Chapter 31 Methods to Debunk Rumors
When they returned from the Prince of Chang'an's residence, Granny Fang and Ajiu went back to Songhe Hall first. Weijia accompanied Madam Min Qiao to Ruyun Pavilion.
After returning home, Granny Fang instructed people to prepare everything for Min Qiao's accommodation, but Min Qiao did not return for a long time.
So he brought two maids and carried lanterns to Ruyun Pavilion.
As they entered, they saw Min Qiaoshi squatting in front of Feixu's body, lost in thought. Wei Jia was supporting Min Qiaoshi to prevent her from falling.
Although Min Qiaoshi didn't cry, Wei Jia could tell that Min Qiaoshi was actually very sad.
To be honest, Wei Jia couldn't quite understand Min Qiao's grief.
After she came to Songhetang, she also heard the maids from before talk about flying catkins.
They said that Feixu used to be favored by the old lady, and that she was lively and cheerful, yet also arrogant.
At the same time, they also mentioned that Feixu was actually a very silly and foolish girl. She actually abandoned her status as a head maid for the sake of a minor steward and took the initiative to beg the Grand Madam to leave Songhe Hall.
As for what happened later, Wei Jia witnessed Fei Xu crying and begging to come back several times.
Wei Jia has a very low opinion of people who are short-sighted, lack ambition, have no sense of self, and even betray their masters.
Therefore, Wei Jia fully agreed with the old lady's firm refusal to let Fei Xu return to Songhe Hall.
She thought that the old lady also disliked flying catkins.
To her surprise, the old lady was saddened by Feixu's death.
She didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only stand guard beside the old lady to prevent her from falling.
Just when she was at her wit's end, Granny Fang arrived.
"Madam."
Granny Fang stepped forward, squatted down, gently put her arm around Madam Min's shoulder, and whispered, "Cry, it'll make you feel better."
When Granny Fang entered the room, her eyes were already red, and her voice was choked with sobs.
Like the Grand Madam, she had personally witnessed how Feixu grew from an eight-year-old child who had just entered the mansion to a first-class maid.
She understood better than anyone the significance of the flying catkins to the old lady.
Feixu's enthusiasm and simplicity, and her unusual closeness and joy towards the old lady, were once a spice in the old lady's otherwise unremarkable and bitter life.
Every time she saw Feixu's simple and clear smile, the old lady would feel genuinely happy.
If the Dowager is happy, she will be happy too.
Therefore, she indulged and pampered Feixu more than anyone else.
Perhaps it was because she and the Grand Madam had protected Feixu so well from the very beginning, keeping her innocent and naive, that she was so easily fooled by the tricks of the Marquis's wife and Wu Cheng.
Madam Min remained silent, while Granny Fang, who had come to comfort her, burst into tears until Wei Jia reminded her, "Granny Fang, please stop crying! It's so cold, the Grand Madam will catch a chill soon!"
Fang Mama then snapped out of her reverie, quickly suppressing her grief, and carefully advised Madam Min Qiao, "Madam, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Feixu loved you dearly when she was alive, and she wouldn't want to see you abusing your health like this. Let's go back."
As she spoke, Granny Fang couldn't help but shed tears again. If it weren't for what happened in Wucheng, Feixu would have been the most trusted maidservant by the Grand Madam's side.
Madam Min Qiao pulled herself out of her thoughts and suppressed the last trace of sadness in her heart. She stood up with the help of Granny Fang.
Because I had been squatting for a while, my legs and feet were a little numb, and I almost lost my balance.
Wei Jia quickly stepped forward to help her up. After Min Qiao Shi regained her balance, she bent down and gently massaged Min Qiao Shi's legs and feet.
"Alright, let's go."
Min Qiaoshi took Wei Jia's hand and walked into the main room.
"Madam, aren't we going back to Songhe Hall?" Granny Fang asked, noticing that Madam Min was heading in the wrong direction.
"There are still some things that haven't been taken care of."
Min Qiao explained, then leaned against Wei Jia and slowly entered the main room.
Min Rong and Wu Shi were still sitting in the main room.
Upon seeing Madam Min Qiao enter, the two quickly stood up.
However, there was a hint of guilt in their eyes when they looked at Madam Min.
They had all heard Madam Min Qiao stay in the courtyard for so long guarding Fei Xu's body, and they had also heard Granny Fang's cries later.
To them, Feixu was nothing more than a valuable little maidservant they could use.
Once she's no longer of any use, we can just throw her away.
Little did anyone expect that her death would leave the old lady so deeply troubled.
Min Rong knew that Wu had arranged for Wucheng District to seduce Fei Xu, and was even happy about it.
However, no one expected things to turn out this way.
Feixu died, the old lady lost her beloved maid, and they also lost their daughter's health.
No one benefited from this.
The Marquis of Xuanping and his wife had mixed feelings.
Regardless of what they thought, Madam Min had calmed down after crying.
"I don't want to get involved in what happened before, but now that things have escalated to this point, how do you plan to clean up this mess?"
Madam Min Qiao looked coldly at Madam Min Rong and Madam Wu.
Wu's eyes were glazed over, her mind blank, and she had no ideas.
Min Rong thought for a moment and said, "For now, the Marquis's mansion can only keep a low profile for a while. As time goes by, the storm will naturally pass."
Madam Min Qiao glanced at Min Rong with disdain. "Keep a low profile for a while? How long? Ten days or half a month? Or a year or two? How long do you think it will take for the gossip outside to subside?"
"It was your words at the Prince's mansion that put our Marquis's mansion in the eye of the storm."
Madam Wu already knew the reason for Min Rong's anger, as well as Madam Min Qiao's rebuttal and clarification at the gate of the Prince of Chang'an's mansion.
Hearing the old lady's righteous questioning, she couldn't help but mutter something under her breath.
Although Madam Min is old, she is not yet at the age where her hearing is failing.
Hearing Wu's words, she was not angry, but just looked at Wu coldly.
The cause of the matter was clear to everyone. If Madam Wu hadn't asked the Earl of An'nan's wife to spread rumors about Madam Min Qiao, Madam Min Qiao wouldn't have publicly clarified the situation...
"Shut up!"
Min Rong glared at Wu Shi with a warning look in his eyes.
Ms. Wu pursed her lips, looking embarrassed, but ultimately kept quiet.
"Mother, I'm at my wit's end. Please teach me." Min Rong said with a humble expression.
He knew that Min Qiaoshi was the most capable person in the family.
If anyone could save the Xuanping Marquis's mansion from this predicament, it would undoubtedly be the old lady before us!
Madam Min sighed deeply and reminded them, "People are always fickle. Everyone is talking about how you two are bullying this old woman, and they're all laughing at the infighting in our Xuanping Marquis's mansion."
"The best way to shift people's attention away from this issue is to give them a new topic."
Min Rong's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again, and he said dejectedly, "Right now, what in the capital is more worthy of discussion than our family's situation?"
Madam Min hesitated for a moment, then glanced towards Min Yuexi's bedroom before saying, "The eldest daughter of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion committed suicide by poisoning herself because of her reputation. Do you think this new news can distract them?"
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