"Honored Consort Deng doesn't have enough power to put Dowager Duchess Cai and Duke Cai into a difficult position." Wei Changying said calmly, "She herself knows this, but she still told you so. You also know that she is always the shrewdest, and you are also not a coward. How can she think that she can frighten you with such words? Can't she worry about that if she can't frighten you, you will be angry and then hurt young master Deng and his sister when they are both in Western Liang just like today?"

Duanmu Xinmiao's face changed slightly and said, "Sister Wei, what you mean is...?"

"Either Honored Consort Deng has someone to back her up and is sure she can threaten you and is not afraid that you will embarrass young master Deng and Wanwan, or she doesn't want to offend you, but she has to do it." Wei Changying said faintly.

Duanmu Xinmiao was shocked!

How could she not understand the meaning of Wei Changying's words? Whether Honored Consort Deng had someone to rely on or she had to say it, with the status of Honored Consort Deng, except the Emperor, who else could be the one to support her? Except for the Emperor, who could force her to be the evil person?

Anyway, behind the scenes of this matter, it must have something to do with the Emperor!

As Wei Changying said, Duanmu Xinmiao was also not afraid if Honored Consort Deng just wanted to be unfavorable to Dowager Duchess Cai and Duke Cai. Otherwise, she would not have poisoned Deng Zongqi directly, and she was not afraid that she would irritate Honored Consort Deng. Even if Honored Consort Deng was angered, she had no ability to retaliate against her at any time.

But it would be different with the Emperor...

The Fourth Prince had died. Dowager Duchess Cai was a widow while Duke Cai lost his father. Duanmu Weimiao and Duanmu Xinmiao's biological mother had died, and they had no support from their lineal brothers. Zhou Yueguang, the stepmother, only had a reputation for virtue, but Zhou Yueguang was even two years younger than Duanmu Weimiao. The so-called mother and daughters had never seen each other at all! How could Zhou Yueguang be truly considerate towards her stepdaughters?

Duanmu Weimiao could stay in the house, whether it was cold or lonely. Anyway, she lived her own safe and secure life, and she didn't have to be bullied by anyone. Even though no one had flattered them over the years, because of the title that was conferred by the Emperor, no one dared to provoke them. It could be said that the stability of the mother and son was given by the Emperor.

Since the Emperor could confer them, couldn't he take it away?

If the Emperor wanted to take it away, they were the daughter-in-law and the grandson of the Emperor. Just as Duke Ji was demoted to a commoner before, who could say anything when the Emperor taught his own descendants a lesson? Duanmu Xing was busy hiding his strength and biding his time. How could he have time to take care of his granddaughter who had already married? The Old Madam of the Duanmu Family who loved Duanmu Weimiao had already passed away.

Thinking of these, Duanmu Xinmiao's eyes were almost red. She looked at Wei Changying and asked in a deep voice, "Sister Wei, do you have something to teach me?"

"This is really an unexpected calamity for you." Wei Changying sighed, "It's none of your business here in Western Liang, but you're involved! But I think both I and my husband have always been sincere. If something happens in Western Liang, there's nothing to spread the news to the capital."

Originally, she fought so hard was not only for Shen Cangfeng to establish his credibility but also to reassure the Emperor. People of Mingpei Hall were also fighting inside, and there must be no time to endanger the throne. So the Emperor could drink and have fun with his concubines in the imperial harem! There was no need to worry the great power of gentlefolks would shake the land of the Shen Family!

Besides, the things she did were so amazing, so how could the capital not know? It didn't matter whether there was a spy like Duanmu Xinmiao or not. Anyway, people who shouldn't know the important things wouldn't know!

Duanmu Xinmiao only came as a doctor. Although she was close to the Shen family, she was not close enough to enter the inner room. Besides, she was a woman. If someone wanted to block her from knowing confidential things, they didn't even have to find a reason.

In fact, it was not very useful to send a spy like her. Anyway, the Shen Family didn't plan to start a rebellion in Western Liang. Duanmu Xinmiao also didn't like to go to the street to inquire about the news every day. Her role was almost the same as an ordinary spy. In addition to learning the upbringing of the ladies in the Duanmu Family, what the Eighth Miss learned was medicine, not spies. How could she be competent for the responsibility of spies? Wei Changying didn't even ask her face to face. However, when she quarreled with Deng Zongqi, she explained it by herself first.

