Mingxi instructed Li Mama to gather information on the matter. She wasn’t sure how far things had escalated, and it was always best to know both oneself and the enemy.
Li Mama was highly skilled at gathering news, and within half a day, she returned.
“I walked through several streets and asked around. The rumors are indeed true. The gossip started with the Jiang family’s servants and has now spread to the neighboring households.”
“What exactly are they saying?”
“They claim that before the Second Young Master passed the imperial examination, he was engaged to a Jiang family daughter. But after he passed and was selected as a Hanlin Academy scholar, the marriage was never brought up again. The implication is that our Marquis Household is faithless and broke a promise.”
Mingxi sneered. “The Jiang family can’t fabricate any better lies than this?”
“Young Miss, how do you plan to handle this?” Li Mama asked worriedly. They couldn’t just march up to the Madam of the House and question her—she already had a strained relationship with her mother, and confronting her would only cause another major conflict.
Mingxi looked at Li Mama and said, “Go to Yang Yiniang and tell her about this discreetly. Have her bring it up with the Madam and see how she wants to handle it.”
Li Mama secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there wouldn’t be a direct confrontation, it was manageable. “I will go at once.”
Li Mama went to Yang Yiniang, who was stunned upon hearing the news. Hadn’t this matter been resolved?
How could the Jiang family still pin this on them?
Were they trying to ruin her son’s reputation and force him into marriage out of disgrace?
Shameless!
The Jiang family prided itself on being a scholarly household, yet they had no shame at all!
Yang Yiniang was so furious she nearly fainted. She profusely thanked Li Mama and even tried to give her five taels of silver as gratitude.
Li Mama refused, instead urging her, “Yiniang, you must hurry and tell the Marquis Madam. This can’t go on, or the Second Young Master may really be trapped by the Jiang family.”
Hearing this, Yang Yiniang wasted no time and rushed off to find Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang had been in a foul mood lately, all because of Duan Ning’s promotion. But despite her frustration, she knew the power dynamics in the household had shifted, so she dared not complain, whether in front of the Old Madam or Mingxi.
When Yang Yiniang stormed in and poured out her grievances, Madam Jiang was so shocked that she spilled tea all over herself.
Luo Mama quickly stepped forward with a handkerchief to clean up the mess, but she dared not say a word upon seeing Madam Jiang’s grim expression.
Yang Yiniang observed Madam Jiang’s reaction and felt slightly relieved—she hadn’t known about this in advance. She knelt down, clutching a handkerchief and sobbing, “Madam, you must seek justice for the Second Young Master. He has never even met the Jiang family’s daughter, let alone agreed to a marriage. If there were truly such an arrangement, I wouldn’t dare to say a word!”
Madam Jiang’s face burned with embarrassment. Back then, she had deliberately humiliated Yang Yiniang, wanting to suppress her, and had listened to her sister-in-law’s suggestion to betroth Duan Ning to a concubine-born daughter of the Jiang family.
That way, she could plant someone loyal at Duan Ning’s side—no matter how capable he was, he would never escape her grasp.
But that plan had failed.
Mingxi had reported her to the Old Madam, who had scolded her harshly. That matter had been buried ever since.
Who could have expected it to resurface now, slapping her in the face once more?
Even if Madam Jiang was unwilling to admit it, she knew that a concubine-born daughter of the Jiang family was now far beneath Duan Ning.
She was both furious and secretly pleased about his promotion. A mix of emotions swirled inside her, making her expression rather strange.
“This matter… you say the rumors have already spread everywhere?” Madam Jiang asked, staring at Yang Yiniang. “How did you find out?”
Yang Yiniang couldn’t reveal that Mingxi was behind it, so she tearfully said, “One of my maids overheard it while buying thread in the market. When I found out, I was so shocked that I had to come see you right away, Madam, and beg you to uphold justice.”
Madam Jiang: …
Justice? How was she supposed to uphold justice?
From her perspective, what was wrong with Duan Ning marrying the Jiang family’s daughter?
The Jiang family was, after all, a scholarly household. Even if they were in decline, they were still better than common families.
Even if Duan Ning was now a Hanlin Academy editor, could he truly marry a high-ranking noblewoman?
Ridiculous!
But she could only think these things to herself. If she said them aloud, the Old Madam would be the first to scold her.
She had been the Marquis Madam for many years, yet she still had to endure her mother-in-law’s reprimands—it was humiliating.
As Madam Jiang’s expression darkened with conflicting thoughts, Yang Yiniang coldly sneered in her heart but outwardly pleaded, “Madam, I am not ungrateful, but the Second Young Master’s marriage is not just his own matter. The Old Madam must also give her approval. If she hears of this rumor…”
“Madam originally didn’t know about this matter, but the Old Madam might not see it that way. Madam, don’t you think so?”
Madam Jiang: …
Yes, she had instigated the whole thing back then, so the Old Madam would definitely think she was up to her old tricks again.
Great—now she truly couldn’t explain herself even if she tried.
“I understand. You may leave now,” Madam Jiang said impatiently.
Yang Yiniang bowed and withdrew, not clinging on or pestering her further.
If Madam Jiang didn’t handle this properly, she might just have to report it directly to Old Marquis.
The more Madam Jiang thought about it, the more annoyed she became. She could already imagine how her mother and sister-in-law would scold her if she went back to her family.
Ultimately, they would just pressure her to pinch her nose and accept this marriage. She wanted to—but she didn’t dare.
Duan Mingxi was so protective of her brother Duan Ning. If she really went through with it, who knew what that wild daughter of hers might do.
Madam Jiang paced restlessly in the room, unable to think of a good solution.
Luo Mama stood nearby, observing silently for a while before cautiously speaking up: “Madam, this matter won’t be easy to manage.”
Madam Jiang sighed and looked at her. “Tell me, what can I do now?”
Luo Mama thought for a moment and said, “Madam, the second young master’s future looks bright. If word of this reaches the Old Master, it would be even worse. It’s best if Madam returns to your maiden home and clears things up. The longer it’s dragged out, the worse it will get.”
Madam Jiang’s expression darkened. Just thinking about the scolding she would face at home made her want to avoid going.
Meanwhile, Mingxi had someone keeping an eye on Madam Jiang. Seeing that she hadn’t left the residence all day, she sneered. If Madam Jiang still didn’t go out tomorrow, Mingxi wouldn’t hold back anymore.
The next morning, Madam Jiang rose with dark circles under her eyes. Breakfast tasted like sawdust. After a sleepless night of tossing and turning, she realized she had no choice but to return to her family.
She ordered a carriage and, after carefully tidying herself up, finally set out for the Jiang residence.
On the other side, Jiang Bingyuan was drinking with Tong Gaozhuo. Tong Gaozhuo had barely put down his wine flask and kept encouraging Jiang Bingyuan to drink more.
“Brother Jiang, if the Duan family hadn’t played dirty back then, would you be in this situation today?”
At the mention of Duan Pingchang, Jiang Bingyuan’s eyes reddened. Fueled by alcohol, he lost his filter: “Just a merchant’s son—acting all high and mighty because of who he’s backed by.”
