Chapter 137 First Stop Upon Returning to the Capital: The Duke of Jin's Mansion
It was already evening when Madam Min and her entourage arrived in the capital.
Before they even entered the city, Madam Min Qiao had Yang An and A Jiu lead several servants to take dozens of children to a manor in the outskirts of the capital to settle them down.
After Yang An and Ajiu left with their men, Madam Min Qiao, along with Madam Zhou, Qiao Yuanyao, and Mu Jin and her son, entered the city under the escort of the bodyguards and the remaining servants.
After entering the city, the convoy split into two groups at the city gate.
Led by Ayi and Aqi, the group, along with Zhou Shi, Qiao Yuanyao, Fangfeng, and their luggage, returned to the Xuanping Marquis's residence.
The other group, led by Madam Min Qiao, went directly to the Duke of Jin's mansion with Mu Jin, A Shuang, A Si, and several servants.
Watching Min Qiaoshi leave in a light carriage, Qiao Yuanyao asked Ayi in confusion, "Where is Aunt going? Isn't she coming back to the Marquis's residence with us?"
Along the way, Qiao Yuanyao had already become familiar with several of the maids serving Madam Min.
Ayi didn't hide anything and said with a solemn expression, "The Dowager Lady of the Duke of Jin's Mansion is ill. The Dowager Lady and Madam Zheng are very close friends, and the Dowager Lady has been worried all the way. She is in a hurry to visit her."
Qiao Yuanyao nodded knowingly: "I see."
“But,” Qiao Yuanyao said hesitantly, “with my aunt not here, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for us to go to the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence so abruptly?”
Madam Zhou hesitated for a moment, "How about Miss Ayi takes us to an inn to settle down for the night, and we'll come and bother you again after the Grand Madam is done with her work?"
Ayi quickly waved her hand with a smile, "That won't do. Aunt and Cousin, please don't say such things. Before she left, the Grand Madam instructed me to take you all back to the Marquis's residence to settle in. A couple of days ago, after we disembarked, the Grand Madam sent someone back to inform you in advance. I suppose Sister Weijia has already prepared the courtyard for Aunt and Cousin to stay in."
At this point, Ayi added, "Sister Weijia is the head maidservant of the Grand Madam. She is in charge of all of the Grand Madam's affairs. I am just helping Sister Weijia out."
Zhou looked at Ayi gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, young lady."
Qiao Yuanyao also took out a small purse containing loose silver and handed it to Ayi, saying, "We are new here, so we are grateful for your help, young lady. This is just a small token of our appreciation, please don't find it offensive."
Ayi smiled and declined, saying, "Auntie, cousin, please don't be so polite. It's a blessing for us to be able to serve the Grand Madam. As time goes by, you'll understand that the maids of Songhe Hall don't accept these things."
Others accept these gifts because they are short of money and greedy for money.
But the people of Songhetang are not short of money, and no one would risk losing their job at Songhetang for such a petty gain.
"I see?"
Seeing that Ayi was sincere, Qiao Yuanyao could only awkwardly smile and put the small purse back.
She and her mother had even embroidered many small purses on the boat, each containing some loose silver coins, all for the purpose of rewarding the maids serving Min Qiao Shi.
After all, she would be relying on Madam Min Qiao for survival in the Xuanping Marquis's residence in the future, so she couldn't afford to offend the maids around her easily.
God knows how much it hurt her to stuff the money into her purse.
Leaving Jiangnan and the Qiao family, she will now have to shoulder the responsibility of earning money to support her family!
Although her uncle gave the second branch of the family a considerable amount of money when he left, she couldn't just sit around and do nothing! Besides, she wanted to leave all that money to her eldest and second brothers. They were the ones who had truly sacrificed the most for this family!
They were initially reluctant to part with the money they had put in their pockets, but who knew that the other party wouldn't take their money at all.
***
After separating from the main group, Min Qiaoshi took Mu Jin and headed straight for the Duke of Jin's mansion.
The Duke of Jin and his wife were honest and kind people, without any ulterior motives or social skills. Therefore, the Duke of Jin's mansion would close its doors and windows early every day as soon as it got dark.
