After returning to the Marquis Manor, Duan Huirou immediately went to see Madam Jiang and told her everything. Madam Jiang was utterly shocked.
“What did you say?” She forgot about the blister on the corner of her mouth and no longer bothered to cover it with a handkerchief. “How can this be?”
With all the scandal surrounding Yu Wang, what good would it do for Sujie to marry into his household?
“I don’t think it’s a good idea either, Cousin said she doesn’t want to go. Still, Aunt hit her over it,” Duan Huirou sighed. “Mother, Cousin is truly pitiful. Please help her.”
Madam Jiang had watched Jiang Sujie grow up and was deeply fond of her niece. Now, she finally understood why her sister had asked her to visit a few days ago—but she hadn’t gone.
Guilt gnawed at her as she looked at her daughter. “I’ll go back to the Jiang residence right now and find out what’s going on.”
Duan Huirou nodded eagerly. “Shall I go with you?”
Madam Jiang refused. “This isn’t something a junior should get involved in. Stay home and behave yourself.”
Duan Huirou thought it over and found her mother’s reasoning sound. After seeing her off, she returned to her own courtyard.
When Madam Jiang arrived at her maiden home, she first went to pay respects to her mother.
However, Old Madam Jiang’s expression darkened the moment she saw her. “I asked you to come home, but you refused. Now you suddenly show up on your own? Well, it makes sense—our Jiang family is no longer what it once was. As the wife of a marquis, you probably think we’re beneath you now.”
Madam Jiang’s face flushed red with embarrassment at her mother’s teasing, and she quickly said, “Look, I’ve got a blister on my lip from the heat. How can I go out like this?”
Only then did Madam Jiang take a closer look at her daughter. Sure enough, there was a blister, and she frowned. “Why is your internal heat so high?”
At the mention of this, Madam Jiang felt a surge of grievances, but with her sister-in-law present, she couldn’t air her complaints and risk losing face. She could only give a vague response, “There’s been a lot to handle at the estate—too much work.”
Old Madam Jiang’s eldest daughter-in-law knew at once that Madam Jiang wasn’t telling the whole truth, but she didn’t press the issue. instead, she said slowly, “Sister, managing the Marquis family estate is no easy task. With such a large household to oversee, Mother, let’s not ask too much—there’s little we can do to help right now, so we shouldn’t burden her further.”
Madam Jiang felt a bit guilty hearing her sister-in-law’s words. Their relationship had always been harmonious, but ever since Duan Mingxi got involved, things had been disrupted. Even in her own family home, she now felt a step lower.
“Mother, what exactly is going on with Sujie? I came over as soon as I got the news. This is a big deal.” Madam Jiang didn’t want to dwell on her own issues and instead brought up Jiang Sujie’s situation.
Madam Jiang sighed heavily, her face filled with helplessness. “If there were another way, who would be willing to let her suffer? But there’s simply no choice.”
Madam Jiang frowned and turned to her sister-in-law. “Sister-in-law, what did Consort Xian say to you at the time?”
Madam Jiang’s face took on a mocking expression. “Who else but your dear daughter to thank for this? Ever since Third Brother’s reputation was ruined because of her, what good name do the Jiang family’s daughters have left in the capital?”
Madam Jiang: …
At the mention of this, guilt washed over her. She could only listen as her sister-in-law reprimanded her.
“You think I want my own daughter to suffer?” Eldest Madam Jiang wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “If there were another way, we wouldn’t be accepting this humiliation.”
“Did Consort Xian say this directly?” Madam Jiang asked again.
Eldest Madam Jiang glanced at her mother-in-law before responding, “Consort Xian is not the type to spell things out so plainly, but the meaning was clear. And now, on top of everything, there’s the matter of Xingan Marquis’s second daughter. My heart feels like it’s being roasted over a fire.”
Madam Jiang’s face flickered with disdain at the thought of Yu Wang being caught in a scandal with He Wanyi. She nodded. “With He Wanyi’s disgrace, she’s bound to enter Yu Wang’s household. if Sujie follows suit, she’ll be beneath her in status.”
“Exactly!” Madam Jiang said angrily. “If it were a respectable person, that would be one thing, but how can someone like that stand above Sujie?”
Madam Jiang nodded in agreement. “That’s true. our family’s daughters must not suffer such humiliation.”
Madam Jiang’s brows twitched, her tone turning more resigned as she looked at her sister-in-law. “Sister, since I married into this family, how have I treated you?”
Madam Jiang immediately responded, “Sister-in-law has always been very good to me.”
Madam Jiang’s expression softened as she chuckled. “From the moment I entered the household, we’ve always gotten along. over the years, after you married into the Marquis family, I’ve helped you a great deal, haven’t I?”
When it came to dealing with Yang Yiniang, her sister-in-law had indeed given her plenty of advice.
Madam Jiang nodded.
Eldest Madam Jiang then glanced at her mother-in-law and spoke in a quiet, coaxing tone. “Sujie is my beloved daughter. How could I bear to let her suffer? But I also don’t dare to offend Consort Xian. This time, I must ask for your help.”
Madam Jiang was taken aback. “Help with what?”
What could she do?
Eldest Madam Jiang, with deep sincerity, said, “We cannot afford to offend Consort Xian, but Consort Shu, who holds equal status among the Four Consorts, could stand up to her.”
Madam Jiang suddenly understood. “Sister-in-law, you want Consort Shu to intervene?”
if she thickened her skin and asked Mingxi to pass on a message, it wasn’t impossible. Besides, if the Jiang family suffered, it wouldn’t be beneficial to Mingxi either.
Madam Jiang pursed her lips into a helpless smile. “If we refuse Consort Xian, Sujie’s future marriage prospects will suffer. I was thinking that since Sujie and Mingxi are first cousins, and Duan Wang’s household has no side consort, it might be best for Sujie to marry into that family.”
“This way, they can support each other within the royal family. Given their close relationship, there would be no question of Sujie being mistreated. What do you think?”
Madam Jiang: …
She nearly jumped out of her seat in shock.
She did not think well of it at all!
But looking at her mother and sister-in-law, she couldn’t bring herself to reject them outright.
Her expression instantly became rather complicated.
Eldest Madam Jiang exchanged a glance with her mother-in-law.
Eldest Madam Jiang then said, “I think it’s a good idea. First cousins are naturally close, and with Sujie supporting Mingxi, Mingxi wouldn’t have to worry about being overshadowed. isn’t that a great arrangement?”
Madam Jiang strongly disagreed. That wild little demon of hers—who would tear down the Jiang family and swallow it whole if given the chance—didn’t even respect her own mother. How could she possibly tolerate Sujie?
if Sujie fell into Mingxi’s hands, she probably wouldn’t survive a year!
But she couldn’t say that. Did she not care about saving face?
Madam Jiang was panicking inside but dared not show it. At this point, she also became more aware—this whole talk of Yu Wang’s side consort was likely just a distraction, a scheme meant to trap her.
Her sister-in-law had probably set her sights on the position of Duan Wang’s side consort long ago. Now, she was using Yu Wang’s scandal as leverage to push her into asking Mingxi for help.
Madam Jiang wasn’t sure how she felt about this realization, but she dared not let her suspicions show. She held back her emotions and thought carefully.
She was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
She and Mingxi weren’t just mother and daughter—they were worse than enemies. Yet now, she was being forced into this situation.
At this moment, she suddenly understood why Mingxi ignored her and refused to acknowledge her existence—it was actually a relief to be left alone.
