Chapter 60 Remarriage After Wife's Death
After learning of these rumors, Madam Min Qiao remained calm and unconcerned.
After all, a secret is only a secret if only one person knows it. If more than one person knows it, then it's no longer a secret.
But she was still curious, because besides herself, Wang Mian, and Min Hui, only Madam Zheng and Princess Jiaoyang knew about this.
That day, after showing Wang's letter to Princess Jiaoyang, she also showed it to Madam Zheng.
She, Wang Mian, and Min Hui wouldn't tell anyone, and she believed that Madam Zheng wouldn't either.
The problem lies with Princess Jiaoyang, but she had no need to spread the news throughout the city. It wouldn't do her any good.
Min Qiao became suspicious and ordered someone to investigate the source of the information.
It took two days to find out the exact information.
It turns out that after Princess Jiaoyang finished eating the melon, she excitedly told the Empress Dowager about it when she returned to the palace.
Later, somehow the news reached Consort Zhao's ears.
Therefore, Consort Zhao told her "close friend" Lady Annam about the matter.
When the Duchess of Annam found out about this, she was furious.
Once they left the palace, they spread the word.
And so the rumor spread like wildfire, until everyone in the capital knew about it.
Upon hearing the source of the information, Madam Min couldn't help but furrow her brow.
Why is there always talk of the Duchess of Annam?
She felt that this woman's name appeared in her ears far too often.
In her previous life, she also knew about Lady Annam, but she only heard about her occasionally.
The Lady of Annam from her previous life had absolutely no presence in her life.
But in this life, it seemed as if she had formed an inextricable bond with the Lady of Annam, her shadow appearing everywhere.
Is this a coincidence? Or is it deliberate?
Just as Madam Min Qiao was filled with doubt, Madam An Nan arrived uninvited and went directly to Min Hui.
"Tell me the truth, are those rumors outside true?"
Upon seeing Min Hui, Lady Annam went straight to the point and asked him the question.
Min Hui knew the purpose of the Lady of Annan's visit, but he pretended not to know and said aggrievedly, "Madam, you are right. That is all nonsense! If I were really born illegitimate, could I have occupied the position of the legitimate son of the Marquis's family for so many years?"
"Moreover, even ordinary men cannot tolerate their wives cheating, let alone the dignified Marquis Xuanping."
"If I were truly an illegitimate child born from my mother's affair, would I still be alive and well? I'm afraid I would have died in the womb before I was even born."
Lady Annam nodded in agreement, "You're right, no man could tolerate such a thing."
Min Hui felt relieved, but then heard the Duchess of Annan change her tone, "But the rumors outside are so detailed and detailed, they can't all be baseless, can they?"
Lady Annan's tone turned serious as she solemnly declared, "My daughter was raised with the utmost care and privilege, and marrying her to you was already a difficult decision. Now that you've separated from the family, if even your status as the legitimate son of the Marquis's mansion is false, then no matter how much I value you as a person, I cannot marry my daughter to you! Do you understand?"
Min Hui nodded hurriedly, "Madam, rest assured, I am indeed the legitimate son of the Marquis's mansion. Otherwise, why didn't Madam Min expose me publicly when the family property was divided? Why did she allow me to take away the Marquis's mansion's assets?"
Min Hui sighed, saying helplessly and aggrievedly, "Madam, you don't know this, but all of this is just because Madam Min Qiao doesn't want me to marry into the Earl's family, so she deliberately made up these things to slander me."
"Madam should also know that Madam Min comes from a humble background, and her eldest and second daughters-in-law also come from humble families."
"But I am fortunate enough to have won the favor of the lady, and my marriage has fallen to the Earl's family. This is a great pressure for them. How can they be willing to let me marry a noble lady and put them in a superior position?"
"Therefore, when Madam came to propose marriage in person, both Madam Min and Madam Wu tried their best to stop it. If it weren't for my aunt, I'm afraid I wouldn't have had the chance to marry into the Earl's family."
Lady Annam nodded repeatedly, "I knew Madam Min Qiao wasn't a good person. How could she be so vicious! Hmm, her eldest daughter-in-law isn't a good person either!"
"Don't worry, I came here today just to ask about your situation, that's all."
"Your marriage to Xiao Wu remains unchanged. We'll hold the wedding after the first month of the lunar calendar. I'm still waiting for you to call me mother-in-law!"
The Earl of Annam spoke with such sincerity that Min Hui's eyes welled up with tears.
"Thank you, Madam!"
"Alright, now that things are cleared up, I feel relieved. I have some things to take care of at home, so I'll head back now. You can focus on preparing for the wedding."
With that, he stood up to leave.
Min Hui quickly got up and escorted the person to the front door.
The two chatted and laughed all the way, appearing very friendly. Outsiders would have mistaken them for a mother and son.
Once inside the carriage and the curtain was lowered, the smile on Lady Annam's face vanished.
Bah! This Min Hui is definitely not an honest man! He really dares to say that! He's clearly a bastard, yet he dares to push all the blame onto Min Qiao Shi!
Do you really think she knows nothing?
The Empress Dowager Xian said that Princess Jiao Yang read a handwritten letter left by Lady Wang! Lady Wang herself confessed in the letter the whole process of having an affair and giving birth to Min Hui.
Both Min Hui and his uncle read the letter. So, although Min Hui originally didn't want to separate the family, he was eventually forced to do so.
It's all thanks to the kindness of Madam Min Qiao that they didn't break ties with them and make the matter public.
Well, Min Hui dares to distort the truth as soon as he turns his back! He's really no good!
The more she thought about it, the less Lady Annam looked down on Min Hui.
However, she had no choice but to marry off her daughter.
She had no choice; the Consort Xian had ordered her to marry, and she dared not refuse!
Moreover, Consort Xian is right. Her daughter is already an old maid, and now that she has finally gotten engaged, if the engagement is broken off, her daughter may really never be able to get married.
Moreover, Consort Xian also said that it doesn't matter whether Min Hui is an illegitimate child or not. As long as the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion does not publicly acknowledge him, Min Hui will always be the Third Master of the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion.
With this identity, it wouldn't be considered a disgrace to her daughter.
Even the recent rumors were spread at the behest of Consort Xian.
Originally, she thought that since her daughter was destined to be married off, she should help keep Min Hui's background a secret.
But Consort Xian said that if the rumors were spread, the more people would know, the more uneasy Min Hui would become, and the more uneasy he would become, the more he would fear that the marriage would fall through.
Then she can step in to appease Min Hui and promise that the marriage will remain unchanged. Is there any fear that Min Hui won't be grateful to the Marquis of Annan's family? Is there any fear that Min Hui won't treat her daughter well?
Having shown such kindness in times of need, wouldn't Min Hui then be completely at the mercy of the An'nan Earl's Mansion?
Moreover, even if Min Hui lost his background as the Marquis of Xuanping, he still had his maternal uncle, Wang Mian! Although Wang Mian's official rank was not high, the Wang family's influence could not be ignored.
In conclusion, no matter how you look at it, Min Hui is a good candidate for son-in-law.
Lady Annan suppressed her dislike for Min Hui and comforted herself by recalling what Consort Zhao had told her, which made her feel a little better.
Forget it, let's leave it at that. If anything goes wrong in the future, we can just let our daughter be widowed and remarry!
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