The smile on Madam Jiang’s face gradually froze, and her lips tightened slightly.
Duan Mingxi was done indulging her. In a cold voice, she said, “Madam always reminds me not to bring shame upon you. But I wonder, since you’ve never taught me anything, what gives you the right to speak such words?”
The Old Madam’s face darkened as she turned a sharp gaze toward Madam Jiang.
The second and third madams exchanged a glance, showing no intention of coming to Madam Jiang’s aid.
The room was utterly silent. Madam Jiang’s expression crumbled entirely, and she snapped, “What do you mean by this? Are you blaming me, your mother?”
“Should I blame myself instead? Was it my fault I got lost as a child? My fault I was brought back to this family? Madam, you’ve always thought my upbringing in a merchant family lacked refinement and shamed you. Yet even after I returned, you never taught me anything. Apparently, you think just scolding me will magically transform me into perfection. You’re quite amazing, aren’t you?”
Madam Jiang pulled out a handkerchief to cover her face and began to cry. “Mother, you hear this? She’s always resented me deep down…”
“Madam, how can you twist the truth? Whenever you see me, you pick faults and use it as an excuse to humiliate me. Isn’t that true?”
Duan Mingxi sneered, “You’ve never once scolded my younger sister, only me. It seems your so-called principles are applied selectively.”
Madam Jiang faltered, her face betraying a hint of guilt.
“Mingxi, your mother doesn’t mean it that way,” the Old Madam said, stepping in to ease the situation.
Duan Mingxi raised her eyes to the Old Madam and said, “Talking is easy, but actions speak louder. What’s more, Marquis Madam* neither speaks gracefully nor acts appropriately, yet she’s quick to criticize and scold. Truly, I’m at a loss—I almost wish I had been born a saint to meet her expectations.”
When the words “Marquis Madam” came out of Duan Mingxi’s mouth, everyone present had a subtle change in expression.
Madam Jiang’s anger faded, her face turned pale, and her hand holding the handkerchief tightened.
“Mingxi! No matter what, she is still your mother.”
“Marquis Madam only gave birth to me, not raised me. After losing me for over ten years, there was neither guilt nor affection upon finding me again. She only knew how to criticize and show displeasure. Such a mother—I dare not accept.”
Madam Jiang felt as if her head was about to explode. “What do you mean by this? What are you trying to do?”
At this moment, the Second and Third Madam could no longer sit back and watch. They hurried to their feet—one blocking Duan Mingxi, the other trying to mediate.
“Mingxi, families always have disagreements. Eldest Sister-in-law only cares for you. She might have been a bit harsh, but you shouldn’t take it to heart.”
Duan Mingxi gave a faint smile and looked at everyone in the room. “When I first returned to the family, I did take it to heart. I was constantly afraid of not doing well enough to satisfy Madam and causing her distress.
But later, I realized that no matter how well I did, Madam would never be satisfied. Now, I don’t care at all.
From now on, if Madam points out my faults, I will focus on Second Sister’s. I’d like to see how excellent Madam’s personally taught daughter really is!”
The room fell silent.
Even the Old Madam, who had seen everything, was taken aback by Duan Mingxi’s audacity. She was unfazed by persuasion or scolding, determined to expose the ugly truths.
The Old Madam felt a surge of anger. If this wasn’t addressed immediately, things could spiral out of control. She was about to intervene when Wan Mama hurriedly entered the room.
“Old Madam, Madam Qiao has arrived,” Wan Mama announced, glancing at the Second Madam.
The Second Madam was startled. Why had her mother suddenly come?
“Quickly, invite her in,” the Old Madam instructed, then turned to the Second Madam. “Go and greet your mother.”
“Yes, Mother,” the Second Madam responded. She was puzzled by her mother’s visit but went to meet her.
With the arrival of a guest, the earlier argument was temporarily set aside. Madam Jiang and Duan Mingxi avoided looking at each other, while the Old Madam’s expression remained sour.