When Madam Min arrived, the Duke of Jin's mansion was already closed and locked.
Ah Shuang stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon, the doorman poked his head out and asked, "Who's knocking?"
"I am from the Xuanping Marquis's residence. Our Grand Madam has come with a doctor to examine your Grand Madam."
"The Dowager Lady of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence?" The servant was puzzled. "Didn't the Dowager Lady of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence go to Jiangnan? We haven't heard of her returning."
Ah Shuang patiently explained, "Our Madam came straight to your Duke's mansion as soon as she entered the city. She even brought a doctor back from Jiangnan to treat her. Why don't you go in and inform her?"
"Oh, okay, just a moment." The servant glanced in the direction of the carriage, then quickly closed the door and went inside to inform the carriage.
Before long, Lady Bai, the wife of the Duke of Jin, came out to greet them personally.
"Madam Qiao, you've finally returned to the capital." Madam Bai curtsied and personally took Madam Min Qiao's arm, leading her into the mansion. "My mother-in-law has been talking about you these past few days. She'll be so happy to see you."
"How is your mother-in-law now? Is she any better?" Madam Min asked with concern.
Upon hearing this, Bai's eyes visibly reddened. "My mother-in-law... her condition isn't good."
Madam Bai paused for a moment, but still said, "My mother-in-law has been talking about you these days, saying, saying she doesn't know if she'll be able to see you one last time..."
As she spoke, Bai Shi couldn't help but burst into tears.
Like the Duke of Jin, she genuinely treated Lady Zheng as her own mother.
Before meeting Lady Zheng, the Duke of Jin was an orphan from a collateral branch of the family without parents, while she was a pitiful little girl living under the harsh treatment of her stepmother.
Their lives were completely transformed after they met Madam Zheng, and it was only after meeting Madam Zheng that they learned what motherly love truly meant.
Seeing Bai's genuine emotions, Min Qiao was also somewhat moved.
However, what worried her even more was the condition of Madam Zheng.
"How could it have gotten to this point in just two months?"
Madam Min was greatly alarmed. Madam Zheng's words sounded like her last words, which was very distressing to hear.
Bai Shi fought back tears and choked out, "Mother, she doesn't want to live anymore."
"What is the reason for this?" Madam Min Qiao asked in shock.
“My mother was a strong-willed woman who loved to move around. She used to enjoy going to the palace to chat with the Empress Dowager and play chess. But ever since this happened, she can’t even get out of bed. She needs to be taken care of in every way, from eating and drinking to using the toilet.”
After hesitating for a moment, Madam Bai gritted her teeth and said, "When the old lady of the Ministry of Works came to visit my mother, for some reason, my mother suddenly lost control of her bladder that day... My mother is such a strong-willed person. She lost face in front of others and then had thoughts of suicide."
"I and the Duke tried our best to persuade her, and even issued an order that no outsiders would be allowed to see my mother. I thought that with time, everything would be fine."
"Who knew that this matter would somehow spread and become known to others. When my mother found out, she was immediately filled with thoughts of suicide again."
"Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager was furious and immediately issued an imperial edict ordering the old lady of the Minister's Mansion to go to the Duke of Jin's Mansion to kowtow and apologize."
"Unexpectedly, the old lady Sun cried out that she was innocent and refused to admit it, saying that she did not spread the rumors. She even ran into a pillar without saying a word."
"The Minister of Works could not bear to see his wife humiliated, so he took the matter to the Emperor."
"His Majesty was furious, but out of consideration for the dignity of the imperial family, he still ordered Madam Sun to come to our residence to kowtow and apologize to my mother in accordance with the Empress Dowager's decree."
"But afterwards, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a falling out."
"I heard that the Empress Dowager was so angry that she fell seriously ill."
"Because of this, Mother felt that she had implicated the Empress Dowager. No wonder she became even more unwilling to live..."
After hearing Bai's story, Min Qiao felt her fists harden.
The Minister of Works, it's the Minister of Works again!
They've tried one scheme after another, determined to drive Lady Zheng to her death before they'll stop.
Very well, she'll remember this grudge.
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