Duan Mingxi had no idea why Duan Wang approached her with such terms.
But one thing became immediately clear to her: Duan Wang didn’t want the Crown Prince to benefit from her.
In other words, her current value laid in the fact that Duan Wang didn’t want the Crown Prince to gain an advantage.
Duan Mingxi didn’t believe that her act of saving someone by chance would truly compel him to do something significant for her.
But others didn’t see it that way.
The Empress and the Crown Prince were targeting her because of this. If she didn’t want to enter the Eastern Palace, she needed to find a way to marry someone else.
Her expression shifted multiple times.
In her previous life, marrying into the Gao family had ruined her life.
Reborn in this life, she never expected that her marital prospects would once again hang over her head like a blade.
If she had to choose a husband, Duan Mingxi glanced at Duan Wang. She recalled how she’d wanted to join forces with him before.
Who would’ve thought it would happen in such a manner?
“I don’t need Your Highness to swear off concubines for ten years. I have another condition instead.”
If she had to marry, she’d choose her own terms this time.
“What condition?” Duan Wang asked.
Duan Mingxi smiled faintly. “On the day Your Highness achieves great success, grant me a gold token and a divorce.”
Duan Wang was stunned. Had he misheard?
Someone in this world could be so foolish?
On the day his grand ambitions were realized, she would rise in status as his wife, becoming the most honored woman in the world. Yet her sole condition was to divorce him!
“Do you realize what you’re giving up if that day comes?”
“Of course.”
“Then why?”
“I grew up in a merchant’s family and value my freedom.”
What good was being Empress? Trapped in a deep palace, embroiled in endless battles with countless concubines, a lifetime of conflict.
Swearing off concubines for ten years?
Nonsense.
After ten years, she’d face decades of misery.
At that point, if she dared to complain, Duan Wang would likely berate her, saying, “I gave you ten years of undivided attention, and you’re still not satisfied?”
To h*ll with that.
Trading a few years in the Prince’s residence for a lifetime of freedom—afterward, she’d leave the capital, change her name, and live life her way. She could even keep a few young men she fancied in her household. That sounded far better than being married.
The room fell silent.
Xiao Muchens expression darkened. He had never imagined that Duan Mingxi would make such a request.
Did she take him for a joke?
Duan Mingxi didn’t know if he would agree. Though nervous, she refused to show it.
Negotiating was like this: whoever blinked first would lose.
“If you enter the Eastern Palace as a side consort, could you find a way to leave?”
Duan Mingxi caught the sarcasm but met his gaze steadily. In his usually calm eyes, she saw a spark of fire.
“It’s difficult to secure a marriage, but ending one is easy. I will not enter the Eastern Palace, no matter the cost.”
“Like how you handled your engagement to the Gao family?”
Duan Mingxi: …
What was wrong with him? Why did he keep poking her sore spots?
Wait—he knew the truth behind her broken engagement with the Gao family?
Her expression turned icy. “If Wangye is unwilling, then let’s drop the matter.”
Even if there were a blade hanging over her head, she wouldn’t rely solely on him to solve the problem.
Xiao Muchen watched her grow colder, her temper seemingly even fiercer than his own, and felt a strange frustration.
He wanted an understanding partner, but this level of assertiveness was unexpectedly irritating.
Still, he reconsidered.
Perhaps this wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
She didn’t covet the position of Empress. There were plenty of others who desired it.
“Fine. Deal.”
Duan Mingxi’s eyes curved with delight; she hadn’t expected things to actually work out.
Seeing the smile on her face, Xiao Muchen suddenly added, “There’s one more thing. You need to be clear about this: if we were to have a child, you wouldn’t be allowed to take him away in the future.”
“Agreed,” Duan Mingxi responded without hesitation.
Not wanting to conceive wasn’t without solutions.
“Miss Duan agreed too quickly,” Xiao Muchen remarked. “Let me remind you, the royal physician visits every two weeks for routine health checks.”
The smile on Duan Mingxi’s face froze.
That statement clearly implied she wasn’t allowed to find ways to prevent pregnancy.
Watching her expression, Xiao Muchen felt his mood lift. Rising to his feet, he extended a hand toward Duan Mingxi. “Miss Duan, may our cooperation be successful.”
Duan Mingxi took a deep breath and extended her hand, letting their fingertips lightly brush before immediately pulling back.
What a shameless man!
Xiao Muchen left in high spirits.
Although Duan Mingxi had achieved her goal, she couldn’t help but feel she had come out on the losing end.
She hadn’t performed her best this time. Next time they met, she was determined to regain the upper hand.
If events followed the trajectory of her past life, Xiao Muchen would need at least ten more years to ascend to the throne.
If he had no legitimate son by then, it would be a critical weakness when the struggle for power reached its peak.
Xiao Muchen would not allow such a weakness to exist.
This was why she had not outright opposed him just now.
As for ten years down the line, if Xiao Muchen had someone he truly loved, that person might find her son an obstacle and would likely wish for her to take him away.
At that time, it wouldn’t be impossible to plan her exit.
Now that the marriage was settled, Duan Mingxi felt much more at ease. Just thinking about her potential freedom ten years later gave her hope and filled her with determination.
Meanwhile, Consort Shu glared at her son, her face darkened with anger. “You decided on this matter just like that?”
“Royal Mother, if you continue to delay this, the Crown Prince will make his move. Is that the outcome you want to see?”
Consort Shu was so furious her chest ached. The daughter-in-law hadn’t even entered the household, and already her son was siding with her. What would happen after she officially joined the family?
She couldn’t understand what spell Duan Mingxi had cast on him.
“Fine!” Consort Shu stood abruptly. “Since you’re so insistent, I’ll go plead your case to the Emperor.”
She stormed off in a huff, leaving her son behind.
Xiao Muchen calmly remained seated, sipping his tea.
At this moment, Hu Momo stepped forward and softly said, “Your Highness, the Consort has been tirelessly working on this matter these past few days. She even thought of ways to stall the Empress.”
Xiao Muchen glanced at her and replied, “Thank you for your efforts Momo.”
Hu Momo smiled. “The Consort dotes on Your Highness the most. Whatever Your Highness wants, the Consort will spare no effort to obtain.”
Hu Momo didn’t wish for a rift to form between mother and son, so she spoke carefully to ease the tension.
However, knowing Xiao Muchen’s cold nature, she refrained from saying too much.
Consort Shu, still fuming, arrived at Qianyang Hall, only to run into the Empress coming from the opposite direction.
The moment she saw the Empress, her expression transformed instantly, adopting a soft and gentle smile. “Your Highness.”
The Empress frowned slightly, sensing something ominous. “Consort Shu, what brings you here?”
Consort Shu blinked and smiled even more sweetly. “I have a matter to discuss with His Majesty.”
Before the Empress could respond, the doors of Qianyang Hall opened. Gao Mingzhong strode out, bowed, and announced, “The Emperor invites the Empress and Consort Shu to enter.”
