“Who is it?”
“Second Miss Bai Shixi from Duke Zhen’s family.”
“Who?”
“It’s the younger sister of Bai Zhiwei, Miss Bai.”
Duan Mingxi’s eyes lit up instantly. Unbelievable!
Seeing the amusement in Mingxi’s eyes, Madam Xiao chuckled. “You think it’s hilarious too, right? If Bai Zhiwei hadn’t had an affair with Gao Zhan, she might have been the Crown Princess. Now, who knows how many people are mocking her behind her back.”
Back when the affair between Bai Zhiwei and Gao Zhan caused trouble, Mingxi herself had gotten dragged into the mess. Madam Xiao knew exactly what to say to lighten her mood.
Besides, it was the truth.
Madam Xiao also found it satisfying—Bai Zhiwei had chosen Gao Zhan and missed out on becoming the Crown Princess. Those two shameless people had even tried to frame Mingxi back then. This is karma!
While Mingxi smiled on the surface, her thoughts ran deeper. The trajectory of events has completely shifted.
In her previous life, Gan Li became the Crown Princess, and Bai Zhiwei married Xu Heng. There had been no instance of Bai Shixi ascending to the position of Crown Princess.
Now, everything had changed.
Thinking of Bai Zhiwei, Mingxi sneered inwardly.
Gao Zhan had stayed loyal to her, even refusing to touch another woman for ten years to show his devotion. But Bai Zhiwei hadn’t reciprocated—she had married Xu Heng, the son of the Duke Wei.
After Xu Heng died in battle, Bai Zhiwei went right back to entangling with Gao Zhan. Did she truly love him?
Probably not.
Mingxi cast a meaningful glance at Madam Xiao. “Duke Zhen’s household must be lively these days. I hear the two sisters aren’t particularly close.”
Madam Xiao nodded. “Bai Zhiwei is the Duke’s eldest legitimate daughter, so naturally, she’s the most favored.”
Duan Mingxi understood. In prominent families, resources were finite and rarely distributed equally among all children.
Just like in the Marquis’s household, Duan Yu always came first. He inherited the family’s noble title, while the sons of the second and third branches had to make their own way.
Duke Zhen’s family, being even more complicated, would surely favor the eldest legitimate daughter.
But Bai Zhiwei liked the son of Duke Zhen’s rival family. Now that she had disgraced her own family, the Duke’s household likely invested heavily in securing Bai Shixi as the Crown Princess to restore their reputation.
With Bai Shixi rising to such a high position, it was clear that Bai Zhiwei had been abandoned by her family.
She was probably furious by now.
Duan Mingxi felt a twinge of regret. Bai Zhiwei hadn’t even had the chance to cross paths with her this time, depriving her of the satisfaction of getting revenge for her past life. Instead, Bai Zhiwei had already landed herself in this miserable situation.
“Duke Zhen’s household is hosting a banquet in a couple of days. Do you think we’ll get an invitation?” Madam Xiao asked, somewhat wistfully. If they did, they could witness the drama firsthand.
Duan Mingxi glanced at Madam Xiao. “When will the palace announce the results of the consort selection?”
If news of Bai Shixi becoming Crown Princess was already circulating, it should be soon.
Madam Xiao replied, “Probably within the next couple of days.”
“Then there’s a chance we’ll get an invitation,” Duan Mingxi mused. She was curious to see Bai Zhiwei’s expression.
If she couldn’t take action, at least watching the show would be entertaining.
She was, after all, a petty and vengeful person.
Madam Xiao hesitated, then asked cautiously, “Mingxi, last time the Kunde Palace sent over a gold hairpin. If Bai Shixi does become Crown Princess, wouldn’t it be unwise given your history with Bai Zhiwei?”
Even though Bai Shixi and Bai Zhiwei didn’t get along, they were still sisters. What if Bai Shixi targeted Mingxi later?
She didn’t dare spell it out, worried about embarrassing Mingxi.
Mingxi hadn’t expected Madam Xiao to be concerned about this. For a moment, she felt complicated emotions. This was the first person in the household to show such concern for her.
