Madam Jiang knew she had no control over Duan Mingxi. If she agreed to this, by tomorrow, her daughter would turn the entire Marquis family against her.
It had happened too many times before. Madam Jiang wasn’t willing to try again.
Her mind raced as she quickly steadied herself. She lifted her head and, with an apologetic expression, said, “Mother, Sister-in-law, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but to be honest, I had a falling-out with that unfilial daughter of mine over Third Brother’s situation. Now, grandfather and Grandmother have forbidden me from interfering in her affairs.”
At this point, she looked at Eldest Madam Jiang with a sincere expression. “Sister-in-law, Sujie and Huirou are close friends. You should know that I’m telling the truth. it’s not that I don’t want to help, but I simply can’t. The entire family treats her like a treasure now. If I dare to arrange a side consort for her before she even enters the Duan Wang’s household, do you believe that the Old Madam wouldn’t immediately send me back to my maiden family? You wouldn’t want me, at my age, to be cast out of the Marquis family and sent back home, would you? I wouldn’t mind, but I fear my sister-in-law wouldn’t approve.”
Madam Jiang didn’t want to embarrass herself in her natal family, but if it came down to losing her position as the Marquis family’s madam or losing face, she would rather suffer the humiliation than be divorced and sent back home.
Eldest Madam Jiang was momentarily at a loss for words. of course, she didn’t want that to happen. The Jiang family was already in decline. If a divorced sister-in-law returned home, it would only make it harder for the Jiang family’s daughters to secure good marriages in the future.
Old Madam Jiang naturally couldn’t allow her daughter to be sent back, so she frowned and said, “What nonsense are you talking about? You’ve given birth to several children for the Duan family. How could they dare?”
Hearing this, Madam Jiang immediately knew that her mother was still unwilling to give up and was determined to push her into the fire pit. The last bit of frustration in her heart was completely extinguished.
“Why wouldn’t they dare?” Madam Jiang let out a bitter laugh. “Mother, there’s something I haven’t told you. Yu Er’s appointment was secured with the Wangye’s help, and even our family’s second and third masters’ positions were somewhat tied to her. Do you think I can afford to provoke her?”
Both Old Madam Jiang and Eldest Madam Jiang were stunned.
Madam Jiang said in disbelief, “You must be joking.”
Madam Jiang’s face remained blank. “Is this something I would joke about?”
Old Madam Jiang, however, contemplated for a moment and murmured, “Duan Wang hasn’t even married her yet, and he’s already done so much for her?”
Madam Jiang had no idea what went on behind the scenes, but she knew that the second and third madams treated Mingxi like a treasure. Would they humble themselves like this if there were no benefits?
Moreover, the second and third masters treated Mingxi with more caution than they did their own eldest sons, and even the Old Master valued her highly. Even if Madam Jiang were a fool, she would know this wasn’t ordinary.
However, instead of saying all this out loud, she simply stated, “You all know that this marriage was personally requested by Duan Wang.”
Seeing the unpleasant expressions on her mother and sister-in-law’s faces, Madam Jiang felt a complicated mix of emotions.
She really couldn’t help them, and she hadn’t expected her natal family to go so far as to try to manipulate her for Sujie’s sake.
For a moment, she found it all meaningless. With a tired voice, she said, “Whether it’s becoming a side consort in Yu Wang’s household or Duan Wang’s, I don’t see either as a good path. Sister-in-law, just look at what happened today with Yu Wang and He Wanyi. You should know how deep the waters run in the palace. Why push Sujie into that? if she makes a wrong move, she’ll suffer dearly. I’ve met He Wanyi before. She’s a smart and beautiful girl, but look at the mess she’s in now. Even if she does become a side consort, her reputation is ruined, and she’ll never be able to hold her head high again. Why go through all that?”
Madam Jiang, seeing that her sister-in-law was truly unable to help, no longer held back and spoke more harshly.
“I would love nothing more than for my daughter to marry into a good family with dignity, but if it weren’t for Duan Mingxi causing such a scandal, ruining the Jiang family’s reputation, would Sujie’s marriage prospects be so difficult?”
“Sister, don’t stand there acting indifferent, giving me cold comfort. Your daughter is marrying into Duan Wang’s household, so of course, you can sit back and enjoy a good life. But what about my Sujie?”
Madam Jiang: ……
She was so furious that she felt a sharp pain in her chest. unable to hold back, she snapped, “Was it me who told our third brother to do what he did?”
If their third brother hadn’t done such disgraceful things, would Duan Mingxi hate her to the bone?
Eldest Madam Jiang let out a cold laugh. “And you’re trying to shift the blame now? If it weren’t for Huirou complaining to her uncle, would our third brother have acted? You mother and daughter want to wash your hands of this, but the entire Jiang family has suffered for it. Truly impressive!”
Madam Jiang felt dizzy, nearly suffocating with rage. She turned sharply to her mother. “Mother, do you think the same?”
Old Madam Jiang frowned. “Your sister-in-law is just angry. Why argue with her?”
Madam Jiang felt a wave of dizziness, her temper finally erupting.
“Do you all take me for a fool? Third Brother did it for Huirou? What a joke! He just used her as an excuse because he was eyeing Duan Pingchang’s wealth!”
“Outrageous!” Old Madam Jiang slammed the table. “Watch your words!”
Madam Jiang was completely out of control now, furiously exclaiming, “What, you can do these things, but I can’t speak the truth? Sister-in-law keeps calling Huirou the culprit and saying I’ve wronged the family. So what? Are my daughter and I supposed to be your servants, working ourselves to the bone for you?”
Her eyes burned as she glared at Eldest Madam Jiang.
“Sister-in-law, didn’t you say that Consort Xian values Sujie as a side consort? Fine! I’ll throw all my dignity away and go to the palace myself to ask her if this is true. If it really is, then even if it costs me my life, I’ll make sure Sujie marries into Duan Wang’s household. What do you say to that?”
Madam Jiang had never seen her usually dull sister-in-law argue so fiercely and was momentarily left speechless.
She certainly couldn’t let Madam Jiang go question Consort Xian—doing so would expose the whole scheme. So instead, she put on an offended act and huffed, “Fine, fine, I only asked for a little help, but it seems you have endless complaints. Of course, Madam Jiang needs to distance herself from us now that our family is in decline. Wouldn’t want us dragging you down, would we? Since that’s the case, I won’t trouble you anymore. Just hurry back to the Marquis family and enjoy your luxurious life. We poor relatives wouldn’t dare to bother you.”
With that, Eldest Madam Jiang stormed off, her retreating figure practically brimming with anger.
Madam Jiang knew she had guessed correctly—her sister-in-law was panicking and had resorted to insults to cover it up.
Old Madam Jiang glared at her daughter, her face full of displeasure. “Are you satisfied now?”
Satisfied?
Satisfied that she was unwanted wherever she went?
In the Marquis family, she had to tread carefully, barely holding onto her position as the madam of the house. Now, in her own natal family, even her own mother and sister-in-law were trying to push her into the fire, even using Huirou against her.
With Duan Mingxi’s vengeful nature, if she found out that Huirou had played a role in all this, would she let her off?
“Mother, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. Please take care of yourself.” Madam Jiang bowed respectfully before turning to walk out.
Her whole life had been nothing but a joke.
