Duan Mingxi carefully explained the situation to her parents. “With this arrangement, the Marquis family will have to rely on Father for financial support. This way, your daughter can live comfortably in their household.”
“This is manageable,” Duan Pingchang immediately agreed. If there was one thing he excelled at, it was business.
Back when his daughter suggested using Jiang Bingyuan’s scheme to their advantage, he had invested 500,000 taels of silver to open doors and gain access to the Internal weaving and dyeing bureau.
Now, with the Internal weaving and dyeing bureau as his backing, he could provide support for his daughter.
The Marquis family might appear prestigious, but they were all show and lacked financial power. Their so-called status was just a façade.
With Mingxi acting as a bridge, the Marquis family needed to rely on him to earn money, meaning they had to treat Mingxi with respect.
Duan Pingchang breathed a slight sigh of relief. At last, he could be of help to his daughter. As his business grew in the capital, his influence would increase, making Mingxi’s life even better.
Although merchants held low social status, a wealthy and powerful merchant was a different story.
In this moment, Duan Pingchang’s determination to amass more wealth was born.
His daughter was destined to become the Duan Wangfei; he couldn’t afford to be a disgrace. He had to be her pillar of support so that when others spoke of him, they would praise Mingxi for having such a capable foster father.
Meanwhile, Madam Xu wasn’t thinking as far ahead. She was happily showing Mingxi the new jewelry she had purchased—a three-layer jewelry box packed full.
Nearly all of the latest fashionable jewelry in the capital was there.
“Mother, I already have jewelry. Father just spent 500,000 taels of silver; we should be more frugal for now,” Mingxi said, feeling touched yet helpless.
Madam Xu waved it off. “This is nothing. Besides, it wasn’t your father’s money—it was sent by your uncle and aunt for you.”
Mingxi was taken aback. “Uncle and Aunt?”
“Exactly. Your cousin is currently looking for a marriage match. Otherwise, your aunt would have come to the capital to see you,” Madam Xu said with a smile. “Your cousin’s marriage has also been settled. She’s at home embroidering her dowry and can’t go out, but she misses you.”
Duan Mingxi’s heart clenched with emotion. In her past life, shortly after her parents’ accident, her uncle’s business suffered a major blow. Her male cousin was beaten and left crippled, while her female cousin had to break off her engagement to help her family and ended up marrying a widower.
But now her parents were fine, so her uncle’s family would surely be safe as well.
Duan Mingxi lowered her head to hide the tears in her eyes and softly said, “It’s too generous of Uncle and Aunt. Finding a match for Cousin is an important matter. We’ll have plenty of chances to meet later; there’s no rush.”
“That’s exactly what I told your aunt, but she just misses you. Back in Jiangcheng, your aunt always doted on you and would’ve taken you back to the Xu family if she could.”
She even hoped her son could marry Mingxi so the families could become closer. If Mingxi hadn’t returned to the capital, their families might already be discussing the match.
Thinking of her nephew Ji Shu, Madam Xu knew of his feelings for Mingxi. But unfortunately, it wasn’t possible. Mingxi was a noblewoman of the Marquis family and couldn’t marry the son of a merchant.
Her sister-in-law was now in a hurry to find a match for Ji Shu, worried he might dwell on his feelings for Mingxi. Once Ji Shu had a fiancée, those feelings would gradually fade.
Mingxi said happily, “I miss Uncle and Aunt too. Before Cousin gets married, let them bring her to the capital for a visit. That way, we can meet. When she gets married, I’ll prepare a generous gift for her to take to her new family—no one will dare bully her then.”
The title of Duan Wangfei carried a lot of weight.
“Alright, I’ll write to your aunt soon,” Madam Xu agreed readily. Since she and her husband were planning to stay in the capital, chances to visit her brother and sister-in-law would be fewer. A trip to the capital would be ideal.
Duan Mingxi left the Duan family estate and returned to the Marquis’s Manor, carrying a large jewelry box that was impossible to hide. She decided not to bother concealing it.
Her interactions with her adoptive parents were not something she intended to keep secret. On the contrary, she used this opportunity to make them public.
As for what Madam Jiang and her father, the Marquis, thought about it—she didn’t care. Those who didn’t value her didn’t deserve her attention either.
As expected, Madam Jiang was infuriated, while Marquis Dingyuan was a bit displeased. However, with Yang Yiniang whispering in his ear, he only grumbled a few words before letting it go.
With Duan Pingchang’s support, the Marquis’s family business improved significantly. The Old Madam handed over the list of managers to Mingxi, who promptly sent them all to the shops.
Mingxi didn’t care about the Marquis’s assets. Since the Old Madam didn’t trust Madam Jiang anymore, it seemed she wanted Mingxi to take control of the family’s business.
But none of this concerned her. Whether it was the second or Third Madam of the family, none had separated from the main household. Even if they were dissatisfied, they wouldn’t dare show it.
Mingxi had a favorable impression of the second and third madam. After cooperating with them this time, their relationship deepened compared to her previous life. She even allocated part of her share of the Marquis’s estate to support their dowry shops.
This move freed the second and third madams from the need to monitor the public business accounts and made them more supportive of Mingxi.
By this point, the dynamics within the Marquis’s Manor had shifted significantly.
Only Madam Jiang and her daughter, Duan Huirou, refused to yield. But reconciliation was no longer possible, even if they wanted it. Mingxi had no intention of forgiving them.
The Marquis’s Manor was bustling with cheer, except for the increasingly bitter Madam Jiang and her daughter.
As the Emperor’s birthday approached, developments regarding the Internal Internal weaving and dyeing bureau were also concluded.
Chen Yisheng and Zhao Xunjong were dismissed, while Xie Fang successfully secured the position of Qianshu. The other Qianshu post went to Tong Gaozhuo.
Everyone believed Tong Gaozhuo to be one of the Emperor’s men, but only Mingxi knew he belonged to the Crown Prince.
Superficially, the Crown Prince and Qi Wang seemed evenly matched, but Mingxi understood that Qi Wang had suffered a slight loss.
With the palace preparing for the Emperor’s birthday celebrations, Mingxi received a decree to attend the festivities. Over the years, as the Marquis’s Manor declined, no one else from the family had been granted this honor except her.
Duan Huirou was furious. While the Marquis’s family still had the privilege of attending annual palace banquets, they hadn’t received an invitation for the Emperor’s birthday—a clear indication of Mingxi’s behind-the-scenes influence.
The more Huirou thought about it, the angrier she became. But with the Marquis’s household now united under Mingxi, she had no means of retaliation.
Previously reliant on the Jiang family, they now resented Huirou and her mother due to the trouble with her third uncle.
Huirou couldn’t accept defeat. If only Mingxi had never returned!
Meanwhile, Mingxi began preparing the Emperor’s birthday tribute. The gift couldn’t be too extravagant, but it also couldn’t be too modest.
Although her tribute wouldn’t reach the Emperor directly, it was important not to draw criticism.
Just then, Xiancao hurriedly lifted the curtain and walked in quickly.
“Miss, Li Quan just brought news. Xie Fang was attacked and had an arm broken.”
Duan Mingxi abruptly stood. “When did this happen?”
“This evening. Xie Fang was dining with colleagues and was attacked on the way back to his residence.”
Duan Mingxi’s expression turned grave. This was no coincidence—someone was clearly targeting Xie Fang!
She was about to visit the Third Madam when the Third Madam arrived on her own.
