Mrs. Ding said confidently, "We poor people have our own way of living. We have survived such difficult times in the past, let alone now. This is not mine and I cannot accept it."

"You must have gone to ask Mi Niang, and she definitely wouldn't allow it." Mrs. Jane thought it was her.

This girl, although young, is extremely shrewd and worldly-wise, and very cold-blooded. She doesn't recognize her grandmother at all, which is normal, but why would a granddaughter often interfere in the affairs between her and her daughter?

What does this have to do with her?

She could deny her grandmother, but she couldn't stop Shujun from recognizing her as her mother.

Yes, she was a little selfish, but that didn't mean she really wanted to harm Second Wife. She also wanted her daughter, whom she had never taken care of before, to get property and live a comfortable life in the future.

Just like when she left the Lu family, she left half of her dowry to her daughter.

Mrs. Ding did not comment, "If there is nothing else, I will leave first."

She couldn't stay for long, and didn't want to say much. It would be bad if she was discovered by the Imperial Guard.

Seeing her walk away without looking back, Madam Jian called out to her and stopped her: "We are mother and daughter, and we may never see each other again. I am just doing my best. Why do you have to keep me at a distance?"

If Ding Erniang had only thought that she was hypocritical before, now she was very disgusted with her playing the emotional card: "I didn't have it before, and I don't need it in the future. You gave birth to me, but I also suffered for more than ten years. In the end, it was my husband who saved me from the water and fire, and it was my daughter who cared for me and loved me. Let's say goodbye now."

Having said that, he left without saying anything.

Mrs. Jane sat in the chair in a daze, feeling extremely desolate for a moment.

Mrs. Ding came out of Jian's house and breathed a sigh of relief. She met Mrs. Zhang at the door again. Mrs. Zhang was still wearing a mud-gold horse-faced skirt with twelve pleats, which was very exquisite. She came in a hurry.

Mrs. Zhang was also startled when she saw Second Madam Ding, but Second Madam Ding smiled and said, "Long time no see."

She is no longer the village woman who is at the mercy of others. Mrs. Zhang was high and mighty at that time, but now she is not as calm as Mrs. Ding.

Mrs. Zhang raised her chin proudly: "Why are you here?" She thought to herself that something was wrong. Could it be that the mother and daughter had reconciled?

If Madam Jian and Second Madam Ding reconciled, where would there be any place for her? Since ancient times, blood ties have been absolutely unbreakable and closer than anything else.

She had always cared about this matter. If Second Madam Ding did not recognize Mrs. Jian, then she would always be the eldest daughter of the Jian family.

She felt a little guilty at first about the way she had dealt with Fu Ding's second wife, but later she became calm about it.

Now she is most fearful.

Who knew that Second Madam Ding just smiled and said, "Of course I was invited by someone else, why are you here too?"

Mrs. Ding ridiculed her for not being the daughter of the Jian family at all, but she was pretending to be someone she was not.

Although Mrs. Zhang was afraid that Mrs. Jian would reconcile with her and her daughter, she still spoke in a condescending manner: "My mother loves me and calls me back from time to time. Alas, I said that I am married now and it is not good to go back to my parents' home all the time, but there is no other way. My mother misses me and my Cong brother, so how can I not come back?"

After she said this, Second Madam Ding was not angry as expected. Instead, she said, "Mrs. Zhang, you are so lucky to have such a good mother to take care of you."

"I'm glad you know." Mrs. Zhang thought to herself. From her tone, it was clear that she and Mrs. Jian had not reached an agreement. She was secretly happy.

Mrs. Ding turned around and left, but ran into Jian Ningchu on the corridor. Jian Ningchu was always very polite, and when she saw Mrs. Ding, she quickly bowed, but Mrs. Ding felt very sorry.

Because this girl is really good, but she has a bad fate.

If she was her own daughter, she would be heartbroken.

Jian Ningchu has always been sensitive, so of course she did not miss the look from Second Mistress Ding just now, which was full of pity.

Why should she pity herself?

The answer is already obvious.

She is still deceiving herself and still has a glimmer of hope.

Dong'an Marquis Mansion

Xu stood outside Songhe Hall where Old Madam Weng lived. Mother Tang stood behind her, holding a red lacquer tray in the color of a crabapple tree in both hands. On the lacquer tray was a pair of white jade Guanyin statues.

The most amazing thing about this Guanyin is that because the jade was obtained from thousands of years of ice, it emits white smoke when it encounters heat, as if it is surrounded by fairy air.

This is something that Xu cherishes. It was the most valuable dowry when she got married, so she treasured it. Now she opened the box and took it out specially for her son's wedding.

This marriage was proposed by Old Madam Weng, and if we cancel the engagement now, it must be her who cancels it.

Hearing the maid's call, Xu gathered her clothes and went up the stairs.

Entering the inner room, Mrs. Weng had just stood up. She looked at Xu and said, "You came so early in the morning, there must be something going on."

The two have been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for many years and understand each other.

When you show courtesy to others, you must have a reason for doing so.

This daughter-in-law usually gives gifts so solemnly because she has something going on.

Xu knelt down and said, "My daughter-in-law is here for Weijun's marriage. Please help me, old lady."

When she heard that it was Weijun's wedding, Old Lady Weng relaxed: "The Jian family has almost prepared everything, and they will be able to marry soon. Don't worry, I will tell the Marquis to let them live in the main courtyard."

Anyway, Fang Weichang's first wife is no longer a good wife, the second son has been exiled, and the third son is even worse. He is a playboy and a philanderer. You can let him go to brothels, but if you let him do things, it depends on his mood.

Wei Yan is not bad, but it's a pity that he is determined to pursue a career in politics.

Xu looked around and saw Mrs. Weng frowning. Could it be that? She sent the servant away and asked Xu, "What's going on?"

"My daughter-in-law wants to ask if this marriage can be cancelled. I heard that the Jian family is not doing well. What if it involves our family? Wei Jun can't marry the daughter of a convicted official!"

"What?"

Old Madam Weng was a person who enjoyed a good life, and because of her previous illness, no one would tell her about what was happening outside, so she didn't know about these things.

She said in disbelief: "How could the Jian family come to this point? It's impossible, right?"

Xu shook her head. "Years ago, the memorials impeaching Lord Jian had piled up like a mountain. Lord Jian had been reflecting on himself behind closed doors. I heard that the Emperor was furious. Madam Jian was looking for ways everywhere. Prime Minister Zhang had already been reprimanded once and impeached by the censors."

Mrs. Weng's expression relaxed: "It's nothing, these civil servants have ups and downs--"

"No, Lord Yan of the Yushitai has already started to make complaints one after another. Wei Yan said that he is afraid that there is no way to save the situation."

When she heard that it was Fang Weiyan who said that, Mrs. Weng became anxious, because Fang Weiyan rarely spoke empty words, and if he said it was not good, then it definitely would not be good.

But Madam Weng thought of Madam Jian and couldn't help saying, "If that's the case, we should marry Ningchu. This will also show our affection and loyalty."

If she had a falling out with the Jian family, and Mrs. Jian was still managing the dozen or so shops under her control, then Mrs. Jian would definitely take them back.

Xu gritted her teeth. This old hag always only cared about herself.

But she would never give in. She would never allow her son to marry the descendant of a convicted official.