The commotion at the Duke’s mansion was so big that Duan Mingxi had people keeping watch, and it didn’t take long for her to know what they were up to.
Duan Min, hearing from Qiancao, looked at Duan Mingxi with worry. “Jiejie, how do you think this will end?”
Duan Mingxi had been arranging things one after another, forcing the Marquis mansion to protect her, and now it seemed to be working.
“Although we’re from the Marquis mansion, we’re also a family with ancestral merits. Our reputation cannot be tarnished, especially with so many young lords and ladies waiting to marry.”
Hearing this, Duan Min let out a long sigh of relief. “That’s good. I was just afraid they’d make you apologize to someone.”
“They won’t.”
And even if they tried, she would make them change their minds. See? They already have.
Nothing is set in stone.
In this life, no one should think they can step on her to get ahead and reap the benefits.
Duan Min chatted a while longer with Mingxi before leaving, mentioning she’d like to join her for a game of polo when they go out of the mansion.
Duan Mingxi agreed with a smile and saw Duan Min off, then called Qiancao in to ask some questions.
“Just now, the Second Master and Third Master, along with the Marquis, all went to the Old Master’s courtyard,” Qiancao said. “I haven’t yet found out why.”
“What else could it be for?” Duan Mingxi knew well. “Have they spread the word that I’ll be playing polo with the capital’s ladies?”
“The whole mansion knows now, but the sewing room sent word that they’re rushing to make summer clothes for Second Miss, so it might take a while for your polo outfit to be ready.”
Qiancao’s eyes showed some frustration. It wasn’t that it couldn’t be done; it was that Second Miss had demanded summer outfits, so the sewing room was prioritizing her.
“This is no big deal. No need to get upset.”
Duan Huirou could only resort to these little tactics to annoy people and create friction.
Perhaps, in her past life, Duan Mingxi would have felt hurt, but not this time. She didn’t care in the slightest.
“Go to Jinruixiang and have them bring the fabrics and seamstresses here to make my clothes.”
“Yes, miss!” Qiancao brightened up. Jinruixiang was the shop owned by Miss herself; she could get anything she wanted.
Soon, a carriage arrived from Jinruixiang, laden with bolts of fabric. Over a dozen people came to Duan Mingxi’s courtyard in a grand display.
Duan Mingxi invited Duan Min and Duan Rong over, then thought for a moment and also sent for Duan Qingyin, deliberately leaving out Duan Huirou.
The room full of fabric dazzled everyone. Duan Qingyin, a concubine’s daughter, had been told by Yang Yiniang to stay modest in front of her sisters.
Duan Min, being older, remained calm, but young Duan Rong was thrilled, darting around and finding it hard to pick a favorite from the beautiful fabrics.
Today, Duan Mingxi intended to show off. She wanted everyone in the mansion to know that the Duan family in Jiangcheng had provided her with enough to stand on. She wasn’t here at the Marquis mansion to live off them; she had her own businesses and money.
She wouldn’t let Madam Jiang and the Old Madam talk her into giving away her belongings and then label her as someone who was fully supported by the Marquis mansion.
With a wave of her hand, she ordered four summer outfits and two riding outfits for each of them, a gesture that left the other young ladies in awe.
“Older Sister, this is too extravagant! Just one riding outfit is enough for us to accompany you to the polo match. The mansion’s outfits will be ready in a while anyway,” Duan Min quickly tried to decline.
Each of the girls had riding outfits, but they outgrew them each year, so last year’s were too small, and this year’s hadn’t been made yet.
Duan Rong looked reluctant to let go of the beautiful fabric and spoke up, “Older Sister, I’ll have my mother give you money for this.”
Duan Mingxi laughed. “It’s just a few outfits, consider them a gift from your older sister. The shop is under my name, so don’t worry, it’s no big expense.”
Duan Qingyin looked up at this and said softly, “Even if it’s your shop, it doesn’t feel right to take advantage.”
“Just accept it. When you order more clothes, you can pay me back.”
And with that, everyone happily accepted.
Remembering Yang Yiniang’s advice, Duan Qingyin picked out simple, muted colors.
Seeing this, Duan Mingxi took a bolt of red damask, held it up to Duan Qingyin, and smiled, “A young girl should wear brighter colors; they suit you well.”
Duan Qingyin paused, only to hear Duan Mingxi say, “Let’s use this bolt to make a riding outfit for Third Miss, with lapels in lake blue and a waistband of k’o-ssu silk.”
The seamstress quickly noted the instructions and agreed.
Duan Qingyin lowered her eyes slightly, her lips pressed together. Of course she liked brighter colors at her age; she’d just refrained so as not to cross paths with Duan Huirou.
However, this time, Eldest Sister took charge and even arranged for her brother to study under the great scholar Chen. It seemed she no longer needed to swallow her pride as Yiniang had advised.
While things were lively on Duan Mingxi’s end, Duan Huirou, upon hearing the news, smashed a tea set in anger.
Madam Xiao had been observing the household dynamics for the past few days, and when she saw the Old Madam leaving the house with several madams, she knew that her decision to side with Duan Mingxi had not been wrong.
See, even though the situation was in turmoil, the family still had to step in and clean things up.
When she heard that Duan Mingxi had called the silk shop over to make clothes for the young ladies, she went straight to join the excitement.
Although she wasn’t in charge of household affairs, and the issues with the sewing room weren’t her fault, she joined in merrily with the younger sisters, even receiving a few pieces of the latest fabrics from the capital that Duan Mingxi gifted her for clothes.
She didn’t lack these things, but when she thought of Duan Huirou, it amused her even more.
When the Old Madam returned to the residence with the Second and Third Madams, but before Madam Jiang was back, they each mulled over their daughters’ words. This time, the Third Madam was genuinely certain that Duan Mingxi had been given no small fortune by her family in Jiangcheng. Duan Mingxi had given each of them four sets of summer clothes and two riding outfits—an amount equivalent to the allowances given to the girls by the household.
Once, she had thought Duan Huirou was a lively, adorable girl, but now she realized that her conduct had grown rather petty.
Not wanting to receive Duan Mingxi’s gift for nothing, the Third Madam selected a pair of pearl earrings to send as a return gift.
The Second Madam did the same, ensuring reciprocity for future interactions.
Yang Yiniang sent a small embroidered screen she had made herself—not valuable, but finely crafted.
Looking at these returned gifts, Duan Mingxi smiled faintly. See, winning people over wasn’t difficult.
As soon as Madam Jiang returned home, before she could take a sip of water, Duan Huirou was there crying in her arms, making her headache intensify and her face darken.
Before she could reprimand anyone, Madam Xiao arrived right after, smiling and saying, “Mother, the Eldest Miss of Marquis Jingyuan’s household has invited the Eldest Miss to play polo.
Since our seamstress was too busy sewing Second Miss’s summer clothes, they couldn’t make a polo outfit for Eldest Miss, so she called the tailors directly to the residence.
Being young and naive, I came to ask if the household should cover the costs for these clothes?”
After saying this, she pretended to notice Duan Huirou’s red eyes, exclaiming with surprise, “Second Meimei, what’s happened to you? Who bullied you? Tell me, and I’ll stand up for you.”
With these words, Madam Xiao subtly highlighted two things: first, that Duan Mingxi had established a good relationship with the Eldest Miss of Marquis Jingyuan, and second, that Duan Mingxi’s request for clothing had a justifiable reason.
Madam Jiang found her anger stifled, neither able to release it nor hold it in, while Madam Xiao inwardly laughed coldly, eager to see how her mother-in-law would handle this.
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