“Now, is Grandfather willing to have a talk with me?”
Madam Xiao was a little curious. She wondered what Mingxi wanted to discuss with the old master—couldn’t it be said here?
Through the curtain, the old master’s voice came, stern and decisive: “Come with me inside.”
Madam Xiao could no longer hear anything as the old master led Mingxi into the inner room.
Taking a deep breath, Madam Xiao composed herself, pretending she had just arrived. She lifted the curtain and entered the hall.
The atmosphere inside was tense and stifling. The old madam wore a grim expression, her mother-in-law’s face was ashen, and Duan Huirou’s eyes were red from crying, still glinting with a hint of anger.
The third master and his wife were sitting stiffly, their faces frozen, while only the second madam’s expression remained relatively composed.
Madam Xiao dared not say a word. She crept along the wall to stand beside Madam Jiang.
The second madam’s eyes shifted, her thoughts churning. She was still clinging to the idea of dividing the family estate. This seemed like a perfect opportunity—if they missed it, who knew when the chance to split the household would come again?
The Second Madam glanced at the Third Madam, but the latter, still fuming over her husband, failed to catch the signal.
The Second Madam grew anxious but dared not show it openly in front of the Old Madam and Madam Jiang. Instead, she subtly glanced at the Old Madam and Madam Jiang, then raised her hand slightly, miming the act of flipping through an account ledger.
Only then did the Third Madam understand. She frowned slightly—bringing up the idea of splitting the family estate at a time like this?
Even without considering others, her own foolish husband would never agree.
The Third Madam dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, using the gesture to exchange a meaningful look with the Second Madam. They would act when the time was right.
Things had already escalated; there was no point in holding back now. For years, the main branch had held the title and wealth, while Madam Jiang managed the household, yet the family’s fortunes only dwindled further. It was time for accounting.
In the inner chamber, Duan Mingxi and the Old Master were locked in a standoff.
Duan Mingxi had made up her mind: if she couldn’t secure a voice within the Marquis’s residence, Madam Jiang and Duan Huirou would continue to make her life miserable.
“Grandfather, what do you think?”
The Old Master stared at her intently. “You certainly are bold.”
Duan Mingxi smiled. “If I had someone to protect and care for me, to take care of all my worries, and all I needed to do was complain about those I disliked to resolve my problems, I’d gladly play the role of a sheltered young lady.”
“If your temperament were softer, your mother wouldn’t have had to act this way.”
“If you put it that way, then we really have nothing to discuss. Marquis Madam hasn’t spared even the smallest fraction of her heart for me, yet you expect me to be utterly filial and obedient to her? That’s simply impossible.”
The Old Master had never encountered someone like Duan Mingxi—unyielding and utterly unresponsive to both persuasion and coercion.
“Grandfather, the Marquis’s residence is now a sinking ship in the capital. My older brother is far from competent, and pinning hopes on him to bring glory to the family seems unlikely. Second Uncle and Third Uncle’s futures are uncertain, and the household is running entirely on your support. To speak frankly, how much longer can you hold things together?”
The Old Master: …
“The financial decline of this family isn’t new. Surely you’ve noticed it by now. With the Second and Third Madams assisting the Marquis Madam in managing the household, they must have examined the ledgers and realized the dire situation.”
As Duan Mingxi spoke, the Old Master’s expression gradually stabilized.
He sat quietly, observing Mingxi without interrupting, letting her continue.
“For a family to thrive, it needs a just and respected elder to take charge. The Old Madam’s favoritism toward the main branch has allowed Marquis Madam to embezzle family funds to cover the Marquis’s losses.
“The shizi’s expenses have also grown exponentially, and they’re all drawn from the public accounts. Do you think the Second and Third Madams will remain content once they’ve seen the ledgers?”
“How do you know these things?” the Old Master asked gravely. These were family secrets—how could Duan Mingxi, a recent returnee, know about them?
Duan Mingxi let out a soft chuckle. “Money can make the devil turn the millstone. Ever since Marquis Madam tried to sell me off to Duke Gao’s household, I knew something was amiss. I spent a hefty sum to bribe a few people, and that’s how I uncovered the truth.”
“What do you want?” The Old Master had to admit his surprise—Duan Mingxi had uncovered so much in such a short time, a testament to the household’s crumbling integrity.
“Let’s not talk about what I want just yet. Let me first tell you what I can offer.”
“Go ahead.”
“If the Marquis’s household hopes to regain its former glory, its descendants must prove themselves. Among them, the most promising in academics is Second Brother, Duan Ning. He’s currently studying under Uncle Chen. With hard work, he has a fair chance of passing the imperial exams.”
The Old Master clearly wasn’t satisfied—Duan Ning was an illegitimate child, after all.
“Grandfather, passing the exam is only the first step. There are appointments to secure and assignments to remote provinces to consider. If posted to some backwater, achieving merit will be nearly impossible. He might end up a mere county magistrate for life.
“To put it bluntly, the real expenses come later. Don’t you agree? So, while encouraging the younger generation to study diligently is essential, the family also needs to generate income.
“My adoptive father in Jiangcheng raised me as a son, teaching me how to manage a household and earn money. Making money is a simple matter for me.
“The Marquis’s household may be broke, but with me around, it will never run out of money.”
Her words were undeniably bold. The Old Master scrutinized his granddaughter, once again lamenting the fact that she wasn’t a grandson.
If she had been born a boy, someone of her caliber would have undoubtedly revived the family’s prestige.
“What do you want?” The Old Master realized she wouldn’t offer such a tempting deal without demanding something substantial in return.
Duan Mingxi smiled earnestly. “I only have two conditions. First, I will decide my own marriage. Since Marquis Madam loathes me so much, she must stay out of my affairs. Second, the family must not interfere in my private matters.”
The Old Master nearly laughed in exasperation. Bold, indeed!
Back in his youth, he had been just as fearless. This child clearly shared some of his fiery spirit.
The room fell silent, save for the Old Master’s slightly heavy breathing.
Duan Mingxi stood tall and resolute. If this negotiation fell through, she would resort to other means. She wouldn’t rest until she achieved her goals, even if it meant flipping the entire household upside down.
Madam Jiang wanted to control her?
Ha.
Dream on.
This time, she would sever ties with them once and for all.
The Old Master noticed the unyielding determination in her eyes. He realized that Madam Jiang had thoroughly angered her and that she was intent on drawing a clear boundary.
Even if he refused her now, she would eventually find another way to succeed, likely causing an even greater uproar and forcing their hand.
This child was ruthless.
The wolfish glint in her eyes stirred an odd sense of excitement in the old man.
“I’ll ask you one thing: do you already have plans for your marriage?”
Duan Mingxi was momentarily stunned. Of all the questions, she hadn’t expected this one.
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to at least 5 chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
