Duan Mingxi quickly walked in. Madam Xu seemed to sense something and turned her head. Their eyes met.
The Second and Third Madams stood to the side, watching with complicated feelings.
If Madam Jiang had treated Mingxi fairly and kindly back then, today’s spotlight might’ve belonged to her.
“Mother, why are you here?” Mingxi was overjoyed—this surprise was truly unexpected.
The Second Madam smiled and said, “Mingxi, eldest sister-in-law isn’t feeling well and can’t send you off tomorrow. The Old Madam specially invited Madam Duan and the whole family to come and keep you company.”
The whole family?
“Father and little brother came too?” Mingxi asked Madam Xu.
Madam Xu was a little nervous, but calmed down after seeing her daughter’s happy face. She smiled and said, “It’s your big day—how could your father and brother not be here?”
Mingxi’s eyes turned a bit misty. In her past life, they hadn’t been able to come. They were far away in Jiangcheng and didn’t even know what it was like when she got married. Who knew what they felt back then?
In this life, having them here made her feel complete.
Her happiness was so genuine and open that even the Third Madam felt a twinge in her heart. If the Duan couple hadn’t treated Mingxi so sincerely, how could she be so close to them?
Madam Xu hadn’t wanted to come at first, afraid of embarrassing her daughter. But now, seeing how happy she was, her heart felt full and bittersweet.
Their Mingxi had never felt ashamed of their merchant background. She had never looked down on them.
And after returning to the Marquis Household, she treated them even better than before.
The Second Madam smiled and said, “The lunch banquet is in Rongan Hall. The Old Madam is hosting Madam Duan. Your father and younger brother are with your uncles and cousins in the front hall, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Second and Third Aunt,” Mingxi said with a respectful curtsey.
The Third Madam quickly stepped forward to support her. “Good child, no need to be so polite with your aunts. Your second aunt and I will go take care of things. You and your mother should have a good talk.”
The two madams left, and Mingxi, overjoyed, led Madam Xu around the courtyard for a full tour.
Madam Xu couldn’t help saying, “It’s not as spacious as your courtyard back in Jiangcheng.”
“Mother, you can’t compare Jiangcheng to the capital. Every estate here is built with strict regulations. The Marquis Household doesn’t have that many residents, so we’re lucky to have a courtyard this big.”
“They really can’t compare,” Madam Xu quickly said, though she still felt a little sour.
In Jiangcheng, her daughter’s courtyard was bigger than most mansions—gardens, pavilions, flowing water, rockeries, and even a private martial arts training ground.
This place had none of that.
Poor child.
Fortunately, Madam Xu didn’t say this out loud—otherwise, Mingxi wouldn’t know how to respond.
After touring the courtyard, Mingxi brought Madam Xu into her room, and the two closed the door for some mother-daughter time.
Madam Xu told Mingxi, “When I entered the manor, I went to greet the Old Madam. She was very kind and warm, which made my heart race.”
Mingxi smiled faintly. “The Marquis Household is thriving now, so of course the Old Madam is generous in how she treats others.”
In the previous life, when the Marquis Household was in decline, everyone scrambled to calculate their shares of the family’s remaining wealth. But now that money was no longer a burden, everyone suddenly became nice people.
Still, time could change people. The fact that the Old Madam invited her parents and brother to send her off meant a lot. That one gesture dissolved the last bit of distance Mingxi felt toward her.
Mingxi pulled out the dowry list from the Marquis Household and showed it to Madam Xu. Madam Xu flipped through it page by page and commented as she read, “They really prepared a generous dowry for you. You weren’t exaggerating.”
“Why would I lie to you? After all, I’m marrying into a royal family. If the dowry were too modest, they’d lose face. Besides, I’ve helped the Marquis Household earn a lot of silver. Now that they’re wealthy, they can afford to be generous.”
Madam Xu nodded earnestly. “You did the right thing. Your father always says to leave room in everything you do—it makes future encounters easier. All the unpleasantness with the Marquis Household is in the past. After you’re married, you’ll still need your family’s support. Don’t forget us just because you become a Wangfei.”
If anyone else had said this, Mingxi might have brushed it off. But since it came from Madam Xu, she listened with a smile and not the slightest impatience.
“I know—I’ll listen to you.”
Madam Xu was pleased. Looking at Wangfei’s ceremonial robes hanging nearby, she sighed, “Back when we brought you home, who would’ve thought you’d have a day like this? Mingxi, everyone’s blessings are predestined—you must cherish yours.”
“I will.”
Mingxi thought that maybe it was all the good deeds from her past life that earned her the blessings of this one.
Saying “let it go” was easy, but actually doing it was far too difficult.
Madam Xu was completely overjoyed for her daughter and didn’t notice the complexity deep in Mingxi’s eyes as she chattered on, giving her advice for after marriage.
She should show respect to Her Majesty the Empress, be filial to the Consort Shu, be considerate toward Wangye…
Mingxi couldn’t help but laugh while listening. If in her previous life her mother had known the kind of life she lived in Duke Gao’s residence, she probably would’ve come charging in with a knife herself.
“Alright, I’ll do as you say.” Mingxi didn’t want Madam Xu to know the treacherous nature of the palace. She was outside the palace, and if she knew the truth, she likely wouldn’t sleep well at night, constantly worried.
What was the point of that?
In this life, she just hoped her parents could live in peace, stay healthy, and grow old together.
Soon it was time for lunch. The Third Madam came personally to invite Madam Xu over. Mingxi followed behind the two, listening to their conversation.
“Madam Duan raised Mingxi very well. Everyone in our household loves this child,” said the Third Madam with a smile.
Madam Xu paused slightly in her steps. In her heart, she thought, Wasn’t it Mingxi’s birth mother who didn’t like her?
But of course, she wouldn’t say such a thing. She simply replied modestly, “It’s because Mingxi is naturally likable. I didn’t teach her much—she’s self-driven, smart, and learns quickly. Other children need to memorize something ten times, but she only needs to look once to recite it. Scholar Chen once sighed that it was a pity she wasn’t a boy—otherwise, she’d surely have brought home a prestigious title.”
Mingxi: …
The Third Madam caught Mingxi’s “I’ve given up on life” expression and laughed even more heartily.
This Madam Duan was something else. While others fought to take credit, she was practically pushing it away with both hands.
As they say, children take after those who raise them—Mingxi had that same generous spirit.
By the time they reached Rongan Hall, the room was already full. Duan Qingyin and Duan Huirou had both returned as well. All the women were gathered together, creating a lively scene.
Madam Xu stepped forward to greet the Old Madam. The Old Madam had Wan Mama help support her and said with a smile, “There’s no need for so many formalities in our home. Madam Duan, please sit. We can chat properly.”
Madam Xu glanced at her daughter and then took a seat beside the Old Madam.
Only then did Mingxi step forward to offer her greetings. The Old Madam took her hand and sighed, “Sit beside your grandmother. After today, you’ll be someone else’s new bride. Seeing you every day won’t be so easy anymore.”
“If Grandmother ever misses me, just have Wan Mama send a message. I’ll come see you right away,” Mingxi replied with a smile.
The Old Madam laughed, amused. “You cheeky monkey. Once you’re married, you can’t behave as freely as when you were still in the boudoir.”
