Mingxi had always wanted to support her uncle’s family, but she was reluctant to humble herself before the Old Madam or anyone else in the household. If she yielded too readily, it might lead others to look down on her uncle’s family. Her plan had been to wait until she was married and had built her own network of influence. Then, she could confidently support them.
She hadn’t expected the Old Madam to bring up the matter first.
Thinking of her cousin’s previous life, where she had been married off to a widower, Mingxi felt an ache in her heart.
While her male cousin had married well, with a virtuous and kind wife, she remained deeply concerned about her female cousin’s future.
After a brief hesitation, Mingxi smiled and said, “In that case, I’ll thank Grandmother on my cousin’s behalf. Coming to the capital to broaden her horizons would certainly be beneficial. I miss her very much; she used to take me everywhere when we were little.”
The Old Madam, hearing this, knew she had made the right decision. “Let’s bring her here first. If there’s a good opportunity, she may be able to stay in the capital,” the Old Madam said, her tone meaningful.
Mingxi lowered her gaze slightly, catching the deeper implications of her grandmother’s words. She also understood how challenging this would be. The noble families in the capital would hardly consider marrying a merchant’s daughter, except those in desperate financial straits. And would such a marriage turn out well?
She had her own bitter experience to draw from.
Still, bringing her cousin to the capital was the first step. As the Old Madam suggested, perhaps good fortune would follow.
“You needn’t concern yourself with the logistics. I’ll send someone to Jiangcheng to escort her here. You only need to write a letter,” the Old Madam said with a smile.
Having the Old Madam send for her cousin would undoubtedly carry more weight than Mingxi doing it herself. She agreed readily.
Leaving the Old Madam’s quarters, Mingxi’s steps were light, and her smile lingered.
See? In this lifetime, not only would her own life improve, but her family’s as well.
All her efforts and hard work would not go to waste.
How wonderful.
When Mingxi returned to her courtyard, she was about to have Li Quan deliver the second and third madams’ gifts to the Duan family. To her surprise, Madam Jiang and Duan Huirou had come to visit.
Her smile faded. This mother-daughter pair hadn’t dared step foot here in ages, and Mingxi had no desire to see them.
Still, she was in a good mood today and reluctantly went to the reception hall to meet them.
Madam Jiang sat anxiously with her younger daughter in the reception hall, her demeanor timid. Perhaps she was the most pitiable of mothers, unable to assert herself even in front of her own daughter.
Duan Huirou hadn’t wanted to come, either. Coming here was essentially a show of submission to Mingxi. But after much inner conflict and thinking of Duan Qi, she decided she had no choice.
Now, seated here, she felt like her face had been stripped away entirely.
When Duan Mingxi entered, her gaze fell on the two, their expressions betraying their unease. Without any courtesy, she seated herself at the head of the room and asked coldly, “Why are you here?”
The icy tone made both women flinch, their faces growing even stiffer.
Madam Jiang took a deep breath, forcing a smile before saying, “We received gifts from the Duan family and thought it appropriate to send something in return. We came to consult you.”
Duan Mingxi glanced at them and replied indifferently, “There’s no need.”
Madam Jiang: …
Her hands clenched tightly in her lap as she worked to steady her nerves before trying again. “It’s only proper to reciprocate in kind.”
Duan Mingxi’s gaze fixed on her sharply.
Madam Jiang’s face burned as if slapped. Her words caught in her throat.
Thinking back to how she had treated the Duan family in the past, this truly felt like a self-inflicted humiliation.
Duan Huirou sat as if on pins and needles, her face ashen. She dared not provoke Duan Mingxi further and could only lower her head to avoid her gaze.
She had already come here, admitted her defeat. How could Duan Mingxi still treat her like this?
Madam Jiang, facing her daughter’s cold expression that resembled an icy mountain, found herself unable to speak further. She stood up hurriedly, taking Huirou with her as they made a swift exit.
Duan Mingxi watched their retreating figures and coolly withdrew her gaze.
Once, she had yearned to get along harmoniously with them. But now, she no longer needed it.
***
As July arrived, it marked the Qixi Festival.
Mingxi had been occupied with matters at the hot spring estate. When she received Xiao Muchen’s invitation, she was taken aback.
In the capital, the unmarried men and women loved to celebrate Qixi. For those already engaged, it was an especially popular day for outings.
Duan Mingxi had never celebrated such a festival before, and for a moment, a rare feeling of melancholy welled in her heart.
What young woman doesn’t dream of romance?
Once, she too had fantasized about the kind of husband she might marry—a worthy man to share her life.
But reality had dealt her a cruel blow, casting her into the depths of despair.
The Qixi invitation, personally written by Xiao Muchen, burned in her palm. She tossed it onto her desk but, after some hesitation, picked it up again and placed it carefully in a drawer.
Regardless of his intentions, Xiao Muchen was the first person in both her lives to invite her to spend Qixi together.
The second madam delivered a banquet invitation to Madam Xu, Mingxi’s mother, for a flower-viewing gathering at Jinrui Garden. After informing Mingxi, she personally went to escort Madam Xu to the event.
The third madam was also preoccupied today. Since her husband had entered the Imperial Stables Bureau, her residence had been inundated with visitors and invitations, leaving her with no free time. On this Qixi, she had already made plans early and left the house.
With her mother in the care of the second madam, Mingxi was at ease.
At the banquet, the second madam introduced Madam Xu to the other ladies. Only then did they learn that this elegant woman was Duan Mingxi’s adoptive mother. While opinions varied, outwardly, everyone offered polite smiles.
After all, Duan Wangfei had been chosen by Duan Wang himself, who had even clashed with her family for her sake recently.
Duan Pingchang, Madam Xu’s husband, had also made a name for himself in the capital. His thriving business with the Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau had caught the attention of many prestigious families. After all, no noble house in the capital could sustain its grandeur without income from business.
Although Madam Xu had been a prominent figure as the wife of Jiangcheng’s richest man, she understood the differences between Jiangcheng and the capital. She worked hard to avoid bringing trouble to her daughter. Despite her lowered posture, her bearing remained dignified, earning her unexpected admiration.
Madam Xu had diligently absorbed information about the capital’s families—some compiled by Mingxi and some shared by Duan Pingchang. As a result, she navigated conversations at the banquet with confidence, avoiding missteps and leaving no one displeased.
The second madam was secretly astonished. She had anticipated needing to watch over Madam Xu closely but found it unnecessary. Madam Xu handled herself with poise, surprising even the experienced madam.
No wonder she could raise a daughter like Mingxi, the second madam thought to herself.
While Madam Xu was gathering social connections at the banquet, a carriage bearing Duan Wang halted outside the Duan family’s manor.
Shortly after, a figure emerged from the gates. Dressed in a crimson brocade gown embroidered with pearl-like blossoms, she shimmered under the sunlight. Her dark hair was adorned with pearl-studded hairpins, and delicate tassels swayed lightly at her temples with every step.
Xiao Muchen rarely saw her so meticulously dressed and was momentarily stunned before stepping down from the carriage.
The gatekeeper watched in astonishment as Duan Wang personally helped the young lady into the carriage. Even as the carriage drove off, he remained dazed.
What a sight. In all his years at the gate, he had never seen such a display—not even a noble lord assisting his wife, let alone someone as distinguished as the Wangye.
The young lady hadn’t even married into the family yet. What kind of future awaited once she did?
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