“Minxi, apologize to the Duchess!” Madam Jiang was trembling with rage. She still wanted this marriage alliance, but her daughter seemed intent on causing trouble!
The Marquis’s household was already in decline, and marriage with the Gao family was the best way to curb this downward trend.
Duan Mingxi blinked innocently, looking puzzled as she replied, “Did I say anything wrong? The Duchess suggested I lacked proper upbringing, so naturally, I assumed her children were exceptionally well-raised. What’s wrong with wanting to learn from her?”
Madam Jiang couldn’t possibly criticize the Gao sisters now, and for a moment, her face flushed with frustration.
The Duchess sneered, “Miss Duan has a sharp tongue. Madam Jiang, you’ll need to manage her well.”
Recalling Duan Mingxi’s generous dowry, the Duchess didn’t entirely break off the engagement, but her expression clearly showed that Madam Jiang should improve Duan Mingxi’s behavior before further discussions.
Once the Duchess had left, Madam Jiang angrily pointed at Duan Mingxi. “Did you do this on purpose?”
“Madam, your words are quite strange. What exactly am I doing intentionally?” Duan Mingxi asked with an expression full of doubt.
Let’s see if you have the nerve to say the Gao sisters are gentle and virtuous—or to admit the truth that today was meant as a matchmaking outing!
Madam Jiang clutched her chest, feeling utterly exasperated. What had she done to deserve such a daughter? If she had known it would come to this, she would never have acknowledged her. A child not raised under her care truly didn’t share her heart.
Madam Jiang was forced to swallow her frustration. The reputations of the Gao sisters in the capital were well-known. If she praised them today, she’d risk slapping herself in the face with contradictions later.
The tension weighed heavily on her, making it impossible to enjoy the outing. With a grim expression, Madam Jiang decided to cut their time short and take Duan Mingxi back to the manor.
Duan Mingxi’s gaze turned even colder as she asked directly, “Madam, since you brought me here to admire the scenery, why are we leaving so soon?”
Madam Jiang: …
The stalemate between mother and daughter deepened.
Duan Mingxi was no longer the considerate and understanding person she had been in her past life. Back then, she had treated everyone kindly and always thought of others, but what had that earned her in the end?
It was clear to her now: a person should live for their own satisfaction. As for others’ feelings? What did they matter to her?
Duan Mingxi deliberately strolled through every corner of Jinrui Garden, spending the entire day there. Only when she had her fill did she follow Madam Jiang—whose face had darkened to the color of soot—back to the manor.
The events of the day were enough to make Madam Jiang so angry that the next morning, she woke up with a blister on her lip.
When Duan Mingxi heard of this, she merely let out a cold laugh. In her past life, she had endured ten years of suffering and ultimately lost her life. What was a mere blister?
Still, it was clear Madam Jiang was trying to pressure her. Soon, rumors spread throughout the manor that the eldest daughter had angered the madam into falling ill.
Seizing the opportunity, Duan Huirou came to accuse her. But Duan Mingxi immediately latched onto the matter, demanding a clear explanation.
Duan Huirou only vaguely attributed the rumors to idle chatter among the servants and refused to name the source.
In her past life, Duan Huirou had used these kinds of ambiguous tactics countless times to pin false accusations on her.
This time, Duan Mingxi grabbed her and marched straight to the old madam’s quarters to demand justice, insisting that Duan Huirou identify the servant responsible for tarnishing her reputation.
She had merely been taken out for a stroll in the garden by the Madam, so how did she end up causing her to fall ill?
Seizing the opportunity, Duan Mingxi revealed everything that Madam Jiang had done at Jinrui Garden, along with the actions of the Gao family mother and son.
A stroll in the garden? It was clearly a marriage meeting.
While Duan Mingxi herself might not have noticed, having just returned to the capital, the Duan family’s second and third madams certainly saw through it.
As the sun set in the west and dusk cast a hazy glow, the remaining light of the setting sun poured over the corridor in front of Rongan Hall, filling the outside with a warm golden glow, while the tension inside was palpable.
Duan Mingxi stood alone at the entrance, her thin silhouette outlined against the light, her youthful face carrying a faint expression of anger and grievance. Everyone’s gaze fell on her, their expressions mixed.
A flicker of panic flashed across Duan Huirou’s face, and she quickly let tears roll down her cheeks, covering her face with a handkerchief and choking out, “If Big Sister is going to push me like this, I may as well find a rope and hang myself.”
