Chapter 51 The "Sincere Heart" Left Behind by Min Ji
Madam Min Qiao never expected that Min Ji would still be thinking of her even after his death.
She had always known that Min Ji had some genuine feelings for her. Whether it was because her dowry saved the Marquis's mansion, or because she gave birth to their eldest son, Min Rong, or because they worked together to help the Marquis's mansion overcome its difficulties, or even because she severed ties with her own family for the sake of the Marquis's mansion...
Regardless of the reason, Min Ji's trust and care for her deepened day by day, and she had always been aware of it.
She thought it was just normal marital affection. Little did she know that Min Ji's feelings for her were far deeper than she had imagined.
Both Wang's handwritten letter and Min Ji's letter of divorce were enough to ruin the reputation of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and Min Ji.
Min Ji dedicated his entire life to saving the Marquis's mansion from the brink of destruction. The Marquis's mansion was Min Ji's heaven, his life, and everything to him!
But Min Ji still left such an important thing to her!
At this moment, Madam Min Qiao suddenly understood that in her previous life, she had gone to great lengths to protect the Marquis's mansion and everything that Min Ji had left behind, all because of her sincere feelings for Min Ji.
They walked hand in hand through hardship, but were separated by death at the dawn.
She protected the Marquis's mansion that Min Ji cared about most, and Min Ji also silently protected her.
Min Qiaoshi's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.
Min Ji treats her so sincerely, is she really going to give up the Marquis's Mansion that Min Ji cares about most, and give up Min Rong and the others who represent the future of the Marquis's Mansion?
As she looked at the letter in her hand through her tear-filled eyes, her resolve after her rebirth began to waver for the first time.
Suddenly, Madam Min Qiao was stunned!
She looked at Old Ding, the housekeeper, in surprise, then at the letter in her hand.
An unexpected guess popped into my mind.
In her past life, she steadfastly protected the Marquis's mansion. Therefore, the things left behind by Min Ji did not appear before her eyes.
In this life, she resolved never to guard the Marquis's mansion again, and to do as she pleased. Then, Old Steward Ding appeared with the things left behind by Min Ji.
But are these things really just for protecting her?
Min Qiaoshi originally thought that was the case, and was even moved to tears by it.
But it wasn't until she wavered in her resolve that she suddenly realized that Min Ji might have left these things behind under the guise of protecting her, trying to use "true feelings" to bind her and make her continue to guard the Marquis's mansion for him!
At this moment, Min Qiaoshi's resolve, which had almost wavered, became firm once again.
In this lifetime, she will no longer protect the Marquis's mansion, nor will she protect anyone from the Min family! Even if Min Ji is brought back to life, she will never change her will!
This time, she only wants to live for herself!
Everything and anyone that tries to shake her resolve is a stumbling block for her!
Madam Min wiped away her tears and, seemingly unintentionally, probed Old Steward Ding: "Where is that bodyguard now? Can we still find him?"
A complex emotion flashed in Old Ding's eyes.
He glanced at Yang An and Granny Fang in the room, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "That bodyguard died after falling from his horse after leaving the Marquis's residence. The old Marquis asked me to personally lead people to handle the funeral arrangements. Madam Wang also knows about this. The old Marquis did not hide it from Madam Wang."
"I understand." Madam Min sighed and said no more.
But his thoughts were confirmed.
A former镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who once roamed the martial arts world and traveled all over the country, after working as a servant for more than ten years, has forgotten how to ride a horse.
This was clearly Min Ji's way of not wanting to leave any future troubles, so he arranged for someone to do it.
Furthermore, due to Wang's pent-up emotions, it's likely that besides the bodyguard's cowardice and escapism, his death was also a contributing factor.
Therefore, Min Ji never intended to keep Wang Shi alive for long. Even if Wang Shi hadn't harbored resentment, she probably wouldn't have lived long anyway.
Perhaps, Min Ji's decision to let Wang Shi and the bodyguard leave was merely a test. If the bodyguard had actually taken Wang Shi with him, they would likely have suffered the fate of losing both their unborn child and their loved ones.
Thinking of this, Madam Min felt a chill in her heart.
Min Qiao composed herself and suppressed the turmoil in her heart. No matter what the truth of those things was, it had little to do with her.
All she has to do now is wait for the family division in two days.
At the same time, she was also extremely grateful that she was able to perceive Min Ji's "good intentions" in time, and that she did not fall into the trap and repeat the same mistake!
***
In the palace, the Empress Dowager looked at the memorial sent to the palace by Madam Zheng of the Duke of Jin's mansion and couldn't help but sigh helplessly, "Ah Yuan is just too sentimental!"
"That Min Qiao Shi only showed her a little bit of kindness, but she remembered her as a benefactor."
"Now look what's happened! Not only have they dragged themselves into someone else's family affairs, but they also want to use my name to back up Min Qiao's family. It's really...sigh!"
The lady-in-waiting replied with a smile, "Madam Zheng doesn't treat the Empress Dowager as an outsider! Otherwise, she wouldn't dare to speak like that, would she?"
The Empress Dowager and Lady Zheng were close friends. After the Empress Dowager became the Crown Princess, she suffered countless schemes and plots against her, but Lady Zheng always stood in front of her.
At that time, the weight of a crown princess was not as great as that of a powerful duke's mansion!
Later, the Crown Prince ascended the throne, and the Crown Princess became the Empress. Madam Zheng remained a loyal supporter of the Empress Dowager.
When the Empress became the Empress Dowager, the Duke of Jin's mansion suffered a calamity, and the Empress Dowager became Madam Zheng's strongest support!
Back then, if it weren't for the Empress Dowager, Lady Zheng wouldn't have been able to simply request the appointment of a crown prince. She could have easily gotten everything she wanted by deposing the crown prince and establishing a new duke.
The two sisters share a bond for decades, weathering storms together.
The female official who knew all this knew best what the Empress Dowager wanted to hear.
Sure enough, as soon as the lady-in-waiting spoke, the Empress Dowager snorted and said with a smile, "Then you will go to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence on my behalf tomorrow."
"Yes," the female official replied with a smile.
She knew that as long as Madam Zheng's requests weren't too outrageous, the Empress Dowager wouldn't refuse.
Just then, Princess Jiaoyang asked curiously, "Grandmother, why did you send Aunt Hong to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence?"
Princess Jiaoyang was different from other princesses. She didn't like to get close to her mother, nor did she like playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, or even clothes and jewelry. Instead, she preferred to go to the Empress Dowager's palace.
While the Empress Dowager and Madam Zheng were chatting, she sat to the side listening with great interest, occasionally interrupting to ask questions.
When the Empress Dowager and Lady Zheng were playing chess, she would sit by and watch, sometimes directing the Empress Dowager to move here, sometimes directing Lady Zheng to move there. She had no sense of the proper etiquette of observing chess in silence, chattering away like a noisy sparrow.
When the Empress Dowager had nothing to do, she would lie in the corridor to sunbathe, and someone would bring her a chaise lounge so that she could lie in the sun with the Empress Dowager.
In any case, Princess Jiaoyang has shown the Empress Dowager how to live her retirement life.
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