When Mingxi was granted the authority to manage the household and received the estate’s official seal from the Old Master, the news quickly spread throughout the manor.
Duan Huirou was so enraged that she cried again, but for now, she had no way to retaliate against Mingxi and could only swallow her anger.
As for Madam Jiang, she had already lost all her leverage. Her daughter, who she considered nothing more than a burden, remained impervious to both coaxing and threats. Madam Jiang had no way to deal with her.
Every time she went up against Mingxi, it either ended badly for her or seemed destined to go badly.
Even a wooden block would eventually feel pain, and now Madam Jiang did.
For the sake of saving face, Madam Jiang decided to turn a blind eye.
Out of sight, out of mind.
She handed all the household affairs over to her daughter-in-law, Madam Xiao. Fortunately, Madam Xiao and Mingxi got along well, ensuring that the Duan family’s reputation remained intact.
As for this daughter of hers, Madam Jiang decided to pretend she had never given birth to her.
When the Second Madam heard the news, she immediately went to find Mingxi.
“Mingxi, such a good opportunity—don’t forget about your Second Aunt! How about I chip in some silver and invest alongside you?”
Whether or not it bore fruit, her goal was to curry favor with Mingxi by showing goodwill. After repeated gestures, Mingxi might remember her husband’s position and lend a helping hand.
Now that Mingxi was set to become Duan Wangfei, plenty of people were coming forward to ingratiate themselves with her. However, the Second Madam and her husband dared not say too much or accept any favors.
This niece of theirs wasn’t someone who cared about familial ties. If they took what they weren’t supposed to and something went wrong, they feared Mingxi would turn a blind eye to their plight.
Why take that kind of risk? Were they tired of living?
Mingxi’s status as the future Wangfei was as good as finalized. As long as they followed the rules, there would be official positions waiting for them in the future.
They had waited this long; a little more time wouldn’t hurt. Patience was their safest bet!
Mingxi chuckled. She had been planning to meet with her Second Aunt, and here she was, coming to her on her own.
Last time, she had chosen to use Xie Fang, and she knew that must have displeased the Second Madam. However, the Second Madam hadn’t complained about it at all, which greatly impressed Mingxi.
The reason she had chosen Xie Fang was his involvement with the Internal weaving and dyeing bureau.
“Second Aunt, I was planning to visit you for a chat even if you hadn’t come,” Mingxi said as she stood up to greet her. Taking a couple of steps forward, she invited Second Madam inside.
Second Madam’s eyes lit up. “Oh? What’s the matter? Just tell me. If it’s something I can handle, I’ll make sure it’s done.”
“Do you know about the annual dragon boat races?” Mingxi asked with a smile.
“Of course! It’s such a lively event. Do you want to watch it? That’s easy. I’ll book a private box for you so you can enjoy the view to your heart’s content,” Second Madam offered enthusiastically, though she felt a bit troubled internally. Lakeside private boxes were not only expensive but also incredibly hard to secure. She would need to call in some favors to get one.
“It’s not about that,” Mingxi replied with a laugh. “I’ve discussed this with grandfather. This year, our family will sponsor a dragon boat team for the races.”
“What?” Second Madam’s smile froze. “Mingxi, it’s not that I don’t want to, but that would cost a considerable amount of silver.”
Compared to this, booking a private box seemed trivial.
“Silver is a minor matter. There’s a more significant issue at stake.”
“What is it?”
“If I’m not mistaken, the dragon boat teams in past years have operated independently, without anyone managing them, correct?”
Thinking it was something serious, Second Madam dismissed the concern. “There are so many dragon boat teams in the city, each with its own backing. Who would bother managing such a thing? Besides, there’s no real benefit to it. No one would go through the trouble.”
It was the kind of thankless task that nobody wanted to undertake—exhausting and unrewarding, bound to attract complaints.
“If it were easy, would it still be available to us?” Mingxi countered.
“Wait, Mingxi, do you mean to take this on?” Second Madam asked in surprise.
“Not me—Second Uncle,” Mingxi clarified.
Second Madam nearly jumped out of her seat. “Mingxi, you must be joking. There’s no benefit to this, only risks of offending people. The court wouldn’t even notice such a trivial matter.”
Mingxi smiled knowingly. “Second Aunt, can you just answer whether Second Uncle is capable of managing this?”
Second Madam felt uneasy. Recalling the previous incident with Xie Fang, she remembered how the Third Madam had pointed out that Mingxi only provided opportunities—it was up to others to seize them.
From Mingxi’s tone, it seemed there might be some official appointment to gain from this. But how?
She couldn’t make sense of it.
However, given Mingxi’s track record of success, Second Madam gritted her teeth and decided to trust her instincts. “Fine, if you say it can be done, I’ll talk to your Second Uncle and ensure it’s done properly.”
“It’s not for me—it’s for Second Uncle’s benefit,” Mingxi corrected with a smile.
Hearing this, Second Madam became even more certain there was a golden opportunity at play. “Alright. I’ll convince him, but how exactly should we go about it?”
Mingxi answered calmly, “Our family will sponsor a dragon boat team, and using this as a stepping stone, Second Uncle can take charge of coordinating the other teams.”
Second Madam still felt confused—how would this “coordination” work?
Mingxi didn’t elaborate further, deciding to let Second Uncle figure it out. If he couldn’t manage it, pushing him forward wouldn’t help.
When Second Madam returned home, she spent hours puzzling over Mingxi’s words but couldn’t make heads or tails of them. She marveled at how the same human brain could produce such different results.
When her husband finally came home, looking irritated, she asked, “What happened?”
Second Uncle scowled. “Don’t even mention it. Someone had brought up a small position for me as an assistant in the Department of Public Works—a mere seventh-rank post with no ties to the prominent families in the capital. Yet, Duke Zhen’s household still interfered and blocked it.”
Second Madam’s expression darkened. “That Duke’s household is clearly targeting us. Last time, they meddled in Third Brother’s assignment too.”
“It’s probably still because of that time Mingxi exposed Lady Bai and Gao Shizi. Petty and vindictive! For a prestigious duke’s household to stoop to such low methods is truly disgraceful,” Second Uncle sighed.
“Disgraceful indeed!” Second Madam exclaimed in anger. “They’ve grown intolerable since they got a crown princess in the family.”
“Forget it. Don’t let it upset you,” Second Uncle said with a heavy sigh. “It seems my dream of becoming an official won’t come true in this lifetime.”
Looking at her husband’s dejected expression, Second Madam gripped his hand tightly. “We’re not afraid of them. Mingxi will make it up to you for the trouble you’ve faced. She’s already provided an opportunity.”
“What opportunity?” Second Uncle asked, confused.
Second Madam recounted her conversation with Mingxi. “I still don’t understand the specifics, but there seems to be potential here.”
Second Uncle furrowed his brows, deep in thought. Pacing around the room, he finally stopped abruptly, his face alight with excitement. “I’ve got it! This is an incredible opportunity. Mingxi’s insight is extraordinary—she sees opportunities where others see none! I need to head out immediately. Don’t wait for me to have dinner.”
“Hey, at least explain first!” Second Madam called out, watching her husband rush out like a hound on a scent trail. She couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head.
