“Who knows?” Liu Yunhua said with a mocking laugh. “But Duke Zhen’s household is in turmoil right now. Be careful.”
Mingxi could tell that Liu Yunhua was trying to warn her. There must be information that Liu Yunhua couldn’t share openly, so she had to hint at it instead.
“Thank you,” Mingxi said sincerely.
Liu Yunhua smiled faintly. “Why are you being polite with me? It’s just a few words.”
After saying what she needed to, Liu Yunhua left with her wine cup. Before she departed, she added, “The Bai sisters are no simple characters.”
As Mingxi watched Liu Yunhua walk away, she glanced over at Bai Shixi’s seat. Bai Shixi was engaged in conversation, her expression calm and poised, exuding the demeanor of a Crown Princess.
Unlike others who were surrounded by people, Mingxi’s surroundings were cool and quiet.
She didn’t mind. Occasionally, someone would come over to greet her, and she would rise to exchange pleasantries, but her attention remained fixed on the red coral.
As the banquet reached its peak, with the atmosphere at its liveliest, a sudden crash rang out.
Mingxi immediately looked up and sensed someone approaching. When she raised her head, she saw Xiao Muchen.
Xiao Muchen sat beside her, glanced at her briefly, then turned his gaze toward the red coral.
The hall suddenly fell silent.
A sharp voice pierced the quiet, exclaiming, “The red coral is shattered!”
All eyes turned toward the coral. It had fallen from its high pedestal and lay shattered on the ground.
The Empress and the Crown Prince stood up almost simultaneously. The Crown Prince strode over and crouched down to examine the shattered coral.
Duan Mingxi noticed that the Emperor’s face had darkened. For such an ominous incident to occur on a celebratory day—an ill omen indeed.
The Empress glanced at the Emperor and quickly said, “How could it have shattered when it was placed so securely? Who set it there?”
This was a clever move, shifting the blame to improper placement. The Empress’s response was swift and decisive.
Mingxi turned her head to observe Xiao Muchen.
His face was calm, his sharp features unwavering, and his dark eyes betrayed no emotion.
At that moment, a eunuch stepped forward, knelt before the assembly, and loudly proclaimed, “Your Majesty, it was this servant who placed it. However, the base where the red coral was set has not been disturbed. I implore Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress to investigate thoroughly.”
This was a direct rebuttal of the Empress’s statement, asserting that the coral’s shattering wasn’t due to poor placement.
The Empress opened her mouth to respond, but Consort Shu interjected first, saying, “Your Majesty, the Empress and the Crown Prince’s sincerity in presenting this coral is beyond doubt. Such an incident must surely be an accident. I implore Your Majesty to investigate and clear their names.”
Mingxi silently applauded. Consort Shu appeared to be defending the Empress and the Crown Prince, but by urging a thorough investigation, she indirectly affirmed the eunuch’s statement and escalated the Emperor’s anger.
The Empress shot Consort Shu a fierce glare, then turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, I will personally investigate this matter. Before the coral was presented, I inspected it myself. There could not have been an issue.”
The Emperor’s face was now ashen. He flung the Empress’s hand aside and strode over to the shattered coral.
The Empress hurried after him, suppressing her fury.
The four consorts quickly followed, and soon the surrounding officials gathered as well. From Mingxi’s vantage point, the scene was obscured by a wall of bodies.
“Won’t Wangye go to take a look?” Mingxi asked Xiao Muchen.
“Why don’t you go, Xixi?”
“My status is too low to be of any relevance there.”
Those circling the Emperor were all of high rank—nobles and royals.
A joyous banquet marred by such an incident was undoubtedly inauspicious.
The Emperor personally examined the coral. The pedestal beneath it was stable, and a fragment of the coral remained atop it. Upon inspection, a distinct fracture was visible at the break.
The Emperor was furious, harshly reprimanding the Empress and the Crown Prince before storming out of the hall.
Witnessing this scene, no one dared linger to mock the Empress and Crown Prince. They hurriedly excused themselves.
Xiao Muchen ordered someone to escort Mingxi out of the palace. Consort Shu was still locked in a verbal battle with the other consorts and the Empress. Mingxi refrained from approaching to bid farewell and quietly followed her escort.
In the carriage returning home, Mingxi reflected on the eunuch who had boldly contradicted the Empress. To have the courage to speak such words in that setting… If it wasn’t premeditated, she wouldn’t believe it.
Her thoughts turned to Xiao Muchen.
She had given him a hint.
To orchestrate such swift action, only he could have managed it.
The eunuch’s single statement had left the Empress cornered and ignited the Emperor’s fury.
In her previous life, a similar incident had occurred, but the banquet ultimately ended on a high note. The Empress and Crown Prince had pleaded their innocence, and the Emperor had believed them.
This time, however, that eunuch’s single sentence had deeply sown the seeds of doubt in the Emperor’s heart.
Duan Mingxi smiled faintly. She had expected Xiao Muchen to seize the opportunity but hadn’t imagined he would handle it so brilliantly.
The incident at the banquet quickly spread.
When Mingxi returned to the Marquis family residence, she naturally recounted the events.
The family Old Madam listened with trepidation, her expression grave. “Mingxi, in your opinion, was this an accident, or…?”
Second and Third Madams also looked uneasy, while Madam Jiang appeared distracted.
“I don’t know,” Mingxi replied. “It happened so suddenly, and everyone was caught off guard. But the Empress and Crown Prince will thoroughly investigate. I’m sure the truth will come to light.”
The Old Madam’s frown deepened as she regarded Mingxi. “Did anything else happen besides that?”
Mingxi shook her head. “Everything else was fine.”
“You’ve had a long day. Go rest.” The Old Madam spoke kindly.
Mingxi rose and took her leave.
Outside the hall, the Second and Third Madams caught up with her. “Mingxi, did anyone trouble you during the banquet?”
Mingxi hadn’t expected their concern. Glancing at Madam Jiang, who had already left, she replied with a smile, “Everything was fine. Thank you for your concern.”
“By the way, I thought I’d see Jiang Sujie at the banquet. Didn’t she leave with Duan Huirou?” Mingxi added.
She had only thought of them after leaving the palace, as the eventful banquet had pushed them from her mind.
Hearing this, the Second Madam’s expression turned subtle. “I heard that Madam Jiang suddenly fell ill, so Jiang Sujie and Huirou stayed behind to care for her.”
Fell ill?
So suddenly?
The Third Madam sighed. “Yes, how unfortunate.”
Mingxi smiled faintly. “Madam Jiang’s illness is remarkably well-timed.”
Who could have done this?
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