. Over the years, while he pursued a position, his father squandered money on antiques and the pleasure quarters, draining the family’s resources. His mother had been secretly covering the losses, but if this came to light, the main branch would lose all face.
Seeing her husband’s expression, Madam Xiao continued, “Second Brother is diligent and talented at the Songshan Academy, and Master Chen has said he has a high chance of excelling in the next examination. If that happens, what will people say about you two brothers? Will you willingly let him overshadow you for life? Mingxi said you’re not fond of studying, but you could take the military route. Wouldn’t it be better if you two complemented each other, one in civil and the other in military service?”
Hearing this, Duan Yu felt increasingly displeased at the mention of Duan Ning. His mother had fought Yang Yiniang for years. If Duan Ning succeeded in the exams, it would not only disgrace him but also make his mother lose face.
“Is Mingxi telling the truth? Can she really get me a position?” Duan Yu finally softened.
“Why not try? We’ve failed on our own, haven’t we?” Madam Xiao said bluntly.
Duan Yu: …
Must she be so blunt?
Reluctantly convinced, Duan Yu sent a letter to Mingxi, only to find she had already left the residence.
Madam Xiao was surprised—what could she be doing outside at this hour?
Then she figured it must be related to her husband’s matter, and a smile spread across her face as she cheerfully returned to her chambers, hoping for good news.
As soon as Mingxi left the estate, the Old Master had someone deliver the account books for the estate’s shops and farmland, along with the official seal. Li Mama and the others were clueless about the reason behind this. The people from the Old Master’s courtyard dropped off the items and left without explanation.
Startled, Li Mama quickly had the boxes moved into the inner room, anxiously waiting for Mingxi to return.
Duan Mingxi’s carriage rumbled through the streets of the capital, eventually turning into an alley off the main avenue. Qiancao, lifted the curtain and stepped off the carriage, entering a nearby pawnshop directly.
Duan Mingxi remained seated, waiting patiently. After a while, Qiancao returned to the carriage, holding a somewhat battered box.
“Miss, I’ve bought it,” Qiancao said, placing the box on the small table inside the carriage. “The people at this pawnshop really know how to do business. When I asked for the original pawn ticket, they refused to give it. I had to pay extra to get it back.”
Mingxi reached out, took the pawn ticket, and lifted the curtain slightly to examine it in the light. The signature at the bottom was indeed that of someone close to Zhao Xun. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips.
Soon enough, this item would be purchased by the Crown Prince’s people, who would then use it to threaten Zhao Xun into doing their bidding.
Zhao Xun found himself under someone’s thumb and had no choice but to place the Crown Prince’s men in the Military Selection Bureau. Coincidentally, the position of yuanwailang would be vacant the very next day.
This was precisely the opportunity Mingxi had been waiting for.
“Let’s go,” Mingxi instructed, carefully putting away a box and a pawn ticket.
The carriage started rolling and slowly left the pawnshop.
From afar, Xiao Muchen emerged from a restaurant and noticed the departing carriage. His brow furrowed slightly as he summoned Qi He. “Go check what that carriage was doing at the pawnshop.”
Qi He hurried off.
Xiao Muchen bent to enter his own carriage and waited. It wasn’t long before Qi He returned.
“My lord, I’ve inquired. Someone purchased an item that had been left unredeemed.”
“An unredeemed pawn? Did the shopkeeper mention who it belonged to?”
“The shopkeeper said they don’t ask about origins for unredeemed items, nor do they inquire about the buyer’s intentions. However, he did mention something unusual: the buyer also purchased the original pawn ticket.”
Xiao Muchen’s eyes narrowed slightly. Buying an unredeemed item made sense—but why go out of their way to purchase the pawn ticket as well?
If his eyes weren’t mistaken, that carriage had been carrying Duan Mingxi.
“Follow that carriage discreetly,” Xiao Muchen ordered.
Qi He hesitated briefly but soon set off again.
Xiao Muchen naturally heard about the Empress bestowing a gold hairpin upon Duan Mingxi, but Mingxi wasn’t the only recipient.
When Xiao Muchen’s people spread the news, they discovered that someone was circulating a different story: that the hairpin was a reward for Duan Mingxi’s bravery in saving someone from drowning. Hearing this, Xiao Muchen immediately suspected that Duan Mingxi herself had orchestrated the narrative.
That day, Duan Mingxi had overheard the Crown Prince’s plan and disrupted it by jumping into the water to save the person.
Xiao Muchen couldn’t figure out why Mingxi was targeting the Crown Prince.
One lived in the capital, and the other in Jiangcheng. Without her recent acknowledgment by the Duan family, Mingxi might never have crossed paths with the Crown Prince in her lifetime.
So what had the Crown Prince done to offend Mingxi, prompting her to act against him?
Xiao Muchen had a hunch that the item Mingxi had purchased was no ordinary thing.
When Mingxi returned to the estate, she learned about the items the Old Master had sent her. She showed no reaction to the box full of account books but smiled in satisfaction when she picked up the official seal.
“Has Li Quan returned?” Mingxi asked after changing her clothes.
“He has, Miss, and he’s waiting for you,” Xiangxiang replied with a bow.
Mingxi, curious about Zhao Xun’s attitude, instructed Xiangxiang to bring Li Quan to her.