In private, Wei Changying had been speculating that the Emperor was used to guarding against gentlefolks. If there was anything that made him doubt, he couldn't rest assured without doing something. As for whether what he did was effective or not and right or wrong, the Emperor probably wouldn't take these into account when doing these things. Maybe the Emperor thought he was very wise and powerful. Although gentlefolks were ambitious, they didn't dare to neglect him. But the Emperor retired to the imperial harem for many years and ignored everything. Once he cared about something, it would have an effect... Poor Duanmu Xinmiao was affected this time and indirectly involved Duke Cai and his mother.

However, Duanmu Xinmiao couldn't understand the Emperor’s complex mood but only thought of humiliation. She clenched her teeth and said, "I'm not willing! I'm not thinking for you, but I really can't stand being told to do all kinds of things like this!"

Wei Changying also couldn't help it. She said truthfully, "It's impossible. If it hadn’t been for him... But now it's probably him."

Unless Duanmu Xinmiao no longer cared about Dowager Duchess Cai or Duke Cai, she must compromise.

Deng Zongqi beside them suddenly whispered, "I don't think His Majesty will do anything to Duke Cai and his mother. After all, Duke Cai is the blood of His Majesty. At most, he will just be demoted of the title, just like Duke Ji this time."

"How can my nephew be the same as Duke Ji?" Duanmu Xinmiao was confused in her mind and said, "Duke Ji... Oh, now it's Shen Jia, the commoner. His first wife is your eldest aunt! It's not difficult for him to be a rich and noble person relying on his wife's family. The Shen Family will take care of his future generations, at least for one or two generations. My nephew is still young. My eldest sister... Our grandmother and mother have passed away, and my father dotes on his concubines and their children. In addition, it is said that the woman who married out of the door is like the pouring water out of the door. How can he have time to care about us?"

Deng Zongqi said faintly, "Dowager Duchess Cai also has a dowry. Even if the Duanmu Family does nothing, it's enough for him to be a rich and noble idle person."

"Then the descendants consume without producing and will be bullied by servants from powerful families within two or three generations?" Duanmu Xinmiao gave him a black look and asked back!

The difference between nobles and commoners was like the difference between mud under the ground and the clouds in the sky. Even though Deng Zongqi's parents died a long time ago and he and Deng Wanwan were excluded by his people, many commoners longed for their previous life.

When Duanmu Xinmiao said this, Deng Zongqi couldn't say anything. If Duke Cai was stripped of his title and became a commoner, could he suggest that Duke Cai got married and lived with his bride's family to find a noble status for his children and grandchildren?

The Emperor was afraid of gentlefolks while gentlefolks were also afraid of the Emperor. Before it came to the moment of life and death, not only the Emperor couldn't make up his mind to attack gentlefolks directly, but gentlefolks also didn't want to bear the reputation of regicide and rebellion. This was also the reason why when Shen Cangfeng was aware of the Crown Prince's hostility to the Shen Family, he immediately began to plan to replace the Crown Prince. To affect the choice of the Crown Prince was nothing. How could the choice of the Crown Prince and the replacement of the Crown Prince in successive dynasties have nothing to do with aristocratic families? If Shen Xun really became the Emperor, even if he could succeed in killing the Emperor at that time and make the Shen Family ascend the throne and directly usurp the world of the Great Vi, it would be difficult to live in the future!

Even if the Great Vi perished and a new dynasty was established, which supreme Emperor could bear the existence of a distinguished family that killed the former Emperor?

If one day the Emperor and courtiers quarreled and the Shen Family was used to killing the Emperor, would they kill the new Emperor? The new Emperor didn't want to be killed, so he had to kill the Shen Family in advance.

Therefore, since the Emperor only took his children and grandchildren as a warning, gentlefolks would not deliberately provoke the Emperor. For example, Duanmu Xing concealed his power and bided his time. The Shen Family exaggerated Shen Cangfeng's injury and asked Wei Changying to visit her husband... All of the things were the submission to the Emperor to dispel his uneasiness.

For Duanmu Xinmiao, her sister and nephew were the most important relatives in the world. But for the Royalty or the Duanmu Family, these two people were really nothing, not to mention the death of the grandmother and mother of Dowager Duchess Cai. Her grandfather, the Family Head, and her father who would take over the Duanmu Family in Jinxiu County, always thought from the overall situation and didn't care about them at all. Even for Shen Cangxiu, the lineal eldest daughter of Shen Xuan and his wife, the most beloved daughter of Madam Su, even if her parents were still alive, after her husband was changed from Duke Ji to a commoner, she was no longer Duchess Ji. The Shen Family also kept silent and didn't even send a servant to have a look.