“It doesn’t matter. She won’t get the chance.”
Madam Xiao heard the decisiveness in Mingxi’s voice. She wasn’t sure what gave her such confidence but felt slightly reassured.
On second thought, she realized her worries were probably misplaced. With Mingxi’s cunning, it wasn’t clear who would end up suffering.
The decree appointing Bai Shixi as Crown Princess was formally issued to Duke Zhen’s household the next day, causing a stir throughout the capital.
At the Marquis’s mansion, the atmosphere grew restless.
Everyone knew the Empress had gifted a gold hairpin to Mingxi. If she wasn’t chosen, wouldn’t she be overshadowed by Miss Bai?
Duan Huirou felt immensely satisfied upon hearing the news. Even if Mingxi had been selected, it was just to be a concubine. She’d still have to serve Bai Shixi with deference.
The next morning, when visiting the Old Madam to pay respects, Duan Huirou dressed herself up carefully. Her rashes had completely cleared, and she had regained her beauty. Dressed to the nines, she felt radiant and confident.
Upon arriving at Rongan Hall, she saw Mingxi speaking with Duan Min and a few others. Chin held high, she strutted over, disdain written all over her face.
Duan Mingxi ignored her, continuing her conversation with Duan Min. “If you like this, I’ll have some patterns sent to you later. Practice with those first.”
Duan Min glanced nervously at Duan Huirou, then nodded quickly.
Duan Huirou’s face darkened at Mingxi’s dismissive attitude. She snapped, “Duan Mingxi, second Miss Bai has been made Crown Princess. You’d better be respectful when you see her, or you’ll suffer for it.
“Being a concubine is hardly a glamorous position. Perhaps you should start learning from the Yiniangs in our household…”
Smack!
Duan Mingxi withdrew her hand, her expression calm. “If you can’t speak properly, shut your mouth.”
“You dare hit me?” Duan Huirou lunged at Mingxi, only to be kicked in the stomach and sent sprawling to the ground.
Duan Mingxi looked down at her coldly. “Some people never learn.”
“Huirou! What happened?” Madam Jiang rushed in, alarmed to see Duan Huirou clutching her stomach on the ground.
Duan Mingxi smirked and turned away, seating herself calmly. She didn’t spare the mother and daughter duo another glance.
Duan Min and the others exchanged uneasy looks, too afraid to make a sound. The maids in the room lowered their heads, wishing they could vanish.
“Mother! Duan Mingxi hit me!” Duan Huirou threw herself into Madam Jiang’s arms, crying pitifully.
Madam Jiang turned her gaze to Mingxi, but her confidence faltered under her eldest daughter’s cold, piercing stare. Bracing herself, she asked stiffly, “Mingxi, why did you strike your sister?”
Duan Mingxi remained silent when she heard the question.
Madam Jiang’s expression darkened with displeasure. “I’m asking you something.”
Duan Mingxi casually pointed to one of the maids. “Go ahead and tell the madam what just happened.”
Caught in the crossfire, the maid was too terrified to offend either party. Stammering, she recounted the events before hastily retreating, fearing Madam Jiang’s wrath.
Madam Jiang’s expression shifted unpredictably. After a long pause, she finally said, “Your sister meant well in giving you advice. Did you really need to act so harshly?”
Her words reignited the anger Duan Mingxi had been suppressing. “Encouraging someone to become a concubine is considered well-intentioned?
“Fine then! I’ll personally find a good match for Duan Huirou, send her in as a concubine, and ensure she learns from the other Yiniangs in the household how to be a perfect one! After all, I only mean well. Don’t you agree, Madam?”
If being provocative is a skill, Duan Mingxi clearly had no shortage of it.
At that moment, a servant hurried in, sweating profusely. “Madam, someone from the palace has come to deliver an imperial edict! The Old Master wants everyone to prepare to receive it immediately!”
Duan Huirou’s eyes lit up. Finally, let’s see how Duan Mingxi remains arrogant now. After all, even a secondary consort is still a concubine!
