Qi Wangfei claimed to be ill, and it was Side Consort Ming who came out to receive the guests. The ladies who came to offer congratulations were all quite surprised—never had they seen such a willful Wangfei.
Xingqin Marquis Madam’s expression was as awful as could be. In the end, she couldn’t bear the stares from everyone and got up to go look for Qi Wangfei.
When Qi Wangfei saw her mother, she burst into tears. Xingqin Marquis Madam felt a deep ache in her heart upon seeing the slap mark on her daughter’s face.
“How could the Wangye treat you like this?” the Marchioness said angrily.
Qi Wangfei’s eyes were red, and upon hearing her mother’s words, she felt even more wronged. She cried out, “Mother, your daughter’s life is so bitter. Qi Wang despises me for giving birth to a daughter. Ever since the child was born, he’s been cold toward me. Consort De doesn’t care for us either. I knew that mother and son were up to no good, and sure enough, they’ve pushed another side consort into the manor.”
Xingqin Marquis Madam kept a stern face. “Stop crying. I’ll speak to your Father and have him talk to Qi Wang properly.”
Qi Wangfei shook her head. “It’s useless. He’s completely bewitched right now—he just wants a son. But he won’t even step foot into my chambers. How am I supposed to bear him a child? That Consort Ming is fanning the flames, and now she’s finally had her moment.”
Xingqin Marquis Madam sighed. “I warned you before—women must learn to be soft and yielding. But you didn’t listen. You insisted on clashing with Qi Wang. Now you’ve given the Ming woman an opening.”
Back then, the Marchioness hadn’t thought her daughter’s temperament was a problem. Now she deeply regretted it. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have spoiled her so much in her maiden years—leading to such a situation today.
The Marchioness kept advising her daughter to endure it for now—have a son first, and then talk. Without a legitimate son at her side, her position as Wangfei was simply too unstable.
Qi Wangfei had just had a huge quarrel with Qi Wang, still bearing a large, glaring slap mark on her face. How could she listen to anything right now? She cried even more bitterly. Asking her to lower her head was like asking her to give up her life.
The Marchioness kept persuading until her mouth was dry. The banquet had already started at the front, but she didn’t leave, staying behind to keep coaxing her daughter.
No one knew how long had passed before one of Qi Wangfei’s maids came in, looking uneasy and conflicted.
Still engulfed in her fury, Qi Wangfei didn’t even glance at the maid. But the Marchioness noticed and asked, “Yuelu, what is it?”
Yuelu was a maid from Qi Wangfei’s natal home and a familiar face to the Marchioness.
“Madam, Wangfei,” Yuelu hesitated. “Just now… just now…”
It was difficult to speak, but if she kept it from them and the Wangfei found out later, she would surely blame her for concealing the truth.
“What happened just now?” Qi Wangfei snapped. “Spit it out already.”
Yuelu lowered her head and replied in a small voice, “Consort Ming fainted just now… The Wangye had a physician take her pulse… They found she’s pregnant…”
Qi Wangfei froze on the spot, her tears forgotten.
The Marchioness’s face turned even uglier. She couldn’t hold back and slammed the table.
Qi Wangfei’s mind buzzed. Side Consort Ming is pregnant—again?
If she gives birth to Qi Wang’s first son, won’t she become even more arrogant?
While the mood in the rear courtyard between the Marchioness and Qi Wangfei turned heavy, in the front courtyard the ladies, having heard the news, were offering endless congratulations.
Duan Huirou sat next to Duan Mingxi and tilted her head to whisper, “Qi Wangfei is going to explode now.”
But Mingxi was thinking: today was supposed to be a joyful occasion for Qi Wang marrying a new consort. Yet Side Consort Ming not only stepped out in Qi Wangfei’s place to greet guests, she’s now been discovered to be pregnant. Who would even remember the newlywed Side Consort Zhao?
This banquet had taken a wild turn. When it ended, the guests bid their farewells. Mingxi watched as Huirou, with her belly showing, climbed into Jin Wang’s carriage, and after sending off Yu Wangfei, she and Kang Wangfei left together.
