“Eldest Sister, do you remember a few months ago when Second Sister had a falling-out with Miss Jiang?”
Mingxi nodded slightly. “I know a little.”
“I only recently found out—Jiang Sujie actually had the audacity to dream of entering Duan Wang’s manor as a side consort. The nerve! How could the Jiang family say such outrageous things?”
Mingxi hadn’t known at first but later heard some whispers. Since Madam Jiang never brought it up at home, she assumed it was rejected by Madam Jiang.
That would also explain Madam Jiang’s strange behavior at the time.
Madam Jiang knew Mingxi wasn’t someone to be trifled with and wouldn’t agree to such a thing. Even if she had the intention, she lacked the courage, especially since the entire household now supported Mingxi.
Out of respect for Madam Jiang’s rejection of the Jiang family’s proposal, Mingxi had pretended she knew nothing.
But from what Duan Qingyin was implying—had something changed again?
If the Jiang family still didn’t know their place, she wouldn’t hesitate to act ruthlessly.
“What did the Jiang family do now?” Mingxi asked.
“I don’t quite know how to put it,” Duan Qingyin said, frowning.
“Just speak truthfully.”
“It’s just that Second Sister has looked worried lately. Yesterday, when I visited her to pass time with some embroidery, I overheard one of her maids mumble that the Jiang family had sent her a few invitations recently, but she turned them all down.”
“And then?” Mingxi wasn’t surprised. With Duan Qi watching over Huirou, she had started to think more carefully before acting.
Duan Qi had even visited the Jiang family once, though whatever he said wasn’t taken well.
Mingxi didn’t involve herself in these affairs. The Jiang family, Madam Jiang, and the younger generation’s matters—she was technically an outsider. She stayed out of it.
As long as it didn’t reach her doorstep, she was happy to give Duan Yu and Duan Qi some face and pretend not to see.
But if the Jiang family dared to scheme against her father again, she wouldn’t let them off easily this time.
“Second Sister has seemed uneasy these past few days. Yesterday, while I was with her, she mentioned offhandedly that Old Madam Jiang is sick.”
Mingxi let out a mocking laugh. The Jiang family really had no tricks left besides faking illness.
Hearing her sister’s sarcasm, Duan Qingyin quietly said, “Eldest Sister, I’m just afraid they’ll sweet-talk Second Sister into doing something again. We’ve only just begun to enjoy some peace.”
“If her intentions are upright, no one can sway her. If her heart is crooked, then no persuasion is even needed,” Mingxi replied coldly.
Thinking of the past grudges between them, Qingyin, who had been getting along with Duan Huirou lately, still wanted to speak on her behalf. After hesitating, she finally said, “Eldest Sister, I’m just afraid the Jiang family has bad intentions and Second Sister might end up being used as a stepping stone again.”
Mingxi looked at her. “You’re kindhearted. But she didn’t treat you very well in the past.”
“Ah, that’s all in the past. You’ve said it yourself—siblings should work together. Second Sister treats me well now, so I’ve let go of old grudges.”
Mingxi looked at Duan Qingyin and sighed inwardly. Repeating her own words to plead for Duan Huirou—clearly, she wanted to help her.
Soft-hearted indeed. Surprising, considering how scheming Yang Yiniang is, that she raised such a daughter. Most likely all the cunning went to Yang Yiniang and Duan Ning.
“This matter isn’t for me to decide, nor for you. Ultimately, it depends on what Duan Huirou chooses to do,” Mingxi said. “Do you understand?”
Duan Qingyin quickly nodded. “I understand.”
After leaving her eldest sister’s courtyard, Duan Qingyin didn’t know what to do and went to her mother instead.
Upon hearing what her daughter had done, Yang Yiniang was so angry she almost couldn’t breathe.
“You silly girl! How could you put your elder sister in such a difficult position?” Yang Yiniang poked her daughter’s shoulder angrily.
Duan Qingyin lowered her head in shame. “I just didn’t want Second Sister to make another mistake.”
Yang Yiniang: …
She wanted to say, “And what does it matter to you if she does?”
But thinking again—her daughter and son were both quite close to that side now. It felt too selfish and cold to say something like that.
Still, her daughter needed to understand the gravity of the situation.
“Whatever the Jiang family does, they’re still Second Miss’s maternal relatives. Even if they make a mistake, Madam Jiang will protect her. If you get involved and go up against the Jiang family, your Yiniang—” she pointed to herself, “doesn’t have the power to pull you out of it.”
“Yiniang, I know I was wrong.”
“You’re not exactly wrong—being kind-hearted is a good thing. But you have to understand how ruthless the Jiang family was to Eldest Miss’s adoptive father. They tried to crush him completely. Eldest Miss hates the Jiang family to death.”
“Later, the Jiang family also instigated Madam and the young ladies to go against Eldest Miss, causing a lot of trouble. Eldest Miss probably wishes more than anything for the Jiang family to slip up, so she can take revenge.”
“Eldest Sister isn’t that kind of person, Yiniang. Don’t say that.”
Yang Yiniang: …
How did I raise such a naive child?
“In any case, you must stay out of this. Second Miss isn’t a child; she can tell right from wrong. If she knows it’s harmful to Eldest Miss and still insists on getting involved with the Jiang family, then she’s asking for trouble.”
“But Second Sister already turned down the Jiang family’s invitations a few times. Clearly, she doesn’t intend to go along with them.”
“What if the Jiang family still won’t give up? This time, they’re even faking an illness with the Old Madam. I’m telling you, even if Second Miss doesn’t want to go, she’ll have to show up eventually. Otherwise, if word gets out, what will happen to her reputation?”
After all, the Jiang family did treat her well in the past.
“The Jiang family is ruthless—they’re putting Second Miss on the spot. This shows their ambitions probably aren’t small. No. You must not get involved in this. Otherwise, you’ll be left with nothing, not even your bones. Don’t visit Second Miss again for now.”
Hearing her Yiniang speak so seriously, Duan Qingyin started to feel anxious. She clutched Yiniang’s sleeve and asked, “Yiniang, then should we really just do nothing about Second Sister?”
Yang Yiniang met her daughter’s gaze and sighed. “Fine. I’ll go give Madam a heads-up. That’s the best we can do.”
Duan Qingyin’s expression changed at that. “Yiniang, maybe it’s better if you don’t go.”
What if Madam gets angry and blames her?
“It’s fine. I know what I’m doing,” Yang Yiniang said with a smile.
Besides, there’s still that little wretch from Yuchun Court to deal with. Madam and she were still on the same side—for now, at least.
Anyway, she wasn’t acting out of ill intent. She was only concerned about Second Miss.
Yang Yiniang hadn’t wanted to meddle. But seeing her daughter like this, she just couldn’t say no.
It reminded her of back when Eldest Miss was willing to befriend her, and also get along with the second and third branches. Did she feel the same way back then?
At that time, Eldest Miss was isolated, ignored by Madam Jiang, and bullied by Duan Huirou. Even Duan Yu, her older brother, failed to see her struggles.
But now, looking at Eldest Miss’s current position in the Marquis Household, Yang Yiniang took a deep breath. Eldest Miss once said something very true: “A person can be ruthless, but they must leave a shred of kindness—leave themselves a way out.”
She’d just treat this as accumulating good karma for her daughter.
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to at least 15 chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
