Mingxi smiled faintly. “With Grandmother’s support, I feel reassured. I have no other request — only that if Madam Jiang remains unrepentant, it’s better for her and Huirou not to see each other before Huirou marries.”
“Is that all?” The Old Madam was surprised — she had thought Mingxi wanted to formally divorce Madam Jiang.
“Of course,” Mingxi said helplessly, seeing the Old Madam’s surprised expression. “I understand what you’re thinking. But Huirou and Third Brother are still unmarried.”
Divorcing Madam Jiang wasn’t a big deal, but it would seriously affect Huirou’s and Third Brother’s marriage prospects.
The Old Madam patted Mingxi’s hand. “You are a good child.”
“Still, about the household affairs under Eldest Master’s control,” Mingxi added thoughtfully, “it would be better to let Yang Yiniang take over. And from now on, if anyone from the Jiang family comes to visit, just turn them away at the door.”
If the Jiang family had no shame, then there was no need to spare their pride.
Madam Jiang had always leaned on her natal family. If the relationship wasn’t cut off, similar incidents could happen again in the future.
Since they couldn’t force her to leave, they could at least monitor her closely.
The Old Madam nodded slightly. “That’s a good idea. Let her reflect on her actions.”
After chatting with the Old Madam for a while longer, Mingxi headed to Duan Huirou’s courtyard.
Watching Mingxi’s departing figure, the Old Madam sighed to Wan Mama, “Huirou didn’t do wrong this time. Seeing that Mingxi is willing to step in for her, it’s a good sign.”
“Old Madam, the Eldest Miss is deeply loyal. Now that she knows Second Miss was hurt because of her, she’ll have it in her heart. As long as Second Miss doesn’t act foolishly again, I believe things will slowly get better between them,” Wan Mama said happily.
She had watched both girls grow up. Their sisterly discord had been heartbreaking.
If Second Miss truly repented and Eldest Miss was willing to look after her, even if they couldn’t become as close as other sisters, life would at least become much easier for Second Miss.
At Duan Huirou’s courtyard, Duan Qingyin was also visiting. When she saw Mingxi arrive, she hurried up with a smile. “Eldest Sister, what brings you back?”
“I heard about Second Sister’s accident. I came to see her,” Mingxi said directly.
Duan Huirou was reclining on a soft couch with her injured leg wrapped thickly in cloth. Seeing Mingxi suddenly arrive, she panicked, not knowing whether she should try to stand.
Mingxi entered, immediately noticing Huirou’s embarrassed and uneasy expression. Her brows knit tightly, and she carefully examined her — she had grown terribly thin, almost skin and bones.
Duan Huirou met Mingxi’s frowning gaze and trembled with fright, blurting out, “I didn’t follow them to the Jiang house! I didn’t go see Jiang Sujie!”
Mingxi: …
Duan Qingyin quickly added, “Eldest Sister, Second Sister really has been staying in the estate lately. She didn’t know about Madam Jiang being at Mother’s place. Otherwise, she would never have gone.”
Mingxi hadn’t expected Huirou to be this terrified. This Huirou was already nothing like the arrogant, selfish girl she remembered from her previous life.
In her dreams, Huirou had been bossy, condescending, and had never thought herself wrong. For her own advantage and ambitions, she had done anything, no matter the cost.
In her previous life, all of Mingxi’s suffering could be traced back to Madam Jiang and Duan Huirou.
Thus, while Mingxi could forgive anyone else and was willing to help everyone in the Marquis Mansion, she could never easily let go of what Madam Jiang and Duan Huirou had done.
Mingxi sat down on a rosewood chair, looked at Duan Huirou, and said, “I’ve already heard from the two aunts. You did nothing wrong this time.”
Hearing Mingxi say this, Duan Huirou slightly relaxed her tightly clenched handkerchief. She had thought Mingxi was here to scold her.
She hung her head low, not knowing what to say.
Seeing this, Duan Qingyin grew anxious. Such a good opportunity — say something nice to Big Sister!
Left with no choice, she spoke up for Duan Huirou: “Big Sister, afterward, I had someone ask Auntie about it. Auntie said that at first, Mother didn’t know that Madam Jiang intended to take Second Sister away.
Eldest Madam Jiang simply said that she hadn’t seen Second Sister in a long time and missed her terribly, so Mother agreed to let her be picked up. It wasn’t until they met that Eldest Madam Jiang claimed she had a set of jewelry she wanted Second Sister to try on.”
In other words, Eldest Madam Jiang had deceived even Madam Jiang. Still, she added, “Even so, if Mother hadn’t agreed, it wouldn’t have happened.”
At the end of the day, Madam Jiang simply didn’t believe Eldest Madam Jiang would truly harm Duan Huirou.
Mingxi looked at Duan Huirou and said, “Jiang Sujie is already pregnant. Instead of resting properly in the Eastern Palace, she’s busy plotting to have Eldest Madam Jiang abduct you. Think for yourself — what good could possibly come of it?”
Duan Huirou froze. “She’s pregnant?”
“The pregnancy is still early, so it hasn’t been officially announced. But the people in the palace already know,” Mingxi said calmly. “You’d better be smart. Now that Jiang Sujie has entered the Eastern Palace, naturally everything she does is at the Crown Prince’s command. The Jiang family has boarded the Eastern Palace’s ship, while I’ve married Duan Wang. With the interests between us so divided, you should understand the stakes. This time, your injury was caused because of me — I owe you one.”
Duan Huirou sat there pale-faced as tears streamed down her cheeks. How did things come to this?
Once, her mother’s family and her own had been on good terms. Now they had turned into enemies.
In the past, Duan Huirou would have simply blamed Mingxi. But after all that had happened, she had gradually come to realize the truth.
She just hadn’t been willing to believe it.
Yet being forced to jump out of a moving carriage had finally shattered her illusions.
Mingxi was right — the Jiang family and the Duan family were no longer on the same side.
Watching Duan Huirou cry, Mingxi felt no sympathy. She turned her gaze slightly aside and said, “As long as you remain unmarried, Jiang Sujie won’t leave you alone. I will speak to Grandmother about finding you a good marriage.”
Duan Huirou said nothing. She knew she had no right to object anymore.
Seeing her like this, Mingxi frowned again. “Do you have any requests?”
In the past, Duan Huirou had been very picky. But now she had accepted reality. Without Mingxi’s capabilities, even if she married into a prestigious family, she likely wouldn’t live well.
So she shook her head.
Mingxi: …
Seeing the atmosphere stiffen again, Duan Qingyin quickly jumped in with a laugh: “Big Sister, how could Second Sister just come out and say it? I think what she wants is simple: a husband who is kind and dependable, someone who will live peacefully with her. Isn’t that right, Second Sister?”
Although Duan Huirou still felt unwilling inside, she also knew she wasn’t in a position to bargain anymore. She didn’t nod, but she didn’t shake her head either.
Mingxi stood up. “Rest and recover well. I will speak to Grandmother about it.”
Turning around, she left, with Duan Qingyin stamping her foot and hurrying after her.
Meanwhile, Duan Huirou lay against her soft cushion, not moving at all. What could she do? Who else in the manor would stand up for her?
Even if there were someone, no one could beat Duan Mingxi.
In this life, she would never rise above Mingxi again.
Duan Qi had said — if she wanted to live well, she must obey Mingxi.
Even though she was unwilling, she had no ability to resist. All she could do was accept her fate.
The more she thought about it, the more bitter she felt. Life was truly too hard for her now.
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