“Be careful—you’re due soon, aren’t you?” Mingxi asked with concern.
Kang Wangfei settled herself in the carriage. “Soon. I didn’t want to come today, but Seventh Sister-in-law is petty and holds grudges. Fortunately, I’m feeling well, so I treated this as a little outing. Who knew I’d witness such a drama.”
Mingxi knew she was also here for the sake of Kang Wang. Qi Wang didn’t care much for Kang Wang, and Kang Wangfei didn’t want Qi Wang to form ill opinions. But since she couldn’t criticize him directly, she had to shift the blame onto Qi Wangfei.
But truly, this couple was similar in character—blaming either one made little difference.
“Fourth Sister-in-law, do you think Side Consort Ming’s pregnancy today was coincidence, or planned?”
Mingxi shook her head. “Hard to say. There’s deep resentment between Side Consort Ming and Qi Wangfei. But dragging the newly married Side Consort Zhao into it, stealing the spotlight from her big day—if done on purpose, it’s certainly a bit unscrupulous.”
“Exactly. What did Side Consort Zhao ever do? Who knows how her wedding night will go.”
Mingxi looked at the mischievous expression on Kang Wangfei’s face and heard her say, “Let’s place a bet—do you think Side Consort Ming will interfere with Side Consort Zhao’s wedding night?”
That really wasn’t easy to predict.
After seeing Kang Wangfei home, Mingxi returned to her own residence where Zhiyi was already waiting. As soon as she entered, the girl rushed into her arms. “Mama, hug me! I missed you so much!”
Mingxi scooped her daughter up. Her husband, that man, had a mouth that could offend the world—always preaching laws and rules. Court officials feared and avoided him.
Mingxi never thought of herself as sweet-tongued either, but somehow they gave birth to a little girl who was pure sugar, sweet to the point of being cloying.
Carrying her inside, Mingxi looked at her daughter’s messy appearance and asked helplessly, “What have you been doing this time?”
Xiao Zhiyi’s eyes darted around. “I went to the garden to cut flower branches—I wanted to make a bouquet for Mama.”
Mingxi had been arranging flowers in her spare time recently. The little one must’ve seen it.
But with her personality, did she really quietly pick flowers and make a bouquet?
“And where are the flowers?” Mingxi asked.
Zhiyi flopped back onto the couch. “Mama, I’m so tired—I want to take a nap.”
Mingxi: …
She had the nursemaid take the girl away to change, feeling resigned.
Li Mama, standing nearby, chuckled. “The little princess really did want to arrange a bouquet for you, but she got too excited and ended up ruining all the petals.”
Mingxi had guessed as much. The girl must’ve played too much, then made up an excuse to avoid scolding.
That evening when Xiao Muchen returned, Mingxi told him about it.
But he missed the point entirely, holding his daughter and laughing, “Our Zhiyi is so filial—what a good child!”
Mingxi rubbed her forehead. Once their daughter grew a bit older, she absolutely had to stop him from spoiling her further—she was afraid they’d end up with a little tyrant on their hands.
After dinner, Xiao Muchen played with their daughter until her eyelids drooped, then handed her off to the nursemaid to be put to bed.
Only then did Mingxi have a chance to ask, “What’s your take on what happened at Qi Wang’s residence today? I heard Side Consort Zhao was hand-picked by Consort De, but she suffered a major blow the moment she entered the household. What did Qi Wang do at the time?”
Xiao Muchen loosened his outer robe. Hearing Mingxi’s words, he turned his head to look at her and said, “Looks like Old Seven is putting his cleverness to the wrong use.”
Mingxi understood immediately—Side Side Consort Ming must’ve accurately grasped Qi Wang’s temperament, and Side Consort Zhao was likely going to be humiliated.
Sure enough, the next day, Mingxi had someone inquire about the news. That night, Qi Wang had spent the night with Side Side Consort Ming, while Side Consort Zhao was left alone in her empty boudoir on her supposed good day.
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