Chapter 339 Going to Min’s House
"If your mother hadn't stopped me, I would have hit you long ago," Jiang Fu said angrily. "All these years, how much your mother has spoiled you, how much your second sister has tolerated you—you don't remember a single good thing about it!"
"You're a heartless, scoundrel!"
"Get out! You get back inside right now and reflect on your actions!"
Jiang Hongling felt a sharp pain in her heart and was completely stunned.
She instinctively looked to her stepmother, Xiao Qianshi, for help, as she always did.
This time, however, Xiao Qian did not stand up to protect her, nor did she show the slightest concern in her expression.
Her loving father and doting stepmother vanished at this moment.
In an instant, she felt so uncomfortable that she could hardly breathe.
She turned away dejectedly, ready to leave.
But the moment he took a step, he turned back unwillingly to look at his stepmother.
How could her stepmother, who had doted on her since she was a child, even more than her own mother, possibly abandon her?
However, in that one glance back, she saw the contempt and disdain on the lips of her stepmother and younger sister, Jiang Yingluo.
Was she seeing things?
Or perhaps, the year after next and her sister have kept it all too well hidden all these years?
Jiang Hongling didn't know how she left Jiang Yingluo's courtyard.
Once she returned to her courtyard, she never left again.
***
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Hongling, who was supposed to go back and prepare a gift, did not show up two days later when she was supposed to become his disciple.
Although Madam Min didn't show any outward reaction, she secretly had someone inquire about it.
After learning that Jiang Hongling had been confined by her father, Madam Min temporarily put Jiang Hongling's matter aside.
Because the day to go to the Min family had arrived, she didn't have the time to devote much energy to Jiang Hongling's affairs.
On the appointed day, Madam Min tidied herself up, took the gifts she had prepared in advance, and went to the Min family by carriage.
The Min family is the largest and most prominent family in Huizhou City. After five generations of accumulation and development, the Min family has long been flourishing.
Currently, the branch of the Min family that is in charge is ostensibly descended from Min Jitang's grandfather.
But in fact, he was Min Ji's uncle's bloodline.
It is said that Min Ji's grandfather had given his youngest son to his cousin years ago, and then secretly supported this youngest son to become the patriarch of the Min clan in his hometown of Huizhou.
Therefore, in terms of bloodline, the current main branch of the Min family and the Xuanping Marquis's mansion are very closely related.
Now, even the old lady of the Min family, Min Ji has to call her "little aunt." As Min Ji's wife, Min Qiao Shi naturally also has to call the old lady Min "little aunt."
This is why, after arriving in Huizhou, the old lady of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, it wasn't the Min family who came to visit her, but rather they sent her an invitation to come to their door.
They are, after all, elders.
No matter how noble Min Qiaoshi's status was, she could not surpass her elders.
Moreover, without the title of Lady Min, her status was actually just so-so.
As soon as Madam Min Qiao arrived at the Min family home, a servant woman warmly came up to her and led her into the mansion.
When they arrived at the hanging flower gate, Madam Sun, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Min family, was already waiting there with her eldest daughter-in-law Jiang and her two younger brothers' wives.
"We've been waiting for you, sister-in-law!" The eldest wife greeted her with a smile, affectionately taking Min Qiao's arm.
The second wife smiled and chimed in, "We heard you were going back to Huizhou a long time ago, and we've been looking forward to seeing you."
The third wife chimed in, "We urged the old lady to send you an invitation as soon as you arrived a few days ago, but she refused no matter what we said."
"She feels sorry for you and says that you have had a long and tiring journey, so she wants you to rest for a few days before she will allow us to send you an invitation."
"Thank you for your concern, Madam!" Madam Min Qiao said, putting on a grateful expression as she exchanged pleasantries with the group.
After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Min Qiao then looked at Madam Jiang, a middle-aged woman standing to the side.
"Who is this...?"
The first wife gently patted her forehead and said with annoyance, "Look at me, I was so happy to see my sister-in-law that I forgot to introduce her."
As she spoke, she pointed to Jiang and introduced her to Min Qiao: "This is my eldest daughter-in-law, Jiang. Her father is the prefect of this prefecture."
"Niece-in-law Jiang greets Aunt!" Jiang respectfully curtsied to Min Qiao. But as she lowered her head, a flash of disgust crossed her eyes.
Madam Min raised her hand and said with a smile, "We're all family, so there's no need for such formalities."
Undoubtedly, this is Jiang Hongling's aunt who married into the Min family. She is also Min Pan'er's legal mother.
Before leaving home today, she even asked Min Pan'er if she wanted to come back with her.
Min Pan'er refused without even thinking.
It's strange that the Min family was able to send people to monitor her whereabouts in advance. They should have known that Min Pan'er had been taken back to the Qiao residence by her.
But they didn't react to it at all.
You say the Min family doesn't value Min Pan'er? But the Min family spent five years and a great deal of time and effort cultivating Min Pan'er. Clearly, they had ulterior motives.
But if the Min family valued Min Pan'er, how could she have easily escaped Huizhou City and even tracked her down?
Now, after following her back to the Qiao residence for so many days, no one from the Min family has come looking for her to return.
In any case, Madam Min Qiao felt that the Min family's attitude towards Min Pan'er was too strange!
"Please come in, sister-in-law. My mother-in-law has been talking about you since early this morning. She probably already knows you've arrived."
The first wife laughed and joked, "If we don't hurry over there, she'll come out to greet you herself!"
Upon hearing this, the second and third wives quickly smiled and agreed, "That's right, let's hurry and go see the old lady."
Madam Min Qiao also smiled and urged, "Oh dear, we'd better hurry. If we really make the old lady come out to greet me, a junior, then it would be my fault."
The group chatted and laughed as they quickly arrived at Old Madam Min's courtyard.
Whether by coincidence or design, Old Madam Min's courtyard is also called Songhe Hall.
At the entrance of the courtyard, Old Madam Min's head maid, Chu Dong, was waiting with a group of people.
Upon seeing Madam Min and her entourage arrive, Chu Dong quickly smiled and curtsied, saying, "Ladies, please come inside. The old lady is waiting for you!"
The group, having braved the early winter chill, hurried into the courtyard.
Sure enough, they saw Old Madam Min standing under the porch of the main house, anxiously looking towards the courtyard gate.
Madam Min Qiao shook off the First Madam's hand, took a few quick steps forward, and bowed respectfully to Old Madam Min from afar, saying, "Thank you for waiting so long, Old Madam. Madam Qiao greets you from the side!"
"Oh my, we've been waiting for you! Don't be so formal. Come, come, let's sit inside and talk."
Old Mrs. Min stood under the eaves, looking down at Min Qiao Shi and waving.
Despite the warm attitude and polite words of the old lady Min, Mrs. Min still felt a little uncomfortable.
Perhaps it was because Old Mrs. Min was standing on high ground, looking down at her?
Suppressing her discomfort, Madam Min smiled and walked up the steps, taking Old Madam Min's arm as they went inside side by side.
The first wife and others followed her into the house.
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