Duan Mingxi didn’t want to draw attention, so she entered the rear courtyard of Yuxian Tower directly.
The manager hurried over upon receiving word. “Miss, what brings you here today?”
Duan Mingxi smiled. “Just taking care of something. You can go about your business. I’m here to meet someone.”
The messenger sent by Duan Wang stood silently nearby, unfazed by the exchange.
This confirmed Duan Mingxi’s suspicion.
The manager clearly recognized the man, his expression shifting slightly. He merely said, “If you need anything, just call for me. The honored guest is in a private room on the third floor.”
The fact that the manager recognized someone from Duan Wang’s retinue earned him a nod of approval from Duan Mingxi. It was clear he managed the tavern attentively.
Wearing a hood, Duan Mingxi ascended to the third floor, with Qiancao following closely behind.
The guide walking ahead smiled and introduced himself. “I am Miao Sheng, a eunuch in the service of Wangye. Forgive my impudence in stopping your carriage earlier, Miss.”
“Lord Miao is merely carrying out his duties,” Duan Mingxi replied.
“Oh, please don’t call me that—just use my name.” Miao Sheng bowed slightly with a smile, then stepped forward quickly to open the private room’s door. “Miss Duan, please enter.”
Duan Mingxi nodded slightly and stepped inside.
Qiancao moved to follow her but was stopped by Miao Sheng.
Duan Mingxi glanced back at Qiancao, who nodded subtly. Only then did she glare at Miao Sheng before standing guard outside.
Miao Sheng, unfazed, responded with a gentle smile and stationed himself on the opposite side.
The private room was spacious, divided into an inner and outer chamber. Through a delicately carved screen, Duan Mingxi could see Duan Wang seated leisurely in a chair, flipping through a book. His demeanor was relaxed, his long sleeves trailing elegantly. Although he had the refined air of a gentleman, there was a certain aloofness about him.
Duan Mingxi walked around the screen and stepped forward to pay her respects. “This humble woman greets His Highness, Duan Wangye.”
Xiao Muchen raised his head. “No need for formalities, Miss Duan. Please sit.”
Duan Mingxi took a seat opposite him. Wasting no time on pleasantries, she asked directly, “May I ask what business Wangye has with me?”
Xiao Muchen studied her intently. She wore a lotus-colored jacket with green satin-trimmed lapels, paired with a light green skirt. Her slender waist and elegant posture complemented her fair, delicate face and lively, almond-shaped eyes, which held a cautious gleam.
A face as beautiful as a lotus blossom, yet a spirit as resolute as steel.
“Miss Duan’s efforts to secure an official position for your elder brother truly impressed me.”
Duan Mingxi’s brows furrowed. “Wangye jests. Matters of such importance are beyond the influence of a mere woman like me.”
“Perhaps I was simply lucky,” Xiao Muchen said, smiling faintly. “I happened to see you leaving a pawnshop that day.”
Duan Mingxi’s smile instantly faded. “Wangye was following me?”
“A mere coincidence.”
“Even if it was, how could Wangye link my visit to the pawnshop with my brother’s appointment?”
Xiao Muchen hadn’t anticipated how quickly Duan Mingxi’s mind worked. Chuckling softly, he replied, “Miss Duan is indeed clever.”
Duan Mingxi’s heart tensed. Why was Duan Wang watching her? She hadn’t interfered with his interests, so what was his motive?
“There’s something I’m curious about. Would Miss Duan enlighten me?”
“No.”
Duan Mingxi’s swift refusal left Xiao Muchen momentarily stunned.
Turning her head to gaze out the window, Duan Mingxi avoided his eyes and said calmly, “Wangye, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
She hadn’t expected Duan Wang to expose her so quickly. Whatever plans she had prepared were now unusable—she’d have to come up with a new approach.
“There is something else.”
Duan Mingxi, who had been rising to leave, froze mid-motion and looked at him in surprise.