Duan Min and Duan Rong, who hadn’t had the chance to speak earlier, exchanged glances. After a brief hesitation, Duan Min softly said, “Grandmother, during the hunt, Eldest Sister saved my cousin. Grandmother must be here to express her gratitude.”
The Old Madam and the others were stunned and turned their attention to Duan Mingxi.
Duan Mingxi kept her head slightly bowed, her expression calm. Internally, she pondered: If His Highness Xiang Wang kept his promise, and Xian Wangfei sent someone later, her position in the family would temporarily stabilize.
With two life-saving debts owed to her, even Madam Jiang wouldn’t be able to suppress her easily in the future.
Saving people in the heat of the moment hadn’t been premeditated, but it had turned into a blessing for her.
Madam Qiao soon entered with her daughter, assisted by the Second Madam. After greeting the Old Madam warmly, she sat down as the Old Madam held her hand and called for tea.
Madam Jiang and the Third Madam stepped forward to greet her as well. Madam Qiao addressed Madam Jiang sincerely, “Marquis Madam, you have such a wonderful daughter. If not for Miss Duan today, my Renshu…”
As she spoke, tears welled up in Madam Qiao’s eyes. She stood and grabbed Duan Mingxi’s hand. “Good child, I can’t thank you enough. If not for you, Renshu wouldn’t have come back intact today. Her mother wasn’t home today, but I’ve already sent word. She’ll visit you to thank you properly another day.”
“Madam, you’re too kind,” Duan Mingxi replied humbly. “Miss Qiao and I hit it off immediately. She looked after me a great deal during the hunt. It was nothing but a small effort on my part. Please, think nothing of it. Besides, our families are close. Second Aunt has always been kind to me. It’s only right.”
Duan Mingxi understood exactly what the Old Madam valued most. Was it Madam Jiang’s reputation?
No.
What she cared about was the Marquis’s honor and her own interests.
What Duan Mingxi needed to do now was to separate the Old Madam and Madam Jiang, ensuring they were no longer bound together.
As soon as the Old Madam realized that siding with Madam Jiang brought no benefit, but distancing herself from Madam Jiang could yield greater advantages for the Marquis household, Madam Jiang would no longer be able to leverage the Old Madam to suppress her.
If the Old Madam stayed out of how she and Madam Jiang interacted, Madam Jiang would no longer pose a threat to her.
Thus, Duan Mingxi’s every word and action now revolved around enhancing the Marquis household reputation while subtly undermining Madam Jiang by drawing attention to the Second Madam.
Earlier, Madam Qiao had praised Madam Jiang for raising a good daughter, yet Mingxi deliberately avoided mentioning Madam Jiang and instead brought up the Second Madam.
The Old Madam, as shrewd as she was, would undoubtedly grasp her intentions.
Madam Qiao, who had managed her household for years, could also sense something. Moreover, when the Second Madam had visited her family, she had revealed bits and pieces about the strained relationship between Madam Jiang and her daughter.
Hearing Mingxi praise her daughter, Madam Qiao’s smile became even more genuine. “Your Second Aunt spoke highly of you when she returned last time. She told me what a good child you are. I was planning to invite you to our residence for Renshu’s birthday so we could meet. Who would’ve thought we’d have the fortune to meet like this beforehand?”
As she spoke, she held Mingxi’s hand and turned to the Old Madam. “Old Madam, you are truly blessed to have such a brave and intelligent granddaughter. Renshu told me how she was paralyzed with fear when the stray arrow came her way. It was Mingxi who acted decisively. Teaching girls martial arts may be arduous, but it can save lives.”
She then looked at Mingxi again. “Good child, was it hard for you to learn these skills in Jiangcheng?”
Duan Mingxi almost wanted to applaud Madam Qiao. This was what it meant to be a matriarch—knowing exactly how to repay a favor and doing so perfectly.
Madam Qiao immediately offered her what she wanted.