Duan Mingxi’s dark eyes showed no emotion; she didn’t even glance at Duan Huirou but looked directly at the Old Madam, saying, “Grandmother, please stand up for me. Just because my younger sister claims that some servant whispered nonsense, I now have to bear the blame for angering the Madam to illness. If I am to be labeled unfilial, isn’t that the same as pushing me toward death as well?”
The Old Madam’s brow twitched, struggling to contain her anger; both of these girls were truly testing her patience.
“Where is your mother? Why hasn’t she arrived yet?”
How this matter would be resolved ultimately depended on what Madam Jiang would do.
Duan Second Madam wanted to make amends with Duan Mingxi. Regardless of whether Chen Qiting could accomplish anything, she felt it necessary to first test Duan Mingxi’s intentions.
After all, judging by Duan Mingxi’s demeanor, she clearly wasn’t going to let the matter rest, looking as if she was determined to seek justice.
Instead of waiting for Madam Jiang to arrive, which would likely yield no good results, she decided to take the initiative and earn some goodwill.
She cleared her throat lightly and said to the Old Madam, “Mother, I think we should summon the overly talkative maid and question her. That way, the truth of the matter can be clarified. Since Eldest Sister-in-law is unwell, let her rest. There’s no need to trouble her further.”
Hearing Second Madam’s words, Duan Mingxi immediately understood her intentions: she wanted to bypass Madam Jiang, involve Duan Huirou, and extend an olive branch to herself.
It was clear that the lure of Master Chen’s favor was irresistible.
While pondering, she heard the Third Madam chime in, echoing Madam Duan, “Mother, Second Sister-in-law is right. If you ask me, it’s the servants in the household who lack discipline. They have no business gossiping about their masters’ affairs. Such people should be brought forward and punished severely to deter others from making similar mistakes.”
Duan Mingxi lowered her head slightly, not looking at anyone, but internally she heaved a sigh of relief. This round was hers.
As long as Madam Jiang was out of the picture, Duan Huirou would surely be exposed.
As expected, Second Madam and Third Madam teamed up, and Duan Huirou finally panicked. Her once-beautiful face turned ghostly pale.
The Old Madam, seeing this, couldn’t help but understand what was going on. After all, Duan Huirou was her granddaughter, and she had doted on her since she was young. She still wanted to save face for her.
She signaled Wan Mama beside her to investigate the matter. Wan Mama took Second Miss aside and spoke softly to her. Soon after, Duan Huirou, choking back sobs, reluctantly revealed a name.
Wan Mama bowed and withdrew.
Duan Mingxi, watching coldly, realized that the Old Madam intended to protect Duan Huirou by finding a scapegoat to appease her.
Sure enough, before long, Duan Huirou’s chief maid, Chunluo, was dragged in. Her face was covered with slap marks, and the moment she entered, she knelt and confessed her guilt, repeatedly kowtowing and apologizing to Duan Mingxi.
The Old Madam addressed Duan Mingxi, “Your Second Sister was misled by those around her. Chunluo always seemed like a good maid, but who knew she’d do something like this? As your grandmother, I’ll decide this matter. I’ll have her sold off. What do you think?”
“Grandmother!” Duan Huirou cried out in alarm at the sight of the ashen-faced Chunluo.
“Silence!” the Old Madam scolded angrily. “Failing to discern people’s true nature and poor management—you need to reflect on your mistakes. You’ll be confined to your quarters for three days. Take this time to think it over.”
Before Duan Mingxi could respond, the Old Madam swiftly dealt with Chunluo by selling her off and ordered Duan Huirou to be confined, making it seem as though she had delivered justice with a firm hand.
Second Madam and Third Madam exchanged a glance and smiled faintly. Since the Old Madam had made her decision, they wouldn’t go against her for Duan Mingxi’s sake.
When Duan Mingxi left Rongan Hall, she was in high spirits. She hadn’t expected this incident to result in Duan Huirou losing her most trusted aide.
Second Madam and Madam Third had done an excellent job stirring the pot.
“Mingxi.”
Hearing Second Madam’s voice, Duan Mingxi stopped in her tracks. “Second Aunt, thank you and Third Aunt for standing up for justice earlier.”
Second Madam replied with righteous indignation, “You were wronged. How could I turn a blind eye? It’s still early. Why not come to my place for some tea?”
Duan Mingxi knew Second Madam must have something to discuss. Coincidentally, she also had something she wanted Second Madam’s help with, so she followed her to the second branch.
From afar, she saw Madam Jiang hurrying over, but she didn’t spare her a single glance.