Duan Wang gestured for her to sit.
After a moment’s hesitation, Duan Mingxi returned to her seat. “Wangye, what else do you require?”
“Miss Duan seems entirely unconcerned about the aftermath of the Shangyang Palace incident. Are you ready to enter the Eastern Palace?”
The abrupt shift in topic left Duan Mingxi uncertain of his intent. Remembering her earlier plan to negotiate with him over this matter, she steadied her thoughts.
“Wangye loves to joke. How could Her Majesty the Empress or His Highness the Crown Prince take any interest in someone like me?”
“Miss Duan is too modest. Word has it that the Empress plans to request an edict naming you as a secondary consort.”
“What?” Duan Mingxi was genuinely shocked.
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Muchen inexplicably felt relieved.
“Miss Duan, didn’t you receive the Empress’s gift of a golden hairpin?”
Duan Mingxi fell silent. Although she had deliberately spread rumors misinterpreting the hairpin’s meaning, it seemed Deqing Marquis hadn’t been able to stop the matter.
“Miss Duan, when you jumped into the water to save someone that day, you must have known there would be consequences.”
“A life was at stake. At the time, I thought only of saving them. How could I have considered anything else?”
Her words were so earnest that, if he hadn’t personally witnessed her overhearing the Crown Prince’s scheme, Xiao Muchen might have believed her.
What a sly little liar.
“Your bravery is commendable, but others might not see it that way. Your repeated acts of heroism have earned you a reputation that the Empress will not overlook.”
Ah, now she understood.
Duan Wang was warning her: the Empress valued her heroic reputation and the benefits it brought.
This was meant to compensate for the Crown Prince’s failure in rescuing Gan Li.
Duan Mingxi, however, would never enter the Eastern Palace. She feared that if she really went there and saw the Crown Prince, she wouldn’t be able to resist drawing her blade.
She couldn’t afford to act impulsively—her parents and younger brother were still alive and well. She couldn’t let her actions bring about their deaths, their entire family executed for her crime.
For someone like the Crown Prince? Not worth it.
“The eldest daughter of the Duan family, given her background, couldn’t possibly become the Crown Princess. Even if she were to enter the Eastern Palace, at most, she’d be a side consort. With your temperament, I doubt you’d be content with such a position, would you?”
Duan Mingxi pressed her lips together. “If Wangye has something to say, please say it plainly.”
She wanted to see what kind of offer Duan Wang would make to help her escape this disaster. As long as it wasn’t too outrageous, she would agree.
There was no way she’d enter the Eastern Palace as a side consort.
“This prince is in need of a Wangfei. Would the eldest daughter of the Duan family be interested?”
“What?”
Duan Mingxi had seen her share of the world, but this statement still caught her off guard. “Wangye, you must be joking.”
“I’m not joking. You don’t wish to enter the Eastern Palace, and I need a clever wife from an unremarkable family. You are the perfect match for this prince. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement—a match made in heaven.”
Duan Mingxi’s lips twitched. What kind of absurd “match made in heaven” was this?
“You should decide quickly,” Duan Wang said. “Once the Empress requests an imperial decree, even I won’t be able to help.”
Duan Mingxi glanced at Duan Wang, never expecting things to unfold this way.
“Does Wangye intend to marry me just to put on a show for others?”
If that were the case, it wasn’t out of the question. They could part amicably later. Once he ascended the throne, they could divorce, and she’d be free to live her life unrestrained.
With her ex-husband being the Emperor, who would dare trouble her?
“The Eldest miss must be joking, this prince is not planning to become a monk.”
Duan Mingxi: …
Her face turned crimson with embarrassment.
This man’s words were completely at odds with his scholarly, refined appearance!
Xiao Muchen gazed at her intently. “This prince can promise not to take any concubines for ten years. What say you?”
Duan Mingxi: ?
What did his decision to take concubines or not have to do with her?
