Since all the younger members of the Dingyuan Marquis Household had returned, they gathered for dinner each evening at Rongan Hall.
After returning to the marquis’s residence, Mingxi changed her clothes, redid her hair, and headed for Rongan Hall.
Before even stepping inside, she could already hear the sounds of laughter from within. It seemed that as she aged, the Old Madam enjoyed being surrounded by younger generations more and more.
“Eldest Sister.”
“Eldest Sister is here.”
A group of young ladies and gentlemen all stood up and greeted Mingxi.
Mingxi smiled and said, “I was wondering why it was so lively—you’re all here.”
Normally, the second and third branch’s illegitimate sons, Duan Chen and Duan Xun, didn’t often appear at Rongan Hall. But now that Duan Jin and Duan Heng had returned, they would bring them along.
Seeing them more often, Mingxi had grown familiar with the two.
Duan Yu had yet to return from court. Duan Ning and Duan Qi were playing chess. Upon hearing her, Duan Ning looked up with a smile. “We came to Grandmother’s to pass the time. You arrived just in time, Eldest Little Sister. Want to play a round?”
Mingxi sat beside Duan Min and called out, “You and Third Brother keep playing. I’ll chat with the younger sisters.”
Hearing this, Duan Zhen and a few younger ones gathered around to watch the game instead, while Duan Jin, uninterested, sat on a chair nearby, occasionally lost in thought—clearly preoccupied.
Mingxi turned to Duan Min and asked, “What’s wrong with him?”
Duan Min lowered her voice. “It’s still about his marriage to the Ma family.”
Mingxi understood immediately. “Wasn’t the marriage already settled?”
Before Duan Min could answer, Duan Rong leaned in and muttered, “Eldest Sister, you don’t know. My brother is just feeling stifled.”
He couldn’t get over it.
Mingxi caught on. When the Dingyuan Marquis Household had fallen on hard times, the Ma family hesitated and delayed the marriage, seemingly wanting to back out. But now that the household had regained its former status, the Ma family was suddenly in a rush to get married. Naturally, Duan Xun wasn’t happy about it.
Duan Rong felt frustrated as well. She didn’t dare complain in front of others, but since her Eldest Sister was kind to her, she felt bold enough to grumble, clinging to Mingxi’s arm. “Eldest Sister, I don’t think the Ma family is any good.”
Mingxi gently patted the back of Duan Rong’s hand. “The Ma family’s actions may have been improper, but marriage is a major affair between two families. What Miss Ma thinks may not necessarily reflect her family’s decisions. if we break the engagement, it won’t be good for her either.
Since Second Aunt has agreed to proceed with the marriage as planned, she must have considered this. When Miss Ma joins our family, be kind to your sister-in-law and don’t be too harsh on her.”
“Fine,” Duan Rong sighed. “I just feel bad for my brother.”
Mingxi smiled. “Go play with Sister Min and the others. i’ll have a word with your brother.”
Duan Rong’s eyes lit up. “Eldest Sister, please do! My brother will definitely listen to you.”
Mingxi chuckled. This little one was quite clever.
Duan Min pulled Duan Rong away, tapping her forehead playfully. Duan Rong made a funny face, and the two sisters burst into laughter.
Not far away, Duan Qingyin was doing embroidery with Duan Huirou. Hearing the commotion, she turned to glance in their direction, smiling slightly but making no move to join them.
Meanwhile, Duan Huirou lowered her head, silently setting her needle aside.
She had never liked embroidery, but since Grandmother asked her to do it, she had no choice.
She used to look down on Duan Qingyin, but now, Qingyin was the only one willing to accompany her.
Elsewhere, Mingxi invited Duan Jin outside. The cousins walked to a quiet spot in the courtyard and sat down.
Mingxi had only grown close to Duan Jin after returning to the capital. Now, he wore an awkward expression. “Little Sister Xi, it must have been Rong Er pestering you again. That girl has no filter.”
“Brother, Little Sister Rong is just concerned about you,” Mingxi said with a smile.
Duan Jin sighed helplessly. “What’s there to be concerned about?”
“Then why do you seem so unhappy?”
Duan Jin: “…”
These sisters—none of them let anything slide.
Mingxi looked at him and said slowly, “Brother, does the Ma family really matter so much to you? Why get so caught up in this?”
Duan Jin tensed for a moment and said, frustrated, “I just can’t accept that they looked down on me before. Why agree to the engagement in the first place? And after it was arranged, why delay the wedding, only to rush it now?”
“People are naturally drawn to power and security,” Mingxi said. “Not just them—we’re the same, aren’t we?”
Duan Jin: “…”
“How is that the same?”
“It is and it isn’t,” Mingxi said with a chuckle. “Brother, Ma Qi is the Governor of Yuzhou, wielding real power. Naturally, a man like him is extremely cautious.”
“If they didn’t think we were good enough, they shouldn’t have agreed to the engagement in the first place.”
What irked Duan Jin the most was being used as a stepping stone.
“But once you marry Miss Ma, Governor Ma will become your ally. It may sound calculating, but it’s the reality. Besides, Governor Ma and his wife made the decision—Miss Ma may not have had a say in it.”
“You are marrying a wife, seeking an alliance with her family. The Ma family, in turn, wants a distinguished son-in-law to elevate their status. Ma Qi has served as an official for many years, maintaining stability despite wielding considerable power—that alone proves his capability. I believe Second uncle and Second Aunt considered this before deciding to go ahead with the marriage.”
Duan Xun: …
His cousin was more rational than he was.
“But I worry that Lady Ma will be like her mother…” he muttered hesitantly.
“A new bride entering her husband’s home is always anxious, hoping for support. Cousin, when I marry into the prince’s household, I will also hope that my in-laws will treat me well. I believe Lady Ma feels the same. You two don’t know each other well yet—you should at least give her a chance.”
Duan Xun’s face turned red, and he felt awkward. “I’m not a beast.”
Mingxi smiled. “With Second Aunt around, you have nothing to worry about.”
If Ma Minyi were not a person with a righteous heart, the Second Madam would have already dealt with her.
But seeing how his cousin looked, he probably just wanted to marry a wife who could live in harmony with him, someone with whom he could share a deep connection.
Once, she too had longed for such a future.
Unfortunately…
She never even got the chance.
She didn’t want her cousin and Ma Minyi to miss that chance either. In her past life, she hadn’t interacted with Ma Minyi much, but she knew a little about her—she was a decent girl.
Having suffered hardships herself, she only hoped others could avoid falling into the same pitfalls.
“Elder sister, eldest brother is back.”
Hearing this, Mingxi got up and returned with Duan Xun.
As soon as they entered the house, they saw Madam Xiao standing beside her husband, her pregnant belly prominent. Upon seeing Mingxi and Duan Xun, she immediately greeted them.
Mingxi called out, “Sister-in-law.”
Now that Madam Xiao’s pregnancy was stable, she was no longer as fragile as before. She had started helping with small tasks, avoiding the constant criticism from Madam Jiang.
Ever since Fuchang Marquis Madam had clashed with Madam Jiang, Madam Xiao’s situation had improved significantly. Additionally, Duan Yu had been subtly protecting his wife, and as a result, Madam Xiao now looked much healthier and well cared for.
Duan Yu pulled Mingxi aside and said in a serious tone, “Something major has happened in Qinan.”
Mingxi’s heart tightened. “What happened?”
Imperial Censor Zhong had not yet submitted his impeachment—what could have gone wrong already?