In such a delicate balance, without the help of the family, it was a joke to rely solely on the identity of an aristocratic lineal daughter to disobey the Emperor.

Even Wei Changying could help nothing.

Duanmu Xinmiao was extremely discouraged!

Wei Changying couldn't comfort her, so she persuaded her to cure Deng Zongqi's poison first, "Now that you've said everything just now, I won't tell you those lies now. It's not Honored Consort Deng who really threatens Duke Cai and his mother. However, Honored Consort Deng is in the royal palace for many years. Although she is not the most favored person by His Majesty, His Majesty will listen to her words. Young master Deng is generous, but Honored Consort Deng always loves him dearly. Sister Xinmiao, if you really drove Honored Consort Deng to a dead end, I'm afraid it will finally harm Duke Cai and his mother."

"I think in that case, it's better to keep the poison to control Honored Consort Deng." Duanmu Xinmiao heard the words and thought for a moment. She looked at Deng Zongqi and said impolitely, "Honored Consort Deng loves him as much as her own flesh and blood! She must be reluctant to let him die. If she receives a letter from him begging her for help, she will not dare to neglect it. She will be willing to help my eldest sister and nephew anytime."

Deng Zongqi was very calm even if his life was in Duanmu Xinmiao's hands. He said faintly, "If I'm afraid of death, I'll stop you as early as the moment I detect poisoning and ask for the antidote with your life."

Duanmu Xinmiao choked, turned her head away, sneered, and said, "I think you're embarrassed to show fear in front of Sister Wei! You are pretending to be calm!"

She was embarrassed by Deng Zongqi's calm demeanor. In order to refute him, she said casually that neither her herself nor Wei Changying paid attention to her words.

But Deng Zongqi, who was indifferent before, was shocked. He subconsciously glanced at Wei Changying but saw that Wei Changying didn't look at him. She was still coaxing Duanmu Xinmiao, "Sister Xinmiao, it's not right! Honored Consort Deng is not a person that entered the royal palace yesterday, and she has been fighting in the royal palace for decades, and now she has reached such a high position. How could she be controlled by a younger one like you? I think if she knows about it, she will take measures against Duke Cai and his mother to have at least the same means as you! Lest you really harm young master Deng!"

After being persuaded for a long time, Duanmu Xinmiao knew in her heart that Honored Consort Deng was definitely not the kind of person who could be easily frightened. Especially now the one who used Duke Cai and his mother to coerce her to be obedient was the Emperor. If Honored Consort Deng knew Duanmu Xinmiao coerced her with Deng Zongqi, she might exaggerate in front of the Emperor and let him teach Duke Cai and his mother a lesson... This was not what Duanmu Xinmiao wanted to see. After Wei Changying advised her several times, she agreed. She wrote a prescription and threw it to Deng Zongqi. She said, "Go and get the medicine yourself. Boil it and drink it three times in a row."

The farce had come to an end here. Wei Changying found that Deng Wanwan hadn't woken up yet. Deng Wanwan's two maids shrank in the corner with a look of fear. After all, Duanmu Xinmiao forgot to clear the scene when arguing with Deng Zongqi just now. Zhu Shi and Zhu Lan were Wei Changying's close confidants. It was okay for them to hear this. Although they were also close maids, they were not close enough to be the confidants, so they worried about being killed... In fact, Duanmu Xinmiao, Deng Zongqi, and Wei Changying thought of it at the same time. The three tacitly understood this point and looked at each other. Wei Changying asked quietly, "Why haven't Wanwan woken up now?"

"She just fainted. I think she'll pull me and cry when she wakes up. I'm the most impatient with such a person, so I stabbed her with a needle and let her sleep. About... Well, she'll wake up naturally in the evening." Duanmu Xinmiao said. Seeing that Deng Zongqi was going to speak, Duanmu Xinmiao said impatiently, "It won't hurt her! Honored Consort Deng doesn't like her. She's also weak and can't be the guinea pig in needle and medicine test. Why should I harm her?"

Hearing this, Deng Zongqi was even more worried. In front of Duanmu Xinmiao, he asked Wei Changying, "Please find someone to send her back to the house and call a trusted doctor for her."

Wei Changying stopped Duanmu Xinmiao from refuting, turned to Deng Zongqi, and said, "Don't worry, young master Deng. I'll take care of all this."