Zhiyi’s eyes were too bright, too earnest. When she looked at you with such hopeful sparkle, it was hard to say no.
The emperor reached out and patted her little head. “Alright.”
“Really? Royal Grandpa, you’re the best!” Zhiyi jumped with joy. Spotting a teacup on the table, she quickly picked it up and held it out to him. “Royal Grandpa, have some tea!”
The emperor accepted the tea. “You’re thanking me with my own tea? This tea already belonged to me.”
“I’m just offering a flower borrowed from someone else’s vase,” she said.
“You even know that phrase?” the emperor laughed.
“My mother said it. I remembered it,” Zhiyi said with a sweet smile.
“What else has your mother said?”
“Oh, lots! What would Royal Grandpa like to hear?”
The emperor: …
He wanted to hear everything. His daughter-in-law’s thoughts seemed more porous than a sieve.
“Have you started enlightenment?” the emperor asked, changing the subject.
“What does that mean?” Zhiyi furrowed her little brows. She had never heard the term.
“It means memorizing books.”
“You have to memorize books?” Zhiyi looked completely shocked.
Xiao Muchen turned his head slightly.
The emperor froze for a moment. Not liking to study was unacceptable, so he said, “Girls must study and learn proper conduct. You have to memorize books too. Don’t be afraid of hardship. How can a royal princess not be literate?”
Zhiyi widened her eyes and said seriously, “But I remember things after hearing them once. Why would I need to memorize them? Is that really necessary? I don’t know how.”
The emperor fell into silence again. He looked at his son. “What does she mean by remembering after hearing once?”
Was it what he thought it was?
Xiao Muchen finally turned his head back and replied, “Zhiyi is like her mother. Mingxi has an eidetic memory.”
So Zhiyi has auditory memory now, and once she officially starts schooling, she might have photographic memory?
Yu Wang’s face turned completely dark. Looking at his own silly son, he wondered how there could even be a comparison.
Their child remembered things after hearing them once. His own kid needed something repeated three times before he could remember—and he’d already felt proud, thinking he was a genius!
Yu Wang and his son left the palace. Xiao Muchen exited alone.
Zhiyi was kept in the palace and sent to Consort Shu’s Cuiwei Palace.
Whenever the emperor was in good spirits, he would summon her to accompany him. Zhiyi was extremely talkative, chirping like a little bird. The usually quiet Chongzheng Hall instantly came alive and lively with her presence.
Now, whenever Ding Zhao looked at Princess Zhaohua, his eyes sparkled like he was looking at gold. Being able to cheer up the emperor and lift his spirits—this was no ordinary skill.
When Mingxi learned that her daughter was being kept in the palace, how could she not worry? After a few days, she couldn’t help herself and went to the palace to see Consort Shu.
Consort Shu wasn’t surprised to see her and smiled. “I’m here watching over things. You don’t need to worry.”
But how could Mingxi be at ease? She also knew that even Consort Shu probably wouldn’t dare easily suggest sending Zhiyi back to the manor in front of the emperor.
She returned to the manor without seeing her daughter. Zhiyi had gone to Chongzheng Hall shortly after waking up that morning—Consort Shu said the emperor had asked her to join him for breakfast.
Because Zhiyi had such a good appetite, wasn’t picky with food, and ate so happily, the emperor’s appetite also improved just watching her.
Mingxi: …
She returned to the manor with deep worry. Although court matters had been suspended for the New Year, Xiao Muchen hadn’t had a single free day. People were constantly coming to him, mostly about official business.
Mingxi couldn’t understand—court was closed, so why so many matters?
Xiao Muchen explained that if emergencies occurred in different regions, they would be reported to the capital, and the court officials still had to handle them.
But Mingxi couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The emperor had been assigning more and more duties to Xiao Muchen, and now he had also kept Zhiyi in the palace—she couldn’t help but start to speculate.
Then, on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, something no one expected happened: Marquis Zhenhai arrived in the capital with a convoy of silver—dozens of large carts rolling down Imperial Street, drawing a huge crowd of astonished citizens.
Mingxi hadn’t received a single word in advance.
You Sanping had just returned to the capital for the New Year and was at the manor talking with Mingxi about the horse farm when the news reached them.
You Sanping’s mouth twitched. This had to be Duan Wang’s idea. The man looked wooden, but his mind was sharper than anyone’s.
This year, the national treasury was truly tight. When Zhang Gelao had taken advantage of the Qinan military campaign, there had already been no silver left for war expenses.
Now, with this much silver entering the capital, the entire court was stunned.
Sure enough, the emperor was overjoyed. If the Minister of Revenue hadn’t been supported, he probably would’ve floated away with excitement. He’d been dreading asking for money at the start of the new year—he was practically bald from stress.
Now that there was money, what else could be said? Marquis Zhenhai truly lived up to his background as a merchant—like timely rain falling from the sky.
The emperor wanted to reward Marquis Zhenhai, but the marquis declined, saying that, as a merchant granted the immense favor of a marquisate, he could never repay such grace. The only thing he could do was work diligently and never disappoint the imperial trust.
The Emperor had conferred the title of Marquis Zhenhai upon Duan Pingchang, but his marquisate residence had yet to be granted. Now, with a grand gesture, the Emperor bestowed him a residence near Duan Wang’s manor and settled his household.
Marquis Zhenhai, overwhelmed, kowtowed heavily to the Emperor and left the palace in tears.
When Mingxi learned of this, she could no longer keep her expression composed. Xiao Muchen, however, clapped his hands and laughed heartily, saying to her, “Father-in-law is quite the character.”
Mingxi gave him a glance.
Xiao Muchen immediately changed his tune, “Father-in-law is so open and loyal to the country. His Majesty’s discerning eye did not misjudge.”
Mingxi: …
Who said this man was a block of wood!
Before the New Year, Mingxi hosted a banquet inviting both the household of Dingyuan Marquis and that of Marquis Zhenhai. She even invited Yang Yiniang. Yang Yiniang, eyes red with emotion, appeared extremely reserved; after all, Yiniang had no seats at family banquets.
But Mingxi not only invited Yang Yiniang, she also invited Mi Yiniang, mother of Duan Chen from the second branch, and Dong Yiniang, mother of Duan Xun from the third branch. A separate table was arranged just for them.
Mi Yiniang and Dong Yiniang, fully aware they were benefitting from Yang Yiniang’s favor, were warm and friendly toward her.
From behind a screen, Duan Ning looked toward the table where his mother sat, then turned his gaze back to Mingxi. He saw her leaning toward Madam Xiao, speaking with a smile that lit up her features.
At that moment, he suddenly recalled how years ago, his mother had told him, “Eldest Miss found you a renowned teacher so you can go study outside the capital and earn a future for yourself.”
He also remembered his younger sister saying to him, “In life, the path you walk depends on what you want. Birth may constrain you, but if you have the ability to break free from the shackles, you can soar like an eagle, walk your own path, and do what you want. With perseverance, success will come.”
Now he had done it. He also knew that without Mingxi’s support, he might have achieved success eventually, but never so quickly.
His eyes then landed on Duan Wang. For the rest of his life, he would protect his sister.
Once Duan Wang ascended that position, love between husband and wife, mutual support — no man could guarantee his heart would never change.
But he would always stand behind Mingxi.
This New Year was destined not to pass in peace. On New Year’s Eve, they kept vigil in the palace. The Emperor forced himself to stay for the banquet but returned to Chongzheng Hall immediately after.
The next day, at the grand New Year’s banquet, the Emperor appointed Duan Wang to host it on his behalf.
