“Alright, I’ll listen to you,” Mingxi said obediently, resting her head on her aunt’s shoulder. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, Aunt. I’ve missed you both so much.”
Madam Zhang smiled. “Your uncle and I have always been thinking about you. It wasn’t until we received your father’s letter that we finally felt at ease. Xixi, are the people at the Marquis’s mansion still mistreating you?”
“They wouldn’t dare anymore,” Duan Mingxi replied softly. “Now they practically treat me like a living deity, afraid to provoke me.”
“Ah, I knew our Xixi was capable,” Madam Zhang said, her face lighting up with pride. Then she lowered her voice. “But your personality is too headstrong. After all, they are your family. Xixi, too much strength can lead to breaking. You should learn to be a bit softer.”
“Alright, I’ll do as you say.”
As long as all of you can live in peace, I’ll never wield the blade I hold.
Hearing Mingxi’s words, Madam Zhang felt relieved. “We’re just ordinary people without any power here in the capital. We can’t help you, only hold you back. With the Marquis’s mansion around, your path should be smoother.”
Mingxi thought to herself, In the past life, their presence only made things harder for themselves. But things are different now, and I don’t care as much anymore.
Changing the topic, she asked, “How are my cousins doing?”
“They’re well. Your elder cousin just got married. He had to stay back to manage the family affairs. As for your elder female cousin, she caught a cold before setting off to visit you. I didn’t dare let her travel, but we’ll send her next year when she’s free.”
“It’s nothing serious, I hope?”
“Just a cold, nothing major.”
“I originally planned to return with Father and Mother for my cousin’s wedding. Why didn’t you send a letter? I feel like I missed out.”
Madam Zhang felt bitterness in her heart. How could she dare to ask Xixi to return? She was well aware of her son’s feelings for Xixi. She used to dream of Xixi becoming her daughter-in-law and waking up laughing in her sleep.
But now…
Xixi was a noblewoman of the Marquis’s mansion in the capital. How could they even dream of such a thing?
Afraid her son might act recklessly, she had rushed to arrange his marriage, hoping he would forget all those thoughts.
Suppressing her true feelings, she said, “We consulted a fortune teller, matched the horoscopes, and set the date. It was a bit rushed. Besides, we’re family, and there will be plenty of opportunities to see each other. No need to hurry. How are things with you and the Wangye? He seems very good.”
He even called a merchant’s wife “Aunt,” which left her too nervous to respond.
“He’s fine,” Mingxi replied with a smile. “Treats me very well.”
How could he not? We’re not even planning to be a real couple—it’s all for mutual convenience and appearances.
“That’s good. When your engagement was first announced, your uncle and I couldn’t sleep for days. The Wangye’s household may be grand, but its threshold is too high. As your maternal family, we’re too weak to support you.”
“I can manage on my own. There’s no need for you to worry about me,” Mingxi replied, grinning. “I’m very capable, you know.”
Madam Zhang lightly tapped Mingxi’s hand. “But he’s royalty. You’d better rein in your temper. Marriage is full of bumps and quarrels. Don’t be too stubborn.”
Being overly stubborn would make things unbearable.
“I understand,” Mingxi said, nodding sweetly.
At that moment, Madam Xu called them to come out for dinner.
Since Duan Pingchang hadn’t yet returned to the capital, Uncle Xu dined with Wangye, while Mingxi ate with her mother and aunt at a separate table.
A small folding screen divided the two sides, so their conversations were audible.
At first, Uncle Xu managed to hold himself together, but as the wine flowed, he became more talkative.
“When we brought the child home, she was just a tiny bundle. The journey had frightened her so much that she was scared of everyone. My wife and sister took turns coaxing her for ages before she finally settled down.”
“Then, as she grew older and learned martial arts from her master, oh, she became something else! Her temper’s fiery, and she can’t tolerate any injustice. Wangye, if our child ever does anything wrong, just say the word, but don’t resort to hitting her.”
“If things don’t work out between the two of you, send her back to us. Our Xixi was raised in a merchant’s household. I know the capital’s lords and ladies look down on us.”
“What others see as weeds, we treasure as gold. We may be merchants, but Xixi was brought up with the finest delicacies and silks. She’s as pampered as can be.”
The room gradually fell silent, and tears welled up in Mingxi’s eyes.
Her usually quiet and reserved uncle had said so much, and it was all for her.
“Rest assured, I will treat her well,” Xiao Muchen’s voice carried through the screen. Hearing this, both Madam Zhang and Madam Xu smiled with relief.
Wangye didn’t disdain their merchant background, even stayed to share a meal, and promised to treat Mingxi well. That was enough to ease their hearts a little.
Uncle Xu, in high spirits and feeling a little tipsy, grew even more talkative.
“Our Xixi, oh, when she was little, once fell ill and wanted to eat squirrelfish. How could a sick child eat fish? My brother-in-law had a jade-carved squirrelfish made for her to play with, and that finally cheered her up.”
“Then there was the time when someone brought out an ivory-threaded fan and deliberately mocked her, saying she was just an adopted daughter of the Duan family and that all the kindness shown to her was fake—she didn’t even have an ivory fan.”
“When my brother-in-law heard about it, he was so furious that he got her over a dozen ivory fans to play with, even ordered an ivory mat for her. It was perfect for summer—not too cold like bamboo, and softer than jade mats. That was the only one in Jiangcheng…”
Xiao Muchen: …
Understood. No wonder her temper is so fiery.
Mingxi’s cheeks flushed red. She couldn’t remember much about these things, but hearing her uncle’s stories seemed to bring those memories flooding back from the depths of her mind.
Madam Zhang smiled at Mingxi. “Your father even wanted to get you an ivory dressing table. But, oh, that’s not so easy to come by. Even with money, it’s hard to find.”
Madam Xu sighed with some regret, “There was a set we heard about, but someone else snatched it up first.”
Duan Mingxi: …
Back then, after being ridiculed, she became strangely fixated on ivory for a few years.
But that was all in the past.
“I don’t particularly like ivory now,” Duan Mingxi said earnestly.
“You child, why are you suddenly so thoughtful? If you like it, you like it. I’ve already asked your uncle to keep an eye out. If anything comes up, we’ll get it for you.”
“If it weren’t for the wars with Qinan, it wouldn’t be so hard to obtain,” added Madam Xu.
Elephants only came from Qinan, as their own kingdom of Great Chu had none. That made ivory items exceedingly rare.
After finishing the meal at the Xu residence, Mingxi bid farewell to her family and boarded the carriage. She could feel Xiao Muchen’s gaze on her.
Her: …
Pretend not to notice.
Xiao Muchen watched her struggle to maintain composure, his eyes glinting with amusement. After a long silence, he said, “It’s fortunate you ended up with the Duan family in Jiangcheng back then.”
“Mm.”
Duan Mingxi gave a soft reply. If there were a next life, she would still want to be their daughter.
Xiao Muchen gazed at her and spoke slowly, “One more thing—when would you like our wedding to be?”
Duan Mingxi froze. The way he said it made it sound as though she had the final say, even over the emperor.
Wasn’t that up to the emperor to decide?
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