“Mingxi.” The Third Madam hurried in.
“Third Aunt, please sit,” Mingxi invited her, instructing servants to bring tea. “I just heard the news myself. How is Lord Xie now?”
The Third Madam was surprised. “You’ve already heard?”
This incident had just occurred, and yet Mingxi already knew. The Third Madam felt a chill.
Mingxi smiled. “Since Lord Xie is one of our people, naturally, I must stay informed.”
The Third Madam smiled back, then said, “You must have heard about the recent changes in the Internal Internal weaving and dyeing bureau?”
Mingxi nodded. “I haven’t yet congratulated Lord Xie on successfully obtaining the Qianshu position.”
“Thanks to you, he made a great impression on Xu Donglin,” the Third Madam said, her feelings mixed. Mingxi, despite her young age, was exceptionally shrewd.
Mingxi had likely foreseen that sending Xie Fang to Xu Donglin with the contract would ensure his protection.
Mingxi offered a faint smile. “Do you know what caused Xie Fang’s attack?”
The Third Madam sighed. “Xie Fang sent me a message saying not to worry. He suspects the attack was orchestrated by the other new Qianshu, Tong Gaozhuo.”
“Tong Gaozhuo?”
“It’s him.” The Third Madam’s face showed a hint of anger. “I just don’t understand—why would he do such a thing?”
The Third Madam was confused, but Mingxi understood clearly.
Tong Gaozhuo was probing the waters on behalf of the Crown Prince. Mingxi glanced at the Third Madam and said softly, “Tong Gaozhuo doesn’t have the guts to act alone. He’s just following the orders of someone behind him.”
“Who is behind him?” The Third Madam frowned. “If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean they’ll keep targeting Xie Fang in the future?”
That would make working at the Internal weaving and dyeing bureau incredibly complicated.
Duan Mingxi looked at the Third Madam and said, “As for who is behind Tong Gaozhuo, I imagine Xu Donglin knows best. For now, Xie Fang can be considered one of Xu Donglin’s people. There’s an old saying, ‘When you hit a dog, look at its owner.’ Tell Xie Fang to go cry in front of Xu Donglin.”
“What?” The Third Madam was stunned.
How could that be acceptable? Wouldn’t it be utterly humiliating?
Duan Mingxi stared at the Third Madam with meaningful eyes and said, “If Xie Fang reveals his vulnerable side openly in front of Xu Donglin, only then will Xu Donglin truly trust him.”
The Third Madam understood. “But if Xie Fang complains, will Xu Donglin stand up for him?”
“Of course not.”
Right now, Xu Donglin wouldn’t dare to go against the Crown Prince.
“Why bother complaining then?” The Third Madam was puzzled.
Duan Mingxi smiled lightly. “Why wouldn’t it help? Auntie, if you had two subordinates—one loyal to you and one tied to someone else—which would you favor?”
The Third Madam suddenly understood, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Mingxi. Of course! Why hadn’t she thought of this before?
“I get it now. I’ll send word to Xie Fang right away.”
“In Xu Donglin’s eyes, Xie Fang is connected to you through kinship. He got involved this time because I asked for your help, and you had Xie Fang assist my adoptive father with the deed. But I’m the future Duan Wangfei. If Xu Donglin wants to challenge the people backing Tong Gaozhuo, he’ll undoubtedly favor Xie Fang.
And if Xu Donglin inquires about your relationship with me, have Xie Fang tell him that since I was taken back into the Marquis household, you’ve helped me greatly, and we’re very close.”
The Third Madam: ….
“This… Mingxi, you realize that if this gets out, Xu Donglin might start targeting you.”
Not just Mingxi—he would target Duan Wang behind her.
That would escalate things significantly. Would Duan Wang protect Mingxi if it came to that?
“Third Auntie, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Tell Xie Fang to act boldly and confidently, and under no circumstances should he let Xu Donglin and Tong Gaozhuo align.”
Third Madam looked at Mingxi’s serious expression. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Alright, you can count on me. I know what to do.”
After all, she was already on Mingxi’s side. The better Mingxi fared, the better it would be for her.
If she only wanted benefits without taking risks, she might as well keep her head down and live quietly in the Marquis household.
The internal power struggle within the Internal weaving and dyeing bureau was within Mingxi’s expectations. She just hadn’t expected Tong Gaozhuo to act so ruthlessly and swiftly.
A subordinate reflects their master, so the Crown Prince wasn’t as harmonious and magnanimous as he appeared. Deep down, he was exactly this kind of person.
Thinking back to her previous life, when Gao Zhan had requested the Crown Prince’s blessing for a marriage, what a trivial matter that had been! Why should the Crown Prince care if she, the original wife, was pitiful or aggrieved?
***
In the blink of an eye, it was the Emperor’s birthday.
Duan Mingxi’s gift was ready: a jade carving depicting a vast landscape. The jade wasn’t of the highest quality, but the craftsmanship was exceptional.
It was a gift neither too extravagant nor too modest—just perfect.
After freshening up and having breakfast, Mingxi went to bid farewell to the Old Madam.
The Old Madam carefully reminded her of palace protocols, and Mingxi nodded attentively.
Before long, Duan Qingyin, Duan Min, and Duan Rong arrived. To Mingxi’s surprise, Duan Huirou had come with them.
Seeing the girls getting along so well made the Old Madam happy. Having a future Duan Wangfei in the family meant the other girls’ marriages could only improve, which was a boon for the Marquis household.
Duan Qingyin, sitting beside Mingxi, whispered, “Elder Sister, Yiniang asked me to tell you that Second Sister went back to the Jiang family yesterday and didn’t return until late, looking quite pleased.”
Duan Mingxi tilted her head slightly. “Oh?”
Duan Qingyin nodded. “Because of the matter with Third Master Jiang, the Jiang family had been blaming Mother and Second Sister. Last time, Mother was even turned away when she visited.”
Duan Mingxi understood—something unusual was definitely going on.
“Thank you for telling me. Extend my thanks to Yang Yiniang as well.”
Duan Qingyin smiled sweetly. “I will.”
Duan Mingxi thought to herself, Yang Yiniang is clever, and her daughter is equally adept at observing and biding her time. I chose the right person to ally with.
Thanks to Duan Qingyin’s tip, Mingxi instructed her people to keep watch before leaving for the palace. Sure enough, before she reached the gates, Xiangxiang came rushing up.
“Miss, after you left, the Jiang family sent someone to fetch Second Miss. She dressed up beautifully, and Jiang Eldest Miss was also in the carriage.”
Jiang Sujie.
For a brief moment, Duan Mingxi was taken aback. It was the first time in this life that she’d thought of that person.
No wonder Duan Huirou had looked so smug and mocking this morning. It turned out she had reconciled with the Jiang family.
Jiang Sujie had personally come to fetch Duan Huirou. On such an important day, Duan Mingxi quickly pieced it together. Jiang Sujie must be planning to take Duan Huirou to the palace banquet.
Duan Mingxi had assumed that, after Jiang Bingyuan’s incident, the Jiang family wouldn’t be invited to the banquet. She hadn’t expected them to turn things around and gain entry.
The Jiang family had become her enemy, and Jiang Sujie was likely targeting her.
