Duan Mingxi’s disgust was unconcealed, and Xiao Muchen saw it clearly, though he couldn’t entirely understand it.
“Something like this disgusts you so much?”
Hearing his indifferent tone, Duan Mingxi thought for a moment and realized it made sense.
How could men like him ever understand the grievances and suffering women face in such matters?
Men, being the beneficiaries, can have multiple partners and enjoy the luxury of choice. Naturally, they neither see nor wish to see the bitterness women endure.
Perhaps his indifference also stemmed from the fact that their marriage was just a political alliance. To him, it didn’t matter at all.
She had overestimated his empathy.
“Yes,” Mingxi replied, her expression solemn as she looked at Xiao Muchen. “If I marry you, regardless of the reasons, your household will become the place where I spend a significant part of my life. In that case, I demand to live a happy life there. It’s as simple as that.”
Whether it was Feng Wenxuan or the Duchess, they were both sources of her unhappiness.
Xiao Muchen understood.
“I understand,” he nodded.
For a moment, Duan Mingxi was puzzled. What did he understand?
His expression suggested he hadn’t grasped anything.
Feeling like they were talking past each other, she suppressed her frustration and looked at Xiao Muchen. “I understand that breaking off an imperial betrothal is difficult, but it’s not impossible. No matter what Wangye decides, I will cooperate.”
Xiao Muchen gave her a suspicious look. Cooperate?
Even if it meant ruining her reputation to break the engagement?
At that moment, Xiao Muchen realized just how important this matter was to Duan Mingxi.
“I never said I wanted to break the engagement,” Xiao Muchen replied.
Duan Mingxi: …
But his attitude didn’t seem like someone who wanted to keep it.
“What does Wangye intend, then? If you expect me to endure humiliation, that’s absolutely impossible. If the engagement remains, and you insist on letting Feng Wenxuan into your household, I cannot guarantee her safety.”
Xiao Muchen was being threatened, but for some reason, he almost wanted to laugh.
In that moment, Duan Mingxi reminded him of the version of her he’d encountered on Yuguang Mountain.
“I always keep my word. What I promised you, I won’t go back on.”
Duan Mingxi looked at his expression, not believing a single word.
She had said everything she needed to. If he and Duchess Wei, along with Feng Wenxuan, insisted on their course of action, then they shouldn’t blame her for retaliating.
“Let’s hope so,” Duan Mingxi said curtly, not even sparing Xiao Muchen another glance. “It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave now.”
Xiao Muchen watched as she strode off without waiting for his response, the words on the tip of his tongue swallowed back down.
In his entire life, this was the first time he had encountered someone so strong-willed.
Intriguing.
The birthday banquet was about to begin. On her way to the main hall, Mingxi asked a maid for directions and headed straight there.
Upon entering, she immediately spotted Liu Yunhua and a few others waving at her. Mingxi walked over to join them.
“What did the Duchess want from you? Nothing serious, I hope?” Liu Yunhua asked with concern.
Duan Mingxi, with no intention of hiding the Duchess’s actions, replied directly, “The Duchess was worried I’d feel lonely after marrying into Wangye’s household, so she offered to send her niece along to keep me company.”
Mingxi didn’t bother lowering her voice, and many nearby stopped to listen, turning to look at her in astonishment.
Coldly amused, Duan Mingxi thought to herself that the Duchess had underestimated her. Thinking she was isolated and powerless, the Duchess probably assumed she wouldn’t dare speak out. Mingxi would prove her wrong.
After all, it wasn’t her who had done something so shameless.
The expressions around her turned complicated, and the way people looked at Mingxi shifted several times.
Rumor had it that this eldest daughter of the Duan family was forthright, and now it seemed true. But was this the kind of thing one could say so openly?
The Duchess’ private proposition was clearly meant to stay hidden. Mingxi’s revelation had stirred up trouble.
Liu Yunhua and the others were momentarily stunned before quickly recovering.
Yao Yunyi immediately spoke up, “Perhaps the Duchess was just joking with you.”
Someone had to smooth things over. Mingxi couldn’t be allowed to face criticism for being reckless or tactless, nor could she risk offending the Duchess outright. If this led to complaints before Duan Wang or the consort, it would only harm Mingxi.
“Yes, perhaps it was a jest,” Liu Yunhua agreed, steering the conversation elsewhere. “We were just discussing the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. Would you like to team up with us?”
“Team up for what?”
“For the dragon boat race, of course.”
Mingxi was surprised. “Dragon boat race? Women can race too?”
“Not exactly. We pool our money to sponsor a team and cheer for them. It’s an annual tradition. The winning team’s sponsors take home the grand prize,” Chu Qingying explained.
Duan Mingxi remembered now; such events were indeed held.
In her previous life, she had already married into the Gao household by then. She had been so busy with the household’s affairs that she hadn’t had time to care about such events. Besides, her strict mother-in-law wouldn’t have allowed her to participate in such frivolities.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had wronged herself in her past life. Why had she suppressed her true self? She was talented in both academics and martial arts, yet she had forced herself to live like someone else just to chase the unattainable approval of Jiang’s parents.
“Of course,” Duan Mingxi smiled, “I’m very familiar with this. You’ve come to the right person.”
“Really?” Liu Yunhua perked up. Last year, she lost to Li Peilan, and this year, she was determined to win.
“Think about where I grew up,” Duan Mingxi replied with a knowing look.
Liu Yunhua’s eyes lit up. “It’s settled then.”
As the group joked and finalized their plans, the previous conversation quickly spread. Soon, the entire hall was abuzz with the news.
When Duchess Wei brought Feng Wenxuan into the hall, she immediately sensed the subtle shift in everyone’s gaze. However, upon closer inspection, she found nothing overtly unusual.
Elsewhere, Xu Nanxi had just heard the rumors and rushed over. Spotting her mother leading Feng Wenxuan, she felt a surge of anger. She truly hadn’t expected things to escalate like this.
Forcing a smile, Xu Nanxi stepped forward and addressed Feng Wenxuan, “Cousin, come with me. Let’s sit over there.”
Naturally, Feng Wenxuan couldn’t sit at the same table as Duchess Wei. She had always been close to Xu Nanxi, and though her thoughts were a whirlwind, she didn’t notice the subtle change in Xu Nanxi’s tone.
Aware of the situation, Xu Nanxi was careful not to bring Feng Wenxuan to Duan Mingxi’s table, knowing it would cause trouble. Instead, she took her to another table.
Duan Mingxi glanced at them from afar, but quickly lost interest and turned her gaze away.
Xu Nanxi is smart. Duan Mingxi thought. If she had dared to bring Feng Wenxuan over, I would have made sure Feng Wenxuan learned her lesson.
Duan Mingxi had no patience for someone who didn’t seek a proper path in life and instead schemed to steal someone else’s.
Meanwhile, Xu Nanxi, noticing Duan Mingxi’s glance, felt deeply embarrassed. She hadn’t expected her cousin to harbor such ambitions.
“Wenxuan, do you really intend to enter Duan Wang’s household as a concubine?” Xu Nanxi asked in a low voice, wanting to hear Feng Wenxuan’s explanation.
